McDonald's BTS Meal arrives in Montgomery County

The McDonald's BTS Meal officially arrived nationwide yesterday. In partnership with the K-pop boy band, the meal includes a 10-piece Chicken McNuggets, medium fries, a medium Coca-Cola, and two sauce packets: Cajun and Sweet Chili. 

While most media outlets have lauded the sauces as both being new to the United States, McDonald's actually offered Sweet Chili sauce some years back. The Cajun sauce is brand new, however. Watch my in-depth review on YouTube.

BTS fans have reacted enthusiastically to the promotion on social media, but there has been significant dissatisfaction among them that McDonald's did not provide BTS-branded packaging for the meal nor any BTS-themed prize, cards or toys in the United States. Some overseas countries have received special packaging for their BTS meals, which led some fans to ask why an American restaurant chain did not provide this BTS packaging for its American customers.

Montgomery County judge won't end indoor dining ban

Parker Lewis can't lose. And neither can Montgomery County government in a Maryland courtroom, it can often seem. The recent decision by a judge in Anne Arundel County overturning that jurisdiction's ban on indoor and outdoor dining set up an excellent measuring stick for the Montgomery County decision that came last night in Montgomery County Circuit Court.

Judge James Bonifant declined to grant an injunction against Montgomery County's ban on indoor dining. Another hearing on the matter will be held after the Christmas holiday. Similar efforts to overturn bans were also rejected in Baltimore City and Prince George's County on Wednesday. 

Damascus Pizza Hut to become gluten-free pasta restaurant

A new business has leased the former Pizza Hut restaurant space at 9899 Main Street in Damascus. The new restaurant will serve "artisanal" fresh, gluten-free pasta. So many of my favorite fast food restaurants - Burger King, KFC, Pizza Hut - in Damascus have closed. But if they make a good Fettuccine Alfredo with chicken and broccoli here, I'm on board. The new restaurant will not make structural changes to space, but just bring in their own equipment.

McRib is back in Gaithersburg, Germantown and Damascus!

McRib is back in Gaithersburg, Germantown and Damascus! McDonald's legendary sandwich, one of a handful of fast food items to earn my 6 star rating (out of 5 stars), has returned to Montgomery County and Maryland for the first time in seven years. I hadn't had a McRib since 2012, and am pleased to report they are just as good as they were in the past. Watch my detailed review of McRib 2019, and find the McRib nearest you using the official McRib locator. Many thanks to McDonald's and the local franchise for listening to their loyal customers and bringing back McRib!

Contents of Smokehill BBQ in Damascus to be auctioned off today

Smokehill BBQ has "lost its lease" at 9870 Main Street in Damascus, according to an auction announcement online. Starting at 11:00 AM this morning, June 18, 2019, the contents of the restaurant will be auctioned off.

Items available for bid include a smoker (of course), barstools, a kegerator, a two-door refrigerator and a television. The restaurant opened three-and-a-half years ago, and the owners say they have decided to close to spend more time with family. "We apologize for the abrupt nature of our closing," they wrote in a Facebook post announcing the closure, "but we feel it was the right thing to do for our family."