Anonymous wrote:Mon Ami Gabi or True Food

Agree with pp that Caddies is NOT the place unless you are seeking a dive bar environment

Ugh, I hate True Food. It’s literally a restaurant designed for people who want to pretend to be eating but would rather just not. Agree Caddie’s is a dive bar environment but their food and service is solid. Mon Ami Gabi is fine, not great, and kind of cramped and old lady-ish.

Service was terrible for us at Mon Ami Gambi at lunch recently. Our server was running all over the restaurant. They are understaffed! It was hard to be upset bc I knew they were working hard. But our orders took forever and arrived cold (after I inquired a few times).

Mon Ami Gabi or True Food

Agree with pp that Caddies is NOT the place unless you are seeking a dive bar environment

No to caddie’s for reasons already mentioned. Rock Bottom is a decent option. If you don’t mind going farther up 366, Seasons 52 and Pinstripes both have private rooms that you may be able to book.

What about Tacombi? Very casual but a big space and good food.

Silver may be able to accommodate a largeish group as well.

Anonymous wrote:caddies is gross, smells. and the food is not something i would bring a group of collogues to.

depends what day,. some places aren't open early in the week

+1 I’m not at all snobby about anything in life, but we planned to meet up with friends to watch a soccer game there around lunchtime a few months ago, and I lasted about a minute before walking out. Sticky floors, Lysol scent, and dark as could be. We went to Tommy Joes instead and had a lovely time there. Went back to Tommy Joes for the US Mens World Cup game on Saturday and had a great time again. Food is nothing special, but it’s large and clean and everyone who works there is great.

Barrel and Crow

Tommy Joes has a back room you can reserve for just this purpose. It's on the main floor, behind the bar.

I have lived in Bethesda 20 years and never stepped foot in Caddies. I think of it as a singles/sports bar not a restaurant.

caddies is gross, smells. and the food is not something i would bring a group of collogues to.

depends what day,. some places aren't open early in the week

Anonymous wrote:I have some good group business lunches at True Food Kitchen, but the group must be relatively healthy eating.

Ha - good to know! I was thinking True Food would probably be busier than Caddies or Rock Bottom, mostly because of the healthy eating Bethesda crowd (said as a Bethesda native).

I have some good group business lunches at True Food Kitchen, but the group must be relatively healthy eating.

Anonymous wrote:Caddies will be perfect. They have good lunch specials and won’t be overly crowded for a weekday lunch. The only place that’s usually mobbed at lunch in Bethesda during the week is Tatte.

Thank you so much, PP!! I really appreciate the input - Caddies, it is.

Caddies will be perfect. They have good lunch specials and won’t be overly crowded for a weekday lunch. The only place that’s usually mobbed at lunch in Bethesda during the week is Tatte.

I'm organizing a group of colleagues for a lunchtime meeting in downtown Bethesda or thereabouts. Does anyone have recommendations for a casual space that could seat ~15 or so people? Ideally someplace that wouldn't be too crowded - maybe Caddies or Rock Bottom? I have no idea how busy restaurants are for lunch in Bethesda at this point in the pandemic.

Thanks in advance!