Silver Spring Restaurant Makes Hottest Restaurant List

SILVER SPRING, MD — A Silver Spring eatery ranks second on Eater's list of hottest January 2019 restaurants in the D.C. metro area.

The list, released on Jan. 3, features a total of 14 dining destinations — most of them are in the District. The Silver Spring restaurant that made the cut: El Sapo Restaurant Cuban Social Club.

The cuban eatery, which opened last October, is located at 8455 Fenton St. El Sapo owner and chef Raynold Mendizábal also owns Urban Butcher, a meat-centric restaurant on Georgia Avenue.

"It's been a long dream of mine to represent and promote my culture through my craft. El Sapo is unmistakably Cuban; about half of the dishes are what I ate growing up at home or on the streets of La Habana, the other half tell the story of my journey as a cook. Silver Spring has given me so much — now it's time to give back," Mendizábal said.

Dishes include manchego cheese and charred red peppers with Albahaca oil, aged balsamic vinegar and pán quemao; ropa vieja, a popular Cuban dish; and churros with lemon whipped cream.

Another Montgomery County restaurant made it on Eater's list — and it's number one.

Julii, a French-Mediterranean restaurant, was created by the founders of Cava Grill. Located at 11915 Grand Park Ave., Julii boasts floor-to-ceiling windows and large rope lights.

Some dishes on the menu: Julii's dinner rolls with pistachio fennel salt and whipped labneh butter; alsatian tart with bacon, onion, gruyere, crème fraiche, and honey; and lamb tagine with pomegranate glaze, crispy chickpeas, long grain rice, and roasted carrots.

Julii opened its doors last December.

Click here to learn more about the restaurants featured on Eater's list.

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