Morphed from houston's to woodmont grill. Â Food subtly different from houston's but in wrong direction. Â Quality downgraded somewhat while prices elevated. Â Live music is nice. Â Chicken tenders platter still available if you ask. Â Filet mignon and baby back ribs still excellent. Â I also like french dip sandwich although extremely pricey. Â Baked potatoes used to be much better. Â Now not very hot and taste is bland. Â Salads also not as good as before. Â Hamburger good but pricey. Â Usually quite crowded and the hostess is typically incompetent and inefficient which tends to be annoying.
Review Source:Popped in here today for a late lunch after an appointment near by. I was seated in a booth, and a waiter took my drink order, which arrived promptly. I was ready to order after several minutes but did not see my waiter in sight. At a table near me several staff members were hanging out. It took a few attempts to get their attention to place my order. I ordered the soft shell crab po boy. Â I was informed some minutes later that they were out of the po boy. Instead I ordered "famous french dip". Essentially a prime rib sandwich w/fries on the side. While waiting for my meal, I had to get the attention a different waiter then my own , to get an iced-tea refill. My meal came quite fast. The fries reminded of fries I've had at Houston's, elsewhere here I read they are the same company now. Quite tasty fries, crisp , and lightly seasoned. The sandwich was filled nicely with moist, thin slices of prime rib, and mayo. Also on my plate was a bit of horseradish. I slathered the sandwich generously with it, as I love horseradish. I came in with a bit of a stomach ache from a recent stomach bug. I felt a bit more sorted out after the meal. Quite a tasty selection, but not worth the $19 price tag. The ambience was nice, cozy booths, low lighting, and a fairly quiet atmosphere. I may return in the future because I would like to try other dishes. However I was not impressed by the lack of attentiveness from my waiter.
Review Source:I've been a Houston's fan since the Rockville Location opened; ate there at least once a month. Ate at this location Friday night with a friend and was shocked when the bill arrived!! We had 3 martinis (total) Â that were $14.00 and, we did not order call Vodka. They were good but NOT worth the price. We both love the spiniach dip but seriously, $14 for an app that doesn't even have seafood in it?? Â We both ordered the veggies burgers which are OUTSTANDING but again, $18 for a burger that is not made from Kobe or Black Angus is robbery!! Â $98 for two people to eat is just too much. Â Your food is good but, not worth what we paid.
Review Source:Let me start if by saying I'm a huge fan and have eaten at Houston's or woodmont grills in many states and possibly over 40-50 times now. I know how things are supposed to taste and hunger for them. Â
With that being said, this particular location in Bethesda consistently has the worst food and preparation of any restaurant in the chain. Â The ribs were overdone, flavorless, and were a bit like meat jello. Â My wife's fish was super fishy (not in a good way). Â After last night, it's the last time we visit this location. Â
Don't take this as a testimonial on the other locations which are generally wonderful with great service and food that I'd usually rate 4-4.5 stars on quality.
Bethesda location: please fix yourself so I can satisfy my rib craving.
great food and drinks but a little pricey for me. I had a wedge salad which was delicious, as well as everything else i tried that my friends had ordered. They come and trade your drink glasses for chilled glasses in the middle of your meal which is fancy. Dark atmosphere, definitely perfect for a nice date night.
Review Source:one Cosmo feelin good
two cosmos feelin real good
got my boo by my side and a belly full of vodka and life is pretty damn amazing
date night was perfect. my martini was chilled. the bartender funny. my amazing boo handsome love of my life was happy too. but he doesn't do social media.
I haven't been here in a while! The basic space is the same and still quite busy. I was one of the opening crew here when it was  Houston's restaurant.         Â
  I scooped up a seat at the bar and grabbed a menu. My first observation was the new bar set-up. Tap beers in place and they nixed the cappuccino machine at the bar!  No more blue and maize bow ties. Totally laid back.
   I scanned the menu and picked a roasted chicken and swapped  out the  Tabbouleh for succotash.  When I worked here quite a few  things were microwaved. Spinach and artichoke dip, 90% of the side items....  Hmmmm. Today the side item jumped out! Lima beans, sliced asparagus, corn, black eyed peas, heirloom cherry tomatoes!  That $hit was on point! (Thug Kitchen guy voice)  the roasted chicken was served with a demi glaze and an apricot sauce, which I passed on. The breast meat was on  the dry side. Lacked in flavor and in hindsight I should have ordered it the way it appeared on the menu. Surprisingly the leg quarter was just slightly better.  No big deal. Its an easy fix! Lovely space and great looking staff!
Holy cow. I went here for lunch today as soon as it opened, found parking right outside in their private lot, and got a seat. Surprisingly, the restaurant filled up fairly quickly! I ordered a veggie burger, which was highly recommended by many reviewers and my boyfriend got the crab sandwich.
The burger was absolutely fantastic, but the fries were just on another level! I was also highly impressed with how quickly the food came out. We also ordered the warm brownie with ice cream (admittedly, a good dessert is my weak spot) and I would honestly come back for it alone! Overall, it was an amazing place and highly recommended!
I took my cousins out to dinner last night and we had the best dining experience at the Woodmont Grill. The atmosphere, decor and service was excellent. Additionally, the Jazz Trio add to the dining experience. The food came out in a timely manner and the restaurant was able to accommodate one of my cousins vegetarian needs. Our food was well prepared and it was delicious. I will be back to dine in my future visits to Bethesda.
Review Source:OMGGGG, I went here for lunch and fell in LOVE. I went for business, and couldn't help but focus on the food. I got the crab salad. The crab was super fresh and crisp on the outside, soft on the inside. The dressing was delicious and was just the right amount. I could go on.. but I will stop :-)
The service: one of the best I've ever had.
Must Go!
Wow. Everything we ate was spectacular. Prime rib was hot and very juicy. Rock Fish was delectable - we wanted another one right away. Apple cobbler with ice cream was the best we had ever had at a restaurant.
One in our party was gluten intolerant. The waiter was very knowledgable on what she could and could not eat. Very nice to have that level of service.
Since it's days as Houstons this has consistently been one of my favorite places in the world to eat. I used to go there with my parents all the time, but now that I am of legal drinking age, lets start with the drinks. All of their juices are freshed squeeze and make drinks that much better. I prefer vodka lemonade due to the lemonade's deliciousness, but the orange juice and grape fruit juice are excellent.
The soups are all amazing, and rotate with the day. I enjoy the chili, my dad enjoys the clam chowder, come in on your soup's day and you'll be a happy camper.
You MUST get the spinach and artichoke dip. This is quite possibly the best spinach artichoke dip I've ever had in my life. It's so good I would consider putting it in a cup and drinking a spinach and artichoke milkshake. I mean when rapper Young Jeezy raps about it, you know its good.
All of the entrees are excellent. The prime rib is always juicy, and the hawaiian rib eye oozes with flavor. My usual go to is the cheeseburger as they are delicious and I really love the bread. The french fries are the skinny variety, and they are excellent. Honestly, I can't even tell you about the dessert as I never have enough space to put anything else down the pipe after my meal.
I would definitely recommend this place to pretty much anyone. Whether its a casual dinner with your family or you're going on a date the food and atmosphere (live jazz plays) is excellent!
Houston's, Woodmont Grill, whatever the name, the quality of the food and atmosphere still delivers. When this was Houston's on Rockville Pike, I remember going with my mom for take your child to work day and just going crazy for the chicken basket with the shoestring fries and amazing honey mustard. I wanted to shake my fists in the air and cry when I saw it did not exist anymore! (dramatic much? haha)
You can imagine my excitement when I found out that Houston's moved to Bethesda and had just changed the name to Woodmont Grill. Just a bit of a back story, Woodmont Grill is owned by the Hillstone restaurant group and if you are ever in New York, the Hillstone Restaurant has the same delicious food with the addition of a sushi bar. Ok that is all for the history lesson...NOW ONTO THE FOOD.
I always start with the spinach dip. Try to get your fix and not let it get cold, it becomes a bit congealed and unappealing in the ramekin it's served in. Other than that the flavor is great, its creamy and comes with huge chunks of artichoke which I can't get enough of (score if you are with people that do not like artichokes, more for you).
This is by far THE place I come to get my veggie burger fix. My carnivorous boyfriend at the time could not imagine eating a veggie burger and actually enjoying it, but once he took a bite of mine, he was shocked at how meat like and delicious it is. The veggie patty is moist, succulent, and is exactly like ground beef, however the flavor is something to die for. I have not been able to ever find a veggie burger that can even come close to this one. I sub the french fries for the delicious Tabbouleh side. Can't go wrong with this combo.
I have had the French dip here and that is also a winner, the horseradish is so fresh and just takes the sandwich to the next level. It's awesome when you get the perfect bite ratio of au jus, tender meat, and horseradish. The shoestring fries are a welcome addition to this meat and potatoes meal.
Most people love the loaded baked potato here and I really think the reviews are just size based. Yes, it does arrive at the table heaping with bacon, cheese, and sour cream, however, under all that, it is your average baked potato and a bit dry at that. I find it is just too dense and overkill for me to enjoy as a side with their amazing entrees. Would not recommend it.
On my lighter days (not at all though). I have gotten the crispy chicken salad and it is lovely if you are craving a simple salad with nothing too exotic. The Thai steak and noodle salad is good too, my friend goes bonkers for it.
Still have room? Oh go ahead and either get the brownie sundae for the hot fudge sundae. Woodmont Grill does nothing fancy with these desserts and I love them even more for it. They are just big portioned and delicious versions of these old favorites. The vanilla ice cream on both is creamy and lovely. The chocolate sauce for the sundae is served in a gravy boat for you to pour over the sundae (love this because you can control how much you put on the sundae) and the candied walnuts are awesome. They took old favorites and did them so right.
Woodmont Grill is perfect, the atmosphere is a calm one and the lighting is low. You would think a restaurant like this would be serving small portioned meals at an exorbitant price being in Bethesda, but no. You get generous portions of non-pretentious and well prepared food. The wait staff is attentive and knowledgeable of the menu.
Houston's or Woodmont grill are all under the umbrella company of Hillstone, so service, ambiance and decor are almost comparable to the one i went to in New Jersey a while back. Service was excellent, the meal was a monstrosity of ribs which were fall of the bone goodness and the margarita was fantastic as well. As a matter of fact i am about to eat my leftovers from the meal last night. Ciao.
Review Source:I seriously cannot find a single thing wrong with Woodmont Grill, other than that it is slightly expensive (not a lot, just slightly). Â My husband and I, or my girlfriends and I, frequented this restaurant back when I was living in Bethesda a few years ago. Â For many years it was called Houston's, which was a small chain of restaurants in the DC area known for its amazing barbecued spare ribs. Â All of the area Houston's closed down, except for this one - and this one got a new name, but it is still the same great place, same location, same menu, same free parking lot, same all good stuff. Â
I was in MD recently, and met a friend for lunch at Houston's. Â It's really funny, because Bethesda MD (downtown) is known for its many wonderful restaurants, there are literally hundreds of terrific places to eat. Â But whenever I am "back home" and want to meet a friend for lunch, we always come here.
As to the menu: Â the ribs are phenomenal, the hamburgers are cooked to perfection and served on a wonderful roll, with tomato, lettuce and good french fries, the salads are huge and delicious (especially the Steak Thai salad - it has some pasta in it, it's spicy hot, and it's just wonderful). Â I've had ahi tuna there - which is either blackened or just grilled on the outside only, and served sushi style. Â It's always fresh and delicious. Â
The service is lovely and friendly, there is a huge parking lot right next door (free during the day at least, if you dine there) and I've absolutely never had a bad meal there. Â I just have to give Woodmont Grill five stars because I always enjoy my meal and I really don't feel ripped off when I leave. Â Bethesda and environs' restaurants are all very expensive, as are the shops in the area. Â I guess the rent is high, so it is reflected in the prices. Â But as I said earlier, it is only slightly expensive, and the quality of the food makes it well worth the price.
If you're looking for a classy, Steakhouse type of atmosphere--dark room, professional staff, jazz band playing next to a well stocked bar--with less money on the charge card at the end of the night, Woodmont Grill is your place! Â
Where do I start?
--They have 53 reviews mentioning the burgers--Some of the best in the D.C. area
--They have 26 reviews mentioning the Veggie burger--Maybe the best in the D.C. area
--They have 24 reviews mentioning the Ribeye--Steakhouse quality at a non-steakhouse price--$34 and comes with a loaded baked potato
--They have 6 mentioning the wine list....(record player scratch here)
If you love wine and live and/or eat often in Montgomery County, you already know the suffering we go through as far as wine lists--their pricing, and often how interesting they aren't due to county laws and markup etc.etc.
I don't know how the Woodmont Grill does it, but they not only have a tremendous wine list in terms of selection (it isn't unusually large, but it's chock full of high quality, interesting bottles), but at prices that are really mind blowing in some cases. Â
For example, we drank a bottle of Freemark Abbey Cab. Â This wine was just listed in the "Top 10 Most Popular Cabs" on wine lists across the U.S., in Wine and Spirits magazine. Â The average price for this bottle on lists across the U.S. is $73 according to their article. Â Woodmont Grill is charging us $54! Â That my friends is fair wine list pricing.
Yelp came to my rescue as my associate on my trip wound up being my supervisor and I got to impress him by knowing a good place for good food as he could not decide if he wanted fish or beef on this trip. The Woodmont Grill did not disappoint as they had BOTH! It reminded me of the Los Altos Grill is also a Houston's restaurant as they serve great food and large portions in a unique atmosphere that is casual but upbeat!
The funny part is when you walk in you can see the Houston's sign over the entrance doors!
We shared an appetizer and my new Supervisor enjoyed a daily special of Trout and I enjoyed a nice rib-eye! Both were cooked to perfection! We were too stuffed to have a signature dessert, but maybe next time!
Great food, good times!
Woodmont presents you solidly done meat, simple flavors and un-intimidating service. There's not much more that you can say than that.
+Perma-smile waiters every time.
+Artichoke dip and smoked salmon to start.
+Nice little salad and chicken salads both very tasty.
-But could ease up on the dressing.
+Steaks done right. (Particularly the juicy, flavorful Hawaiian.)
+All sides delicious. (Barley salad or loaded baked potato with the dressing on the side and you can glutton accordingly.)
+Wet and indulgent brownie dessert with a nice hint of kahlua in the caramel.
Be sure to RSVP!
Been here many times. The ribs are great: very tender with a sweet sauce. The burger is good too. Even elements that would normally be an afterthought (the cabbage side or the walnuts on the apple cobbler) are noticeably tasty.
Their beer list, while fine, is fairly generic.
The interior is clad in dark wood paneling and softly lit. Even on a Tuesday night they seem to have live piano and string music.
I came for the Hawaiian Ribeye due to Yelp peeps raving about it, but I ended up falling in true love with the prime rib!
OMG. The prime rib. Where shall I begin. Take a perfect cut of meat. Right amount of fat. Not at all chewy/grizzly as the prime can be. With a seasoned crust that is borderline orgasmic. Medium rare. Drag about everrry other bite through a *tiny* bit of horseradish. A dream!
I was not impressed, however, by the famed Hawaiian Ribeye. First of all, it has a sweet-ISH glaze on it--somewhat reminiscent of Korean BBQ...
I guess I'm just a meat purist, but it didn't do it for me. The cut of meat was good--not great.
This was my first time here. It has never been on my radar--but I liked the place A LOT. The atmosphere, service along with everything I tasted was very well done.
It would be wrong for me not to mention the crabcake salad that's on the lunch menu: a delish no-filler crabcake+avocado+pink grapefruit+corn+greens+some yummy dressing= a sort of taste explosion heaven! Def one of the most delicious salads I've had in a longgg time if not ever.
I am digging it and I will be back...in approximately 3 days...for V-Day dinner to get my mouth on that prime rib once again!
If it tastes the same on round 2 I will happily be upgrading this rating to 5.
I don't know how I haven't written a review for this place yet... so here it goes. I've been going to Houston's for years now. My favorite is still the hawaiian ribeye with a baked potato. A couple other items are no longer on the menu. I did get to try my friend's French Dip. She added a bunch of stuff to it... including bacon. So you know it was better than the regular one! Both are great items to get. Got the apple walnut cobbler for dessert; scrumptious!
There's free parking on the side, but it gets full so you can always just park across the street in the garage.
I have been going here for awhile now, and every time I have a decent experience. Before coming to woodmont grill, I would go to Houstons on the Pike before they closed down.
Service is always top notch, and the food is delicious. The appetizers are all amazing, especially the spinach artichoke dip.
I have always gotten their ribs or fried chicken strip salad, but for this time I tried their hickory burger due to the recommendations on here. The burger was good but nothing special. The fries were good, but I did not feel justified paying that much for burger and fries.
I would give this place 5 stars, but the prices are just too expensive. For example, $14 for spinach artichoke dip? Really? It is darn good though!
There are certain pivotal dining experiences that formulate your beliefs from that point after. Â Woodmont Grill disbanded one of those opinions that I had been holding onto for years. Â Their delicious spaghetti squash was plentiful enough to fill one friend's tummy and change one person's mind forever in favor of spaghetti squash when done right.
Even after my new discovery and appreciation of spaghetti squash, the other plates on the table were too good to refuse sharing...when I say too good, I am talking double-dip-your-soup-spoon sharing good. Â
I ordered the rockfish, which as a newcomer to consuming fish, delighted me with its delicate taste and delectable seasoning. Â The mashed potatoes served alongside it were a hit among all of my friends, raising its trade value high enough for me to swap for a taste of quite a few selections.
I plan to go back and order the biggest possible bowl of their tomato soup; but with a very tantalizing menu, it will be very difficult to stop there.
When every mouth at the table is happy, I think a restaurant has succeeded in impressing its patrons. Â We enjoyed our food to the point of indulgence in satiating wine and a scrumptious apple cobbler. Â I will say, in comparison to the robust experience of flavors, that I was unimpressed by the blandness of the spinach and the cornbread was good, but not noteworthy. Â Nevertheless, with a table of 10 different items, feeling so-so about two items is as close to success as if you cook it all yourself!
We had some difficulty in finding this restaurant on foot, however, I called and the hostess assisted me in finding the site using my iPhone. We walked in and were greeted by a crowd of hungry people waiting to be seated. The hostess advised me it would be a 15 minute wait even with our 6:30 pm reservation. And she was right as we were promptly seated around 6:45 pm in the rear of the restaurant near the open kitchen. There is nothing distinctive about the interior except it looks like an upscale diner with a bar and open kitchen. We had a great server who was very efficient in taking our order for dinner.
I had a nice salad with fresh greens, cranberries, beets with goat cheese and crumbled bacon with a thick vinaigrette dressing. I liked the salad but not the smoky tasting bacon as it did not mix well with the other tasty ingredients. My husband had the chile and gave me a thumbs up before it was all gone. We both had the fresh broiled rockfish with a crabmeat topping (which were plain lumps of sweet crabmeat). This was served with a sizable portion of real mashers and asparagus. We both liked the entrees and said that the fish was fresh and ample and so was the crabmeat. I asked for the buttery sauce on the side so as to not confuse the taste of the fish with the sauce.
We were very satisfied with our food and could not eat more so we asked for the check. It was hard to believe but in this busy restaurant we ate and paid in less than an hour.
I would return to this nice eatery in the heart of Bethesda if I am in the area. It was a very good meal with excellent service. And yes the restroom was clean and well stocked. It lost one star for the wait we had even with a reservation and the cramped waiting area that did not have seating for its diners.
What's good here:
-Burger and fries-you absolutely cannot beat it. Every burger after this will only be a comparison to this one. Prepare yourself. Their fries are better than McDonald's fries. If I could bold this part of my review, I would.
-Thai Steak Salad-delicious, some many great flavors mixing. I used to get mine without the soba noodles, extra avocado and mango!
-Tuna Salad-I always liked raw tuna. This salad will make you love raw tuna.
For vegans! vegetarians!
-Veggie Burger-very good. A tad sweet and savory; composed of rice, beans and onions.
-Grilled Artichokes-heavenly. Hard to describe how good these are.
-Kale Salad in a thai sauce w/peanuts-makes you want to get up and dance, hug the waiter
This has been my family's favorite restaurant for years and we were so sad when the Rockville location closed on 12/21/09 (rumors it might be re-opening?). Now it's all about Bethesda. The staff are completely dedicated to their restaurant; some of them having worked 20 years plus at Houston's. What a testament to the quality of the management and the restaurant as a whole.
Houston's is just a classic, all-American restaurant that makes you proud to be American.
This is my favorite restaurant in the summer. The outdoor seating is perfect when it's not blisteringly hot out. My wife and I enjoy the Key Lime pie with the pecan-encrusted crust. It's seasonal and always a delight.
We've not had a bad dish there and the servers are very knowledgeable and friendly. The only reason I won't give this place 5 stars is because the wait can be lengthy.
It's getting late on a Monday when we all decide steak is a necessity. A quick Yelp search revealed this place adjacent to our hotel. Bethesda is not exactly poppin' on week nights, so imagine my surprise at walking in to find a crowded bar and live jazz band!
My jack and coke quickly reached its destination and within minutes were were seated in an intimate booth for four. The butternut squash soup was rich and creamy, the prime rib was moist without unnecessary fat, the service was impeccable and the atmosphere was festively vibrant. The check surely reflected the location and quality, but sometimes you really do get what you pay for.
This place is GREAT!!! From the real life piano and chello ensemble softly providing entertainment to the Hawaian Steak..to the wine...to the service..etc.
That may possibly be the best steak I have ever had. I didn't leave one morsel left on my plate. The meat was sweet, moist, tender and cooked to perfection. I also had what they call, "a nice little side salad."
It is just enough to tide you over until the real meal begins! I wish there was one of these in Baltimore! For all you Flemings fans...this steak puts Flemings to shame!
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