These MoCo Restaurants Have Stellar Wine Programs, Magazine Says

BETHESDA, MD — Montgomery County's restaurant scene is getting some national love thanks to Wine Spectator.

Wine Spectator recently announced the winners of the 2025 Restaurant Awards. These awards honor the world’s best restaurants for wine.

This year’s awards program recognizes 3,811 dining destinations from all 50 states in the U.S. and more than 80 countries internationally.

A total of 38 Maryland restaurants were honored.

"A wine list is a restaurant’s identity in print, and this year’s Wine Spectator Restaurant Award winners reflect both deep knowledge and a passion for discovery," Marvin R. Shanken, Editor and Publisher of Wine Spectator, said. "I proudly present the 3,811 restaurants worldwide that earned a Restaurant Award this year—we raise a glass to all our winners."

Among the honorees are six in Montgomery County. Those winners are:

• The Capital Grille, 5310 Western Ave., Chevy Chase
• Aventino Cucina, 4747 Bethesda Ave., Bethesda
• Fogo de Chão, 11600 Old Georgetown Road, North Bethesda
• Locavino, 8519 Fenton St., Silver Spring
• Morton's, The Steakhouse, 7400 Wisconsin Ave., Bethesda
• Seasons 52, 11414 Rockville Road, North Bethesda

Launched in 1981, the Restaurant Awards represent the world’s only program focused exclusively on restaurant wine service.

They are assigned on three levels: the Award of Excellence, the Best of Award of Excellence and the Grand Award, with 2,001; 1,411; and 93 winners this year in each respective category.

Also featured in Wine Spectator’s special Restaurant Awards issue: “What’s Old is New Again,” as restaurants place an emphasis on revisiting and uplifting tried and true classics.

The Restaurant Awards issue, which features a tribute to late Grand Award-winning American chef and restaurateur Charlie Trotter, becomes available to readers July 15.

See the full list of winners online here.

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