A Luxe New Mediterranean Restaurant Hopes to Get Maryland Its First Michelin Star | Eater DC

"Nestled in the Cabin John Village shopping center, the Grove is a Mediterranean-hopping restaurant slated to open in July that spotlights coastal Spain, Italy, and Greece. With newly named executive chef Jose Lopez-Picazo — a Madrid Cooking Institute graduate whose U.S. career began under José Andrés and later included roles at Aria’s Julian Serrano Tapas and the Bellagio’s French-Spanish showpiece Picasso (which earned two Michelin stars and a James Beard Award during his time there) — the menu leans fine-dining: opening dishes include grilled octopus with a zesty lemon vinaigrette and a succulent lamb shank slow-cooked in aromatic spices. Lopez-Picazo, who trained under Maestro Manuel Tabares and Maestro Javier Otaaduy and mastered seafood preparation, paellas, and sous-vide, also helped spearhead the opening of Fabio Trabocchi’s Del Mar; Common Plate calls his hire a huge feather in their cap and says he has the potential to win a Michelin star here. The plan is to start with à la carte dinner (then add brunch and lunch) rather than prix fixe; the 195-seat room (with a 55-seat patio) will be fully renovated with herringbone floors, a ceiling splashed in pinks, purples, and florals, and a massive wine rack of Mediterranean varietals, and the kitchen intends to lean on local, seasonal ingredients year-round." - Tierney Plumb