The Block, a food hall with fast-casual Asian restaurants and a bar, opened for business at the end of November in North Bethesda’s Pike & Rose shopping area.
The food hall, at 967 Rose Ave., features vendors selling items such as rice bowls and Asian tacos, along with a bakery and an eatery serving tea, ice cream and coffee.
In the middle of the hall is a bar with TVs. The bar serves wine, beer, cider and other mixed drinks. Happy hour is 4 to 7 p.m. Monday through Friday.
The food hall has large seating areas with wooden tables and benches as well as barstools scattered throughout the 8,500 square-foot space.
The Block opened its first food hall in Annandale, Va., three years ago and announced in April 2018 that it would be expanding to Montgomery County.
Arturo Mei, the co-owner of The Block, said in an interview Thursday that the company spent a year and a half scouting locations in Montgomery County and eventually settled on Pike & Rose because it is a “great food hub.”
Even though the restaurant is serving customers now, Mei said the grand opening will not be for a couple weeks. At that point, there will be more food offerings, he said.
“We haven’t done too much promotion yet,” he said.
Mei said The Block will eventually host weddings, corporate events and yoga sessions, among other activities.
“People come here casually to have fun, try different food and just relax,” he said.
The Block is open every day from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. The bar portion is open from 11 a.m. to midnight Sunday through Wednesday, and from 11 to 2 a.m. Thursday through Saturday.
Dan Schere can be reached at Daniel.schere@moco360.media
