BT’s Bethesda, a family-friendly American bar and restaurant, is aiming to open its doors at 4866 Cordell Ave. in downtown Bethesda in mid-November, according to owner Brian “BT” Lacey.
BT’s will take the place of Zuma by Chef Ninja, an Asian-Latin fusion eatery, which closed in January. Before that, Brickside Food & Drink occupied the site, closing in 2022. Lacey, who was born and raised in Bethesda, decided to open the restaurant after nearly 30 years of working in the hospitality business in Maryland and Washington, D.C.
“For 30 years now, it’s been like, ‘When can I do this? Where can I do this? What’s going to be the next best thing?’ And this summer we started to look for spaces and the Brickside [and] Chef Zuma space became available,” said Catherine Lacey, Lacey’s wife who is very involved in bringing the restaurant to life, said of her husband’s aspirations.
Brian Lacey, who worked at notable and now-defunct restaurants such as Durty Nellies in Bethesda and J. Paul’s in Georgetown, said he always dreamed of opening a restaurant in the area. The Walt Whitman High School graduate also has worked as a liquor distributor in the District, for Clyde’s Restaurant Group and with a small energy consulting company with his brother. With BT’s, Lacey makes his return to the restaurant world.
BT’s will serve classic American fare, such as burgers, grilled and spicy fried chicken sandwiches, flatbreads, salads and Maryland-style crab and clam chowder, according to the upcoming menu. Other dishes include bacon cheeseburger spring rolls and soft pretzels with beer cheese and crab dip.
For main plates, the restaurant will offer options such as bourbon-glazed pork chops, steak frites and baby spinach and mushroom rigatoni pasta, according to the menu.
Brian Lacey said the 3,500-square-foot restaurant, which is decorated with a color scheme of blue, white and black, will offer seating including couches and cushioned chairs in a lounge area at the front, four-top tables and booths in the main dining area, and other seating and high-top tables near the bar.
The lounge area is situated next to garage door-style windows that can be opened and provide an elevated view of Cordell Avenue.
“We are so excited to be a part of the community and to see our friends in here, to make new friends and to introduce ourselves to everybody in the area,” Catherine Lacey told MoCo360 Monday.
The restaurant is planning to open by Nov. 18.
