Food & drink for four
Sometimes it’s hard to know where to go to find a good meal, especially with two little ones in tow. Here are some of our family-friendly favorites for every occasion .
Image Courtesy Botanero Restaurant (Rockville, MD)
Botanero (Rockville, MD)
Going against the grain of the fast casual movement that seems to have taken over our region, Botanero provides a wonderful sit-down experience with a diverse but well-curated menu. From the vegan to the carnivore and everywhere in between, there’s a plate for the pickiest and most adventurous eaters in your family.
Botanero is serving elevated new-American tapas-style plates. “Tapas” mean small plates, and that they are...BUT…they’re delicious (even according to our seven year old) and it gives you an excuse to order everything rather than having to choose. Executive Chef Jamie Planas’ food is a mix of Spanish, Peruvian, El Salvadorean and other influences.
Don’t be surprised when the waitress takes your order and leaves the menu on the table. In true European restaurant fashion, they expect you to stay awhile. Order a few things, enjoy them, and then order a few more!
Highlights:
The ambience is great for a date or evening out with the family.
The neighborhood feel means that it’s always vibrant with conversation.
Brussel sprouts are a hot menu item at lots of places these days, but these are extra special.
The wine list is fantastic and you can carry out your favorites at half price.
A cook tries to pull noodles at a noodle shop in Lanzhou, capital of northwest China's Guansu province, Jan 22, 2014. Lanzhou beef lamian, or Lanzhou beef hand-pulled noodle, is a type of Chinese noodle dish originated in Lanzhou and generally popular in China. [Photo/Xinhua]
Lanzhou Hand Pull Noodle (Gaithersburg, MD)
Okay, we realize that for some of you Gaithersburg may seem just too far to have great eats, but Lanzhou Hand Pull Noodle is a great spot and worth the trip. If you don’t believe us, check out this feature in the Washington Post.
Based on the name, you may have gathered that this is a Chinese restaurant, but the unique feature here are their amazing noodles which they serve two ways: stirred fried or in a soup. We recommend both!
The seating area is small, but it’s worth the wait, especially on a cold day. That being said, we recommend going during slightly off-hours rather than the lunch or dinner rush.
Highlights:
This a fast casual restaurant and your noodles are made to order.
You can watch the chef hand-pull the noodles (the kids get a kick out of this…okay, so do the grown-ups).
I know we said their noodles are great, but their dumplings are out of this world too!
The Dish & Dram (Kensington, MD)
Nestled in old town Kensington, the Dish and Dram provides refined dishes in an upscale (but not too upscale to bring the kids) environment.
Dubbed “the ideal neighborhood restaurant” there are lots of reasons to love the Dish and Dram. Let’s start with the dishes. With a concise and constantly rotating menu, you will always have the pleasure of a surprise and a go-to favorite. As for the “dram” (meaning a small drink of whisky or other spirits), we’ve enjoyed some great drinks and especially love that they carry our local favorites.
We recommend a reservation, but you can usually walk-in before the rush and get a table.
Highlights:
Great staff and service. We’ve never been disappointed.
Dishes that feel like they were cooked individually by a Chef rather than assembled by a kitchen.
Dependable and easy! This is where you go to celebrate a birthday, a graduation, or just a night off from cooking.
