Lebanese Taverna moving to Taylor Gourmet space in Silver Spring, rebranded LebTav

We knew Lebanese Taverna was moving in downtown Silver Spring, and now we know where. It will reopen branded as LebTav in the vacant Taylor Gourmet space at 8535 Fenton Street. The chain is recalibrating to survive the moribund Montgomery County economy, and what the Restaurant Association of Maryland has described as "flat growth" of the County's dining sector compared to surrounding jurisdictions.

Fat Fingers coming to downtown Silver Spring

Fat Fingers is coming to downtown Silver Spring. There was only one other Fat Fingers in America, in Saugus, Massachusetts, as far I as can find out. A 1950s-style restaurant with dancing servers, pizza, burgers, hot dogs and ice cream sundaes, the Saugus location was owned by a Massachusetts local, and resembled a love child of Arnold's Drive-In and Johnny Rockets.

So how does Silver Spring end up getting a Fat Fingers? The logo is very similar to the one the Saugus location used, but no other details are available as of this writing, so stay tuned for updates as I get more information. This space was previously home to the short-lived Paisano's Pizza.

Hakuna Matata Grill opening in Wheaton

Another restaurateur is going to try to succeed where quite a few have recently failed, at 2405 Price Avenue in Wheaton. Hakuna Matata Grill is aiming for a mid-June opening. They are currently hiring staff. 

Sample entree at Hakuna Matata

Go Stir Fry Express opens at Wheaton Plaza (Photos+Menu)

Go Stir Fry Express is now open at Wheaton Plaza. This location is one of the chain's first to add the popular stir-fried ice cream rolls to their standard stir-fry menu. Go Stir Fry is located near Costco at the mall.

Khyber Kitchen opens in downtown Silver Spring

Khyber Kitchen is now open at 904 Bonifant Street in downtown Silver Spring. The halal-certified menu includes kabobs, chicken tandoori and chicken tikka, and lamb and chicken platters. Wash it down with an ice-cold Coca-Cola. See the menu in the photos below.

Angel's Pizza & Pasta opens at Wheaton Plaza

Chinese buffet restaurant

latest to go "poof" before

even opening at mall

Angel's Pizza & Pasta has opened at Wheaton Plaza.The Italian fast-casual concept is the latest venture by the owners of Rockville's Baronessa Italian Restaurant. Find Angel's in the food court.

In other news from the mall, it looks like Viva Chinese Buffet isn't happening - at least not here. The banners that were posted outside their future space have been taken down. If that's the end for Viva, it will be the third promised restaurant to never even make it to opening day at Wheaton Plaza in recent years. Previous drop-outs that greatly disappointed those eagerly awaiting their arrival were Tilted Kilt (which was also going to open in this same space) and Olive Garden, which was to have been in the new wing by the AMC cineplex.

Silver Spring gas station begins shutting down for redevelopment

Some of the gas pumps are now cordoned off at the Gulf gas station at 8600 Georgia Avenue in downtown Silver Spring. It appears the plan to break ground on a 173-room extended-stay hotel project on this site is moving forward on schedule this month. The redevelopment hit a year-long snag last year.