20 TWINBROOK 0 355 5 3 2 4 TRO S 1 6 FEET 2000
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ROCKVILLE
EXEC. BLVD.
7 8 9 11 10 DOMINIC BRACCO II FOR THE WASHINGTON POST; MAPS BY THE WASHINGTON POST
Rosemary and Luis Seminario of Rockville enjoy wine and sandwiches for dinner at Gilly’s in Rockville. Gilly’s hosts wine tastings and offers a rotating selection of craft beers on draft.
COURTHOUSE SQ. TWINBROOK
1. Gilly’s Craft Beer and Fine Wine 2009 Chapman Ave., Rockville.
301-770-5515.
www.gillyscbfw.com. Show up at Gilly’s looking for a
bottle of wine to pair with dinner and there’s a decent chance you’ll walk out with a much heavier bag than you intended. That’s because the selection at this unpreten- tious beer-and-wine drinker’s ha- ven is always changing in ways that will make you think, “I didn’t know they made that.” One day, it’s the bottles of The- obroma, a spicy small-batch brew from Dogfish Head that packs subtle flavors of cocoa powder and ancho chile; the next it’s the arrival of Gubna, a new 10 per- cent ABV Imperial Pale Ale from Oskar Blues Brewing Co. But Gilly’s is more than just an
above-average beer and wine store; it’s the type of place that makes a haphazard assortment of stores feel like an honest-to-good- ness neighborhood. Owners Tim and Johnna Gil-
christ set the two-year-old store’s social calendar to help with that: The Twinbrook Block Party, with kegs of Sierra Nevada and live music, was held outside the store on a recent Saturday, and an Ok- toberfest party is scheduled for Oct. 9. Weekends feature regular tasting events, while on week-
days, the place buzzes with after- work crowds sipping pints. Some patrons stay for only one, and others while the night away until closing. In a part of town that doesn’t always feel like a true neighborhood, Gilly’s feels like home.
2. Urban
Bar-B-Que Co. 2007 Chapman Ave., Rockville. 240-290-4827.
www.urbanbbqco.com.
Get within 10 feet of the front door and it’s too late for you: By then, the aroma emanating from Urban Bar-B-Que has infiltrated your nostrils, and the only rem- edy is an order of Urban’s Wings ($6.59 for eight) and a platter of pulled pork ($7.99). The wings are coated in a pep-
pery rub. Nearly blackened on the outside, they won’t set your tongue on fire, but biting into one of the meaty wings reveals a zesty tang with a subtle heat. The pork, meanwhile, is so tender that the peppercorn-flecked ribbons of fat nearly fall off the strips of vine- gary white meat. A platter comes with a side and a hunk of Urban’s tasty cornbread. Each of the restaurant’s tables includes an entire roll of paper towels; you’ll need them.
3. El Patio 12303 Twinbrook Pkwy., Rockville.
301-231-9225.
www.elpatiointernational.com.
Sure, Argentine cuisine holds
beef in high esteem, but what just came out of the kitchen at El Pa- tio still borders on the absurd: The waiter appears to be carrying a skateboard — one piled high with glistening, grilled meats. In reality, it’s the Parrillada pa-
ra Dos, a platter of Argentine bar- becue for two: grilled beef short ribs, flank steak, chicken, sau- sage, morcilla (black pudding), sweetbread, chinchulin (offal), two sides and, presumably, an im- mediate food coma. At $35.75, it’s easily enough for two (or three . . . or four) and should probably come with an insurance policy and Tums. Wash it down with bottles of Quilmes ($5) for the true gaucho experience. For the meat lover with a more tempered appetite, the bife a ca- ballo — flank steak served with two sunny-side-up eggs ($12.75) — is still a tall order, as is the pique-a-lo-macho, a jumble of sauteed flank steak, sausage, jala- peños, french fries, hard-boiled eggs, olives and onions ($9.95). Lighter fare, including chori- pan sandwiches — tangy Argen- tine sausage on a homemade ba- guette ($3.25) — are ideal for the lunchtime crowds. South American ex-pats fre- quent El Patio’s in-store market to pick up goods from Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay and Uruguay; check out the impressive selec-
tion of Argentine wines before you faint from overconsumption.
4. Againn Tavern 12256 Rockville Pike, Rockville.
301-230-9260.
www.againntavern.com.
When Houston’s Restaurant closed on Rockville Pike in 2009, diners wanting upscale-casual, family-friendly dining lost a longtime favorite. In its place comes Againn Tavern, the subur- ban location of the Scottish res- taurant that brought scotch lock- ers, welsh rarebit and head cheese to 11th and K streets downtown.
Diners hoping to find an iden-
tical experience in Rockville may be disappointed: The menu, as explained by a server, was creat- ed with suburban palates in mind. Instead of authentic Scot- tish fare, diners will find such American comfort food as shrimp and grits ($24) and slow-smoked pork ribs ($19), which offer a nod to executive chef Wes Morton’s Louisiana upbringing. A few Scottish standbys re- main: The potted pork is served with a tangy onion marmalade ($10), while the fish and chips ($15), bangers ‘n mash ($15) and shepherd’s pie ($19) will satisfy diners simply looking for entry- level gastropub fare. Based on aesthetics alone, the
bar at Againn is worth a visit. The dark-paneled room is airy and
cool; it feels unhurried despite the hubbub of Rockville Pike seen through the front window. The drinks — the Pimm’s Cup spiked with mint, in particular — aren’t the norm for the neighborhood, and neither are the 84 person- alized scotch lockers, where reg- ulars can store up to three bottles starting at $500 a year.
Expressions 12450 Parklawn Dr., Rockville. 301-984-8182.
www.hairex.com.
Trim your bangs without trim- ming your bank account at Hair Expressions, a Paul Mitchell Part- ner School where stylists-in-train- ing hone their skills while you get a cut at a steep discount from most salons. Now don’t freak out: Your
mop’s not going to be butchered by some twitchy Edward Scissor- hands. Professional instructors oversee everything your future stylist does to your dome; the only downside is that an appointment may take a while longer than you’re used to. Stylists are classified as either Phase I or Phase II depending on experience. Popular services — such as a wedding up-do ($45-$55 vs. $80 and up at Bang) and full highlights ($50-$55 vs. $95 and up at Bang) — draw diverse crowds, including men, who can get a beard trim starting at $5 ($36 at Grooming Lounge).
5. Hair 0 FEET 2000
Rockville Town
Square 355
ROCKVILLE PIKE ROC ROC OCKVIL
HUNGERFORD DR. ROCKVILLE PIKE
PARKLAWN DR. DR
MONTROSE RD.
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BEALL AVE.
PARK
JEFFERSON ST.
THE WASHINGTON POST • FRIDAY, AUGUST 13, 2010
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