The Best of Rockville

1 Some Like It Hot

The first restaurant in a mini-empire that now includes Indique
and Indique Heights, Bombay Bistro (98 W. Montgomery
Ave.; 301-762-8798) is still turning out fiery Indian specialties at its
20-year-old downtown Rockville location. Simple dishes are often the best:
smoky black dal, tender calamari spiked with shallots and hot
peppers, and a whole rockfish redolent of ginger, garlic, and spices
cooked in the clay oven. And don’t forget the extras: Gently spiced raita
and the overstuffed red-onion-filled kulcha are a
revelation.

Read Our Full Review of Bombay Bistro ››

Photograph by Andrew Propp.

4 Life’s a Beach

Keep the summer-house vibe going all year with accessories and
linens from the Cottage Monet (36-H Maryland Ave.;
301-279-2422). Creamware pitchers, blue glass vases, jazzy printed cotton
pillows, and aluminum serverware by such lines as Vietri, Mariposa, and
CatStudio are all here. Our favorite recent finds: clear blown-glass salt
and pepper shakers shaped like pigs and a tongue-in-cheek wooden sign with
the words seas the day.

5 Italian Chic

Oro Pomodoro (33-A Maryland Ave.;
301-251-1111) is the sort of casual-chic restaurant that children and
their parents adore: fun wood-oven pizzas, savory pastas, interesting
wines, and more than a modicum of style. We can vouch for lemony octopus
carpaccio, robust fettuccine Bolognese, and briny spaghetti with clams.
Pizzas sport well-charred crusts and toppings such as buffalo mozzarella
and spicy salami. For dessert, consider the chocolate cake with one creamy
layer of ganache and another of caramelized sugar and almonds known as
croccante.

6 Eat and Run

The Vietnamese sandwiches known as bánh mì at
Pho & Rolls (33-E Maryland Ave.; 301-340-2856) make
for a quick and portable meal. We like the classic with head cheese and
Vietnamese ham as well as the grilled pork and beef versions. All are on
crusty French bread with pickled vegetables. The cafe also has decent
pho with assorted meats including brisket, eye round, tendon, and
tripe to add to the anise-scented beef-and-noodle soup. Sweet Vietnamese
iced coffee does double duty—as a drink and dessert.

Photograph by Andrew Propp.

7 Pajama Time

The jammies are almost as wild as the pottery at the
Friday-night Pajama Party at Color Me Mine (33-F Maryland
Ave.; 301-251-2010). Popular with teens and families, Pajama Fridays mean
if you show up in PJs between 5 and 8, the studio fee is waived (usually
it’s $7 to $10). The lineup also includes Ladies Night Wednesdays, Mommy
and Me Mondays, and Two for One Tuesdays. The drill is familiar whenever
you go: Pick your unpainted bowl or objet ($12 to $80). Gather
paints and stencils. Create.

9 Pancakes for Dinner

The oversize Saigon crepe stuffed with shrimp and chicken at
Taste of Saigon (20-A Maryland Ave.; 301-424-7222) is a
meal on a plate. You could stop there, but then you might miss other
pleasures at this modern, color-splashed Vietnamese eatery. Clusters of
crunchy chili and tamarind give fried calamari a new twist, and pork- and
shrimp-filled dumplings are nicely crusted from pan searing. If you thrill
to the low, slow burn of black pepper, ask for the eatery’s signature
dish: black-pepper shrimp—and tell them to turn the heat on.

Read Our Full Review of Taste of Saigon ››

10 Get Artsy

Take a class, check out an exhibit, or duck into the studio of
one of 19 resident artists at VisArts (155 Gibbs St.;
301-315-8200), a three-story nonprofit art space sponsored by the city of
Rockville, Montgomery County, and private donors. In addition to changing
gallery shows, there are classes in painting, drawing, photography, glass,
and jewelry. Also check out Cocktails & Canvas, a regular event at
which participants can enjoy wine and snacks while finishing partially
sketched canvases inspired by artists including Georgia O’Keeffe and
Vincent van Gogh.

Photograph courtesy of Federal Realty.

11 Triple Lutzing

Starting November 2, a 7,200-square-foot expanse of Rockville
Town Square turns into the largest ice–skating
rink in Montgomery County. Rent skates ($3) and arrange for
lessons ($85 for five classes) at the Rockville Ice
Skate Shop (131 Gibbs St., 301-545-1999).

12 Girl in the City

Geared to the young and young at heart, Cloud 9
Clothing (130-B Gibbs St.; 301-340-1061) is the place to find
trendy, bohemian frocks to wear on the weekend—and out on the town. Think
uneven hems, strapless bustiers, and retro maxis, plus jewelry and
accessories to finish the look. There are more-sedate threads, too:
patterned button-downs, loose blouson tops, and jeans that work on just
about everyone.

14 Burgers and Steaks

Matchbox (1699 Rockville Pike; 301-816-0369)
is a sprawling industrial space with a killer beer roster. Go for sliders
on brioche buns (we like them with smoked Gouda) or tackle a full-size
Angus burger with cremini mushrooms and melted Gorgonzola. Rib eye, rubbed
with earthy porcini-mushroom jus, is a winner on its own, but
spicy rapini and mashed potatoes loaded with bacon, sour cream, and cheese
take the plate way over the top.