Restaurants in Montgomery Village

Antonio's menu is stocked full of moderately priced eats, including multiple savory vegan options. Their jerk chicken is so well loved it is available in nearly every form—on a sandwich with lettuce and special sauce ($5); atop a salad ($6.95); as a straight-up entree with rice, peas, and salad ($8.95); or mini-sized as a sandwich for kids, Polly Pockets, and other mini-eaters ($3.50). Other main plates include stewed oxtail ($10.75), vegan shrimp with coconut-mango salsa ($13.95), and curried shrimp roti with potatoes ($12.50). Add a side of fried sweet plantains ($2.75), among other sides, or a sip-tastic imported or domestic beer.

The Melting Pot transforms date nights and friendly outings into rich, sensory experiences by gathering diners around communal pots of fondue and adorning their tables with sumptuous four-course feasts of cheese, salad, chocolate, and steakhouse fare. Bubbling pots of emmentaler, lager-laced cheddar, and creamy fontina quell urges to engage in skewer swordfights as guests eagerly dip and slather slices of crisp granny-smith apples or crusts of artisanal bread. Creamy peppercorn ranch and decadent burgundy-shallot vinaigrette drape plates of crispy salad greens and roma tomatoes before servers parade out the pièce de résistance—fresh shrimp, sesame-crusted ahi, and succulent slices of filet mignon that bathe in roiling pools of coq au vin and bourguignonne. As a tasty digestif, dessert-savvy diners coat brownies, marshmallows, and unlucky car keys in cauldrons of milk, dark, and white chocolate.

The chefs at each Copper Canyon Grill, a mid-Atlantic favorite, craft their regional American dishes from scratch every day. Their kitchens fill with flames and savory aromas as they roast meats and vegetables over hardwood fires, making customers happy, but leaving behind bare earth at local basketball arenas.

The kitchen yields hearty servings of grilled prime rib and filet mignon, ahi tuna and Atlantic salmon, and Delmarva-style crab dip and Eastern Shore jumbo lump crab cakes. It also tempts with a signature rotisserie chicken and jalapeño- and serrano-pepper cornbread baked in an iron skillet.

Traditional spices and culinary techniques from both the northern and southern regions in India guide chefs as they craft more than 100 dishes. They skewer prawns marinated in an almond cream and sprinkle spices atop roasted eggplant. In the kitchen, a clay oven heartily bakes ginger lamb chops and bread stuffed with dried fruits. The chefs also cook up their own phaal curry dish, described as “excruciatingly hot curry, more pain and sweat than flavor,” on the menu. As a reward for taking on the phaal, they offer a free bottle of beer or fire extinguisher to any diner that finishes it.

Before approaching the counter to place saucy demands, take some time to examine the extensive menu. Cue the meal with a country appetizer, like a 12-pack of corn nuggets ($4.99) or 20 BBQ hot wings ($13.99). Barbecued bites are prepared using a combination of techniques. Meat simmers patiently and submits to charbroiling to achieve off-the-bone tenderness. Get a Texas-sized barbecue sandwich full of chopped chicken ($5.99) or sliced or chopped brisket ($5.99). Investigate the rib scene with a full rack of baby backs ($21.99) or a half order of pork spare ribs ($14.99). All dinners come with two sides and a warm dinner roll. Sides include hand-cut fries, Texas-style beans, and luscious hush puppies.

Chefs at Taste Mezze craft small plates of Mediterranean fare laden with meats, seafood, and veggies—all based on the owner's family recipes. Flaming kasseri cheese and feta cheese whipped with chilies appear on tables alongside gyros, pan-seared scallops, and spanakopita. Smaller portion sizes enable patrons to share dishes or slip them into pants pockets where they keep a tiny but constantly hungry black hole.