Eating in Cabin John – Wild Tomato

Every time I eat at Wild Tomato I have a blast. I’m not sure if it’s the food, the drinks or the atmosphere, but my friends and I always leave happy and we immediately talk about going back again.

I must admit, it is so great having a local restaurant that is so casual and yet the food is delicious and the wine pairing is excellent. Even my very very low-key husband enjoys eating at Wild Tomato. Below I describe two different experiences I had at this cool Cabin John restaurant.

Eating Outside for Lunch

Last fall when the weather still felt like summer my co-worker and I were looking for a place to eat outside. I suggested Wild Tomato. When we arrived, the tables were full, but a few people were about to leave. The paintings on the wall feature large scale vegetables in vivid colors. We were quickly seated and my co-worker ordered what I usually order for lunch, the Barbecue Chicken Salad. I love this dish because it is filling, but light and very tasty. I didn’t want to order the same thing so I looked through the menu and decided on the short rib.

What a surprise it was to see my dish arrive. I felt like Fred Flintstone in the opening credits of his show. The server brought this out and I thought everyone was going to watch to see if I could finish it. In addition to this gigantic short rib, there were mashed potatoes and greens. Needless to stay, I ate until I was stuffed.

Eating Inside for Dinner

The last time I went to Wild Tomato was with two neighbors. The three of us go out for a little ladies night on each of our birthdays. Over time, Wild Tomato has become out preferred destination. These women often order the same dishes, but on this last outing, there some great sounding specials that really grabbed our attention.

The two that sounded the best were the seafood specials. I ordered the Scallop Special that arrived on a bed off creamy polenta, with a caramelized onion and wild mushroom sauce. It was seriously delectable. It may be one of my favorite dishes. My friends decided to split one Scallops Special and one Blackened Tuna special.

While we were eating, a woman sitting next to us was grading papers and ordered a dessert that was so enormous there was no way she could finish it. She offered to share it with us.  It is the amazing casual feel of this place, combined with excellent service that makes this place really feel friendly and inviting. You have to go and see and taste for yourself.

Next time you are in Cabin John, or looking for a great casual restaurant, give Wild Tomato a try. It’s located in the shopping center in front of the Bethesda Co-Op at the corner of Seven Locks Road and MacArthur Boulevard. Wild Tomato, 7945 MacArthur Boulevard, Cabin John, MD 20818. There are no reservations so just show up and enjoy.

Here are some recent local food reviews by Dana Hollish Hill:

1. Eating Lunch in Westlake Area of Bethesda – Fu Shing Cafe
2. Eating Lunch in Downtown Bethesda – Taylor Gourmet Deli
3. Eating in Potomac – China Jade Bistro in the Cabin John Center

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