[RP TownTalk] new restaurants: an embarrassment of riches....

[Dwight Holmes]

When I first moved to this area in 2000, there were the Mexican options on
& off Kenilworth; the Acapulco in West Hyattsville; Franklin's Deli
counter; and, of course, the Calvert House... that was about it...
literally.  Franklin's Deli metamorphosed into Franklin's Brew Pub, and the
Calvert House closed........ In the 19 years since, many places have opened
- I won't even try to list all the dining out options we have now.

But I do want to say something about the 2 new restaurants, Banana Bistro
(in the long long long-vacant corner building in Riverdale Park - site of
the legendary 'biker bar' old-timers tell us about, and directly across
from the erstwhile S&J's Bar - and Marco & Polo, over by the movie theater
in University Town Center (directly across from the temporary location of
the Hyattsville Library).

As others have posted, Banana Bistro had their official soft opening on
Wednesday, and plan to be fully open (including lunch) in a couple of
weeks.  They've done a beautiful job creating a very comfortable space, and
the food is lovely, too!  Definitely check it out!

I really want to draw your attention to the  Uyghur   restaurant, Marco &
Polo.  The owner, Mr Rozi, was actually born in the Netherlands - his
family fled their homeland (what is now part of  Xinjiang Province) when
the Chinese took it over in 1949 (not long before they took over Tibet).
He learned the restaurant business there, and has more recently moved to
the U.S., and opened Marco & Polo a few months ago.  I'm very, very sorry I
only got their for my first visit last night!

If you like any cuisine from between, say, Lebanon & Vietnam, you'll find
much to love about the Uyghur cuisine served in this lovely restaurant. I
have to go back on a weekend, having learned that the owner, Mr Rozi, plays
music on his traditional Uyghur instruments then. And, if you've never had
Tibetan (or similar) salt tea, you owe it to yourself to try their
Uyghur chaya (tea). If your dish isn't hot enough for your taste,
definitely ask for their special house chili paste. To die for. Most of
all, just go, check this place out. You'll really be sorry if you don't :)

Dwight

Here are Facebook links for these restaurants:

Marco & Polo
https://www.facebook.com/Marco-Polo-Restaurant-459510291157051/?ref=br_rs
<https://www.facebook.com/Marco-Polo-Restaurant-459510291157051/?ref=br_rs>

Banana Blossom
https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=168701623911300&ref=br_rs
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