I was craving a good pho for lunch, as it had been so long since I had it. I used Yelp to help me…read morechoose where to go since I was in Gaithersburg for an appointment. Pho Nom Nom was close and had decent reviews so off I went. I walked into a pleasant, smallish restaurant with soothing decor. Several tables and booths were occupied, so I took that as a good sign that people liked the food. The server, Ben, was attentive and helped me choose a pho: slices of round steak and meatballs. I ordered a large bowl but should have gotten a small. A robot delivered my order to the table with the help of Ben, which was a hoot. I have to say that the scent of the broth hit my nose first and it was heavenly. The accompaniments of lime, basil, bean sprouts and jalapeno slices were very fresh. I added a few modest squirts of sriracha sauce and got to eating. The round steak was a nice surprise ... steak in pho can be very chewy and this bowl had decently tender slices. I have to admit I wasn't a fan of the meatballs. They looked like half slices of a firm sausage (for comparison). They didn't taste bad, they just weren't my jam and I enjoyed the steak more. Next time I'd like to try the steak and brisket. Comfort food is filling so I took my leftovers home so I could have the pho for dinner (yay!). Of course, I had to end the meal with an iced Vietnamese coffee. Strong in the best way and not overly sweet, I took it to go and it gave me plenty of energy to finish my errands throughout the day.

Although the robot server freaks me out a bit, the human staff here are super friendly and helpful!…read moreOne gentleman actually came out and helped my mom into the restaurant when she was on a walker. I have not tried the pho here but I really enjoyed the bun rieu and the com tam plate my mom ordered. My bun rieu had an ample amount of good quality crab meatballs, fried tofu, shrimp cake, and pork blood. I added extra peppers and asked for a little extra shrimp paste for my soup but that's my preference. I got my fix without having to spend all day cooking or driving all the way to Eden Center. I had a bite of the grilled pork chop with rice which was delicious and the fish sauce was actually to my liking here! So glad they opened right in Gaithersburg so close to home.

Amy Goyla, our attendant, was great. She replaced my daughter's spilled drink. She got us boxed…read moreup and ready to go quickly when we were done. My kids love Hot Pot Hero.

Second time here and food has been amazing. Service is quick. Food options are plentiful!…read moreChoose from any broth and there's many different proteins, vegetables and even sides to choose from. However choose your broth wisely. To change broths it'll be an extra $5. My favorite broth is the tom yum! It's very tomato forward but has a slight kick. There are many beef and pork options. The kurobota pork is very yummy! As well as the Shanghai noodles! It can get pretty hot inside as you're eating though and you can end up getting somewhat sweater. Depending on where you're sitting. You can choose to have a shared single hotpot or the option to have individual hot-pots! There is also a sauce bar with some small bites that include mini sesame red bean donuts. The sauce bar has many options to choose from and it is very clean as there are windows to cover the sauce bar. They even have their own signature sesame oil in mini cans! Super cute. Once you're done eating there's an ice cream fridge and a cute little dessert bar to make your own jelly dessert cups! It creates such a refreshing cleanse after eating hotpot.

server very nice. I had grilled sirloin as part of the 3 course special for $39.99. it was quite…read moregood. My friends had steak and chicken respectively. we all enjoyed our food. Nice atmosphere. I would go again. I think you will enjoy Firebird as well. Yes, a comment on restroom. Clean, water closet was a tight fit, and entry to water closet was dark. Not too bad.

Food , atmosphere, service... everything was amazing!…read more I came on a Saturday evening around 6ish. The parking lot was full and we waited around 20 minutes or so for our entrees to arrive at our table , which isn't bad at all. Considering they were busy. My steak was cooked perfectly! Definitely a great place for dinner , date night or just some great food and drinks. Highly recommend !

We normally come here for their all you can eat special, but decided to switch things up a bit, on…read morethis visit. It had been a while since we last ordered from the menu. On this visit, we both got selections like what we had around our early times of visiting this spot. I cannot remember what my friend got, but I ordered one of the "Feasty Specials" which had 1/2 Snow Crab Legs and 1/2 Headless Shrimp. It came with sausages (sliced in pieces), 1 Corn (about 1/4 size), 1 Egg, and 2 Potatoes (the skin easily comes off). You get to pick the seasoning and I had Old Bay. What is presented to you is a large clear bag, steamed up and tied, with seasonings and all mixed up. It is served on a metal tray, and they also place an empty bowl on your table for discarding things. Plastic bib was on, bag opened, and I was ready to dig in. The seasoning took me back to my second visit a few years ago. It was when I first tasted their Old Bay mix and became a fan of it. This Feasty Special was just enough and I was glad to switch things up for a change.

Overall, this is an average experience out…read more The good - plenty of options on their all you can eat menu, or at least for us. Overall, the food is good, and, in our opinion, you do get what you pay for. Keep in mind that they DO charge you if you have leftover food on your table when you are done. Be mindful of that and make sure to let them know as you are finishing up, and want more, to scale down your portion size. There is a 90-minute window to eat. The servers don't really go over the menu much, so if it is your first time for all you can eat, make sure to take notice that the crab legs do come with a few different flavor options. The bad - They started a new policy, which I understand, but do not like. If you want all you can eat, everyone who is at the table must all order it as well, or nobody can. I understand they are protecting their profits, but that has taken us away from this place on more than one occasion to eat elsewhere as some wanted it and another family members wanted to order off the main menu. Also, service can be extremely slow, and I am not sure if it is intentional or not, but we have complained more than once and made them extend our time. Last time we went, they set our first order of food down on the table and as we were eating, the waitress walked by no less then 5 times and didn't bother to ask if we wanted anything else. Then, magically, when our food was gone, we could not get anyone to come to the table for 15 minutes. Upon ordering our next round, it took another 20 more minutes for the food to arrive. They are sticklers about the 90-minute time frame, and we explained that twice this has happened and 60 minutes of our 90 minutes was wasted waiting on a server and then the food took forever. They allowed us one more round of food, which we appreciated and thought was fair. We start a stopwatch now and if we feel things are going slow, we address that with the server and sometimes put in a new order when the food is being dropped off. Overall, we are pleased to come here a few times a year. We only get all you can eat and usually are happy when we leave. The food is inconsistent as we do get the lobster tail with all you can eat, and it is usually overcooked and can chew like rubber, but still has good flavor. The crab legs sometimes come out waterlogged with salt, but most times piping hot. This is your typical "average" 3-star restaurant. If you are prepared to spend the money for all you can eat, you will leave satisfied and full, but never will you think "I wish I could come here every week". I have not ordered specific entrees off the regular menu so I cannot speak on portion size or quality of the food by ordering that way. Staff is always pleasant, but you do need to get on them if they are slacking.

We have been here multiple times and each time the food and service have been great. We have done…read morebrunch and dinner and the food was really good. Their specialty cocktails are delish ours also.

If you are looking for an affordable and filling happy hour in Gaithersburg try this place. This…read morereview is only for the happy hour as I have not dined in the dining room yet. The bar area can get tight. Staff described it as intimate so get ready to be social. There is a patio outside but as we are now in the cooler months that was not an option for me. I am looking forward to spending many a cozy winter evening here to manage my winter blues. Staff is really nice each time I come.

From the moment we walked in, we knew we were in for something special. Ela Mesa Taste of Greece…read moredidn't just serve us a meal -- it transported our taste buds straight to the Mediterranean. We started strong with the feta cheese appetizer, and wow -- the creamy, briny richness paired perfectly with fresh accompaniments. The Greek salad that followed was unbelievably fresh, with crisp vegetables and vibrant flavors that felt like summer in every bite. But the real star of the night? The pork chops. They were cooked to juicy perfection, seasoned beautifully, and paired with sides that complemented the dish rather than competed with it. Each forkful was savory, tender, and honestly one of the best versions of Greek-inspired pork I've had in a while. What sets Ela Mesa apart isn't just the food -- though it truly delivers authentic, elevated Greek flavors -- it's the whole experience. Guests consistently rave about the warm, inviting atmosphere and attentive service that makes you feel right at home. Whether you're craving classic Greek dishes done exceptionally well or discovering Mediterranean flavors for the first time, this place is a must-try gem. We'll absolutely be back -- and next time, we're leaving room for dessert!

Came here with my parents to celebrate an early Mother's Day and avoid the crowds, it did not…read moredisappoint! It's so funny because David and I frequent the Akira ramen next door and not once had we ever noticed that this Greek restaurant was right next to it! I was immediately impressed by the perfect amount of variety on the menu, and the dishes sounded really authentic. Our server also told us there were a number of specials happening that day, so there's sure to be something for everyone. We ended up ordering 3 entrees for 4 people to share and we were able to swap a few of the side dishes that the entrees came with. Gioulbasi (half roasted chicken): The chicken was tasty, although I didn't eat a few parts closest to the bone because they were a bit bloody and I couldn't tell if it was cooked through. The lemon potatoes that came with this were BOMB! Super lemony, and had a slight crisp outer texture. I could eat a plate full of those potatoes. Branzino: Unfortunately the Chilean Sea Bass we wanted was out, so our waiter recommended the Branzino instead. It was good, but not mindblowing. Its a pretty lean fish, but the meat slid right off the bone and it was pretty easy to eat. Yiouvetsi (lamb shank): Super tender, came right off the bone and paired nicely with the tomatoey orzo pasta underneath. A HUGE portion, we had some leftover to go. Overall, we loved the chill ambiance and authenticity of the dishes and selection on the menu. My parents love Greek/Meditteranean food, so would definitely visit again! Shoutout to our server Riley who was great too, I had to call him over to explain the specials to me twice, give that man a raise!

Every bite was fantastic from the rolls, to the entrees (the table ordered crab cakes, beef back…read moreribs & salmon). The dessert was good enough (flourless chocolate waffle), but next time that bread pudding will be the choice. Brian, our server was decent, but the rest of the young staff's inclination to check up behind each other was the real gem. Great job by a great crew in general. Love the location! A great space to leisurely walk off dinner if you have the time. Definitely would return.

Update: I thought I would be back often, but I can't cope with the revolving door. I can only go to…read morethis restaurant when my toddler granddaughter is with me in her stroller, so I am able to use the not-revolving door without being scolded by an employee's face. That said, their food is still awesome. I just can't with the scary door.

Not only do they occasionally include dead crabs into your order, this time they tried to…read moresubstitute mediums when I purchased Large. With over a $30 difference, this is robbery! Do not give this business your business, go into Rockville and use Cameron's Seafood for your crab needs.

Been going here since I was little. I feel like they were fresher back then but this is fresh…read moreenough for me!