First Maryland location of billionaire and bison rancher Ted Turner's restaurant chain, which uses bison as the showpiece in a humongous selection of dishes, including burgers, meatloaf, nachos and chili. Soups, salads, American classics and spiked milkshakes also available at this saloon-style eatery

Deep-fried oysters, classic rice balls and comic books to peruse while you await your order set this Japanese restaurant apart from the rest.

Located inside the Anthropologie & Co. at Bethesda Row, this quaint cafe changes its menu with the seasons. Look for cheese boards; salads; toast topped with eggplant, smoked salmon or fig; and entrees such as duck breast and a fried cauliflower sandwich.

The Americanized Thai food is second to the location, which is superb for people-watching on the street below. A modern and stylish dining room with a hip bar in bold colors and good service add to the appeal.

The colorful interior of this Thai restaurant features fun and quirky decor, much of it from Thailand. A roster of street foods like what you would find at a Thai night festival includes cucumber salad, catfish dry curry, spicy eggplant, and peppery garlic fried rice with shrimp.

Authentic Thai food laced with lots of chilies and garlic as hot as you like. Try one of the Thai street food dishes, such as roasted pork with Thai herbed sweet sauce and noodle soups.

This local chain focuses on family-style portions of classic Neapolitan dishes like lasagna and chicken parmesan, in a more elegant setting than might be expected. Good for groups and large families.

The fast-casual restaurant dishes out jerk chicken, fried fish, curry chicken, jerk salmon and other spicy Caribbean eats. You can build your own bowl or tacos, or order entrees and side dishes.

A family-friendly neighborhood restaurant and bar with dishes such as crab pasta, poutine, burgers and baby back ribs. Fun décor includes classic posters and a giant magnetic scrabble board.

A fun place for young adults, with drink specials nearly every night and bar food such as quesadillas and burgers. Karaoke night is held weekly.

Owned by the Marmaras brothers, the café serves Greek specialties, including a top-notch chicken souvlaki pita.

Owned by the Marmaras brothers, the café serves Greek specialties, including a top-notch chicken souvlaki pita.

Owned by the Marmaras brothers, the café serves Greek specialties, including a top-notch chicken souvlaki pita.

See Bethesda listing.

This Asian food hall is a sibling of an Annandale spot that helped launch the food hall trend. Find tacos, Korean barbecue, shaved ice cream and more from a half dozen stalls. The center of the space houses a bar with TVs.

New York-style pizza, available by the slice or as a 20-inch pie. Specialty pizzas include the spinach-artichoke white pie with ricotta, mozzarella and parmesan and the Buffalo Chicken Pie with blue cheese and hot sauce.

A neighborhood favorite serving seasonally inspired, locally sourced comfort food. Full-service catering, too.

The owners of The Daily Dish in Silver Spring serve comfort food made with local ingredients in a 2,800-square-foot space in Kensington. Maryland crab soup, steak frites, burgers and house-made desserts are on the menu. Children's menu, L, D, $$

This Chesapeake-style seafood eatery relocated from Potomac’s Cabin John Village to the Kentlands in Gaithersburg. You’ll find salads, lobster pasta, a poke bowl, a burger and mussels. The sampler of grilled oysters—with ingredients such as spinach and bourbon—showcases the namesake item.

With fare the restaurant describes as “modern Irish Americana cuisine,” you’ll find a few Irish classics alongside Grilled Baby Gem Caesar Salad and a mushroom and black bean veggie burger at this dark and cozy spot at the Collection at Chevy Chase. End a meal with sticky toffee pudding.