Woodmont Grill, a longtime staple of the Bethesda dining scene, abruptly closed last night.
“Thank you for choosing us as a dining destination and allowing us to be a part of your lives with many fond memories of good food and cheer,” a note posted on the restaurant’s website reads. Hillstone Restaurant Group, which operates Woodmont Grill among several other restaurants around the country, did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
The modern American restaurant, originally Houston’s, first opened in 1992 and rebranded as Woodmont Grill in 2008. It’s long been one of most popular restaurants in Bethesda, known for its blend of chain-restaurant consistency (its famous spinach dip tastes the exact same as it did at Houston’s 30 years ago) and little luxuries like live jazz. It won fans with an accessible menu of veggie burgers, ribs, and French dips, but also with smart service touches: if you were midway through a martini there, your server would—unprompted—pour the remnants into a new, freshly chilled glass.
The dining room and bar were packed most nights of the week, and regulars expressed surprise that the restaurant would close without warning.
This story is developing and will be updated.
Jessica Sidman covers the people and trends behind D.C.’s food and drink scene. Before joining Washingtonian in July 2016, she was Food Editor and Young & Hungry columnist at Washington City Paper. She is a Colorado native and University of Pennsylvania grad.
