Bethesda Rookie

Tia Queta

I'm extremely predisposed to like Tia Queta.  I'm lazy, they're close. I love cheese, they put cheese on almost everything. I like booze, they sell tequila and beer. I like eating outside, they have a roof deck. I like dumps, they're kind of dumpy. I'm cheap, they're reasonable. The problem is, the service is slow and the food is mediocre. One or the other is almost okay, but both are intolerable.

The night we went, M- and I were considering going to Bacchus. But as we parked the car and saw Tia Queta right around the corner, I talked M- into it a) to save money, and b) because I've been eyeing it for a while and assuming it would be a little gem. We went upstairs and got a seat outside with a view of Del Ray Avenue, and settled in for what I figured would be a pretty fun meal.

It took a while to order drinks, and it took a while to get them, and it took a while to get chips and salsa. Long story short, everything took a while. We started with Queso con Tequila, cheese broiled to a bubbly brown with chorizo, mushrooms and tequila, and it was fine, except that we had to ask for tortillas, and they... took a while. A while later, I had the Entomatadas, layered tortillas with sauce of tomatoes, garlic, onions, peppers and chicken, and M- had the Tacos Roquetas, rolled tortillas with chicken and three different sauces. We were both excited for our food, and both disappointed. Each dish was less that the sum of its parts, and not quite hot, and not very satisfying, especially given the wait.

The menu actually has quite a bit to choose from, and "custom made orders are welcome" to boot, but unless I discover that our evening there was a fluke, I can't see making it back much. Actually, I could see going back with M- on a night when we feel like biding time with Coronas. But as I thought of taking my father there, with his habit of chasing down a waitperson after so much as 4 minutes without attention, I ruled it out for him. And 10 minutes after that I ruled it out for most of my friends as well.

The fact remains, Tia Queta's roof is a pretty nice place to sit. Just limit your expectations to that.

Tia Queta • 4839 Del Ray Avenue, Bethesda • 301.654.4443

I Hate Broccoli on Tia Queta (and in disagreement with me); washingtonpost.com on Tia Queta, WashingtonPost.com on rooftop dining

Picasso

That I love Picasso Restaurant & Tapas Bar probably says more about me than it does about the restaurant. It's a pretty dumpy place, and the food isn't particularly sophisticated or well-crafted, and even the service isn't as friendly as it should be (though some people claim otherwise), but I've been there a few times and I find it to be a welcome respite from Betheda-ness with its modest decor, matter-of-fact staff, Spanish tapas and Tex-Mex entrees, and beer, margaritas and sangria to choose from.

The menu doesn't offer much in the way of vegetables, but you can get your daily allowance of meat and dairy. My personal favorite is the Platanos Relleno, fried plantain stuffed with shredded beef and melted cheese. The Quesadillas, Camarones al Ajo, Carnitas and Tamales are all quite good, and you can piece together a very satisfying, if immobilizing, meal. (I can't speak to their entrees as of yet.) You'll get prompt if not enthusiastic attention, and don't be surprised if you have to fight to keep your dishes from being whisked away the minute they're empty, or when you look away from them for a few seconds.

So it's not what most people would consider a "date place," but it's an easy way to duck out of Maryland for a couple of hours. Not because it feels like Spain or Mexico (or Texas), but because it doesn't feel like Jaleo.

Picasso, 4918 Del Ray Avenue, Bethesda, 301.986.0606, Happy Hour Monday-Saturday, 3pm-6pm, half-price beer and complimentary snacks.