Restaurants in Gaithersburg

Samantha's Restaurant melds a variety of Latin American culinary traditions into a single menu rife with fresh seafood, sizzling fajitas, and stuffed poblano peppers. Washingtonian magazine highlighted the masitas de puerco, a traditional Havana dish of bitter orange-marinated pork, as well as the "peppy mariachi soundtrack" that fosters a lively atmosphere. As appetizers of citrus-and-ginger-infused ceviche disappear like a repossessed magic kit, diners can turn their focus to mesquite-grilled fish or a refreshing cocktail from the fully stocked bar.

Le Vieux Logis mimics the Old-World charm of its namesake—a famously hospitable lodge in the Dordogne region of France—with rustic decorative touches such as copper pots hanging from timber walls. Cozy tables hold dishes of sautéed sea scallops, baked oysters, and roasted duckling as patrons clink glasses of wine and cocktails from the full bar. Outside, Le Vieux Logis's white façade sports rustic wooden shutters and murals of prosperous country folk overlooking al fresco diners. The heaps of live flowers that broadcast their colors in front of the restaurant helped earn it Bethesda Ever Green's Beauty Spot Award, and complimentary valet parking greets arriving diners.

Juan Carlos and Edwin Balcazar aren’t shy about showing their pride. When searching for a title for their Latin American restaurant, the pair settled on Parva, a Colombian word that translates to “best of the best.” By fusing recipes from their native Colombia with Peruvian and Argentine culinary techniques, the cooks at Parva uphold the high standards their name promises.

Parva uses fresh seasonal ingredients in its made-from-scratch dishes, which range from creamy quinoa risotto to Argentine new york steak. Though Parva’s cuisine has roots in traditional Latin dishes, its ivory interior exudes modern style, with lounge-type seating offsetting plush booths where patrons can sip on Argentine malbecs and Spanish sangrias.

At this authentic South American steak house, customers never want for options. The menu of Argentinean meats and seafood is buttressed by a selection of more than 30 hot and cold tapas and a colossal wine and martini list of international libations. The sips cool overexcited taste buds and pair with lauded entrees such as the parrilla of bone-in short ribs, singled out by Washingtonian as one of Bethesda's greatest dishes. Popular seafood platters arrive in the form of whole lobsters, accompanied by enough seafood paella to sate two diners. To ensure that their sizzling meats are shared with the masses, chefs can also export the fare to private bashes or teddy-bear picnics with catering services.

The eatery's décor reflects its exotic eats: spotlights set orange walls ablaze and highlight paintings more colorful than a Rubik's cube hidden in jello. Clusters of leather couches exude a casual air, providing a sleek contrast to the chic table settings and white linens at booths and tables. Proving that elegance needn't be fussy, customers can also master dance steps at milonga lessons on Wednesdays or host parties in the space almost every day of the week.:m]]

Yellow and orange paper lanterns dangle from the ceiling at Ikko Sushi, casting a warm glow on careful arrangements of colorful sushi. Displays of fresh fish line the sushi bar, where chefs assemble salmon, eel, and crab into kaleidoscopes of texture and color, adorning them with extravagant flourishes of spicy sauce, wasabi, and shredded Japanese currency. Meanwhile, in the kitchen, pots bubble with rice and noodles, as grills sizzle with teriyaki beef, chicken, and pork. Servers tote dishes and cups of imported beer and sake out to tabletops that speckle both the interior and outdoor front patio.

Before he owned K Town Bistro, Gonzalo Barba busied himself with feeding presidents and politicians at the Watergate Hotel. This experience, along with the rest of his 40 years in the restaurant industry, bred a respect for the careful balance of upscale cuisine and familiar atmosphere that characterizes many prestigious eateries. Gonzalo preserves this relationship today, serving K Town Bistro's European-inspired dishes in a warm, friendly setting marked by coral-colored walls and lace curtains.

The bistro's chefs pull from American, French, and English traditions when arranging their entrees. Beef wellington—filet mignon surrounded by a mushroom-liver mousse—is a crowd favorite, though it vies for the spotlight with seared salmon and lamb shanks. Lunchtime heralds crab-cake sandwiches and the omelet of the day, all of which are in the running to become the omelet of the eon. Guests can also pick their courses from a prix fixe menu and pair them with wines from Spain, France, Chile, and the United States.