Copper Canyon Grill reopens at Downtown Silver Spring

Copper Canyon Grill has reopened at 928 Ellsworth Drive at Downtown Silver Spring. The restaurant has been closed since July, due to a fire in a kitchen exhaust shaft. It could have reopened sooner, but Copper Canyon Grill's Director of Operations Erick Cooper said “the future safety of our guests and employees was too important to hurry through this process.” Instead of doing the bare minimum, the restaurant updated all of the kitchen's related systems to the current code standards.

Renovations that were underway at the time of the fire were able to be completed faster while the restaurant was closed for the fire damage repairs. Still to come will be an updated bar, and the additions of a sushi station and a chef's table. Copper Canyon Grill will also be again offering its now-famous Thankgiving dinner on Thanksgiving Day, both in the restaurant, and for takeaway catering.

Copper Canyon Grill in Silver Spring repairing fire damage to restaurant

Copper Canyon Grill at 928 Ellsworth Drive at Downtown Silver Spring remains closed after the restaurant was damaged by a fire on the morning of July 12. Sixty-five firefighters were needed on scene to extinguish the kitchen blaze, which traveled through the ductwork of the restaurant, Montgomery County Fire & Rescue Service spokesperson Pete Piringer said. Heavy smoke drifted up through the roof, and the odor of smoke was detected by residents as far away as Four Corners. 

A major part of the repairs will be to the grease duct in the kitchen. As the name suggests, the grease duct vents grease-laden vapors that are flammable from kitchen equipment. They require regular maintenance to avoid buildup of grease residue that can cause fires. A sign in the restaurant window does not mention the fire as the reason for the current closure, nor an estimated timeline for reopening of the business.

Copper Canyon Grill construction update (Photos)

The new front of Copper Canyon Grill appears to be just about finished at Downtown Silver Spring. Logo signage has been installed. The new louvered design is about twice as tall as the original. Rattlesnake Pasta is still my entree recommendation!

Copper Canyon Grill Silver Spring renovations update (Photos)

The renovations of the exterior of Copper Canyon Grill at 928 Ellsworth Drive at Downtown Silver Spring continue. Work has advanced quite a bit since the bare framework seen in my last update. Copper Canyon remains open for business during the renovations.

Copper Canyon Grill construction update at Downtown Silver Spring (Photos)

A new structure is being constructed onto the facade outside Copper Canyon Grill at Downtown Silver Spring. The restaurant remains open for business during the work.

Copper Canyon Grill reopens at Downtown Silver Spring

Copper Canyon Grill has reopened at 928 Ellsworth Drive at Downtown Silver Spring. They are operating limited hours on a new schedule: Wednesday-Sunday 12:00-8:00 PM. Patio dining is available, as well as curbside pickup/takeout. I recommend the Rattlesnake Pasta.

Copper Canyon Grill invites Silver Spring home for the holidays (Photos)

I was invited to a preview of the Home for the Holidays holiday menu at Copper Canyon Grill last evening. You can order this as a take-out meal for four with 2 days advance notice. It doesn't matter which holidays you are celebrating, either, as the deal will be available through January 1, 2016.

Anthony Peake, Executive Chef
and Director of Culinary Education
at Copper Canyon Grill, talks
about the recipes he created for
the holiday menu

The menu offers many traditional favorites, from rotisserie turkey to mashed potatoes, gravy, cranberry sauce, and - of course - stuffing. There's also the occasional modern dish - like bacon mac & cheese. Last night, I had the pumpkin cheesecake, which is a seasonal dessert. On the take-out menu, the dessert choices are Key Lime Pie and Bread Pudding with Grand Marnier Sauce.

The take-out meal is available from all Copper Canyon Grill locations, including Rio/Washingtonian Center in Gaithersburg, and downtown Silver Spring. In addition, if you're seeking a restaurant for Thanksgiving dinner, the Silver Spring Copper Canyon Grill will be open on Thanksgiving Day from 11:00 AM to 9:00 PM.

I started off the meal with a glass of a 2013 Iris Vineyards Pinot Gris from Oregon. It's pretty good, with a citrus flavor, and a score of 91 from Wine Enthusiast. You might want to give the Albino Rocca Chardonnay Langhe from Italy a try, though, because the description sounds like it is perfectly paired to a traditional Thanksgiving dinner.

Let's start with the turkey. I'm more of a dark meat person when it comes to turkey, and especially, chicken. But the white meat was very tender on this rotisserie turkey, with a nicely-crisp skin. If you're like me, you may have had some tough white meat turkey in restaurants. That won't happen here.

For me, stuffing is the main event of the Thanksgiving dinner. You won't be disappointed with this cornbread stuffing from Chef Anthony Peake's own grandmother's recipe. It includes my one must-have ingredient for stuffing - sage.

The mashed potatoes have a traditional flavor, and it's a rich one enhanced with sour cream. There was a good balance of sweet and tart in the cranberry sauce, and you'll definitely want some extra gravy.

Green beans

Sweet glazed carrots

A nice seasoning on
the green beans

For a vegetable choice, I would go with the Sweet Glazed Carrots. I was searching for every last one hiding on the plate. The green beans would certainly fit the bill, though, if that is your personal preference. I just thought the carrots had a little something extra.

The bacon Mac & Cheese was super-rich with 3 cheeses, and finely-chopped raw onion added an extra zing of flavor throughout.

There were several fresh breads on hand from sister restaurant Stanford Grill's in-house bakery in Rockville. It seemed like the biggest hit at the table was the cornbread.

For the big finish, a huge slice of Pumpkin Cheesecake appeared. It was topped with whipped cream and a rich chocolate ganache. A fantastic finish to a delicious early Thanksgiving dinner. Why have just one a year, after all?

Special sushi night in downtown Silver Spring July 27

Silver Spring residents will have a chance July 27 to sample the sushi rolls of a new chef arriving this fall in Montgomery County - before his restaurant opens.

Stanford Grill will be opening in September at 2000 Tower Oaks Boulevard in Rockville. They'll be adding world-class sushi to the American cuisine they've already built a following for at their Columbia location. You might not be surprised to hear that they've named an executive chef for the Rockville restaurant who knows sushi well.

Sean Kinoshita will come to Rockville from his former restaurant, the famed Tao Asian Bistro in Las Vegas. Of his cuisine, Kinoshita says, "A lot of people ask me how I make good food. I just say, I make food I like to eat. I make food that reflects my taste and flavors."

For the Stanford Grill Rockville menu, Kinoshita has created 5 sushi rolls, including:  two spicy tuna rolls, one original-style with sriracha mayo and one battera style. The spicy tuna roll battera style coils around avocado, sashimi, wasabi, scallions, sriracha mayo and unagi sauce. A coconut shrimp roll will feature a spicy masago mayo, crisp cucumber, avocado and pea sprouts. And a yellowtail jalapeno roll will bundle yellowtail, jalapeno, wasabi and cilantro.

But Stanford Grill wants to give you a preview of his handiwork in advance. They are hosting 3 special preview sushi nights with Chef Sean Kinoshita at the following locations and dates (reservations are recommended due to limited seating):

July 13, 4-10 PM

Stanford Grill

8900 Stanford Boulevard

Columbia, MD 21045

410-312-0445

July 27, 4-10 PM

Copper Canyon Grill

928 Ellsworth Drive

Silver Spring, 20910

301-589-1330

August 10, 4-10 PM

Copper Canyon Grill

9300 Taj Lane

Lanham, MD 20706

301-322-8600