Restaurants in Potomac

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.

When creating their expansive menu of what the [Washingtonian] lauds as a "representative selection of the finer cookery of India," Harvest of India's chefs infuse each dish of northern Indian cuisine with their own personal styles. Meat-laden dishes include jumbo prawns steeped in a special chef's marinade before being cooked in the tandoor and lamb cooked in a blend of almonds and cream. Along with their solid lineup of entrees, croquettes of cottage cheese and raisins simmered in light cream sauce are among items that inspired the Washingtonian to name Harvest of India the "perfect restaurant" for vegetarians. Meals unfold in a newly renovated dining room where Indian music underscores the sound of skilled diners chewing in syncopation.

At the 1990 World Cup, soccer striker Roger Miller, also known as Roger Milla, earned international renown for scoring four goals, helping the Cameroonian team reach the quarterfinals. His accomplishment was particularly impressive because he achieved it at the age of 38, when most players have already retired their famed feet to the deep freezer.

Named for this legendary player, the small but vibrant Roger Miler Restaurant honors the flavors of the athlete's homeland with traditional Cameroonian dishes as well as other West African staples. Bright-orange walls and vivid art prints surround patrons as they enjoy dishes such as goat pepper soup and steamed catfish. Side orders of spinach, steamed rice, and Nigerian-style yam fufu accompany the seafood, grill, and vegetarian offerings.

Paintings by a local Ethiopian artist, servers clad in traditional Ethiopian dresses, and the signature spice blends of turmeric, fennel, and cardamom help patrons to immerse themselves in a traditional Ethiopian dining experience. Instead of silverware, diners use disks of injera, a spongy flatbread, to scoop up mouthfuls of the flavorful lamb, lentil, and fish dishes that emerge from the kitchen. Although the chefs keep their flavors close to home by making cottage cheese in-house and evaporating seawater in the ovens to make salt, they also seek out Ethiopian beers and wines for even more authentic flavors from the Horn of Africa.

Chefs at Zeïtoon pack a menu of grilled Mediterranean specialties with fresh produce sourced from fair-trade and eco-friendly farms. Traditional starters such as falafel, bruschetta, and tzatziki served with pita bread complement crisp salads, and entrees such as kebabs and gourmet pizzas use halal meats. A multitude of vegetarian options are also available, including pastas, salads, and pizzas. As they wait for their meals, patrons can peer behind the sleek green counter to watch chefs deftly flip kofta patties and juggle olives with baby-size carbon footprints.

The scents of made-to-order sandwiches first started wafting from the doors of The Woodside Deli in 1947, when it began meeting the lunching, snacking, and catering needs of the residents of Silver Spring. Decades of success saw the business overgrow its original location and expand to one in Rockville, where a restaurant menu offers up chewy bagels, meaty diner fare, and philly cheesesteaks dripping with melted provolone cheese. High Holiday and Passover menus offer kosher treats, and catering services can fill bellies at bar or bat mitzvahs, corporate events, and baby’s-first-tax-return parties.