100 Very Best Restaurants: – Melina

Melina, a modern Greek restaurant from the Cava team, opens in Rockville. Photograph by Evy Mages

About Melina

cuisines
Greek
Location(s)
905 Rose Ave
Rockville, MD 20852

Even an old fashioned delivers drama at this modern Greek eatery, conceived by the Cava crew. The bourbon cocktail is set aflame at the table and has notes of charred elder wood, thyme, and pomegranate. Food is equally artful, whether a swirl of grilled octopus with fava purée or the kitchen’s take on kleftiko, slow-­roasted lamb neck paired with pickled onions, mint-ginger tzatziki, and crispy potatoes to tuck into a round of sourdough pita. Expensive.