July 29, 2008. Chevy Chase, Md. Wheaton Dining.

When we lived in Kensington, which we did for twenty years, we ate dinner in Wheaton about once a week. It was just a ten minute ride up Connecticut Avenue and then University Blvd. What you found was oodles and oodles of ethnic restaurants, so many that we could go to a different restaurant every week and never go to the same place twice. Our custom was to jump in the car and drive around Wheaton until we spotted a new place, then try to find a parking spot while we could still remember the name of the new place. Almost always, we could eat for twenty dollars total. The food was great and the cost was low, so we loved it. Then we moved. We now live near only three eating places. Of course, Bethesda is close by with it's 185 restaurants, but those places are fancy and expensive, and besides, they are close to my office which reminds me that I am on duty. No. Nothing comes close to Wheaton for dinners on the cheap.

Tonight, Ken had to take his truck to the dealer for a recall. The closest dealer was in Wheaton, so after work we drove both vehicles up to the dealer, to leave his truck to be repaired tomorrow. We loved being back in Wheaton, so we ate dinner at a Vietnamese restaurant, new to us but very good. Of course, most of the places have changed hands since we moved in 1997, and many spots are being spruced up. But the same deals were all around... many ethnic eateries on every block. We have decided to eat in Wheaton once a month for now on. We miss it. Nothing comes close to the variety and the cost close to our present home. Perhaps in the Columbia Heights area in the District you could find the variety, but that is almost an hours drive , so mostly we do not go. But from now on, we are going to gather our friends together and eat in Wheaton. It is tacky, but the food is good.