The hot dogs include the Chili Idol and a build-your-own version. Photo by Deb Lindsey.
Dog Days
Dog Haus, a California-based chain, opened in Bethesda in April. It is the first East Coast location of the brand and serves elaborately dressed gourmet hot dogs ($6.49), sausages ($7.49) and burgers ($7.99), and the “Bad Mutha Clucka” grilled or batter-fried chicken breast sandwich ($8.49). Order at the counter of the 46-seat, industrial chic (concrete floors, steel and reclaimed wood furniture, pendant lights) restaurant and bar and the affable staff will bring your food to you. The beverage lineup includes wine, cocktails, frozen cocktails and a selection of more than two dozen beers, most of them local.
Hot dogs are naturally the star of the show at Dog Haus. They’re all beef, hormone- and antibiotic-free and are served on griddled buttered King’s Hawaiian rolls (as are the burgers and sausages). Supporting players include Tater Tots, fries (regular and sweet potato) and batter-dipped onion rings. We give a thumbs-up to the Sooo Cali (arugula, avocado slices, tomatoes, fried onions and spicy basil aioli) and the Chili Idol (chili, cheddar cheese sauce and onions), but we prefer the build-your-own option, such as a bacon-wrapped dog with lettuce, avocado, slaw, pickled jalapeños, tomatoes, Cotija cheese and chipotle aioli. Load up on napkins—you’re going to need them.
Dog Haus, 7904 Woodmont Ave., 301-652-4287, doghaus.com
Comings & Goings
Viva Japanese Steakhouse and Sushi Bar and Asian Fusion, a 200-seat restaurant, is slated to open in Westfield Montgomery mall in Bethesda in August.
The Block, an 8,500-square-foot Asian food hall, will open in the Pike & Rose development in North Bethesda in 2019.
Celebrity chef Bryan Voltaggio closed Range restaurant in the Chevy Chase Pavilion in April after a five-year run. He also closed Lunchbox, his sandwich shop in the pavilion, in May.
Kwok Cheung, the 75-year-old chef and owner of Shanghai Village, announced that he will close the Bethesda restaurant
in early 2019.