Bold Bite to renovate Bethesda restaurant, start new coffee program
Bold Bite owner Alonso Roche is not only opening a new restaurant next to his current Woodmont Triangle fast-casual eatery, he’s also renovating Bold Bite and launching a new high-end coffee program. Roche said Wednesday the restaurant will put in new floors, rip out its stools and long tables and replace them with tables and chairs, and paint the restaurant during the coming months.
The renovations coincide with the launch of a new coffee program. Roche said he and his brother, Alvaro, have been training at Vigilante Coffee Co. in Hyattsville over the past month to learn the particulars of serving Vigilante’s selective coffee program. This week, Bold Bite will start offering Vigilante drip coffee and the restaurant will roll out espresso, cappuccinos and lattes throughout the fall and winter. Roche said he’s not permitted to serve those other drinks until he passes a test at Vigilante ensuring he is achieving just the right temperatures for milk and foam and using careful procedures to grind the freshly roasted beans.
Roche said he gained an appreciation for Vigilante’s coffee and its strict production standards after partnering with the coffee roaster and café to sell his 202 Artisanal Donut Co.’s donuts at Vigilante’s Hyattsville location. Once the coffee program is in full swing, Roche said he plans to open Bold Bite at 7 a.m. The restaurant currently opens at 8:30 a.m. to offer Roche’s donuts, which he makes each morning.
“It’s going to be the best coffee in Bethesda,” Roche said. “I don’t care what anyone says, it’s true.”
That’s not all that’s changing at the restaurant. Roche said he’s also updating the menu, which currently features hot dogs, hamburgers and salads. He said the new menu will move away from hot dogs. Instead, he plans to introduce chicken sandwiches and focus on the burgers and salads. The new menu will roll out after the renovations in the next couple of months.
Pike & Rose to host Piketoberfest Oct. 25
Neighborhood Restaurant Group—the culinary team behind popular Washington, D.C., beer-focused restaurants such as Birch & Barley and Churchkey—is developing a restaurant concept for Federal Realty’s Pike & Rose development in North Bethesda. Later this month, locals can get a preview of what the group can offer at Piketoberfest. The Oct. 25 event will include a pop-up beer garden hosted by the restaurant group as well as tastings from Pike & Rose restaurants such as City Perch, Summer House and Del Frisco’s Grille. Retailers at the development will participate in a sidewalk sale. The free event runs from noon to 4 p.m.
Chef Geoff’s Rockville hosting oyster and beer bash
Chef Geoff has enlisted Toby Island Oyster Co. and Flying Dog Brewery to participate in an oyster festival from 1 to 4 p.m. Nov. 7 at his Rockville restaurant. Oysters will be served raw and in soups, po’ boys and dips. Each menu item is paired with a Flying Dog beer. Tickets to the event are $49.
Coastal Flats launches brunch in Gaithersburg
Coastal Flats at Downtown Crown is now serving brunch. The beach-themed seafood concept launched the brunch service last week. The menu includes crab cakes and eggs, chicken and waffles, and traditional items such as bacon and eggs. Brunch service runs from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday and 10:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday.
