Manginos Pizzeria – Germantown, MD

Being that I only have a 30 minute lunch, I have explored most places that I can quickly get to and grab a quick lunch. The choices are pretty slim. One of the places that I am glad that I discovered is Mangino’s Pizzeria, located at Washingtonian gas station.

I am sure that some people are hesitant to eat something from a gas station. However, there are many places serving great food out of gas stations. There’s Fast Gourmet in D.C., Taco Bar in Gaithersburg, and Global Cafe in Wheaton.

Mangino’s might not look like much, but it’s a good place to grab a quick lunch. The first time I went, I tried their chicken parmesan sub. Chicken parmesan is one of my favorite foods and yet I have been having trouble finding a place to order one in Germantown. The sub was pretty good, nothing amazing, but it was hot and I really liked the sauce they used. There are two small tables if you decide to eat inside the shop.

I went yesterday because I wanted to try their pizza. I got two slices of pepperoni and a grape soda for $4.99. The pizza was delicious and greasy. It was on the thinner side, and was very cheesy. A great, cheap, lunch. Plus you can fill up your tank and still make it back to work on time!

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Jersey Mike’s

When a friend learned that I’d be working in Germantown, MD he made a point to tell me to check out Jersey Mike’s.

Jersey Mike’s (not to be confused with Cheesesteak Mike’s) is a national chain that specializes in subs. The subs here are HUGE. The first time I went, I made the mistake of ordering the giant cheesesteak. The giant size is literally longer then a foot. I ate half of it on my lunch break and the other half a few hours later. I was so close to falling asleep that I had to vow to stick to the regular.

The food here is definitely good. It’s not like Subway where they barely give you any meat. I’ve only tried the cheesesteak, but I’ve always left happy. The portions here are not for the faint of heart.

The staff is always really friendly and accommodating. Sometimes it takes some time for your sub to be ready, but this is understandable because this place can get busy.

I will say my favorite cheesesteak in Germantown is still Beers and Cheers, but this is still a good option and I’m glad it’s here.

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Gilly’s Craft Beer and Fine Wine

On Friday, I stopped in at Gilly’s Craft Beer and Fine Wine to pick up a couple of six packs for the weekend. I heard good things about the place so I decided to check it out.

It’s located in Rockville, MD across from Guitar Center and next to Urban Barbecue. I could see people sitting and drinking wine through the front window. When you walk in, you see a few tables in the front with people drinking and eating. They have a deli inside, as well as a cheese counter. From what I read, you can even bring over food from Urban Barbecue and sit at the tables and eat.

The clerk behind the counter gave me a menu, which looked great. They have some really unique sandwiches, like a ham and cheese with Cheetos on top. Next time I visit I’m going to get a sandwich.

What also makes them unique is they have beer on draft that you can drink while browsing. They even had Heavy Seas Red Sky at Night on draft, which is a great beer. Their website shows that they also do tastings and other events on site.

They had a great beer selection – everything from 6-packs to singles. They also had a unique offer for make your own 6-packs. The clerk told me that any beer in the store can be used for your own unique 6-pack. All they ask is that you bring up the 6-pack that you take a beer from and they will put the rest out as individual beers. I thought this was a great idea.

I picked up two 6-packs; Flying Dog’s Woody Creek Belgian Wit and Schlafly’s Summer Lager.

I’m a huge Flying Dog fan and I had never tried this particular beer. This is a light summer beer with a hint of hops, great for a hot day.

I’ve never tried any beer from Schlafly, and I was in the mood for summer beers so I picked this one up. This particular beer is a Helles-Style Summer Lager. It’s a great beer for sipping on a hot day. This one is not as hoppy as the Woody Creek Belgian Wit. I will definitely keep an eye out for more of their beers.

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Beers and Cheers

One of my absolute favorite places I discovered by my work is Beers and Cheers in Germantown, MD.

They have an excellent selection of beer and wine, as well as deli sandwiches. I always get their cheesesteak, which is one of the best that I have ever had. The staff here are very friendly. They are very helpful when you need a suggestion for a beer or wine.

I stopped in for lunch today and got a cheesesteak and a six-pack of Table for Two, a beer created in collaboration by Flying Dog in Frederick, MD and Brewer’s Art in Baltimore, MD. It’s a Belgian table beer with a 5% ABV.

You can also make your own six-pack, and they even throw in a 10% discount if you do so. I’m going to come back and grab some Summer Love from Victory and also Red Sky at Night by Heavy Seas.

This is a great option for beer, wine, and cheeseteaks!

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Arrowine

One of my new favorite stores is Arrowine in Arlington, VA. I have now been a couple of times and always find great stuff. They sell a variety of cheese, wine, beer and meats.

The first time I went there, I picked up a bottle of Letter of Marque made my Heavy Seas. This beer is a Belgian Dubbel with an 8% ABV I am a huge Heavy Seas fan, and will post later about my visit to their brewery.

I also grabbed a 6-pack of Optimal Wit made by Port City (out of Alexandria, VA). This is a Belgian style wheat beer. I can’t wait to tour their brewery.

I know what to look for in a good beer, but I don’t really know how to find a good cheese.

The first time I went to the store, I grabbed a cheese that I thought looked good even though I had no idea. It turned out to be excellent! I don’t remember the name, but it was delicious.

I also got a baguette, which they get from Lyon Bakery. It was very good bread.

I went to the shop again yesterday. This time I grabbed a cheese platter that changes depending on what specials are running. It had an assortment of cheese from Germany, Belgium, Netherlands and Denmark. All of the cheeses in this assortment were great.

It also had salami, olives, and some nuts. I also bought some goat cheese and a 1/4 pound of salami. The salami was thinly sliced and was really good.

I will definitely be back.

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Royal Bagel Bakery & Deli

Being that I work in Germantown, I’ve tried a bunch of restaurants around here. One of my absolute favorites is Royal Bagel Bakery and Deli.

First things first, the staff here are excellent. I’ve always been greeted warmly and with a smile. One time my order was taking a little extra time, so they gave me a free donut to make up for it. Small gesture, but I appreciated it.

I’ve gone here countless times for breakfast and lunch. For breakfast, I usually grab an onion bagel with cream cheese. These are some of the best bagels I have ever had.

The lunch here is fantastic. The sandwiches are not only delicious but huge. You really don’t need to order any sides if you plan on eating the whole thing. I am a big fan of the Hot Penn Station, which has roast beef and provolone cheese on a sub roll with lettuce, tomato, mayonnaise, onions and hot peppers. They also make a fantastic Reuben. I haven’t tried too many of the sides, but the potato salad is really good.

They also have a huge display of pastries, cookies, etc.

I’ve only tried the chocolate cigars, but they were delicious!

Definitely worth checking out if you find yourself in the area.

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Max’s Kosher Cafe

I have a confession. This was my first time going to Max’s and getting a falafel. Shameful, I know, but Wheaton has so much awesome food that it takes time to make it to all of these places.

I’ve been to the Shalom Strictly Kosher Market next door a couple of times, but hadn’t made it to Max’s. Yesterday, I stopped in for lunch and to try their popular falafel for the first time.

The place was a lot bigger then it seemed from the outside. I went up to the counter and ordered the whole falafel. You then take your ticket over to the “creation station” where you customize your falafel. I was a little intimidated because I did not know what everything was, but it all looked delicious. I told the guy that I’m not picky and I’d like to try it how most people order it. He also put this spicy sauce on it which was so good.

I’m no expert, but this is the best falafel that I have ever had. Next time, I am going to try the shawarma which also looked amazing.

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Woodside Deli

Eatin’ in Wheaton recently reviewed the Woodside Deli in Silver Spring, MD. The review can be found here.

I’ve never been to that location, but I love the Germantown, MD location.

Normally, I go there for lunch but today I went there for breakfast. I ordered a deli omelette, which was one of the daily specials. This omelette was filled with onions, potatoes, and proscuitto. On the side, I got a cup of fruit and two pieces of toast. I also got two cups of coffee. The portion was huge, and the food was delicious. My server was extremely friendly and attentive.

I’ve ordered lunch from them a bunch of times. I really like the turkey club, tuna club, charbroiled chicken club, and the gyro platter. Everything tastes fresh, and the staff are friendly. I will have to try the one in Silver Spring for comparison purposes.

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