As far as I can tell, the spot is going to become the new home for Mango Grove and Mirchi Wok, which closed this fall.
Does anyone know more about Mango Grove's timeline? Does anyone know if there is another place like Mongolian Grill? It wasn't my joint, but Reed emailed to see if anyone knows where to find a similar buffet:
I loved the lunch buffet where you could get as much anything as you liked including steak, chicken and pork with a large variety of vegetables, noodles, sauces and seasonings. They also had a delicious salad bar. If I had know they were closing I would have eaten there a lot more often. Do you know of any other Mongolian grill restaurants near by?Thanks to all the people who emailed me about Mongolian Grill! Sorry for the delay in posting.
12 comments:
Both times I went to the Mongolian Grill, I got someone else's food. That was kind of off-putting, so I quit going. Glad to see Mango Grove might have found a new home!
Considering that they lost their lease rather than closed down voluntarily, maybe they'll find a new location.
I love the mongolian grill-style format, but the atmosphere at this one was unappealing. It was dark and kind of dingy, and I had to supress suspicions about cleanliness. I certainly hope another restaurant with the format opens in Columbia!
We tried to go to Mongolian Grill last night and we are very sad that it closed. The people who worked there, especially the owner's wife and the sweet waitress from Thailand, were very supportive of my family (Asian adopted children) - always giving the girls hugs and teaching them how to use chopsticks. I am quite sad about it closing.
Oddly, I tried to go to Mirchi Wok on Saturday only to find a pile of rubble where they used to be. We called to inquire about a new location and it seems they are indeed moving to the Mongolian Grill spot and expect to re-open in 7-8 weeks.
I was a server at the Mongolian Grill for several years (through both the old and the new owners), and it doesn't surprise me that they closed. The food was good (usually), but it was poorly managed.
Both restaurants (the Columbia & Bethesda location) were at one time owned by the same people, but now both locations have closed. The Bethesda location was taken over by Kabob Bazaar.
I think the only similar concept restaurant in the area is BD's Mongolian Grill, which is also located in Bethesda. They are actually located just a couple of blocks away from the old MG in Bethesda (7201 Wisconsin Ave).
My wife and I regularly went to the BD's Mongolian Grill in Bethesda when we lived down in Silver Spring. We love it there.
When we moved to Howard County a couple years ago, we found this Mongolian Grill and tried it out one night. Neither my wife and I were impressed at all. Mainly because (like IJustCame2StompMyFeet said) this place had a dark and dingy feel to it. There was a lot of food on the floor around the tables and buffet areas and the carpet looked pretty gross. It's too bad because I thought the food was decent and the staff was very nice.
The problem here though was with so many other excellent options for dining in the area, why would we go back to a place we both felt was dirty and didn't pay attention to cleanliness? Bottom line is that we never ended up going back to give them a second chance.
Too bad we don't have the chain Big Bowl here. The one in Reston is pretty good and they have a regular menu, plus a mongolian option. I have eaten at Mongolian Grill several times, but I too found the location very seedy. Or restaurant rather.
I LOVED the Mongolian Grill, and so did my brother. We were always begging our parents to take us. I made up my own sauce combo, and got the same bowl every time. The last time we went, it was closed. I was very upset, and I hope that they will make another Mongolian Grill near by.
Does anyone know if/when Mongolian Grill will reopen (and where?)?
@Anon -- I haven't heard anything about them reopening.
Ghengis Grill in Gambrills and Waldorf is similar format, very clean, nice places.
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