I think I am addicted to this place. I love their food specially their salads. Between food and drinks the bill can add up, but the service is great. It is hard to get a table during the weekends, but that is how popular it is. Happy Hour is OK, they still charge around $6-$8 a glass of wine, which I can get for cheaper in DC. Overall, I love the ambiance. It is very relaxing and conveniently located.
(5)
Bex G.
A good menu with solid wine and beer options. You can buy bottles and 6 packs of beer. There is good happy hour and daily specials.
(4)
Frankie B.
Good food, but a bit overpriced for the size and content. The inside is loud, small, and hot due to the heat from the kitchen. I had the jerk chicken sandwich, flavor was good, but the chicken breast was small on the bun. Te sweet potatoe fries and dipping sauce were really good. My friend had the pesto chicken which was tasty but small for the price.
(4)
Steve L.
Don't mistake this for a restaurant. Its more like a liquor store with good take out food. The food is great, staff are extremely friendly & helpful. Price is reasonable for the quality. Downside: plastic plates & silverware. Wait on yourself & bus your own table! Will I be back??? Hell to the YA
(4)
Sarah M.
The eggplant fries are amazing. So delicious. They come with marinara sauce, and the small order was plenty. They have a great wine selection (and you can buy bottles of wine while you're waiting for your food!) and a decent beer selection too. They don't have servers, you order at the register, they give you your beverage of choice and then you wait for your food. It was a little slow when I was there, so minus one star.
(4)
Liz R.
The sweet potato fries are DELICIOUS!!! I had their Jerk wrap and was pleased. I was a bit disappointed the wrap had all of the lettuce and the chicken on one side. Then again I am a bit picky, hey I don't like turning my wrap around and around to get the equal amount of fixings. My husband has had their Jalisco and Bison Burger and has loved them. This place def needs more seating. Staff was friendly.
(4)
Casey H.
Adega is a solid 3. The food here is reliably pretty good. I have been there enough to sample burgers, several kinds of sandwiches and a few salads. Some are great--the burgers are all tasty, for instance. The sandwiches are a bit more hit and miss. Some are awesome, others bland or poorly made. The sweet potato fries are always tasty--definitely upgrade from the chips. The store is occasionally quite crowded, and the seating situation is first come, first serve. The tables are frequently a bit dirty too--they need more regular bussing. In all, Adega is a solid choice in a convenient location. Definitely not the best grub in downtown Silver Spring, but you won't regret it if you find yourself there.
(3)
Veronica J.
Meg nothing to write home about. Food was good don't get me wrong but pricey for what I got
(2)
Foody M.
Adega is a hidden unassuming place between a taco place and a hardwear store. its over the outdoor ice skating rink. I'm from NYC so the pizza is just so so. They could improve the dough but it's made fresh. The staff is super friendly and happy to help you pair your wine with your meal. its a nice grown up place that balances between a bar and a fast food joint.
(3)
Sarah B.
Adega has a great happy hour! That is definitely the time to go as all wine and beer are 25% off, as well as appetizers. Their wine is fantastic and the staff are great, very friendly and helpful. I've sat there for hours and no one minds. I just wish they'd have a little more vegan food.
(5)
Harper D.
Nice vibe and great food!! Loved the burger, sweet potato fries, and sangria! Cute wine shop as well! I'll definitely be going back!
(5)
Timothy C.
Still five stars, though now I am happy to report that I successfully obtained the elusive pork belly sandwich by showing up before the lunch rush. (though when I asked if they had it, the guy yelled over into the kitchen in Spanish to ask if they had it, and my heart sunk and I listened for a "Si" cuz I know that means "yes," but the "si" never came and I was held in suspense as they chatted, and then he finally says "yeah, we have it" super calm-like) Stressful, but delicious. Know better than to cause that much discord between a man and his lunch plans haha!! Served on a brioche bun with purple cabbage slaw and a gingery/miso type sauce, it was as yummers as I dreamed it would be! Thanks, Adegs! (Not a typo. You see, we're on a first name bas-, nay, NICKNAME basis now, like it or not!) Best sandwiches in downtown Silver Spring
OK, so three stars is average. Not too good but not too bad...well, it was just a bad date night location. This place is more of a lunch or happy hour spot for social time than one on one The alcohol selection was above average for the are and I enjoyed the eclectic menu. I strongly recommend the lamb burger with eggplant fries! Just not for a date.
(3)
Toya J.
Adega is such a cool place to hang out. It's like wine cellar meets gourmet bistro with a little Latin jazz in the mix. You come in, go to the register place your order, you get a buzzer, go to your seat and wait for the staff to bring your food. The servers on both my visits were nice and courteous. Don't be skeptical when they say everything is good, because everything IS GOOD! Been here twice already and I must say from the creamy mushroom brie soup and calamari to the blue cheese burger-no complaints. I'm not that crazy about sweet potatoe fries, but I like Adega's part of it is the honey mustard sauce. I was leary about the eggplant fries? But they were delicious, would never think to put fry and eggplant in the same category. But it all works! My favorite drink is their apple cider sangria, which I thought was unique. The environment is very laid back; a casual cafe so it did not seem strange or out of place to see people come here with their children. On Saturdays from 4 to 7pm, there is an impromptu wine tasting. I must say Silver Spring is popping up with more and more things that I would typically go to DC to do. Hey....Easy/ free parking --I'm THERE!
(5)
Brian M.
This place is trying hard to be different for the wrong reasons, first you go up to the counter to order, you cannot start a tab, you go get your own food served on a plastic tray with styrofoam plates, when it is ready very much like a McDonalds. But with $6 to $9'glasses of wine. During happy hour 1 appetizer of sliders 1 draft dogfishhead 61 minute and a small order of truffle fries $16. Not horrible but certainly not happy hour! Then the sliders come out, I swore three little old ladies appeared behind me going "where's the beef?". They didn't even half fill the buns. See the picture. One star for the beer and the flatbreads looked good, on star for the draft beer. Summary, a McDonalds service experience and casual higher end Bistro pricing, lacking some meat.
(2)
Mike B.
It's funny, when I read my mother's review. Yeah, we keep it real #YelpFamily, she called it a "hidden gem." And my first instinct was to honestly be like... "It's not hidden! It's in the middle of Silver Spring Town Center!" But I have to say... she's kind of right. This is a gem that is hidden in plain sight. Ya know, when you're looking and searching for something endlessly and it turns out to be right in front of you face. How does that happen? Thanks a lot brain! Why I oughta...! Ok, wait, back to the review. So Adega, amongst the large swath of corporate drones and franchises (namely: Fuddruckers, Zpizza, Chik-Fil-A, Baja Fresh, Coldstone, and on and on and on) stands quitely and unassuming. It doesn't have a large blaring sign, it doesn't pop out sitting above the currently dry ice skating rink. But you go in and you're like... this place looks special. Ok... they have wine. That's good... ok they have beer, that real good. And then, you wouldn't even think, but they have a full menu. And when I say full, I mean FULL. They have appetizers, burgers, sandwiches, salads, a few entree dishes. They have pizzas. I mean, it's a full menu! So, you look at it, and you're like... ok, a Smokin' Turkey Reuben ( Stop there... order that). It's delicious, it's a mainstay, and if you really delve deep into the Yelp review, it's like claps at a State Of The Union address. It happens every like 10 seconds. And then you go down and you're like Beef Brisket, Grilled Cheese, Jerk Warp etc etc. But, look closely young padawan. -That beef brisket sandwich has a chipotle bbq sauce with a cumin coleslaw -That grilled cheese sandwich has applewood smoked bacon, and herb marscapone, and a red onion on it -That Jerk Wrap has fresh mango on it! Ahhhh, sakè. (that's an old inside joke between me and an old friend- you won't get it) ***Wait.. you really want me to explain what it means... okkkk fine. So when I was younger, I was watching the Iron Chef Sakè battle with a friend. And the two chefs that were competing would keep adding sake to each dish. And surprisingly the judges, who were watching the battle would continually ask "Oh, what is he adding there???", and then Fukui-san would say "oh, yes, he's adding Sake into that dish" And all the judges would go "Ahhhh, sakè." This happened like 20 times throughout the battle. It just kept happening! "Ahhhh, sakè!" The mini burgers were super tasty. Enhanced by a creamy cheese sauce, perfectly cooked, and served on a buttery brioche bun- I'm tempted to order full size next time. The turkey reuben was clutch. Wonderfully flavorful, dimensional, sweet, tangy, savory, all on crusty bread. Just do it. The bruschetta was the only thing that wasn't to my taste. I think it lacked cohesiveness. It needed something to bring it together, and i don't believe any olive oil was used. I would revisit this recipe... I'm sorry that sounds horrible. It just was really lacking- and with bruschetta, some easy fixes can really save it. Wines were fantastic, I had a Picada Malbec which I would certainly order again. Love this place. I keep forgetting it exists, I need to stop doing that. I want to be there much more!
(4)
Joy B.
I have to thank Mike B for introducing me to this hidden gem. A lovely wine bar located right across the street from the Majestic 20 theater in Silver Spring,Maryland. We started our meal with the hamburger sliders. They were thick Angus beef burgers, dripping in an Adega Cabernet reduction, wrapped in a brioche bun and covered with melted cheese. Then we shared the most delicious eggplant fries with a rich tomato dipping sauce. We tried the smokin turkey Reuben. It was grilled panini style filled with oven breasted turkey topped with an Asian pear cranberry sauce. It was like Christmas had come early! A delight for the taste buds. We also enjoyed the bruschetta with diced tomatoes and buffalo Mozzarella cheese. That was the least memorable for me. I had a glass of Pinot noire that was smooth and earthy. If you come at happy hour you get 25% off appetizers. So if you are searching for a hidden gem I highly recommend giving Adega Wine Cellars a try!
(4)
Kimberly K.
Obsessed with this place. I came here with a friend for dinner and had a lovely time. Their food was on point! We ordered two dishes to share: the Proscuitto, Fig & Goat Cheese flatbread (pesto spread, topped with hand-torn proscuitto, figs & got cheese w/ mozzarella cheese) and Fish Tacos with Eggplant Fries. The flatbread was absolutely AMAZING. It was the perfect mix of sweet and salty, and the crust was to die for. I don't know what they put in the dough, but man, magically chewy and delish. You can get a small ($13 - four pieces) or large ($16 - eight pieces) size. Obviously, I went for the large! I eat like a fatty - hashtag sorry not sorry. The tacos were cooked perfectly, too. The fish was all sorts of flaky - seriously melted in my mouth *drools* I can't remember what else was in the taco - forgive me, I have an awful memory - but trust me when I say it was awesomesauce. I didn't get to try the eggplant fries - I was too busy munchin' on the flatbread - but my girlfriend told me they were phenomenal. FYI, no wait staff here! You order your grub at the counter and pick it up once it's ready. Also, I didn't get to try their wine, but I did get a glass of Sangria. It was ok. Nothing special! I wouldn't get dranks there again - would just splurge on their food! I'll DEF. be back!
(5)
Natalie M.
I've eaten here a few times and I always enjoy it. The food is good and the service is excellent! Here's what I've tried: -Veggie burger, with BBQ sauce: Very good, but I wish you could sub the brioche bun for a wheat one. -Ahi salad without rice: Decent, but the tuna is a bit bland and I wish they put more veggies in the salad. -Jerk chicken sandwich without mayo: The mayo is cumin flavored and probably adds a nice flavor, but I usually hate mayo so I decided to skip it. Instead, I dipped my sandwich in sriracha to add some spice, but it would have been great even without the sauce. -Veggie flatbread without cheese: This is probably my favorite thing here. They put just the right amount of tomato sauce, the veggies are fresh and the bread is baked to perfection. -Apple sangria: Absolutely amazing! This is definitely one of my favorite places in downtown Silver Spring.
(5)
Kassity L.
I loved this place! Great selection of food and wine. We came here in a Friday night, and seating was limited. We got lucky and a couple of people at a table next to us got up and left right before we got there. During the time we were there though, we saw that a lot of people came in and had to stand around for a bit before they found seating. The food was amazing. We got the meat plate, the beef brisket sandwich, and the Cajun pasta. The meat plate came with 4-5 different kinds of meat and bread to try them with. The beef brisket in the sandwich was really good -- moist and well seasoned. The pasta was also very well seasoned with a light spice. My only critique is that the pasta came with a lot of penne and perhaps could have used more of the sauce. We also got a malbec and a cab. The malbec ended up pairing well with the pasta, and the cab paired well with the beef brisket sandwich.
(5)
Nicoleen R.
Keeping back for more and more of the turkey reben sandwich. The staff is wonderful. You can purchase a bottle of wine and drink it with your meal. Its a winery too. Certain days they have wine tastings. The jerk wrap great ingredients needs a bit more pizzazz to it a bit bland. House salad with pecans,blue cheese,tomatoes and grilled pear a must.
(5)
Bianca F.
Great little wine bar and restaurant to visit in downtown Silver Spring. The staff is friendly and knowledgeable about the broad wine selection. They have tons of indoor seating and some outdoor seating. During my last visit, I had the bleu's burger and the eggplant fries. The eggplant fries were great! I heard the Jamaican chicken salad was good as well as the fish tacos. I really like this place, no long lines and a nice place for a date, to catch up with a friend or just because you need a glass of wine!
(5)
Travis K.
The food at Adega is pretty tasty. I especially like the burgers. They feature an extensive variety of wines, too, and there's a "happy hour" when the house variety is $2 a glass. The serving size of the french fries, however, is extremely small. For $2.50, I'd expect more than the 4-5 ounces they serve. I like to have enough fries to "balance" my burger, but the ratio here is woefully inadequate. My suggestion to that effect was met with little more than total indifference, but I was only able to speak with the order-taker, not the manager. The bathroom was absolutely filthy, apparently unattended for many hours, with paper towels spilling out of the large trash bin. The floors, especially around the booths, were filthy, making me wonder if sanitary conditions in the kitchen were any better. They have a sound system that plays tinny, poppy crap at an uncomfortable volume through speakers that sound like they were taken from toy phonographs. The "music," therefore, makes the setting uncomfortable. So many eating establishments would benefit from turning that crap OFF. They were nice enough to reduce the volume, somewhat, upon my polite request. My 2-star rating is mostly the result of poor ambiance, cleanliness, and serving size. I suppose that if you're selective, by just keeping with the entree sandwiches and perhaps a glass of wine, you will find the culinary experience satisfactory.
(2)
Brent J.
The value of Yelp. I visit downtown Silver Springs all the time. I see the sign for Adega Wine Cellars most of my visits. I had no idea it sold food until I saw a review on Yelp! I had to try it. Let's start with the layout. Walk in the front door and the counter is directly in front of you. On your left is a small wine & beer store (with a few tables along the window). On your right is the cafe section with a mix of short tables with chairs & tall tables with bar stoles. You order your food at the counter, then find a table. I asked the manager, there's no wait service but they will bring wine to your table if you order a bottle. Otherwise, you come back to the counter to pick up your food when your name is called. I ordered a sandwich to go but to give you an idea of the menu. Here are some choice items: eggplant fries, sweet potato fries, Southwestern Chipotle Turkey Wrap, Ahi Tuna Wrap, Napa Valley Cabernet Burger, Crabcake Sandwich & Hickory Smoked Pulled BBQ Pork Sandwich. They also have soups and flatbread sandwiches. This place makes a great eat-in lunch or to go dinner. Give it a try.
(3)
AgentRobLondon L.
Great for a wine bar! With all if the activity happening outside, makes this spot a winner. I love the different verieties of wines by the glass. Superb!
(4)
Devida N.
Great wine!! nice food selection for a really good price. They have the best sweet potato fries in DT Silver Spring!!! Try not to go during lunch time because the secret is out and this place can get packed. This place is located in the cut, next to Baja Fresh.
(5)
Andrew D.
I met some friends at Adega for an early dinner. I was impressed with the concept above all: wine store / bar / restaurant? I'm in! The food was very good, and reasonably priced (~$10 for a sandwich, ~$4 for an app). I had the Napa burger, which came on a rosemary focaccia slab with some chips. While very tasty, the pile of lettuce/tomato/sauce tended to make the bread soggy and unstable. So I had to scrape off some of the extras and eat it upside-down. But the burger itself was quite good. I couldn't resist the pulled-pork sliders, and I was glad I ordered some. Order some and don't share them with your friends. My companions all enjoyed their food (mostly sandwiches and pasta dishes), but the French Dip got somewhat low marks. The wine and beer selection rotates as the managers see fit, but seems to be well-balanced. You can also purchase wine or beer in the store for consumption at the table. The layout of the place is a little clumsy... occasionally you will have to dodge shoppers to get to your table. This is an issue because there is no table service. You must order and pick up at the counter. I recommend that you camp out on some table space before you go up to order, so you are sure to have a place to sit and eat.
(4)
An N.
I LOVE this place. The atmosphere is casual and the set up is easy to understand. The staff is friendly and the lobby attendant is as sweet as can be. Ask for Phillip if you're ever here, he's both sweet and knowledgeable about all the wine food and history of the place. I meet my girlfriends here for a good bottle of wine and snacks of sweet potato fries and eggplant fries. It is cozy and affordable for any student or budding adult (as I like to call myself at the age of 25). When I'm really hungry, I go for the jerk chicken anything. The bread is just AMAZING and the chicken and seasonings are just freaking perfect. Go for the sandwich on level 10 hunger days. It's SOOOO filling and bargain priced.
(4)
Becky M.
My fiance and I went here for dinner last Saturday night. We went for the special which gave us 1 app, 2 entrees, and a selected bottle of wine for $40. We could choose anything from the menu that did not have a market price, and there were 4 bottles of wine (2 white, 2 red) to choose from. We didn't have to wait long, and the service at this place was GREAT. Even though you order at the counter and have to go up to grab your food, they bring your wine to your table where they uncork it, allow you to taste it, pour it, etc. The gentleman even returned to refill our glasses periodically. The food was okay, but not great. We ordered the calamari appetizer, which was fine, but nothing special, and because it was served on a piece of wax paper, it seemed incredibly greasy... they might choose to serve this on a more absorbent material in the future so it doesn't look as icky. I ordered the special gouda burger, and my fiance ordered the bleu cheese burger. Both were cooked perfectly, but neither was amazing. The gouda burger didn't have enough cheese and had too much BBQ sauce for my taste. Plus, even though I knew I was getting kettle chips with the burger, I was disappointed not to have fries. Overall, cute place and a good value, but not spectacular.
(3)
Pam S.
Right before I moved out west from Boston, my mother and I visited a psychic to find out what the Bay Area held in store for me. Specifically, I wanted to know if (not when) I would meet the man of my dreams. Sure, I was moving without a job lined up and probably could have asked about that, but finding a job is easy. Finding a man who is smart, funny, AND hot is not. The psychic told me that by January of 2006, I would meet a doctor who liked wine who would come along and sweep me off my feet. Clearly the psychic LIED (shocking, I know), as I met my now ex-boyfriend in January who DID like wine but did absolutely no sweeping. And was not a doctor. Great guy, but I was more of his mother than his girlfriend as I basically had to plan everything we ever wanted to do. Granted, I'm a planner by nature, but every once in awhile it's nice to be wooed. Flowers, fun/romantic stuff to do, the whole bit. Is it really that hard? I'll woo back, I promise (wearing a little Santa outfit, perhaps). But I digress... On my last night in D.C., my cousin and I had to take my aunt to the airport, and on our way back, I was getting hungry. Despite the fact that the cousin is a vegetarian, I was craving a burger. Of course, she couldn't think of many burger places, but though Adega had one. And so I consulted my handy dandy Yelp app, scoped out the menu, and we came here. I was forewarned that this wasn't a sit down and get waited on place, which is fine. You go to a counter, order your food (and wine), they call you, and then you have to go back and pick it up. No biggie, unless you are having multiple glasses of wine. Ironically, although I flew 3,000 miles from a locale close to wine country, I got the Napa Valley Cabernet Burger. It was pretty darn tasty, even if the foccacia bread was a little difficult to navigate. The cousin got the tomato basil soup (yum!) and a half order each of the sweet potato and eggplant fries. I'm allergic to eggplant (weird, I know) so I didn't try those, but the sweet potato fries were pretty good. I'm still spoiled on TJ's SPF you can make at home, so it would be interesting to see someone either do crinkle cut or waffle cut SPF. But that's just my opinion. They had a nice selection of wines by the glass, and I was pleasantly surprised to see a Malbec on that menu. The place is laid out well, with tables on one side and the wine store on the other. They do have some nights with specials, which would be useful to sample different food and wines. Their wine and beer selection looked to be unique, which I respect. I'll have to disagree with some on the staff, though, the guys working at the counters really need to learn some customer service skills. Ambivalence is not good in retail, nor is it good in relationships. Just some life lessons, kids.
(3)
Katlyn Y.
We found this place through Yelp and were not disappointed by the reviews. Comes across as a very informal place, but definitelys has great amenties. The food menu is inventive and very good. The wine menu is interesting and flavorful. The best part is the place is affordable and very nice to use. Overall great experience and we plan of revisiting. Often.
(4)
Jarrett B.
I just had my virgin experience at Adega and I really enjoyed it! I stopped by with a lovely date after a long, long, LONG day at work and it was just what I needed. I picked up a bottle of deliciously fruity Riesling that just filled your palette with a wonderful taste of sparkling apples. I also ordered a burger that came fully equipped with bleu cheese and bacon and a plate of these eggplant fries that everyone keeps buzzing about. The burger was pretty excellent and the fries were served with a sprinkle of Parmesan cheese and marinara sauce to the side - essentially a hybrid between eggplant parmigiana and french fries. They were fried a little too long for my date's taste, but they were awesome for me. (So I ate way too many of them and paid for my gluttony later.) What may throw some people off is the odd vibe of the place. It's first and foremost a wine cellar. On top of that, they sell sit-down restaurant quality food, but without direct table service. Imagine a fast food restaurant that serves awesome, real ingredient food and happily delivers a freshly chilled bottle of wine from their store to your table. Finally, I am completely supportive of Adega because - in my overworked stupor I accidentally tipped about $20 more than a reasonable person would have - and my server (Well, she wasn't technically a server, but whatever, she brought the wine...) came to the table to let me know what I'd done an was a total sweetheart about it. Also, they have bottles of Duvel for sale. Silver Spring, sometimes I love living in you!
(4)
Ron M.
This local wine store/bar has a pretty good selection. I am very happy with the choices, and whoever picks the wine does a good job stocking reasonably priced and tasty bottles of wine. The reason for the lower rating deals mainly with the restaurant end of things. First of all, they don't really allow you to run a tab. This seems kind of silly, especially if you want to have a different glasses of wine before deciding on a bottle, or if you want to have a few small plates with your wine. Fortunately they were kind enough to let order a few things and then pay at the end, but the fact that this isn't SOP baffles me. As I've said before, the bottle selection is great here, and the staff is quite knowledgeable. The wine by the glass isn't as great, so just stick with the bottles. The food was ok at best, with the only the eggplant fries saving the meal. HIGHLY recommended! I didn't think they would work, but they did. Don't eat here without ordering the fries.
(3)
Targi B.
$4.50 per glass and cheap eats, SOLD! Ok, I've been walking past this place for at least 3 years and saying ok I'm gonna check it out...I'm so happy I did! The house Pinot is great! and $4.50 per glass (goes down smooth) and I love that they have small bites. You can try a bunch of things for a cheap price! I love that they have recommendations for the week and I can't wait to go back and actually buy a bottle! The soup of the day was Crap Bisque and it was amazing especially for the price of $4.29! and it came with bread (the only way to serve soup). I honestly couldn't believe how good this soup was, I wasn't expecting much for the price but they made me a believer in cheap and good! I also tried the steak flat-bread which wasn't so much of steak as it was steakums. Not exactly what I was expecting but for again for around $6 bucks it was WONDERFUL. I'm not sure if you can park in the whole food lots and go here (THEY TOW!), there is free parking across the street. So its easy to get in and out. I love the people watching here, I mean its Silver Spring so the freaks are out on a drizzly Sunday afternoon! I can not wait for the next wine time!
(4)
Mrs T.
Another great visit to Adega. Their Gouda burger is absolutely scrumptious along with the sweet potato fries. The house wines are priced wonderfully. I love that the atmosphere is casual, but your dining experience rivals that of much larger, expensive places. I hope they keep things just the way they are.
(4)
Eric L.
Can a wine cellar be inexpensive and unpretentious without being cheap? Can it have a limited selection that is endearing and broad? Can it offer a menu that's light and interesting without being contrived and artificial? Apparently so! I may have mentioned before that I work from home. To avoid Ted Kaczynski manifesto-writing shut-in tendencies I eat out a great deal. So I am always looking for a place with a good lunch menu, a comfortable spot to plop my laptop and a good crowd. Adega seems to be one of the best I've found thus far. The place serves some really good sandwiches and salads. The ingredients are fresh - or a very good facsimile - and the service is really friendly. The sweet potato fries are also really nice. The wine selection is rather surprising. I can't say that I'm familiar with most of the wineries, which is actually what's most appealing. I can grab a bottle for about $20 (and no it doesn't come in a box with a plastic bladder) and walk out the door with something memorable. I'm certainly no aficionado but I know what I like and what I don't. Wine has never been a sniff slurp swirl and spit experience for me. I like something that I can share with friends. Something that makes good food and good company transform into a better experience. And thus far I've been able to find a few bottles, which fit that bill. Adega isn't quite a lunch counter or a wine bar. It's more than either. The bottom line is that I really like this place and will spend a lot of time there in the future.
(4)
Caitie K.
I must preface by saying that previously I would have put Adega a 4, possibly 5, and we continue to go there, but they have gone down hill a little. Most of their staff is GREAT, the bus guy (we love him! what a great personality & attitude - he ALWAYS makes sure we are happy), and the two managers Phil & Justin are fantastic as well. They are both a great help when picking out wine! Go to Adega for quick bites, to buy wine for gifts, and wine for at home. Would love to see them get the Evodia wine back on the shelf. Stock it up! Notables: Steak Salad, Recent Groupon was easy/smooth to use! I had heard overall that restaurant groupons were sometimes difficult to cash in on, but at Adega...super easy & straight forward!
(3)
Jules J.
Adega is a refreshing change of pace from all of the chains offered on Ellsworth Drive. It is a great spot for a casual lunch or dinner. I've never ordered anything here I didn't like. The sweet potato fries are a must. I'm deducting one star because they don't have waiters and you can't drink wine at the outdoor seating area. This is also a great spot to do your wine shopping. There are bottles to fit any budget. They also offer a small selection of good beers. If you need wine advice ask for Phil. He recommended Ponga Sauvignon Blanc and it's been a warm weather favorite of mine ever since!
(4)
Jody B.
Hit Adega for a Friday night with a groupon coupon around 7PM...the place was packed. The menu was pleantiful and the wine flowed. The order taker was fantastic and ordered the wine for me. He chose a great red one based on what I ordered. I would have to rate the eggplant fries NUMBER ONE...for sure without a doubt the best. Then the sweet potato fries...followed by the Jerk Chicken wrap. My friend loved the lobster bisque soup and a fish taco special. Difficult seating but chatted up a few people and made conversation with a stranger as we all ate together at a table. In a great location for when the weather gets warmer...will be going back again but maybe during the week when it's not so busy.
(5)
Michael M.
Adega is as good as it gets for casual dining. I got at least twice a month, some times once a week. The wine selection is expansive and comprehensive. No matter what my price range, they've got friendly servers to help me pick the wine I want. The menu has some of the best fare in town (wraps, burgers, flatbread pizzas, soups, rotating seasonals like soft-shell crab etc.) all gourmet, and all reasonably priced. The friendly staff (the best around) and warm decor make it a great spot to take friends and family alike, and their weekend "date-night deal" of 1 app, 2 entrees and a bottle of select wine for $35 is unbeatable.
(5)
Jung-Ah P.
I planned to served mulled wine at Jackie's during dinner service, so I made my way to Whole Foods in Silver Spring for vanilla beans, cinnamon sticks, and cloves. When I was done spice shopping, I realized that I was starving, so I went around the corner to Adega. I'd been there once before and I remembered the sweet potato fries were yummilicious. After looking at their sandwich and wrap selections, I decided on the portabello mushroom with pesto, sauteed onions and grilled red peppers on foccacia and a side of eggplant fries. I did contemplate ordering a glass of wine, but it seemed inappropriate to drink in the middle of the afternoon on a weekday just before going in to work at a bar. As I waited for my food, I picked a nice quiet table by the window and checked out my surroundings. The part of Adega that I was at was the cafe section, with a counter for ordering and paying and then a separate counter for picking up food, and behind a wooden panel, the exciting action of food preparation was taking place. There were about 10 tables to dine at or there is also counter space at the wooden panel that separates the food prep area from the dining space. The other side of the establishment was dedicated to wine - shelves and shelves of wine which I would have loved to check out up close, had I not been weak from hunger and dying to catch up on what Edward and Bella were up to in my new book, Twilight. There is seating on the wine side also, but not as much as the side that I was sitting at. So I admired from a distance and opened up my book. I only got through a couple of paragraphs when my number was called. I suppose that has a lot to do with the fact that it was 3:00pm on a Tuesday and there were only about 5 diners. I galloped over to pick up the food and I got excited when I saw my tray. The sandwich was pretty large, the foccacia was thick and they didn't skimp on the filling. I took a bite - no, I took several bites and ate a few of the eggplant fries before I realized I had forgotten to take a picture!! So I paused quickly to take a couple of pictures then went back to enjoying my lovely lunch. The only unsatisfactory item was the cold marinara sauce that was served with the eggplant fries. Why cold? The sandwich is hot, the fries are hot, but the sauce, which I was fully expecting to be hot, was not. Nevertheless, it was delicious. The fries were crispy on the outside and soft and yummy inside, and, might I say, the perfect companion to the portabello sandwich. Before I knew it, I had read an entire chapter of Twilight, was full, and had lunch for the next day as I couldn't eat more than half of the sandwich. If you are in the neighborhood and want a delicious bite to eat and maybe some wine to accompany your meal, definitely check out Adega. Oh, check out their Monday special: half off Adega selected wines with a purchase of entree, dine-in only. Tasty tasty!!!
(4)
Shannon M.
Adega is such a fun place to have a few bottles of wine with friends. Since they have a wine store onsite, you are not paying insane restaurant markups-they just charge the retail price for what you buy. They have a small but thoughtful menu and I have always been pleased by our selections. The desserts are all tasty and the sweet potato and eggplant fries were also standouts. Adega is a great place for a casual dinner and one of my top picks when we're eating out inSilver Spring.
(4)
Brendan E.
I randomly stopped in here the other day just to check it out and enjoy a walk away for the office. This is the consummate yuppie establishment. I don't use the term derisively. It's simply that the place caters toward that younger, somewhat wealthier aged 20-35 white female. I came in, looked through the menu, which was fairly extensive for such a small place. I ordered a toasted sandwich with prosciutto, gorgonzola cheese, arugula and pears (yes, pears). I felt the sandwich was almost cmplete but damned if I can't figure out what I would improve. This should support my earlier claim of yuppiness. Still the sandwich good but greasier than I expected. Decent cup of coffee too. What I didn't expect was the wines and beers available for sale here. They even had some beers on tap which, on a more stressful day, I might have swapped for my coffee. I didn't really pay attention to price but I don't remember anything being outrageous. I'm not a big wine drinker but I can speak for the beer, which actually had a better selection than most similarly sized ie small stores and they had a better than average representation of some of the larger local micro breweries which also makes me feel good, even if I think Flying Dog is overrated. The place actually got fairly busy but they have a good amount of seating, including a few tables outside. The inside is clean and not offensively laid put or decorated. What really put this into the 4 star category was the fact that while I was there I managed to spill my coffee onto my phone but manged to power down, dry out, and complete the rescue. It's not that I asked any of the staff there for help, the miracle just happened to happen in their space, so well done! Next time I go I'm definitely getting a beer. Occasionally a friend of mine and I will go someplace like this and play yuppies for the day. This spot is perfect for a lunch version of that. Worthwhile, but if you're a guy who doesn't have confidence in your masculinity/sexuality you probably won't like it. No offense, just truth.
(4)
Tiffany M.
When we went they offered a Monday special of 40% off wine which was AWESOME! (They may still have this but I'm not sure). Obviously (hint the name) they've got a nice wine collection, and it's always fun to try new wines when it's discounted. We really enjoyed the casual relaxing environment and would recommend it as a pleasant place to eat if you happen to be in the downtown Silver Spring area.
(4)
Jim W.
I live in the neighborhood and Adega is a great little place for lunch, dinner and of course a bottle of wine. The staff is always upbeat and the wine selection seems really good (I'm not an expert, just a user). The wine is a little pricey, but I can walk there so I'm not going to rate them lower for that.
(3)
Matthew L.
Gourmet sandwiches, burgers, pastas, wine, and beer. A perfect spot for a quick sit down meal. Nice atmosphere.
(3)
Garry C.
It is extremely easy to convince the boyf not to go to the gym on Mondays. All I have to say is "half-price bottle of wine" and he rips off his sneakers and heads for the door. We have never been disappointed by the half-price wine selection and we have even found a few new favs. I have never been as impressed by the food. The pesto pasta was soooo EVOO-y that I felt like it was dripping down my face. The bruschetta was ok and the flatbread thingy we had was alright, but nothing too spectacular. We really come here for the wine. Great deals aside, it is a good place to go if you aren't really sure what you are looking for. Everyone there seems to really know what they are talking about and can steer you in the right direction. We have found lots of new wines we prob would never have tried by heeding their advice. It is very cute and casual, but I can easily see how it might feel cafeteria-y. I occasionally feel like I am sitting on top of the person at the table next to us. Maybe other costumers might not mind this because one time when I got up to use the restroom, the lady seated next to us decided she needed to tell my boyf the hidden "girl meaning" beneath what I was saying. "You know, she really wants this..." Awk, but hilarious.
(4)
Thoreau B.
Eggplant fries are the best thing ever invented. Seriously-such a good idea. This place has some decent sandwiches and other food, but the real reason to come is for the eggplant fries. It also has a small wine shop attached (it used to be 50/50 wine and cafe but the cafe did way better than the wine shop, so the wine is just a vestige now). It is kind of tucked away and hard to find compared to alot of the places in downtown silver spring, but it is worth checking out. I have probably been over 50 times, and plan on keep coming back. It is well priced-mostly because it is self service-but the food is good, and you can drink a glass of wine and then see a movie across the street and basically make a nice night of it. But make sure to try the eggplant fries.
(4)
Pat R.
I went to Adega on Friday night during happy hour and stayed there until it closed. My friends and I had a wonderful time and the staff was very friendly & helpful. We tried the Bruchetta, Crabcake and The Santa Fe Flatbread. Everything was delicious and we ordered seconds! In addition to the food we bought two bottles of wine. We asked to have it chilled and they kindly did and brought it to our table. I will definitely come here again in the future.
(5)
Stacey G.
Adega is expensive, but worth it. Tucked away, so it's never too busy, and stocked with excellent food and fine wines. The Big Jerk is a treat to your tastebuds and every order comes with kettle chips which is always great. Their to-go stands up to travel and the bread is fresh and delicious. I try to go there at least once a week as a treat to myself for getting paid! :)
(5)
Tara G.
LOVE this place and their well priced wines and dinners!!! GREAT for happy hour!!!
(5)
Kate F.
I will definitely be going back. Good food, great staff, and a simple vibe. They get one whole star simply for doing sweet potato fries so well. They are larger than most places, cooked perfectly and served with a complimentary dipping sauce. I couldn't ID it, perhaps the citrus vinaigrette. I got the Caribbean Chicken Salad. Excellent - fresh, tasty produce and a great combination of things. They didn't drown it all in dressing so a big gold star for them. My dinner mate got the steak flatbread and it was also delicious. The staff is really great. I am particularly fond of the guy who announces orders. He just has the perfect voice. They all have a great sense of humor and put up with my dinner mate's request for lots (really, I was a tab embarrassed by the amount) of extra fry dipping sauce. One guy was off the clock and leaving as we were and said thanks. Just friendly, helpful, funny people. Definitely good for a first date or a bite to eat before or after a movie.
I've only lunched here so I can't speak for their wine selection but Adega is on my list. The salads are great (I am a sucker for the Salmon Caesar, though it's a bit pricey); flatbreads are also yummy. Adega gets a little packed around lunchtime so try not to show up at the stroke of noon. Also, sometimes timing doesn't work out so well when eating with a group - one time I went and ordered a flatbread which came up after everyone else had finished their meals.
(4)
Steve Y.
As a fan of the wine bar scene I have to admit that I just don't know what to make of Adega. In so many ways Adega really frustrates me! The reality is I want to really like it (Silver Spring could use a decent wine bar), but there's a few important things stopping me. Primarily, I think Adega is unsure of its identity; yes, it calls itself a wine bar, but it also seems to be a wine shop, and it also has the feel of a fast food place like Potbelly's or Quiznos. I really think it needs to do away with the overpriced wine shop aspect (this is partially a factor of being located in Montgomery County where most wine is $2-$5 more expensive than it should be due to the state's and the county's insanely idiotic wine laws!!). They also need to make the food ordering less like a fast food joint. In fairness the actual food is a step above fast food and the menu does show some potential. However, with plastic plates, fountain drinks and counter service the place feels more like a burger joint than a wine bar. The result is a drinking and dining experiencing that falls far short of where it should be. Aside from the confused identity, I also think the place needs to be a lot cozier, and I mean A LOT! Perhaps they should go with a more rustic look (exposed brick, distressed tables, etc) like Cork on 14th Street in the District. Or, if they really wanted inspiration, they only need to walk up Colesville Road about 1/2 a mile and take a look at the excellent wine cellar at Mrs K's Toll House. The poor lighting, an often overlooked but essential component, also gets in the way of having a nice dining experience. If they correct all of these things then I'd be visiting the place every week, however right now I barely get there once a year. I'm guessing that Adega will continue to frustrate me for quite a while.
(2)
Kat L.
:::bashes head into wall::: first of all the bad. On a thursday afternoon with 2 people in line, how long does it take to take an order. I wanted to buy 2 bottles of wine, and i stood, and waited, and waited, for 10 minutes while the people in front of me diddle daddied with their choices for a late lunch. now the good. I buy my wine here. A-Z, and Goats do Roam. Its fantastic, and when I have beer people in town I know where to get the rare stuff. Its here. But its hard to buy when I cant check out. 4 stars but minus one for 10 min wait.
(3)
Brandi S.
I've been to adega a few times and found the food ok, not great but fine...until the last time I went where I ordered the burger and suffered food poisoning! After a horrible 48 hours and a visit to the ER, I have to say that adega has lost not only me but all my friends as patrons :(
(1)
Carrie G.
If you took a wine bar and crossed it with a coffee shop, this would be the result. As such, it doesn't quite have the ambiance of a normal wine bar, but what it does have is the ability to select any bottle in the place and drink it for no corkage fee. A friend and I split a bottle of wine and some sweet potato and eggplant fries (surprise, I thought I would like the sweet potato fries more, and they're good, but the eggplant ones were even better) for what two glasses of wine would cost in a lot of places.
(4)
Meghann E.
This is my favorite place for a glass of wine in the Silver Spring area. Great happy hour specials make it worth your while to come a little early. The food selection is diverse and not overly expensive. The eggplant fries are especially delicious (though sometimes they sell out). Adega also has a unique system where you order your food and pay at the counter then find a spot to sit and relax for the evening. On slow evenings it is the ideal system. On busy nights it can get confusing. The line isn't well organized, it sometimes take five minutes for people to order and the wait can be frustrating for people just popping in to grab a bottle of wine. It would be helpful if the staff behind the counter would communicate more with their guests waiting. It would help with the confusion and frustration. Speaking of staff though, Jose (whose title is probably busboy of the place?) is worth the visit alone. He helps you find seating, is personable and makes you want to become a regular. He even created seating for a group of friends and me when we came late on a busy Friday evening. Overall a great place to eat and dine.
(4)
Sunny D.
if i lived in SS i think i'd spend a lot of time here. it's like panera with slightly better food, and with wine. good wine! pros: -fast service (unless you're behind some idiots who can't decide/don't know the way the ordering works and aren't polite enough to step aside while they figure it out)* -very tasty food -lovely atmosphere that's part cafe, part wine cellar, part restaurant and perfect for dining alone with a book/laptop or with friends -you can dine in or take away, or just hit the wine cellar side and pick up some bottles (very good selection) cons: -the line/ordering system isn't very clearly defined and the menus are on the counter at the front even though the line is often all the way to the door -it gets pretty crowded on weekend afternoons/evenings, especially when the weather's nice -the floors are slippery even when dry if you're wearing anything other than grippy sneakers/boots -you can NOT sit in the outdoor seating area and drink your wine/beer; you have to drink inside ONLY. (kind of sucks on a beautiful day.) i'm in love with the jerk chicken salad even though i feel like it could be spicier. but it's very fresh and comes with avocados and a delicious mango dressing that hit the spot! i've heard great things about the bleu cheese burger but i don't eat red meat and i loathe bleu cheese, so i can't say first hand. the prices are reasonable and the staff is very friendly. i have to agree w/ mic that this is like a high end fast food joint. think napa valley/sonoma + starbucks + au bon pain + panera. but better. and with wine. lots and lots of wine! (*my GF and i were those idiots the first time we went, but we did step aside until we got our ordering lives together.)
(3)
Laura W.
1) sweet potato fries and eggplant fries (get the half and half plate) - simply amazing 2) happy hour with glasses of wine under 4 bucks 3) good wraps and salads 4) nice atmosphere - very sunny and open 5) scenic view of silver spring's very own astroturf lot
(4)
Gregory O.
At first I was scared of eating here because of the name -- I'm no oenophile! I shouldn't have been scared; this is a great, casual place to get a quick bite to eat. The prices are reasonable and the food is yummy. I'll definitely be coming back.
(4)
Alie S.
I eat here about once a week so it is definitely my go-to place in SS. It is laid back with good food and wine. The happy hour is decent, 25% off glasses of house wine and apps. But the best deal is to buy a bottle of wine because there is no corkage fee and you can take it home if you don't finish it. The food is fresh and there is a good variety of sandwich and wrap options. My personal favorite is the jerk chicken sandwich (excellent spiced chicken with mango and greens on a baguette). The cuban sandwich is great as well. The prices on the bottles are marked up a bit since they can be bought and drank in the restaurant. I wouldn't come here just to buy wine but to get a bottle and 2 meals for about $30, it is a great weeknight date spot.
(4)
Katie S.
This place has so much potential that is a little bit squandered by an unevolving menu and wine list. Here's what I love- being able to go and buy an interesting bottle of wine for a slightly inflated retail price, and then corking it in-store is a gazillion times better than paying restaurant wine prices. The sweet potato and eggplant fries are also pretty good. Here's what I don't love-outdoor seating where you can't drink wine. Sometimes impossible to find seating indoors on a busy night. A menu with almost nothing that is vegetarian/vegan except for one mediocre wrap and the fries. But even the meaty/cheesy options seem a little uninspired. It's a really cool business model and a great location, if they could get a good chef in there to overhaul the menu, it could be AMAZING. As-is, it's a great neighborhood place for an inexpensive glass of wine before a movie. We keep coming back for the wine. Oh and- the beer is such an afterthought. If they just had 2-3 rotating EXCELLENT beer choices that would really be great. They have almost no beer worth drinking.
(3)
Ashley K.
Every time I passed this place I brushed it off as just a liquor store with a bit of food, boy, was I wrong. My fiance and I had heard that they had great burgers so we had to see for ourselves. You order your food at the counter and someone brings it to you or you can pick it up. They had a selection of about 5 beers and a ton of wine. We wanted to sit outside because it was extremely over air conditioned. This meant that we couldn't get alcohol because it isn't allowed at their few outdoor tables (I know, I know). I got the blue cheese burger and Mike got some burger served on foccacia. My burger was pure blissful deliciousness, juicy and flavorful. They were served with chips, which I'm usually not a fan of, but these were actually pretty good. Mike's burger was good too, but I was glad I'd ordered what I did. Next time I'm going to take advantage of the whole wine-store thing.
(4)
Edward A.
Tasty and unexpected food, beer and wine selections. But the main reason for the review is the delightful staff. One of the few Silver Spring establishments with consistently high-quality and cheerful service. Bonus points: Being able to buy a six pack of a great beer like Harpoon and then cracking them open right there. Seems like it should be illegal outside of New Orleans which is maybe part of the fun.
(4)
Kristin W.
If you work in the area, this is a great place to grab lunch and sneak a glass of wine. The menu is perfect -- a great range of sandwiches, salads, and some delicious flat bread pizzas. The sweet potato fries are super tasty, and the dipping sauces are so good so that I've tried recreating them at home (sadly, an unsuccessful attempt, so I keep having to come back here). The Jerk wrap and the coconut shrimp salad are my favorites. There's a good selection of house wines if you just want a glass, but if you're in the mood for a bottle, you've come to the right place. The wines here are excellent and the servers are all very knowledgeable, so if you're not a wine snob and don't know what to pick, they'll help you find something you'll love.
(4)
Danilo A.
In the mood for wine? Then check out this amazing restaurant with a laid back atmosphere. It is a very nice place for get together with friends, or grab a drink before a movie date. Adega is known for their broad choice of tasty wines and reasonable prices. This is a great joint to sample some great wines and tasty food without the long wait.
(4)
Cory C.
Wow, this is a loving group! I will join, but can't commit to 5 stars yet. (Maybe you should talk to my girlfriend about that one) Just the same, the "Domster" rocks (Hard salami, cappicola ham, mortadella, shredded romaine lettuce, provolone cheese, sliced tomato, olive oil and vinegar, mayo, and spicy peppers, served on a French baguette)! I love the shredded romaine, though saying that first is to ignore the fantasticalness of the meats and provolone, which is really tasty. Oh, and by the way, the baguetee is one of the lightest, perfectly only slightly crunchy rolls I've ever had a sandwich grace. Thumbs way up on that one! Also, the cherry peppers they put on this one are huge -- we're talking 2 in across (and sliced thin). They are really great, and truly tie this sandwich together. Where's The Dude when you need him? If you find yourself up in Silver Spring at the AFI or happen to live nearby stop ignoring this joint, which is awkwardly placed behind the astroturf soccer field. AND, saluting The Dude's famous words, "This is not 'Nam, Walter, there are rules," one of which is that you can get half-price wine bottles with entrees on Mondays!
(4)
E. R.
My boyfriend and I love Adega and have been going there for 3 years. We love the date night deal, $40 for a bottle on wine, an appetizer and two entrees. At times it does get crowded, but the food is good for a casual place where you order at the counter. The calamari and zucchini fries are great! The only thing I didn't like that I ordered there is the fish tacos...they were just bland. But overall, this place is great!
(5)
C S.
While the name sounds like it, this is not a sit down wait staffed placed. It is similar to the cosi setup. I don't see the big deal about their Eggplant fries. Ours seemed over fried and were all very stuck together. We thought they might of just over cooked ours but other people's looked the same. I enjoyed the sweet potato fries more. The staff is great and I was able to pickup a nice bottle and some hard to find beer. However I don't recommend it for the food. While it was decent quality it wasn't a stand out. Everything seemed very fried and afterward I felt gross. I think I would have preferred an Arby's. I might try this place again and try to get a lighter meal.
(3)
Danielle L.
Great Selection of Wines... Red and White! Great Food! Great Atmosphere! Great Place hang and chill with friends. Chicken Flat Bread- Great Steak Flat Bread- great Sweet Potato Fries - Yummy The Jerk ( Jerk Chicken Wrap) - Love it Happy Hour - 4-7 25% off of apps! However they get minus 1 start for the bathroom set up! I single use bathroom! Wine and Beer = Bathroom usage.
(4)
Sarah F.
The only reason I'm rating this higher is because the food is a bit pricey. But it is tasty. I ought my mum here for a light lunch, because I knew they'd be reliable and have soup and other light options. You order at the counter and wait for your order to be called. The staff are nice and helpful. I particularly like the Eggplant flies and the fact that you can get a half and half order of these with the sweet potato fries. We also had mushroom and brie soup which was good and sliders. The wine selection on the shelves is good and I like being able to browse whilst I wait for my order. They have outdoor seating which is nice when there's live music in the pubic area outside. The biggest draw back of this place is that the plates and cutlery is all plastic and disposable. which is a real pet peeve of mine.
(3)
Jane W.
Ate here today for lunch. After waiting 25 mins for my order, I got my fish tacos. They were far from the "best". The fish was so salty and not very good. The rest of the salsa was only OK. After taxes and tip it ended up being over $15. Will not be back.
(2)
Patrick W.
I'm not a wine guy, but I like the food and the casual atmosphere. It's quick and easy and inexpensive as well as consistent. Nothing for me to complain about.
(5)
Alexandra S.
Had lunch here on Friday and really enjoyed it. First of all, the ambiance of eating in the wine shop is v nice, next the Cuban sandwich was excellent. Tasty, juicy.... Yum mm! They have a diverse menu and aren't that expensive. I also hear you can buy a bottle of wine and they will open it for you and u can drink it there.
(4)
Elisabeth H.
WOW people seem to really love Adega...I am thinking or hoping then that we just caught it on an 'off day'. Made plans on Friday to see a movie, walk around, and get a bite in downtown Silver Spring. Being that this is somewhere neither of us frequent I turned to yelp for some suggestions. Based purely on the reviews we decided that this was the place. The location is very convenient to shopping, movie theater, etc. The menu had a ton of options and a lot of wine to choose from. There were two men working the counter area one, who was older then the other was great, he was helpful personable and very pleasant. The other, younger man, seemed like he wanted to be anywhere else but there and was too cool to really help or answer our questions. I eat gluten free so really count on the help and knowledge of people working at a restaurant to come up with the best options. There was a BBQ special that looked good so I asked the younger man if that was gluten free. His response was a yeah it should be, which really didn't help me. I asked if he could ask someone since BBQ is not always and not a go to gluten free option. He asked and was told absolutely not. Good thing I asked him to double check....I ended up going with the truffle fries which are not breaded but do share a fryer and a bleu cheese stuffed burger with no bun plus the bottle of wine to share. The total with a small tip was $33 pretty reasonable. We sat down waiting for our food. My buzzer went off and I got mine, my friends came shortly after. My fries were cold from the get go which was disappointing but didn't stop me from enjoying, because a. they are fries and b. I was hungry. I ordered my burger medium rare and it was very very rare. The cheese on the inside of the burger wasn't even melted. I don't have a problem with rare meet but it would probably be a problem for most and rarer then they should be serving it. The food was fair, but I could totally see the potential for a huge YUM if the execution had been on, which is why I would really like to believe it was just an off day/time/whatever. I would say I'd be back but realistically I never find myself in the area.
(3)
Debra N.
The wine is excellent, the wine cellar has a fabulous selection, the food melts in your mouth, the location is entertaining and the people (staff & customers) make for good conversation. This may be my favorite place for a relaxing glass of vino...
(5)
Maboud E.
Wine selection is pretty great as well as the food. A bit over-priced in my opinion. Staff is knowledgable and helpful and the atmosphere is nice.
(4)
anon r.
4 stars because staff was nice and patient. 3.5 stars for the food and atmosphere. i think they'd be a standout for economy class restaurant in downtown silver spring if the music were quieter and calmer - would give this place a more upscale vibe, but apparently others like the casual/pub feel. i requested extra lemon for my tuna tartare tacos, which were ok - kept me from ordering pork belly burger ;P
(4)
Jake K.
How I missed this review is beyond me. I've been going to Adega now, usually several times a year, to gnosh on the selection of burgers and the to-die-for sweet potato and eggplant fries. I typically ask for a half and half to keep things interesting and love the dips that you get for the fries. As for the store, I typically don't like to purchase wines in Maryland since the selection is limited by the state distributor. Since I'm in VA, I always like to order my wines directly from the vineyard or whatever caught my fancy from the WSJ wine club (a mixed case per quarter). Adega is set up in a wine cellar style motif and from what I can tell, is reasonably priced for what is offered. I always like to stop by when I'm in SS to Adega for a burger - the other restaurants just don't impress me there.
(4)
Sara O.
A little less than 3.5 stars - Good fried fast food with easy access to wine and booze. Not a restaurant though. You order at the counter and pick up your food. I expected a sit down restaurant. It looks much nicer outside then it is inside. We went for happy hour and got 20% off the delicious fattyness of eggplant fries, bbq sliders, and fried calamari. I would shy away from the lackluster mini burger. The wines by the bottle are inexpensive, but the ambiance is part wine store, part above average fast food restaurant. Not the best ambiance for the product but the food makes up for it.
(3)
N S.
Despite the three stars, I really like something about this spot. The menu descriptions read much better than the food actually tastes, that I will say. I've had a few of the sandwiches, the hummus, and the sweet potato fries. Quite frankly, everything is just ok, but something about the ambience and the nice casual feel of the spot just works well with a relaxed meetup with a friend. It's also nice to be able to enjoy a bottle of wine at retail cost with no corking fee. I had eaten here several years ago and never returned. I'm pretty sure that was due to not being impressed with the food. I would recommend the owners check out the menu of Cafe Tu O Tu in Georgetown and try and emulate fare along the lines of that. Still relatively inexpensive, but tasty. With some improvement on the food, I have no doubt this would be a minimum of four stars here on Yelp, but yet currently a three star which is not so hot. I tend to not be inclined to try any business below a 3.5.
(3)
Ian S.
I had an issue with the quality of a salad wrap, instead of complaining in person I decided to write feedback to the email address listed on their website and have not heard back.
(1)
Krystal D.
The BF and I are big fans of casual wine shops that serve up food. We'd much rather go to a laid-back wine shop for an enjoyable happy hour than go to some random bar that's overflowing with people and serving up crappy drinks. While Adega had a great atmosphere and good wine, the food left much to be desired. We both ordered burgers, which while perfectly acceptable, were not anything special. "A-Ok" is actually the perfect word to describe them. If I happen to find myself up in Silver Spring during happy hour again, I might pay Adega another visit, but it's definitely not a place I'd go out of my way to visit.
(3)
Alex O.
In a few months I'll be moving across the line into DC after nine years in Silver Spring. As the date for my departure looms closer, I've been thinking a lot about the places in Silver Spring that I will rarely, or perhaps never, visit again. Adega is not worth traveling any great distance to eat at. Furthermore, there are a few duds on the menu - the BBQ pork sandwich is mediocre at best, the smoked salmon wrap just doesn't come together very well, and the Jerk chicken sandwich always seems to be dry, overcooked, and lacking much in the way of jerk flavor. However, Adega also has many excellent stand outs. Honestly, if they served nothing besides their amazing (and quite filling) fish tacos, I'd give the place three stars. The things end up being a mess if you let them sit too long, but all in all, they may be the best fish tacos I've ever had. The large pieces of cod are grilled (not fried) and the citrus slaw and papaya salsa are both unique and delicious. Their take on a turkey reuben is also unique, featuring havarti cheese, wine reduced sauerkraut and asian pear cranberry chutney. It's not "light" in any sense but it is delicious. Sadly, they seem to have dropped their French Dip, which was one of the best versions I've ever had of that old (and usually tired) standby. Their bistro steak sandwich is okay when they overcook the steak and excellent when they nail it - I tend to ask for rare which usually ensures slices of steak closer to my liking, but YMMV. I also recommend the blackened ahi tuna wrap and the field green salad. And yes...they do indeed make THE BEST sweet potato fries I've ever had. Wine selection is quite good, if not over whelming, and on mondays and wednesdays they have some good "wine+meal" deals that can make for a tasty and relatively inexpensive date night. Like I said earlier, this is not a destination location, but it's the kind of local place that any neighborhood should be thrilled to have as part of the community. Now that I think about it, there's a very good chance that those fish tacos will lure me back here occasionally even after moving to the District.
(4)
Julie O.
Great food, prices are reasonable. I just wish they had outdoor seating where you can drink your wine/beer.
(4)
Sana J.
Definitely try the Caribbean chicken salad here, it is delicious! The seating arrangement is not too intuitive but its really cozy. Totally worth checking out.
(4)
Adam A.
Everything's good here. Beautiful cozy ambiance. Solid menu with a rotating specials. Amazing eggplant and sweet potato fries. The roast beef and blue cheese sandwich is bomb.
(5)
A S.
The food isn't great, it's just average but I love the fact that this place is a wine cellar and restaurant in 1. Good wine selection. We had some type of peach wine that was really good. Good for date nights and just hanging out with a glass of wine to relax. Friendly staff and great location.
(3)
Brian J.
One of my favorite SS places to eat! Staff is very friendly. It is even kid-friendly! Definitely recommend eating here if you are in downtown SS!
(4)
Josh R.
If only more places like this existed in the DC metro area. On Wednesday nights one gets 25% off a bottle from their excellent wine selection, as long as one buys two entrees. Given the fact that there is no corkage fee and the wine isn't marked up in-store, this ends up being the best deal in town. The service is also great: Even though entrees cost about $8-$12, they'll let you try the wine for spoilage before sticking with it. Last time I went a bottle seemed a bit off. A manager agreed that it was a bit acidic but said it was a feature of that kind of wine. He let me try it for a few minutes and exchange it if I wanted to. I ultimately got a full exchange for another wine that suited my palette. All the food we've had there has been excellent. The burgers, pulled pork, Cuban sandwich, Philly cheese steak, and pasta have met or exceeded expectations. My only qualm is that they should use real plates and silverware. Given the quality of the food and wine, it's a bit mismatched to eat the food on and with plastic. Adega is arguably my favorite restaurant in Silver Spring right now.
(5)
Joseph K.
walther rhee is the man and adega is best place in MD to get a great bottle of wine at a great cost. The food is outstanding too! most of the ingredients are made from scratch and with lots of love.
(5)
Tara I.
I like this place. It's that simple! Its like when Panera meets Wine menu. It's casual, inexpensive, the food is tasty (holler at the eggplant fries), and there is a mini wine store inside (that's also inexpensive)! If you catch it on a good night (generally Friday) they'll have wine tastings. The menu never changes. LOL. Great spot for a vegetarian. I like their salads and soups... and of course their wine. I don't like that you have to bus your own tables, because not everyone cleans up after themselves so well. The restrooms are LIMITED and every time I go, it's like mad packed... and it never seems freshly cleaned. There's outdoor seating but guess what? Drinking the good stuff is only allowed indoors! Makes sense but it kind of blows. Cute date spot, or after the movie spot, or grab something not so fancy spot, or ust because spot.... hope you like it.
(4)
Annie D.
I was not a fan of this place. We went in for lunch the other day and both of our sandwiches were pretty crappy. I'm wondering if we just didn't order the right thing because folks on here seem to really be into this place. The sandwich I had was just not good, really dry and I feel like the bbq sauce and rosemary foccacia shouldn't ever be served together. I would go back to try the pizza or these french fries that yelpers are over the moon for, but I'm not really in a rush. Also, 2 draught beers and 2 sandwiches put us well over $30. The food was way too mediocre for those prices.
(2)
Dee J.
A fab local business option in downtown Silver Spring. I'm a big fan of the Jerk Chicken Salad, Lobster Bisque, and Half 'n Half fries. YUMMY 8) Adega's staff is very friendly and the dining area is always clean. Nice casual place for a date or out-of-town visitors.
(4)
Kristina K.
Since specialty wine stores/wine bars are still a rarity, it much pains me to poorly rank Adega Wine Cellars. Before going any further, let's separately treat their business halves: wine store = 5, restaurant/cafe = 2. The wine cellar, while small, is quite awesome. As a specialty store, Adega's hand-picked wine selections tend to be tasty with very few proverbial lemons (sour grapes?). The stock size is small but they do carry some classy foreign beers, including a fair selection of Belgians. While it's a walk from the metro (4-5 blocks) and, if you are not familiar with the location, a bit of a scavenger hunt by foot or in car, I may take the challenge of finding the place...but will only go for a change in variety compared to other wine sellers in the area; still, 5 stars. Now for the big disappointment: the restaurant/cafe! Reading positive reviews on Yelp, I was eager to try their food and, knowing they'll cap and allow you to port any unfinished bottles, was eager to try a few. Being in the holiday season, we were home early and decided to head there for happy hour. While HH goes until 7 pm, the happy hour selection is very sparse, ~3 types of red wine--house wines, by the way--and they were out of one! First, a happy hour special of 3 types of house wine is sad, quite pathetic, really. I was hoping that they would replace the out-of-stock item with another similar selection but no such luck. Their big chalk board menu mentioned specials: Monday nights 40% off bottles with entree purchase, Wednesday nights 20% select bottles. 'Great', I thought, since it was a Wednesday and inquired details on the select bottles: apparently, they decided that today's special would be modified to require an entree. Huh?? If they have this sign posted so people know when deals are offered and someone came in after dinner expecting to get 20% off bottles without getting food, then this person just got an unsettling surprise. After facing our disappointment, we settled on a (full priced) Malbec/Italian-grape-I-cannot recall blend for ~$16, which did turn out to be awesome enough for us to take a few bottles to go. We ordered food next. Adega has no waiters so all orders occur at the counter and then customers get called back to pick up the food & drink. Oddly, there is a policy that even if you plan on purchasing several rounds (e.g., during happy hour), each order has to be settled without the option of an open tab. Thankfully, our shocked faces and a pleasant request prompted the sales clerk (like someone commented, they are not waiters or cashiers here, really, but some still-nameless hybrid) to allow an open tab. Curiously, it was to his discretion as per an internal consultation we overheard. Adega, thank you for making the exception but please consider changing policy to allow open tabs for all! (If not for the sake & ease of the customers and clerks, then for the economic sense: after all, credit cards do charge businesses a per transaction fee.) Back to the food: the sweet potato fries were alright but not nearly as good as the yummy eggplant fries. While both were a bit under seasoned for my taste, I still enjoyed them and kept going after crumbs of sprinkled parmesan cheese. The biggest disappointment was the bruschetta: stay away! The tomatoes were cold and under-ripened, the combo bland, and the cheese made me want to whimper. The pulled pork sliders were quite good in that smoky-sweet kind of way and provided a nice finish. In sum, I might be tempted to come back but, most likely, only for the wine shopping. Though there is not another wine bar around, I'm unlikely to seek it out for happy hour or after-dinner treat.
(3)
Sam M.
Our friends introduced us to Adega though we have lived in the area for 20+ years. The best part has to be the selection of wines and beers on the shelves which you can either purchase at store price and take home, or even better drink there. They also have a selection of draft beers. The food there has been very good. I suggest getting the half and half fries with sweet potato and eggplant. The staff is friendly. A downside is it is usually pretty crowded and you may have to wait for a table if you have a larger group. There are tables with stools that allow for you to share with another party.
(5)
Winnie K.
Food is hit or miss here, but the eggplant fries are to die for. The Jerk Chicken Wrap is also delightful. Good selection of wine and beer, but I've found better value elsewhere. Great atmosphere and I love that it's an independent business in the chain-infested world that is Downtown Silver Spring. They also have a frequent diner card, though I'm not sure of the details... I always forget mine, unfortunately! For drivers - there are two garages that are quite close to Adega/DTSS area.
(4)
Nat B.
This restaurant makes me glad I live so close to downtown Silver Spring! Excellent food (definitely try their eggplant fries!), a really nice selection of wine and friendly staff has made me a regular. As the other Yelpers mentioned, they have specials daily (even on weekends). We came in Saturday evening and they were offering a special of 2 entrees (some seafood dishes excluded), an app and a select bottle of vino for $40. Definitely a sweet deal if you order a higher priced entree (mine was $15 and my wife's entree was $13). The bottle we chose, a Temparillo - wasn't great though. We should've inquired for their suggestion instead of just picking one out. Great seating area made us feel right at home, away from home. Recommended!
(4)
Steve R.
I've eaten here three or four times, which must mean that I like it! The menu is primarily sandwiches, wraps, salads, etc., but definitely different than you will find at a bar and grill. Each has a twist to make it unique. Lots of flavor! I've only been there for lunch, so I haven't tried the wines.
(4)
Ben B.
Interesting little sandwich and wine place located above the ice skate rental for the seasonal ice rink in Veterans Plaza in Downtown Silver Spring. They have a descent sized menu of sandwiches, flatbreads and wraps in the $8-12 range that come with chips, or an up-charge for sweet potato or eggplant fries. Mostly classic items on the menu that the owner has jazzed up with sauces or unique breads. They also serve wine by the glass and include a couple of different price points for reds and whites. I believe you can also buy a bottle for your table. They also sell bottles of wine in store and have a small but nice collection you can browse. The only thing missing form this place is the ability to sit outside with your wine. There are a couple of tables outside, but they are an after thought and are awkwardly along the railing and people are constantly walking by. Because it's not against the store and fenced off you can't bring alcoholic beverages there. I've been here numerous times and it's a good place to go when i'm not sure what it is I want.
(4)
David C.
Food is awesome! I used to work there so i know whats good. Every now and again I'll catch myself daydreaming of some of their tasty eats. =) First of all, the Turkey Reuben always kicks butt. All time favorite there. I don't usually like reuben sandwiches, but the pear-cranberry chutney in this sandwich makes it so good! I've always loved the Capellini Fresca. Fresh bruschetta tomatoes, basil, garlic, chunks of mozzarella? Whats not to love? I like to add chicken to mine for a little protein. Ceasar Wraps are awesome! I dunno why, but it's just good. With chicken or steak. Either way. Yum. Jerk Wrap and Sandwich. The jerk seasoned chickenwith the mango combined with the lime mango vinaigrette..... awesome. I could eat these a lot without getting tired of them. The sandwich definitely changes it up as well because of the baguette. Eggplant fries and Sweet Potato fries! Both are great. Some will prefer one or the other. You can get a half/half basket of each anyways. Love em both but I like the eggplant fries just a little bit more. Grilled Tofu Salad! So delicious! The flavor of the grilled tofu is just awesome. I've custom ordered this into a wrap as well in the "red" tortilla. I forgot which one that was...maybe sun dried tomato?... soo delicious that way, but if you don't finish it, the tortilla will get soggy, but then it can pretty much be turned back into a salad. Ok hope this is a helpful kick start to try something great at Adega =)
(5)
Brian G.
Great wine selection - both for in-house and take home enjoyment. The flat bread pizzas are fantastic. Now with the ice skating rink opened for the season it will make for a fun outing for the family too.
(4)
Kristin M.
My husb and I love this place - an upscale but comfy cafe featuring a great wine selection. We hit it during the day, sometimes sitting outside (though you can't drink wine outside, wah), as well as at night after a movie at AFI or something. We just introduced it to a friend, and she took her mom a few days later! Tried a few things on the menu - some homeruns, some disappointments. It's all about ordering the right things, which is why we haven't experimented too much. The Duke Ellington Sandwich is my favorite (roast beef, hefty slice of brie, caramelized onions, other deliciousness, all on fresh baguette). My biggest let-down was a flatbread sandwich, which was kind of soggy and totally fell apart as soon as I tried to eat it. We also always get the lobster bisque - which always says "when available," but has yet to ever be unavailable when we go in. It's been over-salted on 2 occasions, but when it's right, it's so dang good it's worth rolling the dice. One thing to note is that you don't have to be a wine connoisseur to feel at home here. There are plenty of those in attendance, speaking knowledgeably to and asking intelligent questions of the staff; however, I was given the same attention and treated with the same respect when I told them I was looking for a sweet wine with high alcohol content. Fitting for dates or groups, this is a great place to keep in your rotation.
(4)
Lara S.
This could very well be the greatest place on earth (or at least in Silver Spring) for wine and a sandwich. I will admit they are semi-expensive during the week, however if you go for 40% off wine night on Monday nights you can get an entree and a bottle of wine for under 20 dollars!! You really can't beat that. The staff is extremely nice and helpful- I came here for my birthday last year and they reserved tables for me even though that isn't a policy of theirs. They are also extremely knowledgeable with the wine so don't hesitate to ask them for suggestions!! This place is definitely a hidden treasure, I'm there every couple weeks or so and hope to see you as well!
(5)
Kelly G.
My fridge was empty when I returned. So my first meal out was at Adega with Mara G. I had the "Lobster Bisque" and the jambalaya cappellini. Both were on par with a casual dining restaurant. Mara G. had the turkey reuben. Now that thing was out of this world. It had foccacia, sauerkraut, cranberries, and the russian dressing was so good. It was a delicious sandwich. I wish I had gotten that. The "service"/"set-up" was a bit confusing. No one ever told us that we had to get our own water, utensils, napkins or condiments. We just went to our table. I'm smart though. I figured it out. The order taker seemed to rush me. Like I didn't know if I was supposed to pick my wine first then get some food or what. But I didn't have time to think about it because the order taker was all like hey can I help you which is a good thing but dam can I get a moment to think/peruse/browse? And I wish I'd just done what I wanted to do because the wine I chose with my food was in the end not to my liking. Oh well. I'd come here again especially now that I know the deal. This place is a-ok with me.
(3)
Julie L.
Such a fun place to come after dinner and get some wine. The clientele is decidedly not the crowd that likes to hang out around that pool club down the way and that is wonderfully refreshing. Excellent wine selection, I just wish you could take the wine onto the sidewalks immediately outside. But that's MoCo, not Adega. Definitely a top Silver Spring location!
(4)
Jill S.
This is a go-to for casual gatherings. The food is fresh and tasty, and the atmosphere is relaxed. It's an added bonus that you can choose your wine from the shelf and have it with dinner instead of staring at a nondescript wine menu and wondering what you're ordering. Now, if oly you could have your wine outside here...
(5)
Tony N.
The food is innovative and the portions are not over-sized (which is a good thing). The staff is very helpful with the wine selections, even allowing sampling. A nice date place to meet and chat. The one downside is that it seems it has outgrown it's confines; seating is a premium at peak times.
(4)
Summer S.
I really enjoyed my dinner here. The employees are knowledgable and yet far from snooty. The wine guy took time to explain biodynamic vineyards to my mom and he was very pleasant. Aside from a good wine and beer selection the food is also very good. Big portions and good prices; I had the steak & cheese and tomato & basil soup and my mom had sweet potato fries and the Santa Fe chicken flatbread. Compliments all around. Only improvement I would make is table service instead of fast food style ordering and a cozier eating area.
(4)
Audrey C.
Good choice for grabbing a drink before your movie or a quick family dinner. Kids are totally welcome there and there and it's got overall good food, but the flatbreads are too crackery for my taste. Friendly staff and a clean, modern yet cozy decor.
(4)
Jane K.
Good wine and decent food. A nice option in downtown silver spring. Certainly beats all the big chain restaurants nearby.
(4)
Afshan K.
This place has never disappointed me. It may be because it's such a great place to hang out and chat with friends. Awesome wine, great service and decent food - not the best, but not terrible either. Overall, it's a great way to spend an evening with friends. I would alert though that you may have to end up waiting some time to get a table - especially if you go during the happy hour! But it's worth it. Love the atmosphere and decor too.
(4)
Avery W.
Good concept, maybe not the best execution. Wine options were good, but I thought my wrap was a bit soggy. They do offer wonderful deals, however. Good, lowkey, vibe.
(3)
Ina C.
What a cool place! Silver Spring has definitely sprung. I've only been here once (I'm usually in the area on Sundays, but that's when Adega is closed!) and I thoroughly enjoyed my bread bowl. My bf got some sandwich and he loved it. Pretty good value, understated decor, outdoor seating, great area (Whole Foods, Chick Fil-A, Majestic are all right around the corner) and I believe they have free Wi-Fi. Awesome!
(4)
Sarah G.
A friend of mine (as a matter of fact the same friend who's joined me on like 3 of my reviewed spots) had been talking for quite a while about stopping into this random wine spot in Downtown Silver Spring, so finally we got our sh*t together and went last Friday. The 4 stars are specific to the wine selection, service and from what I could tell the food. I do have some issues about the way the place works with regard to seating but then, it was a Friday night and rather busy. Basically it's seat yourself, and my friend and I got screwed by 1) a pair of girls who said they'd hold our seat at a giant table and proceeded not to, and THEN proceeded to stand near us later with a huge group of people and shove and talk loud. I didn't appreciate it. And 2) a woman who saw me walk toward a table to sit and literally almost ran me over to get the seat, didn't appreciate that either. What I DID appreciate was the guy who took our order, Juan, who upon waiting for us to decide what we wanted and probably thinking I was a little nuts, searched for a place for us to sit and was just awesome generally. Big up's to you Juan. So there's my talk of the service, that he along with ALL the staff were really polite and funny and just generally enjoyable, which for me, can make or break my evening. On to the wines...amazing..nuff said. I will go back to try their "featured" wines, because the 3 I tried were all quite good. One zin, one Malbec and well let's be real and say I don't remember the last one except that my friend bought a bottle. Ooops. Food: Sweet potato fries are great, hard to do bad, but they had this INCREDIBLE lemon, oil dipping sauce that I probably could have taken a quick shot of, but remembered my manners. My buddy had a sandwich that looked amazing and there are probably about 6 other dishes I'd like to try WHEN I go back because I will be going back. It's a perfect date spot, or as so many have said, quick bite before a movie, casual meet up before going out whatever. Big fan.
(4)
Peter J.
This is a great choice for an inexpensive dinner out... a good selection of food without the added expense of table service. The Napa and Blue Cheese burgers are good. Half-and-half fries are good, too. Word to the wise: it's way cheaper to pick a $10 or $15 bottle of wine out, drink a few glasses with your food, then take the bottle home with you.
(4)
Nicole M.
This was one of my favorite places when I lived in downtown Silver Spring. For the size, they had a pretty decent selection of wine and was always my stop when I wanted a bottle or two. The food is just fantastic and very different from anything else you can get in that area. Definitely get the sweet potato fries - I've had many versions and these are the best. They have really great happy hour deals so you can try different kinds of wines and the staff is so incredibly friendly... a nice change to see someone in the service industry who seems to really like their job. Not a great place for beer, but it is a wine cellar so that's not too surprising. Adega is relaxing and laid back; a great little oasis in this area to enjoy a leisurely glass of wine.
(4)
Lisa M.
The sweet potato fries are excellent. Decent wine selection, yummy food. Great stop in nice weather as they have some seating outside. Of course with the construction on the former "green" now ... outside may not be as nice.
(4)
Maya C.
This Saturday afternoon I went to Downtown Silver Spring to visit a couple of stores. I got hungry and looked for something quick but delicious. I crossed the street and stopped at Adega Wine Cellars. Back in the day I used to work in SS, and knew about their fabulous sandwiches. This time I ordered the Ahi Tuna Wrap (market price...which means we will charge whatever the heck we want and you won't know until AFTER we ran your card!) and a drink. My order came up to $15 and some change. I looked around while I waited to get called and found a great assortment of wines and beers. Of course I had to buy a bottle. They even have Red Stripe Jamaican beer. I am not a beer drinker at all, but first time I see it sold here, so I was gladly surprised. My name got called..yiipeeeeee!. There are tables set in the shop where to sit. My wrap was made in red tortilla, with a mesclun of green, roasted peppers, lightly seared and very rare ahi tuna with a light sweet Asian dressing. 1st bite, I was in love. Worth every penny! It was a perfect combination of flavors and the tuna was so tasty. A friendly note if you eat this...check your teeth before leaving the place...let's just say it wasn't pretty...took care of business and voila! Why am I writing reviews when I am hungry! I would do anything now to get another ahi tuna wrap!, but I am in VA! Ahhhh...slow, slow torture.
(5)
Thaila S.
I live in Silver Spring and went to Adega for the first time last night for a casual dinner with a friend. In a sea of yucky chains (Macaroni Grill, Red Lobster, etc.), Adega is a welcome addition to the downtown area and I was happy to see that it was pretty packed when I walked in at 7 pm. This is definitely not a trendy wine bar scene -- it's more like a Cosi or Panera but with much better food and good wine. We ordered the eggplant/sweet potato fries, a glass of the Merlot house wine, and I had a portabello sandwich. The fries were good but definitely greasy (as expected) and I felt a little gross afterward. This had less to do with the fries and more the fact that I haven't even fries in ages. The fries come in a HUGE portion, you could easily split it with 3 or even 4 people. My sandwich was surprisingly delicious. I'm not a portabello fan but I thought I would try it because it sounded good, and it really was -- the bread was soft, the basil pesto was really yummy, and it was the right size -- not too big, not too small. This isn't a place to "linger" -- we stayed here for 2 hours and I definitely felt like we were the only ones who stuck around for that long. My sense is that most people come for a quick bite before heading out to the movies. If you're looking for a casual place with very good food, I would definitely recommend Adega.
(4)
Paul W.
Adega is astonishing. A consistent menu, consistently well-prepared, with fresh approaches to the usual burgers and quesadillas. Pulled pork barbecue sandwich DONE RIGHT. Then there's the wine. For zero corkage, you can buy a bottle off the shelf and have it with dinner. You can't get a better deal than that. Not to mention the friendly staff, with whom we've actually gotten quite friendly. The atmosphere is fun, warm, lots of wood, well-thought out. The owner, Walter, has got a real winner here. Go! It's near the Whole Foods and the Borders, in case you don't know where it is. Just park in the Whole Foods lot and ask people where it is.
(5)
Chris N.
Gourmet sandwiches and wine? Yes please! I eat here at least once a week now that I stumbled in to find a decent bottle of wine. The concept is a bit odd, but it works: a wine store / sandwich shop. Let's start with the wine: The selection isn't massive, but it's good quality. They have an excellent selection of wines from Argentina, which makes me a happy guy. The prices are reasonable. Food: You'd think sandwiches would be easy to describe, but oh my, where do I begin? The bread is always fantastic. The french bread and ciabatta are always delightfully crunchy. This may be a turn off to some Americans used to eating sponge, but anyone who has lived in Europe will tell you that once you've built up a "bread callus" on the roof of your mouth, you'll be in heaven with the crusty kind. The ingredients themselves are fresh and inspired. Want a roast beef sandwich? They top the typical lettuce & tomato with brie, horseradish mayo, and grilled onions. Pair that with some sweet potato fries, and you'll be a fan for life. Fries: These deserve special attention! As a southerner, I'm a huge fan of sweet potato fries. At Adega, they're fantastic. The sauce they serve them with is a bit too sweet for me, but they're good all by themselves. The eggplant fries are equally good, and are served with marinara. Every visit, I have to debate which fries to have. Prices: A tasty sammich, fries, and a drink usually run you about $10. However, the wine prices are fantastic and should be exploited! You can get any bottle of wine there for the normal out-the-door price. No charge to turbochill it. No corking fee. If you don't finish, they'll recork it for you to go. On Mondays, there's a bottle-for-the-price-of-a-glass special on 1 or 2 wines. 2 people can eat and split a bottle for around $25. You can't beat that!
(5)
Jessica R.
For a wine joint turned restaurant this is the place to go. This is a place that I enjoy time after time it is always great. I love avocados and will order almost any item that is on any menu. Needless to say I am a huge fan of their jerk chicken sandwich and also their salad. The chicken is well seasoned and always moist and delicious. I love the flatbreads there, combo of eggplant and sweet potato fries with the citrus vinaigrette so so good. They have a great selection of wines and coming close to it in beer. They are now serving tremors, delirium my favorite. Another fav is the ahi tuna salad, just seared to perfection.
(4)
Helen F.
Four stars for the casual, friendly atmosphere, great wine selection with no corkage fee, and as everyone notes, really nice sweet potato and eggplant fries. Love hanging there on a Saturday or Sunday evening after a movie with a friend, shooting the breeze with no pressure. You can easily get out of there for under $35, and that includes a good bottle of red. I haven't had a large selection of the food, just quesadillas (go chicken over beef), and maybe a sandwich, but other food, like the flatbreads, have looked really yummy.
(4)
Nicholas C.
I started learning about wine a little over a year ago, and was very excited recently when I remembered this place existed relatively close to me. I was very much looking forward to browsing the wine selection and coming back with a few new bottles to try. This was not the case. What I found was an overpriced selection of very young wines (talking about reds here, mostly cabs from 2007). I received assistance from a staff member, but all I got out of him was a history lesson on each winery. That's all well in good, but what I really care about are the qualities of the wine itself, not the 6'8'' tall gentlemen who picks their grapes. He even mentioned they had a great wine in until recently, which they stopped selling because it became too popular ... does that not make sense to anybody else? I'm all about trying unique things, but this seems just a tad bit pretentious (like how you probably feel about this review :) ). I finally accepted a wine sample which I was told would be "fantastic", which was served to me in a tiny black plastic thimble device and tasted like strained grape juice ... no thanks. So there you have it, if you're in this area there are wine & liquor stores which, in my opinion, have better wines and better prices then this "wine store". I did not stick around long enough to try their food, but judging by other reviews here, it seems to be pretty decent. I'm definitely not an oenophile, but I know that I've been to much better places to buy wine (Wine Bin in Ellicott City!). If you are looking for wine, at whatever price, go elsewhere.
(3)
Jen W.
This place was the perfect mix of quality and comfortable. A unique gem in the neighborhood!
(5)
Chacha S.
Absolutely wonderful place. The location is perfect -- it's in downtown Silver Spring within walking distance of the Metro, but it's a block away from all the chains. The service is friendly, even if ordering is a little weird. The food is absolutely delicious and there are many items to choose from. I will definitely go back!
(5)
Duncan G.
I bought a Groupon and took the old ball and chain there today for lunch. The Mrs. had fish tacos. I had grilled shrimp salad. Both were average, at best. They rented out half the place for a "private party" so there was no place to sit. Finally the proprietor asked the people having the party if we could sit at one of their tables in the corner, which was a nice thing for the owner to do, but the atmosphere sucked because we were jammed into the corner with a bunch of people we didn't know and none of them spoke English either. Anyway, the food was ok, but not really tasty and definitely not memorable. Would I try the place again? Maybe if I had another Groupon and was willing to roll the dice again. But that's the only way I'd go there.
(2)
Kenton N.
Love this place. Was a little crowded when I went there the first time but it WAS Friday night so no big deal. The eggplant and sweet potato fries are awesome! And they have a pretty good wine selection, though I'm no expert. I'll definitely go back again.
(5)
Chizlum M.
We had a very nice casual dining experience. We met up with some friends and were lucky to get a table since they were crowded which is a good sign. Had one of the flatbreads and the turkey rueben as well as a glass of wine. Food was served quite fast and was very tasty. We will be back next time we are in Silver Spring.
(4)
Becky T.
This is a casual sort of place but has very good food. You order at the counter and then pick up your food that is served on plasticware. don't let that turn you off though, because the food quality is awesome. My friend is shocked when I was raving to her about the salad that I had there. That's because I NEVER order salads, but when I went there one night I was just inspired to do so and ordered the Jerk chicken salad, and it was just awesome. The chicken was nicely seasoned, it was topped with avocado, and dressing complimented it nicely. It paired well with the glass of white zin that I ordered. They also have date night on Saturday in which for $45 you can get an appetizer, two entrees, and a bottle of wine (selected from a list). The pasta there is also very good. Besides the cafe they're also supposed to be a wine shop, but I feel that their selection is disappointing and that you can find more variety at one of the neighboring liquor stores.
(5)
Jamie W.
Only had the flatbread Marguerite pizza to split, but it was quite tasty! Would definitely come again. The ambiance was nice.
(4)
Rachel S.
I know there are mixed feelings on Yelp about the fact that Adega has no table service, but I for one, loved it! My good friends and I went out for lunch and to catch up, and we stayed and talked for a few hours and no one bothered us! I loved that! The food was yummy and the Cabernet was great! I highly recommend this place.
(4)
Shavon G.
If you are looking for a cute comfy cheap place to eat tasty food and great wine, come here! So far everything I've tried was packed with favor and tasted fresh. I had the grilled cod fish tacos which was just the right amount to eat after a late spin class. Try the grilled ribeye sandwich it is better than I've had that were high priced! Bring a friend, come a lone or a date! You won't be sorry.
(4)
Q D.
The place was more casual for a "wine" place than I expected. You would order food at the counter, and they page you when food is ready. We were there Friday night, 7:30pm, and had to wait for a place to sit. I had tuna salad and it was descent, and I like to come back to try other foods on the menu.
(4)
Boris S.
Bleu's Burger $11 (6/5 NOMs) Look at that beauty and a beast! Discovering some beastly size burgers in around DC metro area. Holy patty its stuffed with bleu cheeeeese! Don't often find a place that take that extra step. First bite in and its like an explosion of flavors. Juicy soft meat prepared to order it was a perfect burger, made to perfection. It was so good that I slowed down to enjoy every single bite. Comes with crispy bacon, sliced tomato, caramelized red onions and all that covered in chipotle mustard mayo for an extra kick. Its big too that even my monster mouth had to struggle. Served on an excellent super soft and light brioche bun. Hands down best burger in Down Town Silver Spring. Mushroom & Truffle Mac & Cheese $9 (4/5 NOMs) You won't find this cheesiness in every wine cellar! Its almost too pretty to eat, but only almost and we ate the whole thing. There is a whole lot of cheese sauce and parmesan cheese in there mixed in with mushrooms. Plus bacon on top! Can never go wrong with something like this. They got that cheese formula down so well that this didn't taste heavy at all. Mushrooms did kind of get lost, but I wasn't too sad about it as long as I have the cheese and bacon. Only thing they might have gone a bit too crazy with truffle on top. Highly recommend it for those with big cheesy cravings.
(5)
Anya R.
My boyfriend and I went on a date to Ageda after passing it in Downtown Silver Spring for years. It was my turn to pick a restaurant so I was hoping this one wouldn't disappoint! I did my home work before we went. They have a special on Saturdays for $40 you get an appetizer and two entrees, along with a bottle of wine (your choice). You seat yourself, there's plenty of space, tables for two and bigger parties all over the restaurant with s view of the Ice skating ring and Silver Spring Civic Center. You order at the counter, once you place your order you're given a buzzer that lets you know your food is ready. The staff is very friendly and informative when it comes to the wine selection. I am not a drinker so I was handheld through my wine choice. My boyfriend didn't care what I selected so it was all up to me. I got a bottle of Sangue-Di-Giuda, which was a sweet red wine, and it was amazing! The food was excellent. Our appetizer was calamari which came with a chipotle mustard mayo dipping sauce. We ate the whole bowl. We also ordered the Jambalaya pasta, chicken flat bread pizza, and a burger. Since the menu isn't costly we added on the pizza to our $40 special. Everything was extremely tasty. We didn't finish the wine, so they gave us a cork to take the rest home. Our date was $54.00 and we will be going back.
(5)
Sheila L.
You can never go wrong at Adega! Great wine selection and the food is AMAZING! I always go for the calamari, eggplant fries, and steak flatbread!
(5)
Jess C.
I was unimpressed with their specials-crab cake sandwich and tuna tartare taco. See picture for how underwhelming it was. There was barely any tuna tartare and it definitely lacked flavor, while the crab cake was just boring as well. The layout is simple and casual, you order your food at counter, pick up and clear up yourself, with the main focus on wine. But if you're expecting more from today's special, perhaps looks elsewhere.
(2)
Dawn C.
Get the cheese plate. The man and I checked out Adega this past weekend for a happy hour before the tree-lighting ceremony. The small-bites menu enticed as as did the ambiance, the overlook of the skating rink is a nice touch. Although the wine was very reasonably priced with an appropriate range of options, we felt like "Meh, We've experienced better" was the best rating for our night. Adega is a seat-yourself place, though we tracked down a server to find a menu. On the dinner side was salad and sandwiches. We found the nibbles side most interesting, and decided to make dinner out of our excursion. We picked the Mediterranean flatbread--the margherita to be exact, and a bowl of the tomato soup to share. For a second it seemed as though a server would come to our table to take the order, but then we realized that it's an order-at-the-counter kind of place. No biggie. We started with two glasses of wine, a Pinot Noir from Lodi and an Italian Sangiovese. The Pinot was bad...so sweet. It's probably my fault that I didn't enjoy it--being a native Oregonian and all, but the hosts were gracious in taking it back. Extra point! We exchanged the Pinot for another Sangio. Then came the food. I was surprised to see the soup in a plastic bowl and to learn that we had to pull our plastic flatware out of a bin up front. Buzz kill. The real flaw of the night though was that flatbread. It was pizza, very undercooked dough, tasted like the chef had given up. We couldn't even get a whole piece down on account of the doughiness. On the way out, we saw a smart-looking couple who were enjoying their wine with a lovely looking cheese plate. Next time, maybe, that'll be us.
(2)
Jordy G.
I really like Adega! The food is good, the atmosphere is great, and they have an amazing selection of wines. My parents come here every Friday night, and when I'm home visiting, I tag along. The staff here is extremely friendly and recognize their repeat customers, which is always nice! There's a decent variety of food on the menu - my personal favorites are the adult grilled cheese (don't worried, it's rated G for....grilled?) and their burgers, but I don't think you can go wrong. My parents tend to get half-pizzas. You sit down, then order up at the counter. You'll get a buzzer, and when it goes off you pick up your food. The wine selection is really good, and you can take open bottles home with you...but only if you put it in a bag when you exit the shop. The only downside is the seating - the place is often crowded, and there aren't any host(ess)s. You just grab what you can - there's a few tall shared tables, some booths, and shorter smaller tables. Unfortunately sometimes couples will grab the booths, leaving larger parties struggling to find a spot. During the warmer months, Adega has outdoor seating, but you aren't allowed to drink wine outside. Adega also has free Saturday wine tasting sessions, but I haven't been to one yet so can't comment on it!
(5)
Heather J.
I think the staff are the stars at this place. They are SO friendly, welcoming, and helpful. Even though we'd never been there before, the woman taking our order treated us like old friends. We started with the bruschetta, which was fresh and tasty. For the main course, I went for the steakhouse burger and my friend got the cappellini pasta. My burger was awesome - perfectly cooked and I loved the sauce. My friend said her pasta was pretty good, but that next time she'd opt for a burger. They have a limited but well-curated beer selection, and of course a lot of wine. It's a great place to grab a bite before heading to a movie - the theater is right across the street! I would definitely go back!
(4)
Ijene L.
First timer. The cafe style dining confused me upon entry. They just kinda stared at me until I said uhhhh how does it work here? So you order at the counter, take a seat and go get your food when it's ready. I had the calamari and the BLEU'S burger. The calamari was seasoned well and really good. The burger was AMAZEBALLS! Seriously. The dude behind the counter was a lil bit of a snobby queen when asked for recommendations but over all it was relaxed atmosphere. Great moscato! The wine cellar is pretty extensive and I would and will definitely go back!
(4)
Chrystalle B.
I came here for a tapping of a special Oliver Ale beer. Parking was interesting as the lot that's adjacent has limits on their spaces (upside: its free). My first impression when I walked in was that of a fast casual restaurant. Plenty of seating, counter for ordering, & a soda nook. I'm thinking to myself "A beer tapping? Here??". Then I saw the wine & beer section and the taps behind the counter. Color me intrigued. After perusing the menu I decided on the Adult Grilled Cheese & , of course, the beer I had come to try. 20 mins later I had my sandwich. The 1st thing I noticed about it is it was very greasy. Grease + grilled cheese is a given, but this was a bit excessive. The sandwich itself was quite good. I really like the combination of cheddar and mascarpone. The onion & bacon added a little something extra as well. I ended up leaving w/ a couple bottles from their beer wall. If I'm in the area, I'd consider stopping in again.
(4)
Katie K.
I have been to a lot of wine bars- and this might be one of the worst. If you could mix a wine bar with an Ocharleys- this is what you would get. Basic ingredients, a loud environment and a limited selection. No wine flights. Cheese consists of cheddar, Swiss, and blue cheese. And forget a bar setting. These are manufactured wood booths. Rough!
(2)
Lynn R.
Another great visit! One of my favorite places to meet friends and enjoy some good food and wine. Happy hour and appetizers are a great value. Mini-burgers and eggplant fries are a must buy salads for big and small appetites are sure to please.
(5)
Demetria L.
Obsessed with this Spot! Sweet potato fries and extensive wine selection-- Profile of upscale dining in the fast casual environment makes for a perfect date spot.
(5)
Joanne R.
Burgers were good. Fries just ok. Wine choices match the food. Nice to have food and retail wine combined.
(3)
Connie Y.
If you love an a la carte styled place with a bit of class, Adega is the place to go. Whenever I frequent downtown Silver Spring, it never fails to disappoint (except when I ordered a portobello burger thinking there would be a burger) with good alternative/soft rock music playing in the background. When you enter the restaurant, I suggest finding a seat first considering how busy it can become during meal hours, then you order food at the counter and will be given a buzzer to pick up your food. Adega presents a quaint and cozy atmosphere which serves many types of wine and beer for the drink connoisseur. It also has some AMAZING eggplant fries along with some savory sweet potato fries. As a young professional, I love bringing my friends from out of town to enjoy a glass of wine there.
(5)
Elodie T.
It's hard to rate Adega for anything other than a solid 4 when they have a great weekend deal: 1 appetizer, 2 entrees and a bottle of wine for $40? I'm sold! My group of 5 friends ordered 5 entrees, 3 bottles, 2 appetizers and a beer for about... $115-120? We had a really great time and the food was all very good. The only criticism I had for anything that I tried was that the bruschetta- typically, the tomatoes and other good stuff is already placed on the bread but they've lumped everything in the middle, and the result was that the bread under the small mound of goodness was... soggy. :( Everything else was really great though! Be aware that it's sometimes hard to find seats, especially if you have a bigger group. I usually think of Adega as a classier Panera- in both places, you order then find a seat. Panera doesn't serve alcohol, though, nor does it have gourmet food. Try to arrive on the early side, we've had issues before where it's been so busy that we've had to go elsewhere. First come, first serve! Solid 4/5.
(4)
Kristin C.
This place has an interesting vibe. It is part exotic wine store. (I shop for wines a lot, and I didn't recognize many labels. I was also impressed to see some Maryland wines). It is part cafe (i.e. you order your food and wine at the counter and get a buzzer to pick up your food). Then, it is part gourmet food. (The food was rather classy). The music that was playing as well as the space had a hippish feel. I looked around, and there was clearly a mix of patrons~some young, some middle aged, some old; some stylish, some not~way to get a diverse audience! I had a bottle of wine which they were able to chill for me and package it up later when I obviously couldn't drink the whole thing. It was a fume blanc which I had never heard of which ended up being pleasant. I also had the tomato basil soup with a side of toasted focaccia which was tasteful. For seconds, I had the lobster bisque; I favored the tomato basil though. I would say the most memorable was the excellent customer service. After the stress of travel and bewilderment of being in a new town, they were so helpful and patient when I could barely decide what to eat. There was a man walking around who must have been the owner or manager who looked stellar at whatever he was. At any rate, they went above and beyond on several occasions to make sure I had a satisfying time.
(4)
Ana A.
This is an awesome place in DTSS to grab a quick bite and enjoy some wine and beer. The food is pretty good, but served on plastic plates so it is nothing fancy... The atmosphere makes up for it though. I always wished that there were more independent, unique places in downtown silver spring. Thanks God there is Adega!
(4)
Angel A.
Not impressed with service at counter. Did not receive all of our order for carry out . Oddly..One of the male workers on the floor area kept rudely running/walking into us as we waited for our food. Really odd. I'm disappointed we payed for an item we did not receive and the counter guy never checked to make sure our order was right before handing us the bag. Not impressed with this place at all. Food was average. They also messed up the order specifications for one item and we couldn't even eat it. Very irritated by that.
(1)
Sam W.
I've never shopped for wine in this place because I've only gone there to eat. They have an eclectic lineup of delicious stuff. It's been a few years but their menu still has many of the favorites I remember. Their sweet potato fries are excellent. I recall them coming with some sort of dipping sauce that complimented them well. Their flat breads are done right, with the bread warm and supple, not cracker-like. Their wraps are well put together; all their ingredients are used effectively to maximize one's enjoyment. Seating is hard to come by on a busy night so try them out middle of the week before the dinner rush to eat comfortably.
(5)
Morrigan D.
A cozy wine bar in downtown Silver Spring. Considering there are no other wine bars , Adega is already winning. The eggplant fries are an absolute must! Get them with burgers ! Get them alone ! Just GET THEM. (Side note : this review may be biased as the reviewer is currently I side the establishment and four glasses in on a delicious Tempranillo)
(3)
Brenton W.
Came here last night with my fiance and her sister for the first time after living in Silver Spring for close to two years now. Wow! They were in heaven. Not only was it happy hour (25% off glasses of wine and beer [YES, they have a quality selection of 6 - 8 craft and micro brews]) but you also got 40% off a bottle of wine with your dinner. The girls were in heaven. The food was delicious. I had the jambalaya. The fiance had falafel and her sister had a burger. The jambalaya was delicious and their entrees looked great, as well. The food was fairly priced, in my opinion. Their takeout section, specifically regarding the beer, was shockingly phenomenal! Very, fairly priced and comparable -- if not, cheaper -- than stores that specifically only deal with take out. For example, Lagunitas 6-pack was $9.49, where if you were to travel a block away to a take-out shop, it is priced at $14.99. Kind of wish our food wasn't served on plastic / disposable plates with disposable silverware but that really is the only criticism on an otherwise quaint and comfortable establishment.
(4)
Victoria W.
Fell in love with this place.I had the jerk sandwich with a glass of spring*gria and sweet potato fries. I definitely want to go back and try everything. The staff was very friendly and helped me decide what to get seeing as how everything on their menu looks delicious.
(4)
Alyssa A.
I came here on Sunday with my family. We ordered the following Portobella Sandwich: This was just okay. I thought it had too must pesto on it and it really overpowered the flavors on the sandwich. This was recommended to me by someone working there but I wouldn't order it again. Eggplant Fries: These were delicious were the marina sauce. Steak and Cheese: My boyfriend said this was pretty good. The Bleu's Burger: My brother said this was delicious Parmesan Fries: This was apparently really salty. I thought it was good but it did have a lot of parmesan on it Mini Burgers: These were good but maybe a little dry Carribean Chicken Salad: My sister said this was good Prosciutto Fig and Goat Cheese Flatbread: This was basically a thin crust pizza I might come back to give this place a try. I would have given them 4 stars because everyone else I came with seemed to like their food, but my sandwich was just okay.
(3)
Lynie H.
Great food for a liquor store....u can get wine there n eat there...great selection of food....I really like that the sweet potatoe fries are crispy. They also have great eggplant fries too.
(4)
Chris L.
Came to visit for the first time. I'm from Cali, L.A... We got the non-alcoholic ginger beer, jambalaya pasta, Caesar wrap, calamari, and lastly tuna tar tar tacos. This Californian girl from Ktown is very HAPPY!!! :D
(5)
Janna R.
Always a favorite in Silver Spring. Great wine selection, great small bites or full meals if you're extra hungry. Adega has a great menu and atmosphere. It's great for any occasion!!
(5)
Jeff E.
Adega is often crowded during prime times, but the sandwiches are actually pretty good.
(4)
Cat S.
Came here for a solo drink after work. Staff were very helpful during my first time here. O asked to taste before you buy and they were willing to help, and that's what I love about them! I had their house holiday sangria (cross between mulled wine and spiced apple cider); OMG so delish! Sadly, I did not get a chance to try their truffle fries or crab sandwich, those were recommended to me by their wonderful staff :)
(4)
Rhianna B.
This is a hole-in-the-wall cafe where you can get a glass of wine and sandwich for lunch. They also sell wine and beer but I use it as a relaxing weekend lunch in between running errands. It's right in downtown Silver Spring and when it's warm outside, they have outdoor seating.
(4)
Karol L.
We have been going to Adega for 7 years and we love it. Perfect for dates, meeting with friends. They serve GREAT food and wine for a great price. We Love Adega. Parking is convenient and it's right in the heart of Silver Spring.
(5)
Andrew P.
Friendly, good, and hey - Silver Spring! Having lived around Silver Spring for decades -- and long enough to know the Sad Way It Was (which, truth be told, was Very Sad) -- I greatly appreciate Adega for its mere existence...not to mention the welcoming format, food, drink, and setting which it offers. I enjoyed Adega's informal walk-up format, the decent and inexpensive menu of freshly-made burgers and other pub grub, and the varied selection of interesting pours by the glass. If you buy a bottle of wine at a reasonable retail price, they will open it and provide glassware for you and your mates. No mark-up! Also praiseworthy is the store's use of primo shelf space for worthwhile local wines of Maryland and Virginia. Adega is a fun place to hang, and a big step up from its many nationally-franchised neighbors. In Paris, this would be an ordinary neighborhood bistro; but, by gosh...we're talking Silver Spring!
(4)
Bennett T.
It is a charming little shop that offers fantastic food - particularly the burgers - and a very good wine and beer selection. I've been twice and the quality is consistent. They do have a sit down portion to the store as well as beers on top and wines by the glass. The staff is friendly, knowledgeable and professional. It's a great place to stop into after shopping at Whole Foods for lunch and to do whatever wine and beer shopping you need to do.
(4)
Catherine T.
First time here, got a bottle of Novecento Malbec 2012 which is very good. we ordered the Mushroom truffle Mac and Cheese, Fries: sweet potato and truffle, Adega's mixed green salad, and the Adega grilled chicken flatbread pizza! deliciousssssss!!
(5)
Alexandra B.
4.5 stars This little wine bar and eatery is absolutely adorable. I love the vibe of this place, and while there could be more seating space to accommodate all the excited guests who want to eat here, everything else about it is pretty darn great. Stepping in, I absolutely loved the variety of wine and beer that was on display and available to customers. Though you could take the wine home, they would gladly open it for you and provide you with glasses so you can sit around and enjoy it with friends. They also offer a wide array of food from truffle fries to sandwiches to calamari. We didn't eat a full meal there but we had a few snacks and everything was perfectly tasty and hit the spot. There's a huge variety of wine and even beer available to choose from -- enough to satisfy pretty much every taste. We shared several bottles over several hours between us and had a wonderful time. My fiance and I will most definitely be back here soon, and will gladly bring friends along each time. This has to be one of the cutest businesses in Silver Spring by far.
(4)
Ebonne B.
Adega is a quaint jewel in the downtown silver spring area, providing a variety of good eats and wonderful wines at a decent price. Location Parking in the lot nearby the shopping plaza is a crap shoot, especially on weekends. You might fare better parking in the garage across Veterans Plaza. It faces the main plaza area so depending on the time of year or what events are going on like the Silver Spring Jazz fest, you may have too do the delicate dip-and-dive through the crowd dash through the stairs and walkway to get to the restaurant, and you'll have to contend with the noises outside which can interfere if you're looking for a quiet meal in. Restaurant It is on the small side and on Fridays and Saturdays it can be a complete gaggle of people clustered on top of one another jockeying for space to sit, stand while waiting for their order or mindlessly collect at the counter blocking everyone else as they ponder their order. If you could, try dining on a weeknight if you'd like to have a quiet meal. Lunch on the weekdays can get a bit hectic as well. Food/Wine Always a hit! Before my body decided that it couldn't be friends with gluten, the Chicken w/Lemon Butter and Penne Cream Pesto with Chicken were my favorite entrees on the menu followed by their Bison burger (which was second to the "gouda" burger but that's no longer on their menu.) However, even with a intolerance or a food allergy there's still a lot of great dishes to be had and although they don't have gluten free pasta available (that I know of) they ARE willing to make changes & substitutions to your order with no problem. They offer a variety of wines and now do tastings monthly (approximately). Tip - Adega now delivers! They're a participating restaurant with Takeout Taxi so if you can't be bothered with getting out of your pj's and headed over but still have a longing for eggplant fries you now can have it brought to your door.
(5)
J E.
Love this place. Staff is friendly and food is very good, which is surprising when you see it. Looks more like a wine shop win a deli, but don't underestimate the kitchen. They do some fine work - like the fish tacos, for example. YUM!! If you are not sure about the wines, ask for a sample or a recommendation. This is a great place for a casual date or a quick bite. Highly recommended!
(4)
Robert B.
I can confirm that everyone's now up-charged $5 if you want to drink the chilled beer Adega sells. I buy your food; I buy your beer, but if I want to drink your beer with your food then I have to pay an extra $5? What an absurdly stupid concept. Space is now dated and badly needs a refresh. Space is also cramped and constantly consists of people hovering, waiting for seats to open up. Central, shared seating is awkwardly placed and sized. The owners badly need to expand into the now-vacant Metamorphosis space. Food gets 4 stars, but just about every other aspect of this establishment is poorly thought out/executed.
(3)
Brittany S.
HOW DOES THIS PLACE ONLY HAVE 4 STARS! Born and raised in Silver Spring, I was in high school when they started building up Downtown Silver Spring. The area is great, which the exception of City Place... how is that place still open?! Anyways I've been to every restaurant, bar, store in DTSS and how did I miss this place?! Well, I guess for most of it I wasn't of legal age. Still, it took me way too long to try this place! Some of the best food I've ever had, hands down the best in DTSS. It's a restaurant inside of a wine store, how could you not love it? You can test any of the wines they have on the big board behind the register, for free! And you can have a glass or buy a whole bottle for your meal. They also have a few beers on tap, including my fave - Crispin Cider! We decided to order an appetizer because we were starving so we got the pulled pork sliders. Best sliders I've ever had! Their pulled pork was so flavorful, my mouth was so happy. I ordered the prosciutto, pear and gorgonzola sandwich with sweet potato fries. To. Die. For. This was the best sandwich I've ever had and the sauce on the side, I think it was for the fries but I dipped my sandwich in it and it took it to a whole nother level of awesomeness. Not the biggest sweet potato fan but I wanted to try them, I could have done without. My boyfriend order the chicken pesto pasta. Seriously the best pasta I've ever had at a restaurant. It had the biggest chunks of chicken too! They def give you your moneys worth! The music was good too! Oldies but goodies. I'm so mad at myself for not checking this place out sooner!
(5)
Ethan L.
This is an off the beaten path wine shop, that also stocks some craft beers. Some of the beers feature some good selection of Maryland producers (Union Craft, Stillwater, Brewer's Art). It also has a lunch counter serving somewhat upscale items and sandwiches. Often though when I come in the specials get sold out, but there's a menu to easily look through to enjoy. They come out with a bit more care, but they are also pricey. And speaking of pricey, look no further than Montgomery county when it comes to liquor sales. So prices here are high, but the variety for wine and beer is better than the county stores by a mile.
(3)
Vindhya Reddy D.
Liked this place for its simplicity. I had the jerk chicken sandwich and sangria, simple and tasty food. Enough to be my dinner as well. Prices are very decent too. Would keep going for sure.
(4)
Kristian T.
I ordered delivery and the bleu burger was delicious! Cooked to perfection! The blue cheese in the burger was genius! No complaints! I ordered through takeout taxi and they were prompt and the food was still decently warm! Definitely can't wait to try this place again and all they have to offer!
(5)
Stacey K.
nice quite area nice selction of wines.
(4)
Susanna P.
I'm sad that I've lived blocks from Adega for years and only just ventured in a few weeks ago. My husband and I were immediately hooked; the delicious sandwiches, the great selection of beer and wine, the eggplant fries... addictive. We've had "The Jerk" chicken wrap, the Reuben, the Pork Belly French Dip, and the Adult Grilled Cheese. I could eat that last sandwich every day. Especially if I got the eggplant fries on the side! Do yourself a favor and visit Adega. Try any of their sandwiches, but seriously - get the eggplant fries.
(5)
Corine H.
Loved what I've tried: truffle fries, calamari, sliders, salads. The recommended wine was so perfect and economical? I returned the next day to purchase two bottles. The servers and counter staff are generally friendly and helpful, though there are a couple of guys who merely stare w/o asking if they can help, which is a bit rude to new customers, who may never return. For vets? It's annoying, but we understand that it's a personal issue, not an establishment one. I will return repeatedly and enjoy the menu's depth and the restaurant's wonderfully casual vibe.
(4)
Koral S.
So many wonderful things to say about this place ... and just a few not so great. Wines - a fabulous selection of reds, whites, sparkling, etc. All priced decently with descriptions and a knowledgeable staff. They also have a few selected items already chilled and some beer options as well. Food - Overall I have enjoyed the food. The ingredients usually taste fresh. I'm a huge fan of the flatbreads. I have mixed feelings about the eggplant fries. I really like the taste of them - but they are often greasy and soggy. I've had better experiences with them when taking to go and then reheating them in the toaster and then draining the excess oil (that's a lot to do if I'm not making them myself). I was disappointed last time I ordered to go - they forgot my chips with the turkey reuben which made me very sad - since I love chips with my sandwiches. The reuben itself - meh ... not all that. Ambiance - It's cute inside to go for a nice quiet evening. The tables and set up is very inviting and warm. I also love where it sits in the downtown Silver Spring area.
(4)
Amanda P.
SO GOOD. I've never had a bad thing here and I've been very frequently. I've also never had a hard time getting a table despite the small restaurant. Whatever you do, make sure you get the eggplant fries.
(5)
Ryan B.
My fav. lunch spot in Silver Spring. I've been hear twice for meetings in the last 2 weeks, and I'm impressed every time. 1st time: Adult Grilled Cheese. It's terrific. 2nd time: Caprice Sandwich: tasty pesto with a heap of mozzarella and fresh tomatoes. Tasty. Yes, good food at reasonable prices. What really wins me over is the space. Outdoor seating, indoor seating, a couple of weird tables cut at different heights at angles. Definitely my go to place to lunch in Silver Spring.
(4)
Lori D.
I want to make it clear in the beginning that I do really enjoy this place a lot WHEN WE EAT THERE IN PERSON - the reason for 3 stars is that they are horrible to order pick up from. Today was the last straw for me. I will never order take out from them again. Every. Single. Time. they mess our order up and I'm simply over it. Out of 10 take out orders they've gotten it at least partially wrong on 9 occasions - no exaggeration. When two people are ordering sandwiches and soups and salads and appetizers, it shouldn't be that hard to get it right... at least half of the time! And add to that note, I was working on a production and I ordered them for lunch for our cast/crew of about 10 people -- and guess what? Mistakes. Really need to desperately improve in this area. Again, if you are looking for a cool atmosphere and decent food with a really nice drink selection, this place is great option to stop at. As a local, if you are looking for an option to bring home, I would skip this place.
(3)
Justine J.
We visited here twice during our trip to DC -- that's how much we loved it! Great location, easy parking, nice casual atmosphere -- exactly what we wanted. There's an awesome selection of beer & wine both for drinking during lunch/dinner or buying in larger bottles/6-packs to bring home -- perfect for my beer nerd of a husband. You order right at the counter and bring a buzzer back to your table, nice and casual. The food was great -- between the three of us we tried burgers, pizza, and pasta, all great. Love it!
(5)
Diana J.
My go to sandwich is the adult grilled cheese. They have a large collection of wines that are very affordable. Not all employees are equally knowledgeable about wine but they do let you sample any of the wines they offer by the glass. The have great hard cider on tap. I wish they rotated their collection of wines on sale more often. I think I've seen the same tempranillo on sale for a year now.
(4)
Mike W.
Nothing that great about this place really. The plywood booths are a little temporary looking and the food is mediocre at best. I've been here twice...first and the last.
(3)
Jess Y.
I absolutely adore the atmosphere here. Wine and great food, how could one complain? You can grab a drink, or a bottle, and enjoy it with or without food. (You probably won't be able to resist the food though.) My boyfriend and I LOVE Adega!!! He always get's the Bleu's Burger and I must always try something different. So far I've tried the calamari, the southwest chipotle turkey wrap, "best" grilled fish tacos, smoked salmon (I don't see it on the menu anymore), make your own flatbread, penne cream pesto with chicken, adult grilled cheese, and all of the fries. I won't go into detail about all of the food, because it's all very, very delicious. The most recent visit we had, of course he got his Bleu's burger, and I got an adult grilled cheese with truffle fries. I couldn't take more than one bite of the burger. I would have ate the whole thing. They add the blue cheese to the actual burger. So you get it in every single bite. The caramelized red onions, bacon, and chipotle mustard mayo do something special to this burger. It has all of the elements I look for in a meal. You have the savory, the tang, the sweet, the crunch, tenderness of meat. I would highly recommend this burger! About my sandwich-- I never knew something as simple as a grilled cheese could come out so amazing. First you have this buttery, super crunchy, bread. The second layer has the herb mascarpone, chedar cheese, bacon, red onion, tomato, & spinach. The fact that it has red onion and vegetables makes it that much more amazing. The herb marscarpone gives it a very nice creamy element and you can taste the fresh herb as well. I cannot get over the truffle fries. They are so simple, yet so perfectly seasoned. A lot of places can go seriously overboard with truffle, or not include it enough. Adega did great-- and I'm obsessed with truffle. On that note-- I know what's for dinner tonight!!! Btw: Parking in the Whole Foods parking lot is frustrating and busy most of the time. Park across the street near Chick Fil-A, super empty compared to the other lots. Side note: I've been coming here since 2009 and nothing has changed. It's been so consistent, and the wine selection never fails.
(5)
Paul S.
This place is fantastic for food, and they have a great special two entrees an app with a 17.99 bottle of wine for 40$. Also my wife loves it so we eat here a lot now. Oh and they sell great beer!
(5)
Bokyong E.
I loved this place. I ordered falafels with sweet potato fries. I recommend ordering eggplant fries because those were also very delicious. My falafel was pure goodness.. I hate when it is over fried but this one was perfect with fresh veggies. My friend and I also bought a rose wine which was only 10.50 (cheapest rose that was available). They give you wine glasses and a cooler without extra charge. They do have beer but you need to pay $5 if you want to drink there.. Which I didn't understand why. The location is right at downtown silver spring so I ended up walking around afterwards.
(4)
Abby T.
One of my favorite restaurants in Silver Spring. It's gt a great casual atmosphere that lends to taking friends and family for lunch when they're in town for a quick visit, for a casual date, or to grab a glass of wine with a friend after work. Staff is friendly and helpful, and responsive with assistance if you need to change your order to carryout, etc. Food- They changed up their menu a few months ago but thankfully kept all my favorites, like the half and half fries (sweet potato and eggplant please!), the substantial salads and great sandwich options. It's a walkup situation so you pay for your order, grab a buzzing thing, and grab a seat from one of the booths, small tables or a couple of high tops you might share with new friends. Drinks- adega has a great drinks board of options if you're eating in, including daily specials and helpful recs from the staff. If you're carrying out, they have multiple walls of beer and wine to choose from. On Saturdays they have a free tasting and a few other specials like half-priced wine throughout the week. It's also just a great place to get the local feeling, with area news and flyers in the entry and a casual touch that makes stopping by a friend's table totally acceptable.
(5)
Brian W.
My first experience with this place. We just had dessert and a glass of wine each. I'm a huge wine fan, so this place was great for me. I love the concept, casual wine spot with simple foods that pair well. Order at the counter, decent prices, interesting wine by the glass, additional wines available wine shop style. A great concept well executed.
(4)
Jeffrey M.
Food was excellent, price was fair for the quality. But there wasn't reAlly any service which means I just didn't have to tip. Great food n wine.
(4)
Liz S.
For the price point this place was great! You may have to hang around for a few minutes while tables open up even on a week night, but the casual atmosphere and affordable gourmet food make that ok. It took me ages to decide what to order because everything sounded delicious. I highly recommend the eggplant fries and the wine and beer selection is superb for Maryland. Make sure you check out this friendly neighborhood spot!
(4)
Laura R.
This was a hard choice between 4 and 5 stars, but given the weekend special, it was fairly easy to decide on 5. Why Five? I love the atmosphere, very relaxed but still a nudge sophisticated. Also, they have a decent wine and craft beer selection. The food itself is very good. For entrees I can say that the Bleu Burger was wonderful and the Latin Ahi Tuna dinner entree was amazing. Why Four? The reason I would have leaned towards 4 stars is because we ordered the Cheese Platter appetizer and it was somewhat disappointing. Only one of the cheeses tasted non-processed, the rest I feel I could have bought at the grocery store a la Sargento. That said, the bread and the strawberry jam that came with were wonderful. Instead, I think next time we'll try the eggplant fries. I can't really complain about the cheese platter because we went on a Sunday and took advantage of the weekend special. 1 app, 2 entrees, and 1 bottle of wine for $40 (after 5pm). For that reason, I can totally over look the mediocre cheese and it becomes well worthy of 5 stars! Also, the Kiona Riesling we chose was a lovely wine. Kind of strange that you order up front and they give you a buzzer, but I didn't mind that at all. Although, the bf kept referring to it as the Chipotle of wine bars!! I would certainly recommend this place to anyone looking for a classier weekend hang out than McGinty's. While it's not the most top notch selection of wines, the food and atmosphere more than make up for that. And after all, isn't the point of a wine bar to have a great time with good company, anyway?
(5)
Ritzie C.
I don't want people to know how good Adega is because I don't want it getting too popular. I feel like there's just enough seating for it to always be a challenge when you want a table. And since you order your food and wine at the counter, it's difficult to dive on a table someone is evacuating before someone else catches it. All that aside, the menu items are casual without being lazy. In fact, I would consider it nearly bistro-like, rather than "cafe." Nibbles worth noting are the calamari, eggplant and sweet potato fries, and mini burgers. Occassionally they have duck sliders and mussels featured on their daily chalkboard specials which are phenomenal. Some of the items I love are the ahi tuna salad, the burgers (Cabernet, Bleu, and bison), and the prosciutto/fig/goat cheese flatbread. I had the hummus not too long ago and it was underwhelming. However, there's so much of this menu I want to try but I'm always swayed by the daily specials when I walk in the door. Wines are reasonably priced, both by the glass and by the bottle and they also have a few beers to choose from. Overall it's consistent, laid-back, and has some solid food options - which is why we frequently return.
(4)
L M.
Awesome food. Great beer. Great wine. An inexpensive and delicious date night!!! I've never had a bad meal here. Just finished the jambalaya pasta and it was great!
(5)
Karen S.
This is a great, casual little alternative to all the chains in Downtown Silver Spring. I didn't know about it for the longest time because it's not in the main strip with the movie theater, but I'm so glad I found it. It's like a Panera, but fancier and locally owned-- and the prices do reflect that. You'll probably pay around $8-13 for a meal, but I think it's worth it. Like Panera, you order at the counter and go pick your food up. You get a beeper so you can wander the store, which has a great wine and beer selection, or sit while you wait. Their flatbreads are great and I always take home half. Whenever there's lobster bisque, I always order that (look for it on the daily menu). Their eggplant fries are amazing! I never knew you could make fries out of eggplant, but theirs, topped with a bit of cheese and served with marinara dipping sauce, are awesome. You get a huge portion. They don't reheat badly either, if you try it in the toaster oven. One thing to note: the parking lot behind it (the Whole Foods one) has only two-hour parking, and that is strictly enforced. Park in one of the garages to avoid getting a ticket, or set a timer!
(4)
Andrew T.
I have gone to Adega since they opened and always enjoyed it. It has a great casual atmosphere and a friendly staff. Every time I have been there until recently I have had the Turkey Rueben which is awesome but today I felt like a salad and got the arugula salad with steak. Well, it was about the best salad I have ever had! The combination of favors was incredible. The Gorgonzola, pears, cranberries, etc. might sound like an odd combination but it was wonderful. I ate every bite. I decided to take a salad home for dinner and got the Jerk chicken with mango and avocado. I just finished eating it and it was great too. I know that I will be going much more regularly now. Now I can't wait to try more of the menu!!!
(5)
Nick H.
Hidden gem in downtown Silver Spring. Great food, craft beer and wine selection. I will be coming back. Pizzas, salads, fish tacos, sandwiches galore. The bleu burger blew my mind. Cooked perfect. Very casual order at the counter type spot but has food like you'd find in nicer upscale restaurant. Beer and wine by the glass. Great selection. Gm mike is friendliest guy in town btw too!
(5)
Therese D.
Food and drinks are good. I definitely recommend the eggplant fries. Sometimes difficult to get a spot if they're really busy.
(4)
Matthew S.
After having cancelled reservations for a nice Valentine's Day dinner in the city due to the snow storm, we decided to make a trek out of the house despite the snow to Adega's since our baby sitter had already come to the house and was spending the night. When you have a kid and you have a babysitter lined up, you take advantage no matter what the elements are outside. Either way, Adega's is a tried and true spot for us. Since we had some dinner already, we chose to peruse the wine racks and selected a delicious blended red wine (name forgotten). We ordered a charcuterie board along with our wine and found a spot to settle in. This particular night the restaurant was quite cold due to the wind storm that going on outside, but once the wine started flowing our insides warmed up. The charcuterie board was delicious; however, there were several things that could be improved. The board provided a whole loaf of baguette; however, there wasn't any mustard, butter, or any other spreads provided. We had to ask them for this, a minor inconvenience. After our first bottle of wine, I selected another bottle; however, I chose a sweet white wine named Goddess at the request of my wife. We ordered some chocolate lava cakes as well. These little treats are delightful. Warm and gooey on the inside, they are a big hit and some nights become unavailable. That night they did not garnish with the traditional mango slice which my wife enjoys. All in all, Adega's is a great place and was a great spot for my wife and I to enjoy time together without our little munchkin for a night.
(4)
Lorena B.
Hands down, this is my fave place to eat in downtown Silver Spring. They have a great selection of wine and yummy food. Normally, I despise anything green but I love the ahi tuna salad. It's 3 big chunks of rare tuna with a sesame crust on mixed greens with a delicious vinaigrette and cilantro rice. Bonus, they will sub extra salad for the rice at no extra charge. I also recommend the bacon cheeseburger. It's a normal portion and the chef manages to serve it juicy but not greasy. Adega clearly uses quality ingredients. Because it's a cafe/wine shop, it can be cramped especially during lunch and happy hour. I also wish they had more wines available by the glass. Still, Adega is heads and shoulders above the chains nearby.
(4)
Rose M.
This is my favorite Saturday night hang out place in downtown Silver Spring! Love the food especially the fish tacos and the adega fries. Of course, love the wide selection of local and imported wines. Staff is very friendly. Sometimes it's hard to find a seat, but people are usually nice about sharing their tables with other people.
(5)
Robert V.
Adega Wine Cellars is located right in the heart of downtown Silver Spring. With an open air plaza in front, the area is usually lively and festive. The shop itself serves beer, wine, and various bar food. Prices are competitive. I have not tried the food so I cannot comment on the quality and taste, but I do always notice multiple diners every time I drop by.
(4)
David T.
awesome food! Wine bottle prices are a tad high, but food rocks otherwise.
(4)
Caroline L.
Came here twice now and had some different experiences. The first: came with a bigger group and finding a table for us was hard- esp since it's a first come first serve basis so you awkwardly stand there and stare at people hoping to pounce first when they start cleaning up. We got a variety of things and I remember some weren't too impressed. The eggplant fries were ok and the grown up grilled cheese was fantastic. If I remember correctly, someone was disappointed in their fish tacos. The second: came here w/ one other person and pretty late on a Fri night so seating wasn't an issue. I love how it's removed from all the hectic downtown area where all the high schoolers are. Adega is quieter, slightly more upscale, and cater to an older crowd. This time got the calamari which I would give a 7.5/10 which is still pretty darn good. The batter coating was a light color and dipping sauce was good. The highlight was the tomato soup and the turkey sandwich. Can't remember what the actual name was but it came w/ cranberry sauce and cheese. Huge portion!
(4)
Beth N.
A group of 4 of us went here on a Wednesday evening. It was SO BUSY. We had to order our food and wait (standing up) for about 20 mins until we snagged a table. They really need more seating. I shared a pizza and it was pretty good. My sister and her husband both had beer and said it was delicious. My fiance had wine that he said was great. You cannot sit outside if you have any alcohol, even though some people snuck outside with it anyway. Overall it was okay but I'm not sure if I will be going back.
(3)
Phil D.
ATTENTION EVERYONE: Adega does not charge a corking fee for ANY of their beers or wines, as long as you purchase food. This is a great deal! And their food is quite lovely. A wide variety of sandwiches, burgers, pasta dishes, flatbreads, and small plates. We highly recommend the Turkey Reuben, though you really can't go wrong with any of the sandwiches. Adega is our #1 go-to sit-down lunch place in downtown Silver Spring, as the prices are very reasonable.
(4)
Denise K.
The beer was priced very right! The beet salad was great. The southwest pizza was decent although I think I would have liked a different one better just as a matter of taste. Sweet potato fries were awesome although the sauce was questionable. I think a honey mustard sauce would be better. All in all a great dining experience.
(4)
S W.
I really loved this place. It wasn't at all what I expected but the wine and food was so yummy, I didn't mind. I had the portobello mushroom burger with the eggplant fries. I'd go back again for this but I'm anxious to try other items.
(4)
Bryan N.
I have to say, some of the best wine selections in DC. The customer service is amazing! Emily was so knowledgable about all the wines they had in house. I told her exactly what wanted and she not only found great wines for me, she gave a little wine lesson to boot! Great service. And if you are feeling a little hungry, they have delicious food to compliment the wine. Take your girl here for date night, you'll that me later...
(5)
Semra E.
Whenever I am feeling in the mood to know that there's an actually tasty affordable spot in downtown Silver Spring that has a quality and staff that no other location can touch...I will come here. Which is just about once a week for me. They're fantastic, they have great wine recommendations and they keep adding excellent specials to their menu in addition to providing deals that you can only get when dining in. Either way, I love it here. Every new person I bring in to eat here agrees, it's a hidden (or not so hidden by how crowded it can get certain times), place to eat when shopping or hanging out in downtown Silver Spring. Great quick dinner before a movie at AFI or Majestic.
(5)
Brittany J.
The Caesar wrap with salmon was out of this world! I felt compelled to go back and order one togo to take to work for lunch and definitely ate it before I could get it in the fridge. Oops
(5)
Shira S.
This places gets me in trouble....every time! I typically go with friends and we get several bottles of wine to share. They don't charge corkage fees, so whatever you pay for the bottle you choose, is exactly what you pay. Their selection of wine is pretty good and across many different price ranges. They also have a lot of yummy food. During happy hour, their appetizers are 25% off (I think). I highly recommend their grilled calamari - it is soooo good.
(4)
Siv L.
Came here with my boyfriend on a beautiful sunny Saturday afternoon. We wanted a place to hang out before grabbing dinner. So we grabbed some reading material, said yes to the wine tasting, and bought a bottle of red to share. We sat down, enjoyed a glass of wine, and read. Great set up -- love the concept. Wish there were more places like this in other cities. Makes drinking wine and hanging out very affordable. Please note that we didn't eat anything here... but for the concept, the space to enjoy wine, hang out, and talk, read, etc, I would definitely recommend.
(4)
Adelina Z.
Normally this place is a go-to old reliable but this past visit was anything but. For starters, the wait time was a couple minutes short of half an hour. Keep in mind that I only ordered a lamb burger (medium) and truffle fries. Not to mention, it was during the afternoon (hours post lunch rush) on a weekday. When I finally got my food, the lamb burger was particularly dry. I found this odd because lamb is infamously known for being fatty. I'm pretty sure it's because it was frozen; it definitely wasn't fresh meat. The fries were perfectly crispy but only gave off a faint hint of any truffle flavor. I'll wait to visit again and hopefully they'll have improved. The third star was given for their great wine selection.
(3)
Jennifer H.
I love going to this cafe!!! The wine selection is not giant but plenty big enough to find something you like in your price range. The best part about Adega is that you can buy a bottle of wine and drink it there for no up-charge! There is usually someone out by the wines that will help you select one. It is not a very large space, 90% of the time I am able to get a table right away. The food is amazing, I think several of the selections are very upscale and not usually found in a cafe. I recommend the ahi tuna.
(5)
Jessie S.
Fantastic food and wine that won't break your budget. Incredible wine and craft beer selection. Amazingly inventive food menu. Great for groups or dates. A winner all around.
(5)
Cici H.
I've passed by this place several times but never thought to go inside and explore. When my friend selected this place to have dinner, I was excited to try it out. I ordered the Asian chop salad and my friend and I shared an appetizer of half sweet potato half eggplant fries. He also ordered the Caribbean chicken salad and tomato basil soup. My Asian chop salad was good with very fresh ingredients. The fries were good but I wasn't a fan of the sauces. I tried my friend's tomato basil soup and it was tasty. Overall, everything was good. I really like to atmosphere in this place. I definitely plan to come back from another visit to try something different and perhaps a glass of wine.
(4)
Michelle D.
I'm very impressed with the food. I had a veggie burger today and I was nervous before I bought it because of the bad experiences I've had ordering veggie burgers at other places. Well, with Adega...I WAS PLEASANTLY SURPRISED!!! Their new veggie burger well exceeded my expectations! It was a delicious dream come true. I finally found a second spot in Maryland where I could go for a trustworthy veggie burger. It had a nice grilled taste to it and the recommended chipotle mayo was a-ma-zing! Not to mention the 3 perfectly cut slices of avocado that topped the burger. I prefer to avoid gluten, so I ordered the burger without a bun....still amazing. I'm also in love with Adega's doubly delicious eggplant fries! OMG, how can you fix fries that are not dripping with grease? In fact, I was surprised that, after eating a veggie burger and a side of eggplant fries, my fingers and mouth/throat weren't coated with grease. I was triple satisfied with my meal. WAY TO GO ADEGA! After eating, my husband and I informed they guy we ordered from that the food was A+. Can't wait to go back for more eggplant fries...and another veggie burger!
(4)
Phx D.
Great food, service could be better thats why I held back a star. The staff were not really helpful when asked questions. But again, the food was great and the ambiance is awesome. Been there several times.
(4)
Michael B.
Good food and a nice selection of wines. Parking can be a minor problem as the one lot nearest the cafe serves several businesses.
(4)
Tim H.
The format is a problem here. It's a cafe with an embedded wine shop (or vice versa?). The important distinction here is that it is definitely a cafe, not a restaurant--you order at a counter, and most importantly, you find your own seats, which for me has been a problem on several occasions. The menu is probably good enough to make for a decent restaurant, and by selling wine it's almost as if they're encouraging you to stay for 45 minutes or more like you would at a seated restaurant. But the fact is, there are other people hovering over you, waiting for you to leave. There's no waiting area, and since people order before there is a seat, some people have their food before there's a place to sit. It's pretty awkward, really, and the section that's a 'wine cellar' has a good selection but feels like it's just wasting space. But, given you know that and have come here for a quick meal at lunchtime or some other appropriate purpose, the food is pretty good. I've had much better pizza, but the sandwiches are good and the eggplant fries are a real treat. The wine selection is of course very good and their specials are thoughtful. I disagree with other reviewers who call it pricey--perhaps the pizzas are, but I've been satisfied with the price and size. Bottom line: be sure you don't mistake it for a restaurant.
(3)
Kelly J.
Just moved to the Silver Spring area from Northern Virginia, and Adega is my new favorite place. I don't want to rave too hard about it though, because it is already too crowded! I went for lunch a few weeks ago with a friend, and while we stood in line to order, we mocked a table with two women who ordered a pizza, a sandwich, a pasta, and a salad. Wouldn't you know it - all of the menu options at Adega looked so yummy, we soon found ourselves in the same boat! We split the appetizer mussels (white wine sauce with garlic and gorgonzola - I seriously wanted to DRINK the sauce). I had the arugula and pear salad and added salmon. The fish was perfectly cooked and comes with an awesome chipotle sauce and black sesame seeds. I went for dinner last night and enjoyed the same salad (a creature of habit, I guess) and the hummus appetizer. The pita bread is served grilled and warm and there is plenty of it! My friend had the fried calamari salad and it looked amazing. I can't wait to come back and try something new! Already looking forward to it.
(4)
Mahoganie B.
I have to thank a friend of mine who suggested this place for me as a lunch spot to conduct a laid back interview or meeting. I went on a weekend day during lunch hour and to my surprise it wasn't crowded!!!! Yaaaay! I'm in love with the set up and the food! The sweet potato fries are sooo delectable and the Ginger Brew... the ginger is strong but I'm a fan!!!!! It washed those fries down really goooooooooood! The items on the menu don't seem overly done, but they also seem to have some kind of healthy benefit; such as the sweet potato or egg plant fries. They do have burgers and flatbread (YUM!) The food items are just casual but the do mix/pair well with wine! Ok.. so when you walk in, after you pick your seat.. you go to the front and order/pay for your food. You are given a buzzer and of course pick up your food with your buzzer goes off. This method seems effective, but I don't wanna image the scene when it's crowded in there and your cutting through the line to get to the food counter to pick up your delights! Still, I'm in love with this place. This seems ideal for - not only lunch, but - happy hour and perhaps a quick bite with friends or date, before a night out. I'm here for this!
(4)
M. K.
Stopped in here before a show at the Fillmore and felt at home the minute I walked in...cozy atmosphere + wine + moderately-priced gourmet sammies? SOLD. I ended up choosing one of the specials, the crabcake sandwich, and thought it was pretty good for a cafe. Roll tasted fresh and the yellow pepper remoulade was a nice added touch. The actual crabcake was a little burnt on the outside, but I was able to overlook that due to the tasty sauce and the A-MAZING truffle fries. Seriously, they were awesome. Thin shoestrings with tons of flavor...I'd go back for those alone. Only cons: -Heavy BBQ-ish smokey smell throughout cafe -White wine I ordered was very warm, almost room temperature Will definitely return for more fries and to try one of their burgers that everyone seems to be raving over.
(4)
Rachel D.
In my top three favorite restaurants to go to on any given night. It's such a cool place; I love the small cafe feel. The food is always yummy...of course paired with a glass of wine! I always try their different house wine whenever I go and it never disappoints.
(5)
Ryan M.
The food is really excellent, the drink selection is quite good, and the location is convenient. The prices seemed a trifle high to me, but they might just be higher because of the downtown location. It does tend to get crowded, though.
(5)
Anice S.
not that I need to add to the wealth of positive reviews, but I will. Great, innovative "foodie" food at a reasonable price... and the staff is always helpful and pleasant. usually you can try the wines that they have by the glass before buying - I wish I had bought a bottle of the one I had last night! Even when they're packed, they always have enough staff to keep things moving and keep the dining room clean and ready for the next round.
(4)
Ruth C.
The guy handing out orders seemed like he hated his life but at least he took his assembly line hygiene seriously, and the rest of the staff members were much friendlier. Bruschetta while we waited. The cheese used had the texture of overly firm tofu, but the fresh tomatoes, basil, and faint hint of garlic made each bite less dubious. The herb-seasoned buttered toast was my favorite part of our meal here: not too greasy, just the right amount of crunch and flavor. At heart, I'm always gonna be a bread'n'butter kinda gal. Migrated outside to enjoy the cooling weather, cute cops, and some live music from the plaza. Split a Napa Valley Cabernet burger. Not sure if shredded lettuce would've helped if it had been present, but I found it a little lackluster. I already take issue when the bun-to-patty sizing doesn't match up, but the toasted foccacia was overly dry and not very enjoyable. I ended up consuming only as much bread was needed to prevent the tomato slice and provolone-graced patty from smearing on my hands. Even then, I still needed to dip half my bites in mustard to keep the bread from being a choking hazard. The patty itself was subtly flavored and moist at medium. Sweet potato fries were ready after a short delay, and emerged piping hot from the warm kitchen. I preferred the lemon mango sauce over a ketchup accompaniment, but ultimately found these starch strips less tasty than the plain kettle chips. I can see myself returning to give this place a chance to redeem itself. To-try list includes the jerk, smokin' turkey reuben, and Duke Ellington... and the eggplant fries have got to be better than the sweet potato fries. The flatbreads I spotted coming out of the kitchen looked divine, and I'm sure I'd cave to my lobster bisque craving.
(3)
Libby F.
I still love this place for delicious, fresh fast food. The salads are always made with mixed greens and their homemade dressing is the best. I came on Monday during happy hour and reading a recent topic on the talk threads had me craving calamari. They have it here and it is pretty good. It's not as good as 8407 Kitchen Bar's, but it is two bucks cheaper ($7). It was happy hour as I mentioned, so select appetizers and glasses of wine (large selection) are 25% off. That means my calamari was only $5.25 and my Shiraz was $4.89. For just ten bucks, it was very satisfying! At these prices, I'll be back for happy hour again.
(5)
Stephen R.
Great atmosphere. A good place to get food and share a bottle of wine with friends. The BBQ pulled pork sandwich is on of the best I have ever had. Sometimes the food can be a little hit or miss. I guess its the price you pay for trying to be creative. They do run some great specials on weekend such as 2 Entrees, an Appetizer, and a bottle of wine for $35-40 dollars.
This place is a great Silver Spring hang-out. Wine is a little over-priced, but they have a monopoly on the cool wine bar market. Food is good. Burgers are the best on the menu. Don't miss the eggplant fries. seriously.
(4)
Jessica H.
Pricey, but sometimes you get what you pay for. They have great smaller plates (I've never had the entrees). The eggplant fries and sweet potato fries combination, with a bottle of Australian red wine. Can't go wrong. NOM+NOM. If you are unsure about what kind of wine you want, the people behind the counter are VERY helpful. I assure you they will not judge you ;-). I consider myself a wine-o and I asked a few questions to the guy, and he knew what the hell he was talking about. So ask-way yelpers. The place does get a bit crowded, but if you are lucky, you can sit by the window and people watch. The location is great, because it overlooks the new downtown Silver Spring skating rink. If you are claustrophobic, go someplace else...its a tiny place, but if you are in the mood for wine and light foods...do it.
(4)
Hain L.
an a-ok place for food but they do have a nice selection of affordable wine. The restaurant part almost operates like a fast food joint. The eggplant fries were really good but the quesadilla wasn't the best I've had. I'd go back to pick up some bottles of wine but not sure about eating there.
(3)
Roy S.
I really liked the Penne Pesto w/ chicken. Good wine selection but its all on the pricey side... Its on of these new hybrid restaurants without waiters. Classier then fast food, but similar concept.
(4)
Esther O.
Adega is really neat. Walk-up counter to order wine and food, and then you can take a seat and they'll bring your food out to you. Casual and low-key, yet really nice at the same time. Both wines I tasted were excellent, so they seem to have a nice selection open for wines by the glass. We only ordered a half-and-half fries (half sweet potato and half eggplant) for food, but they were great. The eggplant were really excellent. I've had better sweet potato fries elsewhere (I love sweet potato, but these were too sweet potato-y and not really "fries"), but they were still yummy. All the food we saw being delivered to other tables looked wonderful. I will definitely be back!
(4)
Jessica J.
I love this place! I go to downtown Silver Spring all the time. However, I always assumed this place was wine only because of the store name. It's kind of hard to tell because the storefront faces the convention center rather than the street. The food is great-tasting, healthy, and affordable. Nice place to unwind with a nice meal and glass of wine. This is definitely a new spot for me!
(4)
Jesse O.
I wasn't expecting to like it that much but my girlfriend really wanted to give it a try. I had a Duke Ellington with some eggplant fries (something you would really have to twist my arm to eat). It was great! Love being surprised.
(4)
Wendy K.
We went last night before a movie. We had about 1 hour and had the Date Night Special- 1 bottle of wine, 1 app, 2 entrees for $40. We made our movie, no problems, even got to see the trailers!! Service was great. This was 1st time I've been here and the guy at the counter was very imformative about how things worked. We had calamari for the app, yummy. For an entree, I had the Blackened Ahi Tuna wrap- delicious!! I highly recommend it. My friend had the pulled pork and he said it was very good, too!! I will def go back. In fact, I can't wait to go back again!!! I can't say enough about the service. Very friendly. Perfect date night place for dinner and a movie!!!
(5)
Seth M.
3.5 stars. did the date night special. $35 bucks, good deal. got a nice bottle of cabernet. got the fried calamari. very good. i had been craving mexican food, so i ordered the adega's quesadilla. probably shouldnt have ordered mexican at a wine place. it came with bbq sauce on it, which i didnt appreciate. oh well. the atmosphere is nice. wait staff was nice.
(3)
Jeannie L.
Awesome little gem hidden in the backside of downtown Silver Spring. I love the idea of combining wine cellar with a cafe that offers great selection of food. They have a variety of offerings, ranging from Cajun Jimbalaya to Ahi Tuna salad. My Jimbalaya was really yummy. I can't wait to go back again and check out their selection of vino. Perhaps a longer work lunch is needed.
(4)
Annie C.
Manage your expectations and you'll realize this place is fantastic. The trick is to read the sign before entering: Adega Wine Cellars. This place sells wines, everything else is extra. WINE & STAFF Disclaimer: I'm a wine novice (I'm more of a foodie) but hey, we've all got to start somewhere. Adega has a great selection for descent prices. Every time I've been here (only a handful of times), I'm greeted by staff who are not only eager to teach me about wine but do so humbly. For as little as 10 bucks, you can walk out of the store with a nice bottle and having benefited from an impromptu wine lesson. For me, that's a pretty good deal. On top of that, you can open a bottle in the store without a corking fee and they will happily recork the bottle for you if you can't finish it (though I've never had to take advantage of that). In terms of wine selection, maybe once I learn more about wines, I'll want to branch out but for now, I'm very happy with what Adega has to offer. As for the staff, rarely have I been to a place that has had such consistently good service. FOOD This is the part where I learned to manage my expectations. As the name states, this is a wine store - everything else is extra. That said, Adega has exceeded my expectations in terms of food. The food is not only decently priced (I'd say most entrees hover around 10 dollars) but tasty. What's even better is the weekend date special: 35 duckets for a bottle, appetizer, and two entrees! My boyfriend and I took advantage of this deal and were very happy. We got eggplant fries (AMAZING), he got a flatbread, and I got pasta. The entrees were a bit better than average and the fries were good. Given that many restaurants would happily charge you $35 for just the bottle of wine, the value here is off the charts. OVERALL 5 stars because it's a wine cellar with so much more to offer.
(5)
Brian S.
Adega is great for so many reasons. The sandwiches are delicious, fresh, and pretty cheap. They have a great wine selection which can be drank on the premises or taken home. They have a wide range of bottles from different regions and at a variety of price levels. They also have a small, but good selection of beers. Another great thing about Adega is that they are open later than many downtown restaurants.
(5)
Brennan S.
Miserable food, and horrible wine - quite a marriage of mediocrity. Don't frequent this establishment. Instead, visit some of the excellent local restaurants in the near vicinity
(1)
Angel B.
Adega is one of my favorite Silver Spring places. The eggplant fries are delicious, especially with the marina sauce they are served with. One order can easily be shared by two people. Also a favorite of mine is the turkey reuben that comes with a raspberry chutney sauce. The prices are a little steep, although with the atmosphere of a wine bar, that's probably to be expected. They also have a great assortment of beers and wines. I love ordering a sandwich and fries to go and sipping a bottle of Yuengling while waiting for my order.
(4)
Tiffany H.
Let's face it: with 6 billion people in the world, I may never find the love of my life (aww...cue the violins), but in Adega I've found something much more valuable in the short term: a charming, not-too-expensive place to take first dates, unless by some miracle one of said dates turns out to be somebody I can stand to be around for more than seventeen consecutive minutes. I'll be honest, I don't know much about wine. I know that I prefer red. I know that it's hard(er) to go wrong with something from Australia or Argentina. And I know that in the ranking of things it's okay to become addicted to, wine falls somewhere between In-N-Out Burger and Guitar Hero. That being said, bringing the uninitiated here says one of two things: (a) that you have at least a modicum of knowledge on the subject; or (b) that you knew exactly where to come to get drunk cheaply. And on a first date, one's just as good as the other. Now. If it's the weekend, you can get the "Wine & Dine Special": two entrees, one appetizer, and a bottle of one of the featured wines for $35. Is that a steal or what? The food is great, plenty of tasty options for both carnivores and herbivores. And if I may make a suggestion, go with a mixture of fries for the app. The serving is huge, so do half eggplant fries and half sweet potato; they're happy to oblige you. Mmmm... You'll be tempted to sit by the window and the wine shop section, but be forewarned that approximately halfway though the evening, the distance between your table and the restroom alllll the way on the other side of the restaurant is about five city blocks. Just something to consider when you're going through one or two bottles of vino. Or rather, it's going through you.
(4)
Jessica B.
Adega is my absolute favorite Silver Spring spot! It's just perfect. I've brought most of my friends and family members here by now. My usual order is the chipotle turkey wrap, sweet potato fries and a glass of the house pinot grigio. I've also split appetizers and flatbreads. So great for a quick, affordable, delicious dinner and drinks with a friend after a long work day. The staff is really friendly and polite. I've also taken advantage of their wine store, and one of their sauv blanc's has become my favorite bottle! If I had one complaint, it may be that it does get crowded and it can be hard to find seating, but I've never had to wait too long for a table to open up.
(5)
Ed H.
cool idea...... having a huge selection of wine and serving food!!! they have drink and food specials also big +++++
(4)
Mic X.
the best way i can describe this place is a five star fast food joint. it's a great place to grab a good, solid glass of wine (or bottle) and have some high end comfort food. i love their sweet potato fries, their jambalaya penne is to die 4, the calamari is good, as is the southwestern wrap and there are always specials. it is a good place to veg during happy hour time. p.s. you can buy some nice bottles of wine and some good beers here with a fair mark up on the sticker price.
(4)
Chris H.
For me Adega is a great place for a quick and inexpensive weeknight meal: the pasta is very good and I have yet to dislike a wine they have recommended. The atmosphere is casual and the staff is friendly.
(4)
Kelsy S.
The jerk chicken sandwich (Big Jerk) was severely lacking..super bland and disappointing. My friend had an italian sandwich, and it was relatively tasty. My boyfriend's black and blue burger was actually good. The sweet potato fries were very tasty. Eggplant fries were too greasy. We didn't have any wine, but I'm sure that would have added to the meal. It was a good location, downtown area and close to the parking lot of Whole foods. However, the inside looks like a Panera cafe, so don't expect a restaurant.
(3)
Brendan E.
I randomly stopped in here the other day just to check it out and enjoy a walk away for the office. This is the consummate yuppie establishment. I don't use the term derisively. It's simply that the place caters toward that younger, somewhat wealthier aged 20-35 white female. I came in, looked through the menu, which was fairly extensive for such a small place. I ordered a toasted sandwich with prosciutto, gorgonzola cheese, arugula and pears (yes, pears). I felt the sandwich was almost cmplete but damned if I can't figure out what I would improve. This should support my earlier claim of yuppiness. Still the sandwich good but greasier than I expected. Decent cup of coffee too. What I didn't expect was the wines and beers available for sale here. They even had some beers on tap which, on a more stressful day, I might have swapped for my coffee. I didn't really pay attention to price but I don't remember anything being outrageous. I'm not a big wine drinker but I can speak for the beer, which actually had a better selection than most similarly sized ie small stores and they had a better than average representation of some of the larger local micro breweries which also makes me feel good, even if I think Flying Dog is overrated. The place actually got fairly busy but they have a good amount of seating, including a few tables outside. The inside is clean and not offensively laid put or decorated. What really put this into the 4 star category was the fact that while I was there I managed to spill my coffee onto my phone but manged to power down, dry out, and complete the rescue. It's not that I asked any of the staff there for help, the miracle just happened to happen in their space, so well done! Next time I go I'm definitely getting a beer. Occasionally a friend of mine and I will go someplace like this and play yuppies for the day. This spot is perfect for a lunch version of that. Worthwhile, but if you're a guy who doesn't have confidence in your masculinity/sexuality you probably won't like it. No offense, just truth.
(4)
Tiffany M.
When we went they offered a Monday special of 40% off wine which was AWESOME! (They may still have this but I'm not sure). Obviously (hint the name) they've got a nice wine collection, and it's always fun to try new wines when it's discounted. We really enjoyed the casual relaxing environment and would recommend it as a pleasant place to eat if you happen to be in the downtown Silver Spring area.
(4)
Jim W.
I live in the neighborhood and Adega is a great little place for lunch, dinner and of course a bottle of wine. The staff is always upbeat and the wine selection seems really good (I'm not an expert, just a user). The wine is a little pricey, but I can walk there so I'm not going to rate them lower for that.
(3)
Matthew L.
Gourmet sandwiches, burgers, pastas, wine, and beer. A perfect spot for a quick sit down meal. Nice atmosphere.
(3)
Garry C.
It is extremely easy to convince the boyf not to go to the gym on Mondays. All I have to say is "half-price bottle of wine" and he rips off his sneakers and heads for the door. We have never been disappointed by the half-price wine selection and we have even found a few new favs. I have never been as impressed by the food. The pesto pasta was soooo EVOO-y that I felt like it was dripping down my face. The bruschetta was ok and the flatbread thingy we had was alright, but nothing too spectacular. We really come here for the wine. Great deals aside, it is a good place to go if you aren't really sure what you are looking for. Everyone there seems to really know what they are talking about and can steer you in the right direction. We have found lots of new wines we prob would never have tried by heeding their advice. It is very cute and casual, but I can easily see how it might feel cafeteria-y. I occasionally feel like I am sitting on top of the person at the table next to us. Maybe other costumers might not mind this because one time when I got up to use the restroom, the lady seated next to us decided she needed to tell my boyf the hidden "girl meaning" beneath what I was saying. "You know, she really wants this..." Awk, but hilarious.
(4)
Thoreau B.
Eggplant fries are the best thing ever invented. Seriously-such a good idea. This place has some decent sandwiches and other food, but the real reason to come is for the eggplant fries. It also has a small wine shop attached (it used to be 50/50 wine and cafe but the cafe did way better than the wine shop, so the wine is just a vestige now). It is kind of tucked away and hard to find compared to alot of the places in downtown silver spring, but it is worth checking out. I have probably been over 50 times, and plan on keep coming back. It is well priced-mostly because it is self service-but the food is good, and you can drink a glass of wine and then see a movie across the street and basically make a nice night of it. But make sure to try the eggplant fries.
(4)
Pat R.
I went to Adega on Friday night during happy hour and stayed there until it closed. My friends and I had a wonderful time and the staff was very friendly & helpful. We tried the Bruchetta, Crabcake and The Santa Fe Flatbread. Everything was delicious and we ordered seconds! In addition to the food we bought two bottles of wine. We asked to have it chilled and they kindly did and brought it to our table. I will definitely come here again in the future.
(5)
Jesse O.
I wasn't expecting to like it that much but my girlfriend really wanted to give it a try. I had a Duke Ellington with some eggplant fries (something you would really have to twist my arm to eat). It was great! Love being surprised.
(4)
Kate F.
I will definitely be going back. Good food, great staff, and a simple vibe. They get one whole star simply for doing sweet potato fries so well. They are larger than most places, cooked perfectly and served with a complimentary dipping sauce. I couldn't ID it, perhaps the citrus vinaigrette. I got the Caribbean Chicken Salad. Excellent - fresh, tasty produce and a great combination of things. They didn't drown it all in dressing so a big gold star for them. My dinner mate got the steak flatbread and it was also delicious. The staff is really great. I am particularly fond of the guy who announces orders. He just has the perfect voice. They all have a great sense of humor and put up with my dinner mate's request for lots (really, I was a tab embarrassed by the amount) of extra fry dipping sauce. One guy was off the clock and leaving as we were and said thanks. Just friendly, helpful, funny people. Definitely good for a first date or a bite to eat before or after a movie.
I've only lunched here so I can't speak for their wine selection but Adega is on my list. The salads are great (I am a sucker for the Salmon Caesar, though it's a bit pricey); flatbreads are also yummy. Adega gets a little packed around lunchtime so try not to show up at the stroke of noon. Also, sometimes timing doesn't work out so well when eating with a group - one time I went and ordered a flatbread which came up after everyone else had finished their meals.
(4)
Steve Y.
As a fan of the wine bar scene I have to admit that I just don't know what to make of Adega. In so many ways Adega really frustrates me! The reality is I want to really like it (Silver Spring could use a decent wine bar), but there's a few important things stopping me. Primarily, I think Adega is unsure of its identity; yes, it calls itself a wine bar, but it also seems to be a wine shop, and it also has the feel of a fast food place like Potbelly's or Quiznos. I really think it needs to do away with the overpriced wine shop aspect (this is partially a factor of being located in Montgomery County where most wine is $2-$5 more expensive than it should be due to the state's and the county's insanely idiotic wine laws!!). They also need to make the food ordering less like a fast food joint. In fairness the actual food is a step above fast food and the menu does show some potential. However, with plastic plates, fountain drinks and counter service the place feels more like a burger joint than a wine bar. The result is a drinking and dining experiencing that falls far short of where it should be. Aside from the confused identity, I also think the place needs to be a lot cozier, and I mean A LOT! Perhaps they should go with a more rustic look (exposed brick, distressed tables, etc) like Cork on 14th Street in the District. Or, if they really wanted inspiration, they only need to walk up Colesville Road about 1/2 a mile and take a look at the excellent wine cellar at Mrs K's Toll House. The poor lighting, an often overlooked but essential component, also gets in the way of having a nice dining experience. If they correct all of these things then I'd be visiting the place every week, however right now I barely get there once a year. I'm guessing that Adega will continue to frustrate me for quite a while.
(2)
Kat L.
:::bashes head into wall::: first of all the bad. On a thursday afternoon with 2 people in line, how long does it take to take an order. I wanted to buy 2 bottles of wine, and i stood, and waited, and waited, for 10 minutes while the people in front of me diddle daddied with their choices for a late lunch. now the good. I buy my wine here. A-Z, and Goats do Roam. Its fantastic, and when I have beer people in town I know where to get the rare stuff. Its here. But its hard to buy when I cant check out. 4 stars but minus one for 10 min wait.
(3)
Brandi S.
I've been to adega a few times and found the food ok, not great but fine...until the last time I went where I ordered the burger and suffered food poisoning! After a horrible 48 hours and a visit to the ER, I have to say that adega has lost not only me but all my friends as patrons :(
(1)
Carrie G.
If you took a wine bar and crossed it with a coffee shop, this would be the result. As such, it doesn't quite have the ambiance of a normal wine bar, but what it does have is the ability to select any bottle in the place and drink it for no corkage fee. A friend and I split a bottle of wine and some sweet potato and eggplant fries (surprise, I thought I would like the sweet potato fries more, and they're good, but the eggplant ones were even better) for what two glasses of wine would cost in a lot of places.
(4)
Meghann E.
This is my favorite place for a glass of wine in the Silver Spring area. Great happy hour specials make it worth your while to come a little early. The food selection is diverse and not overly expensive. The eggplant fries are especially delicious (though sometimes they sell out). Adega also has a unique system where you order your food and pay at the counter then find a spot to sit and relax for the evening. On slow evenings it is the ideal system. On busy nights it can get confusing. The line isn't well organized, it sometimes take five minutes for people to order and the wait can be frustrating for people just popping in to grab a bottle of wine. It would be helpful if the staff behind the counter would communicate more with their guests waiting. It would help with the confusion and frustration. Speaking of staff though, Jose (whose title is probably busboy of the place?) is worth the visit alone. He helps you find seating, is personable and makes you want to become a regular. He even created seating for a group of friends and me when we came late on a busy Friday evening. Overall a great place to eat and dine.
(4)
Sunny D.
if i lived in SS i think i'd spend a lot of time here. it's like panera with slightly better food, and with wine. good wine! pros: -fast service (unless you're behind some idiots who can't decide/don't know the way the ordering works and aren't polite enough to step aside while they figure it out)* -very tasty food -lovely atmosphere that's part cafe, part wine cellar, part restaurant and perfect for dining alone with a book/laptop or with friends -you can dine in or take away, or just hit the wine cellar side and pick up some bottles (very good selection) cons: -the line/ordering system isn't very clearly defined and the menus are on the counter at the front even though the line is often all the way to the door -it gets pretty crowded on weekend afternoons/evenings, especially when the weather's nice -the floors are slippery even when dry if you're wearing anything other than grippy sneakers/boots -you can NOT sit in the outdoor seating area and drink your wine/beer; you have to drink inside ONLY. (kind of sucks on a beautiful day.) i'm in love with the jerk chicken salad even though i feel like it could be spicier. but it's very fresh and comes with avocados and a delicious mango dressing that hit the spot! i've heard great things about the bleu cheese burger but i don't eat red meat and i loathe bleu cheese, so i can't say first hand. the prices are reasonable and the staff is very friendly. i have to agree w/ mic that this is like a high end fast food joint. think napa valley/sonoma + starbucks + au bon pain + panera. but better. and with wine. lots and lots of wine! (*my GF and i were those idiots the first time we went, but we did step aside until we got our ordering lives together.)
(3)
Laura W.
1) sweet potato fries and eggplant fries (get the half and half plate) - simply amazing 2) happy hour with glasses of wine under 4 bucks 3) good wraps and salads 4) nice atmosphere - very sunny and open 5) scenic view of silver spring's very own astroturf lot
(4)
Gregory O.
At first I was scared of eating here because of the name -- I'm no oenophile! I shouldn't have been scared; this is a great, casual place to get a quick bite to eat. The prices are reasonable and the food is yummy. I'll definitely be coming back.
(4)
Alie S.
I eat here about once a week so it is definitely my go-to place in SS. It is laid back with good food and wine. The happy hour is decent, 25% off glasses of house wine and apps. But the best deal is to buy a bottle of wine because there is no corkage fee and you can take it home if you don't finish it. The food is fresh and there is a good variety of sandwich and wrap options. My personal favorite is the jerk chicken sandwich (excellent spiced chicken with mango and greens on a baguette). The cuban sandwich is great as well. The prices on the bottles are marked up a bit since they can be bought and drank in the restaurant. I wouldn't come here just to buy wine but to get a bottle and 2 meals for about $30, it is a great weeknight date spot.
(4)
Katie S.
This place has so much potential that is a little bit squandered by an unevolving menu and wine list. Here's what I love- being able to go and buy an interesting bottle of wine for a slightly inflated retail price, and then corking it in-store is a gazillion times better than paying restaurant wine prices. The sweet potato and eggplant fries are also pretty good. Here's what I don't love-outdoor seating where you can't drink wine. Sometimes impossible to find seating indoors on a busy night. A menu with almost nothing that is vegetarian/vegan except for one mediocre wrap and the fries. But even the meaty/cheesy options seem a little uninspired. It's a really cool business model and a great location, if they could get a good chef in there to overhaul the menu, it could be AMAZING. As-is, it's a great neighborhood place for an inexpensive glass of wine before a movie. We keep coming back for the wine. Oh and- the beer is such an afterthought. If they just had 2-3 rotating EXCELLENT beer choices that would really be great. They have almost no beer worth drinking.
(3)
Ashley K.
Every time I passed this place I brushed it off as just a liquor store with a bit of food, boy, was I wrong. My fiance and I had heard that they had great burgers so we had to see for ourselves. You order your food at the counter and someone brings it to you or you can pick it up. They had a selection of about 5 beers and a ton of wine. We wanted to sit outside because it was extremely over air conditioned. This meant that we couldn't get alcohol because it isn't allowed at their few outdoor tables (I know, I know). I got the blue cheese burger and Mike got some burger served on foccacia. My burger was pure blissful deliciousness, juicy and flavorful. They were served with chips, which I'm usually not a fan of, but these were actually pretty good. Mike's burger was good too, but I was glad I'd ordered what I did. Next time I'm going to take advantage of the whole wine-store thing.
(4)
Edward A.
Tasty and unexpected food, beer and wine selections. But the main reason for the review is the delightful staff. One of the few Silver Spring establishments with consistently high-quality and cheerful service. Bonus points: Being able to buy a six pack of a great beer like Harpoon and then cracking them open right there. Seems like it should be illegal outside of New Orleans which is maybe part of the fun.
(4)
Kristin W.
If you work in the area, this is a great place to grab lunch and sneak a glass of wine. The menu is perfect -- a great range of sandwiches, salads, and some delicious flat bread pizzas. The sweet potato fries are super tasty, and the dipping sauces are so good so that I've tried recreating them at home (sadly, an unsuccessful attempt, so I keep having to come back here). The Jerk wrap and the coconut shrimp salad are my favorites. There's a good selection of house wines if you just want a glass, but if you're in the mood for a bottle, you've come to the right place. The wines here are excellent and the servers are all very knowledgeable, so if you're not a wine snob and don't know what to pick, they'll help you find something you'll love.
(4)
Danilo A.
In the mood for wine? Then check out this amazing restaurant with a laid back atmosphere. It is a very nice place for get together with friends, or grab a drink before a movie date. Adega is known for their broad choice of tasty wines and reasonable prices. This is a great joint to sample some great wines and tasty food without the long wait.
(4)
Cory C.
Wow, this is a loving group! I will join, but can't commit to 5 stars yet. (Maybe you should talk to my girlfriend about that one) Just the same, the "Domster" rocks (Hard salami, cappicola ham, mortadella, shredded romaine lettuce, provolone cheese, sliced tomato, olive oil and vinegar, mayo, and spicy peppers, served on a French baguette)! I love the shredded romaine, though saying that first is to ignore the fantasticalness of the meats and provolone, which is really tasty. Oh, and by the way, the baguetee is one of the lightest, perfectly only slightly crunchy rolls I've ever had a sandwich grace. Thumbs way up on that one! Also, the cherry peppers they put on this one are huge -- we're talking 2 in across (and sliced thin). They are really great, and truly tie this sandwich together. Where's The Dude when you need him? If you find yourself up in Silver Spring at the AFI or happen to live nearby stop ignoring this joint, which is awkwardly placed behind the astroturf soccer field. AND, saluting The Dude's famous words, "This is not 'Nam, Walter, there are rules," one of which is that you can get half-price wine bottles with entrees on Mondays!
(4)
E. R.
My boyfriend and I love Adega and have been going there for 3 years. We love the date night deal, $40 for a bottle on wine, an appetizer and two entrees. At times it does get crowded, but the food is good for a casual place where you order at the counter. The calamari and zucchini fries are great! The only thing I didn't like that I ordered there is the fish tacos...they were just bland. But overall, this place is great!
(5)
C S.
While the name sounds like it, this is not a sit down wait staffed placed. It is similar to the cosi setup. I don't see the big deal about their Eggplant fries. Ours seemed over fried and were all very stuck together. We thought they might of just over cooked ours but other people's looked the same. I enjoyed the sweet potato fries more. The staff is great and I was able to pickup a nice bottle and some hard to find beer. However I don't recommend it for the food. While it was decent quality it wasn't a stand out. Everything seemed very fried and afterward I felt gross. I think I would have preferred an Arby's. I might try this place again and try to get a lighter meal.
(3)
Ryan M.
The food is really excellent, the drink selection is quite good, and the location is convenient. The prices seemed a trifle high to me, but they might just be higher because of the downtown location. It does tend to get crowded, though.
(5)
Anice S.
not that I need to add to the wealth of positive reviews, but I will. Great, innovative "foodie" food at a reasonable price... and the staff is always helpful and pleasant. usually you can try the wines that they have by the glass before buying - I wish I had bought a bottle of the one I had last night! Even when they're packed, they always have enough staff to keep things moving and keep the dining room clean and ready for the next round.
(4)
Stephen R.
Great atmosphere. A good place to get food and share a bottle of wine with friends. The BBQ pulled pork sandwich is on of the best I have ever had. Sometimes the food can be a little hit or miss. I guess its the price you pay for trying to be creative. They do run some great specials on weekend such as 2 Entrees, an Appetizer, and a bottle of wine for $35-40 dollars.
(4)
Esther O.
Adega is really neat. Walk-up counter to order wine and food, and then you can take a seat and they'll bring your food out to you. Casual and low-key, yet really nice at the same time. Both wines I tasted were excellent, so they seem to have a nice selection open for wines by the glass. We only ordered a half-and-half fries (half sweet potato and half eggplant) for food, but they were great. The eggplant were really excellent. I've had better sweet potato fries elsewhere (I love sweet potato, but these were too sweet potato-y and not really "fries"), but they were still yummy. All the food we saw being delivered to other tables looked wonderful. I will definitely be back!
(4)
Jessica J.
I love this place! I go to downtown Silver Spring all the time. However, I always assumed this place was wine only because of the store name. It's kind of hard to tell because the storefront faces the convention center rather than the street. The food is great-tasting, healthy, and affordable. Nice place to unwind with a nice meal and glass of wine. This is definitely a new spot for me!
(4)
Wendy K.
We went last night before a movie. We had about 1 hour and had the Date Night Special- 1 bottle of wine, 1 app, 2 entrees for $40. We made our movie, no problems, even got to see the trailers!! Service was great. This was 1st time I've been here and the guy at the counter was very imformative about how things worked. We had calamari for the app, yummy. For an entree, I had the Blackened Ahi Tuna wrap- delicious!! I highly recommend it. My friend had the pulled pork and he said it was very good, too!! I will def go back. In fact, I can't wait to go back again!!! I can't say enough about the service. Very friendly. Perfect date night place for dinner and a movie!!!
(5)
Annie C.
Manage your expectations and you'll realize this place is fantastic. The trick is to read the sign before entering: Adega Wine Cellars. This place sells wines, everything else is extra. WINE & STAFF Disclaimer: I'm a wine novice (I'm more of a foodie) but hey, we've all got to start somewhere. Adega has a great selection for descent prices. Every time I've been here (only a handful of times), I'm greeted by staff who are not only eager to teach me about wine but do so humbly. For as little as 10 bucks, you can walk out of the store with a nice bottle and having benefited from an impromptu wine lesson. For me, that's a pretty good deal. On top of that, you can open a bottle in the store without a corking fee and they will happily recork the bottle for you if you can't finish it (though I've never had to take advantage of that). In terms of wine selection, maybe once I learn more about wines, I'll want to branch out but for now, I'm very happy with what Adega has to offer. As for the staff, rarely have I been to a place that has had such consistently good service. FOOD This is the part where I learned to manage my expectations. As the name states, this is a wine store - everything else is extra. That said, Adega has exceeded my expectations in terms of food. The food is not only decently priced (I'd say most entrees hover around 10 dollars) but tasty. What's even better is the weekend date special: 35 duckets for a bottle, appetizer, and two entrees! My boyfriend and I took advantage of this deal and were very happy. We got eggplant fries (AMAZING), he got a flatbread, and I got pasta. The entrees were a bit better than average and the fries were good. Given that many restaurants would happily charge you $35 for just the bottle of wine, the value here is off the charts. OVERALL 5 stars because it's a wine cellar with so much more to offer.
(5)
Brian S.
Adega is great for so many reasons. The sandwiches are delicious, fresh, and pretty cheap. They have a great wine selection which can be drank on the premises or taken home. They have a wide range of bottles from different regions and at a variety of price levels. They also have a small, but good selection of beers. Another great thing about Adega is that they are open later than many downtown restaurants.
(5)
Brennan S.
Miserable food, and horrible wine - quite a marriage of mediocrity. Don't frequent this establishment. Instead, visit some of the excellent local restaurants in the near vicinity
(1)
Tiffany H.
Let's face it: with 6 billion people in the world, I may never find the love of my life (aww...cue the violins), but in Adega I've found something much more valuable in the short term: a charming, not-too-expensive place to take first dates, unless by some miracle one of said dates turns out to be somebody I can stand to be around for more than seventeen consecutive minutes. I'll be honest, I don't know much about wine. I know that I prefer red. I know that it's hard(er) to go wrong with something from Australia or Argentina. And I know that in the ranking of things it's okay to become addicted to, wine falls somewhere between In-N-Out Burger and Guitar Hero. That being said, bringing the uninitiated here says one of two things: (a) that you have at least a modicum of knowledge on the subject; or (b) that you knew exactly where to come to get drunk cheaply. And on a first date, one's just as good as the other. Now. If it's the weekend, you can get the "Wine & Dine Special": two entrees, one appetizer, and a bottle of one of the featured wines for $35. Is that a steal or what? The food is great, plenty of tasty options for both carnivores and herbivores. And if I may make a suggestion, go with a mixture of fries for the app. The serving is huge, so do half eggplant fries and half sweet potato; they're happy to oblige you. Mmmm... You'll be tempted to sit by the window and the wine shop section, but be forewarned that approximately halfway though the evening, the distance between your table and the restroom alllll the way on the other side of the restaurant is about five city blocks. Just something to consider when you're going through one or two bottles of vino. Or rather, it's going through you.
(4)
Jessica B.
Adega is my absolute favorite Silver Spring spot! It's just perfect. I've brought most of my friends and family members here by now. My usual order is the chipotle turkey wrap, sweet potato fries and a glass of the house pinot grigio. I've also split appetizers and flatbreads. So great for a quick, affordable, delicious dinner and drinks with a friend after a long work day. The staff is really friendly and polite. I've also taken advantage of their wine store, and one of their sauv blanc's has become my favorite bottle! If I had one complaint, it may be that it does get crowded and it can be hard to find seating, but I've never had to wait too long for a table to open up.
(5)
Ed H.
cool idea...... having a huge selection of wine and serving food!!! they have drink and food specials also big +++++
(4)
Mic X.
the best way i can describe this place is a five star fast food joint. it's a great place to grab a good, solid glass of wine (or bottle) and have some high end comfort food. i love their sweet potato fries, their jambalaya penne is to die 4, the calamari is good, as is the southwestern wrap and there are always specials. it is a good place to veg during happy hour time. p.s. you can buy some nice bottles of wine and some good beers here with a fair mark up on the sticker price.
(4)
Chris H.
For me Adega is a great place for a quick and inexpensive weeknight meal: the pasta is very good and I have yet to dislike a wine they have recommended. The atmosphere is casual and the staff is friendly.
(4)
Summer S.
I really enjoyed my dinner here. The employees are knowledgable and yet far from snooty. The wine guy took time to explain biodynamic vineyards to my mom and he was very pleasant. Aside from a good wine and beer selection the food is also very good. Big portions and good prices; I had the steak & cheese and tomato & basil soup and my mom had sweet potato fries and the Santa Fe chicken flatbread. Compliments all around. Only improvement I would make is table service instead of fast food style ordering and a cozier eating area.
(4)
Audrey C.
Good choice for grabbing a drink before your movie or a quick family dinner. Kids are totally welcome there and there and it's got overall good food, but the flatbreads are too crackery for my taste. Friendly staff and a clean, modern yet cozy decor.
(4)
Jane K.
Good wine and decent food. A nice option in downtown silver spring. Certainly beats all the big chain restaurants nearby.
(4)
Sarah G.
A friend of mine (as a matter of fact the same friend who's joined me on like 3 of my reviewed spots) had been talking for quite a while about stopping into this random wine spot in Downtown Silver Spring, so finally we got our sh*t together and went last Friday. The 4 stars are specific to the wine selection, service and from what I could tell the food. I do have some issues about the way the place works with regard to seating but then, it was a Friday night and rather busy. Basically it's seat yourself, and my friend and I got screwed by 1) a pair of girls who said they'd hold our seat at a giant table and proceeded not to, and THEN proceeded to stand near us later with a huge group of people and shove and talk loud. I didn't appreciate it. And 2) a woman who saw me walk toward a table to sit and literally almost ran me over to get the seat, didn't appreciate that either. What I DID appreciate was the guy who took our order, Juan, who upon waiting for us to decide what we wanted and probably thinking I was a little nuts, searched for a place for us to sit and was just awesome generally. Big up's to you Juan. So there's my talk of the service, that he along with ALL the staff were really polite and funny and just generally enjoyable, which for me, can make or break my evening. On to the wines...amazing..nuff said. I will go back to try their "featured" wines, because the 3 I tried were all quite good. One zin, one Malbec and well let's be real and say I don't remember the last one except that my friend bought a bottle. Ooops. Food: Sweet potato fries are great, hard to do bad, but they had this INCREDIBLE lemon, oil dipping sauce that I probably could have taken a quick shot of, but remembered my manners. My buddy had a sandwich that looked amazing and there are probably about 6 other dishes I'd like to try WHEN I go back because I will be going back. It's a perfect date spot, or as so many have said, quick bite before a movie, casual meet up before going out whatever. Big fan.
(4)
Peter J.
This is a great choice for an inexpensive dinner out... a good selection of food without the added expense of table service. The Napa and Blue Cheese burgers are good. Half-and-half fries are good, too. Word to the wise: it's way cheaper to pick a $10 or $15 bottle of wine out, drink a few glasses with your food, then take the bottle home with you.
(4)
Nicole M.
This was one of my favorite places when I lived in downtown Silver Spring. For the size, they had a pretty decent selection of wine and was always my stop when I wanted a bottle or two. The food is just fantastic and very different from anything else you can get in that area. Definitely get the sweet potato fries - I've had many versions and these are the best. They have really great happy hour deals so you can try different kinds of wines and the staff is so incredibly friendly... a nice change to see someone in the service industry who seems to really like their job. Not a great place for beer, but it is a wine cellar so that's not too surprising. Adega is relaxing and laid back; a great little oasis in this area to enjoy a leisurely glass of wine.
(4)
Lisa M.
The sweet potato fries are excellent. Decent wine selection, yummy food. Great stop in nice weather as they have some seating outside. Of course with the construction on the former "green" now ... outside may not be as nice.
(4)
Maya C.
This Saturday afternoon I went to Downtown Silver Spring to visit a couple of stores. I got hungry and looked for something quick but delicious. I crossed the street and stopped at Adega Wine Cellars. Back in the day I used to work in SS, and knew about their fabulous sandwiches. This time I ordered the Ahi Tuna Wrap (market price...which means we will charge whatever the heck we want and you won't know until AFTER we ran your card!) and a drink. My order came up to $15 and some change. I looked around while I waited to get called and found a great assortment of wines and beers. Of course I had to buy a bottle. They even have Red Stripe Jamaican beer. I am not a beer drinker at all, but first time I see it sold here, so I was gladly surprised. My name got called..yiipeeeeee!. There are tables set in the shop where to sit. My wrap was made in red tortilla, with a mesclun of green, roasted peppers, lightly seared and very rare ahi tuna with a light sweet Asian dressing. 1st bite, I was in love. Worth every penny! It was a perfect combination of flavors and the tuna was so tasty. A friendly note if you eat this...check your teeth before leaving the place...let's just say it wasn't pretty...took care of business and voila! Why am I writing reviews when I am hungry! I would do anything now to get another ahi tuna wrap!, but I am in VA! Ahhhh...slow, slow torture.
(5)
Thaila S.
I live in Silver Spring and went to Adega for the first time last night for a casual dinner with a friend. In a sea of yucky chains (Macaroni Grill, Red Lobster, etc.), Adega is a welcome addition to the downtown area and I was happy to see that it was pretty packed when I walked in at 7 pm. This is definitely not a trendy wine bar scene -- it's more like a Cosi or Panera but with much better food and good wine. We ordered the eggplant/sweet potato fries, a glass of the Merlot house wine, and I had a portabello sandwich. The fries were good but definitely greasy (as expected) and I felt a little gross afterward. This had less to do with the fries and more the fact that I haven't even fries in ages. The fries come in a HUGE portion, you could easily split it with 3 or even 4 people. My sandwich was surprisingly delicious. I'm not a portabello fan but I thought I would try it because it sounded good, and it really was -- the bread was soft, the basil pesto was really yummy, and it was the right size -- not too big, not too small. This isn't a place to "linger" -- we stayed here for 2 hours and I definitely felt like we were the only ones who stuck around for that long. My sense is that most people come for a quick bite before heading out to the movies. If you're looking for a casual place with very good food, I would definitely recommend Adega.
(4)
Paul W.
Adega is astonishing. A consistent menu, consistently well-prepared, with fresh approaches to the usual burgers and quesadillas. Pulled pork barbecue sandwich DONE RIGHT. Then there's the wine. For zero corkage, you can buy a bottle off the shelf and have it with dinner. You can't get a better deal than that. Not to mention the friendly staff, with whom we've actually gotten quite friendly. The atmosphere is fun, warm, lots of wood, well-thought out. The owner, Walter, has got a real winner here. Go! It's near the Whole Foods and the Borders, in case you don't know where it is. Just park in the Whole Foods lot and ask people where it is.
(5)
Afshan K.
This place has never disappointed me. It may be because it's such a great place to hang out and chat with friends. Awesome wine, great service and decent food - not the best, but not terrible either. Overall, it's a great way to spend an evening with friends. I would alert though that you may have to end up waiting some time to get a table - especially if you go during the happy hour! But it's worth it. Love the atmosphere and decor too.
(4)
Avery W.
Good concept, maybe not the best execution. Wine options were good, but I thought my wrap was a bit soggy. They do offer wonderful deals, however. Good, lowkey, vibe.
(3)
Ina C.
What a cool place! Silver Spring has definitely sprung. I've only been here once (I'm usually in the area on Sundays, but that's when Adega is closed!) and I thoroughly enjoyed my bread bowl. My bf got some sandwich and he loved it. Pretty good value, understated decor, outdoor seating, great area (Whole Foods, Chick Fil-A, Majestic are all right around the corner) and I believe they have free Wi-Fi. Awesome!
(4)
Foody M.
Adega is a hidden unassuming place between a taco place and a hardwear store. its over the outdoor ice skating rink. I'm from NYC so the pizza is just so so. They could improve the dough but it's made fresh. The staff is super friendly and happy to help you pair your wine with your meal. its a nice grown up place that balances between a bar and a fast food joint.
(3)
Sarah B.
Adega has a great happy hour! That is definitely the time to go as all wine and beer are 25% off, as well as appetizers. Their wine is fantastic and the staff are great, very friendly and helpful. I've sat there for hours and no one minds. I just wish they'd have a little more vegan food.
(5)
Harper D.
Nice vibe and great food!! Loved the burger, sweet potato fries, and sangria! Cute wine shop as well! I'll definitely be going back!
OK, so three stars is average. Not too good but not too bad...well, it was just a bad date night location. This place is more of a lunch or happy hour spot for social time than one on one The alcohol selection was above average for the are and I enjoyed the eclectic menu. I strongly recommend the lamb burger with eggplant fries! Just not for a date.
(3)
Toya J.
Adega is such a cool place to hang out. It's like wine cellar meets gourmet bistro with a little Latin jazz in the mix. You come in, go to the register place your order, you get a buzzer, go to your seat and wait for the staff to bring your food. The servers on both my visits were nice and courteous. Don't be skeptical when they say everything is good, because everything IS GOOD! Been here twice already and I must say from the creamy mushroom brie soup and calamari to the blue cheese burger-no complaints. I'm not that crazy about sweet potatoe fries, but I like Adega's part of it is the honey mustard sauce. I was leary about the eggplant fries? But they were delicious, would never think to put fry and eggplant in the same category. But it all works! My favorite drink is their apple cider sangria, which I thought was unique. The environment is very laid back; a casual cafe so it did not seem strange or out of place to see people come here with their children. On Saturdays from 4 to 7pm, there is an impromptu wine tasting. I must say Silver Spring is popping up with more and more things that I would typically go to DC to do. Hey....Easy/ free parking --I'm THERE!
(5)
Brian M.
This place is trying hard to be different for the wrong reasons, first you go up to the counter to order, you cannot start a tab, you go get your own food served on a plastic tray with styrofoam plates, when it is ready very much like a McDonalds. But with $6 to $9'glasses of wine. During happy hour 1 appetizer of sliders 1 draft dogfishhead 61 minute and a small order of truffle fries $16. Not horrible but certainly not happy hour! Then the sliders come out, I swore three little old ladies appeared behind me going "where's the beef?". They didn't even half fill the buns. See the picture. One star for the beer and the flatbreads looked good, on star for the draft beer. Summary, a McDonalds service experience and casual higher end Bistro pricing, lacking some meat.
(2)
Mike B.
It's funny, when I read my mother's review. Yeah, we keep it real #YelpFamily, she called it a "hidden gem." And my first instinct was to honestly be like... "It's not hidden! It's in the middle of Silver Spring Town Center!" But I have to say... she's kind of right. This is a gem that is hidden in plain sight. Ya know, when you're looking and searching for something endlessly and it turns out to be right in front of you face. How does that happen? Thanks a lot brain! Why I oughta...! Ok, wait, back to the review. So Adega, amongst the large swath of corporate drones and franchises (namely: Fuddruckers, Zpizza, Chik-Fil-A, Baja Fresh, Coldstone, and on and on and on) stands quitely and unassuming. It doesn't have a large blaring sign, it doesn't pop out sitting above the currently dry ice skating rink. But you go in and you're like... this place looks special. Ok... they have wine. That's good... ok they have beer, that real good. And then, you wouldn't even think, but they have a full menu. And when I say full, I mean FULL. They have appetizers, burgers, sandwiches, salads, a few entree dishes. They have pizzas. I mean, it's a full menu! So, you look at it, and you're like... ok, a Smokin' Turkey Reuben ( Stop there... order that). It's delicious, it's a mainstay, and if you really delve deep into the Yelp review, it's like claps at a State Of The Union address. It happens every like 10 seconds. And then you go down and you're like Beef Brisket, Grilled Cheese, Jerk Warp etc etc. But, look closely young padawan. -That beef brisket sandwich has a chipotle bbq sauce with a cumin coleslaw -That grilled cheese sandwich has applewood smoked bacon, and herb marscapone, and a red onion on it -That Jerk Wrap has fresh mango on it! Ahhhh, sakè. (that's an old inside joke between me and an old friend- you won't get it) ***Wait.. you really want me to explain what it means... okkkk fine. So when I was younger, I was watching the Iron Chef Sakè battle with a friend. And the two chefs that were competing would keep adding sake to each dish. And surprisingly the judges, who were watching the battle would continually ask "Oh, what is he adding there???", and then Fukui-san would say "oh, yes, he's adding Sake into that dish" And all the judges would go "Ahhhh, sakè." This happened like 20 times throughout the battle. It just kept happening! "Ahhhh, sakè!" The mini burgers were super tasty. Enhanced by a creamy cheese sauce, perfectly cooked, and served on a buttery brioche bun- I'm tempted to order full size next time. The turkey reuben was clutch. Wonderfully flavorful, dimensional, sweet, tangy, savory, all on crusty bread. Just do it. The bruschetta was the only thing that wasn't to my taste. I think it lacked cohesiveness. It needed something to bring it together, and i don't believe any olive oil was used. I would revisit this recipe... I'm sorry that sounds horrible. It just was really lacking- and with bruschetta, some easy fixes can really save it. Wines were fantastic, I had a Picada Malbec which I would certainly order again. Love this place. I keep forgetting it exists, I need to stop doing that. I want to be there much more!
(4)
Joy B.
I have to thank Mike B for introducing me to this hidden gem. A lovely wine bar located right across the street from the Majestic 20 theater in Silver Spring,Maryland. We started our meal with the hamburger sliders. They were thick Angus beef burgers, dripping in an Adega Cabernet reduction, wrapped in a brioche bun and covered with melted cheese. Then we shared the most delicious eggplant fries with a rich tomato dipping sauce. We tried the smokin turkey Reuben. It was grilled panini style filled with oven breasted turkey topped with an Asian pear cranberry sauce. It was like Christmas had come early! A delight for the taste buds. We also enjoyed the bruschetta with diced tomatoes and buffalo Mozzarella cheese. That was the least memorable for me. I had a glass of Pinot noire that was smooth and earthy. If you come at happy hour you get 25% off appetizers. So if you are searching for a hidden gem I highly recommend giving Adega Wine Cellars a try!
(4)
Kimberly K.
Obsessed with this place. I came here with a friend for dinner and had a lovely time. Their food was on point! We ordered two dishes to share: the Proscuitto, Fig & Goat Cheese flatbread (pesto spread, topped with hand-torn proscuitto, figs & got cheese w/ mozzarella cheese) and Fish Tacos with Eggplant Fries. The flatbread was absolutely AMAZING. It was the perfect mix of sweet and salty, and the crust was to die for. I don't know what they put in the dough, but man, magically chewy and delish. You can get a small ($13 - four pieces) or large ($16 - eight pieces) size. Obviously, I went for the large! I eat like a fatty - hashtag sorry not sorry. The tacos were cooked perfectly, too. The fish was all sorts of flaky - seriously melted in my mouth *drools* I can't remember what else was in the taco - forgive me, I have an awful memory - but trust me when I say it was awesomesauce. I didn't get to try the eggplant fries - I was too busy munchin' on the flatbread - but my girlfriend told me they were phenomenal. FYI, no wait staff here! You order your grub at the counter and pick it up once it's ready. Also, I didn't get to try their wine, but I did get a glass of Sangria. It was ok. Nothing special! I wouldn't get dranks there again - would just splurge on their food! I'll DEF. be back!
(5)
Natalie M.
I've eaten here a few times and I always enjoy it. The food is good and the service is excellent! Here's what I've tried: -Veggie burger, with BBQ sauce: Very good, but I wish you could sub the brioche bun for a wheat one. -Ahi salad without rice: Decent, but the tuna is a bit bland and I wish they put more veggies in the salad. -Jerk chicken sandwich without mayo: The mayo is cumin flavored and probably adds a nice flavor, but I usually hate mayo so I decided to skip it. Instead, I dipped my sandwich in sriracha to add some spice, but it would have been great even without the sauce. -Veggie flatbread without cheese: This is probably my favorite thing here. They put just the right amount of tomato sauce, the veggies are fresh and the bread is baked to perfection. -Apple sangria: Absolutely amazing! This is definitely one of my favorite places in downtown Silver Spring.
(5)
Kassity L.
I loved this place! Great selection of food and wine. We came here in a Friday night, and seating was limited. We got lucky and a couple of people at a table next to us got up and left right before we got there. During the time we were there though, we saw that a lot of people came in and had to stand around for a bit before they found seating. The food was amazing. We got the meat plate, the beef brisket sandwich, and the Cajun pasta. The meat plate came with 4-5 different kinds of meat and bread to try them with. The beef brisket in the sandwich was really good -- moist and well seasoned. The pasta was also very well seasoned with a light spice. My only critique is that the pasta came with a lot of penne and perhaps could have used more of the sauce. We also got a malbec and a cab. The malbec ended up pairing well with the pasta, and the cab paired well with the beef brisket sandwich.
(5)
Nicoleen R.
Keeping back for more and more of the turkey reben sandwich. The staff is wonderful. You can purchase a bottle of wine and drink it with your meal. Its a winery too. Certain days they have wine tastings. The jerk wrap great ingredients needs a bit more pizzazz to it a bit bland. House salad with pecans,blue cheese,tomatoes and grilled pear a must.
(5)
Chris N.
Gourmet sandwiches and wine? Yes please! I eat here at least once a week now that I stumbled in to find a decent bottle of wine. The concept is a bit odd, but it works: a wine store / sandwich shop. Let's start with the wine: The selection isn't massive, but it's good quality. They have an excellent selection of wines from Argentina, which makes me a happy guy. The prices are reasonable. Food: You'd think sandwiches would be easy to describe, but oh my, where do I begin? The bread is always fantastic. The french bread and ciabatta are always delightfully crunchy. This may be a turn off to some Americans used to eating sponge, but anyone who has lived in Europe will tell you that once you've built up a "bread callus" on the roof of your mouth, you'll be in heaven with the crusty kind. The ingredients themselves are fresh and inspired. Want a roast beef sandwich? They top the typical lettuce & tomato with brie, horseradish mayo, and grilled onions. Pair that with some sweet potato fries, and you'll be a fan for life. Fries: These deserve special attention! As a southerner, I'm a huge fan of sweet potato fries. At Adega, they're fantastic. The sauce they serve them with is a bit too sweet for me, but they're good all by themselves. The eggplant fries are equally good, and are served with marinara. Every visit, I have to debate which fries to have. Prices: A tasty sammich, fries, and a drink usually run you about $10. However, the wine prices are fantastic and should be exploited! You can get any bottle of wine there for the normal out-the-door price. No charge to turbochill it. No corking fee. If you don't finish, they'll recork it for you to go. On Mondays, there's a bottle-for-the-price-of-a-glass special on 1 or 2 wines. 2 people can eat and split a bottle for around $25. You can't beat that!
(5)
Jessica R.
For a wine joint turned restaurant this is the place to go. This is a place that I enjoy time after time it is always great. I love avocados and will order almost any item that is on any menu. Needless to say I am a huge fan of their jerk chicken sandwich and also their salad. The chicken is well seasoned and always moist and delicious. I love the flatbreads there, combo of eggplant and sweet potato fries with the citrus vinaigrette so so good. They have a great selection of wines and coming close to it in beer. They are now serving tremors, delirium my favorite. Another fav is the ahi tuna salad, just seared to perfection.
(4)
Helen F.
Four stars for the casual, friendly atmosphere, great wine selection with no corkage fee, and as everyone notes, really nice sweet potato and eggplant fries. Love hanging there on a Saturday or Sunday evening after a movie with a friend, shooting the breeze with no pressure. You can easily get out of there for under $35, and that includes a good bottle of red. I haven't had a large selection of the food, just quesadillas (go chicken over beef), and maybe a sandwich, but other food, like the flatbreads, have looked really yummy.
(4)
Nicholas C.
I started learning about wine a little over a year ago, and was very excited recently when I remembered this place existed relatively close to me. I was very much looking forward to browsing the wine selection and coming back with a few new bottles to try. This was not the case. What I found was an overpriced selection of very young wines (talking about reds here, mostly cabs from 2007). I received assistance from a staff member, but all I got out of him was a history lesson on each winery. That's all well in good, but what I really care about are the qualities of the wine itself, not the 6'8'' tall gentlemen who picks their grapes. He even mentioned they had a great wine in until recently, which they stopped selling because it became too popular ... does that not make sense to anybody else? I'm all about trying unique things, but this seems just a tad bit pretentious (like how you probably feel about this review :) ). I finally accepted a wine sample which I was told would be "fantastic", which was served to me in a tiny black plastic thimble device and tasted like strained grape juice ... no thanks. So there you have it, if you're in this area there are wine & liquor stores which, in my opinion, have better wines and better prices then this "wine store". I did not stick around long enough to try their food, but judging by other reviews here, it seems to be pretty decent. I'm definitely not an oenophile, but I know that I've been to much better places to buy wine (Wine Bin in Ellicott City!). If you are looking for wine, at whatever price, go elsewhere.
(3)
Jen W.
This place was the perfect mix of quality and comfortable. A unique gem in the neighborhood!
(5)
Chacha S.
Absolutely wonderful place. The location is perfect -- it's in downtown Silver Spring within walking distance of the Metro, but it's a block away from all the chains. The service is friendly, even if ordering is a little weird. The food is absolutely delicious and there are many items to choose from. I will definitely go back!
(5)
Duncan G.
I bought a Groupon and took the old ball and chain there today for lunch. The Mrs. had fish tacos. I had grilled shrimp salad. Both were average, at best. They rented out half the place for a "private party" so there was no place to sit. Finally the proprietor asked the people having the party if we could sit at one of their tables in the corner, which was a nice thing for the owner to do, but the atmosphere sucked because we were jammed into the corner with a bunch of people we didn't know and none of them spoke English either. Anyway, the food was ok, but not really tasty and definitely not memorable. Would I try the place again? Maybe if I had another Groupon and was willing to roll the dice again. But that's the only way I'd go there.
(2)
Kenton N.
Love this place. Was a little crowded when I went there the first time but it WAS Friday night so no big deal. The eggplant and sweet potato fries are awesome! And they have a pretty good wine selection, though I'm no expert. I'll definitely go back again.
(5)
Chizlum M.
We had a very nice casual dining experience. We met up with some friends and were lucky to get a table since they were crowded which is a good sign. Had one of the flatbreads and the turkey rueben as well as a glass of wine. Food was served quite fast and was very tasty. We will be back next time we are in Silver Spring.
(4)
Becky T.
This is a casual sort of place but has very good food. You order at the counter and then pick up your food that is served on plasticware. don't let that turn you off though, because the food quality is awesome. My friend is shocked when I was raving to her about the salad that I had there. That's because I NEVER order salads, but when I went there one night I was just inspired to do so and ordered the Jerk chicken salad, and it was just awesome. The chicken was nicely seasoned, it was topped with avocado, and dressing complimented it nicely. It paired well with the glass of white zin that I ordered. They also have date night on Saturday in which for $45 you can get an appetizer, two entrees, and a bottle of wine (selected from a list). The pasta there is also very good. Besides the cafe they're also supposed to be a wine shop, but I feel that their selection is disappointing and that you can find more variety at one of the neighboring liquor stores.
(5)
Kelly G.
My fridge was empty when I returned. So my first meal out was at Adega with Mara G. I had the "Lobster Bisque" and the jambalaya cappellini. Both were on par with a casual dining restaurant. Mara G. had the turkey reuben. Now that thing was out of this world. It had foccacia, sauerkraut, cranberries, and the russian dressing was so good. It was a delicious sandwich. I wish I had gotten that. The "service"/"set-up" was a bit confusing. No one ever told us that we had to get our own water, utensils, napkins or condiments. We just went to our table. I'm smart though. I figured it out. The order taker seemed to rush me. Like I didn't know if I was supposed to pick my wine first then get some food or what. But I didn't have time to think about it because the order taker was all like hey can I help you which is a good thing but dam can I get a moment to think/peruse/browse? And I wish I'd just done what I wanted to do because the wine I chose with my food was in the end not to my liking. Oh well. I'd come here again especially now that I know the deal. This place is a-ok with me.
(3)
Julie L.
Such a fun place to come after dinner and get some wine. The clientele is decidedly not the crowd that likes to hang out around that pool club down the way and that is wonderfully refreshing. Excellent wine selection, I just wish you could take the wine onto the sidewalks immediately outside. But that's MoCo, not Adega. Definitely a top Silver Spring location!
(4)
Jill S.
This is a go-to for casual gatherings. The food is fresh and tasty, and the atmosphere is relaxed. It's an added bonus that you can choose your wine from the shelf and have it with dinner instead of staring at a nondescript wine menu and wondering what you're ordering. Now, if oly you could have your wine outside here...
(5)
Tony N.
The food is innovative and the portions are not over-sized (which is a good thing). The staff is very helpful with the wine selections, even allowing sampling. A nice date place to meet and chat. The one downside is that it seems it has outgrown it's confines; seating is a premium at peak times.
(4)
Travis K.
The food at Adega is pretty tasty. I especially like the burgers. They feature an extensive variety of wines, too, and there's a "happy hour" when the house variety is $2 a glass. The serving size of the french fries, however, is extremely small. For $2.50, I'd expect more than the 4-5 ounces they serve. I like to have enough fries to "balance" my burger, but the ratio here is woefully inadequate. My suggestion to that effect was met with little more than total indifference, but I was only able to speak with the order-taker, not the manager. The bathroom was absolutely filthy, apparently unattended for many hours, with paper towels spilling out of the large trash bin. The floors, especially around the booths, were filthy, making me wonder if sanitary conditions in the kitchen were any better. They have a sound system that plays tinny, poppy crap at an uncomfortable volume through speakers that sound like they were taken from toy phonographs. The "music," therefore, makes the setting uncomfortable. So many eating establishments would benefit from turning that crap OFF. They were nice enough to reduce the volume, somewhat, upon my polite request. My 2-star rating is mostly the result of poor ambiance, cleanliness, and serving size. I suppose that if you're selective, by just keeping with the entree sandwiches and perhaps a glass of wine, you will find the culinary experience satisfactory.
(2)
Brent J.
The value of Yelp. I visit downtown Silver Springs all the time. I see the sign for Adega Wine Cellars most of my visits. I had no idea it sold food until I saw a review on Yelp! I had to try it. Let's start with the layout. Walk in the front door and the counter is directly in front of you. On your left is a small wine & beer store (with a few tables along the window). On your right is the cafe section with a mix of short tables with chairs & tall tables with bar stoles. You order your food at the counter, then find a table. I asked the manager, there's no wait service but they will bring wine to your table if you order a bottle. Otherwise, you come back to the counter to pick up your food when your name is called. I ordered a sandwich to go but to give you an idea of the menu. Here are some choice items: eggplant fries, sweet potato fries, Southwestern Chipotle Turkey Wrap, Ahi Tuna Wrap, Napa Valley Cabernet Burger, Crabcake Sandwich & Hickory Smoked Pulled BBQ Pork Sandwich. They also have soups and flatbread sandwiches. This place makes a great eat-in lunch or to go dinner. Give it a try.
(3)
AgentRobLondon L.
Great for a wine bar! With all if the activity happening outside, makes this spot a winner. I love the different verieties of wines by the glass. Superb!
(4)
Devida N.
Great wine!! nice food selection for a really good price. They have the best sweet potato fries in DT Silver Spring!!! Try not to go during lunch time because the secret is out and this place can get packed. This place is located in the cut, next to Baja Fresh.
(5)
Andrew D.
I met some friends at Adega for an early dinner. I was impressed with the concept above all: wine store / bar / restaurant? I'm in! The food was very good, and reasonably priced (~$10 for a sandwich, ~$4 for an app). I had the Napa burger, which came on a rosemary focaccia slab with some chips. While very tasty, the pile of lettuce/tomato/sauce tended to make the bread soggy and unstable. So I had to scrape off some of the extras and eat it upside-down. But the burger itself was quite good. I couldn't resist the pulled-pork sliders, and I was glad I ordered some. Order some and don't share them with your friends. My companions all enjoyed their food (mostly sandwiches and pasta dishes), but the French Dip got somewhat low marks. The wine and beer selection rotates as the managers see fit, but seems to be well-balanced. You can also purchase wine or beer in the store for consumption at the table. The layout of the place is a little clumsy... occasionally you will have to dodge shoppers to get to your table. This is an issue because there is no table service. You must order and pick up at the counter. I recommend that you camp out on some table space before you go up to order, so you are sure to have a place to sit and eat.
(4)
An N.
I LOVE this place. The atmosphere is casual and the set up is easy to understand. The staff is friendly and the lobby attendant is as sweet as can be. Ask for Phillip if you're ever here, he's both sweet and knowledgeable about all the wine food and history of the place. I meet my girlfriends here for a good bottle of wine and snacks of sweet potato fries and eggplant fries. It is cozy and affordable for any student or budding adult (as I like to call myself at the age of 25). When I'm really hungry, I go for the jerk chicken anything. The bread is just AMAZING and the chicken and seasonings are just freaking perfect. Go for the sandwich on level 10 hunger days. It's SOOOO filling and bargain priced.
(4)
Becky M.
My fiance and I went here for dinner last Saturday night. We went for the special which gave us 1 app, 2 entrees, and a selected bottle of wine for $40. We could choose anything from the menu that did not have a market price, and there were 4 bottles of wine (2 white, 2 red) to choose from. We didn't have to wait long, and the service at this place was GREAT. Even though you order at the counter and have to go up to grab your food, they bring your wine to your table where they uncork it, allow you to taste it, pour it, etc. The gentleman even returned to refill our glasses periodically. The food was okay, but not great. We ordered the calamari appetizer, which was fine, but nothing special, and because it was served on a piece of wax paper, it seemed incredibly greasy... they might choose to serve this on a more absorbent material in the future so it doesn't look as icky. I ordered the special gouda burger, and my fiance ordered the bleu cheese burger. Both were cooked perfectly, but neither was amazing. The gouda burger didn't have enough cheese and had too much BBQ sauce for my taste. Plus, even though I knew I was getting kettle chips with the burger, I was disappointed not to have fries. Overall, cute place and a good value, but not spectacular.
(3)
Pam S.
Right before I moved out west from Boston, my mother and I visited a psychic to find out what the Bay Area held in store for me. Specifically, I wanted to know if (not when) I would meet the man of my dreams. Sure, I was moving without a job lined up and probably could have asked about that, but finding a job is easy. Finding a man who is smart, funny, AND hot is not. The psychic told me that by January of 2006, I would meet a doctor who liked wine who would come along and sweep me off my feet. Clearly the psychic LIED (shocking, I know), as I met my now ex-boyfriend in January who DID like wine but did absolutely no sweeping. And was not a doctor. Great guy, but I was more of his mother than his girlfriend as I basically had to plan everything we ever wanted to do. Granted, I'm a planner by nature, but every once in awhile it's nice to be wooed. Flowers, fun/romantic stuff to do, the whole bit. Is it really that hard? I'll woo back, I promise (wearing a little Santa outfit, perhaps). But I digress... On my last night in D.C., my cousin and I had to take my aunt to the airport, and on our way back, I was getting hungry. Despite the fact that the cousin is a vegetarian, I was craving a burger. Of course, she couldn't think of many burger places, but though Adega had one. And so I consulted my handy dandy Yelp app, scoped out the menu, and we came here. I was forewarned that this wasn't a sit down and get waited on place, which is fine. You go to a counter, order your food (and wine), they call you, and then you have to go back and pick it up. No biggie, unless you are having multiple glasses of wine. Ironically, although I flew 3,000 miles from a locale close to wine country, I got the Napa Valley Cabernet Burger. It was pretty darn tasty, even if the foccacia bread was a little difficult to navigate. The cousin got the tomato basil soup (yum!) and a half order each of the sweet potato and eggplant fries. I'm allergic to eggplant (weird, I know) so I didn't try those, but the sweet potato fries were pretty good. I'm still spoiled on TJ's SPF you can make at home, so it would be interesting to see someone either do crinkle cut or waffle cut SPF. But that's just my opinion. They had a nice selection of wines by the glass, and I was pleasantly surprised to see a Malbec on that menu. The place is laid out well, with tables on one side and the wine store on the other. They do have some nights with specials, which would be useful to sample different food and wines. Their wine and beer selection looked to be unique, which I respect. I'll have to disagree with some on the staff, though, the guys working at the counters really need to learn some customer service skills. Ambivalence is not good in retail, nor is it good in relationships. Just some life lessons, kids.
(3)
Seth M.
3.5 stars. did the date night special. $35 bucks, good deal. got a nice bottle of cabernet. got the fried calamari. very good. i had been craving mexican food, so i ordered the adega's quesadilla. probably shouldnt have ordered mexican at a wine place. it came with bbq sauce on it, which i didnt appreciate. oh well. the atmosphere is nice. wait staff was nice.
(3)
Jeannie L.
Awesome little gem hidden in the backside of downtown Silver Spring. I love the idea of combining wine cellar with a cafe that offers great selection of food. They have a variety of offerings, ranging from Cajun Jimbalaya to Ahi Tuna salad. My Jimbalaya was really yummy. I can't wait to go back again and check out their selection of vino. Perhaps a longer work lunch is needed.
(4)
Jarrett B.
I just had my virgin experience at Adega and I really enjoyed it! I stopped by with a lovely date after a long, long, LONG day at work and it was just what I needed. I picked up a bottle of deliciously fruity Riesling that just filled your palette with a wonderful taste of sparkling apples. I also ordered a burger that came fully equipped with bleu cheese and bacon and a plate of these eggplant fries that everyone keeps buzzing about. The burger was pretty excellent and the fries were served with a sprinkle of Parmesan cheese and marinara sauce to the side - essentially a hybrid between eggplant parmigiana and french fries. They were fried a little too long for my date's taste, but they were awesome for me. (So I ate way too many of them and paid for my gluttony later.) What may throw some people off is the odd vibe of the place. It's first and foremost a wine cellar. On top of that, they sell sit-down restaurant quality food, but without direct table service. Imagine a fast food restaurant that serves awesome, real ingredient food and happily delivers a freshly chilled bottle of wine from their store to your table. Finally, I am completely supportive of Adega because - in my overworked stupor I accidentally tipped about $20 more than a reasonable person would have - and my server (Well, she wasn't technically a server, but whatever, she brought the wine...) came to the table to let me know what I'd done an was a total sweetheart about it. Also, they have bottles of Duvel for sale. Silver Spring, sometimes I love living in you!
(4)
Ron M.
This local wine store/bar has a pretty good selection. I am very happy with the choices, and whoever picks the wine does a good job stocking reasonably priced and tasty bottles of wine. The reason for the lower rating deals mainly with the restaurant end of things. First of all, they don't really allow you to run a tab. This seems kind of silly, especially if you want to have a different glasses of wine before deciding on a bottle, or if you want to have a few small plates with your wine. Fortunately they were kind enough to let order a few things and then pay at the end, but the fact that this isn't SOP baffles me. As I've said before, the bottle selection is great here, and the staff is quite knowledgeable. The wine by the glass isn't as great, so just stick with the bottles. The food was ok at best, with the only the eggplant fries saving the meal. HIGHLY recommended! I didn't think they would work, but they did. Don't eat here without ordering the fries.
(3)
Angel B.
Adega is one of my favorite Silver Spring places. The eggplant fries are delicious, especially with the marina sauce they are served with. One order can easily be shared by two people. Also a favorite of mine is the turkey reuben that comes with a raspberry chutney sauce. The prices are a little steep, although with the atmosphere of a wine bar, that's probably to be expected. They also have a great assortment of beers and wines. I love ordering a sandwich and fries to go and sipping a bottle of Yuengling while waiting for my order.
(4)
Targi B.
$4.50 per glass and cheap eats, SOLD! Ok, I've been walking past this place for at least 3 years and saying ok I'm gonna check it out...I'm so happy I did! The house Pinot is great! and $4.50 per glass (goes down smooth) and I love that they have small bites. You can try a bunch of things for a cheap price! I love that they have recommendations for the week and I can't wait to go back and actually buy a bottle! The soup of the day was Crap Bisque and it was amazing especially for the price of $4.29! and it came with bread (the only way to serve soup). I honestly couldn't believe how good this soup was, I wasn't expecting much for the price but they made me a believer in cheap and good! I also tried the steak flat-bread which wasn't so much of steak as it was steakums. Not exactly what I was expecting but for again for around $6 bucks it was WONDERFUL. I'm not sure if you can park in the whole food lots and go here (THEY TOW!), there is free parking across the street. So its easy to get in and out. I love the people watching here, I mean its Silver Spring so the freaks are out on a drizzly Sunday afternoon! I can not wait for the next wine time!
(4)
Mrs T.
Another great visit to Adega. Their Gouda burger is absolutely scrumptious along with the sweet potato fries. The house wines are priced wonderfully. I love that the atmosphere is casual, but your dining experience rivals that of much larger, expensive places. I hope they keep things just the way they are.
(4)
Eric L.
Can a wine cellar be inexpensive and unpretentious without being cheap? Can it have a limited selection that is endearing and broad? Can it offer a menu that's light and interesting without being contrived and artificial? Apparently so! I may have mentioned before that I work from home. To avoid Ted Kaczynski manifesto-writing shut-in tendencies I eat out a great deal. So I am always looking for a place with a good lunch menu, a comfortable spot to plop my laptop and a good crowd. Adega seems to be one of the best I've found thus far. The place serves some really good sandwiches and salads. The ingredients are fresh - or a very good facsimile - and the service is really friendly. The sweet potato fries are also really nice. The wine selection is rather surprising. I can't say that I'm familiar with most of the wineries, which is actually what's most appealing. I can grab a bottle for about $20 (and no it doesn't come in a box with a plastic bladder) and walk out the door with something memorable. I'm certainly no aficionado but I know what I like and what I don't. Wine has never been a sniff slurp swirl and spit experience for me. I like something that I can share with friends. Something that makes good food and good company transform into a better experience. And thus far I've been able to find a few bottles, which fit that bill. Adega isn't quite a lunch counter or a wine bar. It's more than either. The bottom line is that I really like this place and will spend a lot of time there in the future.
(4)
Caitie K.
I must preface by saying that previously I would have put Adega a 4, possibly 5, and we continue to go there, but they have gone down hill a little. Most of their staff is GREAT, the bus guy (we love him! what a great personality & attitude - he ALWAYS makes sure we are happy), and the two managers Phil & Justin are fantastic as well. They are both a great help when picking out wine! Go to Adega for quick bites, to buy wine for gifts, and wine for at home. Would love to see them get the Evodia wine back on the shelf. Stock it up! Notables: Steak Salad, Recent Groupon was easy/smooth to use! I had heard overall that restaurant groupons were sometimes difficult to cash in on, but at Adega...super easy & straight forward!
(3)
Jules J.
Adega is a refreshing change of pace from all of the chains offered on Ellsworth Drive. It is a great spot for a casual lunch or dinner. I've never ordered anything here I didn't like. The sweet potato fries are a must. I'm deducting one star because they don't have waiters and you can't drink wine at the outdoor seating area. This is also a great spot to do your wine shopping. There are bottles to fit any budget. They also offer a small selection of good beers. If you need wine advice ask for Phil. He recommended Ponga Sauvignon Blanc and it's been a warm weather favorite of mine ever since!
(4)
Jody B.
Hit Adega for a Friday night with a groupon coupon around 7PM...the place was packed. The menu was pleantiful and the wine flowed. The order taker was fantastic and ordered the wine for me. He chose a great red one based on what I ordered. I would have to rate the eggplant fries NUMBER ONE...for sure without a doubt the best. Then the sweet potato fries...followed by the Jerk Chicken wrap. My friend loved the lobster bisque soup and a fish taco special. Difficult seating but chatted up a few people and made conversation with a stranger as we all ate together at a table. In a great location for when the weather gets warmer...will be going back again but maybe during the week when it's not so busy.
(5)
Michael M.
Adega is as good as it gets for casual dining. I got at least twice a month, some times once a week. The wine selection is expansive and comprehensive. No matter what my price range, they've got friendly servers to help me pick the wine I want. The menu has some of the best fare in town (wraps, burgers, flatbread pizzas, soups, rotating seasonals like soft-shell crab etc.) all gourmet, and all reasonably priced. The friendly staff (the best around) and warm decor make it a great spot to take friends and family alike, and their weekend "date-night deal" of 1 app, 2 entrees and a bottle of select wine for $35 is unbeatable.
(5)
Jung-Ah P.
I planned to served mulled wine at Jackie's during dinner service, so I made my way to Whole Foods in Silver Spring for vanilla beans, cinnamon sticks, and cloves. When I was done spice shopping, I realized that I was starving, so I went around the corner to Adega. I'd been there once before and I remembered the sweet potato fries were yummilicious. After looking at their sandwich and wrap selections, I decided on the portabello mushroom with pesto, sauteed onions and grilled red peppers on foccacia and a side of eggplant fries. I did contemplate ordering a glass of wine, but it seemed inappropriate to drink in the middle of the afternoon on a weekday just before going in to work at a bar. As I waited for my food, I picked a nice quiet table by the window and checked out my surroundings. The part of Adega that I was at was the cafe section, with a counter for ordering and paying and then a separate counter for picking up food, and behind a wooden panel, the exciting action of food preparation was taking place. There were about 10 tables to dine at or there is also counter space at the wooden panel that separates the food prep area from the dining space. The other side of the establishment was dedicated to wine - shelves and shelves of wine which I would have loved to check out up close, had I not been weak from hunger and dying to catch up on what Edward and Bella were up to in my new book, Twilight. There is seating on the wine side also, but not as much as the side that I was sitting at. So I admired from a distance and opened up my book. I only got through a couple of paragraphs when my number was called. I suppose that has a lot to do with the fact that it was 3:00pm on a Tuesday and there were only about 5 diners. I galloped over to pick up the food and I got excited when I saw my tray. The sandwich was pretty large, the foccacia was thick and they didn't skimp on the filling. I took a bite - no, I took several bites and ate a few of the eggplant fries before I realized I had forgotten to take a picture!! So I paused quickly to take a couple of pictures then went back to enjoying my lovely lunch. The only unsatisfactory item was the cold marinara sauce that was served with the eggplant fries. Why cold? The sandwich is hot, the fries are hot, but the sauce, which I was fully expecting to be hot, was not. Nevertheless, it was delicious. The fries were crispy on the outside and soft and yummy inside, and, might I say, the perfect companion to the portabello sandwich. Before I knew it, I had read an entire chapter of Twilight, was full, and had lunch for the next day as I couldn't eat more than half of the sandwich. If you are in the neighborhood and want a delicious bite to eat and maybe some wine to accompany your meal, definitely check out Adega. Oh, check out their Monday special: half off Adega selected wines with a purchase of entree, dine-in only. Tasty tasty!!!
(4)
Kelsy S.
The jerk chicken sandwich (Big Jerk) was severely lacking..super bland and disappointing. My friend had an italian sandwich, and it was relatively tasty. My boyfriend's black and blue burger was actually good. The sweet potato fries were very tasty. Eggplant fries were too greasy. We didn't have any wine, but I'm sure that would have added to the meal. It was a good location, downtown area and close to the parking lot of Whole foods. However, the inside looks like a Panera cafe, so don't expect a restaurant.
(3)
Bianca F.
Great little wine bar and restaurant to visit in downtown Silver Spring. The staff is friendly and knowledgeable about the broad wine selection. They have tons of indoor seating and some outdoor seating. During my last visit, I had the bleu's burger and the eggplant fries. The eggplant fries were great! I heard the Jamaican chicken salad was good as well as the fish tacos. I really like this place, no long lines and a nice place for a date, to catch up with a friend or just because you need a glass of wine!
(5)
Jamie W.
Only had the flatbread Marguerite pizza to split, but it was quite tasty! Would definitely come again. The ambiance was nice.
(4)
Rachel S.
I know there are mixed feelings on Yelp about the fact that Adega has no table service, but I for one, loved it! My good friends and I went out for lunch and to catch up, and we stayed and talked for a few hours and no one bothered us! I loved that! The food was yummy and the Cabernet was great! I highly recommend this place.
(4)
Shavon G.
If you are looking for a cute comfy cheap place to eat tasty food and great wine, come here! So far everything I've tried was packed with favor and tasted fresh. I had the grilled cod fish tacos which was just the right amount to eat after a late spin class. Try the grilled ribeye sandwich it is better than I've had that were high priced! Bring a friend, come a lone or a date! You won't be sorry.
(4)
Q D.
The place was more casual for a "wine" place than I expected. You would order food at the counter, and they page you when food is ready. We were there Friday night, 7:30pm, and had to wait for a place to sit. I had tuna salad and it was descent, and I like to come back to try other foods on the menu.
(4)
Boris S.
Bleu's Burger $11 (6/5 NOMs) Look at that beauty and a beast! Discovering some beastly size burgers in around DC metro area. Holy patty its stuffed with bleu cheeeeese! Don't often find a place that take that extra step. First bite in and its like an explosion of flavors. Juicy soft meat prepared to order it was a perfect burger, made to perfection. It was so good that I slowed down to enjoy every single bite. Comes with crispy bacon, sliced tomato, caramelized red onions and all that covered in chipotle mustard mayo for an extra kick. Its big too that even my monster mouth had to struggle. Served on an excellent super soft and light brioche bun. Hands down best burger in Down Town Silver Spring. Mushroom & Truffle Mac & Cheese $9 (4/5 NOMs) You won't find this cheesiness in every wine cellar! Its almost too pretty to eat, but only almost and we ate the whole thing. There is a whole lot of cheese sauce and parmesan cheese in there mixed in with mushrooms. Plus bacon on top! Can never go wrong with something like this. They got that cheese formula down so well that this didn't taste heavy at all. Mushrooms did kind of get lost, but I wasn't too sad about it as long as I have the cheese and bacon. Only thing they might have gone a bit too crazy with truffle on top. Highly recommend it for those with big cheesy cravings.
(5)
Anya R.
My boyfriend and I went on a date to Ageda after passing it in Downtown Silver Spring for years. It was my turn to pick a restaurant so I was hoping this one wouldn't disappoint! I did my home work before we went. They have a special on Saturdays for $40 you get an appetizer and two entrees, along with a bottle of wine (your choice). You seat yourself, there's plenty of space, tables for two and bigger parties all over the restaurant with s view of the Ice skating ring and Silver Spring Civic Center. You order at the counter, once you place your order you're given a buzzer that lets you know your food is ready. The staff is very friendly and informative when it comes to the wine selection. I am not a drinker so I was handheld through my wine choice. My boyfriend didn't care what I selected so it was all up to me. I got a bottle of Sangue-Di-Giuda, which was a sweet red wine, and it was amazing! The food was excellent. Our appetizer was calamari which came with a chipotle mustard mayo dipping sauce. We ate the whole bowl. We also ordered the Jambalaya pasta, chicken flat bread pizza, and a burger. Since the menu isn't costly we added on the pizza to our $40 special. Everything was extremely tasty. We didn't finish the wine, so they gave us a cork to take the rest home. Our date was $54.00 and we will be going back.
(5)
Sheila L.
You can never go wrong at Adega! Great wine selection and the food is AMAZING! I always go for the calamari, eggplant fries, and steak flatbread!
(5)
Jess C.
I was unimpressed with their specials-crab cake sandwich and tuna tartare taco. See picture for how underwhelming it was. There was barely any tuna tartare and it definitely lacked flavor, while the crab cake was just boring as well. The layout is simple and casual, you order your food at counter, pick up and clear up yourself, with the main focus on wine. But if you're expecting more from today's special, perhaps looks elsewhere.
(2)
Dawn C.
Get the cheese plate. The man and I checked out Adega this past weekend for a happy hour before the tree-lighting ceremony. The small-bites menu enticed as as did the ambiance, the overlook of the skating rink is a nice touch. Although the wine was very reasonably priced with an appropriate range of options, we felt like "Meh, We've experienced better" was the best rating for our night. Adega is a seat-yourself place, though we tracked down a server to find a menu. On the dinner side was salad and sandwiches. We found the nibbles side most interesting, and decided to make dinner out of our excursion. We picked the Mediterranean flatbread--the margherita to be exact, and a bowl of the tomato soup to share. For a second it seemed as though a server would come to our table to take the order, but then we realized that it's an order-at-the-counter kind of place. No biggie. We started with two glasses of wine, a Pinot Noir from Lodi and an Italian Sangiovese. The Pinot was bad...so sweet. It's probably my fault that I didn't enjoy it--being a native Oregonian and all, but the hosts were gracious in taking it back. Extra point! We exchanged the Pinot for another Sangio. Then came the food. I was surprised to see the soup in a plastic bowl and to learn that we had to pull our plastic flatware out of a bin up front. Buzz kill. The real flaw of the night though was that flatbread. It was pizza, very undercooked dough, tasted like the chef had given up. We couldn't even get a whole piece down on account of the doughiness. On the way out, we saw a smart-looking couple who were enjoying their wine with a lovely looking cheese plate. Next time, maybe, that'll be us.
(2)
Jordy G.
I really like Adega! The food is good, the atmosphere is great, and they have an amazing selection of wines. My parents come here every Friday night, and when I'm home visiting, I tag along. The staff here is extremely friendly and recognize their repeat customers, which is always nice! There's a decent variety of food on the menu - my personal favorites are the adult grilled cheese (don't worried, it's rated G for....grilled?) and their burgers, but I don't think you can go wrong. My parents tend to get half-pizzas. You sit down, then order up at the counter. You'll get a buzzer, and when it goes off you pick up your food. The wine selection is really good, and you can take open bottles home with you...but only if you put it in a bag when you exit the shop. The only downside is the seating - the place is often crowded, and there aren't any host(ess)s. You just grab what you can - there's a few tall shared tables, some booths, and shorter smaller tables. Unfortunately sometimes couples will grab the booths, leaving larger parties struggling to find a spot. During the warmer months, Adega has outdoor seating, but you aren't allowed to drink wine outside. Adega also has free Saturday wine tasting sessions, but I haven't been to one yet so can't comment on it!
(5)
Heather J.
I think the staff are the stars at this place. They are SO friendly, welcoming, and helpful. Even though we'd never been there before, the woman taking our order treated us like old friends. We started with the bruschetta, which was fresh and tasty. For the main course, I went for the steakhouse burger and my friend got the cappellini pasta. My burger was awesome - perfectly cooked and I loved the sauce. My friend said her pasta was pretty good, but that next time she'd opt for a burger. They have a limited but well-curated beer selection, and of course a lot of wine. It's a great place to grab a bite before heading to a movie - the theater is right across the street! I would definitely go back!
(4)
Ijene L.
First timer. The cafe style dining confused me upon entry. They just kinda stared at me until I said uhhhh how does it work here? So you order at the counter, take a seat and go get your food when it's ready. I had the calamari and the BLEU'S burger. The calamari was seasoned well and really good. The burger was AMAZEBALLS! Seriously. The dude behind the counter was a lil bit of a snobby queen when asked for recommendations but over all it was relaxed atmosphere. Great moscato! The wine cellar is pretty extensive and I would and will definitely go back!
(4)
Chrystalle B.
I came here for a tapping of a special Oliver Ale beer. Parking was interesting as the lot that's adjacent has limits on their spaces (upside: its free). My first impression when I walked in was that of a fast casual restaurant. Plenty of seating, counter for ordering, & a soda nook. I'm thinking to myself "A beer tapping? Here??". Then I saw the wine & beer section and the taps behind the counter. Color me intrigued. After perusing the menu I decided on the Adult Grilled Cheese & , of course, the beer I had come to try. 20 mins later I had my sandwich. The 1st thing I noticed about it is it was very greasy. Grease + grilled cheese is a given, but this was a bit excessive. The sandwich itself was quite good. I really like the combination of cheddar and mascarpone. The onion & bacon added a little something extra as well. I ended up leaving w/ a couple bottles from their beer wall. If I'm in the area, I'd consider stopping in again.
(4)
Katie K.
I have been to a lot of wine bars- and this might be one of the worst. If you could mix a wine bar with an Ocharleys- this is what you would get. Basic ingredients, a loud environment and a limited selection. No wine flights. Cheese consists of cheddar, Swiss, and blue cheese. And forget a bar setting. These are manufactured wood booths. Rough!
(2)
Lynn R.
Another great visit! One of my favorite places to meet friends and enjoy some good food and wine. Happy hour and appetizers are a great value. Mini-burgers and eggplant fries are a must buy salads for big and small appetites are sure to please.
(5)
Timothy C.
Still five stars, though now I am happy to report that I successfully obtained the elusive pork belly sandwich by showing up before the lunch rush. (though when I asked if they had it, the guy yelled over into the kitchen in Spanish to ask if they had it, and my heart sunk and I listened for a "Si" cuz I know that means "yes," but the "si" never came and I was held in suspense as they chatted, and then he finally says "yeah, we have it" super calm-like) Stressful, but delicious. Know better than to cause that much discord between a man and his lunch plans haha!! Served on a brioche bun with purple cabbage slaw and a gingery/miso type sauce, it was as yummers as I dreamed it would be! Thanks, Adegs! (Not a typo. You see, we're on a first name bas-, nay, NICKNAME basis now, like it or not!) Best sandwiches in downtown Silver Spring
(5)
Demetria L.
Obsessed with this Spot! Sweet potato fries and extensive wine selection-- Profile of upscale dining in the fast casual environment makes for a perfect date spot.
(5)
Joanne R.
Burgers were good. Fries just ok. Wine choices match the food. Nice to have food and retail wine combined.
(3)
Connie Y.
If you love an a la carte styled place with a bit of class, Adega is the place to go. Whenever I frequent downtown Silver Spring, it never fails to disappoint (except when I ordered a portobello burger thinking there would be a burger) with good alternative/soft rock music playing in the background. When you enter the restaurant, I suggest finding a seat first considering how busy it can become during meal hours, then you order food at the counter and will be given a buzzer to pick up your food. Adega presents a quaint and cozy atmosphere which serves many types of wine and beer for the drink connoisseur. It also has some AMAZING eggplant fries along with some savory sweet potato fries. As a young professional, I love bringing my friends from out of town to enjoy a glass of wine there.
(5)
Elodie T.
It's hard to rate Adega for anything other than a solid 4 when they have a great weekend deal: 1 appetizer, 2 entrees and a bottle of wine for $40? I'm sold! My group of 5 friends ordered 5 entrees, 3 bottles, 2 appetizers and a beer for about... $115-120? We had a really great time and the food was all very good. The only criticism I had for anything that I tried was that the bruschetta- typically, the tomatoes and other good stuff is already placed on the bread but they've lumped everything in the middle, and the result was that the bread under the small mound of goodness was... soggy. :( Everything else was really great though! Be aware that it's sometimes hard to find seats, especially if you have a bigger group. I usually think of Adega as a classier Panera- in both places, you order then find a seat. Panera doesn't serve alcohol, though, nor does it have gourmet food. Try to arrive on the early side, we've had issues before where it's been so busy that we've had to go elsewhere. First come, first serve! Solid 4/5.
(4)
Kristin C.
This place has an interesting vibe. It is part exotic wine store. (I shop for wines a lot, and I didn't recognize many labels. I was also impressed to see some Maryland wines). It is part cafe (i.e. you order your food and wine at the counter and get a buzzer to pick up your food). Then, it is part gourmet food. (The food was rather classy). The music that was playing as well as the space had a hippish feel. I looked around, and there was clearly a mix of patrons~some young, some middle aged, some old; some stylish, some not~way to get a diverse audience! I had a bottle of wine which they were able to chill for me and package it up later when I obviously couldn't drink the whole thing. It was a fume blanc which I had never heard of which ended up being pleasant. I also had the tomato basil soup with a side of toasted focaccia which was tasteful. For seconds, I had the lobster bisque; I favored the tomato basil though. I would say the most memorable was the excellent customer service. After the stress of travel and bewilderment of being in a new town, they were so helpful and patient when I could barely decide what to eat. There was a man walking around who must have been the owner or manager who looked stellar at whatever he was. At any rate, they went above and beyond on several occasions to make sure I had a satisfying time.
(4)
Ana A.
This is an awesome place in DTSS to grab a quick bite and enjoy some wine and beer. The food is pretty good, but served on plastic plates so it is nothing fancy... The atmosphere makes up for it though. I always wished that there were more independent, unique places in downtown silver spring. Thanks God there is Adega!
(4)
Angel A.
Not impressed with service at counter. Did not receive all of our order for carry out . Oddly..One of the male workers on the floor area kept rudely running/walking into us as we waited for our food. Really odd. I'm disappointed we payed for an item we did not receive and the counter guy never checked to make sure our order was right before handing us the bag. Not impressed with this place at all. Food was average. They also messed up the order specifications for one item and we couldn't even eat it. Very irritated by that.
(1)
Sam W.
I've never shopped for wine in this place because I've only gone there to eat. They have an eclectic lineup of delicious stuff. It's been a few years but their menu still has many of the favorites I remember. Their sweet potato fries are excellent. I recall them coming with some sort of dipping sauce that complimented them well. Their flat breads are done right, with the bread warm and supple, not cracker-like. Their wraps are well put together; all their ingredients are used effectively to maximize one's enjoyment. Seating is hard to come by on a busy night so try them out middle of the week before the dinner rush to eat comfortably.
(5)
Morrigan D.
A cozy wine bar in downtown Silver Spring. Considering there are no other wine bars , Adega is already winning. The eggplant fries are an absolute must! Get them with burgers ! Get them alone ! Just GET THEM. (Side note : this review may be biased as the reviewer is currently I side the establishment and four glasses in on a delicious Tempranillo)
(3)
Brenton W.
Came here last night with my fiance and her sister for the first time after living in Silver Spring for close to two years now. Wow! They were in heaven. Not only was it happy hour (25% off glasses of wine and beer [YES, they have a quality selection of 6 - 8 craft and micro brews]) but you also got 40% off a bottle of wine with your dinner. The girls were in heaven. The food was delicious. I had the jambalaya. The fiance had falafel and her sister had a burger. The jambalaya was delicious and their entrees looked great, as well. The food was fairly priced, in my opinion. Their takeout section, specifically regarding the beer, was shockingly phenomenal! Very, fairly priced and comparable -- if not, cheaper -- than stores that specifically only deal with take out. For example, Lagunitas 6-pack was $9.49, where if you were to travel a block away to a take-out shop, it is priced at $14.99. Kind of wish our food wasn't served on plastic / disposable plates with disposable silverware but that really is the only criticism on an otherwise quaint and comfortable establishment.
(4)
Victoria W.
Fell in love with this place.I had the jerk sandwich with a glass of spring*gria and sweet potato fries. I definitely want to go back and try everything. The staff was very friendly and helped me decide what to get seeing as how everything on their menu looks delicious.
(4)
Alyssa A.
I came here on Sunday with my family. We ordered the following Portobella Sandwich: This was just okay. I thought it had too must pesto on it and it really overpowered the flavors on the sandwich. This was recommended to me by someone working there but I wouldn't order it again. Eggplant Fries: These were delicious were the marina sauce. Steak and Cheese: My boyfriend said this was pretty good. The Bleu's Burger: My brother said this was delicious Parmesan Fries: This was apparently really salty. I thought it was good but it did have a lot of parmesan on it Mini Burgers: These were good but maybe a little dry Carribean Chicken Salad: My sister said this was good Prosciutto Fig and Goat Cheese Flatbread: This was basically a thin crust pizza I might come back to give this place a try. I would have given them 4 stars because everyone else I came with seemed to like their food, but my sandwich was just okay.
(3)
Lynie H.
Great food for a liquor store....u can get wine there n eat there...great selection of food....I really like that the sweet potatoe fries are crispy. They also have great eggplant fries too.
(4)
Chris L.
Came to visit for the first time. I'm from Cali, L.A... We got the non-alcoholic ginger beer, jambalaya pasta, Caesar wrap, calamari, and lastly tuna tar tar tacos. This Californian girl from Ktown is very HAPPY!!! :D
(5)
Janna R.
Always a favorite in Silver Spring. Great wine selection, great small bites or full meals if you're extra hungry. Adega has a great menu and atmosphere. It's great for any occasion!!
(5)
Jeff E.
Adega is often crowded during prime times, but the sandwiches are actually pretty good.
(4)
Cat S.
Came here for a solo drink after work. Staff were very helpful during my first time here. O asked to taste before you buy and they were willing to help, and that's what I love about them! I had their house holiday sangria (cross between mulled wine and spiced apple cider); OMG so delish! Sadly, I did not get a chance to try their truffle fries or crab sandwich, those were recommended to me by their wonderful staff :)
(4)
Rhianna B.
This is a hole-in-the-wall cafe where you can get a glass of wine and sandwich for lunch. They also sell wine and beer but I use it as a relaxing weekend lunch in between running errands. It's right in downtown Silver Spring and when it's warm outside, they have outdoor seating.
(4)
Karol L.
We have been going to Adega for 7 years and we love it. Perfect for dates, meeting with friends. They serve GREAT food and wine for a great price. We Love Adega. Parking is convenient and it's right in the heart of Silver Spring.
(5)
Andrew P.
Friendly, good, and hey - Silver Spring! Having lived around Silver Spring for decades -- and long enough to know the Sad Way It Was (which, truth be told, was Very Sad) -- I greatly appreciate Adega for its mere existence...not to mention the welcoming format, food, drink, and setting which it offers. I enjoyed Adega's informal walk-up format, the decent and inexpensive menu of freshly-made burgers and other pub grub, and the varied selection of interesting pours by the glass. If you buy a bottle of wine at a reasonable retail price, they will open it and provide glassware for you and your mates. No mark-up! Also praiseworthy is the store's use of primo shelf space for worthwhile local wines of Maryland and Virginia. Adega is a fun place to hang, and a big step up from its many nationally-franchised neighbors. In Paris, this would be an ordinary neighborhood bistro; but, by gosh...we're talking Silver Spring!
(4)
Bennett T.
It is a charming little shop that offers fantastic food - particularly the burgers - and a very good wine and beer selection. I've been twice and the quality is consistent. They do have a sit down portion to the store as well as beers on top and wines by the glass. The staff is friendly, knowledgeable and professional. It's a great place to stop into after shopping at Whole Foods for lunch and to do whatever wine and beer shopping you need to do.
(4)
Catherine T.
First time here, got a bottle of Novecento Malbec 2012 which is very good. we ordered the Mushroom truffle Mac and Cheese, Fries: sweet potato and truffle, Adega's mixed green salad, and the Adega grilled chicken flatbread pizza! deliciousssssss!!
(5)
Alexandra B.
4.5 stars This little wine bar and eatery is absolutely adorable. I love the vibe of this place, and while there could be more seating space to accommodate all the excited guests who want to eat here, everything else about it is pretty darn great. Stepping in, I absolutely loved the variety of wine and beer that was on display and available to customers. Though you could take the wine home, they would gladly open it for you and provide you with glasses so you can sit around and enjoy it with friends. They also offer a wide array of food from truffle fries to sandwiches to calamari. We didn't eat a full meal there but we had a few snacks and everything was perfectly tasty and hit the spot. There's a huge variety of wine and even beer available to choose from -- enough to satisfy pretty much every taste. We shared several bottles over several hours between us and had a wonderful time. My fiance and I will most definitely be back here soon, and will gladly bring friends along each time. This has to be one of the cutest businesses in Silver Spring by far.
(4)
Ebonne B.
Adega is a quaint jewel in the downtown silver spring area, providing a variety of good eats and wonderful wines at a decent price. Location Parking in the lot nearby the shopping plaza is a crap shoot, especially on weekends. You might fare better parking in the garage across Veterans Plaza. It faces the main plaza area so depending on the time of year or what events are going on like the Silver Spring Jazz fest, you may have too do the delicate dip-and-dive through the crowd dash through the stairs and walkway to get to the restaurant, and you'll have to contend with the noises outside which can interfere if you're looking for a quiet meal in. Restaurant It is on the small side and on Fridays and Saturdays it can be a complete gaggle of people clustered on top of one another jockeying for space to sit, stand while waiting for their order or mindlessly collect at the counter blocking everyone else as they ponder their order. If you could, try dining on a weeknight if you'd like to have a quiet meal. Lunch on the weekdays can get a bit hectic as well. Food/Wine Always a hit! Before my body decided that it couldn't be friends with gluten, the Chicken w/Lemon Butter and Penne Cream Pesto with Chicken were my favorite entrees on the menu followed by their Bison burger (which was second to the "gouda" burger but that's no longer on their menu.) However, even with a intolerance or a food allergy there's still a lot of great dishes to be had and although they don't have gluten free pasta available (that I know of) they ARE willing to make changes & substitutions to your order with no problem. They offer a variety of wines and now do tastings monthly (approximately). Tip - Adega now delivers! They're a participating restaurant with Takeout Taxi so if you can't be bothered with getting out of your pj's and headed over but still have a longing for eggplant fries you now can have it brought to your door.
(5)
J E.
Love this place. Staff is friendly and food is very good, which is surprising when you see it. Looks more like a wine shop win a deli, but don't underestimate the kitchen. They do some fine work - like the fish tacos, for example. YUM!! If you are not sure about the wines, ask for a sample or a recommendation. This is a great place for a casual date or a quick bite. Highly recommended!
(4)
Robert B.
I can confirm that everyone's now up-charged $5 if you want to drink the chilled beer Adega sells. I buy your food; I buy your beer, but if I want to drink your beer with your food then I have to pay an extra $5? What an absurdly stupid concept. Space is now dated and badly needs a refresh. Space is also cramped and constantly consists of people hovering, waiting for seats to open up. Central, shared seating is awkwardly placed and sized. The owners badly need to expand into the now-vacant Metamorphosis space. Food gets 4 stars, but just about every other aspect of this establishment is poorly thought out/executed.
(3)
Brittany S.
HOW DOES THIS PLACE ONLY HAVE 4 STARS! Born and raised in Silver Spring, I was in high school when they started building up Downtown Silver Spring. The area is great, which the exception of City Place... how is that place still open?! Anyways I've been to every restaurant, bar, store in DTSS and how did I miss this place?! Well, I guess for most of it I wasn't of legal age. Still, it took me way too long to try this place! Some of the best food I've ever had, hands down the best in DTSS. It's a restaurant inside of a wine store, how could you not love it? You can test any of the wines they have on the big board behind the register, for free! And you can have a glass or buy a whole bottle for your meal. They also have a few beers on tap, including my fave - Crispin Cider! We decided to order an appetizer because we were starving so we got the pulled pork sliders. Best sliders I've ever had! Their pulled pork was so flavorful, my mouth was so happy. I ordered the prosciutto, pear and gorgonzola sandwich with sweet potato fries. To. Die. For. This was the best sandwich I've ever had and the sauce on the side, I think it was for the fries but I dipped my sandwich in it and it took it to a whole nother level of awesomeness. Not the biggest sweet potato fan but I wanted to try them, I could have done without. My boyfriend order the chicken pesto pasta. Seriously the best pasta I've ever had at a restaurant. It had the biggest chunks of chicken too! They def give you your moneys worth! The music was good too! Oldies but goodies. I'm so mad at myself for not checking this place out sooner!
(5)
Ethan L.
This is an off the beaten path wine shop, that also stocks some craft beers. Some of the beers feature some good selection of Maryland producers (Union Craft, Stillwater, Brewer's Art). It also has a lunch counter serving somewhat upscale items and sandwiches. Often though when I come in the specials get sold out, but there's a menu to easily look through to enjoy. They come out with a bit more care, but they are also pricey. And speaking of pricey, look no further than Montgomery county when it comes to liquor sales. So prices here are high, but the variety for wine and beer is better than the county stores by a mile.
(3)
Vindhya Reddy D.
Liked this place for its simplicity. I had the jerk chicken sandwich and sangria, simple and tasty food. Enough to be my dinner as well. Prices are very decent too. Would keep going for sure.
(4)
Kristian T.
I ordered delivery and the bleu burger was delicious! Cooked to perfection! The blue cheese in the burger was genius! No complaints! I ordered through takeout taxi and they were prompt and the food was still decently warm! Definitely can't wait to try this place again and all they have to offer!
(5)
Stacey K.
nice quite area nice selction of wines.
(4)
Susanna P.
I'm sad that I've lived blocks from Adega for years and only just ventured in a few weeks ago. My husband and I were immediately hooked; the delicious sandwiches, the great selection of beer and wine, the eggplant fries... addictive. We've had "The Jerk" chicken wrap, the Reuben, the Pork Belly French Dip, and the Adult Grilled Cheese. I could eat that last sandwich every day. Especially if I got the eggplant fries on the side! Do yourself a favor and visit Adega. Try any of their sandwiches, but seriously - get the eggplant fries.
(5)
Corine H.
Loved what I've tried: truffle fries, calamari, sliders, salads. The recommended wine was so perfect and economical? I returned the next day to purchase two bottles. The servers and counter staff are generally friendly and helpful, though there are a couple of guys who merely stare w/o asking if they can help, which is a bit rude to new customers, who may never return. For vets? It's annoying, but we understand that it's a personal issue, not an establishment one. I will return repeatedly and enjoy the menu's depth and the restaurant's wonderfully casual vibe.
(4)
Koral S.
So many wonderful things to say about this place ... and just a few not so great. Wines - a fabulous selection of reds, whites, sparkling, etc. All priced decently with descriptions and a knowledgeable staff. They also have a few selected items already chilled and some beer options as well. Food - Overall I have enjoyed the food. The ingredients usually taste fresh. I'm a huge fan of the flatbreads. I have mixed feelings about the eggplant fries. I really like the taste of them - but they are often greasy and soggy. I've had better experiences with them when taking to go and then reheating them in the toaster and then draining the excess oil (that's a lot to do if I'm not making them myself). I was disappointed last time I ordered to go - they forgot my chips with the turkey reuben which made me very sad - since I love chips with my sandwiches. The reuben itself - meh ... not all that. Ambiance - It's cute inside to go for a nice quiet evening. The tables and set up is very inviting and warm. I also love where it sits in the downtown Silver Spring area.
(4)
Amanda P.
SO GOOD. I've never had a bad thing here and I've been very frequently. I've also never had a hard time getting a table despite the small restaurant. Whatever you do, make sure you get the eggplant fries.
(5)
Lori D.
I want to make it clear in the beginning that I do really enjoy this place a lot WHEN WE EAT THERE IN PERSON - the reason for 3 stars is that they are horrible to order pick up from. Today was the last straw for me. I will never order take out from them again. Every. Single. Time. they mess our order up and I'm simply over it. Out of 10 take out orders they've gotten it at least partially wrong on 9 occasions - no exaggeration. When two people are ordering sandwiches and soups and salads and appetizers, it shouldn't be that hard to get it right... at least half of the time! And add to that note, I was working on a production and I ordered them for lunch for our cast/crew of about 10 people -- and guess what? Mistakes. Really need to desperately improve in this area. Again, if you are looking for a cool atmosphere and decent food with a really nice drink selection, this place is great option to stop at. As a local, if you are looking for an option to bring home, I would skip this place.
(3)
Justine J.
We visited here twice during our trip to DC -- that's how much we loved it! Great location, easy parking, nice casual atmosphere -- exactly what we wanted. There's an awesome selection of beer & wine both for drinking during lunch/dinner or buying in larger bottles/6-packs to bring home -- perfect for my beer nerd of a husband. You order right at the counter and bring a buzzer back to your table, nice and casual. The food was great -- between the three of us we tried burgers, pizza, and pasta, all great. Love it!
(5)
Diana J.
My go to sandwich is the adult grilled cheese. They have a large collection of wines that are very affordable. Not all employees are equally knowledgeable about wine but they do let you sample any of the wines they offer by the glass. The have great hard cider on tap. I wish they rotated their collection of wines on sale more often. I think I've seen the same tempranillo on sale for a year now.
(4)
Mike W.
Nothing that great about this place really. The plywood booths are a little temporary looking and the food is mediocre at best. I've been here twice...first and the last.
(3)
Ryan B.
My fav. lunch spot in Silver Spring. I've been hear twice for meetings in the last 2 weeks, and I'm impressed every time. 1st time: Adult Grilled Cheese. It's terrific. 2nd time: Caprice Sandwich: tasty pesto with a heap of mozzarella and fresh tomatoes. Tasty. Yes, good food at reasonable prices. What really wins me over is the space. Outdoor seating, indoor seating, a couple of weird tables cut at different heights at angles. Definitely my go to place to lunch in Silver Spring.
(4)
Jess Y.
I absolutely adore the atmosphere here. Wine and great food, how could one complain? You can grab a drink, or a bottle, and enjoy it with or without food. (You probably won't be able to resist the food though.) My boyfriend and I LOVE Adega!!! He always get's the Bleu's Burger and I must always try something different. So far I've tried the calamari, the southwest chipotle turkey wrap, "best" grilled fish tacos, smoked salmon (I don't see it on the menu anymore), make your own flatbread, penne cream pesto with chicken, adult grilled cheese, and all of the fries. I won't go into detail about all of the food, because it's all very, very delicious. The most recent visit we had, of course he got his Bleu's burger, and I got an adult grilled cheese with truffle fries. I couldn't take more than one bite of the burger. I would have ate the whole thing. They add the blue cheese to the actual burger. So you get it in every single bite. The caramelized red onions, bacon, and chipotle mustard mayo do something special to this burger. It has all of the elements I look for in a meal. You have the savory, the tang, the sweet, the crunch, tenderness of meat. I would highly recommend this burger! About my sandwich-- I never knew something as simple as a grilled cheese could come out so amazing. First you have this buttery, super crunchy, bread. The second layer has the herb mascarpone, chedar cheese, bacon, red onion, tomato, & spinach. The fact that it has red onion and vegetables makes it that much more amazing. The herb marscarpone gives it a very nice creamy element and you can taste the fresh herb as well. I cannot get over the truffle fries. They are so simple, yet so perfectly seasoned. A lot of places can go seriously overboard with truffle, or not include it enough. Adega did great-- and I'm obsessed with truffle. On that note-- I know what's for dinner tonight!!! Btw: Parking in the Whole Foods parking lot is frustrating and busy most of the time. Park across the street near Chick Fil-A, super empty compared to the other lots. Side note: I've been coming here since 2009 and nothing has changed. It's been so consistent, and the wine selection never fails.
(5)
Paul S.
This place is fantastic for food, and they have a great special two entrees an app with a 17.99 bottle of wine for 40$. Also my wife loves it so we eat here a lot now. Oh and they sell great beer!
(5)
Bokyong E.
I loved this place. I ordered falafels with sweet potato fries. I recommend ordering eggplant fries because those were also very delicious. My falafel was pure goodness.. I hate when it is over fried but this one was perfect with fresh veggies. My friend and I also bought a rose wine which was only 10.50 (cheapest rose that was available). They give you wine glasses and a cooler without extra charge. They do have beer but you need to pay $5 if you want to drink there.. Which I didn't understand why. The location is right at downtown silver spring so I ended up walking around afterwards.
(4)
Abby T.
One of my favorite restaurants in Silver Spring. It's gt a great casual atmosphere that lends to taking friends and family for lunch when they're in town for a quick visit, for a casual date, or to grab a glass of wine with a friend after work. Staff is friendly and helpful, and responsive with assistance if you need to change your order to carryout, etc. Food- They changed up their menu a few months ago but thankfully kept all my favorites, like the half and half fries (sweet potato and eggplant please!), the substantial salads and great sandwich options. It's a walkup situation so you pay for your order, grab a buzzing thing, and grab a seat from one of the booths, small tables or a couple of high tops you might share with new friends. Drinks- adega has a great drinks board of options if you're eating in, including daily specials and helpful recs from the staff. If you're carrying out, they have multiple walls of beer and wine to choose from. On Saturdays they have a free tasting and a few other specials like half-priced wine throughout the week. It's also just a great place to get the local feeling, with area news and flyers in the entry and a casual touch that makes stopping by a friend's table totally acceptable.
(5)
Brian W.
My first experience with this place. We just had dessert and a glass of wine each. I'm a huge wine fan, so this place was great for me. I love the concept, casual wine spot with simple foods that pair well. Order at the counter, decent prices, interesting wine by the glass, additional wines available wine shop style. A great concept well executed.
(4)
Jeffrey M.
Food was excellent, price was fair for the quality. But there wasn't reAlly any service which means I just didn't have to tip. Great food n wine.
(4)
Liz S.
For the price point this place was great! You may have to hang around for a few minutes while tables open up even on a week night, but the casual atmosphere and affordable gourmet food make that ok. It took me ages to decide what to order because everything sounded delicious. I highly recommend the eggplant fries and the wine and beer selection is superb for Maryland. Make sure you check out this friendly neighborhood spot!
(4)
Laura R.
This was a hard choice between 4 and 5 stars, but given the weekend special, it was fairly easy to decide on 5. Why Five? I love the atmosphere, very relaxed but still a nudge sophisticated. Also, they have a decent wine and craft beer selection. The food itself is very good. For entrees I can say that the Bleu Burger was wonderful and the Latin Ahi Tuna dinner entree was amazing. Why Four? The reason I would have leaned towards 4 stars is because we ordered the Cheese Platter appetizer and it was somewhat disappointing. Only one of the cheeses tasted non-processed, the rest I feel I could have bought at the grocery store a la Sargento. That said, the bread and the strawberry jam that came with were wonderful. Instead, I think next time we'll try the eggplant fries. I can't really complain about the cheese platter because we went on a Sunday and took advantage of the weekend special. 1 app, 2 entrees, and 1 bottle of wine for $40 (after 5pm). For that reason, I can totally over look the mediocre cheese and it becomes well worthy of 5 stars! Also, the Kiona Riesling we chose was a lovely wine. Kind of strange that you order up front and they give you a buzzer, but I didn't mind that at all. Although, the bf kept referring to it as the Chipotle of wine bars!! I would certainly recommend this place to anyone looking for a classier weekend hang out than McGinty's. While it's not the most top notch selection of wines, the food and atmosphere more than make up for that. And after all, isn't the point of a wine bar to have a great time with good company, anyway?
(5)
Ritzie C.
I don't want people to know how good Adega is because I don't want it getting too popular. I feel like there's just enough seating for it to always be a challenge when you want a table. And since you order your food and wine at the counter, it's difficult to dive on a table someone is evacuating before someone else catches it. All that aside, the menu items are casual without being lazy. In fact, I would consider it nearly bistro-like, rather than "cafe." Nibbles worth noting are the calamari, eggplant and sweet potato fries, and mini burgers. Occassionally they have duck sliders and mussels featured on their daily chalkboard specials which are phenomenal. Some of the items I love are the ahi tuna salad, the burgers (Cabernet, Bleu, and bison), and the prosciutto/fig/goat cheese flatbread. I had the hummus not too long ago and it was underwhelming. However, there's so much of this menu I want to try but I'm always swayed by the daily specials when I walk in the door. Wines are reasonably priced, both by the glass and by the bottle and they also have a few beers to choose from. Overall it's consistent, laid-back, and has some solid food options - which is why we frequently return.
(4)
L M.
Awesome food. Great beer. Great wine. An inexpensive and delicious date night!!! I've never had a bad meal here. Just finished the jambalaya pasta and it was great!
(5)
Karen S.
This is a great, casual little alternative to all the chains in Downtown Silver Spring. I didn't know about it for the longest time because it's not in the main strip with the movie theater, but I'm so glad I found it. It's like a Panera, but fancier and locally owned-- and the prices do reflect that. You'll probably pay around $8-13 for a meal, but I think it's worth it. Like Panera, you order at the counter and go pick your food up. You get a beeper so you can wander the store, which has a great wine and beer selection, or sit while you wait. Their flatbreads are great and I always take home half. Whenever there's lobster bisque, I always order that (look for it on the daily menu). Their eggplant fries are amazing! I never knew you could make fries out of eggplant, but theirs, topped with a bit of cheese and served with marinara dipping sauce, are awesome. You get a huge portion. They don't reheat badly either, if you try it in the toaster oven. One thing to note: the parking lot behind it (the Whole Foods one) has only two-hour parking, and that is strictly enforced. Park in one of the garages to avoid getting a ticket, or set a timer!
(4)
Andrew T.
I have gone to Adega since they opened and always enjoyed it. It has a great casual atmosphere and a friendly staff. Every time I have been there until recently I have had the Turkey Rueben which is awesome but today I felt like a salad and got the arugula salad with steak. Well, it was about the best salad I have ever had! The combination of favors was incredible. The Gorgonzola, pears, cranberries, etc. might sound like an odd combination but it was wonderful. I ate every bite. I decided to take a salad home for dinner and got the Jerk chicken with mango and avocado. I just finished eating it and it was great too. I know that I will be going much more regularly now. Now I can't wait to try more of the menu!!!
(5)
Nick H.
Hidden gem in downtown Silver Spring. Great food, craft beer and wine selection. I will be coming back. Pizzas, salads, fish tacos, sandwiches galore. The bleu burger blew my mind. Cooked perfect. Very casual order at the counter type spot but has food like you'd find in nicer upscale restaurant. Beer and wine by the glass. Great selection. Gm mike is friendliest guy in town btw too!
(5)
Therese D.
Food and drinks are good. I definitely recommend the eggplant fries. Sometimes difficult to get a spot if they're really busy.
(4)
Matthew S.
After having cancelled reservations for a nice Valentine's Day dinner in the city due to the snow storm, we decided to make a trek out of the house despite the snow to Adega's since our baby sitter had already come to the house and was spending the night. When you have a kid and you have a babysitter lined up, you take advantage no matter what the elements are outside. Either way, Adega's is a tried and true spot for us. Since we had some dinner already, we chose to peruse the wine racks and selected a delicious blended red wine (name forgotten). We ordered a charcuterie board along with our wine and found a spot to settle in. This particular night the restaurant was quite cold due to the wind storm that going on outside, but once the wine started flowing our insides warmed up. The charcuterie board was delicious; however, there were several things that could be improved. The board provided a whole loaf of baguette; however, there wasn't any mustard, butter, or any other spreads provided. We had to ask them for this, a minor inconvenience. After our first bottle of wine, I selected another bottle; however, I chose a sweet white wine named Goddess at the request of my wife. We ordered some chocolate lava cakes as well. These little treats are delightful. Warm and gooey on the inside, they are a big hit and some nights become unavailable. That night they did not garnish with the traditional mango slice which my wife enjoys. All in all, Adega's is a great place and was a great spot for my wife and I to enjoy time together without our little munchkin for a night.
(4)
Lorena B.
Hands down, this is my fave place to eat in downtown Silver Spring. They have a great selection of wine and yummy food. Normally, I despise anything green but I love the ahi tuna salad. It's 3 big chunks of rare tuna with a sesame crust on mixed greens with a delicious vinaigrette and cilantro rice. Bonus, they will sub extra salad for the rice at no extra charge. I also recommend the bacon cheeseburger. It's a normal portion and the chef manages to serve it juicy but not greasy. Adega clearly uses quality ingredients. Because it's a cafe/wine shop, it can be cramped especially during lunch and happy hour. I also wish they had more wines available by the glass. Still, Adega is heads and shoulders above the chains nearby.
(4)
Rose M.
This is my favorite Saturday night hang out place in downtown Silver Spring! Love the food especially the fish tacos and the adega fries. Of course, love the wide selection of local and imported wines. Staff is very friendly. Sometimes it's hard to find a seat, but people are usually nice about sharing their tables with other people.
(5)
Robert V.
Adega Wine Cellars is located right in the heart of downtown Silver Spring. With an open air plaza in front, the area is usually lively and festive. The shop itself serves beer, wine, and various bar food. Prices are competitive. I have not tried the food so I cannot comment on the quality and taste, but I do always notice multiple diners every time I drop by.
(4)
David T.
awesome food! Wine bottle prices are a tad high, but food rocks otherwise.
(4)
Caroline L.
Came here twice now and had some different experiences. The first: came with a bigger group and finding a table for us was hard- esp since it's a first come first serve basis so you awkwardly stand there and stare at people hoping to pounce first when they start cleaning up. We got a variety of things and I remember some weren't too impressed. The eggplant fries were ok and the grown up grilled cheese was fantastic. If I remember correctly, someone was disappointed in their fish tacos. The second: came here w/ one other person and pretty late on a Fri night so seating wasn't an issue. I love how it's removed from all the hectic downtown area where all the high schoolers are. Adega is quieter, slightly more upscale, and cater to an older crowd. This time got the calamari which I would give a 7.5/10 which is still pretty darn good. The batter coating was a light color and dipping sauce was good. The highlight was the tomato soup and the turkey sandwich. Can't remember what the actual name was but it came w/ cranberry sauce and cheese. Huge portion!
(4)
Beth N.
A group of 4 of us went here on a Wednesday evening. It was SO BUSY. We had to order our food and wait (standing up) for about 20 mins until we snagged a table. They really need more seating. I shared a pizza and it was pretty good. My sister and her husband both had beer and said it was delicious. My fiance had wine that he said was great. You cannot sit outside if you have any alcohol, even though some people snuck outside with it anyway. Overall it was okay but I'm not sure if I will be going back.
(3)
Phil D.
ATTENTION EVERYONE: Adega does not charge a corking fee for ANY of their beers or wines, as long as you purchase food. This is a great deal! And their food is quite lovely. A wide variety of sandwiches, burgers, pasta dishes, flatbreads, and small plates. We highly recommend the Turkey Reuben, though you really can't go wrong with any of the sandwiches. Adega is our #1 go-to sit-down lunch place in downtown Silver Spring, as the prices are very reasonable.
(4)
Denise K.
The beer was priced very right! The beet salad was great. The southwest pizza was decent although I think I would have liked a different one better just as a matter of taste. Sweet potato fries were awesome although the sauce was questionable. I think a honey mustard sauce would be better. All in all a great dining experience.
(4)
S W.
I really loved this place. It wasn't at all what I expected but the wine and food was so yummy, I didn't mind. I had the portobello mushroom burger with the eggplant fries. I'd go back again for this but I'm anxious to try other items.
(4)
Bryan N.
I have to say, some of the best wine selections in DC. The customer service is amazing! Emily was so knowledgable about all the wines they had in house. I told her exactly what wanted and she not only found great wines for me, she gave a little wine lesson to boot! Great service. And if you are feeling a little hungry, they have delicious food to compliment the wine. Take your girl here for date night, you'll that me later...
(5)
Semra E.
Whenever I am feeling in the mood to know that there's an actually tasty affordable spot in downtown Silver Spring that has a quality and staff that no other location can touch...I will come here. Which is just about once a week for me. They're fantastic, they have great wine recommendations and they keep adding excellent specials to their menu in addition to providing deals that you can only get when dining in. Either way, I love it here. Every new person I bring in to eat here agrees, it's a hidden (or not so hidden by how crowded it can get certain times), place to eat when shopping or hanging out in downtown Silver Spring. Great quick dinner before a movie at AFI or Majestic.
(5)
Brittany J.
The Caesar wrap with salmon was out of this world! I felt compelled to go back and order one togo to take to work for lunch and definitely ate it before I could get it in the fridge. Oops
(5)
Shira S.
This places gets me in trouble....every time! I typically go with friends and we get several bottles of wine to share. They don't charge corkage fees, so whatever you pay for the bottle you choose, is exactly what you pay. Their selection of wine is pretty good and across many different price ranges. They also have a lot of yummy food. During happy hour, their appetizers are 25% off (I think). I highly recommend their grilled calamari - it is soooo good.
(4)
Siv L.
Came here with my boyfriend on a beautiful sunny Saturday afternoon. We wanted a place to hang out before grabbing dinner. So we grabbed some reading material, said yes to the wine tasting, and bought a bottle of red to share. We sat down, enjoyed a glass of wine, and read. Great set up -- love the concept. Wish there were more places like this in other cities. Makes drinking wine and hanging out very affordable. Please note that we didn't eat anything here... but for the concept, the space to enjoy wine, hang out, and talk, read, etc, I would definitely recommend.
(4)
Adelina Z.
Normally this place is a go-to old reliable but this past visit was anything but. For starters, the wait time was a couple minutes short of half an hour. Keep in mind that I only ordered a lamb burger (medium) and truffle fries. Not to mention, it was during the afternoon (hours post lunch rush) on a weekday. When I finally got my food, the lamb burger was particularly dry. I found this odd because lamb is infamously known for being fatty. I'm pretty sure it's because it was frozen; it definitely wasn't fresh meat. The fries were perfectly crispy but only gave off a faint hint of any truffle flavor. I'll wait to visit again and hopefully they'll have improved. The third star was given for their great wine selection.
(3)
Jennifer H.
I love going to this cafe!!! The wine selection is not giant but plenty big enough to find something you like in your price range. The best part about Adega is that you can buy a bottle of wine and drink it there for no up-charge! There is usually someone out by the wines that will help you select one. It is not a very large space, 90% of the time I am able to get a table right away. The food is amazing, I think several of the selections are very upscale and not usually found in a cafe. I recommend the ahi tuna.
(5)
Jessie S.
Fantastic food and wine that won't break your budget. Incredible wine and craft beer selection. Amazingly inventive food menu. Great for groups or dates. A winner all around.
(5)
Cici H.
I've passed by this place several times but never thought to go inside and explore. When my friend selected this place to have dinner, I was excited to try it out. I ordered the Asian chop salad and my friend and I shared an appetizer of half sweet potato half eggplant fries. He also ordered the Caribbean chicken salad and tomato basil soup. My Asian chop salad was good with very fresh ingredients. The fries were good but I wasn't a fan of the sauces. I tried my friend's tomato basil soup and it was tasty. Overall, everything was good. I really like to atmosphere in this place. I definitely plan to come back from another visit to try something different and perhaps a glass of wine.
(4)
Michelle D.
I'm very impressed with the food. I had a veggie burger today and I was nervous before I bought it because of the bad experiences I've had ordering veggie burgers at other places. Well, with Adega...I WAS PLEASANTLY SURPRISED!!! Their new veggie burger well exceeded my expectations! It was a delicious dream come true. I finally found a second spot in Maryland where I could go for a trustworthy veggie burger. It had a nice grilled taste to it and the recommended chipotle mayo was a-ma-zing! Not to mention the 3 perfectly cut slices of avocado that topped the burger. I prefer to avoid gluten, so I ordered the burger without a bun....still amazing. I'm also in love with Adega's doubly delicious eggplant fries! OMG, how can you fix fries that are not dripping with grease? In fact, I was surprised that, after eating a veggie burger and a side of eggplant fries, my fingers and mouth/throat weren't coated with grease. I was triple satisfied with my meal. WAY TO GO ADEGA! After eating, my husband and I informed they guy we ordered from that the food was A+. Can't wait to go back for more eggplant fries...and another veggie burger!
(4)
Phx D.
Great food, service could be better thats why I held back a star. The staff were not really helpful when asked questions. But again, the food was great and the ambiance is awesome. Been there several times.
(4)
Michael B.
Good food and a nice selection of wines. Parking can be a minor problem as the one lot nearest the cafe serves several businesses.
(4)
Tim H.
The format is a problem here. It's a cafe with an embedded wine shop (or vice versa?). The important distinction here is that it is definitely a cafe, not a restaurant--you order at a counter, and most importantly, you find your own seats, which for me has been a problem on several occasions. The menu is probably good enough to make for a decent restaurant, and by selling wine it's almost as if they're encouraging you to stay for 45 minutes or more like you would at a seated restaurant. But the fact is, there are other people hovering over you, waiting for you to leave. There's no waiting area, and since people order before there is a seat, some people have their food before there's a place to sit. It's pretty awkward, really, and the section that's a 'wine cellar' has a good selection but feels like it's just wasting space. But, given you know that and have come here for a quick meal at lunchtime or some other appropriate purpose, the food is pretty good. I've had much better pizza, but the sandwiches are good and the eggplant fries are a real treat. The wine selection is of course very good and their specials are thoughtful. I disagree with other reviewers who call it pricey--perhaps the pizzas are, but I've been satisfied with the price and size. Bottom line: be sure you don't mistake it for a restaurant.
(3)
Kelly J.
Just moved to the Silver Spring area from Northern Virginia, and Adega is my new favorite place. I don't want to rave too hard about it though, because it is already too crowded! I went for lunch a few weeks ago with a friend, and while we stood in line to order, we mocked a table with two women who ordered a pizza, a sandwich, a pasta, and a salad. Wouldn't you know it - all of the menu options at Adega looked so yummy, we soon found ourselves in the same boat! We split the appetizer mussels (white wine sauce with garlic and gorgonzola - I seriously wanted to DRINK the sauce). I had the arugula and pear salad and added salmon. The fish was perfectly cooked and comes with an awesome chipotle sauce and black sesame seeds. I went for dinner last night and enjoyed the same salad (a creature of habit, I guess) and the hummus appetizer. The pita bread is served grilled and warm and there is plenty of it! My friend had the fried calamari salad and it looked amazing. I can't wait to come back and try something new! Already looking forward to it.
(4)
Mahoganie B.
I have to thank a friend of mine who suggested this place for me as a lunch spot to conduct a laid back interview or meeting. I went on a weekend day during lunch hour and to my surprise it wasn't crowded!!!! Yaaaay! I'm in love with the set up and the food! The sweet potato fries are sooo delectable and the Ginger Brew... the ginger is strong but I'm a fan!!!!! It washed those fries down really goooooooooood! The items on the menu don't seem overly done, but they also seem to have some kind of healthy benefit; such as the sweet potato or egg plant fries. They do have burgers and flatbread (YUM!) The food items are just casual but the do mix/pair well with wine! Ok.. so when you walk in, after you pick your seat.. you go to the front and order/pay for your food. You are given a buzzer and of course pick up your food with your buzzer goes off. This method seems effective, but I don't wanna image the scene when it's crowded in there and your cutting through the line to get to the food counter to pick up your delights! Still, I'm in love with this place. This seems ideal for - not only lunch, but - happy hour and perhaps a quick bite with friends or date, before a night out. I'm here for this!
(4)
M. K.
Stopped in here before a show at the Fillmore and felt at home the minute I walked in...cozy atmosphere + wine + moderately-priced gourmet sammies? SOLD. I ended up choosing one of the specials, the crabcake sandwich, and thought it was pretty good for a cafe. Roll tasted fresh and the yellow pepper remoulade was a nice added touch. The actual crabcake was a little burnt on the outside, but I was able to overlook that due to the tasty sauce and the A-MAZING truffle fries. Seriously, they were awesome. Thin shoestrings with tons of flavor...I'd go back for those alone. Only cons: -Heavy BBQ-ish smokey smell throughout cafe -White wine I ordered was very warm, almost room temperature Will definitely return for more fries and to try one of their burgers that everyone seems to be raving over.
(4)
Rachel D.
In my top three favorite restaurants to go to on any given night. It's such a cool place; I love the small cafe feel. The food is always yummy...of course paired with a glass of wine! I always try their different house wine whenever I go and it never disappoints.
(5)
Danielle L.
Great Selection of Wines... Red and White! Great Food! Great Atmosphere! Great Place hang and chill with friends. Chicken Flat Bread- Great Steak Flat Bread- great Sweet Potato Fries - Yummy The Jerk ( Jerk Chicken Wrap) - Love it Happy Hour - 4-7 25% off of apps! However they get minus 1 start for the bathroom set up! I single use bathroom! Wine and Beer = Bathroom usage.
(4)
Ruth C.
The guy handing out orders seemed like he hated his life but at least he took his assembly line hygiene seriously, and the rest of the staff members were much friendlier. Bruschetta while we waited. The cheese used had the texture of overly firm tofu, but the fresh tomatoes, basil, and faint hint of garlic made each bite less dubious. The herb-seasoned buttered toast was my favorite part of our meal here: not too greasy, just the right amount of crunch and flavor. At heart, I'm always gonna be a bread'n'butter kinda gal. Migrated outside to enjoy the cooling weather, cute cops, and some live music from the plaza. Split a Napa Valley Cabernet burger. Not sure if shredded lettuce would've helped if it had been present, but I found it a little lackluster. I already take issue when the bun-to-patty sizing doesn't match up, but the toasted foccacia was overly dry and not very enjoyable. I ended up consuming only as much bread was needed to prevent the tomato slice and provolone-graced patty from smearing on my hands. Even then, I still needed to dip half my bites in mustard to keep the bread from being a choking hazard. The patty itself was subtly flavored and moist at medium. Sweet potato fries were ready after a short delay, and emerged piping hot from the warm kitchen. I preferred the lemon mango sauce over a ketchup accompaniment, but ultimately found these starch strips less tasty than the plain kettle chips. I can see myself returning to give this place a chance to redeem itself. To-try list includes the jerk, smokin' turkey reuben, and Duke Ellington... and the eggplant fries have got to be better than the sweet potato fries. The flatbreads I spotted coming out of the kitchen looked divine, and I'm sure I'd cave to my lobster bisque craving.
(3)
Libby F.
I still love this place for delicious, fresh fast food. The salads are always made with mixed greens and their homemade dressing is the best. I came on Monday during happy hour and reading a recent topic on the talk threads had me craving calamari. They have it here and it is pretty good. It's not as good as 8407 Kitchen Bar's, but it is two bucks cheaper ($7). It was happy hour as I mentioned, so select appetizers and glasses of wine (large selection) are 25% off. That means my calamari was only $5.25 and my Shiraz was $4.89. For just ten bucks, it was very satisfying! At these prices, I'll be back for happy hour again.
(5)
Frankie B.
Good food, but a bit overpriced for the size and content. The inside is loud, small, and hot due to the heat from the kitchen. I had the jerk chicken sandwich, flavor was good, but the chicken breast was small on the bun. Te sweet potatoe fries and dipping sauce were really good. My friend had the pesto chicken which was tasty but small for the price.
(4)
Steve L.
Don't mistake this for a restaurant. Its more like a liquor store with good take out food. The food is great, staff are extremely friendly & helpful. Price is reasonable for the quality. Downside: plastic plates & silverware. Wait on yourself & bus your own table! Will I be back??? Hell to the YA
This place is a great Silver Spring hang-out. Wine is a little over-priced, but they have a monopoly on the cool wine bar market. Food is good. Burgers are the best on the menu. Don't miss the eggplant fries. seriously.
(4)
Jessica H.
Pricey, but sometimes you get what you pay for. They have great smaller plates (I've never had the entrees). The eggplant fries and sweet potato fries combination, with a bottle of Australian red wine. Can't go wrong. NOM+NOM. If you are unsure about what kind of wine you want, the people behind the counter are VERY helpful. I assure you they will not judge you ;-). I consider myself a wine-o and I asked a few questions to the guy, and he knew what the hell he was talking about. So ask-way yelpers. The place does get a bit crowded, but if you are lucky, you can sit by the window and people watch. The location is great, because it overlooks the new downtown Silver Spring skating rink. If you are claustrophobic, go someplace else...its a tiny place, but if you are in the mood for wine and light foods...do it.
(4)
Hain L.
an a-ok place for food but they do have a nice selection of affordable wine. The restaurant part almost operates like a fast food joint. The eggplant fries were really good but the quesadilla wasn't the best I've had. I'd go back to pick up some bottles of wine but not sure about eating there.
(3)
Roy S.
I really liked the Penne Pesto w/ chicken. Good wine selection but its all on the pricey side... Its on of these new hybrid restaurants without waiters. Classier then fast food, but similar concept.
(4)
Elisabeth H.
WOW people seem to really love Adega...I am thinking or hoping then that we just caught it on an 'off day'. Made plans on Friday to see a movie, walk around, and get a bite in downtown Silver Spring. Being that this is somewhere neither of us frequent I turned to yelp for some suggestions. Based purely on the reviews we decided that this was the place. The location is very convenient to shopping, movie theater, etc. The menu had a ton of options and a lot of wine to choose from. There were two men working the counter area one, who was older then the other was great, he was helpful personable and very pleasant. The other, younger man, seemed like he wanted to be anywhere else but there and was too cool to really help or answer our questions. I eat gluten free so really count on the help and knowledge of people working at a restaurant to come up with the best options. There was a BBQ special that looked good so I asked the younger man if that was gluten free. His response was a yeah it should be, which really didn't help me. I asked if he could ask someone since BBQ is not always and not a go to gluten free option. He asked and was told absolutely not. Good thing I asked him to double check....I ended up going with the truffle fries which are not breaded but do share a fryer and a bleu cheese stuffed burger with no bun plus the bottle of wine to share. The total with a small tip was $33 pretty reasonable. We sat down waiting for our food. My buzzer went off and I got mine, my friends came shortly after. My fries were cold from the get go which was disappointing but didn't stop me from enjoying, because a. they are fries and b. I was hungry. I ordered my burger medium rare and it was very very rare. The cheese on the inside of the burger wasn't even melted. I don't have a problem with rare meet but it would probably be a problem for most and rarer then they should be serving it. The food was fair, but I could totally see the potential for a huge YUM if the execution had been on, which is why I would really like to believe it was just an off day/time/whatever. I would say I'd be back but realistically I never find myself in the area.
(3)
Debra N.
The wine is excellent, the wine cellar has a fabulous selection, the food melts in your mouth, the location is entertaining and the people (staff & customers) make for good conversation. This may be my favorite place for a relaxing glass of vino...
(5)
Maboud E.
Wine selection is pretty great as well as the food. A bit over-priced in my opinion. Staff is knowledgable and helpful and the atmosphere is nice.
(4)
anon r.
4 stars because staff was nice and patient. 3.5 stars for the food and atmosphere. i think they'd be a standout for economy class restaurant in downtown silver spring if the music were quieter and calmer - would give this place a more upscale vibe, but apparently others like the casual/pub feel. i requested extra lemon for my tuna tartare tacos, which were ok - kept me from ordering pork belly burger ;P
(4)
Sarah F.
The only reason I'm rating this higher is because the food is a bit pricey. But it is tasty. I ought my mum here for a light lunch, because I knew they'd be reliable and have soup and other light options. You order at the counter and wait for your order to be called. The staff are nice and helpful. I particularly like the Eggplant flies and the fact that you can get a half and half order of these with the sweet potato fries. We also had mushroom and brie soup which was good and sliders. The wine selection on the shelves is good and I like being able to browse whilst I wait for my order. They have outdoor seating which is nice when there's live music in the pubic area outside. The biggest draw back of this place is that the plates and cutlery is all plastic and disposable. which is a real pet peeve of mine.
(3)
Jane W.
Ate here today for lunch. After waiting 25 mins for my order, I got my fish tacos. They were far from the "best". The fish was so salty and not very good. The rest of the salsa was only OK. After taxes and tip it ended up being over $15. Will not be back.
(2)
Patrick W.
I'm not a wine guy, but I like the food and the casual atmosphere. It's quick and easy and inexpensive as well as consistent. Nothing for me to complain about.
(5)
Alexandra S.
Had lunch here on Friday and really enjoyed it. First of all, the ambiance of eating in the wine shop is v nice, next the Cuban sandwich was excellent. Tasty, juicy.... Yum mm! They have a diverse menu and aren't that expensive. I also hear you can buy a bottle of wine and they will open it for you and u can drink it there.
(4)
Liz R.
The sweet potato fries are DELICIOUS!!! I had their Jerk wrap and was pleased. I was a bit disappointed the wrap had all of the lettuce and the chicken on one side. Then again I am a bit picky, hey I don't like turning my wrap around and around to get the equal amount of fixings. My husband has had their Jalisco and Bison Burger and has loved them. This place def needs more seating. Staff was friendly.
(4)
Casey H.
Adega is a solid 3. The food here is reliably pretty good. I have been there enough to sample burgers, several kinds of sandwiches and a few salads. Some are great--the burgers are all tasty, for instance. The sandwiches are a bit more hit and miss. Some are awesome, others bland or poorly made. The sweet potato fries are always tasty--definitely upgrade from the chips. The store is occasionally quite crowded, and the seating situation is first come, first serve. The tables are frequently a bit dirty too--they need more regular bussing. In all, Adega is a solid choice in a convenient location. Definitely not the best grub in downtown Silver Spring, but you won't regret it if you find yourself there.
(3)
Veronica J.
Meg nothing to write home about. Food was good don't get me wrong but pricey for what I got
(2)
Sarah M.
The eggplant fries are amazing. So delicious. They come with marinara sauce, and the small order was plenty. They have a great wine selection (and you can buy bottles of wine while you're waiting for your food!) and a decent beer selection too. They don't have servers, you order at the register, they give you your beverage of choice and then you wait for your food. It was a little slow when I was there, so minus one star.
(4)
Mary L.
I think I am addicted to this place. I love their food specially their salads. Between food and drinks the bill can add up, but the service is great. It is hard to get a table during the weekends, but that is how popular it is. Happy Hour is OK, they still charge around $6-$8 a glass of wine, which I can get for cheaper in DC. Overall, I love the ambiance. It is very relaxing and conveniently located.
(5)
Bex G.
A good menu with solid wine and beer options. You can buy bottles and 6 packs of beer. There is good happy hour and daily specials.
(4)
Jake K.
How I missed this review is beyond me. I've been going to Adega now, usually several times a year, to gnosh on the selection of burgers and the to-die-for sweet potato and eggplant fries. I typically ask for a half and half to keep things interesting and love the dips that you get for the fries. As for the store, I typically don't like to purchase wines in Maryland since the selection is limited by the state distributor. Since I'm in VA, I always like to order my wines directly from the vineyard or whatever caught my fancy from the WSJ wine club (a mixed case per quarter). Adega is set up in a wine cellar style motif and from what I can tell, is reasonably priced for what is offered. I always like to stop by when I'm in SS to Adega for a burger - the other restaurants just don't impress me there.
(4)
Sara O.
A little less than 3.5 stars - Good fried fast food with easy access to wine and booze. Not a restaurant though. You order at the counter and pick up your food. I expected a sit down restaurant. It looks much nicer outside then it is inside. We went for happy hour and got 20% off the delicious fattyness of eggplant fries, bbq sliders, and fried calamari. I would shy away from the lackluster mini burger. The wines by the bottle are inexpensive, but the ambiance is part wine store, part above average fast food restaurant. Not the best ambiance for the product but the food makes up for it.
(3)
Adam A.
Everything's good here. Beautiful cozy ambiance. Solid menu with a rotating specials. Amazing eggplant and sweet potato fries. The roast beef and blue cheese sandwich is bomb.
(5)
A S.
The food isn't great, it's just average but I love the fact that this place is a wine cellar and restaurant in 1. Good wine selection. We had some type of peach wine that was really good. Good for date nights and just hanging out with a glass of wine to relax. Friendly staff and great location.
(3)
N S.
Despite the three stars, I really like something about this spot. The menu descriptions read much better than the food actually tastes, that I will say. I've had a few of the sandwiches, the hummus, and the sweet potato fries. Quite frankly, everything is just ok, but something about the ambience and the nice casual feel of the spot just works well with a relaxed meetup with a friend. It's also nice to be able to enjoy a bottle of wine at retail cost with no corking fee. I had eaten here several years ago and never returned. I'm pretty sure that was due to not being impressed with the food. I would recommend the owners check out the menu of Cafe Tu O Tu in Georgetown and try and emulate fare along the lines of that. Still relatively inexpensive, but tasty. With some improvement on the food, I have no doubt this would be a minimum of four stars here on Yelp, but yet currently a three star which is not so hot. I tend to not be inclined to try any business below a 3.5.
(3)
Alex O.
In a few months I'll be moving across the line into DC after nine years in Silver Spring. As the date for my departure looms closer, I've been thinking a lot about the places in Silver Spring that I will rarely, or perhaps never, visit again. Adega is not worth traveling any great distance to eat at. Furthermore, there are a few duds on the menu - the BBQ pork sandwich is mediocre at best, the smoked salmon wrap just doesn't come together very well, and the Jerk chicken sandwich always seems to be dry, overcooked, and lacking much in the way of jerk flavor. However, Adega also has many excellent stand outs. Honestly, if they served nothing besides their amazing (and quite filling) fish tacos, I'd give the place three stars. The things end up being a mess if you let them sit too long, but all in all, they may be the best fish tacos I've ever had. The large pieces of cod are grilled (not fried) and the citrus slaw and papaya salsa are both unique and delicious. Their take on a turkey reuben is also unique, featuring havarti cheese, wine reduced sauerkraut and asian pear cranberry chutney. It's not "light" in any sense but it is delicious. Sadly, they seem to have dropped their French Dip, which was one of the best versions I've ever had of that old (and usually tired) standby. Their bistro steak sandwich is okay when they overcook the steak and excellent when they nail it - I tend to ask for rare which usually ensures slices of steak closer to my liking, but YMMV. I also recommend the blackened ahi tuna wrap and the field green salad. And yes...they do indeed make THE BEST sweet potato fries I've ever had. Wine selection is quite good, if not over whelming, and on mondays and wednesdays they have some good "wine+meal" deals that can make for a tasty and relatively inexpensive date night. Like I said earlier, this is not a destination location, but it's the kind of local place that any neighborhood should be thrilled to have as part of the community. Now that I think about it, there's a very good chance that those fish tacos will lure me back here occasionally even after moving to the District.
(4)
Julie O.
Great food, prices are reasonable. I just wish they had outdoor seating where you can drink your wine/beer.
(4)
Sana J.
Definitely try the Caribbean chicken salad here, it is delicious! The seating arrangement is not too intuitive but its really cozy. Totally worth checking out.
(4)
Brian J.
One of my favorite SS places to eat! Staff is very friendly. It is even kid-friendly! Definitely recommend eating here if you are in downtown SS!
(4)
Josh R.
If only more places like this existed in the DC metro area. On Wednesday nights one gets 25% off a bottle from their excellent wine selection, as long as one buys two entrees. Given the fact that there is no corkage fee and the wine isn't marked up in-store, this ends up being the best deal in town. The service is also great: Even though entrees cost about $8-$12, they'll let you try the wine for spoilage before sticking with it. Last time I went a bottle seemed a bit off. A manager agreed that it was a bit acidic but said it was a feature of that kind of wine. He let me try it for a few minutes and exchange it if I wanted to. I ultimately got a full exchange for another wine that suited my palette. All the food we've had there has been excellent. The burgers, pulled pork, Cuban sandwich, Philly cheese steak, and pasta have met or exceeded expectations. My only qualm is that they should use real plates and silverware. Given the quality of the food and wine, it's a bit mismatched to eat the food on and with plastic. Adega is arguably my favorite restaurant in Silver Spring right now.
(5)
Ian S.
I had an issue with the quality of a salad wrap, instead of complaining in person I decided to write feedback to the email address listed on their website and have not heard back.
(1)
Krystal D.
The BF and I are big fans of casual wine shops that serve up food. We'd much rather go to a laid-back wine shop for an enjoyable happy hour than go to some random bar that's overflowing with people and serving up crappy drinks. While Adega had a great atmosphere and good wine, the food left much to be desired. We both ordered burgers, which while perfectly acceptable, were not anything special. "A-Ok" is actually the perfect word to describe them. If I happen to find myself up in Silver Spring during happy hour again, I might pay Adega another visit, but it's definitely not a place I'd go out of my way to visit.
(3)
Joseph K.
walther rhee is the man and adega is best place in MD to get a great bottle of wine at a great cost. The food is outstanding too! most of the ingredients are made from scratch and with lots of love.
(5)
Shannon M.
Adega is such a fun place to have a few bottles of wine with friends. Since they have a wine store onsite, you are not paying insane restaurant markups-they just charge the retail price for what you buy. They have a small but thoughtful menu and I have always been pleased by our selections. The desserts are all tasty and the sweet potato and eggplant fries were also standouts. Adega is a great place for a casual dinner and one of my top picks when we're eating out inSilver Spring.
(4)
Kristina K.
Since specialty wine stores/wine bars are still a rarity, it much pains me to poorly rank Adega Wine Cellars. Before going any further, let's separately treat their business halves: wine store = 5, restaurant/cafe = 2. The wine cellar, while small, is quite awesome. As a specialty store, Adega's hand-picked wine selections tend to be tasty with very few proverbial lemons (sour grapes?). The stock size is small but they do carry some classy foreign beers, including a fair selection of Belgians. While it's a walk from the metro (4-5 blocks) and, if you are not familiar with the location, a bit of a scavenger hunt by foot or in car, I may take the challenge of finding the place...but will only go for a change in variety compared to other wine sellers in the area; still, 5 stars. Now for the big disappointment: the restaurant/cafe! Reading positive reviews on Yelp, I was eager to try their food and, knowing they'll cap and allow you to port any unfinished bottles, was eager to try a few. Being in the holiday season, we were home early and decided to head there for happy hour. While HH goes until 7 pm, the happy hour selection is very sparse, ~3 types of red wine--house wines, by the way--and they were out of one! First, a happy hour special of 3 types of house wine is sad, quite pathetic, really. I was hoping that they would replace the out-of-stock item with another similar selection but no such luck. Their big chalk board menu mentioned specials: Monday nights 40% off bottles with entree purchase, Wednesday nights 20% select bottles. 'Great', I thought, since it was a Wednesday and inquired details on the select bottles: apparently, they decided that today's special would be modified to require an entree. Huh?? If they have this sign posted so people know when deals are offered and someone came in after dinner expecting to get 20% off bottles without getting food, then this person just got an unsettling surprise. After facing our disappointment, we settled on a (full priced) Malbec/Italian-grape-I-cannot recall blend for ~$16, which did turn out to be awesome enough for us to take a few bottles to go. We ordered food next. Adega has no waiters so all orders occur at the counter and then customers get called back to pick up the food & drink. Oddly, there is a policy that even if you plan on purchasing several rounds (e.g., during happy hour), each order has to be settled without the option of an open tab. Thankfully, our shocked faces and a pleasant request prompted the sales clerk (like someone commented, they are not waiters or cashiers here, really, but some still-nameless hybrid) to allow an open tab. Curiously, it was to his discretion as per an internal consultation we overheard. Adega, thank you for making the exception but please consider changing policy to allow open tabs for all! (If not for the sake & ease of the customers and clerks, then for the economic sense: after all, credit cards do charge businesses a per transaction fee.) Back to the food: the sweet potato fries were alright but not nearly as good as the yummy eggplant fries. While both were a bit under seasoned for my taste, I still enjoyed them and kept going after crumbs of sprinkled parmesan cheese. The biggest disappointment was the bruschetta: stay away! The tomatoes were cold and under-ripened, the combo bland, and the cheese made me want to whimper. The pulled pork sliders were quite good in that smoky-sweet kind of way and provided a nice finish. In sum, I might be tempted to come back but, most likely, only for the wine shopping. Though there is not another wine bar around, I'm unlikely to seek it out for happy hour or after-dinner treat.
(3)
Tara I.
I like this place. It's that simple! Its like when Panera meets Wine menu. It's casual, inexpensive, the food is tasty (holler at the eggplant fries), and there is a mini wine store inside (that's also inexpensive)! If you catch it on a good night (generally Friday) they'll have wine tastings. The menu never changes. LOL. Great spot for a vegetarian. I like their salads and soups... and of course their wine. I don't like that you have to bus your own tables, because not everyone cleans up after themselves so well. The restrooms are LIMITED and every time I go, it's like mad packed... and it never seems freshly cleaned. There's outdoor seating but guess what? Drinking the good stuff is only allowed indoors! Makes sense but it kind of blows. Cute date spot, or after the movie spot, or grab something not so fancy spot, or ust because spot.... hope you like it.
(4)
Annie D.
I was not a fan of this place. We went in for lunch the other day and both of our sandwiches were pretty crappy. I'm wondering if we just didn't order the right thing because folks on here seem to really be into this place. The sandwich I had was just not good, really dry and I feel like the bbq sauce and rosemary foccacia shouldn't ever be served together. I would go back to try the pizza or these french fries that yelpers are over the moon for, but I'm not really in a rush. Also, 2 draught beers and 2 sandwiches put us well over $30. The food was way too mediocre for those prices.
(2)
Dee J.
A fab local business option in downtown Silver Spring. I'm a big fan of the Jerk Chicken Salad, Lobster Bisque, and Half 'n Half fries. YUMMY 8) Adega's staff is very friendly and the dining area is always clean. Nice casual place for a date or out-of-town visitors.
(4)
Sam M.
Our friends introduced us to Adega though we have lived in the area for 20+ years. The best part has to be the selection of wines and beers on the shelves which you can either purchase at store price and take home, or even better drink there. They also have a selection of draft beers. The food there has been very good. I suggest getting the half and half fries with sweet potato and eggplant. The staff is friendly. A downside is it is usually pretty crowded and you may have to wait for a table if you have a larger group. There are tables with stools that allow for you to share with another party.
(5)
Winnie K.
Food is hit or miss here, but the eggplant fries are to die for. The Jerk Chicken Wrap is also delightful. Good selection of wine and beer, but I've found better value elsewhere. Great atmosphere and I love that it's an independent business in the chain-infested world that is Downtown Silver Spring. They also have a frequent diner card, though I'm not sure of the details... I always forget mine, unfortunately! For drivers - there are two garages that are quite close to Adega/DTSS area.
(4)
Nat B.
This restaurant makes me glad I live so close to downtown Silver Spring! Excellent food (definitely try their eggplant fries!), a really nice selection of wine and friendly staff has made me a regular. As the other Yelpers mentioned, they have specials daily (even on weekends). We came in Saturday evening and they were offering a special of 2 entrees (some seafood dishes excluded), an app and a select bottle of vino for $40. Definitely a sweet deal if you order a higher priced entree (mine was $15 and my wife's entree was $13). The bottle we chose, a Temparillo - wasn't great though. We should've inquired for their suggestion instead of just picking one out. Great seating area made us feel right at home, away from home. Recommended!
(4)
Steve R.
I've eaten here three or four times, which must mean that I like it! The menu is primarily sandwiches, wraps, salads, etc., but definitely different than you will find at a bar and grill. Each has a twist to make it unique. Lots of flavor! I've only been there for lunch, so I haven't tried the wines.
(4)
Ben B.
Interesting little sandwich and wine place located above the ice skate rental for the seasonal ice rink in Veterans Plaza in Downtown Silver Spring. They have a descent sized menu of sandwiches, flatbreads and wraps in the $8-12 range that come with chips, or an up-charge for sweet potato or eggplant fries. Mostly classic items on the menu that the owner has jazzed up with sauces or unique breads. They also serve wine by the glass and include a couple of different price points for reds and whites. I believe you can also buy a bottle for your table. They also sell bottles of wine in store and have a small but nice collection you can browse. The only thing missing form this place is the ability to sit outside with your wine. There are a couple of tables outside, but they are an after thought and are awkwardly along the railing and people are constantly walking by. Because it's not against the store and fenced off you can't bring alcoholic beverages there. I've been here numerous times and it's a good place to go when i'm not sure what it is I want.
(4)
Stacey G.
Adega is expensive, but worth it. Tucked away, so it's never too busy, and stocked with excellent food and fine wines. The Big Jerk is a treat to your tastebuds and every order comes with kettle chips which is always great. Their to-go stands up to travel and the bread is fresh and delicious. I try to go there at least once a week as a treat to myself for getting paid! :)
(5)
Tara G.
LOVE this place and their well priced wines and dinners!!! GREAT for happy hour!!!
(5)
Katlyn Y.
We found this place through Yelp and were not disappointed by the reviews. Comes across as a very informal place, but definitelys has great amenties. The food menu is inventive and very good. The wine menu is interesting and flavorful. The best part is the place is affordable and very nice to use. Overall great experience and we plan of revisiting. Often.
(4)
David C.
Food is awesome! I used to work there so i know whats good. Every now and again I'll catch myself daydreaming of some of their tasty eats. =) First of all, the Turkey Reuben always kicks butt. All time favorite there. I don't usually like reuben sandwiches, but the pear-cranberry chutney in this sandwich makes it so good! I've always loved the Capellini Fresca. Fresh bruschetta tomatoes, basil, garlic, chunks of mozzarella? Whats not to love? I like to add chicken to mine for a little protein. Ceasar Wraps are awesome! I dunno why, but it's just good. With chicken or steak. Either way. Yum. Jerk Wrap and Sandwich. The jerk seasoned chickenwith the mango combined with the lime mango vinaigrette..... awesome. I could eat these a lot without getting tired of them. The sandwich definitely changes it up as well because of the baguette. Eggplant fries and Sweet Potato fries! Both are great. Some will prefer one or the other. You can get a half/half basket of each anyways. Love em both but I like the eggplant fries just a little bit more. Grilled Tofu Salad! So delicious! The flavor of the grilled tofu is just awesome. I've custom ordered this into a wrap as well in the "red" tortilla. I forgot which one that was...maybe sun dried tomato?... soo delicious that way, but if you don't finish it, the tortilla will get soggy, but then it can pretty much be turned back into a salad. Ok hope this is a helpful kick start to try something great at Adega =)
(5)
Brian G.
Great wine selection - both for in-house and take home enjoyment. The flat bread pizzas are fantastic. Now with the ice skating rink opened for the season it will make for a fun outing for the family too.
(4)
Kristin M.
My husb and I love this place - an upscale but comfy cafe featuring a great wine selection. We hit it during the day, sometimes sitting outside (though you can't drink wine outside, wah), as well as at night after a movie at AFI or something. We just introduced it to a friend, and she took her mom a few days later! Tried a few things on the menu - some homeruns, some disappointments. It's all about ordering the right things, which is why we haven't experimented too much. The Duke Ellington Sandwich is my favorite (roast beef, hefty slice of brie, caramelized onions, other deliciousness, all on fresh baguette). My biggest let-down was a flatbread sandwich, which was kind of soggy and totally fell apart as soon as I tried to eat it. We also always get the lobster bisque - which always says "when available," but has yet to ever be unavailable when we go in. It's been over-salted on 2 occasions, but when it's right, it's so dang good it's worth rolling the dice. One thing to note is that you don't have to be a wine connoisseur to feel at home here. There are plenty of those in attendance, speaking knowledgeably to and asking intelligent questions of the staff; however, I was given the same attention and treated with the same respect when I told them I was looking for a sweet wine with high alcohol content. Fitting for dates or groups, this is a great place to keep in your rotation.
(4)
Lara S.
This could very well be the greatest place on earth (or at least in Silver Spring) for wine and a sandwich. I will admit they are semi-expensive during the week, however if you go for 40% off wine night on Monday nights you can get an entree and a bottle of wine for under 20 dollars!! You really can't beat that. The staff is extremely nice and helpful- I came here for my birthday last year and they reserved tables for me even though that isn't a policy of theirs. They are also extremely knowledgeable with the wine so don't hesitate to ask them for suggestions!! This place is definitely a hidden treasure, I'm there every couple weeks or so and hope to see you as well!
Takes Reservations : No Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Lunch, Dinner Parking : Garage Bike Parking : Yes Wheelchair Accessible : Yes Good for Kids : No Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Ambience : Casual Noise Level : Average Alcohol : Beer & Wine Only Outdoor Seating : Yes Wi-Fi : No Has TV : No Waiter Service : No Caters : Yes
Mary L.
I think I am addicted to this place. I love their food specially their salads. Between food and drinks the bill can add up, but the service is great. It is hard to get a table during the weekends, but that is how popular it is. Happy Hour is OK, they still charge around $6-$8 a glass of wine, which I can get for cheaper in DC. Overall, I love the ambiance. It is very relaxing and conveniently located.
(5)Bex G.
A good menu with solid wine and beer options. You can buy bottles and 6 packs of beer. There is good happy hour and daily specials.
(4)Frankie B.
Good food, but a bit overpriced for the size and content. The inside is loud, small, and hot due to the heat from the kitchen. I had the jerk chicken sandwich, flavor was good, but the chicken breast was small on the bun. Te sweet potatoe fries and dipping sauce were really good. My friend had the pesto chicken which was tasty but small for the price.
(4)Steve L.
Don't mistake this for a restaurant. Its more like a liquor store with good take out food. The food is great, staff are extremely friendly & helpful. Price is reasonable for the quality. Downside: plastic plates & silverware. Wait on yourself & bus your own table! Will I be back??? Hell to the YA
(4)Sarah M.
The eggplant fries are amazing. So delicious. They come with marinara sauce, and the small order was plenty. They have a great wine selection (and you can buy bottles of wine while you're waiting for your food!) and a decent beer selection too. They don't have servers, you order at the register, they give you your beverage of choice and then you wait for your food. It was a little slow when I was there, so minus one star.
(4)Liz R.
The sweet potato fries are DELICIOUS!!! I had their Jerk wrap and was pleased. I was a bit disappointed the wrap had all of the lettuce and the chicken on one side. Then again I am a bit picky, hey I don't like turning my wrap around and around to get the equal amount of fixings. My husband has had their Jalisco and Bison Burger and has loved them. This place def needs more seating. Staff was friendly.
(4)Casey H.
Adega is a solid 3. The food here is reliably pretty good. I have been there enough to sample burgers, several kinds of sandwiches and a few salads. Some are great--the burgers are all tasty, for instance. The sandwiches are a bit more hit and miss. Some are awesome, others bland or poorly made. The sweet potato fries are always tasty--definitely upgrade from the chips. The store is occasionally quite crowded, and the seating situation is first come, first serve. The tables are frequently a bit dirty too--they need more regular bussing. In all, Adega is a solid choice in a convenient location. Definitely not the best grub in downtown Silver Spring, but you won't regret it if you find yourself there.
(3)Veronica J.
Meg nothing to write home about. Food was good don't get me wrong but pricey for what I got
(2)Foody M.
Adega is a hidden unassuming place between a taco place and a hardwear store. its over the outdoor ice skating rink. I'm from NYC so the pizza is just so so. They could improve the dough but it's made fresh. The staff is super friendly and happy to help you pair your wine with your meal. its a nice grown up place that balances between a bar and a fast food joint.
(3)Sarah B.
Adega has a great happy hour! That is definitely the time to go as all wine and beer are 25% off, as well as appetizers. Their wine is fantastic and the staff are great, very friendly and helpful. I've sat there for hours and no one minds. I just wish they'd have a little more vegan food.
(5)Harper D.
Nice vibe and great food!! Loved the burger, sweet potato fries, and sangria! Cute wine shop as well! I'll definitely be going back!
(5)Timothy C.
Still five stars, though now I am happy to report that I successfully obtained the elusive pork belly sandwich by showing up before the lunch rush. (though when I asked if they had it, the guy yelled over into the kitchen in Spanish to ask if they had it, and my heart sunk and I listened for a "Si" cuz I know that means "yes," but the "si" never came and I was held in suspense as they chatted, and then he finally says "yeah, we have it" super calm-like) Stressful, but delicious. Know better than to cause that much discord between a man and his lunch plans haha!! Served on a brioche bun with purple cabbage slaw and a gingery/miso type sauce, it was as yummers as I dreamed it would be! Thanks, Adegs! (Not a typo. You see, we're on a first name bas-, nay, NICKNAME basis now, like it or not!) Best sandwiches in downtown Silver Spring
(5)Amber B.
Disclaimer: This review is for a take out order. Adega not only has a great selection of wines but also an awesome menu. The service is outstanding as well. I actually got what's considered a "kids meal" because I liked the ingredients in it versus the dinner entrée pasta. Even bough it was considered a kids meal the portion was great for me! I also bought a. Bottle of wine and they served me a glass while I waited on my order (no bottle opening fee if you purchase a meal, otherwise it's $5 for wine only sit ins). On top of that the view is awesome I downtown Silver Spring. If there are any events going on you can grab a seat by the window and see. I didn't dine in so I can't comment on the service on that front but what I experienced in my short time there was great. Including the fact that I only had to be there a short time! My meal was ready about 8 minutes after ordering. I didn't even have to get up to get it, they brought it over when it was ready. I'll definitely be stopping in for dinner or brunch sometime!
(5)Jean Ann F.
OK, so three stars is average. Not too good but not too bad...well, it was just a bad date night location. This place is more of a lunch or happy hour spot for social time than one on one The alcohol selection was above average for the are and I enjoyed the eclectic menu. I strongly recommend the lamb burger with eggplant fries! Just not for a date.
(3)Toya J.
Adega is such a cool place to hang out. It's like wine cellar meets gourmet bistro with a little Latin jazz in the mix. You come in, go to the register place your order, you get a buzzer, go to your seat and wait for the staff to bring your food. The servers on both my visits were nice and courteous. Don't be skeptical when they say everything is good, because everything IS GOOD! Been here twice already and I must say from the creamy mushroom brie soup and calamari to the blue cheese burger-no complaints. I'm not that crazy about sweet potatoe fries, but I like Adega's part of it is the honey mustard sauce. I was leary about the eggplant fries? But they were delicious, would never think to put fry and eggplant in the same category. But it all works! My favorite drink is their apple cider sangria, which I thought was unique. The environment is very laid back; a casual cafe so it did not seem strange or out of place to see people come here with their children. On Saturdays from 4 to 7pm, there is an impromptu wine tasting. I must say Silver Spring is popping up with more and more things that I would typically go to DC to do. Hey....Easy/ free parking --I'm THERE!
(5)Brian M.
This place is trying hard to be different for the wrong reasons, first you go up to the counter to order, you cannot start a tab, you go get your own food served on a plastic tray with styrofoam plates, when it is ready very much like a McDonalds. But with $6 to $9'glasses of wine. During happy hour 1 appetizer of sliders 1 draft dogfishhead 61 minute and a small order of truffle fries $16. Not horrible but certainly not happy hour! Then the sliders come out, I swore three little old ladies appeared behind me going "where's the beef?". They didn't even half fill the buns. See the picture. One star for the beer and the flatbreads looked good, on star for the draft beer. Summary, a McDonalds service experience and casual higher end Bistro pricing, lacking some meat.
(2)Mike B.
It's funny, when I read my mother's review. Yeah, we keep it real #YelpFamily, she called it a "hidden gem." And my first instinct was to honestly be like... "It's not hidden! It's in the middle of Silver Spring Town Center!" But I have to say... she's kind of right. This is a gem that is hidden in plain sight. Ya know, when you're looking and searching for something endlessly and it turns out to be right in front of you face. How does that happen? Thanks a lot brain! Why I oughta...! Ok, wait, back to the review. So Adega, amongst the large swath of corporate drones and franchises (namely: Fuddruckers, Zpizza, Chik-Fil-A, Baja Fresh, Coldstone, and on and on and on) stands quitely and unassuming. It doesn't have a large blaring sign, it doesn't pop out sitting above the currently dry ice skating rink. But you go in and you're like... this place looks special. Ok... they have wine. That's good... ok they have beer, that real good. And then, you wouldn't even think, but they have a full menu. And when I say full, I mean FULL. They have appetizers, burgers, sandwiches, salads, a few entree dishes. They have pizzas. I mean, it's a full menu! So, you look at it, and you're like... ok, a Smokin' Turkey Reuben ( Stop there... order that). It's delicious, it's a mainstay, and if you really delve deep into the Yelp review, it's like claps at a State Of The Union address. It happens every like 10 seconds. And then you go down and you're like Beef Brisket, Grilled Cheese, Jerk Warp etc etc. But, look closely young padawan. -That beef brisket sandwich has a chipotle bbq sauce with a cumin coleslaw -That grilled cheese sandwich has applewood smoked bacon, and herb marscapone, and a red onion on it -That Jerk Wrap has fresh mango on it! Ahhhh, sakè. (that's an old inside joke between me and an old friend- you won't get it) ***Wait.. you really want me to explain what it means... okkkk fine. So when I was younger, I was watching the Iron Chef Sakè battle with a friend. And the two chefs that were competing would keep adding sake to each dish. And surprisingly the judges, who were watching the battle would continually ask "Oh, what is he adding there???", and then Fukui-san would say "oh, yes, he's adding Sake into that dish" And all the judges would go "Ahhhh, sakè." This happened like 20 times throughout the battle. It just kept happening! "Ahhhh, sakè!" The mini burgers were super tasty. Enhanced by a creamy cheese sauce, perfectly cooked, and served on a buttery brioche bun- I'm tempted to order full size next time. The turkey reuben was clutch. Wonderfully flavorful, dimensional, sweet, tangy, savory, all on crusty bread. Just do it. The bruschetta was the only thing that wasn't to my taste. I think it lacked cohesiveness. It needed something to bring it together, and i don't believe any olive oil was used. I would revisit this recipe... I'm sorry that sounds horrible. It just was really lacking- and with bruschetta, some easy fixes can really save it. Wines were fantastic, I had a Picada Malbec which I would certainly order again. Love this place. I keep forgetting it exists, I need to stop doing that. I want to be there much more!
(4)Joy B.
I have to thank Mike B for introducing me to this hidden gem. A lovely wine bar located right across the street from the Majestic 20 theater in Silver Spring,Maryland. We started our meal with the hamburger sliders. They were thick Angus beef burgers, dripping in an Adega Cabernet reduction, wrapped in a brioche bun and covered with melted cheese. Then we shared the most delicious eggplant fries with a rich tomato dipping sauce. We tried the smokin turkey Reuben. It was grilled panini style filled with oven breasted turkey topped with an Asian pear cranberry sauce. It was like Christmas had come early! A delight for the taste buds. We also enjoyed the bruschetta with diced tomatoes and buffalo Mozzarella cheese. That was the least memorable for me. I had a glass of Pinot noire that was smooth and earthy. If you come at happy hour you get 25% off appetizers. So if you are searching for a hidden gem I highly recommend giving Adega Wine Cellars a try!
(4)Kimberly K.
Obsessed with this place. I came here with a friend for dinner and had a lovely time. Their food was on point! We ordered two dishes to share: the Proscuitto, Fig & Goat Cheese flatbread (pesto spread, topped with hand-torn proscuitto, figs & got cheese w/ mozzarella cheese) and Fish Tacos with Eggplant Fries. The flatbread was absolutely AMAZING. It was the perfect mix of sweet and salty, and the crust was to die for. I don't know what they put in the dough, but man, magically chewy and delish. You can get a small ($13 - four pieces) or large ($16 - eight pieces) size. Obviously, I went for the large! I eat like a fatty - hashtag sorry not sorry. The tacos were cooked perfectly, too. The fish was all sorts of flaky - seriously melted in my mouth *drools* I can't remember what else was in the taco - forgive me, I have an awful memory - but trust me when I say it was awesomesauce. I didn't get to try the eggplant fries - I was too busy munchin' on the flatbread - but my girlfriend told me they were phenomenal. FYI, no wait staff here! You order your grub at the counter and pick it up once it's ready. Also, I didn't get to try their wine, but I did get a glass of Sangria. It was ok. Nothing special! I wouldn't get dranks there again - would just splurge on their food! I'll DEF. be back!
(5)Natalie M.
I've eaten here a few times and I always enjoy it. The food is good and the service is excellent! Here's what I've tried: -Veggie burger, with BBQ sauce: Very good, but I wish you could sub the brioche bun for a wheat one. -Ahi salad without rice: Decent, but the tuna is a bit bland and I wish they put more veggies in the salad. -Jerk chicken sandwich without mayo: The mayo is cumin flavored and probably adds a nice flavor, but I usually hate mayo so I decided to skip it. Instead, I dipped my sandwich in sriracha to add some spice, but it would have been great even without the sauce. -Veggie flatbread without cheese: This is probably my favorite thing here. They put just the right amount of tomato sauce, the veggies are fresh and the bread is baked to perfection. -Apple sangria: Absolutely amazing! This is definitely one of my favorite places in downtown Silver Spring.
(5)Kassity L.
I loved this place! Great selection of food and wine. We came here in a Friday night, and seating was limited. We got lucky and a couple of people at a table next to us got up and left right before we got there. During the time we were there though, we saw that a lot of people came in and had to stand around for a bit before they found seating. The food was amazing. We got the meat plate, the beef brisket sandwich, and the Cajun pasta. The meat plate came with 4-5 different kinds of meat and bread to try them with. The beef brisket in the sandwich was really good -- moist and well seasoned. The pasta was also very well seasoned with a light spice. My only critique is that the pasta came with a lot of penne and perhaps could have used more of the sauce. We also got a malbec and a cab. The malbec ended up pairing well with the pasta, and the cab paired well with the beef brisket sandwich.
(5)Nicoleen R.
Keeping back for more and more of the turkey reben sandwich. The staff is wonderful. You can purchase a bottle of wine and drink it with your meal. Its a winery too. Certain days they have wine tastings. The jerk wrap great ingredients needs a bit more pizzazz to it a bit bland. House salad with pecans,blue cheese,tomatoes and grilled pear a must.
(5)Bianca F.
Great little wine bar and restaurant to visit in downtown Silver Spring. The staff is friendly and knowledgeable about the broad wine selection. They have tons of indoor seating and some outdoor seating. During my last visit, I had the bleu's burger and the eggplant fries. The eggplant fries were great! I heard the Jamaican chicken salad was good as well as the fish tacos. I really like this place, no long lines and a nice place for a date, to catch up with a friend or just because you need a glass of wine!
(5)Travis K.
The food at Adega is pretty tasty. I especially like the burgers. They feature an extensive variety of wines, too, and there's a "happy hour" when the house variety is $2 a glass. The serving size of the french fries, however, is extremely small. For $2.50, I'd expect more than the 4-5 ounces they serve. I like to have enough fries to "balance" my burger, but the ratio here is woefully inadequate. My suggestion to that effect was met with little more than total indifference, but I was only able to speak with the order-taker, not the manager. The bathroom was absolutely filthy, apparently unattended for many hours, with paper towels spilling out of the large trash bin. The floors, especially around the booths, were filthy, making me wonder if sanitary conditions in the kitchen were any better. They have a sound system that plays tinny, poppy crap at an uncomfortable volume through speakers that sound like they were taken from toy phonographs. The "music," therefore, makes the setting uncomfortable. So many eating establishments would benefit from turning that crap OFF. They were nice enough to reduce the volume, somewhat, upon my polite request. My 2-star rating is mostly the result of poor ambiance, cleanliness, and serving size. I suppose that if you're selective, by just keeping with the entree sandwiches and perhaps a glass of wine, you will find the culinary experience satisfactory.
(2)Brent J.
The value of Yelp. I visit downtown Silver Springs all the time. I see the sign for Adega Wine Cellars most of my visits. I had no idea it sold food until I saw a review on Yelp! I had to try it. Let's start with the layout. Walk in the front door and the counter is directly in front of you. On your left is a small wine & beer store (with a few tables along the window). On your right is the cafe section with a mix of short tables with chairs & tall tables with bar stoles. You order your food at the counter, then find a table. I asked the manager, there's no wait service but they will bring wine to your table if you order a bottle. Otherwise, you come back to the counter to pick up your food when your name is called. I ordered a sandwich to go but to give you an idea of the menu. Here are some choice items: eggplant fries, sweet potato fries, Southwestern Chipotle Turkey Wrap, Ahi Tuna Wrap, Napa Valley Cabernet Burger, Crabcake Sandwich & Hickory Smoked Pulled BBQ Pork Sandwich. They also have soups and flatbread sandwiches. This place makes a great eat-in lunch or to go dinner. Give it a try.
(3)AgentRobLondon L.
Great for a wine bar! With all if the activity happening outside, makes this spot a winner. I love the different verieties of wines by the glass. Superb!
(4)Devida N.
Great wine!! nice food selection for a really good price. They have the best sweet potato fries in DT Silver Spring!!! Try not to go during lunch time because the secret is out and this place can get packed. This place is located in the cut, next to Baja Fresh.
(5)Andrew D.
I met some friends at Adega for an early dinner. I was impressed with the concept above all: wine store / bar / restaurant? I'm in! The food was very good, and reasonably priced (~$10 for a sandwich, ~$4 for an app). I had the Napa burger, which came on a rosemary focaccia slab with some chips. While very tasty, the pile of lettuce/tomato/sauce tended to make the bread soggy and unstable. So I had to scrape off some of the extras and eat it upside-down. But the burger itself was quite good. I couldn't resist the pulled-pork sliders, and I was glad I ordered some. Order some and don't share them with your friends. My companions all enjoyed their food (mostly sandwiches and pasta dishes), but the French Dip got somewhat low marks. The wine and beer selection rotates as the managers see fit, but seems to be well-balanced. You can also purchase wine or beer in the store for consumption at the table. The layout of the place is a little clumsy... occasionally you will have to dodge shoppers to get to your table. This is an issue because there is no table service. You must order and pick up at the counter. I recommend that you camp out on some table space before you go up to order, so you are sure to have a place to sit and eat.
(4)An N.
I LOVE this place. The atmosphere is casual and the set up is easy to understand. The staff is friendly and the lobby attendant is as sweet as can be. Ask for Phillip if you're ever here, he's both sweet and knowledgeable about all the wine food and history of the place. I meet my girlfriends here for a good bottle of wine and snacks of sweet potato fries and eggplant fries. It is cozy and affordable for any student or budding adult (as I like to call myself at the age of 25). When I'm really hungry, I go for the jerk chicken anything. The bread is just AMAZING and the chicken and seasonings are just freaking perfect. Go for the sandwich on level 10 hunger days. It's SOOOO filling and bargain priced.
(4)Becky M.
My fiance and I went here for dinner last Saturday night. We went for the special which gave us 1 app, 2 entrees, and a selected bottle of wine for $40. We could choose anything from the menu that did not have a market price, and there were 4 bottles of wine (2 white, 2 red) to choose from. We didn't have to wait long, and the service at this place was GREAT. Even though you order at the counter and have to go up to grab your food, they bring your wine to your table where they uncork it, allow you to taste it, pour it, etc. The gentleman even returned to refill our glasses periodically. The food was okay, but not great. We ordered the calamari appetizer, which was fine, but nothing special, and because it was served on a piece of wax paper, it seemed incredibly greasy... they might choose to serve this on a more absorbent material in the future so it doesn't look as icky. I ordered the special gouda burger, and my fiance ordered the bleu cheese burger. Both were cooked perfectly, but neither was amazing. The gouda burger didn't have enough cheese and had too much BBQ sauce for my taste. Plus, even though I knew I was getting kettle chips with the burger, I was disappointed not to have fries. Overall, cute place and a good value, but not spectacular.
(3)Pam S.
Right before I moved out west from Boston, my mother and I visited a psychic to find out what the Bay Area held in store for me. Specifically, I wanted to know if (not when) I would meet the man of my dreams. Sure, I was moving without a job lined up and probably could have asked about that, but finding a job is easy. Finding a man who is smart, funny, AND hot is not. The psychic told me that by January of 2006, I would meet a doctor who liked wine who would come along and sweep me off my feet. Clearly the psychic LIED (shocking, I know), as I met my now ex-boyfriend in January who DID like wine but did absolutely no sweeping. And was not a doctor. Great guy, but I was more of his mother than his girlfriend as I basically had to plan everything we ever wanted to do. Granted, I'm a planner by nature, but every once in awhile it's nice to be wooed. Flowers, fun/romantic stuff to do, the whole bit. Is it really that hard? I'll woo back, I promise (wearing a little Santa outfit, perhaps). But I digress... On my last night in D.C., my cousin and I had to take my aunt to the airport, and on our way back, I was getting hungry. Despite the fact that the cousin is a vegetarian, I was craving a burger. Of course, she couldn't think of many burger places, but though Adega had one. And so I consulted my handy dandy Yelp app, scoped out the menu, and we came here. I was forewarned that this wasn't a sit down and get waited on place, which is fine. You go to a counter, order your food (and wine), they call you, and then you have to go back and pick it up. No biggie, unless you are having multiple glasses of wine. Ironically, although I flew 3,000 miles from a locale close to wine country, I got the Napa Valley Cabernet Burger. It was pretty darn tasty, even if the foccacia bread was a little difficult to navigate. The cousin got the tomato basil soup (yum!) and a half order each of the sweet potato and eggplant fries. I'm allergic to eggplant (weird, I know) so I didn't try those, but the sweet potato fries were pretty good. I'm still spoiled on TJ's SPF you can make at home, so it would be interesting to see someone either do crinkle cut or waffle cut SPF. But that's just my opinion. They had a nice selection of wines by the glass, and I was pleasantly surprised to see a Malbec on that menu. The place is laid out well, with tables on one side and the wine store on the other. They do have some nights with specials, which would be useful to sample different food and wines. Their wine and beer selection looked to be unique, which I respect. I'll have to disagree with some on the staff, though, the guys working at the counters really need to learn some customer service skills. Ambivalence is not good in retail, nor is it good in relationships. Just some life lessons, kids.
(3)Katlyn Y.
We found this place through Yelp and were not disappointed by the reviews. Comes across as a very informal place, but definitelys has great amenties. The food menu is inventive and very good. The wine menu is interesting and flavorful. The best part is the place is affordable and very nice to use. Overall great experience and we plan of revisiting. Often.
(4)Jarrett B.
I just had my virgin experience at Adega and I really enjoyed it! I stopped by with a lovely date after a long, long, LONG day at work and it was just what I needed. I picked up a bottle of deliciously fruity Riesling that just filled your palette with a wonderful taste of sparkling apples. I also ordered a burger that came fully equipped with bleu cheese and bacon and a plate of these eggplant fries that everyone keeps buzzing about. The burger was pretty excellent and the fries were served with a sprinkle of Parmesan cheese and marinara sauce to the side - essentially a hybrid between eggplant parmigiana and french fries. They were fried a little too long for my date's taste, but they were awesome for me. (So I ate way too many of them and paid for my gluttony later.) What may throw some people off is the odd vibe of the place. It's first and foremost a wine cellar. On top of that, they sell sit-down restaurant quality food, but without direct table service. Imagine a fast food restaurant that serves awesome, real ingredient food and happily delivers a freshly chilled bottle of wine from their store to your table. Finally, I am completely supportive of Adega because - in my overworked stupor I accidentally tipped about $20 more than a reasonable person would have - and my server (Well, she wasn't technically a server, but whatever, she brought the wine...) came to the table to let me know what I'd done an was a total sweetheart about it. Also, they have bottles of Duvel for sale. Silver Spring, sometimes I love living in you!
(4)Ron M.
This local wine store/bar has a pretty good selection. I am very happy with the choices, and whoever picks the wine does a good job stocking reasonably priced and tasty bottles of wine. The reason for the lower rating deals mainly with the restaurant end of things. First of all, they don't really allow you to run a tab. This seems kind of silly, especially if you want to have a different glasses of wine before deciding on a bottle, or if you want to have a few small plates with your wine. Fortunately they were kind enough to let order a few things and then pay at the end, but the fact that this isn't SOP baffles me. As I've said before, the bottle selection is great here, and the staff is quite knowledgeable. The wine by the glass isn't as great, so just stick with the bottles. The food was ok at best, with the only the eggplant fries saving the meal. HIGHLY recommended! I didn't think they would work, but they did. Don't eat here without ordering the fries.
(3)Targi B.
$4.50 per glass and cheap eats, SOLD! Ok, I've been walking past this place for at least 3 years and saying ok I'm gonna check it out...I'm so happy I did! The house Pinot is great! and $4.50 per glass (goes down smooth) and I love that they have small bites. You can try a bunch of things for a cheap price! I love that they have recommendations for the week and I can't wait to go back and actually buy a bottle! The soup of the day was Crap Bisque and it was amazing especially for the price of $4.29! and it came with bread (the only way to serve soup). I honestly couldn't believe how good this soup was, I wasn't expecting much for the price but they made me a believer in cheap and good! I also tried the steak flat-bread which wasn't so much of steak as it was steakums. Not exactly what I was expecting but for again for around $6 bucks it was WONDERFUL. I'm not sure if you can park in the whole food lots and go here (THEY TOW!), there is free parking across the street. So its easy to get in and out. I love the people watching here, I mean its Silver Spring so the freaks are out on a drizzly Sunday afternoon! I can not wait for the next wine time!
(4)Mrs T.
Another great visit to Adega. Their Gouda burger is absolutely scrumptious along with the sweet potato fries. The house wines are priced wonderfully. I love that the atmosphere is casual, but your dining experience rivals that of much larger, expensive places. I hope they keep things just the way they are.
(4)Eric L.
Can a wine cellar be inexpensive and unpretentious without being cheap? Can it have a limited selection that is endearing and broad? Can it offer a menu that's light and interesting without being contrived and artificial? Apparently so! I may have mentioned before that I work from home. To avoid Ted Kaczynski manifesto-writing shut-in tendencies I eat out a great deal. So I am always looking for a place with a good lunch menu, a comfortable spot to plop my laptop and a good crowd. Adega seems to be one of the best I've found thus far. The place serves some really good sandwiches and salads. The ingredients are fresh - or a very good facsimile - and the service is really friendly. The sweet potato fries are also really nice. The wine selection is rather surprising. I can't say that I'm familiar with most of the wineries, which is actually what's most appealing. I can grab a bottle for about $20 (and no it doesn't come in a box with a plastic bladder) and walk out the door with something memorable. I'm certainly no aficionado but I know what I like and what I don't. Wine has never been a sniff slurp swirl and spit experience for me. I like something that I can share with friends. Something that makes good food and good company transform into a better experience. And thus far I've been able to find a few bottles, which fit that bill. Adega isn't quite a lunch counter or a wine bar. It's more than either. The bottom line is that I really like this place and will spend a lot of time there in the future.
(4)Caitie K.
I must preface by saying that previously I would have put Adega a 4, possibly 5, and we continue to go there, but they have gone down hill a little. Most of their staff is GREAT, the bus guy (we love him! what a great personality & attitude - he ALWAYS makes sure we are happy), and the two managers Phil & Justin are fantastic as well. They are both a great help when picking out wine! Go to Adega for quick bites, to buy wine for gifts, and wine for at home. Would love to see them get the Evodia wine back on the shelf. Stock it up! Notables: Steak Salad, Recent Groupon was easy/smooth to use! I had heard overall that restaurant groupons were sometimes difficult to cash in on, but at Adega...super easy & straight forward!
(3)Jules J.
Adega is a refreshing change of pace from all of the chains offered on Ellsworth Drive. It is a great spot for a casual lunch or dinner. I've never ordered anything here I didn't like. The sweet potato fries are a must. I'm deducting one star because they don't have waiters and you can't drink wine at the outdoor seating area. This is also a great spot to do your wine shopping. There are bottles to fit any budget. They also offer a small selection of good beers. If you need wine advice ask for Phil. He recommended Ponga Sauvignon Blanc and it's been a warm weather favorite of mine ever since!
(4)Jody B.
Hit Adega for a Friday night with a groupon coupon around 7PM...the place was packed. The menu was pleantiful and the wine flowed. The order taker was fantastic and ordered the wine for me. He chose a great red one based on what I ordered. I would have to rate the eggplant fries NUMBER ONE...for sure without a doubt the best. Then the sweet potato fries...followed by the Jerk Chicken wrap. My friend loved the lobster bisque soup and a fish taco special. Difficult seating but chatted up a few people and made conversation with a stranger as we all ate together at a table. In a great location for when the weather gets warmer...will be going back again but maybe during the week when it's not so busy.
(5)Michael M.
Adega is as good as it gets for casual dining. I got at least twice a month, some times once a week. The wine selection is expansive and comprehensive. No matter what my price range, they've got friendly servers to help me pick the wine I want. The menu has some of the best fare in town (wraps, burgers, flatbread pizzas, soups, rotating seasonals like soft-shell crab etc.) all gourmet, and all reasonably priced. The friendly staff (the best around) and warm decor make it a great spot to take friends and family alike, and their weekend "date-night deal" of 1 app, 2 entrees and a bottle of select wine for $35 is unbeatable.
(5)Jung-Ah P.
I planned to served mulled wine at Jackie's during dinner service, so I made my way to Whole Foods in Silver Spring for vanilla beans, cinnamon sticks, and cloves. When I was done spice shopping, I realized that I was starving, so I went around the corner to Adega. I'd been there once before and I remembered the sweet potato fries were yummilicious. After looking at their sandwich and wrap selections, I decided on the portabello mushroom with pesto, sauteed onions and grilled red peppers on foccacia and a side of eggplant fries. I did contemplate ordering a glass of wine, but it seemed inappropriate to drink in the middle of the afternoon on a weekday just before going in to work at a bar. As I waited for my food, I picked a nice quiet table by the window and checked out my surroundings. The part of Adega that I was at was the cafe section, with a counter for ordering and paying and then a separate counter for picking up food, and behind a wooden panel, the exciting action of food preparation was taking place. There were about 10 tables to dine at or there is also counter space at the wooden panel that separates the food prep area from the dining space. The other side of the establishment was dedicated to wine - shelves and shelves of wine which I would have loved to check out up close, had I not been weak from hunger and dying to catch up on what Edward and Bella were up to in my new book, Twilight. There is seating on the wine side also, but not as much as the side that I was sitting at. So I admired from a distance and opened up my book. I only got through a couple of paragraphs when my number was called. I suppose that has a lot to do with the fact that it was 3:00pm on a Tuesday and there were only about 5 diners. I galloped over to pick up the food and I got excited when I saw my tray. The sandwich was pretty large, the foccacia was thick and they didn't skimp on the filling. I took a bite - no, I took several bites and ate a few of the eggplant fries before I realized I had forgotten to take a picture!! So I paused quickly to take a couple of pictures then went back to enjoying my lovely lunch. The only unsatisfactory item was the cold marinara sauce that was served with the eggplant fries. Why cold? The sandwich is hot, the fries are hot, but the sauce, which I was fully expecting to be hot, was not. Nevertheless, it was delicious. The fries were crispy on the outside and soft and yummy inside, and, might I say, the perfect companion to the portabello sandwich. Before I knew it, I had read an entire chapter of Twilight, was full, and had lunch for the next day as I couldn't eat more than half of the sandwich. If you are in the neighborhood and want a delicious bite to eat and maybe some wine to accompany your meal, definitely check out Adega. Oh, check out their Monday special: half off Adega selected wines with a purchase of entree, dine-in only. Tasty tasty!!!
(4)Shannon M.
Adega is such a fun place to have a few bottles of wine with friends. Since they have a wine store onsite, you are not paying insane restaurant markups-they just charge the retail price for what you buy. They have a small but thoughtful menu and I have always been pleased by our selections. The desserts are all tasty and the sweet potato and eggplant fries were also standouts. Adega is a great place for a casual dinner and one of my top picks when we're eating out inSilver Spring.
(4)Brendan E.
I randomly stopped in here the other day just to check it out and enjoy a walk away for the office. This is the consummate yuppie establishment. I don't use the term derisively. It's simply that the place caters toward that younger, somewhat wealthier aged 20-35 white female. I came in, looked through the menu, which was fairly extensive for such a small place. I ordered a toasted sandwich with prosciutto, gorgonzola cheese, arugula and pears (yes, pears). I felt the sandwich was almost cmplete but damned if I can't figure out what I would improve. This should support my earlier claim of yuppiness. Still the sandwich good but greasier than I expected. Decent cup of coffee too. What I didn't expect was the wines and beers available for sale here. They even had some beers on tap which, on a more stressful day, I might have swapped for my coffee. I didn't really pay attention to price but I don't remember anything being outrageous. I'm not a big wine drinker but I can speak for the beer, which actually had a better selection than most similarly sized ie small stores and they had a better than average representation of some of the larger local micro breweries which also makes me feel good, even if I think Flying Dog is overrated. The place actually got fairly busy but they have a good amount of seating, including a few tables outside. The inside is clean and not offensively laid put or decorated. What really put this into the 4 star category was the fact that while I was there I managed to spill my coffee onto my phone but manged to power down, dry out, and complete the rescue. It's not that I asked any of the staff there for help, the miracle just happened to happen in their space, so well done! Next time I go I'm definitely getting a beer. Occasionally a friend of mine and I will go someplace like this and play yuppies for the day. This spot is perfect for a lunch version of that. Worthwhile, but if you're a guy who doesn't have confidence in your masculinity/sexuality you probably won't like it. No offense, just truth.
(4)Tiffany M.
When we went they offered a Monday special of 40% off wine which was AWESOME! (They may still have this but I'm not sure). Obviously (hint the name) they've got a nice wine collection, and it's always fun to try new wines when it's discounted. We really enjoyed the casual relaxing environment and would recommend it as a pleasant place to eat if you happen to be in the downtown Silver Spring area.
(4)Jim W.
I live in the neighborhood and Adega is a great little place for lunch, dinner and of course a bottle of wine. The staff is always upbeat and the wine selection seems really good (I'm not an expert, just a user). The wine is a little pricey, but I can walk there so I'm not going to rate them lower for that.
(3)Matthew L.
Gourmet sandwiches, burgers, pastas, wine, and beer. A perfect spot for a quick sit down meal. Nice atmosphere.
(3)Garry C.
It is extremely easy to convince the boyf not to go to the gym on Mondays. All I have to say is "half-price bottle of wine" and he rips off his sneakers and heads for the door. We have never been disappointed by the half-price wine selection and we have even found a few new favs. I have never been as impressed by the food. The pesto pasta was soooo EVOO-y that I felt like it was dripping down my face. The bruschetta was ok and the flatbread thingy we had was alright, but nothing too spectacular. We really come here for the wine. Great deals aside, it is a good place to go if you aren't really sure what you are looking for. Everyone there seems to really know what they are talking about and can steer you in the right direction. We have found lots of new wines we prob would never have tried by heeding their advice. It is very cute and casual, but I can easily see how it might feel cafeteria-y. I occasionally feel like I am sitting on top of the person at the table next to us. Maybe other costumers might not mind this because one time when I got up to use the restroom, the lady seated next to us decided she needed to tell my boyf the hidden "girl meaning" beneath what I was saying. "You know, she really wants this..." Awk, but hilarious.
(4)Thoreau B.
Eggplant fries are the best thing ever invented. Seriously-such a good idea. This place has some decent sandwiches and other food, but the real reason to come is for the eggplant fries. It also has a small wine shop attached (it used to be 50/50 wine and cafe but the cafe did way better than the wine shop, so the wine is just a vestige now). It is kind of tucked away and hard to find compared to alot of the places in downtown silver spring, but it is worth checking out. I have probably been over 50 times, and plan on keep coming back. It is well priced-mostly because it is self service-but the food is good, and you can drink a glass of wine and then see a movie across the street and basically make a nice night of it. But make sure to try the eggplant fries.
(4)Pat R.
I went to Adega on Friday night during happy hour and stayed there until it closed. My friends and I had a wonderful time and the staff was very friendly & helpful. We tried the Bruchetta, Crabcake and The Santa Fe Flatbread. Everything was delicious and we ordered seconds! In addition to the food we bought two bottles of wine. We asked to have it chilled and they kindly did and brought it to our table. I will definitely come here again in the future.
(5)Stacey G.
Adega is expensive, but worth it. Tucked away, so it's never too busy, and stocked with excellent food and fine wines. The Big Jerk is a treat to your tastebuds and every order comes with kettle chips which is always great. Their to-go stands up to travel and the bread is fresh and delicious. I try to go there at least once a week as a treat to myself for getting paid! :)
(5)Tara G.
LOVE this place and their well priced wines and dinners!!! GREAT for happy hour!!!
(5)Kate F.
I will definitely be going back. Good food, great staff, and a simple vibe. They get one whole star simply for doing sweet potato fries so well. They are larger than most places, cooked perfectly and served with a complimentary dipping sauce. I couldn't ID it, perhaps the citrus vinaigrette. I got the Caribbean Chicken Salad. Excellent - fresh, tasty produce and a great combination of things. They didn't drown it all in dressing so a big gold star for them. My dinner mate got the steak flatbread and it was also delicious. The staff is really great. I am particularly fond of the guy who announces orders. He just has the perfect voice. They all have a great sense of humor and put up with my dinner mate's request for lots (really, I was a tab embarrassed by the amount) of extra fry dipping sauce. One guy was off the clock and leaving as we were and said thanks. Just friendly, helpful, funny people. Definitely good for a first date or a bite to eat before or after a movie.
(4)Caneil M.
Just beyond the hustle and bustle of Ellsworth Drive in Downtown Silver Spring lies Adega Wine Cellars and Café, serving up an extensive wine selection as well as a hearty offering of salads, pastas, pizzas, and mouth watering sandwiches. Sights: Half wine shop, half café. Stepping into Ageda you instantly know these people are serious about their wine. To the left is a selection sure to impress any sommelier. To the right, the space is filled with light wood café tables in a variety of heights, shapes, and sizes. Good food and wine draws a diverse crowd sprinkled throughout the café ranging from young families to elderly couples. Some click away on laptops while others chat over tall glasses of wine. Sounds: The sizzle of an industrial grill putting in work. A mixture of top 40 and old favorites blend gently into the background. Every now and then an order being called out breaks through the low chatter. Smells: Baking flatbread pizzas and grilled veggies Tastes: Crisp sweet potato fries that are just the right amount of savory and sweet and a Jerk Chicken Salad platter that was beyond fresh. The chicken was unbelievable! Tender and juicy with an herb covered skin. All complemented by a bottle of Pinot Grigio. Feel: This is the kind of place where you want to bring all your friends and just hang out for hours ordering bottles of wine and flat bread pizzas. Warm and welcoming with fantastic food, wine, and service minus the pretension of some gourmet restaurants. Stop by Adega to check out Monday Night wine deals and their Saturday and Sunday Night Wine & Dine Special which includes 2 entrees, 1 appetizer, and a bottle of Adega selected wine for only $35 when you dine in.
(4)Katherine K.
I've only lunched here so I can't speak for their wine selection but Adega is on my list. The salads are great (I am a sucker for the Salmon Caesar, though it's a bit pricey); flatbreads are also yummy. Adega gets a little packed around lunchtime so try not to show up at the stroke of noon. Also, sometimes timing doesn't work out so well when eating with a group - one time I went and ordered a flatbread which came up after everyone else had finished their meals.
(4)Steve Y.
As a fan of the wine bar scene I have to admit that I just don't know what to make of Adega. In so many ways Adega really frustrates me! The reality is I want to really like it (Silver Spring could use a decent wine bar), but there's a few important things stopping me. Primarily, I think Adega is unsure of its identity; yes, it calls itself a wine bar, but it also seems to be a wine shop, and it also has the feel of a fast food place like Potbelly's or Quiznos. I really think it needs to do away with the overpriced wine shop aspect (this is partially a factor of being located in Montgomery County where most wine is $2-$5 more expensive than it should be due to the state's and the county's insanely idiotic wine laws!!). They also need to make the food ordering less like a fast food joint. In fairness the actual food is a step above fast food and the menu does show some potential. However, with plastic plates, fountain drinks and counter service the place feels more like a burger joint than a wine bar. The result is a drinking and dining experiencing that falls far short of where it should be. Aside from the confused identity, I also think the place needs to be a lot cozier, and I mean A LOT! Perhaps they should go with a more rustic look (exposed brick, distressed tables, etc) like Cork on 14th Street in the District. Or, if they really wanted inspiration, they only need to walk up Colesville Road about 1/2 a mile and take a look at the excellent wine cellar at Mrs K's Toll House. The poor lighting, an often overlooked but essential component, also gets in the way of having a nice dining experience. If they correct all of these things then I'd be visiting the place every week, however right now I barely get there once a year. I'm guessing that Adega will continue to frustrate me for quite a while.
(2)Kat L.
:::bashes head into wall::: first of all the bad. On a thursday afternoon with 2 people in line, how long does it take to take an order. I wanted to buy 2 bottles of wine, and i stood, and waited, and waited, for 10 minutes while the people in front of me diddle daddied with their choices for a late lunch. now the good. I buy my wine here. A-Z, and Goats do Roam. Its fantastic, and when I have beer people in town I know where to get the rare stuff. Its here. But its hard to buy when I cant check out. 4 stars but minus one for 10 min wait.
(3)Brandi S.
I've been to adega a few times and found the food ok, not great but fine...until the last time I went where I ordered the burger and suffered food poisoning! After a horrible 48 hours and a visit to the ER, I have to say that adega has lost not only me but all my friends as patrons :(
(1)Carrie G.
If you took a wine bar and crossed it with a coffee shop, this would be the result. As such, it doesn't quite have the ambiance of a normal wine bar, but what it does have is the ability to select any bottle in the place and drink it for no corkage fee. A friend and I split a bottle of wine and some sweet potato and eggplant fries (surprise, I thought I would like the sweet potato fries more, and they're good, but the eggplant ones were even better) for what two glasses of wine would cost in a lot of places.
(4)Meghann E.
This is my favorite place for a glass of wine in the Silver Spring area. Great happy hour specials make it worth your while to come a little early. The food selection is diverse and not overly expensive. The eggplant fries are especially delicious (though sometimes they sell out). Adega also has a unique system where you order your food and pay at the counter then find a spot to sit and relax for the evening. On slow evenings it is the ideal system. On busy nights it can get confusing. The line isn't well organized, it sometimes take five minutes for people to order and the wait can be frustrating for people just popping in to grab a bottle of wine. It would be helpful if the staff behind the counter would communicate more with their guests waiting. It would help with the confusion and frustration. Speaking of staff though, Jose (whose title is probably busboy of the place?) is worth the visit alone. He helps you find seating, is personable and makes you want to become a regular. He even created seating for a group of friends and me when we came late on a busy Friday evening. Overall a great place to eat and dine.
(4)Sunny D.
if i lived in SS i think i'd spend a lot of time here. it's like panera with slightly better food, and with wine. good wine! pros: -fast service (unless you're behind some idiots who can't decide/don't know the way the ordering works and aren't polite enough to step aside while they figure it out)* -very tasty food -lovely atmosphere that's part cafe, part wine cellar, part restaurant and perfect for dining alone with a book/laptop or with friends -you can dine in or take away, or just hit the wine cellar side and pick up some bottles (very good selection) cons: -the line/ordering system isn't very clearly defined and the menus are on the counter at the front even though the line is often all the way to the door -it gets pretty crowded on weekend afternoons/evenings, especially when the weather's nice -the floors are slippery even when dry if you're wearing anything other than grippy sneakers/boots -you can NOT sit in the outdoor seating area and drink your wine/beer; you have to drink inside ONLY. (kind of sucks on a beautiful day.) i'm in love with the jerk chicken salad even though i feel like it could be spicier. but it's very fresh and comes with avocados and a delicious mango dressing that hit the spot! i've heard great things about the bleu cheese burger but i don't eat red meat and i loathe bleu cheese, so i can't say first hand. the prices are reasonable and the staff is very friendly. i have to agree w/ mic that this is like a high end fast food joint. think napa valley/sonoma + starbucks + au bon pain + panera. but better. and with wine. lots and lots of wine! (*my GF and i were those idiots the first time we went, but we did step aside until we got our ordering lives together.)
(3)Laura W.
1) sweet potato fries and eggplant fries (get the half and half plate) - simply amazing 2) happy hour with glasses of wine under 4 bucks 3) good wraps and salads 4) nice atmosphere - very sunny and open 5) scenic view of silver spring's very own astroturf lot
(4)Gregory O.
At first I was scared of eating here because of the name -- I'm no oenophile! I shouldn't have been scared; this is a great, casual place to get a quick bite to eat. The prices are reasonable and the food is yummy. I'll definitely be coming back.
(4)Alie S.
I eat here about once a week so it is definitely my go-to place in SS. It is laid back with good food and wine. The happy hour is decent, 25% off glasses of house wine and apps. But the best deal is to buy a bottle of wine because there is no corkage fee and you can take it home if you don't finish it. The food is fresh and there is a good variety of sandwich and wrap options. My personal favorite is the jerk chicken sandwich (excellent spiced chicken with mango and greens on a baguette). The cuban sandwich is great as well. The prices on the bottles are marked up a bit since they can be bought and drank in the restaurant. I wouldn't come here just to buy wine but to get a bottle and 2 meals for about $30, it is a great weeknight date spot.
(4)Katie S.
This place has so much potential that is a little bit squandered by an unevolving menu and wine list. Here's what I love- being able to go and buy an interesting bottle of wine for a slightly inflated retail price, and then corking it in-store is a gazillion times better than paying restaurant wine prices. The sweet potato and eggplant fries are also pretty good. Here's what I don't love-outdoor seating where you can't drink wine. Sometimes impossible to find seating indoors on a busy night. A menu with almost nothing that is vegetarian/vegan except for one mediocre wrap and the fries. But even the meaty/cheesy options seem a little uninspired. It's a really cool business model and a great location, if they could get a good chef in there to overhaul the menu, it could be AMAZING. As-is, it's a great neighborhood place for an inexpensive glass of wine before a movie. We keep coming back for the wine. Oh and- the beer is such an afterthought. If they just had 2-3 rotating EXCELLENT beer choices that would really be great. They have almost no beer worth drinking.
(3)Ashley K.
Every time I passed this place I brushed it off as just a liquor store with a bit of food, boy, was I wrong. My fiance and I had heard that they had great burgers so we had to see for ourselves. You order your food at the counter and someone brings it to you or you can pick it up. They had a selection of about 5 beers and a ton of wine. We wanted to sit outside because it was extremely over air conditioned. This meant that we couldn't get alcohol because it isn't allowed at their few outdoor tables (I know, I know). I got the blue cheese burger and Mike got some burger served on foccacia. My burger was pure blissful deliciousness, juicy and flavorful. They were served with chips, which I'm usually not a fan of, but these were actually pretty good. Mike's burger was good too, but I was glad I'd ordered what I did. Next time I'm going to take advantage of the whole wine-store thing.
(4)Edward A.
Tasty and unexpected food, beer and wine selections. But the main reason for the review is the delightful staff. One of the few Silver Spring establishments with consistently high-quality and cheerful service. Bonus points: Being able to buy a six pack of a great beer like Harpoon and then cracking them open right there. Seems like it should be illegal outside of New Orleans which is maybe part of the fun.
(4)Kristin W.
If you work in the area, this is a great place to grab lunch and sneak a glass of wine. The menu is perfect -- a great range of sandwiches, salads, and some delicious flat bread pizzas. The sweet potato fries are super tasty, and the dipping sauces are so good so that I've tried recreating them at home (sadly, an unsuccessful attempt, so I keep having to come back here). The Jerk wrap and the coconut shrimp salad are my favorites. There's a good selection of house wines if you just want a glass, but if you're in the mood for a bottle, you've come to the right place. The wines here are excellent and the servers are all very knowledgeable, so if you're not a wine snob and don't know what to pick, they'll help you find something you'll love.
(4)Danilo A.
In the mood for wine? Then check out this amazing restaurant with a laid back atmosphere. It is a very nice place for get together with friends, or grab a drink before a movie date. Adega is known for their broad choice of tasty wines and reasonable prices. This is a great joint to sample some great wines and tasty food without the long wait.
(4)Cory C.
Wow, this is a loving group! I will join, but can't commit to 5 stars yet. (Maybe you should talk to my girlfriend about that one) Just the same, the "Domster" rocks (Hard salami, cappicola ham, mortadella, shredded romaine lettuce, provolone cheese, sliced tomato, olive oil and vinegar, mayo, and spicy peppers, served on a French baguette)! I love the shredded romaine, though saying that first is to ignore the fantasticalness of the meats and provolone, which is really tasty. Oh, and by the way, the baguetee is one of the lightest, perfectly only slightly crunchy rolls I've ever had a sandwich grace. Thumbs way up on that one! Also, the cherry peppers they put on this one are huge -- we're talking 2 in across (and sliced thin). They are really great, and truly tie this sandwich together. Where's The Dude when you need him? If you find yourself up in Silver Spring at the AFI or happen to live nearby stop ignoring this joint, which is awkwardly placed behind the astroturf soccer field. AND, saluting The Dude's famous words, "This is not 'Nam, Walter, there are rules," one of which is that you can get half-price wine bottles with entrees on Mondays!
(4)E. R.
My boyfriend and I love Adega and have been going there for 3 years. We love the date night deal, $40 for a bottle on wine, an appetizer and two entrees. At times it does get crowded, but the food is good for a casual place where you order at the counter. The calamari and zucchini fries are great! The only thing I didn't like that I ordered there is the fish tacos...they were just bland. But overall, this place is great!
(5)C S.
While the name sounds like it, this is not a sit down wait staffed placed. It is similar to the cosi setup. I don't see the big deal about their Eggplant fries. Ours seemed over fried and were all very stuck together. We thought they might of just over cooked ours but other people's looked the same. I enjoyed the sweet potato fries more. The staff is great and I was able to pickup a nice bottle and some hard to find beer. However I don't recommend it for the food. While it was decent quality it wasn't a stand out. Everything seemed very fried and afterward I felt gross. I think I would have preferred an Arby's. I might try this place again and try to get a lighter meal.
(3)Danielle L.
Great Selection of Wines... Red and White! Great Food! Great Atmosphere! Great Place hang and chill with friends. Chicken Flat Bread- Great Steak Flat Bread- great Sweet Potato Fries - Yummy The Jerk ( Jerk Chicken Wrap) - Love it Happy Hour - 4-7 25% off of apps! However they get minus 1 start for the bathroom set up! I single use bathroom! Wine and Beer = Bathroom usage.
(4)Sarah F.
The only reason I'm rating this higher is because the food is a bit pricey. But it is tasty. I ought my mum here for a light lunch, because I knew they'd be reliable and have soup and other light options. You order at the counter and wait for your order to be called. The staff are nice and helpful. I particularly like the Eggplant flies and the fact that you can get a half and half order of these with the sweet potato fries. We also had mushroom and brie soup which was good and sliders. The wine selection on the shelves is good and I like being able to browse whilst I wait for my order. They have outdoor seating which is nice when there's live music in the pubic area outside. The biggest draw back of this place is that the plates and cutlery is all plastic and disposable. which is a real pet peeve of mine.
(3)Jane W.
Ate here today for lunch. After waiting 25 mins for my order, I got my fish tacos. They were far from the "best". The fish was so salty and not very good. The rest of the salsa was only OK. After taxes and tip it ended up being over $15. Will not be back.
(2)Patrick W.
I'm not a wine guy, but I like the food and the casual atmosphere. It's quick and easy and inexpensive as well as consistent. Nothing for me to complain about.
(5)Alexandra S.
Had lunch here on Friday and really enjoyed it. First of all, the ambiance of eating in the wine shop is v nice, next the Cuban sandwich was excellent. Tasty, juicy.... Yum mm! They have a diverse menu and aren't that expensive. I also hear you can buy a bottle of wine and they will open it for you and u can drink it there.
(4)Elisabeth H.
WOW people seem to really love Adega...I am thinking or hoping then that we just caught it on an 'off day'. Made plans on Friday to see a movie, walk around, and get a bite in downtown Silver Spring. Being that this is somewhere neither of us frequent I turned to yelp for some suggestions. Based purely on the reviews we decided that this was the place. The location is very convenient to shopping, movie theater, etc. The menu had a ton of options and a lot of wine to choose from. There were two men working the counter area one, who was older then the other was great, he was helpful personable and very pleasant. The other, younger man, seemed like he wanted to be anywhere else but there and was too cool to really help or answer our questions. I eat gluten free so really count on the help and knowledge of people working at a restaurant to come up with the best options. There was a BBQ special that looked good so I asked the younger man if that was gluten free. His response was a yeah it should be, which really didn't help me. I asked if he could ask someone since BBQ is not always and not a go to gluten free option. He asked and was told absolutely not. Good thing I asked him to double check....I ended up going with the truffle fries which are not breaded but do share a fryer and a bleu cheese stuffed burger with no bun plus the bottle of wine to share. The total with a small tip was $33 pretty reasonable. We sat down waiting for our food. My buzzer went off and I got mine, my friends came shortly after. My fries were cold from the get go which was disappointing but didn't stop me from enjoying, because a. they are fries and b. I was hungry. I ordered my burger medium rare and it was very very rare. The cheese on the inside of the burger wasn't even melted. I don't have a problem with rare meet but it would probably be a problem for most and rarer then they should be serving it. The food was fair, but I could totally see the potential for a huge YUM if the execution had been on, which is why I would really like to believe it was just an off day/time/whatever. I would say I'd be back but realistically I never find myself in the area.
(3)Debra N.
The wine is excellent, the wine cellar has a fabulous selection, the food melts in your mouth, the location is entertaining and the people (staff & customers) make for good conversation. This may be my favorite place for a relaxing glass of vino...
(5)Maboud E.
Wine selection is pretty great as well as the food. A bit over-priced in my opinion. Staff is knowledgable and helpful and the atmosphere is nice.
(4)anon r.
4 stars because staff was nice and patient. 3.5 stars for the food and atmosphere. i think they'd be a standout for economy class restaurant in downtown silver spring if the music were quieter and calmer - would give this place a more upscale vibe, but apparently others like the casual/pub feel. i requested extra lemon for my tuna tartare tacos, which were ok - kept me from ordering pork belly burger ;P
(4)Jake K.
How I missed this review is beyond me. I've been going to Adega now, usually several times a year, to gnosh on the selection of burgers and the to-die-for sweet potato and eggplant fries. I typically ask for a half and half to keep things interesting and love the dips that you get for the fries. As for the store, I typically don't like to purchase wines in Maryland since the selection is limited by the state distributor. Since I'm in VA, I always like to order my wines directly from the vineyard or whatever caught my fancy from the WSJ wine club (a mixed case per quarter). Adega is set up in a wine cellar style motif and from what I can tell, is reasonably priced for what is offered. I always like to stop by when I'm in SS to Adega for a burger - the other restaurants just don't impress me there.
(4)Sara O.
A little less than 3.5 stars - Good fried fast food with easy access to wine and booze. Not a restaurant though. You order at the counter and pick up your food. I expected a sit down restaurant. It looks much nicer outside then it is inside. We went for happy hour and got 20% off the delicious fattyness of eggplant fries, bbq sliders, and fried calamari. I would shy away from the lackluster mini burger. The wines by the bottle are inexpensive, but the ambiance is part wine store, part above average fast food restaurant. Not the best ambiance for the product but the food makes up for it.
(3)N S.
Despite the three stars, I really like something about this spot. The menu descriptions read much better than the food actually tastes, that I will say. I've had a few of the sandwiches, the hummus, and the sweet potato fries. Quite frankly, everything is just ok, but something about the ambience and the nice casual feel of the spot just works well with a relaxed meetup with a friend. It's also nice to be able to enjoy a bottle of wine at retail cost with no corking fee. I had eaten here several years ago and never returned. I'm pretty sure that was due to not being impressed with the food. I would recommend the owners check out the menu of Cafe Tu O Tu in Georgetown and try and emulate fare along the lines of that. Still relatively inexpensive, but tasty. With some improvement on the food, I have no doubt this would be a minimum of four stars here on Yelp, but yet currently a three star which is not so hot. I tend to not be inclined to try any business below a 3.5.
(3)Ian S.
I had an issue with the quality of a salad wrap, instead of complaining in person I decided to write feedback to the email address listed on their website and have not heard back.
(1)Krystal D.
The BF and I are big fans of casual wine shops that serve up food. We'd much rather go to a laid-back wine shop for an enjoyable happy hour than go to some random bar that's overflowing with people and serving up crappy drinks. While Adega had a great atmosphere and good wine, the food left much to be desired. We both ordered burgers, which while perfectly acceptable, were not anything special. "A-Ok" is actually the perfect word to describe them. If I happen to find myself up in Silver Spring during happy hour again, I might pay Adega another visit, but it's definitely not a place I'd go out of my way to visit.
(3)Alex O.
In a few months I'll be moving across the line into DC after nine years in Silver Spring. As the date for my departure looms closer, I've been thinking a lot about the places in Silver Spring that I will rarely, or perhaps never, visit again. Adega is not worth traveling any great distance to eat at. Furthermore, there are a few duds on the menu - the BBQ pork sandwich is mediocre at best, the smoked salmon wrap just doesn't come together very well, and the Jerk chicken sandwich always seems to be dry, overcooked, and lacking much in the way of jerk flavor. However, Adega also has many excellent stand outs. Honestly, if they served nothing besides their amazing (and quite filling) fish tacos, I'd give the place three stars. The things end up being a mess if you let them sit too long, but all in all, they may be the best fish tacos I've ever had. The large pieces of cod are grilled (not fried) and the citrus slaw and papaya salsa are both unique and delicious. Their take on a turkey reuben is also unique, featuring havarti cheese, wine reduced sauerkraut and asian pear cranberry chutney. It's not "light" in any sense but it is delicious. Sadly, they seem to have dropped their French Dip, which was one of the best versions I've ever had of that old (and usually tired) standby. Their bistro steak sandwich is okay when they overcook the steak and excellent when they nail it - I tend to ask for rare which usually ensures slices of steak closer to my liking, but YMMV. I also recommend the blackened ahi tuna wrap and the field green salad. And yes...they do indeed make THE BEST sweet potato fries I've ever had. Wine selection is quite good, if not over whelming, and on mondays and wednesdays they have some good "wine+meal" deals that can make for a tasty and relatively inexpensive date night. Like I said earlier, this is not a destination location, but it's the kind of local place that any neighborhood should be thrilled to have as part of the community. Now that I think about it, there's a very good chance that those fish tacos will lure me back here occasionally even after moving to the District.
(4)Julie O.
Great food, prices are reasonable. I just wish they had outdoor seating where you can drink your wine/beer.
(4)Sana J.
Definitely try the Caribbean chicken salad here, it is delicious! The seating arrangement is not too intuitive but its really cozy. Totally worth checking out.
(4)Adam A.
Everything's good here. Beautiful cozy ambiance. Solid menu with a rotating specials. Amazing eggplant and sweet potato fries. The roast beef and blue cheese sandwich is bomb.
(5)A S.
The food isn't great, it's just average but I love the fact that this place is a wine cellar and restaurant in 1. Good wine selection. We had some type of peach wine that was really good. Good for date nights and just hanging out with a glass of wine to relax. Friendly staff and great location.
(3)Brian J.
One of my favorite SS places to eat! Staff is very friendly. It is even kid-friendly! Definitely recommend eating here if you are in downtown SS!
(4)Josh R.
If only more places like this existed in the DC metro area. On Wednesday nights one gets 25% off a bottle from their excellent wine selection, as long as one buys two entrees. Given the fact that there is no corkage fee and the wine isn't marked up in-store, this ends up being the best deal in town. The service is also great: Even though entrees cost about $8-$12, they'll let you try the wine for spoilage before sticking with it. Last time I went a bottle seemed a bit off. A manager agreed that it was a bit acidic but said it was a feature of that kind of wine. He let me try it for a few minutes and exchange it if I wanted to. I ultimately got a full exchange for another wine that suited my palette. All the food we've had there has been excellent. The burgers, pulled pork, Cuban sandwich, Philly cheese steak, and pasta have met or exceeded expectations. My only qualm is that they should use real plates and silverware. Given the quality of the food and wine, it's a bit mismatched to eat the food on and with plastic. Adega is arguably my favorite restaurant in Silver Spring right now.
(5)Joseph K.
walther rhee is the man and adega is best place in MD to get a great bottle of wine at a great cost. The food is outstanding too! most of the ingredients are made from scratch and with lots of love.
(5)Tara I.
I like this place. It's that simple! Its like when Panera meets Wine menu. It's casual, inexpensive, the food is tasty (holler at the eggplant fries), and there is a mini wine store inside (that's also inexpensive)! If you catch it on a good night (generally Friday) they'll have wine tastings. The menu never changes. LOL. Great spot for a vegetarian. I like their salads and soups... and of course their wine. I don't like that you have to bus your own tables, because not everyone cleans up after themselves so well. The restrooms are LIMITED and every time I go, it's like mad packed... and it never seems freshly cleaned. There's outdoor seating but guess what? Drinking the good stuff is only allowed indoors! Makes sense but it kind of blows. Cute date spot, or after the movie spot, or grab something not so fancy spot, or ust because spot.... hope you like it.
(4)Annie D.
I was not a fan of this place. We went in for lunch the other day and both of our sandwiches were pretty crappy. I'm wondering if we just didn't order the right thing because folks on here seem to really be into this place. The sandwich I had was just not good, really dry and I feel like the bbq sauce and rosemary foccacia shouldn't ever be served together. I would go back to try the pizza or these french fries that yelpers are over the moon for, but I'm not really in a rush. Also, 2 draught beers and 2 sandwiches put us well over $30. The food was way too mediocre for those prices.
(2)Dee J.
A fab local business option in downtown Silver Spring. I'm a big fan of the Jerk Chicken Salad, Lobster Bisque, and Half 'n Half fries. YUMMY 8) Adega's staff is very friendly and the dining area is always clean. Nice casual place for a date or out-of-town visitors.
(4)Kristina K.
Since specialty wine stores/wine bars are still a rarity, it much pains me to poorly rank Adega Wine Cellars. Before going any further, let's separately treat their business halves: wine store = 5, restaurant/cafe = 2. The wine cellar, while small, is quite awesome. As a specialty store, Adega's hand-picked wine selections tend to be tasty with very few proverbial lemons (sour grapes?). The stock size is small but they do carry some classy foreign beers, including a fair selection of Belgians. While it's a walk from the metro (4-5 blocks) and, if you are not familiar with the location, a bit of a scavenger hunt by foot or in car, I may take the challenge of finding the place...but will only go for a change in variety compared to other wine sellers in the area; still, 5 stars. Now for the big disappointment: the restaurant/cafe! Reading positive reviews on Yelp, I was eager to try their food and, knowing they'll cap and allow you to port any unfinished bottles, was eager to try a few. Being in the holiday season, we were home early and decided to head there for happy hour. While HH goes until 7 pm, the happy hour selection is very sparse, ~3 types of red wine--house wines, by the way--and they were out of one! First, a happy hour special of 3 types of house wine is sad, quite pathetic, really. I was hoping that they would replace the out-of-stock item with another similar selection but no such luck. Their big chalk board menu mentioned specials: Monday nights 40% off bottles with entree purchase, Wednesday nights 20% select bottles. 'Great', I thought, since it was a Wednesday and inquired details on the select bottles: apparently, they decided that today's special would be modified to require an entree. Huh?? If they have this sign posted so people know when deals are offered and someone came in after dinner expecting to get 20% off bottles without getting food, then this person just got an unsettling surprise. After facing our disappointment, we settled on a (full priced) Malbec/Italian-grape-I-cannot recall blend for ~$16, which did turn out to be awesome enough for us to take a few bottles to go. We ordered food next. Adega has no waiters so all orders occur at the counter and then customers get called back to pick up the food & drink. Oddly, there is a policy that even if you plan on purchasing several rounds (e.g., during happy hour), each order has to be settled without the option of an open tab. Thankfully, our shocked faces and a pleasant request prompted the sales clerk (like someone commented, they are not waiters or cashiers here, really, but some still-nameless hybrid) to allow an open tab. Curiously, it was to his discretion as per an internal consultation we overheard. Adega, thank you for making the exception but please consider changing policy to allow open tabs for all! (If not for the sake & ease of the customers and clerks, then for the economic sense: after all, credit cards do charge businesses a per transaction fee.) Back to the food: the sweet potato fries were alright but not nearly as good as the yummy eggplant fries. While both were a bit under seasoned for my taste, I still enjoyed them and kept going after crumbs of sprinkled parmesan cheese. The biggest disappointment was the bruschetta: stay away! The tomatoes were cold and under-ripened, the combo bland, and the cheese made me want to whimper. The pulled pork sliders were quite good in that smoky-sweet kind of way and provided a nice finish. In sum, I might be tempted to come back but, most likely, only for the wine shopping. Though there is not another wine bar around, I'm unlikely to seek it out for happy hour or after-dinner treat.
(3)Sam M.
Our friends introduced us to Adega though we have lived in the area for 20+ years. The best part has to be the selection of wines and beers on the shelves which you can either purchase at store price and take home, or even better drink there. They also have a selection of draft beers. The food there has been very good. I suggest getting the half and half fries with sweet potato and eggplant. The staff is friendly. A downside is it is usually pretty crowded and you may have to wait for a table if you have a larger group. There are tables with stools that allow for you to share with another party.
(5)Winnie K.
Food is hit or miss here, but the eggplant fries are to die for. The Jerk Chicken Wrap is also delightful. Good selection of wine and beer, but I've found better value elsewhere. Great atmosphere and I love that it's an independent business in the chain-infested world that is Downtown Silver Spring. They also have a frequent diner card, though I'm not sure of the details... I always forget mine, unfortunately! For drivers - there are two garages that are quite close to Adega/DTSS area.
(4)Nat B.
This restaurant makes me glad I live so close to downtown Silver Spring! Excellent food (definitely try their eggplant fries!), a really nice selection of wine and friendly staff has made me a regular. As the other Yelpers mentioned, they have specials daily (even on weekends). We came in Saturday evening and they were offering a special of 2 entrees (some seafood dishes excluded), an app and a select bottle of vino for $40. Definitely a sweet deal if you order a higher priced entree (mine was $15 and my wife's entree was $13). The bottle we chose, a Temparillo - wasn't great though. We should've inquired for their suggestion instead of just picking one out. Great seating area made us feel right at home, away from home. Recommended!
(4)Steve R.
I've eaten here three or four times, which must mean that I like it! The menu is primarily sandwiches, wraps, salads, etc., but definitely different than you will find at a bar and grill. Each has a twist to make it unique. Lots of flavor! I've only been there for lunch, so I haven't tried the wines.
(4)Ben B.
Interesting little sandwich and wine place located above the ice skate rental for the seasonal ice rink in Veterans Plaza in Downtown Silver Spring. They have a descent sized menu of sandwiches, flatbreads and wraps in the $8-12 range that come with chips, or an up-charge for sweet potato or eggplant fries. Mostly classic items on the menu that the owner has jazzed up with sauces or unique breads. They also serve wine by the glass and include a couple of different price points for reds and whites. I believe you can also buy a bottle for your table. They also sell bottles of wine in store and have a small but nice collection you can browse. The only thing missing form this place is the ability to sit outside with your wine. There are a couple of tables outside, but they are an after thought and are awkwardly along the railing and people are constantly walking by. Because it's not against the store and fenced off you can't bring alcoholic beverages there. I've been here numerous times and it's a good place to go when i'm not sure what it is I want.
(4)David C.
Food is awesome! I used to work there so i know whats good. Every now and again I'll catch myself daydreaming of some of their tasty eats. =) First of all, the Turkey Reuben always kicks butt. All time favorite there. I don't usually like reuben sandwiches, but the pear-cranberry chutney in this sandwich makes it so good! I've always loved the Capellini Fresca. Fresh bruschetta tomatoes, basil, garlic, chunks of mozzarella? Whats not to love? I like to add chicken to mine for a little protein. Ceasar Wraps are awesome! I dunno why, but it's just good. With chicken or steak. Either way. Yum. Jerk Wrap and Sandwich. The jerk seasoned chickenwith the mango combined with the lime mango vinaigrette..... awesome. I could eat these a lot without getting tired of them. The sandwich definitely changes it up as well because of the baguette. Eggplant fries and Sweet Potato fries! Both are great. Some will prefer one or the other. You can get a half/half basket of each anyways. Love em both but I like the eggplant fries just a little bit more. Grilled Tofu Salad! So delicious! The flavor of the grilled tofu is just awesome. I've custom ordered this into a wrap as well in the "red" tortilla. I forgot which one that was...maybe sun dried tomato?... soo delicious that way, but if you don't finish it, the tortilla will get soggy, but then it can pretty much be turned back into a salad. Ok hope this is a helpful kick start to try something great at Adega =)
(5)Brian G.
Great wine selection - both for in-house and take home enjoyment. The flat bread pizzas are fantastic. Now with the ice skating rink opened for the season it will make for a fun outing for the family too.
(4)Kristin M.
My husb and I love this place - an upscale but comfy cafe featuring a great wine selection. We hit it during the day, sometimes sitting outside (though you can't drink wine outside, wah), as well as at night after a movie at AFI or something. We just introduced it to a friend, and she took her mom a few days later! Tried a few things on the menu - some homeruns, some disappointments. It's all about ordering the right things, which is why we haven't experimented too much. The Duke Ellington Sandwich is my favorite (roast beef, hefty slice of brie, caramelized onions, other deliciousness, all on fresh baguette). My biggest let-down was a flatbread sandwich, which was kind of soggy and totally fell apart as soon as I tried to eat it. We also always get the lobster bisque - which always says "when available," but has yet to ever be unavailable when we go in. It's been over-salted on 2 occasions, but when it's right, it's so dang good it's worth rolling the dice. One thing to note is that you don't have to be a wine connoisseur to feel at home here. There are plenty of those in attendance, speaking knowledgeably to and asking intelligent questions of the staff; however, I was given the same attention and treated with the same respect when I told them I was looking for a sweet wine with high alcohol content. Fitting for dates or groups, this is a great place to keep in your rotation.
(4)Lara S.
This could very well be the greatest place on earth (or at least in Silver Spring) for wine and a sandwich. I will admit they are semi-expensive during the week, however if you go for 40% off wine night on Monday nights you can get an entree and a bottle of wine for under 20 dollars!! You really can't beat that. The staff is extremely nice and helpful- I came here for my birthday last year and they reserved tables for me even though that isn't a policy of theirs. They are also extremely knowledgeable with the wine so don't hesitate to ask them for suggestions!! This place is definitely a hidden treasure, I'm there every couple weeks or so and hope to see you as well!
(5)Kelly G.
My fridge was empty when I returned. So my first meal out was at Adega with Mara G. I had the "Lobster Bisque" and the jambalaya cappellini. Both were on par with a casual dining restaurant. Mara G. had the turkey reuben. Now that thing was out of this world. It had foccacia, sauerkraut, cranberries, and the russian dressing was so good. It was a delicious sandwich. I wish I had gotten that. The "service"/"set-up" was a bit confusing. No one ever told us that we had to get our own water, utensils, napkins or condiments. We just went to our table. I'm smart though. I figured it out. The order taker seemed to rush me. Like I didn't know if I was supposed to pick my wine first then get some food or what. But I didn't have time to think about it because the order taker was all like hey can I help you which is a good thing but dam can I get a moment to think/peruse/browse? And I wish I'd just done what I wanted to do because the wine I chose with my food was in the end not to my liking. Oh well. I'd come here again especially now that I know the deal. This place is a-ok with me.
(3)Julie L.
Such a fun place to come after dinner and get some wine. The clientele is decidedly not the crowd that likes to hang out around that pool club down the way and that is wonderfully refreshing. Excellent wine selection, I just wish you could take the wine onto the sidewalks immediately outside. But that's MoCo, not Adega. Definitely a top Silver Spring location!
(4)Jill S.
This is a go-to for casual gatherings. The food is fresh and tasty, and the atmosphere is relaxed. It's an added bonus that you can choose your wine from the shelf and have it with dinner instead of staring at a nondescript wine menu and wondering what you're ordering. Now, if oly you could have your wine outside here...
(5)Tony N.
The food is innovative and the portions are not over-sized (which is a good thing). The staff is very helpful with the wine selections, even allowing sampling. A nice date place to meet and chat. The one downside is that it seems it has outgrown it's confines; seating is a premium at peak times.
(4)Summer S.
I really enjoyed my dinner here. The employees are knowledgable and yet far from snooty. The wine guy took time to explain biodynamic vineyards to my mom and he was very pleasant. Aside from a good wine and beer selection the food is also very good. Big portions and good prices; I had the steak & cheese and tomato & basil soup and my mom had sweet potato fries and the Santa Fe chicken flatbread. Compliments all around. Only improvement I would make is table service instead of fast food style ordering and a cozier eating area.
(4)Audrey C.
Good choice for grabbing a drink before your movie or a quick family dinner. Kids are totally welcome there and there and it's got overall good food, but the flatbreads are too crackery for my taste. Friendly staff and a clean, modern yet cozy decor.
(4)Jane K.
Good wine and decent food. A nice option in downtown silver spring. Certainly beats all the big chain restaurants nearby.
(4)Afshan K.
This place has never disappointed me. It may be because it's such a great place to hang out and chat with friends. Awesome wine, great service and decent food - not the best, but not terrible either. Overall, it's a great way to spend an evening with friends. I would alert though that you may have to end up waiting some time to get a table - especially if you go during the happy hour! But it's worth it. Love the atmosphere and decor too.
(4)Avery W.
Good concept, maybe not the best execution. Wine options were good, but I thought my wrap was a bit soggy. They do offer wonderful deals, however. Good, lowkey, vibe.
(3)Ina C.
What a cool place! Silver Spring has definitely sprung. I've only been here once (I'm usually in the area on Sundays, but that's when Adega is closed!) and I thoroughly enjoyed my bread bowl. My bf got some sandwich and he loved it. Pretty good value, understated decor, outdoor seating, great area (Whole Foods, Chick Fil-A, Majestic are all right around the corner) and I believe they have free Wi-Fi. Awesome!
(4)Sarah G.
A friend of mine (as a matter of fact the same friend who's joined me on like 3 of my reviewed spots) had been talking for quite a while about stopping into this random wine spot in Downtown Silver Spring, so finally we got our sh*t together and went last Friday. The 4 stars are specific to the wine selection, service and from what I could tell the food. I do have some issues about the way the place works with regard to seating but then, it was a Friday night and rather busy. Basically it's seat yourself, and my friend and I got screwed by 1) a pair of girls who said they'd hold our seat at a giant table and proceeded not to, and THEN proceeded to stand near us later with a huge group of people and shove and talk loud. I didn't appreciate it. And 2) a woman who saw me walk toward a table to sit and literally almost ran me over to get the seat, didn't appreciate that either. What I DID appreciate was the guy who took our order, Juan, who upon waiting for us to decide what we wanted and probably thinking I was a little nuts, searched for a place for us to sit and was just awesome generally. Big up's to you Juan. So there's my talk of the service, that he along with ALL the staff were really polite and funny and just generally enjoyable, which for me, can make or break my evening. On to the wines...amazing..nuff said. I will go back to try their "featured" wines, because the 3 I tried were all quite good. One zin, one Malbec and well let's be real and say I don't remember the last one except that my friend bought a bottle. Ooops. Food: Sweet potato fries are great, hard to do bad, but they had this INCREDIBLE lemon, oil dipping sauce that I probably could have taken a quick shot of, but remembered my manners. My buddy had a sandwich that looked amazing and there are probably about 6 other dishes I'd like to try WHEN I go back because I will be going back. It's a perfect date spot, or as so many have said, quick bite before a movie, casual meet up before going out whatever. Big fan.
(4)Peter J.
This is a great choice for an inexpensive dinner out... a good selection of food without the added expense of table service. The Napa and Blue Cheese burgers are good. Half-and-half fries are good, too. Word to the wise: it's way cheaper to pick a $10 or $15 bottle of wine out, drink a few glasses with your food, then take the bottle home with you.
(4)Nicole M.
This was one of my favorite places when I lived in downtown Silver Spring. For the size, they had a pretty decent selection of wine and was always my stop when I wanted a bottle or two. The food is just fantastic and very different from anything else you can get in that area. Definitely get the sweet potato fries - I've had many versions and these are the best. They have really great happy hour deals so you can try different kinds of wines and the staff is so incredibly friendly... a nice change to see someone in the service industry who seems to really like their job. Not a great place for beer, but it is a wine cellar so that's not too surprising. Adega is relaxing and laid back; a great little oasis in this area to enjoy a leisurely glass of wine.
(4)Lisa M.
The sweet potato fries are excellent. Decent wine selection, yummy food. Great stop in nice weather as they have some seating outside. Of course with the construction on the former "green" now ... outside may not be as nice.
(4)Maya C.
This Saturday afternoon I went to Downtown Silver Spring to visit a couple of stores. I got hungry and looked for something quick but delicious. I crossed the street and stopped at Adega Wine Cellars. Back in the day I used to work in SS, and knew about their fabulous sandwiches. This time I ordered the Ahi Tuna Wrap (market price...which means we will charge whatever the heck we want and you won't know until AFTER we ran your card!) and a drink. My order came up to $15 and some change. I looked around while I waited to get called and found a great assortment of wines and beers. Of course I had to buy a bottle. They even have Red Stripe Jamaican beer. I am not a beer drinker at all, but first time I see it sold here, so I was gladly surprised. My name got called..yiipeeeeee!. There are tables set in the shop where to sit. My wrap was made in red tortilla, with a mesclun of green, roasted peppers, lightly seared and very rare ahi tuna with a light sweet Asian dressing. 1st bite, I was in love. Worth every penny! It was a perfect combination of flavors and the tuna was so tasty. A friendly note if you eat this...check your teeth before leaving the place...let's just say it wasn't pretty...took care of business and voila! Why am I writing reviews when I am hungry! I would do anything now to get another ahi tuna wrap!, but I am in VA! Ahhhh...slow, slow torture.
(5)Thaila S.
I live in Silver Spring and went to Adega for the first time last night for a casual dinner with a friend. In a sea of yucky chains (Macaroni Grill, Red Lobster, etc.), Adega is a welcome addition to the downtown area and I was happy to see that it was pretty packed when I walked in at 7 pm. This is definitely not a trendy wine bar scene -- it's more like a Cosi or Panera but with much better food and good wine. We ordered the eggplant/sweet potato fries, a glass of the Merlot house wine, and I had a portabello sandwich. The fries were good but definitely greasy (as expected) and I felt a little gross afterward. This had less to do with the fries and more the fact that I haven't even fries in ages. The fries come in a HUGE portion, you could easily split it with 3 or even 4 people. My sandwich was surprisingly delicious. I'm not a portabello fan but I thought I would try it because it sounded good, and it really was -- the bread was soft, the basil pesto was really yummy, and it was the right size -- not too big, not too small. This isn't a place to "linger" -- we stayed here for 2 hours and I definitely felt like we were the only ones who stuck around for that long. My sense is that most people come for a quick bite before heading out to the movies. If you're looking for a casual place with very good food, I would definitely recommend Adega.
(4)Paul W.
Adega is astonishing. A consistent menu, consistently well-prepared, with fresh approaches to the usual burgers and quesadillas. Pulled pork barbecue sandwich DONE RIGHT. Then there's the wine. For zero corkage, you can buy a bottle off the shelf and have it with dinner. You can't get a better deal than that. Not to mention the friendly staff, with whom we've actually gotten quite friendly. The atmosphere is fun, warm, lots of wood, well-thought out. The owner, Walter, has got a real winner here. Go! It's near the Whole Foods and the Borders, in case you don't know where it is. Just park in the Whole Foods lot and ask people where it is.
(5)Chris N.
Gourmet sandwiches and wine? Yes please! I eat here at least once a week now that I stumbled in to find a decent bottle of wine. The concept is a bit odd, but it works: a wine store / sandwich shop. Let's start with the wine: The selection isn't massive, but it's good quality. They have an excellent selection of wines from Argentina, which makes me a happy guy. The prices are reasonable. Food: You'd think sandwiches would be easy to describe, but oh my, where do I begin? The bread is always fantastic. The french bread and ciabatta are always delightfully crunchy. This may be a turn off to some Americans used to eating sponge, but anyone who has lived in Europe will tell you that once you've built up a "bread callus" on the roof of your mouth, you'll be in heaven with the crusty kind. The ingredients themselves are fresh and inspired. Want a roast beef sandwich? They top the typical lettuce & tomato with brie, horseradish mayo, and grilled onions. Pair that with some sweet potato fries, and you'll be a fan for life. Fries: These deserve special attention! As a southerner, I'm a huge fan of sweet potato fries. At Adega, they're fantastic. The sauce they serve them with is a bit too sweet for me, but they're good all by themselves. The eggplant fries are equally good, and are served with marinara. Every visit, I have to debate which fries to have. Prices: A tasty sammich, fries, and a drink usually run you about $10. However, the wine prices are fantastic and should be exploited! You can get any bottle of wine there for the normal out-the-door price. No charge to turbochill it. No corking fee. If you don't finish, they'll recork it for you to go. On Mondays, there's a bottle-for-the-price-of-a-glass special on 1 or 2 wines. 2 people can eat and split a bottle for around $25. You can't beat that!
(5)Jessica R.
For a wine joint turned restaurant this is the place to go. This is a place that I enjoy time after time it is always great. I love avocados and will order almost any item that is on any menu. Needless to say I am a huge fan of their jerk chicken sandwich and also their salad. The chicken is well seasoned and always moist and delicious. I love the flatbreads there, combo of eggplant and sweet potato fries with the citrus vinaigrette so so good. They have a great selection of wines and coming close to it in beer. They are now serving tremors, delirium my favorite. Another fav is the ahi tuna salad, just seared to perfection.
(4)Helen F.
Four stars for the casual, friendly atmosphere, great wine selection with no corkage fee, and as everyone notes, really nice sweet potato and eggplant fries. Love hanging there on a Saturday or Sunday evening after a movie with a friend, shooting the breeze with no pressure. You can easily get out of there for under $35, and that includes a good bottle of red. I haven't had a large selection of the food, just quesadillas (go chicken over beef), and maybe a sandwich, but other food, like the flatbreads, have looked really yummy.
(4)Nicholas C.
I started learning about wine a little over a year ago, and was very excited recently when I remembered this place existed relatively close to me. I was very much looking forward to browsing the wine selection and coming back with a few new bottles to try. This was not the case. What I found was an overpriced selection of very young wines (talking about reds here, mostly cabs from 2007). I received assistance from a staff member, but all I got out of him was a history lesson on each winery. That's all well in good, but what I really care about are the qualities of the wine itself, not the 6'8'' tall gentlemen who picks their grapes. He even mentioned they had a great wine in until recently, which they stopped selling because it became too popular ... does that not make sense to anybody else? I'm all about trying unique things, but this seems just a tad bit pretentious (like how you probably feel about this review :) ). I finally accepted a wine sample which I was told would be "fantastic", which was served to me in a tiny black plastic thimble device and tasted like strained grape juice ... no thanks. So there you have it, if you're in this area there are wine & liquor stores which, in my opinion, have better wines and better prices then this "wine store". I did not stick around long enough to try their food, but judging by other reviews here, it seems to be pretty decent. I'm definitely not an oenophile, but I know that I've been to much better places to buy wine (Wine Bin in Ellicott City!). If you are looking for wine, at whatever price, go elsewhere.
(3)Jen W.
This place was the perfect mix of quality and comfortable. A unique gem in the neighborhood!
(5)Chacha S.
Absolutely wonderful place. The location is perfect -- it's in downtown Silver Spring within walking distance of the Metro, but it's a block away from all the chains. The service is friendly, even if ordering is a little weird. The food is absolutely delicious and there are many items to choose from. I will definitely go back!
(5)Duncan G.
I bought a Groupon and took the old ball and chain there today for lunch. The Mrs. had fish tacos. I had grilled shrimp salad. Both were average, at best. They rented out half the place for a "private party" so there was no place to sit. Finally the proprietor asked the people having the party if we could sit at one of their tables in the corner, which was a nice thing for the owner to do, but the atmosphere sucked because we were jammed into the corner with a bunch of people we didn't know and none of them spoke English either. Anyway, the food was ok, but not really tasty and definitely not memorable. Would I try the place again? Maybe if I had another Groupon and was willing to roll the dice again. But that's the only way I'd go there.
(2)Kenton N.
Love this place. Was a little crowded when I went there the first time but it WAS Friday night so no big deal. The eggplant and sweet potato fries are awesome! And they have a pretty good wine selection, though I'm no expert. I'll definitely go back again.
(5)Chizlum M.
We had a very nice casual dining experience. We met up with some friends and were lucky to get a table since they were crowded which is a good sign. Had one of the flatbreads and the turkey rueben as well as a glass of wine. Food was served quite fast and was very tasty. We will be back next time we are in Silver Spring.
(4)Becky T.
This is a casual sort of place but has very good food. You order at the counter and then pick up your food that is served on plasticware. don't let that turn you off though, because the food quality is awesome. My friend is shocked when I was raving to her about the salad that I had there. That's because I NEVER order salads, but when I went there one night I was just inspired to do so and ordered the Jerk chicken salad, and it was just awesome. The chicken was nicely seasoned, it was topped with avocado, and dressing complimented it nicely. It paired well with the glass of white zin that I ordered. They also have date night on Saturday in which for $45 you can get an appetizer, two entrees, and a bottle of wine (selected from a list). The pasta there is also very good. Besides the cafe they're also supposed to be a wine shop, but I feel that their selection is disappointing and that you can find more variety at one of the neighboring liquor stores.
(5)Jamie W.
Only had the flatbread Marguerite pizza to split, but it was quite tasty! Would definitely come again. The ambiance was nice.
(4)Rachel S.
I know there are mixed feelings on Yelp about the fact that Adega has no table service, but I for one, loved it! My good friends and I went out for lunch and to catch up, and we stayed and talked for a few hours and no one bothered us! I loved that! The food was yummy and the Cabernet was great! I highly recommend this place.
(4)Shavon G.
If you are looking for a cute comfy cheap place to eat tasty food and great wine, come here! So far everything I've tried was packed with favor and tasted fresh. I had the grilled cod fish tacos which was just the right amount to eat after a late spin class. Try the grilled ribeye sandwich it is better than I've had that were high priced! Bring a friend, come a lone or a date! You won't be sorry.
(4)Q D.
The place was more casual for a "wine" place than I expected. You would order food at the counter, and they page you when food is ready. We were there Friday night, 7:30pm, and had to wait for a place to sit. I had tuna salad and it was descent, and I like to come back to try other foods on the menu.
(4)Boris S.
Bleu's Burger $11 (6/5 NOMs) Look at that beauty and a beast! Discovering some beastly size burgers in around DC metro area. Holy patty its stuffed with bleu cheeeeese! Don't often find a place that take that extra step. First bite in and its like an explosion of flavors. Juicy soft meat prepared to order it was a perfect burger, made to perfection. It was so good that I slowed down to enjoy every single bite. Comes with crispy bacon, sliced tomato, caramelized red onions and all that covered in chipotle mustard mayo for an extra kick. Its big too that even my monster mouth had to struggle. Served on an excellent super soft and light brioche bun. Hands down best burger in Down Town Silver Spring. Mushroom & Truffle Mac & Cheese $9 (4/5 NOMs) You won't find this cheesiness in every wine cellar! Its almost too pretty to eat, but only almost and we ate the whole thing. There is a whole lot of cheese sauce and parmesan cheese in there mixed in with mushrooms. Plus bacon on top! Can never go wrong with something like this. They got that cheese formula down so well that this didn't taste heavy at all. Mushrooms did kind of get lost, but I wasn't too sad about it as long as I have the cheese and bacon. Only thing they might have gone a bit too crazy with truffle on top. Highly recommend it for those with big cheesy cravings.
(5)Anya R.
My boyfriend and I went on a date to Ageda after passing it in Downtown Silver Spring for years. It was my turn to pick a restaurant so I was hoping this one wouldn't disappoint! I did my home work before we went. They have a special on Saturdays for $40 you get an appetizer and two entrees, along with a bottle of wine (your choice). You seat yourself, there's plenty of space, tables for two and bigger parties all over the restaurant with s view of the Ice skating ring and Silver Spring Civic Center. You order at the counter, once you place your order you're given a buzzer that lets you know your food is ready. The staff is very friendly and informative when it comes to the wine selection. I am not a drinker so I was handheld through my wine choice. My boyfriend didn't care what I selected so it was all up to me. I got a bottle of Sangue-Di-Giuda, which was a sweet red wine, and it was amazing! The food was excellent. Our appetizer was calamari which came with a chipotle mustard mayo dipping sauce. We ate the whole bowl. We also ordered the Jambalaya pasta, chicken flat bread pizza, and a burger. Since the menu isn't costly we added on the pizza to our $40 special. Everything was extremely tasty. We didn't finish the wine, so they gave us a cork to take the rest home. Our date was $54.00 and we will be going back.
(5)Sheila L.
You can never go wrong at Adega! Great wine selection and the food is AMAZING! I always go for the calamari, eggplant fries, and steak flatbread!
(5)Jess C.
I was unimpressed with their specials-crab cake sandwich and tuna tartare taco. See picture for how underwhelming it was. There was barely any tuna tartare and it definitely lacked flavor, while the crab cake was just boring as well. The layout is simple and casual, you order your food at counter, pick up and clear up yourself, with the main focus on wine. But if you're expecting more from today's special, perhaps looks elsewhere.
(2)Dawn C.
Get the cheese plate. The man and I checked out Adega this past weekend for a happy hour before the tree-lighting ceremony. The small-bites menu enticed as as did the ambiance, the overlook of the skating rink is a nice touch. Although the wine was very reasonably priced with an appropriate range of options, we felt like "Meh, We've experienced better" was the best rating for our night. Adega is a seat-yourself place, though we tracked down a server to find a menu. On the dinner side was salad and sandwiches. We found the nibbles side most interesting, and decided to make dinner out of our excursion. We picked the Mediterranean flatbread--the margherita to be exact, and a bowl of the tomato soup to share. For a second it seemed as though a server would come to our table to take the order, but then we realized that it's an order-at-the-counter kind of place. No biggie. We started with two glasses of wine, a Pinot Noir from Lodi and an Italian Sangiovese. The Pinot was bad...so sweet. It's probably my fault that I didn't enjoy it--being a native Oregonian and all, but the hosts were gracious in taking it back. Extra point! We exchanged the Pinot for another Sangio. Then came the food. I was surprised to see the soup in a plastic bowl and to learn that we had to pull our plastic flatware out of a bin up front. Buzz kill. The real flaw of the night though was that flatbread. It was pizza, very undercooked dough, tasted like the chef had given up. We couldn't even get a whole piece down on account of the doughiness. On the way out, we saw a smart-looking couple who were enjoying their wine with a lovely looking cheese plate. Next time, maybe, that'll be us.
(2)Jordy G.
I really like Adega! The food is good, the atmosphere is great, and they have an amazing selection of wines. My parents come here every Friday night, and when I'm home visiting, I tag along. The staff here is extremely friendly and recognize their repeat customers, which is always nice! There's a decent variety of food on the menu - my personal favorites are the adult grilled cheese (don't worried, it's rated G for....grilled?) and their burgers, but I don't think you can go wrong. My parents tend to get half-pizzas. You sit down, then order up at the counter. You'll get a buzzer, and when it goes off you pick up your food. The wine selection is really good, and you can take open bottles home with you...but only if you put it in a bag when you exit the shop. The only downside is the seating - the place is often crowded, and there aren't any host(ess)s. You just grab what you can - there's a few tall shared tables, some booths, and shorter smaller tables. Unfortunately sometimes couples will grab the booths, leaving larger parties struggling to find a spot. During the warmer months, Adega has outdoor seating, but you aren't allowed to drink wine outside. Adega also has free Saturday wine tasting sessions, but I haven't been to one yet so can't comment on it!
(5)Heather J.
I think the staff are the stars at this place. They are SO friendly, welcoming, and helpful. Even though we'd never been there before, the woman taking our order treated us like old friends. We started with the bruschetta, which was fresh and tasty. For the main course, I went for the steakhouse burger and my friend got the cappellini pasta. My burger was awesome - perfectly cooked and I loved the sauce. My friend said her pasta was pretty good, but that next time she'd opt for a burger. They have a limited but well-curated beer selection, and of course a lot of wine. It's a great place to grab a bite before heading to a movie - the theater is right across the street! I would definitely go back!
(4)Ijene L.
First timer. The cafe style dining confused me upon entry. They just kinda stared at me until I said uhhhh how does it work here? So you order at the counter, take a seat and go get your food when it's ready. I had the calamari and the BLEU'S burger. The calamari was seasoned well and really good. The burger was AMAZEBALLS! Seriously. The dude behind the counter was a lil bit of a snobby queen when asked for recommendations but over all it was relaxed atmosphere. Great moscato! The wine cellar is pretty extensive and I would and will definitely go back!
(4)Chrystalle B.
I came here for a tapping of a special Oliver Ale beer. Parking was interesting as the lot that's adjacent has limits on their spaces (upside: its free). My first impression when I walked in was that of a fast casual restaurant. Plenty of seating, counter for ordering, & a soda nook. I'm thinking to myself "A beer tapping? Here??". Then I saw the wine & beer section and the taps behind the counter. Color me intrigued. After perusing the menu I decided on the Adult Grilled Cheese & , of course, the beer I had come to try. 20 mins later I had my sandwich. The 1st thing I noticed about it is it was very greasy. Grease + grilled cheese is a given, but this was a bit excessive. The sandwich itself was quite good. I really like the combination of cheddar and mascarpone. The onion & bacon added a little something extra as well. I ended up leaving w/ a couple bottles from their beer wall. If I'm in the area, I'd consider stopping in again.
(4)Katie K.
I have been to a lot of wine bars- and this might be one of the worst. If you could mix a wine bar with an Ocharleys- this is what you would get. Basic ingredients, a loud environment and a limited selection. No wine flights. Cheese consists of cheddar, Swiss, and blue cheese. And forget a bar setting. These are manufactured wood booths. Rough!
(2)Lynn R.
Another great visit! One of my favorite places to meet friends and enjoy some good food and wine. Happy hour and appetizers are a great value. Mini-burgers and eggplant fries are a must buy salads for big and small appetites are sure to please.
(5)Demetria L.
Obsessed with this Spot! Sweet potato fries and extensive wine selection-- Profile of upscale dining in the fast casual environment makes for a perfect date spot.
(5)Joanne R.
Burgers were good. Fries just ok. Wine choices match the food. Nice to have food and retail wine combined.
(3)Connie Y.
If you love an a la carte styled place with a bit of class, Adega is the place to go. Whenever I frequent downtown Silver Spring, it never fails to disappoint (except when I ordered a portobello burger thinking there would be a burger) with good alternative/soft rock music playing in the background. When you enter the restaurant, I suggest finding a seat first considering how busy it can become during meal hours, then you order food at the counter and will be given a buzzer to pick up your food. Adega presents a quaint and cozy atmosphere which serves many types of wine and beer for the drink connoisseur. It also has some AMAZING eggplant fries along with some savory sweet potato fries. As a young professional, I love bringing my friends from out of town to enjoy a glass of wine there.
(5)Elodie T.
It's hard to rate Adega for anything other than a solid 4 when they have a great weekend deal: 1 appetizer, 2 entrees and a bottle of wine for $40? I'm sold! My group of 5 friends ordered 5 entrees, 3 bottles, 2 appetizers and a beer for about... $115-120? We had a really great time and the food was all very good. The only criticism I had for anything that I tried was that the bruschetta- typically, the tomatoes and other good stuff is already placed on the bread but they've lumped everything in the middle, and the result was that the bread under the small mound of goodness was... soggy. :( Everything else was really great though! Be aware that it's sometimes hard to find seats, especially if you have a bigger group. I usually think of Adega as a classier Panera- in both places, you order then find a seat. Panera doesn't serve alcohol, though, nor does it have gourmet food. Try to arrive on the early side, we've had issues before where it's been so busy that we've had to go elsewhere. First come, first serve! Solid 4/5.
(4)Kristin C.
This place has an interesting vibe. It is part exotic wine store. (I shop for wines a lot, and I didn't recognize many labels. I was also impressed to see some Maryland wines). It is part cafe (i.e. you order your food and wine at the counter and get a buzzer to pick up your food). Then, it is part gourmet food. (The food was rather classy). The music that was playing as well as the space had a hippish feel. I looked around, and there was clearly a mix of patrons~some young, some middle aged, some old; some stylish, some not~way to get a diverse audience! I had a bottle of wine which they were able to chill for me and package it up later when I obviously couldn't drink the whole thing. It was a fume blanc which I had never heard of which ended up being pleasant. I also had the tomato basil soup with a side of toasted focaccia which was tasteful. For seconds, I had the lobster bisque; I favored the tomato basil though. I would say the most memorable was the excellent customer service. After the stress of travel and bewilderment of being in a new town, they were so helpful and patient when I could barely decide what to eat. There was a man walking around who must have been the owner or manager who looked stellar at whatever he was. At any rate, they went above and beyond on several occasions to make sure I had a satisfying time.
(4)Ana A.
This is an awesome place in DTSS to grab a quick bite and enjoy some wine and beer. The food is pretty good, but served on plastic plates so it is nothing fancy... The atmosphere makes up for it though. I always wished that there were more independent, unique places in downtown silver spring. Thanks God there is Adega!
(4)Angel A.
Not impressed with service at counter. Did not receive all of our order for carry out . Oddly..One of the male workers on the floor area kept rudely running/walking into us as we waited for our food. Really odd. I'm disappointed we payed for an item we did not receive and the counter guy never checked to make sure our order was right before handing us the bag. Not impressed with this place at all. Food was average. They also messed up the order specifications for one item and we couldn't even eat it. Very irritated by that.
(1)Sam W.
I've never shopped for wine in this place because I've only gone there to eat. They have an eclectic lineup of delicious stuff. It's been a few years but their menu still has many of the favorites I remember. Their sweet potato fries are excellent. I recall them coming with some sort of dipping sauce that complimented them well. Their flat breads are done right, with the bread warm and supple, not cracker-like. Their wraps are well put together; all their ingredients are used effectively to maximize one's enjoyment. Seating is hard to come by on a busy night so try them out middle of the week before the dinner rush to eat comfortably.
(5)Morrigan D.
A cozy wine bar in downtown Silver Spring. Considering there are no other wine bars , Adega is already winning. The eggplant fries are an absolute must! Get them with burgers ! Get them alone ! Just GET THEM. (Side note : this review may be biased as the reviewer is currently I side the establishment and four glasses in on a delicious Tempranillo)
(3)Brenton W.
Came here last night with my fiance and her sister for the first time after living in Silver Spring for close to two years now. Wow! They were in heaven. Not only was it happy hour (25% off glasses of wine and beer [YES, they have a quality selection of 6 - 8 craft and micro brews]) but you also got 40% off a bottle of wine with your dinner. The girls were in heaven. The food was delicious. I had the jambalaya. The fiance had falafel and her sister had a burger. The jambalaya was delicious and their entrees looked great, as well. The food was fairly priced, in my opinion. Their takeout section, specifically regarding the beer, was shockingly phenomenal! Very, fairly priced and comparable -- if not, cheaper -- than stores that specifically only deal with take out. For example, Lagunitas 6-pack was $9.49, where if you were to travel a block away to a take-out shop, it is priced at $14.99. Kind of wish our food wasn't served on plastic / disposable plates with disposable silverware but that really is the only criticism on an otherwise quaint and comfortable establishment.
(4)Victoria W.
Fell in love with this place.I had the jerk sandwich with a glass of spring*gria and sweet potato fries. I definitely want to go back and try everything. The staff was very friendly and helped me decide what to get seeing as how everything on their menu looks delicious.
(4)Alyssa A.
I came here on Sunday with my family. We ordered the following Portobella Sandwich: This was just okay. I thought it had too must pesto on it and it really overpowered the flavors on the sandwich. This was recommended to me by someone working there but I wouldn't order it again. Eggplant Fries: These were delicious were the marina sauce. Steak and Cheese: My boyfriend said this was pretty good. The Bleu's Burger: My brother said this was delicious Parmesan Fries: This was apparently really salty. I thought it was good but it did have a lot of parmesan on it Mini Burgers: These were good but maybe a little dry Carribean Chicken Salad: My sister said this was good Prosciutto Fig and Goat Cheese Flatbread: This was basically a thin crust pizza I might come back to give this place a try. I would have given them 4 stars because everyone else I came with seemed to like their food, but my sandwich was just okay.
(3)Lynie H.
Great food for a liquor store....u can get wine there n eat there...great selection of food....I really like that the sweet potatoe fries are crispy. They also have great eggplant fries too.
(4)Chris L.
Came to visit for the first time. I'm from Cali, L.A... We got the non-alcoholic ginger beer, jambalaya pasta, Caesar wrap, calamari, and lastly tuna tar tar tacos. This Californian girl from Ktown is very HAPPY!!! :D
(5)Janna R.
Always a favorite in Silver Spring. Great wine selection, great small bites or full meals if you're extra hungry. Adega has a great menu and atmosphere. It's great for any occasion!!
(5)Jeff E.
Adega is often crowded during prime times, but the sandwiches are actually pretty good.
(4)Cat S.
Came here for a solo drink after work. Staff were very helpful during my first time here. O asked to taste before you buy and they were willing to help, and that's what I love about them! I had their house holiday sangria (cross between mulled wine and spiced apple cider); OMG so delish! Sadly, I did not get a chance to try their truffle fries or crab sandwich, those were recommended to me by their wonderful staff :)
(4)Rhianna B.
This is a hole-in-the-wall cafe where you can get a glass of wine and sandwich for lunch. They also sell wine and beer but I use it as a relaxing weekend lunch in between running errands. It's right in downtown Silver Spring and when it's warm outside, they have outdoor seating.
(4)Karol L.
We have been going to Adega for 7 years and we love it. Perfect for dates, meeting with friends. They serve GREAT food and wine for a great price. We Love Adega. Parking is convenient and it's right in the heart of Silver Spring.
(5)Andrew P.
Friendly, good, and hey - Silver Spring! Having lived around Silver Spring for decades -- and long enough to know the Sad Way It Was (which, truth be told, was Very Sad) -- I greatly appreciate Adega for its mere existence...not to mention the welcoming format, food, drink, and setting which it offers. I enjoyed Adega's informal walk-up format, the decent and inexpensive menu of freshly-made burgers and other pub grub, and the varied selection of interesting pours by the glass. If you buy a bottle of wine at a reasonable retail price, they will open it and provide glassware for you and your mates. No mark-up! Also praiseworthy is the store's use of primo shelf space for worthwhile local wines of Maryland and Virginia. Adega is a fun place to hang, and a big step up from its many nationally-franchised neighbors. In Paris, this would be an ordinary neighborhood bistro; but, by gosh...we're talking Silver Spring!
(4)Bennett T.
It is a charming little shop that offers fantastic food - particularly the burgers - and a very good wine and beer selection. I've been twice and the quality is consistent. They do have a sit down portion to the store as well as beers on top and wines by the glass. The staff is friendly, knowledgeable and professional. It's a great place to stop into after shopping at Whole Foods for lunch and to do whatever wine and beer shopping you need to do.
(4)Catherine T.
First time here, got a bottle of Novecento Malbec 2012 which is very good. we ordered the Mushroom truffle Mac and Cheese, Fries: sweet potato and truffle, Adega's mixed green salad, and the Adega grilled chicken flatbread pizza! deliciousssssss!!
(5)Alexandra B.
4.5 stars This little wine bar and eatery is absolutely adorable. I love the vibe of this place, and while there could be more seating space to accommodate all the excited guests who want to eat here, everything else about it is pretty darn great. Stepping in, I absolutely loved the variety of wine and beer that was on display and available to customers. Though you could take the wine home, they would gladly open it for you and provide you with glasses so you can sit around and enjoy it with friends. They also offer a wide array of food from truffle fries to sandwiches to calamari. We didn't eat a full meal there but we had a few snacks and everything was perfectly tasty and hit the spot. There's a huge variety of wine and even beer available to choose from -- enough to satisfy pretty much every taste. We shared several bottles over several hours between us and had a wonderful time. My fiance and I will most definitely be back here soon, and will gladly bring friends along each time. This has to be one of the cutest businesses in Silver Spring by far.
(4)Ebonne B.
Adega is a quaint jewel in the downtown silver spring area, providing a variety of good eats and wonderful wines at a decent price. Location Parking in the lot nearby the shopping plaza is a crap shoot, especially on weekends. You might fare better parking in the garage across Veterans Plaza. It faces the main plaza area so depending on the time of year or what events are going on like the Silver Spring Jazz fest, you may have too do the delicate dip-and-dive through the crowd dash through the stairs and walkway to get to the restaurant, and you'll have to contend with the noises outside which can interfere if you're looking for a quiet meal in. Restaurant It is on the small side and on Fridays and Saturdays it can be a complete gaggle of people clustered on top of one another jockeying for space to sit, stand while waiting for their order or mindlessly collect at the counter blocking everyone else as they ponder their order. If you could, try dining on a weeknight if you'd like to have a quiet meal. Lunch on the weekdays can get a bit hectic as well. Food/Wine Always a hit! Before my body decided that it couldn't be friends with gluten, the Chicken w/Lemon Butter and Penne Cream Pesto with Chicken were my favorite entrees on the menu followed by their Bison burger (which was second to the "gouda" burger but that's no longer on their menu.) However, even with a intolerance or a food allergy there's still a lot of great dishes to be had and although they don't have gluten free pasta available (that I know of) they ARE willing to make changes & substitutions to your order with no problem. They offer a variety of wines and now do tastings monthly (approximately). Tip - Adega now delivers! They're a participating restaurant with Takeout Taxi so if you can't be bothered with getting out of your pj's and headed over but still have a longing for eggplant fries you now can have it brought to your door.
(5)J E.
Love this place. Staff is friendly and food is very good, which is surprising when you see it. Looks more like a wine shop win a deli, but don't underestimate the kitchen. They do some fine work - like the fish tacos, for example. YUM!! If you are not sure about the wines, ask for a sample or a recommendation. This is a great place for a casual date or a quick bite. Highly recommended!
(4)Robert B.
I can confirm that everyone's now up-charged $5 if you want to drink the chilled beer Adega sells. I buy your food; I buy your beer, but if I want to drink your beer with your food then I have to pay an extra $5? What an absurdly stupid concept. Space is now dated and badly needs a refresh. Space is also cramped and constantly consists of people hovering, waiting for seats to open up. Central, shared seating is awkwardly placed and sized. The owners badly need to expand into the now-vacant Metamorphosis space. Food gets 4 stars, but just about every other aspect of this establishment is poorly thought out/executed.
(3)Brittany S.
HOW DOES THIS PLACE ONLY HAVE 4 STARS! Born and raised in Silver Spring, I was in high school when they started building up Downtown Silver Spring. The area is great, which the exception of City Place... how is that place still open?! Anyways I've been to every restaurant, bar, store in DTSS and how did I miss this place?! Well, I guess for most of it I wasn't of legal age. Still, it took me way too long to try this place! Some of the best food I've ever had, hands down the best in DTSS. It's a restaurant inside of a wine store, how could you not love it? You can test any of the wines they have on the big board behind the register, for free! And you can have a glass or buy a whole bottle for your meal. They also have a few beers on tap, including my fave - Crispin Cider! We decided to order an appetizer because we were starving so we got the pulled pork sliders. Best sliders I've ever had! Their pulled pork was so flavorful, my mouth was so happy. I ordered the prosciutto, pear and gorgonzola sandwich with sweet potato fries. To. Die. For. This was the best sandwich I've ever had and the sauce on the side, I think it was for the fries but I dipped my sandwich in it and it took it to a whole nother level of awesomeness. Not the biggest sweet potato fan but I wanted to try them, I could have done without. My boyfriend order the chicken pesto pasta. Seriously the best pasta I've ever had at a restaurant. It had the biggest chunks of chicken too! They def give you your moneys worth! The music was good too! Oldies but goodies. I'm so mad at myself for not checking this place out sooner!
(5)Ethan L.
This is an off the beaten path wine shop, that also stocks some craft beers. Some of the beers feature some good selection of Maryland producers (Union Craft, Stillwater, Brewer's Art). It also has a lunch counter serving somewhat upscale items and sandwiches. Often though when I come in the specials get sold out, but there's a menu to easily look through to enjoy. They come out with a bit more care, but they are also pricey. And speaking of pricey, look no further than Montgomery county when it comes to liquor sales. So prices here are high, but the variety for wine and beer is better than the county stores by a mile.
(3)Vindhya Reddy D.
Liked this place for its simplicity. I had the jerk chicken sandwich and sangria, simple and tasty food. Enough to be my dinner as well. Prices are very decent too. Would keep going for sure.
(4)Kristian T.
I ordered delivery and the bleu burger was delicious! Cooked to perfection! The blue cheese in the burger was genius! No complaints! I ordered through takeout taxi and they were prompt and the food was still decently warm! Definitely can't wait to try this place again and all they have to offer!
(5)Stacey K.
nice quite area nice selction of wines.
(4)Susanna P.
I'm sad that I've lived blocks from Adega for years and only just ventured in a few weeks ago. My husband and I were immediately hooked; the delicious sandwiches, the great selection of beer and wine, the eggplant fries... addictive. We've had "The Jerk" chicken wrap, the Reuben, the Pork Belly French Dip, and the Adult Grilled Cheese. I could eat that last sandwich every day. Especially if I got the eggplant fries on the side! Do yourself a favor and visit Adega. Try any of their sandwiches, but seriously - get the eggplant fries.
(5)Corine H.
Loved what I've tried: truffle fries, calamari, sliders, salads. The recommended wine was so perfect and economical? I returned the next day to purchase two bottles. The servers and counter staff are generally friendly and helpful, though there are a couple of guys who merely stare w/o asking if they can help, which is a bit rude to new customers, who may never return. For vets? It's annoying, but we understand that it's a personal issue, not an establishment one. I will return repeatedly and enjoy the menu's depth and the restaurant's wonderfully casual vibe.
(4)Koral S.
So many wonderful things to say about this place ... and just a few not so great. Wines - a fabulous selection of reds, whites, sparkling, etc. All priced decently with descriptions and a knowledgeable staff. They also have a few selected items already chilled and some beer options as well. Food - Overall I have enjoyed the food. The ingredients usually taste fresh. I'm a huge fan of the flatbreads. I have mixed feelings about the eggplant fries. I really like the taste of them - but they are often greasy and soggy. I've had better experiences with them when taking to go and then reheating them in the toaster and then draining the excess oil (that's a lot to do if I'm not making them myself). I was disappointed last time I ordered to go - they forgot my chips with the turkey reuben which made me very sad - since I love chips with my sandwiches. The reuben itself - meh ... not all that. Ambiance - It's cute inside to go for a nice quiet evening. The tables and set up is very inviting and warm. I also love where it sits in the downtown Silver Spring area.
(4)Amanda P.
SO GOOD. I've never had a bad thing here and I've been very frequently. I've also never had a hard time getting a table despite the small restaurant. Whatever you do, make sure you get the eggplant fries.
(5)Ryan B.
My fav. lunch spot in Silver Spring. I've been hear twice for meetings in the last 2 weeks, and I'm impressed every time. 1st time: Adult Grilled Cheese. It's terrific. 2nd time: Caprice Sandwich: tasty pesto with a heap of mozzarella and fresh tomatoes. Tasty. Yes, good food at reasonable prices. What really wins me over is the space. Outdoor seating, indoor seating, a couple of weird tables cut at different heights at angles. Definitely my go to place to lunch in Silver Spring.
(4)Lori D.
I want to make it clear in the beginning that I do really enjoy this place a lot WHEN WE EAT THERE IN PERSON - the reason for 3 stars is that they are horrible to order pick up from. Today was the last straw for me. I will never order take out from them again. Every. Single. Time. they mess our order up and I'm simply over it. Out of 10 take out orders they've gotten it at least partially wrong on 9 occasions - no exaggeration. When two people are ordering sandwiches and soups and salads and appetizers, it shouldn't be that hard to get it right... at least half of the time! And add to that note, I was working on a production and I ordered them for lunch for our cast/crew of about 10 people -- and guess what? Mistakes. Really need to desperately improve in this area. Again, if you are looking for a cool atmosphere and decent food with a really nice drink selection, this place is great option to stop at. As a local, if you are looking for an option to bring home, I would skip this place.
(3)Justine J.
We visited here twice during our trip to DC -- that's how much we loved it! Great location, easy parking, nice casual atmosphere -- exactly what we wanted. There's an awesome selection of beer & wine both for drinking during lunch/dinner or buying in larger bottles/6-packs to bring home -- perfect for my beer nerd of a husband. You order right at the counter and bring a buzzer back to your table, nice and casual. The food was great -- between the three of us we tried burgers, pizza, and pasta, all great. Love it!
(5)Diana J.
My go to sandwich is the adult grilled cheese. They have a large collection of wines that are very affordable. Not all employees are equally knowledgeable about wine but they do let you sample any of the wines they offer by the glass. The have great hard cider on tap. I wish they rotated their collection of wines on sale more often. I think I've seen the same tempranillo on sale for a year now.
(4)Mike W.
Nothing that great about this place really. The plywood booths are a little temporary looking and the food is mediocre at best. I've been here twice...first and the last.
(3)Jess Y.
I absolutely adore the atmosphere here. Wine and great food, how could one complain? You can grab a drink, or a bottle, and enjoy it with or without food. (You probably won't be able to resist the food though.) My boyfriend and I LOVE Adega!!! He always get's the Bleu's Burger and I must always try something different. So far I've tried the calamari, the southwest chipotle turkey wrap, "best" grilled fish tacos, smoked salmon (I don't see it on the menu anymore), make your own flatbread, penne cream pesto with chicken, adult grilled cheese, and all of the fries. I won't go into detail about all of the food, because it's all very, very delicious. The most recent visit we had, of course he got his Bleu's burger, and I got an adult grilled cheese with truffle fries. I couldn't take more than one bite of the burger. I would have ate the whole thing. They add the blue cheese to the actual burger. So you get it in every single bite. The caramelized red onions, bacon, and chipotle mustard mayo do something special to this burger. It has all of the elements I look for in a meal. You have the savory, the tang, the sweet, the crunch, tenderness of meat. I would highly recommend this burger! About my sandwich-- I never knew something as simple as a grilled cheese could come out so amazing. First you have this buttery, super crunchy, bread. The second layer has the herb mascarpone, chedar cheese, bacon, red onion, tomato, & spinach. The fact that it has red onion and vegetables makes it that much more amazing. The herb marscarpone gives it a very nice creamy element and you can taste the fresh herb as well. I cannot get over the truffle fries. They are so simple, yet so perfectly seasoned. A lot of places can go seriously overboard with truffle, or not include it enough. Adega did great-- and I'm obsessed with truffle. On that note-- I know what's for dinner tonight!!! Btw: Parking in the Whole Foods parking lot is frustrating and busy most of the time. Park across the street near Chick Fil-A, super empty compared to the other lots. Side note: I've been coming here since 2009 and nothing has changed. It's been so consistent, and the wine selection never fails.
(5)Paul S.
This place is fantastic for food, and they have a great special two entrees an app with a 17.99 bottle of wine for 40$. Also my wife loves it so we eat here a lot now. Oh and they sell great beer!
(5)Bokyong E.
I loved this place. I ordered falafels with sweet potato fries. I recommend ordering eggplant fries because those were also very delicious. My falafel was pure goodness.. I hate when it is over fried but this one was perfect with fresh veggies. My friend and I also bought a rose wine which was only 10.50 (cheapest rose that was available). They give you wine glasses and a cooler without extra charge. They do have beer but you need to pay $5 if you want to drink there.. Which I didn't understand why. The location is right at downtown silver spring so I ended up walking around afterwards.
(4)Abby T.
One of my favorite restaurants in Silver Spring. It's gt a great casual atmosphere that lends to taking friends and family for lunch when they're in town for a quick visit, for a casual date, or to grab a glass of wine with a friend after work. Staff is friendly and helpful, and responsive with assistance if you need to change your order to carryout, etc. Food- They changed up their menu a few months ago but thankfully kept all my favorites, like the half and half fries (sweet potato and eggplant please!), the substantial salads and great sandwich options. It's a walkup situation so you pay for your order, grab a buzzing thing, and grab a seat from one of the booths, small tables or a couple of high tops you might share with new friends. Drinks- adega has a great drinks board of options if you're eating in, including daily specials and helpful recs from the staff. If you're carrying out, they have multiple walls of beer and wine to choose from. On Saturdays they have a free tasting and a few other specials like half-priced wine throughout the week. It's also just a great place to get the local feeling, with area news and flyers in the entry and a casual touch that makes stopping by a friend's table totally acceptable.
(5)Brian W.
My first experience with this place. We just had dessert and a glass of wine each. I'm a huge wine fan, so this place was great for me. I love the concept, casual wine spot with simple foods that pair well. Order at the counter, decent prices, interesting wine by the glass, additional wines available wine shop style. A great concept well executed.
(4)Jeffrey M.
Food was excellent, price was fair for the quality. But there wasn't reAlly any service which means I just didn't have to tip. Great food n wine.
(4)Liz S.
For the price point this place was great! You may have to hang around for a few minutes while tables open up even on a week night, but the casual atmosphere and affordable gourmet food make that ok. It took me ages to decide what to order because everything sounded delicious. I highly recommend the eggplant fries and the wine and beer selection is superb for Maryland. Make sure you check out this friendly neighborhood spot!
(4)Laura R.
This was a hard choice between 4 and 5 stars, but given the weekend special, it was fairly easy to decide on 5. Why Five? I love the atmosphere, very relaxed but still a nudge sophisticated. Also, they have a decent wine and craft beer selection. The food itself is very good. For entrees I can say that the Bleu Burger was wonderful and the Latin Ahi Tuna dinner entree was amazing. Why Four? The reason I would have leaned towards 4 stars is because we ordered the Cheese Platter appetizer and it was somewhat disappointing. Only one of the cheeses tasted non-processed, the rest I feel I could have bought at the grocery store a la Sargento. That said, the bread and the strawberry jam that came with were wonderful. Instead, I think next time we'll try the eggplant fries. I can't really complain about the cheese platter because we went on a Sunday and took advantage of the weekend special. 1 app, 2 entrees, and 1 bottle of wine for $40 (after 5pm). For that reason, I can totally over look the mediocre cheese and it becomes well worthy of 5 stars! Also, the Kiona Riesling we chose was a lovely wine. Kind of strange that you order up front and they give you a buzzer, but I didn't mind that at all. Although, the bf kept referring to it as the Chipotle of wine bars!! I would certainly recommend this place to anyone looking for a classier weekend hang out than McGinty's. While it's not the most top notch selection of wines, the food and atmosphere more than make up for that. And after all, isn't the point of a wine bar to have a great time with good company, anyway?
(5)Ritzie C.
I don't want people to know how good Adega is because I don't want it getting too popular. I feel like there's just enough seating for it to always be a challenge when you want a table. And since you order your food and wine at the counter, it's difficult to dive on a table someone is evacuating before someone else catches it. All that aside, the menu items are casual without being lazy. In fact, I would consider it nearly bistro-like, rather than "cafe." Nibbles worth noting are the calamari, eggplant and sweet potato fries, and mini burgers. Occassionally they have duck sliders and mussels featured on their daily chalkboard specials which are phenomenal. Some of the items I love are the ahi tuna salad, the burgers (Cabernet, Bleu, and bison), and the prosciutto/fig/goat cheese flatbread. I had the hummus not too long ago and it was underwhelming. However, there's so much of this menu I want to try but I'm always swayed by the daily specials when I walk in the door. Wines are reasonably priced, both by the glass and by the bottle and they also have a few beers to choose from. Overall it's consistent, laid-back, and has some solid food options - which is why we frequently return.
(4)L M.
Awesome food. Great beer. Great wine. An inexpensive and delicious date night!!! I've never had a bad meal here. Just finished the jambalaya pasta and it was great!
(5)Karen S.
This is a great, casual little alternative to all the chains in Downtown Silver Spring. I didn't know about it for the longest time because it's not in the main strip with the movie theater, but I'm so glad I found it. It's like a Panera, but fancier and locally owned-- and the prices do reflect that. You'll probably pay around $8-13 for a meal, but I think it's worth it. Like Panera, you order at the counter and go pick your food up. You get a beeper so you can wander the store, which has a great wine and beer selection, or sit while you wait. Their flatbreads are great and I always take home half. Whenever there's lobster bisque, I always order that (look for it on the daily menu). Their eggplant fries are amazing! I never knew you could make fries out of eggplant, but theirs, topped with a bit of cheese and served with marinara dipping sauce, are awesome. You get a huge portion. They don't reheat badly either, if you try it in the toaster oven. One thing to note: the parking lot behind it (the Whole Foods one) has only two-hour parking, and that is strictly enforced. Park in one of the garages to avoid getting a ticket, or set a timer!
(4)Andrew T.
I have gone to Adega since they opened and always enjoyed it. It has a great casual atmosphere and a friendly staff. Every time I have been there until recently I have had the Turkey Rueben which is awesome but today I felt like a salad and got the arugula salad with steak. Well, it was about the best salad I have ever had! The combination of favors was incredible. The Gorgonzola, pears, cranberries, etc. might sound like an odd combination but it was wonderful. I ate every bite. I decided to take a salad home for dinner and got the Jerk chicken with mango and avocado. I just finished eating it and it was great too. I know that I will be going much more regularly now. Now I can't wait to try more of the menu!!!
(5)Nick H.
Hidden gem in downtown Silver Spring. Great food, craft beer and wine selection. I will be coming back. Pizzas, salads, fish tacos, sandwiches galore. The bleu burger blew my mind. Cooked perfect. Very casual order at the counter type spot but has food like you'd find in nicer upscale restaurant. Beer and wine by the glass. Great selection. Gm mike is friendliest guy in town btw too!
(5)Therese D.
Food and drinks are good. I definitely recommend the eggplant fries. Sometimes difficult to get a spot if they're really busy.
(4)Matthew S.
After having cancelled reservations for a nice Valentine's Day dinner in the city due to the snow storm, we decided to make a trek out of the house despite the snow to Adega's since our baby sitter had already come to the house and was spending the night. When you have a kid and you have a babysitter lined up, you take advantage no matter what the elements are outside. Either way, Adega's is a tried and true spot for us. Since we had some dinner already, we chose to peruse the wine racks and selected a delicious blended red wine (name forgotten). We ordered a charcuterie board along with our wine and found a spot to settle in. This particular night the restaurant was quite cold due to the wind storm that going on outside, but once the wine started flowing our insides warmed up. The charcuterie board was delicious; however, there were several things that could be improved. The board provided a whole loaf of baguette; however, there wasn't any mustard, butter, or any other spreads provided. We had to ask them for this, a minor inconvenience. After our first bottle of wine, I selected another bottle; however, I chose a sweet white wine named Goddess at the request of my wife. We ordered some chocolate lava cakes as well. These little treats are delightful. Warm and gooey on the inside, they are a big hit and some nights become unavailable. That night they did not garnish with the traditional mango slice which my wife enjoys. All in all, Adega's is a great place and was a great spot for my wife and I to enjoy time together without our little munchkin for a night.
(4)Lorena B.
Hands down, this is my fave place to eat in downtown Silver Spring. They have a great selection of wine and yummy food. Normally, I despise anything green but I love the ahi tuna salad. It's 3 big chunks of rare tuna with a sesame crust on mixed greens with a delicious vinaigrette and cilantro rice. Bonus, they will sub extra salad for the rice at no extra charge. I also recommend the bacon cheeseburger. It's a normal portion and the chef manages to serve it juicy but not greasy. Adega clearly uses quality ingredients. Because it's a cafe/wine shop, it can be cramped especially during lunch and happy hour. I also wish they had more wines available by the glass. Still, Adega is heads and shoulders above the chains nearby.
(4)Rose M.
This is my favorite Saturday night hang out place in downtown Silver Spring! Love the food especially the fish tacos and the adega fries. Of course, love the wide selection of local and imported wines. Staff is very friendly. Sometimes it's hard to find a seat, but people are usually nice about sharing their tables with other people.
(5)Robert V.
Adega Wine Cellars is located right in the heart of downtown Silver Spring. With an open air plaza in front, the area is usually lively and festive. The shop itself serves beer, wine, and various bar food. Prices are competitive. I have not tried the food so I cannot comment on the quality and taste, but I do always notice multiple diners every time I drop by.
(4)David T.
awesome food! Wine bottle prices are a tad high, but food rocks otherwise.
(4)Caroline L.
Came here twice now and had some different experiences. The first: came with a bigger group and finding a table for us was hard- esp since it's a first come first serve basis so you awkwardly stand there and stare at people hoping to pounce first when they start cleaning up. We got a variety of things and I remember some weren't too impressed. The eggplant fries were ok and the grown up grilled cheese was fantastic. If I remember correctly, someone was disappointed in their fish tacos. The second: came here w/ one other person and pretty late on a Fri night so seating wasn't an issue. I love how it's removed from all the hectic downtown area where all the high schoolers are. Adega is quieter, slightly more upscale, and cater to an older crowd. This time got the calamari which I would give a 7.5/10 which is still pretty darn good. The batter coating was a light color and dipping sauce was good. The highlight was the tomato soup and the turkey sandwich. Can't remember what the actual name was but it came w/ cranberry sauce and cheese. Huge portion!
(4)Beth N.
A group of 4 of us went here on a Wednesday evening. It was SO BUSY. We had to order our food and wait (standing up) for about 20 mins until we snagged a table. They really need more seating. I shared a pizza and it was pretty good. My sister and her husband both had beer and said it was delicious. My fiance had wine that he said was great. You cannot sit outside if you have any alcohol, even though some people snuck outside with it anyway. Overall it was okay but I'm not sure if I will be going back.
(3)Phil D.
ATTENTION EVERYONE: Adega does not charge a corking fee for ANY of their beers or wines, as long as you purchase food. This is a great deal! And their food is quite lovely. A wide variety of sandwiches, burgers, pasta dishes, flatbreads, and small plates. We highly recommend the Turkey Reuben, though you really can't go wrong with any of the sandwiches. Adega is our #1 go-to sit-down lunch place in downtown Silver Spring, as the prices are very reasonable.
(4)Denise K.
The beer was priced very right! The beet salad was great. The southwest pizza was decent although I think I would have liked a different one better just as a matter of taste. Sweet potato fries were awesome although the sauce was questionable. I think a honey mustard sauce would be better. All in all a great dining experience.
(4)S W.
I really loved this place. It wasn't at all what I expected but the wine and food was so yummy, I didn't mind. I had the portobello mushroom burger with the eggplant fries. I'd go back again for this but I'm anxious to try other items.
(4)Bryan N.
I have to say, some of the best wine selections in DC. The customer service is amazing! Emily was so knowledgable about all the wines they had in house. I told her exactly what wanted and she not only found great wines for me, she gave a little wine lesson to boot! Great service. And if you are feeling a little hungry, they have delicious food to compliment the wine. Take your girl here for date night, you'll that me later...
(5)Semra E.
Whenever I am feeling in the mood to know that there's an actually tasty affordable spot in downtown Silver Spring that has a quality and staff that no other location can touch...I will come here. Which is just about once a week for me. They're fantastic, they have great wine recommendations and they keep adding excellent specials to their menu in addition to providing deals that you can only get when dining in. Either way, I love it here. Every new person I bring in to eat here agrees, it's a hidden (or not so hidden by how crowded it can get certain times), place to eat when shopping or hanging out in downtown Silver Spring. Great quick dinner before a movie at AFI or Majestic.
(5)Brittany J.
The Caesar wrap with salmon was out of this world! I felt compelled to go back and order one togo to take to work for lunch and definitely ate it before I could get it in the fridge. Oops
(5)Shira S.
This places gets me in trouble....every time! I typically go with friends and we get several bottles of wine to share. They don't charge corkage fees, so whatever you pay for the bottle you choose, is exactly what you pay. Their selection of wine is pretty good and across many different price ranges. They also have a lot of yummy food. During happy hour, their appetizers are 25% off (I think). I highly recommend their grilled calamari - it is soooo good.
(4)Siv L.
Came here with my boyfriend on a beautiful sunny Saturday afternoon. We wanted a place to hang out before grabbing dinner. So we grabbed some reading material, said yes to the wine tasting, and bought a bottle of red to share. We sat down, enjoyed a glass of wine, and read. Great set up -- love the concept. Wish there were more places like this in other cities. Makes drinking wine and hanging out very affordable. Please note that we didn't eat anything here... but for the concept, the space to enjoy wine, hang out, and talk, read, etc, I would definitely recommend.
(4)Adelina Z.
Normally this place is a go-to old reliable but this past visit was anything but. For starters, the wait time was a couple minutes short of half an hour. Keep in mind that I only ordered a lamb burger (medium) and truffle fries. Not to mention, it was during the afternoon (hours post lunch rush) on a weekday. When I finally got my food, the lamb burger was particularly dry. I found this odd because lamb is infamously known for being fatty. I'm pretty sure it's because it was frozen; it definitely wasn't fresh meat. The fries were perfectly crispy but only gave off a faint hint of any truffle flavor. I'll wait to visit again and hopefully they'll have improved. The third star was given for their great wine selection.
(3)Jennifer H.
I love going to this cafe!!! The wine selection is not giant but plenty big enough to find something you like in your price range. The best part about Adega is that you can buy a bottle of wine and drink it there for no up-charge! There is usually someone out by the wines that will help you select one. It is not a very large space, 90% of the time I am able to get a table right away. The food is amazing, I think several of the selections are very upscale and not usually found in a cafe. I recommend the ahi tuna.
(5)Jessie S.
Fantastic food and wine that won't break your budget. Incredible wine and craft beer selection. Amazingly inventive food menu. Great for groups or dates. A winner all around.
(5)Cici H.
I've passed by this place several times but never thought to go inside and explore. When my friend selected this place to have dinner, I was excited to try it out. I ordered the Asian chop salad and my friend and I shared an appetizer of half sweet potato half eggplant fries. He also ordered the Caribbean chicken salad and tomato basil soup. My Asian chop salad was good with very fresh ingredients. The fries were good but I wasn't a fan of the sauces. I tried my friend's tomato basil soup and it was tasty. Overall, everything was good. I really like to atmosphere in this place. I definitely plan to come back from another visit to try something different and perhaps a glass of wine.
(4)Michelle D.
I'm very impressed with the food. I had a veggie burger today and I was nervous before I bought it because of the bad experiences I've had ordering veggie burgers at other places. Well, with Adega...I WAS PLEASANTLY SURPRISED!!! Their new veggie burger well exceeded my expectations! It was a delicious dream come true. I finally found a second spot in Maryland where I could go for a trustworthy veggie burger. It had a nice grilled taste to it and the recommended chipotle mayo was a-ma-zing! Not to mention the 3 perfectly cut slices of avocado that topped the burger. I prefer to avoid gluten, so I ordered the burger without a bun....still amazing. I'm also in love with Adega's doubly delicious eggplant fries! OMG, how can you fix fries that are not dripping with grease? In fact, I was surprised that, after eating a veggie burger and a side of eggplant fries, my fingers and mouth/throat weren't coated with grease. I was triple satisfied with my meal. WAY TO GO ADEGA! After eating, my husband and I informed they guy we ordered from that the food was A+. Can't wait to go back for more eggplant fries...and another veggie burger!
(4)Phx D.
Great food, service could be better thats why I held back a star. The staff were not really helpful when asked questions. But again, the food was great and the ambiance is awesome. Been there several times.
(4)Michael B.
Good food and a nice selection of wines. Parking can be a minor problem as the one lot nearest the cafe serves several businesses.
(4)Tim H.
The format is a problem here. It's a cafe with an embedded wine shop (or vice versa?). The important distinction here is that it is definitely a cafe, not a restaurant--you order at a counter, and most importantly, you find your own seats, which for me has been a problem on several occasions. The menu is probably good enough to make for a decent restaurant, and by selling wine it's almost as if they're encouraging you to stay for 45 minutes or more like you would at a seated restaurant. But the fact is, there are other people hovering over you, waiting for you to leave. There's no waiting area, and since people order before there is a seat, some people have their food before there's a place to sit. It's pretty awkward, really, and the section that's a 'wine cellar' has a good selection but feels like it's just wasting space. But, given you know that and have come here for a quick meal at lunchtime or some other appropriate purpose, the food is pretty good. I've had much better pizza, but the sandwiches are good and the eggplant fries are a real treat. The wine selection is of course very good and their specials are thoughtful. I disagree with other reviewers who call it pricey--perhaps the pizzas are, but I've been satisfied with the price and size. Bottom line: be sure you don't mistake it for a restaurant.
(3)Kelly J.
Just moved to the Silver Spring area from Northern Virginia, and Adega is my new favorite place. I don't want to rave too hard about it though, because it is already too crowded! I went for lunch a few weeks ago with a friend, and while we stood in line to order, we mocked a table with two women who ordered a pizza, a sandwich, a pasta, and a salad. Wouldn't you know it - all of the menu options at Adega looked so yummy, we soon found ourselves in the same boat! We split the appetizer mussels (white wine sauce with garlic and gorgonzola - I seriously wanted to DRINK the sauce). I had the arugula and pear salad and added salmon. The fish was perfectly cooked and comes with an awesome chipotle sauce and black sesame seeds. I went for dinner last night and enjoyed the same salad (a creature of habit, I guess) and the hummus appetizer. The pita bread is served grilled and warm and there is plenty of it! My friend had the fried calamari salad and it looked amazing. I can't wait to come back and try something new! Already looking forward to it.
(4)Mahoganie B.
I have to thank a friend of mine who suggested this place for me as a lunch spot to conduct a laid back interview or meeting. I went on a weekend day during lunch hour and to my surprise it wasn't crowded!!!! Yaaaay! I'm in love with the set up and the food! The sweet potato fries are sooo delectable and the Ginger Brew... the ginger is strong but I'm a fan!!!!! It washed those fries down really goooooooooood! The items on the menu don't seem overly done, but they also seem to have some kind of healthy benefit; such as the sweet potato or egg plant fries. They do have burgers and flatbread (YUM!) The food items are just casual but the do mix/pair well with wine! Ok.. so when you walk in, after you pick your seat.. you go to the front and order/pay for your food. You are given a buzzer and of course pick up your food with your buzzer goes off. This method seems effective, but I don't wanna image the scene when it's crowded in there and your cutting through the line to get to the food counter to pick up your delights! Still, I'm in love with this place. This seems ideal for - not only lunch, but - happy hour and perhaps a quick bite with friends or date, before a night out. I'm here for this!
(4)M. K.
Stopped in here before a show at the Fillmore and felt at home the minute I walked in...cozy atmosphere + wine + moderately-priced gourmet sammies? SOLD. I ended up choosing one of the specials, the crabcake sandwich, and thought it was pretty good for a cafe. Roll tasted fresh and the yellow pepper remoulade was a nice added touch. The actual crabcake was a little burnt on the outside, but I was able to overlook that due to the tasty sauce and the A-MAZING truffle fries. Seriously, they were awesome. Thin shoestrings with tons of flavor...I'd go back for those alone. Only cons: -Heavy BBQ-ish smokey smell throughout cafe -White wine I ordered was very warm, almost room temperature Will definitely return for more fries and to try one of their burgers that everyone seems to be raving over.
(4)Rachel D.
In my top three favorite restaurants to go to on any given night. It's such a cool place; I love the small cafe feel. The food is always yummy...of course paired with a glass of wine! I always try their different house wine whenever I go and it never disappoints.
(5)Ryan M.
The food is really excellent, the drink selection is quite good, and the location is convenient. The prices seemed a trifle high to me, but they might just be higher because of the downtown location. It does tend to get crowded, though.
(5)Anice S.
not that I need to add to the wealth of positive reviews, but I will. Great, innovative "foodie" food at a reasonable price... and the staff is always helpful and pleasant. usually you can try the wines that they have by the glass before buying - I wish I had bought a bottle of the one I had last night! Even when they're packed, they always have enough staff to keep things moving and keep the dining room clean and ready for the next round.
(4)Ruth C.
The guy handing out orders seemed like he hated his life but at least he took his assembly line hygiene seriously, and the rest of the staff members were much friendlier. Bruschetta while we waited. The cheese used had the texture of overly firm tofu, but the fresh tomatoes, basil, and faint hint of garlic made each bite less dubious. The herb-seasoned buttered toast was my favorite part of our meal here: not too greasy, just the right amount of crunch and flavor. At heart, I'm always gonna be a bread'n'butter kinda gal. Migrated outside to enjoy the cooling weather, cute cops, and some live music from the plaza. Split a Napa Valley Cabernet burger. Not sure if shredded lettuce would've helped if it had been present, but I found it a little lackluster. I already take issue when the bun-to-patty sizing doesn't match up, but the toasted foccacia was overly dry and not very enjoyable. I ended up consuming only as much bread was needed to prevent the tomato slice and provolone-graced patty from smearing on my hands. Even then, I still needed to dip half my bites in mustard to keep the bread from being a choking hazard. The patty itself was subtly flavored and moist at medium. Sweet potato fries were ready after a short delay, and emerged piping hot from the warm kitchen. I preferred the lemon mango sauce over a ketchup accompaniment, but ultimately found these starch strips less tasty than the plain kettle chips. I can see myself returning to give this place a chance to redeem itself. To-try list includes the jerk, smokin' turkey reuben, and Duke Ellington... and the eggplant fries have got to be better than the sweet potato fries. The flatbreads I spotted coming out of the kitchen looked divine, and I'm sure I'd cave to my lobster bisque craving.
(3)Libby F.
I still love this place for delicious, fresh fast food. The salads are always made with mixed greens and their homemade dressing is the best. I came on Monday during happy hour and reading a recent topic on the talk threads had me craving calamari. They have it here and it is pretty good. It's not as good as 8407 Kitchen Bar's, but it is two bucks cheaper ($7). It was happy hour as I mentioned, so select appetizers and glasses of wine (large selection) are 25% off. That means my calamari was only $5.25 and my Shiraz was $4.89. For just ten bucks, it was very satisfying! At these prices, I'll be back for happy hour again.
(5)Stephen R.
Great atmosphere. A good place to get food and share a bottle of wine with friends. The BBQ pulled pork sandwich is on of the best I have ever had. Sometimes the food can be a little hit or miss. I guess its the price you pay for trying to be creative. They do run some great specials on weekend such as 2 Entrees, an Appetizer, and a bottle of wine for $35-40 dollars.
(4)Antoine W.
Location The restaurant is in the heart of Downtown Silver Spring, easily accessible by Metro and car. The Fenton Street parking garage is right across the street. It's a little hidden if you aren't looking closely. It sits next to Whole Foods and Baja Fresh (which are more noticeable due to their signage) and behind the large pavilion (summer)/ice skating rink (winter) area. Atmosphere Part wine store, part café, with light wood furnishings, it reminds me of some of the wine stores at vineyards I have visited in Napa Valley. Very clean inside. Casual atmosphere. Service The cashier and cooks all seemed very polite and courteous. They were also very knowledgeable in wine. I am the self-proclaimed "wino" in my group of friends. I had some friends with me who did not know what kind of wine to try and the staff gave great recommendations; all but one had a wine that they enjoyed. Food The food was very delicious and budget-friendly! We ordered the cheese sampler block (came with three different cheeses, bread, and a delicious jelly preserve) and the calamari. I didn't expect such good calamari from a small place like this. Now, this isn't Napa Valley or Italy, but for the wine enthusiast, you will be pleased with the concept. (And there are soft drinks for the non-wine drinkers). This is a great place OUTSIDE of the city (with free, easy to find parking) that's casual, budget-friendly, and overall a cute place to go. It is highly recommended and would definitely return!
(4)Fu P.
This place is a great Silver Spring hang-out. Wine is a little over-priced, but they have a monopoly on the cool wine bar market. Food is good. Burgers are the best on the menu. Don't miss the eggplant fries. seriously.
(4)Jessica H.
Pricey, but sometimes you get what you pay for. They have great smaller plates (I've never had the entrees). The eggplant fries and sweet potato fries combination, with a bottle of Australian red wine. Can't go wrong. NOM+NOM. If you are unsure about what kind of wine you want, the people behind the counter are VERY helpful. I assure you they will not judge you ;-). I consider myself a wine-o and I asked a few questions to the guy, and he knew what the hell he was talking about. So ask-way yelpers. The place does get a bit crowded, but if you are lucky, you can sit by the window and people watch. The location is great, because it overlooks the new downtown Silver Spring skating rink. If you are claustrophobic, go someplace else...its a tiny place, but if you are in the mood for wine and light foods...do it.
(4)Hain L.
an a-ok place for food but they do have a nice selection of affordable wine. The restaurant part almost operates like a fast food joint. The eggplant fries were really good but the quesadilla wasn't the best I've had. I'd go back to pick up some bottles of wine but not sure about eating there.
(3)Roy S.
I really liked the Penne Pesto w/ chicken. Good wine selection but its all on the pricey side... Its on of these new hybrid restaurants without waiters. Classier then fast food, but similar concept.
(4)Esther O.
Adega is really neat. Walk-up counter to order wine and food, and then you can take a seat and they'll bring your food out to you. Casual and low-key, yet really nice at the same time. Both wines I tasted were excellent, so they seem to have a nice selection open for wines by the glass. We only ordered a half-and-half fries (half sweet potato and half eggplant) for food, but they were great. The eggplant were really excellent. I've had better sweet potato fries elsewhere (I love sweet potato, but these were too sweet potato-y and not really "fries"), but they were still yummy. All the food we saw being delivered to other tables looked wonderful. I will definitely be back!
(4)Jessica J.
I love this place! I go to downtown Silver Spring all the time. However, I always assumed this place was wine only because of the store name. It's kind of hard to tell because the storefront faces the convention center rather than the street. The food is great-tasting, healthy, and affordable. Nice place to unwind with a nice meal and glass of wine. This is definitely a new spot for me!
(4)Jesse O.
I wasn't expecting to like it that much but my girlfriend really wanted to give it a try. I had a Duke Ellington with some eggplant fries (something you would really have to twist my arm to eat). It was great! Love being surprised.
(4)Wendy K.
We went last night before a movie. We had about 1 hour and had the Date Night Special- 1 bottle of wine, 1 app, 2 entrees for $40. We made our movie, no problems, even got to see the trailers!! Service was great. This was 1st time I've been here and the guy at the counter was very imformative about how things worked. We had calamari for the app, yummy. For an entree, I had the Blackened Ahi Tuna wrap- delicious!! I highly recommend it. My friend had the pulled pork and he said it was very good, too!! I will def go back. In fact, I can't wait to go back again!!! I can't say enough about the service. Very friendly. Perfect date night place for dinner and a movie!!!
(5)Seth M.
3.5 stars. did the date night special. $35 bucks, good deal. got a nice bottle of cabernet. got the fried calamari. very good. i had been craving mexican food, so i ordered the adega's quesadilla. probably shouldnt have ordered mexican at a wine place. it came with bbq sauce on it, which i didnt appreciate. oh well. the atmosphere is nice. wait staff was nice.
(3)Jeannie L.
Awesome little gem hidden in the backside of downtown Silver Spring. I love the idea of combining wine cellar with a cafe that offers great selection of food. They have a variety of offerings, ranging from Cajun Jimbalaya to Ahi Tuna salad. My Jimbalaya was really yummy. I can't wait to go back again and check out their selection of vino. Perhaps a longer work lunch is needed.
(4)Annie C.
Manage your expectations and you'll realize this place is fantastic. The trick is to read the sign before entering: Adega Wine Cellars. This place sells wines, everything else is extra. WINE & STAFF Disclaimer: I'm a wine novice (I'm more of a foodie) but hey, we've all got to start somewhere. Adega has a great selection for descent prices. Every time I've been here (only a handful of times), I'm greeted by staff who are not only eager to teach me about wine but do so humbly. For as little as 10 bucks, you can walk out of the store with a nice bottle and having benefited from an impromptu wine lesson. For me, that's a pretty good deal. On top of that, you can open a bottle in the store without a corking fee and they will happily recork the bottle for you if you can't finish it (though I've never had to take advantage of that). In terms of wine selection, maybe once I learn more about wines, I'll want to branch out but for now, I'm very happy with what Adega has to offer. As for the staff, rarely have I been to a place that has had such consistently good service. FOOD This is the part where I learned to manage my expectations. As the name states, this is a wine store - everything else is extra. That said, Adega has exceeded my expectations in terms of food. The food is not only decently priced (I'd say most entrees hover around 10 dollars) but tasty. What's even better is the weekend date special: 35 duckets for a bottle, appetizer, and two entrees! My boyfriend and I took advantage of this deal and were very happy. We got eggplant fries (AMAZING), he got a flatbread, and I got pasta. The entrees were a bit better than average and the fries were good. Given that many restaurants would happily charge you $35 for just the bottle of wine, the value here is off the charts. OVERALL 5 stars because it's a wine cellar with so much more to offer.
(5)Brian S.
Adega is great for so many reasons. The sandwiches are delicious, fresh, and pretty cheap. They have a great wine selection which can be drank on the premises or taken home. They have a wide range of bottles from different regions and at a variety of price levels. They also have a small, but good selection of beers. Another great thing about Adega is that they are open later than many downtown restaurants.
(5)Brennan S.
Miserable food, and horrible wine - quite a marriage of mediocrity. Don't frequent this establishment. Instead, visit some of the excellent local restaurants in the near vicinity
(1)Angel B.
Adega is one of my favorite Silver Spring places. The eggplant fries are delicious, especially with the marina sauce they are served with. One order can easily be shared by two people. Also a favorite of mine is the turkey reuben that comes with a raspberry chutney sauce. The prices are a little steep, although with the atmosphere of a wine bar, that's probably to be expected. They also have a great assortment of beers and wines. I love ordering a sandwich and fries to go and sipping a bottle of Yuengling while waiting for my order.
(4)Tiffany H.
Let's face it: with 6 billion people in the world, I may never find the love of my life (aww...cue the violins), but in Adega I've found something much more valuable in the short term: a charming, not-too-expensive place to take first dates, unless by some miracle one of said dates turns out to be somebody I can stand to be around for more than seventeen consecutive minutes. I'll be honest, I don't know much about wine. I know that I prefer red. I know that it's hard(er) to go wrong with something from Australia or Argentina. And I know that in the ranking of things it's okay to become addicted to, wine falls somewhere between In-N-Out Burger and Guitar Hero. That being said, bringing the uninitiated here says one of two things: (a) that you have at least a modicum of knowledge on the subject; or (b) that you knew exactly where to come to get drunk cheaply. And on a first date, one's just as good as the other. Now. If it's the weekend, you can get the "Wine & Dine Special": two entrees, one appetizer, and a bottle of one of the featured wines for $35. Is that a steal or what? The food is great, plenty of tasty options for both carnivores and herbivores. And if I may make a suggestion, go with a mixture of fries for the app. The serving is huge, so do half eggplant fries and half sweet potato; they're happy to oblige you. Mmmm... You'll be tempted to sit by the window and the wine shop section, but be forewarned that approximately halfway though the evening, the distance between your table and the restroom alllll the way on the other side of the restaurant is about five city blocks. Just something to consider when you're going through one or two bottles of vino. Or rather, it's going through you.
(4)Jessica B.
Adega is my absolute favorite Silver Spring spot! It's just perfect. I've brought most of my friends and family members here by now. My usual order is the chipotle turkey wrap, sweet potato fries and a glass of the house pinot grigio. I've also split appetizers and flatbreads. So great for a quick, affordable, delicious dinner and drinks with a friend after a long work day. The staff is really friendly and polite. I've also taken advantage of their wine store, and one of their sauv blanc's has become my favorite bottle! If I had one complaint, it may be that it does get crowded and it can be hard to find seating, but I've never had to wait too long for a table to open up.
(5)Ed H.
cool idea...... having a huge selection of wine and serving food!!! they have drink and food specials also big +++++
(4)Mic X.
the best way i can describe this place is a five star fast food joint. it's a great place to grab a good, solid glass of wine (or bottle) and have some high end comfort food. i love their sweet potato fries, their jambalaya penne is to die 4, the calamari is good, as is the southwestern wrap and there are always specials. it is a good place to veg during happy hour time. p.s. you can buy some nice bottles of wine and some good beers here with a fair mark up on the sticker price.
(4)Chris H.
For me Adega is a great place for a quick and inexpensive weeknight meal: the pasta is very good and I have yet to dislike a wine they have recommended. The atmosphere is casual and the staff is friendly.
(4)Kelsy S.
The jerk chicken sandwich (Big Jerk) was severely lacking..super bland and disappointing. My friend had an italian sandwich, and it was relatively tasty. My boyfriend's black and blue burger was actually good. The sweet potato fries were very tasty. Eggplant fries were too greasy. We didn't have any wine, but I'm sure that would have added to the meal. It was a good location, downtown area and close to the parking lot of Whole foods. However, the inside looks like a Panera cafe, so don't expect a restaurant.
(3)Brendan E.
I randomly stopped in here the other day just to check it out and enjoy a walk away for the office. This is the consummate yuppie establishment. I don't use the term derisively. It's simply that the place caters toward that younger, somewhat wealthier aged 20-35 white female. I came in, looked through the menu, which was fairly extensive for such a small place. I ordered a toasted sandwich with prosciutto, gorgonzola cheese, arugula and pears (yes, pears). I felt the sandwich was almost cmplete but damned if I can't figure out what I would improve. This should support my earlier claim of yuppiness. Still the sandwich good but greasier than I expected. Decent cup of coffee too. What I didn't expect was the wines and beers available for sale here. They even had some beers on tap which, on a more stressful day, I might have swapped for my coffee. I didn't really pay attention to price but I don't remember anything being outrageous. I'm not a big wine drinker but I can speak for the beer, which actually had a better selection than most similarly sized ie small stores and they had a better than average representation of some of the larger local micro breweries which also makes me feel good, even if I think Flying Dog is overrated. The place actually got fairly busy but they have a good amount of seating, including a few tables outside. The inside is clean and not offensively laid put or decorated. What really put this into the 4 star category was the fact that while I was there I managed to spill my coffee onto my phone but manged to power down, dry out, and complete the rescue. It's not that I asked any of the staff there for help, the miracle just happened to happen in their space, so well done! Next time I go I'm definitely getting a beer. Occasionally a friend of mine and I will go someplace like this and play yuppies for the day. This spot is perfect for a lunch version of that. Worthwhile, but if you're a guy who doesn't have confidence in your masculinity/sexuality you probably won't like it. No offense, just truth.
(4)Tiffany M.
When we went they offered a Monday special of 40% off wine which was AWESOME! (They may still have this but I'm not sure). Obviously (hint the name) they've got a nice wine collection, and it's always fun to try new wines when it's discounted. We really enjoyed the casual relaxing environment and would recommend it as a pleasant place to eat if you happen to be in the downtown Silver Spring area.
(4)Jim W.
I live in the neighborhood and Adega is a great little place for lunch, dinner and of course a bottle of wine. The staff is always upbeat and the wine selection seems really good (I'm not an expert, just a user). The wine is a little pricey, but I can walk there so I'm not going to rate them lower for that.
(3)Matthew L.
Gourmet sandwiches, burgers, pastas, wine, and beer. A perfect spot for a quick sit down meal. Nice atmosphere.
(3)Garry C.
It is extremely easy to convince the boyf not to go to the gym on Mondays. All I have to say is "half-price bottle of wine" and he rips off his sneakers and heads for the door. We have never been disappointed by the half-price wine selection and we have even found a few new favs. I have never been as impressed by the food. The pesto pasta was soooo EVOO-y that I felt like it was dripping down my face. The bruschetta was ok and the flatbread thingy we had was alright, but nothing too spectacular. We really come here for the wine. Great deals aside, it is a good place to go if you aren't really sure what you are looking for. Everyone there seems to really know what they are talking about and can steer you in the right direction. We have found lots of new wines we prob would never have tried by heeding their advice. It is very cute and casual, but I can easily see how it might feel cafeteria-y. I occasionally feel like I am sitting on top of the person at the table next to us. Maybe other costumers might not mind this because one time when I got up to use the restroom, the lady seated next to us decided she needed to tell my boyf the hidden "girl meaning" beneath what I was saying. "You know, she really wants this..." Awk, but hilarious.
(4)Thoreau B.
Eggplant fries are the best thing ever invented. Seriously-such a good idea. This place has some decent sandwiches and other food, but the real reason to come is for the eggplant fries. It also has a small wine shop attached (it used to be 50/50 wine and cafe but the cafe did way better than the wine shop, so the wine is just a vestige now). It is kind of tucked away and hard to find compared to alot of the places in downtown silver spring, but it is worth checking out. I have probably been over 50 times, and plan on keep coming back. It is well priced-mostly because it is self service-but the food is good, and you can drink a glass of wine and then see a movie across the street and basically make a nice night of it. But make sure to try the eggplant fries.
(4)Pat R.
I went to Adega on Friday night during happy hour and stayed there until it closed. My friends and I had a wonderful time and the staff was very friendly & helpful. We tried the Bruchetta, Crabcake and The Santa Fe Flatbread. Everything was delicious and we ordered seconds! In addition to the food we bought two bottles of wine. We asked to have it chilled and they kindly did and brought it to our table. I will definitely come here again in the future.
(5)Jesse O.
I wasn't expecting to like it that much but my girlfriend really wanted to give it a try. I had a Duke Ellington with some eggplant fries (something you would really have to twist my arm to eat). It was great! Love being surprised.
(4)Kate F.
I will definitely be going back. Good food, great staff, and a simple vibe. They get one whole star simply for doing sweet potato fries so well. They are larger than most places, cooked perfectly and served with a complimentary dipping sauce. I couldn't ID it, perhaps the citrus vinaigrette. I got the Caribbean Chicken Salad. Excellent - fresh, tasty produce and a great combination of things. They didn't drown it all in dressing so a big gold star for them. My dinner mate got the steak flatbread and it was also delicious. The staff is really great. I am particularly fond of the guy who announces orders. He just has the perfect voice. They all have a great sense of humor and put up with my dinner mate's request for lots (really, I was a tab embarrassed by the amount) of extra fry dipping sauce. One guy was off the clock and leaving as we were and said thanks. Just friendly, helpful, funny people. Definitely good for a first date or a bite to eat before or after a movie.
(4)Caneil M.
Just beyond the hustle and bustle of Ellsworth Drive in Downtown Silver Spring lies Adega Wine Cellars and Café, serving up an extensive wine selection as well as a hearty offering of salads, pastas, pizzas, and mouth watering sandwiches. Sights: Half wine shop, half café. Stepping into Ageda you instantly know these people are serious about their wine. To the left is a selection sure to impress any sommelier. To the right, the space is filled with light wood café tables in a variety of heights, shapes, and sizes. Good food and wine draws a diverse crowd sprinkled throughout the café ranging from young families to elderly couples. Some click away on laptops while others chat over tall glasses of wine. Sounds: The sizzle of an industrial grill putting in work. A mixture of top 40 and old favorites blend gently into the background. Every now and then an order being called out breaks through the low chatter. Smells: Baking flatbread pizzas and grilled veggies Tastes: Crisp sweet potato fries that are just the right amount of savory and sweet and a Jerk Chicken Salad platter that was beyond fresh. The chicken was unbelievable! Tender and juicy with an herb covered skin. All complemented by a bottle of Pinot Grigio. Feel: This is the kind of place where you want to bring all your friends and just hang out for hours ordering bottles of wine and flat bread pizzas. Warm and welcoming with fantastic food, wine, and service minus the pretension of some gourmet restaurants. Stop by Adega to check out Monday Night wine deals and their Saturday and Sunday Night Wine & Dine Special which includes 2 entrees, 1 appetizer, and a bottle of Adega selected wine for only $35 when you dine in.
(4)Katherine K.
I've only lunched here so I can't speak for their wine selection but Adega is on my list. The salads are great (I am a sucker for the Salmon Caesar, though it's a bit pricey); flatbreads are also yummy. Adega gets a little packed around lunchtime so try not to show up at the stroke of noon. Also, sometimes timing doesn't work out so well when eating with a group - one time I went and ordered a flatbread which came up after everyone else had finished their meals.
(4)Steve Y.
As a fan of the wine bar scene I have to admit that I just don't know what to make of Adega. In so many ways Adega really frustrates me! The reality is I want to really like it (Silver Spring could use a decent wine bar), but there's a few important things stopping me. Primarily, I think Adega is unsure of its identity; yes, it calls itself a wine bar, but it also seems to be a wine shop, and it also has the feel of a fast food place like Potbelly's or Quiznos. I really think it needs to do away with the overpriced wine shop aspect (this is partially a factor of being located in Montgomery County where most wine is $2-$5 more expensive than it should be due to the state's and the county's insanely idiotic wine laws!!). They also need to make the food ordering less like a fast food joint. In fairness the actual food is a step above fast food and the menu does show some potential. However, with plastic plates, fountain drinks and counter service the place feels more like a burger joint than a wine bar. The result is a drinking and dining experiencing that falls far short of where it should be. Aside from the confused identity, I also think the place needs to be a lot cozier, and I mean A LOT! Perhaps they should go with a more rustic look (exposed brick, distressed tables, etc) like Cork on 14th Street in the District. Or, if they really wanted inspiration, they only need to walk up Colesville Road about 1/2 a mile and take a look at the excellent wine cellar at Mrs K's Toll House. The poor lighting, an often overlooked but essential component, also gets in the way of having a nice dining experience. If they correct all of these things then I'd be visiting the place every week, however right now I barely get there once a year. I'm guessing that Adega will continue to frustrate me for quite a while.
(2)Kat L.
:::bashes head into wall::: first of all the bad. On a thursday afternoon with 2 people in line, how long does it take to take an order. I wanted to buy 2 bottles of wine, and i stood, and waited, and waited, for 10 minutes while the people in front of me diddle daddied with their choices for a late lunch. now the good. I buy my wine here. A-Z, and Goats do Roam. Its fantastic, and when I have beer people in town I know where to get the rare stuff. Its here. But its hard to buy when I cant check out. 4 stars but minus one for 10 min wait.
(3)Brandi S.
I've been to adega a few times and found the food ok, not great but fine...until the last time I went where I ordered the burger and suffered food poisoning! After a horrible 48 hours and a visit to the ER, I have to say that adega has lost not only me but all my friends as patrons :(
(1)Carrie G.
If you took a wine bar and crossed it with a coffee shop, this would be the result. As such, it doesn't quite have the ambiance of a normal wine bar, but what it does have is the ability to select any bottle in the place and drink it for no corkage fee. A friend and I split a bottle of wine and some sweet potato and eggplant fries (surprise, I thought I would like the sweet potato fries more, and they're good, but the eggplant ones were even better) for what two glasses of wine would cost in a lot of places.
(4)Meghann E.
This is my favorite place for a glass of wine in the Silver Spring area. Great happy hour specials make it worth your while to come a little early. The food selection is diverse and not overly expensive. The eggplant fries are especially delicious (though sometimes they sell out). Adega also has a unique system where you order your food and pay at the counter then find a spot to sit and relax for the evening. On slow evenings it is the ideal system. On busy nights it can get confusing. The line isn't well organized, it sometimes take five minutes for people to order and the wait can be frustrating for people just popping in to grab a bottle of wine. It would be helpful if the staff behind the counter would communicate more with their guests waiting. It would help with the confusion and frustration. Speaking of staff though, Jose (whose title is probably busboy of the place?) is worth the visit alone. He helps you find seating, is personable and makes you want to become a regular. He even created seating for a group of friends and me when we came late on a busy Friday evening. Overall a great place to eat and dine.
(4)Sunny D.
if i lived in SS i think i'd spend a lot of time here. it's like panera with slightly better food, and with wine. good wine! pros: -fast service (unless you're behind some idiots who can't decide/don't know the way the ordering works and aren't polite enough to step aside while they figure it out)* -very tasty food -lovely atmosphere that's part cafe, part wine cellar, part restaurant and perfect for dining alone with a book/laptop or with friends -you can dine in or take away, or just hit the wine cellar side and pick up some bottles (very good selection) cons: -the line/ordering system isn't very clearly defined and the menus are on the counter at the front even though the line is often all the way to the door -it gets pretty crowded on weekend afternoons/evenings, especially when the weather's nice -the floors are slippery even when dry if you're wearing anything other than grippy sneakers/boots -you can NOT sit in the outdoor seating area and drink your wine/beer; you have to drink inside ONLY. (kind of sucks on a beautiful day.) i'm in love with the jerk chicken salad even though i feel like it could be spicier. but it's very fresh and comes with avocados and a delicious mango dressing that hit the spot! i've heard great things about the bleu cheese burger but i don't eat red meat and i loathe bleu cheese, so i can't say first hand. the prices are reasonable and the staff is very friendly. i have to agree w/ mic that this is like a high end fast food joint. think napa valley/sonoma + starbucks + au bon pain + panera. but better. and with wine. lots and lots of wine! (*my GF and i were those idiots the first time we went, but we did step aside until we got our ordering lives together.)
(3)Laura W.
1) sweet potato fries and eggplant fries (get the half and half plate) - simply amazing 2) happy hour with glasses of wine under 4 bucks 3) good wraps and salads 4) nice atmosphere - very sunny and open 5) scenic view of silver spring's very own astroturf lot
(4)Gregory O.
At first I was scared of eating here because of the name -- I'm no oenophile! I shouldn't have been scared; this is a great, casual place to get a quick bite to eat. The prices are reasonable and the food is yummy. I'll definitely be coming back.
(4)Alie S.
I eat here about once a week so it is definitely my go-to place in SS. It is laid back with good food and wine. The happy hour is decent, 25% off glasses of house wine and apps. But the best deal is to buy a bottle of wine because there is no corkage fee and you can take it home if you don't finish it. The food is fresh and there is a good variety of sandwich and wrap options. My personal favorite is the jerk chicken sandwich (excellent spiced chicken with mango and greens on a baguette). The cuban sandwich is great as well. The prices on the bottles are marked up a bit since they can be bought and drank in the restaurant. I wouldn't come here just to buy wine but to get a bottle and 2 meals for about $30, it is a great weeknight date spot.
(4)Katie S.
This place has so much potential that is a little bit squandered by an unevolving menu and wine list. Here's what I love- being able to go and buy an interesting bottle of wine for a slightly inflated retail price, and then corking it in-store is a gazillion times better than paying restaurant wine prices. The sweet potato and eggplant fries are also pretty good. Here's what I don't love-outdoor seating where you can't drink wine. Sometimes impossible to find seating indoors on a busy night. A menu with almost nothing that is vegetarian/vegan except for one mediocre wrap and the fries. But even the meaty/cheesy options seem a little uninspired. It's a really cool business model and a great location, if they could get a good chef in there to overhaul the menu, it could be AMAZING. As-is, it's a great neighborhood place for an inexpensive glass of wine before a movie. We keep coming back for the wine. Oh and- the beer is such an afterthought. If they just had 2-3 rotating EXCELLENT beer choices that would really be great. They have almost no beer worth drinking.
(3)Ashley K.
Every time I passed this place I brushed it off as just a liquor store with a bit of food, boy, was I wrong. My fiance and I had heard that they had great burgers so we had to see for ourselves. You order your food at the counter and someone brings it to you or you can pick it up. They had a selection of about 5 beers and a ton of wine. We wanted to sit outside because it was extremely over air conditioned. This meant that we couldn't get alcohol because it isn't allowed at their few outdoor tables (I know, I know). I got the blue cheese burger and Mike got some burger served on foccacia. My burger was pure blissful deliciousness, juicy and flavorful. They were served with chips, which I'm usually not a fan of, but these were actually pretty good. Mike's burger was good too, but I was glad I'd ordered what I did. Next time I'm going to take advantage of the whole wine-store thing.
(4)Edward A.
Tasty and unexpected food, beer and wine selections. But the main reason for the review is the delightful staff. One of the few Silver Spring establishments with consistently high-quality and cheerful service. Bonus points: Being able to buy a six pack of a great beer like Harpoon and then cracking them open right there. Seems like it should be illegal outside of New Orleans which is maybe part of the fun.
(4)Kristin W.
If you work in the area, this is a great place to grab lunch and sneak a glass of wine. The menu is perfect -- a great range of sandwiches, salads, and some delicious flat bread pizzas. The sweet potato fries are super tasty, and the dipping sauces are so good so that I've tried recreating them at home (sadly, an unsuccessful attempt, so I keep having to come back here). The Jerk wrap and the coconut shrimp salad are my favorites. There's a good selection of house wines if you just want a glass, but if you're in the mood for a bottle, you've come to the right place. The wines here are excellent and the servers are all very knowledgeable, so if you're not a wine snob and don't know what to pick, they'll help you find something you'll love.
(4)Danilo A.
In the mood for wine? Then check out this amazing restaurant with a laid back atmosphere. It is a very nice place for get together with friends, or grab a drink before a movie date. Adega is known for their broad choice of tasty wines and reasonable prices. This is a great joint to sample some great wines and tasty food without the long wait.
(4)Cory C.
Wow, this is a loving group! I will join, but can't commit to 5 stars yet. (Maybe you should talk to my girlfriend about that one) Just the same, the "Domster" rocks (Hard salami, cappicola ham, mortadella, shredded romaine lettuce, provolone cheese, sliced tomato, olive oil and vinegar, mayo, and spicy peppers, served on a French baguette)! I love the shredded romaine, though saying that first is to ignore the fantasticalness of the meats and provolone, which is really tasty. Oh, and by the way, the baguetee is one of the lightest, perfectly only slightly crunchy rolls I've ever had a sandwich grace. Thumbs way up on that one! Also, the cherry peppers they put on this one are huge -- we're talking 2 in across (and sliced thin). They are really great, and truly tie this sandwich together. Where's The Dude when you need him? If you find yourself up in Silver Spring at the AFI or happen to live nearby stop ignoring this joint, which is awkwardly placed behind the astroturf soccer field. AND, saluting The Dude's famous words, "This is not 'Nam, Walter, there are rules," one of which is that you can get half-price wine bottles with entrees on Mondays!
(4)E. R.
My boyfriend and I love Adega and have been going there for 3 years. We love the date night deal, $40 for a bottle on wine, an appetizer and two entrees. At times it does get crowded, but the food is good for a casual place where you order at the counter. The calamari and zucchini fries are great! The only thing I didn't like that I ordered there is the fish tacos...they were just bland. But overall, this place is great!
(5)C S.
While the name sounds like it, this is not a sit down wait staffed placed. It is similar to the cosi setup. I don't see the big deal about their Eggplant fries. Ours seemed over fried and were all very stuck together. We thought they might of just over cooked ours but other people's looked the same. I enjoyed the sweet potato fries more. The staff is great and I was able to pickup a nice bottle and some hard to find beer. However I don't recommend it for the food. While it was decent quality it wasn't a stand out. Everything seemed very fried and afterward I felt gross. I think I would have preferred an Arby's. I might try this place again and try to get a lighter meal.
(3)Ryan M.
The food is really excellent, the drink selection is quite good, and the location is convenient. The prices seemed a trifle high to me, but they might just be higher because of the downtown location. It does tend to get crowded, though.
(5)Anice S.
not that I need to add to the wealth of positive reviews, but I will. Great, innovative "foodie" food at a reasonable price... and the staff is always helpful and pleasant. usually you can try the wines that they have by the glass before buying - I wish I had bought a bottle of the one I had last night! Even when they're packed, they always have enough staff to keep things moving and keep the dining room clean and ready for the next round.
(4)Stephen R.
Great atmosphere. A good place to get food and share a bottle of wine with friends. The BBQ pulled pork sandwich is on of the best I have ever had. Sometimes the food can be a little hit or miss. I guess its the price you pay for trying to be creative. They do run some great specials on weekend such as 2 Entrees, an Appetizer, and a bottle of wine for $35-40 dollars.
(4)Esther O.
Adega is really neat. Walk-up counter to order wine and food, and then you can take a seat and they'll bring your food out to you. Casual and low-key, yet really nice at the same time. Both wines I tasted were excellent, so they seem to have a nice selection open for wines by the glass. We only ordered a half-and-half fries (half sweet potato and half eggplant) for food, but they were great. The eggplant were really excellent. I've had better sweet potato fries elsewhere (I love sweet potato, but these were too sweet potato-y and not really "fries"), but they were still yummy. All the food we saw being delivered to other tables looked wonderful. I will definitely be back!
(4)Jessica J.
I love this place! I go to downtown Silver Spring all the time. However, I always assumed this place was wine only because of the store name. It's kind of hard to tell because the storefront faces the convention center rather than the street. The food is great-tasting, healthy, and affordable. Nice place to unwind with a nice meal and glass of wine. This is definitely a new spot for me!
(4)Wendy K.
We went last night before a movie. We had about 1 hour and had the Date Night Special- 1 bottle of wine, 1 app, 2 entrees for $40. We made our movie, no problems, even got to see the trailers!! Service was great. This was 1st time I've been here and the guy at the counter was very imformative about how things worked. We had calamari for the app, yummy. For an entree, I had the Blackened Ahi Tuna wrap- delicious!! I highly recommend it. My friend had the pulled pork and he said it was very good, too!! I will def go back. In fact, I can't wait to go back again!!! I can't say enough about the service. Very friendly. Perfect date night place for dinner and a movie!!!
(5)Annie C.
Manage your expectations and you'll realize this place is fantastic. The trick is to read the sign before entering: Adega Wine Cellars. This place sells wines, everything else is extra. WINE & STAFF Disclaimer: I'm a wine novice (I'm more of a foodie) but hey, we've all got to start somewhere. Adega has a great selection for descent prices. Every time I've been here (only a handful of times), I'm greeted by staff who are not only eager to teach me about wine but do so humbly. For as little as 10 bucks, you can walk out of the store with a nice bottle and having benefited from an impromptu wine lesson. For me, that's a pretty good deal. On top of that, you can open a bottle in the store without a corking fee and they will happily recork the bottle for you if you can't finish it (though I've never had to take advantage of that). In terms of wine selection, maybe once I learn more about wines, I'll want to branch out but for now, I'm very happy with what Adega has to offer. As for the staff, rarely have I been to a place that has had such consistently good service. FOOD This is the part where I learned to manage my expectations. As the name states, this is a wine store - everything else is extra. That said, Adega has exceeded my expectations in terms of food. The food is not only decently priced (I'd say most entrees hover around 10 dollars) but tasty. What's even better is the weekend date special: 35 duckets for a bottle, appetizer, and two entrees! My boyfriend and I took advantage of this deal and were very happy. We got eggplant fries (AMAZING), he got a flatbread, and I got pasta. The entrees were a bit better than average and the fries were good. Given that many restaurants would happily charge you $35 for just the bottle of wine, the value here is off the charts. OVERALL 5 stars because it's a wine cellar with so much more to offer.
(5)Brian S.
Adega is great for so many reasons. The sandwiches are delicious, fresh, and pretty cheap. They have a great wine selection which can be drank on the premises or taken home. They have a wide range of bottles from different regions and at a variety of price levels. They also have a small, but good selection of beers. Another great thing about Adega is that they are open later than many downtown restaurants.
(5)Brennan S.
Miserable food, and horrible wine - quite a marriage of mediocrity. Don't frequent this establishment. Instead, visit some of the excellent local restaurants in the near vicinity
(1)Tiffany H.
Let's face it: with 6 billion people in the world, I may never find the love of my life (aww...cue the violins), but in Adega I've found something much more valuable in the short term: a charming, not-too-expensive place to take first dates, unless by some miracle one of said dates turns out to be somebody I can stand to be around for more than seventeen consecutive minutes. I'll be honest, I don't know much about wine. I know that I prefer red. I know that it's hard(er) to go wrong with something from Australia or Argentina. And I know that in the ranking of things it's okay to become addicted to, wine falls somewhere between In-N-Out Burger and Guitar Hero. That being said, bringing the uninitiated here says one of two things: (a) that you have at least a modicum of knowledge on the subject; or (b) that you knew exactly where to come to get drunk cheaply. And on a first date, one's just as good as the other. Now. If it's the weekend, you can get the "Wine & Dine Special": two entrees, one appetizer, and a bottle of one of the featured wines for $35. Is that a steal or what? The food is great, plenty of tasty options for both carnivores and herbivores. And if I may make a suggestion, go with a mixture of fries for the app. The serving is huge, so do half eggplant fries and half sweet potato; they're happy to oblige you. Mmmm... You'll be tempted to sit by the window and the wine shop section, but be forewarned that approximately halfway though the evening, the distance between your table and the restroom alllll the way on the other side of the restaurant is about five city blocks. Just something to consider when you're going through one or two bottles of vino. Or rather, it's going through you.
(4)Jessica B.
Adega is my absolute favorite Silver Spring spot! It's just perfect. I've brought most of my friends and family members here by now. My usual order is the chipotle turkey wrap, sweet potato fries and a glass of the house pinot grigio. I've also split appetizers and flatbreads. So great for a quick, affordable, delicious dinner and drinks with a friend after a long work day. The staff is really friendly and polite. I've also taken advantage of their wine store, and one of their sauv blanc's has become my favorite bottle! If I had one complaint, it may be that it does get crowded and it can be hard to find seating, but I've never had to wait too long for a table to open up.
(5)Ed H.
cool idea...... having a huge selection of wine and serving food!!! they have drink and food specials also big +++++
(4)Mic X.
the best way i can describe this place is a five star fast food joint. it's a great place to grab a good, solid glass of wine (or bottle) and have some high end comfort food. i love their sweet potato fries, their jambalaya penne is to die 4, the calamari is good, as is the southwestern wrap and there are always specials. it is a good place to veg during happy hour time. p.s. you can buy some nice bottles of wine and some good beers here with a fair mark up on the sticker price.
(4)Chris H.
For me Adega is a great place for a quick and inexpensive weeknight meal: the pasta is very good and I have yet to dislike a wine they have recommended. The atmosphere is casual and the staff is friendly.
(4)Summer S.
I really enjoyed my dinner here. The employees are knowledgable and yet far from snooty. The wine guy took time to explain biodynamic vineyards to my mom and he was very pleasant. Aside from a good wine and beer selection the food is also very good. Big portions and good prices; I had the steak & cheese and tomato & basil soup and my mom had sweet potato fries and the Santa Fe chicken flatbread. Compliments all around. Only improvement I would make is table service instead of fast food style ordering and a cozier eating area.
(4)Audrey C.
Good choice for grabbing a drink before your movie or a quick family dinner. Kids are totally welcome there and there and it's got overall good food, but the flatbreads are too crackery for my taste. Friendly staff and a clean, modern yet cozy decor.
(4)Jane K.
Good wine and decent food. A nice option in downtown silver spring. Certainly beats all the big chain restaurants nearby.
(4)Sarah G.
A friend of mine (as a matter of fact the same friend who's joined me on like 3 of my reviewed spots) had been talking for quite a while about stopping into this random wine spot in Downtown Silver Spring, so finally we got our sh*t together and went last Friday. The 4 stars are specific to the wine selection, service and from what I could tell the food. I do have some issues about the way the place works with regard to seating but then, it was a Friday night and rather busy. Basically it's seat yourself, and my friend and I got screwed by 1) a pair of girls who said they'd hold our seat at a giant table and proceeded not to, and THEN proceeded to stand near us later with a huge group of people and shove and talk loud. I didn't appreciate it. And 2) a woman who saw me walk toward a table to sit and literally almost ran me over to get the seat, didn't appreciate that either. What I DID appreciate was the guy who took our order, Juan, who upon waiting for us to decide what we wanted and probably thinking I was a little nuts, searched for a place for us to sit and was just awesome generally. Big up's to you Juan. So there's my talk of the service, that he along with ALL the staff were really polite and funny and just generally enjoyable, which for me, can make or break my evening. On to the wines...amazing..nuff said. I will go back to try their "featured" wines, because the 3 I tried were all quite good. One zin, one Malbec and well let's be real and say I don't remember the last one except that my friend bought a bottle. Ooops. Food: Sweet potato fries are great, hard to do bad, but they had this INCREDIBLE lemon, oil dipping sauce that I probably could have taken a quick shot of, but remembered my manners. My buddy had a sandwich that looked amazing and there are probably about 6 other dishes I'd like to try WHEN I go back because I will be going back. It's a perfect date spot, or as so many have said, quick bite before a movie, casual meet up before going out whatever. Big fan.
(4)Peter J.
This is a great choice for an inexpensive dinner out... a good selection of food without the added expense of table service. The Napa and Blue Cheese burgers are good. Half-and-half fries are good, too. Word to the wise: it's way cheaper to pick a $10 or $15 bottle of wine out, drink a few glasses with your food, then take the bottle home with you.
(4)Nicole M.
This was one of my favorite places when I lived in downtown Silver Spring. For the size, they had a pretty decent selection of wine and was always my stop when I wanted a bottle or two. The food is just fantastic and very different from anything else you can get in that area. Definitely get the sweet potato fries - I've had many versions and these are the best. They have really great happy hour deals so you can try different kinds of wines and the staff is so incredibly friendly... a nice change to see someone in the service industry who seems to really like their job. Not a great place for beer, but it is a wine cellar so that's not too surprising. Adega is relaxing and laid back; a great little oasis in this area to enjoy a leisurely glass of wine.
(4)Lisa M.
The sweet potato fries are excellent. Decent wine selection, yummy food. Great stop in nice weather as they have some seating outside. Of course with the construction on the former "green" now ... outside may not be as nice.
(4)Maya C.
This Saturday afternoon I went to Downtown Silver Spring to visit a couple of stores. I got hungry and looked for something quick but delicious. I crossed the street and stopped at Adega Wine Cellars. Back in the day I used to work in SS, and knew about their fabulous sandwiches. This time I ordered the Ahi Tuna Wrap (market price...which means we will charge whatever the heck we want and you won't know until AFTER we ran your card!) and a drink. My order came up to $15 and some change. I looked around while I waited to get called and found a great assortment of wines and beers. Of course I had to buy a bottle. They even have Red Stripe Jamaican beer. I am not a beer drinker at all, but first time I see it sold here, so I was gladly surprised. My name got called..yiipeeeeee!. There are tables set in the shop where to sit. My wrap was made in red tortilla, with a mesclun of green, roasted peppers, lightly seared and very rare ahi tuna with a light sweet Asian dressing. 1st bite, I was in love. Worth every penny! It was a perfect combination of flavors and the tuna was so tasty. A friendly note if you eat this...check your teeth before leaving the place...let's just say it wasn't pretty...took care of business and voila! Why am I writing reviews when I am hungry! I would do anything now to get another ahi tuna wrap!, but I am in VA! Ahhhh...slow, slow torture.
(5)Thaila S.
I live in Silver Spring and went to Adega for the first time last night for a casual dinner with a friend. In a sea of yucky chains (Macaroni Grill, Red Lobster, etc.), Adega is a welcome addition to the downtown area and I was happy to see that it was pretty packed when I walked in at 7 pm. This is definitely not a trendy wine bar scene -- it's more like a Cosi or Panera but with much better food and good wine. We ordered the eggplant/sweet potato fries, a glass of the Merlot house wine, and I had a portabello sandwich. The fries were good but definitely greasy (as expected) and I felt a little gross afterward. This had less to do with the fries and more the fact that I haven't even fries in ages. The fries come in a HUGE portion, you could easily split it with 3 or even 4 people. My sandwich was surprisingly delicious. I'm not a portabello fan but I thought I would try it because it sounded good, and it really was -- the bread was soft, the basil pesto was really yummy, and it was the right size -- not too big, not too small. This isn't a place to "linger" -- we stayed here for 2 hours and I definitely felt like we were the only ones who stuck around for that long. My sense is that most people come for a quick bite before heading out to the movies. If you're looking for a casual place with very good food, I would definitely recommend Adega.
(4)Paul W.
Adega is astonishing. A consistent menu, consistently well-prepared, with fresh approaches to the usual burgers and quesadillas. Pulled pork barbecue sandwich DONE RIGHT. Then there's the wine. For zero corkage, you can buy a bottle off the shelf and have it with dinner. You can't get a better deal than that. Not to mention the friendly staff, with whom we've actually gotten quite friendly. The atmosphere is fun, warm, lots of wood, well-thought out. The owner, Walter, has got a real winner here. Go! It's near the Whole Foods and the Borders, in case you don't know where it is. Just park in the Whole Foods lot and ask people where it is.
(5)Afshan K.
This place has never disappointed me. It may be because it's such a great place to hang out and chat with friends. Awesome wine, great service and decent food - not the best, but not terrible either. Overall, it's a great way to spend an evening with friends. I would alert though that you may have to end up waiting some time to get a table - especially if you go during the happy hour! But it's worth it. Love the atmosphere and decor too.
(4)Avery W.
Good concept, maybe not the best execution. Wine options were good, but I thought my wrap was a bit soggy. They do offer wonderful deals, however. Good, lowkey, vibe.
(3)Ina C.
What a cool place! Silver Spring has definitely sprung. I've only been here once (I'm usually in the area on Sundays, but that's when Adega is closed!) and I thoroughly enjoyed my bread bowl. My bf got some sandwich and he loved it. Pretty good value, understated decor, outdoor seating, great area (Whole Foods, Chick Fil-A, Majestic are all right around the corner) and I believe they have free Wi-Fi. Awesome!
(4)Foody M.
Adega is a hidden unassuming place between a taco place and a hardwear store. its over the outdoor ice skating rink. I'm from NYC so the pizza is just so so. They could improve the dough but it's made fresh. The staff is super friendly and happy to help you pair your wine with your meal. its a nice grown up place that balances between a bar and a fast food joint.
(3)Sarah B.
Adega has a great happy hour! That is definitely the time to go as all wine and beer are 25% off, as well as appetizers. Their wine is fantastic and the staff are great, very friendly and helpful. I've sat there for hours and no one minds. I just wish they'd have a little more vegan food.
(5)Harper D.
Nice vibe and great food!! Loved the burger, sweet potato fries, and sangria! Cute wine shop as well! I'll definitely be going back!
(5)Amber B.
Disclaimer: This review is for a take out order. Adega not only has a great selection of wines but also an awesome menu. The service is outstanding as well. I actually got what's considered a "kids meal" because I liked the ingredients in it versus the dinner entrée pasta. Even bough it was considered a kids meal the portion was great for me! I also bought a. Bottle of wine and they served me a glass while I waited on my order (no bottle opening fee if you purchase a meal, otherwise it's $5 for wine only sit ins). On top of that the view is awesome I downtown Silver Spring. If there are any events going on you can grab a seat by the window and see. I didn't dine in so I can't comment on the service on that front but what I experienced in my short time there was great. Including the fact that I only had to be there a short time! My meal was ready about 8 minutes after ordering. I didn't even have to get up to get it, they brought it over when it was ready. I'll definitely be stopping in for dinner or brunch sometime!
(5)Jean Ann F.
OK, so three stars is average. Not too good but not too bad...well, it was just a bad date night location. This place is more of a lunch or happy hour spot for social time than one on one The alcohol selection was above average for the are and I enjoyed the eclectic menu. I strongly recommend the lamb burger with eggplant fries! Just not for a date.
(3)Toya J.
Adega is such a cool place to hang out. It's like wine cellar meets gourmet bistro with a little Latin jazz in the mix. You come in, go to the register place your order, you get a buzzer, go to your seat and wait for the staff to bring your food. The servers on both my visits were nice and courteous. Don't be skeptical when they say everything is good, because everything IS GOOD! Been here twice already and I must say from the creamy mushroom brie soup and calamari to the blue cheese burger-no complaints. I'm not that crazy about sweet potatoe fries, but I like Adega's part of it is the honey mustard sauce. I was leary about the eggplant fries? But they were delicious, would never think to put fry and eggplant in the same category. But it all works! My favorite drink is their apple cider sangria, which I thought was unique. The environment is very laid back; a casual cafe so it did not seem strange or out of place to see people come here with their children. On Saturdays from 4 to 7pm, there is an impromptu wine tasting. I must say Silver Spring is popping up with more and more things that I would typically go to DC to do. Hey....Easy/ free parking --I'm THERE!
(5)Brian M.
This place is trying hard to be different for the wrong reasons, first you go up to the counter to order, you cannot start a tab, you go get your own food served on a plastic tray with styrofoam plates, when it is ready very much like a McDonalds. But with $6 to $9'glasses of wine. During happy hour 1 appetizer of sliders 1 draft dogfishhead 61 minute and a small order of truffle fries $16. Not horrible but certainly not happy hour! Then the sliders come out, I swore three little old ladies appeared behind me going "where's the beef?". They didn't even half fill the buns. See the picture. One star for the beer and the flatbreads looked good, on star for the draft beer. Summary, a McDonalds service experience and casual higher end Bistro pricing, lacking some meat.
(2)Mike B.
It's funny, when I read my mother's review. Yeah, we keep it real #YelpFamily, she called it a "hidden gem." And my first instinct was to honestly be like... "It's not hidden! It's in the middle of Silver Spring Town Center!" But I have to say... she's kind of right. This is a gem that is hidden in plain sight. Ya know, when you're looking and searching for something endlessly and it turns out to be right in front of you face. How does that happen? Thanks a lot brain! Why I oughta...! Ok, wait, back to the review. So Adega, amongst the large swath of corporate drones and franchises (namely: Fuddruckers, Zpizza, Chik-Fil-A, Baja Fresh, Coldstone, and on and on and on) stands quitely and unassuming. It doesn't have a large blaring sign, it doesn't pop out sitting above the currently dry ice skating rink. But you go in and you're like... this place looks special. Ok... they have wine. That's good... ok they have beer, that real good. And then, you wouldn't even think, but they have a full menu. And when I say full, I mean FULL. They have appetizers, burgers, sandwiches, salads, a few entree dishes. They have pizzas. I mean, it's a full menu! So, you look at it, and you're like... ok, a Smokin' Turkey Reuben ( Stop there... order that). It's delicious, it's a mainstay, and if you really delve deep into the Yelp review, it's like claps at a State Of The Union address. It happens every like 10 seconds. And then you go down and you're like Beef Brisket, Grilled Cheese, Jerk Warp etc etc. But, look closely young padawan. -That beef brisket sandwich has a chipotle bbq sauce with a cumin coleslaw -That grilled cheese sandwich has applewood smoked bacon, and herb marscapone, and a red onion on it -That Jerk Wrap has fresh mango on it! Ahhhh, sakè. (that's an old inside joke between me and an old friend- you won't get it) ***Wait.. you really want me to explain what it means... okkkk fine. So when I was younger, I was watching the Iron Chef Sakè battle with a friend. And the two chefs that were competing would keep adding sake to each dish. And surprisingly the judges, who were watching the battle would continually ask "Oh, what is he adding there???", and then Fukui-san would say "oh, yes, he's adding Sake into that dish" And all the judges would go "Ahhhh, sakè." This happened like 20 times throughout the battle. It just kept happening! "Ahhhh, sakè!" The mini burgers were super tasty. Enhanced by a creamy cheese sauce, perfectly cooked, and served on a buttery brioche bun- I'm tempted to order full size next time. The turkey reuben was clutch. Wonderfully flavorful, dimensional, sweet, tangy, savory, all on crusty bread. Just do it. The bruschetta was the only thing that wasn't to my taste. I think it lacked cohesiveness. It needed something to bring it together, and i don't believe any olive oil was used. I would revisit this recipe... I'm sorry that sounds horrible. It just was really lacking- and with bruschetta, some easy fixes can really save it. Wines were fantastic, I had a Picada Malbec which I would certainly order again. Love this place. I keep forgetting it exists, I need to stop doing that. I want to be there much more!
(4)Joy B.
I have to thank Mike B for introducing me to this hidden gem. A lovely wine bar located right across the street from the Majestic 20 theater in Silver Spring,Maryland. We started our meal with the hamburger sliders. They were thick Angus beef burgers, dripping in an Adega Cabernet reduction, wrapped in a brioche bun and covered with melted cheese. Then we shared the most delicious eggplant fries with a rich tomato dipping sauce. We tried the smokin turkey Reuben. It was grilled panini style filled with oven breasted turkey topped with an Asian pear cranberry sauce. It was like Christmas had come early! A delight for the taste buds. We also enjoyed the bruschetta with diced tomatoes and buffalo Mozzarella cheese. That was the least memorable for me. I had a glass of Pinot noire that was smooth and earthy. If you come at happy hour you get 25% off appetizers. So if you are searching for a hidden gem I highly recommend giving Adega Wine Cellars a try!
(4)Kimberly K.
Obsessed with this place. I came here with a friend for dinner and had a lovely time. Their food was on point! We ordered two dishes to share: the Proscuitto, Fig & Goat Cheese flatbread (pesto spread, topped with hand-torn proscuitto, figs & got cheese w/ mozzarella cheese) and Fish Tacos with Eggplant Fries. The flatbread was absolutely AMAZING. It was the perfect mix of sweet and salty, and the crust was to die for. I don't know what they put in the dough, but man, magically chewy and delish. You can get a small ($13 - four pieces) or large ($16 - eight pieces) size. Obviously, I went for the large! I eat like a fatty - hashtag sorry not sorry. The tacos were cooked perfectly, too. The fish was all sorts of flaky - seriously melted in my mouth *drools* I can't remember what else was in the taco - forgive me, I have an awful memory - but trust me when I say it was awesomesauce. I didn't get to try the eggplant fries - I was too busy munchin' on the flatbread - but my girlfriend told me they were phenomenal. FYI, no wait staff here! You order your grub at the counter and pick it up once it's ready. Also, I didn't get to try their wine, but I did get a glass of Sangria. It was ok. Nothing special! I wouldn't get dranks there again - would just splurge on their food! I'll DEF. be back!
(5)Natalie M.
I've eaten here a few times and I always enjoy it. The food is good and the service is excellent! Here's what I've tried: -Veggie burger, with BBQ sauce: Very good, but I wish you could sub the brioche bun for a wheat one. -Ahi salad without rice: Decent, but the tuna is a bit bland and I wish they put more veggies in the salad. -Jerk chicken sandwich without mayo: The mayo is cumin flavored and probably adds a nice flavor, but I usually hate mayo so I decided to skip it. Instead, I dipped my sandwich in sriracha to add some spice, but it would have been great even without the sauce. -Veggie flatbread without cheese: This is probably my favorite thing here. They put just the right amount of tomato sauce, the veggies are fresh and the bread is baked to perfection. -Apple sangria: Absolutely amazing! This is definitely one of my favorite places in downtown Silver Spring.
(5)Kassity L.
I loved this place! Great selection of food and wine. We came here in a Friday night, and seating was limited. We got lucky and a couple of people at a table next to us got up and left right before we got there. During the time we were there though, we saw that a lot of people came in and had to stand around for a bit before they found seating. The food was amazing. We got the meat plate, the beef brisket sandwich, and the Cajun pasta. The meat plate came with 4-5 different kinds of meat and bread to try them with. The beef brisket in the sandwich was really good -- moist and well seasoned. The pasta was also very well seasoned with a light spice. My only critique is that the pasta came with a lot of penne and perhaps could have used more of the sauce. We also got a malbec and a cab. The malbec ended up pairing well with the pasta, and the cab paired well with the beef brisket sandwich.
(5)Nicoleen R.
Keeping back for more and more of the turkey reben sandwich. The staff is wonderful. You can purchase a bottle of wine and drink it with your meal. Its a winery too. Certain days they have wine tastings. The jerk wrap great ingredients needs a bit more pizzazz to it a bit bland. House salad with pecans,blue cheese,tomatoes and grilled pear a must.
(5)Chris N.
Gourmet sandwiches and wine? Yes please! I eat here at least once a week now that I stumbled in to find a decent bottle of wine. The concept is a bit odd, but it works: a wine store / sandwich shop. Let's start with the wine: The selection isn't massive, but it's good quality. They have an excellent selection of wines from Argentina, which makes me a happy guy. The prices are reasonable. Food: You'd think sandwiches would be easy to describe, but oh my, where do I begin? The bread is always fantastic. The french bread and ciabatta are always delightfully crunchy. This may be a turn off to some Americans used to eating sponge, but anyone who has lived in Europe will tell you that once you've built up a "bread callus" on the roof of your mouth, you'll be in heaven with the crusty kind. The ingredients themselves are fresh and inspired. Want a roast beef sandwich? They top the typical lettuce & tomato with brie, horseradish mayo, and grilled onions. Pair that with some sweet potato fries, and you'll be a fan for life. Fries: These deserve special attention! As a southerner, I'm a huge fan of sweet potato fries. At Adega, they're fantastic. The sauce they serve them with is a bit too sweet for me, but they're good all by themselves. The eggplant fries are equally good, and are served with marinara. Every visit, I have to debate which fries to have. Prices: A tasty sammich, fries, and a drink usually run you about $10. However, the wine prices are fantastic and should be exploited! You can get any bottle of wine there for the normal out-the-door price. No charge to turbochill it. No corking fee. If you don't finish, they'll recork it for you to go. On Mondays, there's a bottle-for-the-price-of-a-glass special on 1 or 2 wines. 2 people can eat and split a bottle for around $25. You can't beat that!
(5)Jessica R.
For a wine joint turned restaurant this is the place to go. This is a place that I enjoy time after time it is always great. I love avocados and will order almost any item that is on any menu. Needless to say I am a huge fan of their jerk chicken sandwich and also their salad. The chicken is well seasoned and always moist and delicious. I love the flatbreads there, combo of eggplant and sweet potato fries with the citrus vinaigrette so so good. They have a great selection of wines and coming close to it in beer. They are now serving tremors, delirium my favorite. Another fav is the ahi tuna salad, just seared to perfection.
(4)Helen F.
Four stars for the casual, friendly atmosphere, great wine selection with no corkage fee, and as everyone notes, really nice sweet potato and eggplant fries. Love hanging there on a Saturday or Sunday evening after a movie with a friend, shooting the breeze with no pressure. You can easily get out of there for under $35, and that includes a good bottle of red. I haven't had a large selection of the food, just quesadillas (go chicken over beef), and maybe a sandwich, but other food, like the flatbreads, have looked really yummy.
(4)Nicholas C.
I started learning about wine a little over a year ago, and was very excited recently when I remembered this place existed relatively close to me. I was very much looking forward to browsing the wine selection and coming back with a few new bottles to try. This was not the case. What I found was an overpriced selection of very young wines (talking about reds here, mostly cabs from 2007). I received assistance from a staff member, but all I got out of him was a history lesson on each winery. That's all well in good, but what I really care about are the qualities of the wine itself, not the 6'8'' tall gentlemen who picks their grapes. He even mentioned they had a great wine in until recently, which they stopped selling because it became too popular ... does that not make sense to anybody else? I'm all about trying unique things, but this seems just a tad bit pretentious (like how you probably feel about this review :) ). I finally accepted a wine sample which I was told would be "fantastic", which was served to me in a tiny black plastic thimble device and tasted like strained grape juice ... no thanks. So there you have it, if you're in this area there are wine & liquor stores which, in my opinion, have better wines and better prices then this "wine store". I did not stick around long enough to try their food, but judging by other reviews here, it seems to be pretty decent. I'm definitely not an oenophile, but I know that I've been to much better places to buy wine (Wine Bin in Ellicott City!). If you are looking for wine, at whatever price, go elsewhere.
(3)Jen W.
This place was the perfect mix of quality and comfortable. A unique gem in the neighborhood!
(5)Chacha S.
Absolutely wonderful place. The location is perfect -- it's in downtown Silver Spring within walking distance of the Metro, but it's a block away from all the chains. The service is friendly, even if ordering is a little weird. The food is absolutely delicious and there are many items to choose from. I will definitely go back!
(5)Duncan G.
I bought a Groupon and took the old ball and chain there today for lunch. The Mrs. had fish tacos. I had grilled shrimp salad. Both were average, at best. They rented out half the place for a "private party" so there was no place to sit. Finally the proprietor asked the people having the party if we could sit at one of their tables in the corner, which was a nice thing for the owner to do, but the atmosphere sucked because we were jammed into the corner with a bunch of people we didn't know and none of them spoke English either. Anyway, the food was ok, but not really tasty and definitely not memorable. Would I try the place again? Maybe if I had another Groupon and was willing to roll the dice again. But that's the only way I'd go there.
(2)Kenton N.
Love this place. Was a little crowded when I went there the first time but it WAS Friday night so no big deal. The eggplant and sweet potato fries are awesome! And they have a pretty good wine selection, though I'm no expert. I'll definitely go back again.
(5)Chizlum M.
We had a very nice casual dining experience. We met up with some friends and were lucky to get a table since they were crowded which is a good sign. Had one of the flatbreads and the turkey rueben as well as a glass of wine. Food was served quite fast and was very tasty. We will be back next time we are in Silver Spring.
(4)Becky T.
This is a casual sort of place but has very good food. You order at the counter and then pick up your food that is served on plasticware. don't let that turn you off though, because the food quality is awesome. My friend is shocked when I was raving to her about the salad that I had there. That's because I NEVER order salads, but when I went there one night I was just inspired to do so and ordered the Jerk chicken salad, and it was just awesome. The chicken was nicely seasoned, it was topped with avocado, and dressing complimented it nicely. It paired well with the glass of white zin that I ordered. They also have date night on Saturday in which for $45 you can get an appetizer, two entrees, and a bottle of wine (selected from a list). The pasta there is also very good. Besides the cafe they're also supposed to be a wine shop, but I feel that their selection is disappointing and that you can find more variety at one of the neighboring liquor stores.
(5)Kelly G.
My fridge was empty when I returned. So my first meal out was at Adega with Mara G. I had the "Lobster Bisque" and the jambalaya cappellini. Both were on par with a casual dining restaurant. Mara G. had the turkey reuben. Now that thing was out of this world. It had foccacia, sauerkraut, cranberries, and the russian dressing was so good. It was a delicious sandwich. I wish I had gotten that. The "service"/"set-up" was a bit confusing. No one ever told us that we had to get our own water, utensils, napkins or condiments. We just went to our table. I'm smart though. I figured it out. The order taker seemed to rush me. Like I didn't know if I was supposed to pick my wine first then get some food or what. But I didn't have time to think about it because the order taker was all like hey can I help you which is a good thing but dam can I get a moment to think/peruse/browse? And I wish I'd just done what I wanted to do because the wine I chose with my food was in the end not to my liking. Oh well. I'd come here again especially now that I know the deal. This place is a-ok with me.
(3)Julie L.
Such a fun place to come after dinner and get some wine. The clientele is decidedly not the crowd that likes to hang out around that pool club down the way and that is wonderfully refreshing. Excellent wine selection, I just wish you could take the wine onto the sidewalks immediately outside. But that's MoCo, not Adega. Definitely a top Silver Spring location!
(4)Jill S.
This is a go-to for casual gatherings. The food is fresh and tasty, and the atmosphere is relaxed. It's an added bonus that you can choose your wine from the shelf and have it with dinner instead of staring at a nondescript wine menu and wondering what you're ordering. Now, if oly you could have your wine outside here...
(5)Tony N.
The food is innovative and the portions are not over-sized (which is a good thing). The staff is very helpful with the wine selections, even allowing sampling. A nice date place to meet and chat. The one downside is that it seems it has outgrown it's confines; seating is a premium at peak times.
(4)Travis K.
The food at Adega is pretty tasty. I especially like the burgers. They feature an extensive variety of wines, too, and there's a "happy hour" when the house variety is $2 a glass. The serving size of the french fries, however, is extremely small. For $2.50, I'd expect more than the 4-5 ounces they serve. I like to have enough fries to "balance" my burger, but the ratio here is woefully inadequate. My suggestion to that effect was met with little more than total indifference, but I was only able to speak with the order-taker, not the manager. The bathroom was absolutely filthy, apparently unattended for many hours, with paper towels spilling out of the large trash bin. The floors, especially around the booths, were filthy, making me wonder if sanitary conditions in the kitchen were any better. They have a sound system that plays tinny, poppy crap at an uncomfortable volume through speakers that sound like they were taken from toy phonographs. The "music," therefore, makes the setting uncomfortable. So many eating establishments would benefit from turning that crap OFF. They were nice enough to reduce the volume, somewhat, upon my polite request. My 2-star rating is mostly the result of poor ambiance, cleanliness, and serving size. I suppose that if you're selective, by just keeping with the entree sandwiches and perhaps a glass of wine, you will find the culinary experience satisfactory.
(2)Brent J.
The value of Yelp. I visit downtown Silver Springs all the time. I see the sign for Adega Wine Cellars most of my visits. I had no idea it sold food until I saw a review on Yelp! I had to try it. Let's start with the layout. Walk in the front door and the counter is directly in front of you. On your left is a small wine & beer store (with a few tables along the window). On your right is the cafe section with a mix of short tables with chairs & tall tables with bar stoles. You order your food at the counter, then find a table. I asked the manager, there's no wait service but they will bring wine to your table if you order a bottle. Otherwise, you come back to the counter to pick up your food when your name is called. I ordered a sandwich to go but to give you an idea of the menu. Here are some choice items: eggplant fries, sweet potato fries, Southwestern Chipotle Turkey Wrap, Ahi Tuna Wrap, Napa Valley Cabernet Burger, Crabcake Sandwich & Hickory Smoked Pulled BBQ Pork Sandwich. They also have soups and flatbread sandwiches. This place makes a great eat-in lunch or to go dinner. Give it a try.
(3)AgentRobLondon L.
Great for a wine bar! With all if the activity happening outside, makes this spot a winner. I love the different verieties of wines by the glass. Superb!
(4)Devida N.
Great wine!! nice food selection for a really good price. They have the best sweet potato fries in DT Silver Spring!!! Try not to go during lunch time because the secret is out and this place can get packed. This place is located in the cut, next to Baja Fresh.
(5)Andrew D.
I met some friends at Adega for an early dinner. I was impressed with the concept above all: wine store / bar / restaurant? I'm in! The food was very good, and reasonably priced (~$10 for a sandwich, ~$4 for an app). I had the Napa burger, which came on a rosemary focaccia slab with some chips. While very tasty, the pile of lettuce/tomato/sauce tended to make the bread soggy and unstable. So I had to scrape off some of the extras and eat it upside-down. But the burger itself was quite good. I couldn't resist the pulled-pork sliders, and I was glad I ordered some. Order some and don't share them with your friends. My companions all enjoyed their food (mostly sandwiches and pasta dishes), but the French Dip got somewhat low marks. The wine and beer selection rotates as the managers see fit, but seems to be well-balanced. You can also purchase wine or beer in the store for consumption at the table. The layout of the place is a little clumsy... occasionally you will have to dodge shoppers to get to your table. This is an issue because there is no table service. You must order and pick up at the counter. I recommend that you camp out on some table space before you go up to order, so you are sure to have a place to sit and eat.
(4)An N.
I LOVE this place. The atmosphere is casual and the set up is easy to understand. The staff is friendly and the lobby attendant is as sweet as can be. Ask for Phillip if you're ever here, he's both sweet and knowledgeable about all the wine food and history of the place. I meet my girlfriends here for a good bottle of wine and snacks of sweet potato fries and eggplant fries. It is cozy and affordable for any student or budding adult (as I like to call myself at the age of 25). When I'm really hungry, I go for the jerk chicken anything. The bread is just AMAZING and the chicken and seasonings are just freaking perfect. Go for the sandwich on level 10 hunger days. It's SOOOO filling and bargain priced.
(4)Becky M.
My fiance and I went here for dinner last Saturday night. We went for the special which gave us 1 app, 2 entrees, and a selected bottle of wine for $40. We could choose anything from the menu that did not have a market price, and there were 4 bottles of wine (2 white, 2 red) to choose from. We didn't have to wait long, and the service at this place was GREAT. Even though you order at the counter and have to go up to grab your food, they bring your wine to your table where they uncork it, allow you to taste it, pour it, etc. The gentleman even returned to refill our glasses periodically. The food was okay, but not great. We ordered the calamari appetizer, which was fine, but nothing special, and because it was served on a piece of wax paper, it seemed incredibly greasy... they might choose to serve this on a more absorbent material in the future so it doesn't look as icky. I ordered the special gouda burger, and my fiance ordered the bleu cheese burger. Both were cooked perfectly, but neither was amazing. The gouda burger didn't have enough cheese and had too much BBQ sauce for my taste. Plus, even though I knew I was getting kettle chips with the burger, I was disappointed not to have fries. Overall, cute place and a good value, but not spectacular.
(3)Pam S.
Right before I moved out west from Boston, my mother and I visited a psychic to find out what the Bay Area held in store for me. Specifically, I wanted to know if (not when) I would meet the man of my dreams. Sure, I was moving without a job lined up and probably could have asked about that, but finding a job is easy. Finding a man who is smart, funny, AND hot is not. The psychic told me that by January of 2006, I would meet a doctor who liked wine who would come along and sweep me off my feet. Clearly the psychic LIED (shocking, I know), as I met my now ex-boyfriend in January who DID like wine but did absolutely no sweeping. And was not a doctor. Great guy, but I was more of his mother than his girlfriend as I basically had to plan everything we ever wanted to do. Granted, I'm a planner by nature, but every once in awhile it's nice to be wooed. Flowers, fun/romantic stuff to do, the whole bit. Is it really that hard? I'll woo back, I promise (wearing a little Santa outfit, perhaps). But I digress... On my last night in D.C., my cousin and I had to take my aunt to the airport, and on our way back, I was getting hungry. Despite the fact that the cousin is a vegetarian, I was craving a burger. Of course, she couldn't think of many burger places, but though Adega had one. And so I consulted my handy dandy Yelp app, scoped out the menu, and we came here. I was forewarned that this wasn't a sit down and get waited on place, which is fine. You go to a counter, order your food (and wine), they call you, and then you have to go back and pick it up. No biggie, unless you are having multiple glasses of wine. Ironically, although I flew 3,000 miles from a locale close to wine country, I got the Napa Valley Cabernet Burger. It was pretty darn tasty, even if the foccacia bread was a little difficult to navigate. The cousin got the tomato basil soup (yum!) and a half order each of the sweet potato and eggplant fries. I'm allergic to eggplant (weird, I know) so I didn't try those, but the sweet potato fries were pretty good. I'm still spoiled on TJ's SPF you can make at home, so it would be interesting to see someone either do crinkle cut or waffle cut SPF. But that's just my opinion. They had a nice selection of wines by the glass, and I was pleasantly surprised to see a Malbec on that menu. The place is laid out well, with tables on one side and the wine store on the other. They do have some nights with specials, which would be useful to sample different food and wines. Their wine and beer selection looked to be unique, which I respect. I'll have to disagree with some on the staff, though, the guys working at the counters really need to learn some customer service skills. Ambivalence is not good in retail, nor is it good in relationships. Just some life lessons, kids.
(3)Seth M.
3.5 stars. did the date night special. $35 bucks, good deal. got a nice bottle of cabernet. got the fried calamari. very good. i had been craving mexican food, so i ordered the adega's quesadilla. probably shouldnt have ordered mexican at a wine place. it came with bbq sauce on it, which i didnt appreciate. oh well. the atmosphere is nice. wait staff was nice.
(3)Jeannie L.
Awesome little gem hidden in the backside of downtown Silver Spring. I love the idea of combining wine cellar with a cafe that offers great selection of food. They have a variety of offerings, ranging from Cajun Jimbalaya to Ahi Tuna salad. My Jimbalaya was really yummy. I can't wait to go back again and check out their selection of vino. Perhaps a longer work lunch is needed.
(4)Jarrett B.
I just had my virgin experience at Adega and I really enjoyed it! I stopped by with a lovely date after a long, long, LONG day at work and it was just what I needed. I picked up a bottle of deliciously fruity Riesling that just filled your palette with a wonderful taste of sparkling apples. I also ordered a burger that came fully equipped with bleu cheese and bacon and a plate of these eggplant fries that everyone keeps buzzing about. The burger was pretty excellent and the fries were served with a sprinkle of Parmesan cheese and marinara sauce to the side - essentially a hybrid between eggplant parmigiana and french fries. They were fried a little too long for my date's taste, but they were awesome for me. (So I ate way too many of them and paid for my gluttony later.) What may throw some people off is the odd vibe of the place. It's first and foremost a wine cellar. On top of that, they sell sit-down restaurant quality food, but without direct table service. Imagine a fast food restaurant that serves awesome, real ingredient food and happily delivers a freshly chilled bottle of wine from their store to your table. Finally, I am completely supportive of Adega because - in my overworked stupor I accidentally tipped about $20 more than a reasonable person would have - and my server (Well, she wasn't technically a server, but whatever, she brought the wine...) came to the table to let me know what I'd done an was a total sweetheart about it. Also, they have bottles of Duvel for sale. Silver Spring, sometimes I love living in you!
(4)Ron M.
This local wine store/bar has a pretty good selection. I am very happy with the choices, and whoever picks the wine does a good job stocking reasonably priced and tasty bottles of wine. The reason for the lower rating deals mainly with the restaurant end of things. First of all, they don't really allow you to run a tab. This seems kind of silly, especially if you want to have a different glasses of wine before deciding on a bottle, or if you want to have a few small plates with your wine. Fortunately they were kind enough to let order a few things and then pay at the end, but the fact that this isn't SOP baffles me. As I've said before, the bottle selection is great here, and the staff is quite knowledgeable. The wine by the glass isn't as great, so just stick with the bottles. The food was ok at best, with the only the eggplant fries saving the meal. HIGHLY recommended! I didn't think they would work, but they did. Don't eat here without ordering the fries.
(3)Angel B.
Adega is one of my favorite Silver Spring places. The eggplant fries are delicious, especially with the marina sauce they are served with. One order can easily be shared by two people. Also a favorite of mine is the turkey reuben that comes with a raspberry chutney sauce. The prices are a little steep, although with the atmosphere of a wine bar, that's probably to be expected. They also have a great assortment of beers and wines. I love ordering a sandwich and fries to go and sipping a bottle of Yuengling while waiting for my order.
(4)Targi B.
$4.50 per glass and cheap eats, SOLD! Ok, I've been walking past this place for at least 3 years and saying ok I'm gonna check it out...I'm so happy I did! The house Pinot is great! and $4.50 per glass (goes down smooth) and I love that they have small bites. You can try a bunch of things for a cheap price! I love that they have recommendations for the week and I can't wait to go back and actually buy a bottle! The soup of the day was Crap Bisque and it was amazing especially for the price of $4.29! and it came with bread (the only way to serve soup). I honestly couldn't believe how good this soup was, I wasn't expecting much for the price but they made me a believer in cheap and good! I also tried the steak flat-bread which wasn't so much of steak as it was steakums. Not exactly what I was expecting but for again for around $6 bucks it was WONDERFUL. I'm not sure if you can park in the whole food lots and go here (THEY TOW!), there is free parking across the street. So its easy to get in and out. I love the people watching here, I mean its Silver Spring so the freaks are out on a drizzly Sunday afternoon! I can not wait for the next wine time!
(4)Mrs T.
Another great visit to Adega. Their Gouda burger is absolutely scrumptious along with the sweet potato fries. The house wines are priced wonderfully. I love that the atmosphere is casual, but your dining experience rivals that of much larger, expensive places. I hope they keep things just the way they are.
(4)Eric L.
Can a wine cellar be inexpensive and unpretentious without being cheap? Can it have a limited selection that is endearing and broad? Can it offer a menu that's light and interesting without being contrived and artificial? Apparently so! I may have mentioned before that I work from home. To avoid Ted Kaczynski manifesto-writing shut-in tendencies I eat out a great deal. So I am always looking for a place with a good lunch menu, a comfortable spot to plop my laptop and a good crowd. Adega seems to be one of the best I've found thus far. The place serves some really good sandwiches and salads. The ingredients are fresh - or a very good facsimile - and the service is really friendly. The sweet potato fries are also really nice. The wine selection is rather surprising. I can't say that I'm familiar with most of the wineries, which is actually what's most appealing. I can grab a bottle for about $20 (and no it doesn't come in a box with a plastic bladder) and walk out the door with something memorable. I'm certainly no aficionado but I know what I like and what I don't. Wine has never been a sniff slurp swirl and spit experience for me. I like something that I can share with friends. Something that makes good food and good company transform into a better experience. And thus far I've been able to find a few bottles, which fit that bill. Adega isn't quite a lunch counter or a wine bar. It's more than either. The bottom line is that I really like this place and will spend a lot of time there in the future.
(4)Caitie K.
I must preface by saying that previously I would have put Adega a 4, possibly 5, and we continue to go there, but they have gone down hill a little. Most of their staff is GREAT, the bus guy (we love him! what a great personality & attitude - he ALWAYS makes sure we are happy), and the two managers Phil & Justin are fantastic as well. They are both a great help when picking out wine! Go to Adega for quick bites, to buy wine for gifts, and wine for at home. Would love to see them get the Evodia wine back on the shelf. Stock it up! Notables: Steak Salad, Recent Groupon was easy/smooth to use! I had heard overall that restaurant groupons were sometimes difficult to cash in on, but at Adega...super easy & straight forward!
(3)Jules J.
Adega is a refreshing change of pace from all of the chains offered on Ellsworth Drive. It is a great spot for a casual lunch or dinner. I've never ordered anything here I didn't like. The sweet potato fries are a must. I'm deducting one star because they don't have waiters and you can't drink wine at the outdoor seating area. This is also a great spot to do your wine shopping. There are bottles to fit any budget. They also offer a small selection of good beers. If you need wine advice ask for Phil. He recommended Ponga Sauvignon Blanc and it's been a warm weather favorite of mine ever since!
(4)Jody B.
Hit Adega for a Friday night with a groupon coupon around 7PM...the place was packed. The menu was pleantiful and the wine flowed. The order taker was fantastic and ordered the wine for me. He chose a great red one based on what I ordered. I would have to rate the eggplant fries NUMBER ONE...for sure without a doubt the best. Then the sweet potato fries...followed by the Jerk Chicken wrap. My friend loved the lobster bisque soup and a fish taco special. Difficult seating but chatted up a few people and made conversation with a stranger as we all ate together at a table. In a great location for when the weather gets warmer...will be going back again but maybe during the week when it's not so busy.
(5)Michael M.
Adega is as good as it gets for casual dining. I got at least twice a month, some times once a week. The wine selection is expansive and comprehensive. No matter what my price range, they've got friendly servers to help me pick the wine I want. The menu has some of the best fare in town (wraps, burgers, flatbread pizzas, soups, rotating seasonals like soft-shell crab etc.) all gourmet, and all reasonably priced. The friendly staff (the best around) and warm decor make it a great spot to take friends and family alike, and their weekend "date-night deal" of 1 app, 2 entrees and a bottle of select wine for $35 is unbeatable.
(5)Jung-Ah P.
I planned to served mulled wine at Jackie's during dinner service, so I made my way to Whole Foods in Silver Spring for vanilla beans, cinnamon sticks, and cloves. When I was done spice shopping, I realized that I was starving, so I went around the corner to Adega. I'd been there once before and I remembered the sweet potato fries were yummilicious. After looking at their sandwich and wrap selections, I decided on the portabello mushroom with pesto, sauteed onions and grilled red peppers on foccacia and a side of eggplant fries. I did contemplate ordering a glass of wine, but it seemed inappropriate to drink in the middle of the afternoon on a weekday just before going in to work at a bar. As I waited for my food, I picked a nice quiet table by the window and checked out my surroundings. The part of Adega that I was at was the cafe section, with a counter for ordering and paying and then a separate counter for picking up food, and behind a wooden panel, the exciting action of food preparation was taking place. There were about 10 tables to dine at or there is also counter space at the wooden panel that separates the food prep area from the dining space. The other side of the establishment was dedicated to wine - shelves and shelves of wine which I would have loved to check out up close, had I not been weak from hunger and dying to catch up on what Edward and Bella were up to in my new book, Twilight. There is seating on the wine side also, but not as much as the side that I was sitting at. So I admired from a distance and opened up my book. I only got through a couple of paragraphs when my number was called. I suppose that has a lot to do with the fact that it was 3:00pm on a Tuesday and there were only about 5 diners. I galloped over to pick up the food and I got excited when I saw my tray. The sandwich was pretty large, the foccacia was thick and they didn't skimp on the filling. I took a bite - no, I took several bites and ate a few of the eggplant fries before I realized I had forgotten to take a picture!! So I paused quickly to take a couple of pictures then went back to enjoying my lovely lunch. The only unsatisfactory item was the cold marinara sauce that was served with the eggplant fries. Why cold? The sandwich is hot, the fries are hot, but the sauce, which I was fully expecting to be hot, was not. Nevertheless, it was delicious. The fries were crispy on the outside and soft and yummy inside, and, might I say, the perfect companion to the portabello sandwich. Before I knew it, I had read an entire chapter of Twilight, was full, and had lunch for the next day as I couldn't eat more than half of the sandwich. If you are in the neighborhood and want a delicious bite to eat and maybe some wine to accompany your meal, definitely check out Adega. Oh, check out their Monday special: half off Adega selected wines with a purchase of entree, dine-in only. Tasty tasty!!!
(4)Kelsy S.
The jerk chicken sandwich (Big Jerk) was severely lacking..super bland and disappointing. My friend had an italian sandwich, and it was relatively tasty. My boyfriend's black and blue burger was actually good. The sweet potato fries were very tasty. Eggplant fries were too greasy. We didn't have any wine, but I'm sure that would have added to the meal. It was a good location, downtown area and close to the parking lot of Whole foods. However, the inside looks like a Panera cafe, so don't expect a restaurant.
(3)Bianca F.
Great little wine bar and restaurant to visit in downtown Silver Spring. The staff is friendly and knowledgeable about the broad wine selection. They have tons of indoor seating and some outdoor seating. During my last visit, I had the bleu's burger and the eggplant fries. The eggplant fries were great! I heard the Jamaican chicken salad was good as well as the fish tacos. I really like this place, no long lines and a nice place for a date, to catch up with a friend or just because you need a glass of wine!
(5)Jamie W.
Only had the flatbread Marguerite pizza to split, but it was quite tasty! Would definitely come again. The ambiance was nice.
(4)Rachel S.
I know there are mixed feelings on Yelp about the fact that Adega has no table service, but I for one, loved it! My good friends and I went out for lunch and to catch up, and we stayed and talked for a few hours and no one bothered us! I loved that! The food was yummy and the Cabernet was great! I highly recommend this place.
(4)Shavon G.
If you are looking for a cute comfy cheap place to eat tasty food and great wine, come here! So far everything I've tried was packed with favor and tasted fresh. I had the grilled cod fish tacos which was just the right amount to eat after a late spin class. Try the grilled ribeye sandwich it is better than I've had that were high priced! Bring a friend, come a lone or a date! You won't be sorry.
(4)Q D.
The place was more casual for a "wine" place than I expected. You would order food at the counter, and they page you when food is ready. We were there Friday night, 7:30pm, and had to wait for a place to sit. I had tuna salad and it was descent, and I like to come back to try other foods on the menu.
(4)Boris S.
Bleu's Burger $11 (6/5 NOMs) Look at that beauty and a beast! Discovering some beastly size burgers in around DC metro area. Holy patty its stuffed with bleu cheeeeese! Don't often find a place that take that extra step. First bite in and its like an explosion of flavors. Juicy soft meat prepared to order it was a perfect burger, made to perfection. It was so good that I slowed down to enjoy every single bite. Comes with crispy bacon, sliced tomato, caramelized red onions and all that covered in chipotle mustard mayo for an extra kick. Its big too that even my monster mouth had to struggle. Served on an excellent super soft and light brioche bun. Hands down best burger in Down Town Silver Spring. Mushroom & Truffle Mac & Cheese $9 (4/5 NOMs) You won't find this cheesiness in every wine cellar! Its almost too pretty to eat, but only almost and we ate the whole thing. There is a whole lot of cheese sauce and parmesan cheese in there mixed in with mushrooms. Plus bacon on top! Can never go wrong with something like this. They got that cheese formula down so well that this didn't taste heavy at all. Mushrooms did kind of get lost, but I wasn't too sad about it as long as I have the cheese and bacon. Only thing they might have gone a bit too crazy with truffle on top. Highly recommend it for those with big cheesy cravings.
(5)Anya R.
My boyfriend and I went on a date to Ageda after passing it in Downtown Silver Spring for years. It was my turn to pick a restaurant so I was hoping this one wouldn't disappoint! I did my home work before we went. They have a special on Saturdays for $40 you get an appetizer and two entrees, along with a bottle of wine (your choice). You seat yourself, there's plenty of space, tables for two and bigger parties all over the restaurant with s view of the Ice skating ring and Silver Spring Civic Center. You order at the counter, once you place your order you're given a buzzer that lets you know your food is ready. The staff is very friendly and informative when it comes to the wine selection. I am not a drinker so I was handheld through my wine choice. My boyfriend didn't care what I selected so it was all up to me. I got a bottle of Sangue-Di-Giuda, which was a sweet red wine, and it was amazing! The food was excellent. Our appetizer was calamari which came with a chipotle mustard mayo dipping sauce. We ate the whole bowl. We also ordered the Jambalaya pasta, chicken flat bread pizza, and a burger. Since the menu isn't costly we added on the pizza to our $40 special. Everything was extremely tasty. We didn't finish the wine, so they gave us a cork to take the rest home. Our date was $54.00 and we will be going back.
(5)Sheila L.
You can never go wrong at Adega! Great wine selection and the food is AMAZING! I always go for the calamari, eggplant fries, and steak flatbread!
(5)Jess C.
I was unimpressed with their specials-crab cake sandwich and tuna tartare taco. See picture for how underwhelming it was. There was barely any tuna tartare and it definitely lacked flavor, while the crab cake was just boring as well. The layout is simple and casual, you order your food at counter, pick up and clear up yourself, with the main focus on wine. But if you're expecting more from today's special, perhaps looks elsewhere.
(2)Dawn C.
Get the cheese plate. The man and I checked out Adega this past weekend for a happy hour before the tree-lighting ceremony. The small-bites menu enticed as as did the ambiance, the overlook of the skating rink is a nice touch. Although the wine was very reasonably priced with an appropriate range of options, we felt like "Meh, We've experienced better" was the best rating for our night. Adega is a seat-yourself place, though we tracked down a server to find a menu. On the dinner side was salad and sandwiches. We found the nibbles side most interesting, and decided to make dinner out of our excursion. We picked the Mediterranean flatbread--the margherita to be exact, and a bowl of the tomato soup to share. For a second it seemed as though a server would come to our table to take the order, but then we realized that it's an order-at-the-counter kind of place. No biggie. We started with two glasses of wine, a Pinot Noir from Lodi and an Italian Sangiovese. The Pinot was bad...so sweet. It's probably my fault that I didn't enjoy it--being a native Oregonian and all, but the hosts were gracious in taking it back. Extra point! We exchanged the Pinot for another Sangio. Then came the food. I was surprised to see the soup in a plastic bowl and to learn that we had to pull our plastic flatware out of a bin up front. Buzz kill. The real flaw of the night though was that flatbread. It was pizza, very undercooked dough, tasted like the chef had given up. We couldn't even get a whole piece down on account of the doughiness. On the way out, we saw a smart-looking couple who were enjoying their wine with a lovely looking cheese plate. Next time, maybe, that'll be us.
(2)Jordy G.
I really like Adega! The food is good, the atmosphere is great, and they have an amazing selection of wines. My parents come here every Friday night, and when I'm home visiting, I tag along. The staff here is extremely friendly and recognize their repeat customers, which is always nice! There's a decent variety of food on the menu - my personal favorites are the adult grilled cheese (don't worried, it's rated G for....grilled?) and their burgers, but I don't think you can go wrong. My parents tend to get half-pizzas. You sit down, then order up at the counter. You'll get a buzzer, and when it goes off you pick up your food. The wine selection is really good, and you can take open bottles home with you...but only if you put it in a bag when you exit the shop. The only downside is the seating - the place is often crowded, and there aren't any host(ess)s. You just grab what you can - there's a few tall shared tables, some booths, and shorter smaller tables. Unfortunately sometimes couples will grab the booths, leaving larger parties struggling to find a spot. During the warmer months, Adega has outdoor seating, but you aren't allowed to drink wine outside. Adega also has free Saturday wine tasting sessions, but I haven't been to one yet so can't comment on it!
(5)Heather J.
I think the staff are the stars at this place. They are SO friendly, welcoming, and helpful. Even though we'd never been there before, the woman taking our order treated us like old friends. We started with the bruschetta, which was fresh and tasty. For the main course, I went for the steakhouse burger and my friend got the cappellini pasta. My burger was awesome - perfectly cooked and I loved the sauce. My friend said her pasta was pretty good, but that next time she'd opt for a burger. They have a limited but well-curated beer selection, and of course a lot of wine. It's a great place to grab a bite before heading to a movie - the theater is right across the street! I would definitely go back!
(4)Ijene L.
First timer. The cafe style dining confused me upon entry. They just kinda stared at me until I said uhhhh how does it work here? So you order at the counter, take a seat and go get your food when it's ready. I had the calamari and the BLEU'S burger. The calamari was seasoned well and really good. The burger was AMAZEBALLS! Seriously. The dude behind the counter was a lil bit of a snobby queen when asked for recommendations but over all it was relaxed atmosphere. Great moscato! The wine cellar is pretty extensive and I would and will definitely go back!
(4)Chrystalle B.
I came here for a tapping of a special Oliver Ale beer. Parking was interesting as the lot that's adjacent has limits on their spaces (upside: its free). My first impression when I walked in was that of a fast casual restaurant. Plenty of seating, counter for ordering, & a soda nook. I'm thinking to myself "A beer tapping? Here??". Then I saw the wine & beer section and the taps behind the counter. Color me intrigued. After perusing the menu I decided on the Adult Grilled Cheese & , of course, the beer I had come to try. 20 mins later I had my sandwich. The 1st thing I noticed about it is it was very greasy. Grease + grilled cheese is a given, but this was a bit excessive. The sandwich itself was quite good. I really like the combination of cheddar and mascarpone. The onion & bacon added a little something extra as well. I ended up leaving w/ a couple bottles from their beer wall. If I'm in the area, I'd consider stopping in again.
(4)Katie K.
I have been to a lot of wine bars- and this might be one of the worst. If you could mix a wine bar with an Ocharleys- this is what you would get. Basic ingredients, a loud environment and a limited selection. No wine flights. Cheese consists of cheddar, Swiss, and blue cheese. And forget a bar setting. These are manufactured wood booths. Rough!
(2)Lynn R.
Another great visit! One of my favorite places to meet friends and enjoy some good food and wine. Happy hour and appetizers are a great value. Mini-burgers and eggplant fries are a must buy salads for big and small appetites are sure to please.
(5)Timothy C.
Still five stars, though now I am happy to report that I successfully obtained the elusive pork belly sandwich by showing up before the lunch rush. (though when I asked if they had it, the guy yelled over into the kitchen in Spanish to ask if they had it, and my heart sunk and I listened for a "Si" cuz I know that means "yes," but the "si" never came and I was held in suspense as they chatted, and then he finally says "yeah, we have it" super calm-like) Stressful, but delicious. Know better than to cause that much discord between a man and his lunch plans haha!! Served on a brioche bun with purple cabbage slaw and a gingery/miso type sauce, it was as yummers as I dreamed it would be! Thanks, Adegs! (Not a typo. You see, we're on a first name bas-, nay, NICKNAME basis now, like it or not!) Best sandwiches in downtown Silver Spring
(5)Demetria L.
Obsessed with this Spot! Sweet potato fries and extensive wine selection-- Profile of upscale dining in the fast casual environment makes for a perfect date spot.
(5)Joanne R.
Burgers were good. Fries just ok. Wine choices match the food. Nice to have food and retail wine combined.
(3)Connie Y.
If you love an a la carte styled place with a bit of class, Adega is the place to go. Whenever I frequent downtown Silver Spring, it never fails to disappoint (except when I ordered a portobello burger thinking there would be a burger) with good alternative/soft rock music playing in the background. When you enter the restaurant, I suggest finding a seat first considering how busy it can become during meal hours, then you order food at the counter and will be given a buzzer to pick up your food. Adega presents a quaint and cozy atmosphere which serves many types of wine and beer for the drink connoisseur. It also has some AMAZING eggplant fries along with some savory sweet potato fries. As a young professional, I love bringing my friends from out of town to enjoy a glass of wine there.
(5)Elodie T.
It's hard to rate Adega for anything other than a solid 4 when they have a great weekend deal: 1 appetizer, 2 entrees and a bottle of wine for $40? I'm sold! My group of 5 friends ordered 5 entrees, 3 bottles, 2 appetizers and a beer for about... $115-120? We had a really great time and the food was all very good. The only criticism I had for anything that I tried was that the bruschetta- typically, the tomatoes and other good stuff is already placed on the bread but they've lumped everything in the middle, and the result was that the bread under the small mound of goodness was... soggy. :( Everything else was really great though! Be aware that it's sometimes hard to find seats, especially if you have a bigger group. I usually think of Adega as a classier Panera- in both places, you order then find a seat. Panera doesn't serve alcohol, though, nor does it have gourmet food. Try to arrive on the early side, we've had issues before where it's been so busy that we've had to go elsewhere. First come, first serve! Solid 4/5.
(4)Kristin C.
This place has an interesting vibe. It is part exotic wine store. (I shop for wines a lot, and I didn't recognize many labels. I was also impressed to see some Maryland wines). It is part cafe (i.e. you order your food and wine at the counter and get a buzzer to pick up your food). Then, it is part gourmet food. (The food was rather classy). The music that was playing as well as the space had a hippish feel. I looked around, and there was clearly a mix of patrons~some young, some middle aged, some old; some stylish, some not~way to get a diverse audience! I had a bottle of wine which they were able to chill for me and package it up later when I obviously couldn't drink the whole thing. It was a fume blanc which I had never heard of which ended up being pleasant. I also had the tomato basil soup with a side of toasted focaccia which was tasteful. For seconds, I had the lobster bisque; I favored the tomato basil though. I would say the most memorable was the excellent customer service. After the stress of travel and bewilderment of being in a new town, they were so helpful and patient when I could barely decide what to eat. There was a man walking around who must have been the owner or manager who looked stellar at whatever he was. At any rate, they went above and beyond on several occasions to make sure I had a satisfying time.
(4)Ana A.
This is an awesome place in DTSS to grab a quick bite and enjoy some wine and beer. The food is pretty good, but served on plastic plates so it is nothing fancy... The atmosphere makes up for it though. I always wished that there were more independent, unique places in downtown silver spring. Thanks God there is Adega!
(4)Angel A.
Not impressed with service at counter. Did not receive all of our order for carry out . Oddly..One of the male workers on the floor area kept rudely running/walking into us as we waited for our food. Really odd. I'm disappointed we payed for an item we did not receive and the counter guy never checked to make sure our order was right before handing us the bag. Not impressed with this place at all. Food was average. They also messed up the order specifications for one item and we couldn't even eat it. Very irritated by that.
(1)Sam W.
I've never shopped for wine in this place because I've only gone there to eat. They have an eclectic lineup of delicious stuff. It's been a few years but their menu still has many of the favorites I remember. Their sweet potato fries are excellent. I recall them coming with some sort of dipping sauce that complimented them well. Their flat breads are done right, with the bread warm and supple, not cracker-like. Their wraps are well put together; all their ingredients are used effectively to maximize one's enjoyment. Seating is hard to come by on a busy night so try them out middle of the week before the dinner rush to eat comfortably.
(5)Morrigan D.
A cozy wine bar in downtown Silver Spring. Considering there are no other wine bars , Adega is already winning. The eggplant fries are an absolute must! Get them with burgers ! Get them alone ! Just GET THEM. (Side note : this review may be biased as the reviewer is currently I side the establishment and four glasses in on a delicious Tempranillo)
(3)Brenton W.
Came here last night with my fiance and her sister for the first time after living in Silver Spring for close to two years now. Wow! They were in heaven. Not only was it happy hour (25% off glasses of wine and beer [YES, they have a quality selection of 6 - 8 craft and micro brews]) but you also got 40% off a bottle of wine with your dinner. The girls were in heaven. The food was delicious. I had the jambalaya. The fiance had falafel and her sister had a burger. The jambalaya was delicious and their entrees looked great, as well. The food was fairly priced, in my opinion. Their takeout section, specifically regarding the beer, was shockingly phenomenal! Very, fairly priced and comparable -- if not, cheaper -- than stores that specifically only deal with take out. For example, Lagunitas 6-pack was $9.49, where if you were to travel a block away to a take-out shop, it is priced at $14.99. Kind of wish our food wasn't served on plastic / disposable plates with disposable silverware but that really is the only criticism on an otherwise quaint and comfortable establishment.
(4)Victoria W.
Fell in love with this place.I had the jerk sandwich with a glass of spring*gria and sweet potato fries. I definitely want to go back and try everything. The staff was very friendly and helped me decide what to get seeing as how everything on their menu looks delicious.
(4)Alyssa A.
I came here on Sunday with my family. We ordered the following Portobella Sandwich: This was just okay. I thought it had too must pesto on it and it really overpowered the flavors on the sandwich. This was recommended to me by someone working there but I wouldn't order it again. Eggplant Fries: These were delicious were the marina sauce. Steak and Cheese: My boyfriend said this was pretty good. The Bleu's Burger: My brother said this was delicious Parmesan Fries: This was apparently really salty. I thought it was good but it did have a lot of parmesan on it Mini Burgers: These were good but maybe a little dry Carribean Chicken Salad: My sister said this was good Prosciutto Fig and Goat Cheese Flatbread: This was basically a thin crust pizza I might come back to give this place a try. I would have given them 4 stars because everyone else I came with seemed to like their food, but my sandwich was just okay.
(3)Lynie H.
Great food for a liquor store....u can get wine there n eat there...great selection of food....I really like that the sweet potatoe fries are crispy. They also have great eggplant fries too.
(4)Chris L.
Came to visit for the first time. I'm from Cali, L.A... We got the non-alcoholic ginger beer, jambalaya pasta, Caesar wrap, calamari, and lastly tuna tar tar tacos. This Californian girl from Ktown is very HAPPY!!! :D
(5)Janna R.
Always a favorite in Silver Spring. Great wine selection, great small bites or full meals if you're extra hungry. Adega has a great menu and atmosphere. It's great for any occasion!!
(5)Jeff E.
Adega is often crowded during prime times, but the sandwiches are actually pretty good.
(4)Cat S.
Came here for a solo drink after work. Staff were very helpful during my first time here. O asked to taste before you buy and they were willing to help, and that's what I love about them! I had their house holiday sangria (cross between mulled wine and spiced apple cider); OMG so delish! Sadly, I did not get a chance to try their truffle fries or crab sandwich, those were recommended to me by their wonderful staff :)
(4)Rhianna B.
This is a hole-in-the-wall cafe where you can get a glass of wine and sandwich for lunch. They also sell wine and beer but I use it as a relaxing weekend lunch in between running errands. It's right in downtown Silver Spring and when it's warm outside, they have outdoor seating.
(4)Karol L.
We have been going to Adega for 7 years and we love it. Perfect for dates, meeting with friends. They serve GREAT food and wine for a great price. We Love Adega. Parking is convenient and it's right in the heart of Silver Spring.
(5)Andrew P.
Friendly, good, and hey - Silver Spring! Having lived around Silver Spring for decades -- and long enough to know the Sad Way It Was (which, truth be told, was Very Sad) -- I greatly appreciate Adega for its mere existence...not to mention the welcoming format, food, drink, and setting which it offers. I enjoyed Adega's informal walk-up format, the decent and inexpensive menu of freshly-made burgers and other pub grub, and the varied selection of interesting pours by the glass. If you buy a bottle of wine at a reasonable retail price, they will open it and provide glassware for you and your mates. No mark-up! Also praiseworthy is the store's use of primo shelf space for worthwhile local wines of Maryland and Virginia. Adega is a fun place to hang, and a big step up from its many nationally-franchised neighbors. In Paris, this would be an ordinary neighborhood bistro; but, by gosh...we're talking Silver Spring!
(4)Bennett T.
It is a charming little shop that offers fantastic food - particularly the burgers - and a very good wine and beer selection. I've been twice and the quality is consistent. They do have a sit down portion to the store as well as beers on top and wines by the glass. The staff is friendly, knowledgeable and professional. It's a great place to stop into after shopping at Whole Foods for lunch and to do whatever wine and beer shopping you need to do.
(4)Catherine T.
First time here, got a bottle of Novecento Malbec 2012 which is very good. we ordered the Mushroom truffle Mac and Cheese, Fries: sweet potato and truffle, Adega's mixed green salad, and the Adega grilled chicken flatbread pizza! deliciousssssss!!
(5)Alexandra B.
4.5 stars This little wine bar and eatery is absolutely adorable. I love the vibe of this place, and while there could be more seating space to accommodate all the excited guests who want to eat here, everything else about it is pretty darn great. Stepping in, I absolutely loved the variety of wine and beer that was on display and available to customers. Though you could take the wine home, they would gladly open it for you and provide you with glasses so you can sit around and enjoy it with friends. They also offer a wide array of food from truffle fries to sandwiches to calamari. We didn't eat a full meal there but we had a few snacks and everything was perfectly tasty and hit the spot. There's a huge variety of wine and even beer available to choose from -- enough to satisfy pretty much every taste. We shared several bottles over several hours between us and had a wonderful time. My fiance and I will most definitely be back here soon, and will gladly bring friends along each time. This has to be one of the cutest businesses in Silver Spring by far.
(4)Ebonne B.
Adega is a quaint jewel in the downtown silver spring area, providing a variety of good eats and wonderful wines at a decent price. Location Parking in the lot nearby the shopping plaza is a crap shoot, especially on weekends. You might fare better parking in the garage across Veterans Plaza. It faces the main plaza area so depending on the time of year or what events are going on like the Silver Spring Jazz fest, you may have too do the delicate dip-and-dive through the crowd dash through the stairs and walkway to get to the restaurant, and you'll have to contend with the noises outside which can interfere if you're looking for a quiet meal in. Restaurant It is on the small side and on Fridays and Saturdays it can be a complete gaggle of people clustered on top of one another jockeying for space to sit, stand while waiting for their order or mindlessly collect at the counter blocking everyone else as they ponder their order. If you could, try dining on a weeknight if you'd like to have a quiet meal. Lunch on the weekdays can get a bit hectic as well. Food/Wine Always a hit! Before my body decided that it couldn't be friends with gluten, the Chicken w/Lemon Butter and Penne Cream Pesto with Chicken were my favorite entrees on the menu followed by their Bison burger (which was second to the "gouda" burger but that's no longer on their menu.) However, even with a intolerance or a food allergy there's still a lot of great dishes to be had and although they don't have gluten free pasta available (that I know of) they ARE willing to make changes & substitutions to your order with no problem. They offer a variety of wines and now do tastings monthly (approximately). Tip - Adega now delivers! They're a participating restaurant with Takeout Taxi so if you can't be bothered with getting out of your pj's and headed over but still have a longing for eggplant fries you now can have it brought to your door.
(5)J E.
Love this place. Staff is friendly and food is very good, which is surprising when you see it. Looks more like a wine shop win a deli, but don't underestimate the kitchen. They do some fine work - like the fish tacos, for example. YUM!! If you are not sure about the wines, ask for a sample or a recommendation. This is a great place for a casual date or a quick bite. Highly recommended!
(4)Robert B.
I can confirm that everyone's now up-charged $5 if you want to drink the chilled beer Adega sells. I buy your food; I buy your beer, but if I want to drink your beer with your food then I have to pay an extra $5? What an absurdly stupid concept. Space is now dated and badly needs a refresh. Space is also cramped and constantly consists of people hovering, waiting for seats to open up. Central, shared seating is awkwardly placed and sized. The owners badly need to expand into the now-vacant Metamorphosis space. Food gets 4 stars, but just about every other aspect of this establishment is poorly thought out/executed.
(3)Brittany S.
HOW DOES THIS PLACE ONLY HAVE 4 STARS! Born and raised in Silver Spring, I was in high school when they started building up Downtown Silver Spring. The area is great, which the exception of City Place... how is that place still open?! Anyways I've been to every restaurant, bar, store in DTSS and how did I miss this place?! Well, I guess for most of it I wasn't of legal age. Still, it took me way too long to try this place! Some of the best food I've ever had, hands down the best in DTSS. It's a restaurant inside of a wine store, how could you not love it? You can test any of the wines they have on the big board behind the register, for free! And you can have a glass or buy a whole bottle for your meal. They also have a few beers on tap, including my fave - Crispin Cider! We decided to order an appetizer because we were starving so we got the pulled pork sliders. Best sliders I've ever had! Their pulled pork was so flavorful, my mouth was so happy. I ordered the prosciutto, pear and gorgonzola sandwich with sweet potato fries. To. Die. For. This was the best sandwich I've ever had and the sauce on the side, I think it was for the fries but I dipped my sandwich in it and it took it to a whole nother level of awesomeness. Not the biggest sweet potato fan but I wanted to try them, I could have done without. My boyfriend order the chicken pesto pasta. Seriously the best pasta I've ever had at a restaurant. It had the biggest chunks of chicken too! They def give you your moneys worth! The music was good too! Oldies but goodies. I'm so mad at myself for not checking this place out sooner!
(5)Ethan L.
This is an off the beaten path wine shop, that also stocks some craft beers. Some of the beers feature some good selection of Maryland producers (Union Craft, Stillwater, Brewer's Art). It also has a lunch counter serving somewhat upscale items and sandwiches. Often though when I come in the specials get sold out, but there's a menu to easily look through to enjoy. They come out with a bit more care, but they are also pricey. And speaking of pricey, look no further than Montgomery county when it comes to liquor sales. So prices here are high, but the variety for wine and beer is better than the county stores by a mile.
(3)Vindhya Reddy D.
Liked this place for its simplicity. I had the jerk chicken sandwich and sangria, simple and tasty food. Enough to be my dinner as well. Prices are very decent too. Would keep going for sure.
(4)Kristian T.
I ordered delivery and the bleu burger was delicious! Cooked to perfection! The blue cheese in the burger was genius! No complaints! I ordered through takeout taxi and they were prompt and the food was still decently warm! Definitely can't wait to try this place again and all they have to offer!
(5)Stacey K.
nice quite area nice selction of wines.
(4)Susanna P.
I'm sad that I've lived blocks from Adega for years and only just ventured in a few weeks ago. My husband and I were immediately hooked; the delicious sandwiches, the great selection of beer and wine, the eggplant fries... addictive. We've had "The Jerk" chicken wrap, the Reuben, the Pork Belly French Dip, and the Adult Grilled Cheese. I could eat that last sandwich every day. Especially if I got the eggplant fries on the side! Do yourself a favor and visit Adega. Try any of their sandwiches, but seriously - get the eggplant fries.
(5)Corine H.
Loved what I've tried: truffle fries, calamari, sliders, salads. The recommended wine was so perfect and economical? I returned the next day to purchase two bottles. The servers and counter staff are generally friendly and helpful, though there are a couple of guys who merely stare w/o asking if they can help, which is a bit rude to new customers, who may never return. For vets? It's annoying, but we understand that it's a personal issue, not an establishment one. I will return repeatedly and enjoy the menu's depth and the restaurant's wonderfully casual vibe.
(4)Koral S.
So many wonderful things to say about this place ... and just a few not so great. Wines - a fabulous selection of reds, whites, sparkling, etc. All priced decently with descriptions and a knowledgeable staff. They also have a few selected items already chilled and some beer options as well. Food - Overall I have enjoyed the food. The ingredients usually taste fresh. I'm a huge fan of the flatbreads. I have mixed feelings about the eggplant fries. I really like the taste of them - but they are often greasy and soggy. I've had better experiences with them when taking to go and then reheating them in the toaster and then draining the excess oil (that's a lot to do if I'm not making them myself). I was disappointed last time I ordered to go - they forgot my chips with the turkey reuben which made me very sad - since I love chips with my sandwiches. The reuben itself - meh ... not all that. Ambiance - It's cute inside to go for a nice quiet evening. The tables and set up is very inviting and warm. I also love where it sits in the downtown Silver Spring area.
(4)Amanda P.
SO GOOD. I've never had a bad thing here and I've been very frequently. I've also never had a hard time getting a table despite the small restaurant. Whatever you do, make sure you get the eggplant fries.
(5)Lori D.
I want to make it clear in the beginning that I do really enjoy this place a lot WHEN WE EAT THERE IN PERSON - the reason for 3 stars is that they are horrible to order pick up from. Today was the last straw for me. I will never order take out from them again. Every. Single. Time. they mess our order up and I'm simply over it. Out of 10 take out orders they've gotten it at least partially wrong on 9 occasions - no exaggeration. When two people are ordering sandwiches and soups and salads and appetizers, it shouldn't be that hard to get it right... at least half of the time! And add to that note, I was working on a production and I ordered them for lunch for our cast/crew of about 10 people -- and guess what? Mistakes. Really need to desperately improve in this area. Again, if you are looking for a cool atmosphere and decent food with a really nice drink selection, this place is great option to stop at. As a local, if you are looking for an option to bring home, I would skip this place.
(3)Justine J.
We visited here twice during our trip to DC -- that's how much we loved it! Great location, easy parking, nice casual atmosphere -- exactly what we wanted. There's an awesome selection of beer & wine both for drinking during lunch/dinner or buying in larger bottles/6-packs to bring home -- perfect for my beer nerd of a husband. You order right at the counter and bring a buzzer back to your table, nice and casual. The food was great -- between the three of us we tried burgers, pizza, and pasta, all great. Love it!
(5)Diana J.
My go to sandwich is the adult grilled cheese. They have a large collection of wines that are very affordable. Not all employees are equally knowledgeable about wine but they do let you sample any of the wines they offer by the glass. The have great hard cider on tap. I wish they rotated their collection of wines on sale more often. I think I've seen the same tempranillo on sale for a year now.
(4)Mike W.
Nothing that great about this place really. The plywood booths are a little temporary looking and the food is mediocre at best. I've been here twice...first and the last.
(3)Ryan B.
My fav. lunch spot in Silver Spring. I've been hear twice for meetings in the last 2 weeks, and I'm impressed every time. 1st time: Adult Grilled Cheese. It's terrific. 2nd time: Caprice Sandwich: tasty pesto with a heap of mozzarella and fresh tomatoes. Tasty. Yes, good food at reasonable prices. What really wins me over is the space. Outdoor seating, indoor seating, a couple of weird tables cut at different heights at angles. Definitely my go to place to lunch in Silver Spring.
(4)Jess Y.
I absolutely adore the atmosphere here. Wine and great food, how could one complain? You can grab a drink, or a bottle, and enjoy it with or without food. (You probably won't be able to resist the food though.) My boyfriend and I LOVE Adega!!! He always get's the Bleu's Burger and I must always try something different. So far I've tried the calamari, the southwest chipotle turkey wrap, "best" grilled fish tacos, smoked salmon (I don't see it on the menu anymore), make your own flatbread, penne cream pesto with chicken, adult grilled cheese, and all of the fries. I won't go into detail about all of the food, because it's all very, very delicious. The most recent visit we had, of course he got his Bleu's burger, and I got an adult grilled cheese with truffle fries. I couldn't take more than one bite of the burger. I would have ate the whole thing. They add the blue cheese to the actual burger. So you get it in every single bite. The caramelized red onions, bacon, and chipotle mustard mayo do something special to this burger. It has all of the elements I look for in a meal. You have the savory, the tang, the sweet, the crunch, tenderness of meat. I would highly recommend this burger! About my sandwich-- I never knew something as simple as a grilled cheese could come out so amazing. First you have this buttery, super crunchy, bread. The second layer has the herb mascarpone, chedar cheese, bacon, red onion, tomato, & spinach. The fact that it has red onion and vegetables makes it that much more amazing. The herb marscarpone gives it a very nice creamy element and you can taste the fresh herb as well. I cannot get over the truffle fries. They are so simple, yet so perfectly seasoned. A lot of places can go seriously overboard with truffle, or not include it enough. Adega did great-- and I'm obsessed with truffle. On that note-- I know what's for dinner tonight!!! Btw: Parking in the Whole Foods parking lot is frustrating and busy most of the time. Park across the street near Chick Fil-A, super empty compared to the other lots. Side note: I've been coming here since 2009 and nothing has changed. It's been so consistent, and the wine selection never fails.
(5)Paul S.
This place is fantastic for food, and they have a great special two entrees an app with a 17.99 bottle of wine for 40$. Also my wife loves it so we eat here a lot now. Oh and they sell great beer!
(5)Bokyong E.
I loved this place. I ordered falafels with sweet potato fries. I recommend ordering eggplant fries because those were also very delicious. My falafel was pure goodness.. I hate when it is over fried but this one was perfect with fresh veggies. My friend and I also bought a rose wine which was only 10.50 (cheapest rose that was available). They give you wine glasses and a cooler without extra charge. They do have beer but you need to pay $5 if you want to drink there.. Which I didn't understand why. The location is right at downtown silver spring so I ended up walking around afterwards.
(4)Abby T.
One of my favorite restaurants in Silver Spring. It's gt a great casual atmosphere that lends to taking friends and family for lunch when they're in town for a quick visit, for a casual date, or to grab a glass of wine with a friend after work. Staff is friendly and helpful, and responsive with assistance if you need to change your order to carryout, etc. Food- They changed up their menu a few months ago but thankfully kept all my favorites, like the half and half fries (sweet potato and eggplant please!), the substantial salads and great sandwich options. It's a walkup situation so you pay for your order, grab a buzzing thing, and grab a seat from one of the booths, small tables or a couple of high tops you might share with new friends. Drinks- adega has a great drinks board of options if you're eating in, including daily specials and helpful recs from the staff. If you're carrying out, they have multiple walls of beer and wine to choose from. On Saturdays they have a free tasting and a few other specials like half-priced wine throughout the week. It's also just a great place to get the local feeling, with area news and flyers in the entry and a casual touch that makes stopping by a friend's table totally acceptable.
(5)Brian W.
My first experience with this place. We just had dessert and a glass of wine each. I'm a huge wine fan, so this place was great for me. I love the concept, casual wine spot with simple foods that pair well. Order at the counter, decent prices, interesting wine by the glass, additional wines available wine shop style. A great concept well executed.
(4)Jeffrey M.
Food was excellent, price was fair for the quality. But there wasn't reAlly any service which means I just didn't have to tip. Great food n wine.
(4)Liz S.
For the price point this place was great! You may have to hang around for a few minutes while tables open up even on a week night, but the casual atmosphere and affordable gourmet food make that ok. It took me ages to decide what to order because everything sounded delicious. I highly recommend the eggplant fries and the wine and beer selection is superb for Maryland. Make sure you check out this friendly neighborhood spot!
(4)Laura R.
This was a hard choice between 4 and 5 stars, but given the weekend special, it was fairly easy to decide on 5. Why Five? I love the atmosphere, very relaxed but still a nudge sophisticated. Also, they have a decent wine and craft beer selection. The food itself is very good. For entrees I can say that the Bleu Burger was wonderful and the Latin Ahi Tuna dinner entree was amazing. Why Four? The reason I would have leaned towards 4 stars is because we ordered the Cheese Platter appetizer and it was somewhat disappointing. Only one of the cheeses tasted non-processed, the rest I feel I could have bought at the grocery store a la Sargento. That said, the bread and the strawberry jam that came with were wonderful. Instead, I think next time we'll try the eggplant fries. I can't really complain about the cheese platter because we went on a Sunday and took advantage of the weekend special. 1 app, 2 entrees, and 1 bottle of wine for $40 (after 5pm). For that reason, I can totally over look the mediocre cheese and it becomes well worthy of 5 stars! Also, the Kiona Riesling we chose was a lovely wine. Kind of strange that you order up front and they give you a buzzer, but I didn't mind that at all. Although, the bf kept referring to it as the Chipotle of wine bars!! I would certainly recommend this place to anyone looking for a classier weekend hang out than McGinty's. While it's not the most top notch selection of wines, the food and atmosphere more than make up for that. And after all, isn't the point of a wine bar to have a great time with good company, anyway?
(5)Ritzie C.
I don't want people to know how good Adega is because I don't want it getting too popular. I feel like there's just enough seating for it to always be a challenge when you want a table. And since you order your food and wine at the counter, it's difficult to dive on a table someone is evacuating before someone else catches it. All that aside, the menu items are casual without being lazy. In fact, I would consider it nearly bistro-like, rather than "cafe." Nibbles worth noting are the calamari, eggplant and sweet potato fries, and mini burgers. Occassionally they have duck sliders and mussels featured on their daily chalkboard specials which are phenomenal. Some of the items I love are the ahi tuna salad, the burgers (Cabernet, Bleu, and bison), and the prosciutto/fig/goat cheese flatbread. I had the hummus not too long ago and it was underwhelming. However, there's so much of this menu I want to try but I'm always swayed by the daily specials when I walk in the door. Wines are reasonably priced, both by the glass and by the bottle and they also have a few beers to choose from. Overall it's consistent, laid-back, and has some solid food options - which is why we frequently return.
(4)L M.
Awesome food. Great beer. Great wine. An inexpensive and delicious date night!!! I've never had a bad meal here. Just finished the jambalaya pasta and it was great!
(5)Karen S.
This is a great, casual little alternative to all the chains in Downtown Silver Spring. I didn't know about it for the longest time because it's not in the main strip with the movie theater, but I'm so glad I found it. It's like a Panera, but fancier and locally owned-- and the prices do reflect that. You'll probably pay around $8-13 for a meal, but I think it's worth it. Like Panera, you order at the counter and go pick your food up. You get a beeper so you can wander the store, which has a great wine and beer selection, or sit while you wait. Their flatbreads are great and I always take home half. Whenever there's lobster bisque, I always order that (look for it on the daily menu). Their eggplant fries are amazing! I never knew you could make fries out of eggplant, but theirs, topped with a bit of cheese and served with marinara dipping sauce, are awesome. You get a huge portion. They don't reheat badly either, if you try it in the toaster oven. One thing to note: the parking lot behind it (the Whole Foods one) has only two-hour parking, and that is strictly enforced. Park in one of the garages to avoid getting a ticket, or set a timer!
(4)Andrew T.
I have gone to Adega since they opened and always enjoyed it. It has a great casual atmosphere and a friendly staff. Every time I have been there until recently I have had the Turkey Rueben which is awesome but today I felt like a salad and got the arugula salad with steak. Well, it was about the best salad I have ever had! The combination of favors was incredible. The Gorgonzola, pears, cranberries, etc. might sound like an odd combination but it was wonderful. I ate every bite. I decided to take a salad home for dinner and got the Jerk chicken with mango and avocado. I just finished eating it and it was great too. I know that I will be going much more regularly now. Now I can't wait to try more of the menu!!!
(5)Nick H.
Hidden gem in downtown Silver Spring. Great food, craft beer and wine selection. I will be coming back. Pizzas, salads, fish tacos, sandwiches galore. The bleu burger blew my mind. Cooked perfect. Very casual order at the counter type spot but has food like you'd find in nicer upscale restaurant. Beer and wine by the glass. Great selection. Gm mike is friendliest guy in town btw too!
(5)Therese D.
Food and drinks are good. I definitely recommend the eggplant fries. Sometimes difficult to get a spot if they're really busy.
(4)Matthew S.
After having cancelled reservations for a nice Valentine's Day dinner in the city due to the snow storm, we decided to make a trek out of the house despite the snow to Adega's since our baby sitter had already come to the house and was spending the night. When you have a kid and you have a babysitter lined up, you take advantage no matter what the elements are outside. Either way, Adega's is a tried and true spot for us. Since we had some dinner already, we chose to peruse the wine racks and selected a delicious blended red wine (name forgotten). We ordered a charcuterie board along with our wine and found a spot to settle in. This particular night the restaurant was quite cold due to the wind storm that going on outside, but once the wine started flowing our insides warmed up. The charcuterie board was delicious; however, there were several things that could be improved. The board provided a whole loaf of baguette; however, there wasn't any mustard, butter, or any other spreads provided. We had to ask them for this, a minor inconvenience. After our first bottle of wine, I selected another bottle; however, I chose a sweet white wine named Goddess at the request of my wife. We ordered some chocolate lava cakes as well. These little treats are delightful. Warm and gooey on the inside, they are a big hit and some nights become unavailable. That night they did not garnish with the traditional mango slice which my wife enjoys. All in all, Adega's is a great place and was a great spot for my wife and I to enjoy time together without our little munchkin for a night.
(4)Lorena B.
Hands down, this is my fave place to eat in downtown Silver Spring. They have a great selection of wine and yummy food. Normally, I despise anything green but I love the ahi tuna salad. It's 3 big chunks of rare tuna with a sesame crust on mixed greens with a delicious vinaigrette and cilantro rice. Bonus, they will sub extra salad for the rice at no extra charge. I also recommend the bacon cheeseburger. It's a normal portion and the chef manages to serve it juicy but not greasy. Adega clearly uses quality ingredients. Because it's a cafe/wine shop, it can be cramped especially during lunch and happy hour. I also wish they had more wines available by the glass. Still, Adega is heads and shoulders above the chains nearby.
(4)Rose M.
This is my favorite Saturday night hang out place in downtown Silver Spring! Love the food especially the fish tacos and the adega fries. Of course, love the wide selection of local and imported wines. Staff is very friendly. Sometimes it's hard to find a seat, but people are usually nice about sharing their tables with other people.
(5)Robert V.
Adega Wine Cellars is located right in the heart of downtown Silver Spring. With an open air plaza in front, the area is usually lively and festive. The shop itself serves beer, wine, and various bar food. Prices are competitive. I have not tried the food so I cannot comment on the quality and taste, but I do always notice multiple diners every time I drop by.
(4)David T.
awesome food! Wine bottle prices are a tad high, but food rocks otherwise.
(4)Caroline L.
Came here twice now and had some different experiences. The first: came with a bigger group and finding a table for us was hard- esp since it's a first come first serve basis so you awkwardly stand there and stare at people hoping to pounce first when they start cleaning up. We got a variety of things and I remember some weren't too impressed. The eggplant fries were ok and the grown up grilled cheese was fantastic. If I remember correctly, someone was disappointed in their fish tacos. The second: came here w/ one other person and pretty late on a Fri night so seating wasn't an issue. I love how it's removed from all the hectic downtown area where all the high schoolers are. Adega is quieter, slightly more upscale, and cater to an older crowd. This time got the calamari which I would give a 7.5/10 which is still pretty darn good. The batter coating was a light color and dipping sauce was good. The highlight was the tomato soup and the turkey sandwich. Can't remember what the actual name was but it came w/ cranberry sauce and cheese. Huge portion!
(4)Beth N.
A group of 4 of us went here on a Wednesday evening. It was SO BUSY. We had to order our food and wait (standing up) for about 20 mins until we snagged a table. They really need more seating. I shared a pizza and it was pretty good. My sister and her husband both had beer and said it was delicious. My fiance had wine that he said was great. You cannot sit outside if you have any alcohol, even though some people snuck outside with it anyway. Overall it was okay but I'm not sure if I will be going back.
(3)Phil D.
ATTENTION EVERYONE: Adega does not charge a corking fee for ANY of their beers or wines, as long as you purchase food. This is a great deal! And their food is quite lovely. A wide variety of sandwiches, burgers, pasta dishes, flatbreads, and small plates. We highly recommend the Turkey Reuben, though you really can't go wrong with any of the sandwiches. Adega is our #1 go-to sit-down lunch place in downtown Silver Spring, as the prices are very reasonable.
(4)Denise K.
The beer was priced very right! The beet salad was great. The southwest pizza was decent although I think I would have liked a different one better just as a matter of taste. Sweet potato fries were awesome although the sauce was questionable. I think a honey mustard sauce would be better. All in all a great dining experience.
(4)S W.
I really loved this place. It wasn't at all what I expected but the wine and food was so yummy, I didn't mind. I had the portobello mushroom burger with the eggplant fries. I'd go back again for this but I'm anxious to try other items.
(4)Bryan N.
I have to say, some of the best wine selections in DC. The customer service is amazing! Emily was so knowledgable about all the wines they had in house. I told her exactly what wanted and she not only found great wines for me, she gave a little wine lesson to boot! Great service. And if you are feeling a little hungry, they have delicious food to compliment the wine. Take your girl here for date night, you'll that me later...
(5)Semra E.
Whenever I am feeling in the mood to know that there's an actually tasty affordable spot in downtown Silver Spring that has a quality and staff that no other location can touch...I will come here. Which is just about once a week for me. They're fantastic, they have great wine recommendations and they keep adding excellent specials to their menu in addition to providing deals that you can only get when dining in. Either way, I love it here. Every new person I bring in to eat here agrees, it's a hidden (or not so hidden by how crowded it can get certain times), place to eat when shopping or hanging out in downtown Silver Spring. Great quick dinner before a movie at AFI or Majestic.
(5)Brittany J.
The Caesar wrap with salmon was out of this world! I felt compelled to go back and order one togo to take to work for lunch and definitely ate it before I could get it in the fridge. Oops
(5)Shira S.
This places gets me in trouble....every time! I typically go with friends and we get several bottles of wine to share. They don't charge corkage fees, so whatever you pay for the bottle you choose, is exactly what you pay. Their selection of wine is pretty good and across many different price ranges. They also have a lot of yummy food. During happy hour, their appetizers are 25% off (I think). I highly recommend their grilled calamari - it is soooo good.
(4)Siv L.
Came here with my boyfriend on a beautiful sunny Saturday afternoon. We wanted a place to hang out before grabbing dinner. So we grabbed some reading material, said yes to the wine tasting, and bought a bottle of red to share. We sat down, enjoyed a glass of wine, and read. Great set up -- love the concept. Wish there were more places like this in other cities. Makes drinking wine and hanging out very affordable. Please note that we didn't eat anything here... but for the concept, the space to enjoy wine, hang out, and talk, read, etc, I would definitely recommend.
(4)Adelina Z.
Normally this place is a go-to old reliable but this past visit was anything but. For starters, the wait time was a couple minutes short of half an hour. Keep in mind that I only ordered a lamb burger (medium) and truffle fries. Not to mention, it was during the afternoon (hours post lunch rush) on a weekday. When I finally got my food, the lamb burger was particularly dry. I found this odd because lamb is infamously known for being fatty. I'm pretty sure it's because it was frozen; it definitely wasn't fresh meat. The fries were perfectly crispy but only gave off a faint hint of any truffle flavor. I'll wait to visit again and hopefully they'll have improved. The third star was given for their great wine selection.
(3)Jennifer H.
I love going to this cafe!!! The wine selection is not giant but plenty big enough to find something you like in your price range. The best part about Adega is that you can buy a bottle of wine and drink it there for no up-charge! There is usually someone out by the wines that will help you select one. It is not a very large space, 90% of the time I am able to get a table right away. The food is amazing, I think several of the selections are very upscale and not usually found in a cafe. I recommend the ahi tuna.
(5)Jessie S.
Fantastic food and wine that won't break your budget. Incredible wine and craft beer selection. Amazingly inventive food menu. Great for groups or dates. A winner all around.
(5)Cici H.
I've passed by this place several times but never thought to go inside and explore. When my friend selected this place to have dinner, I was excited to try it out. I ordered the Asian chop salad and my friend and I shared an appetizer of half sweet potato half eggplant fries. He also ordered the Caribbean chicken salad and tomato basil soup. My Asian chop salad was good with very fresh ingredients. The fries were good but I wasn't a fan of the sauces. I tried my friend's tomato basil soup and it was tasty. Overall, everything was good. I really like to atmosphere in this place. I definitely plan to come back from another visit to try something different and perhaps a glass of wine.
(4)Michelle D.
I'm very impressed with the food. I had a veggie burger today and I was nervous before I bought it because of the bad experiences I've had ordering veggie burgers at other places. Well, with Adega...I WAS PLEASANTLY SURPRISED!!! Their new veggie burger well exceeded my expectations! It was a delicious dream come true. I finally found a second spot in Maryland where I could go for a trustworthy veggie burger. It had a nice grilled taste to it and the recommended chipotle mayo was a-ma-zing! Not to mention the 3 perfectly cut slices of avocado that topped the burger. I prefer to avoid gluten, so I ordered the burger without a bun....still amazing. I'm also in love with Adega's doubly delicious eggplant fries! OMG, how can you fix fries that are not dripping with grease? In fact, I was surprised that, after eating a veggie burger and a side of eggplant fries, my fingers and mouth/throat weren't coated with grease. I was triple satisfied with my meal. WAY TO GO ADEGA! After eating, my husband and I informed they guy we ordered from that the food was A+. Can't wait to go back for more eggplant fries...and another veggie burger!
(4)Phx D.
Great food, service could be better thats why I held back a star. The staff were not really helpful when asked questions. But again, the food was great and the ambiance is awesome. Been there several times.
(4)Michael B.
Good food and a nice selection of wines. Parking can be a minor problem as the one lot nearest the cafe serves several businesses.
(4)Tim H.
The format is a problem here. It's a cafe with an embedded wine shop (or vice versa?). The important distinction here is that it is definitely a cafe, not a restaurant--you order at a counter, and most importantly, you find your own seats, which for me has been a problem on several occasions. The menu is probably good enough to make for a decent restaurant, and by selling wine it's almost as if they're encouraging you to stay for 45 minutes or more like you would at a seated restaurant. But the fact is, there are other people hovering over you, waiting for you to leave. There's no waiting area, and since people order before there is a seat, some people have their food before there's a place to sit. It's pretty awkward, really, and the section that's a 'wine cellar' has a good selection but feels like it's just wasting space. But, given you know that and have come here for a quick meal at lunchtime or some other appropriate purpose, the food is pretty good. I've had much better pizza, but the sandwiches are good and the eggplant fries are a real treat. The wine selection is of course very good and their specials are thoughtful. I disagree with other reviewers who call it pricey--perhaps the pizzas are, but I've been satisfied with the price and size. Bottom line: be sure you don't mistake it for a restaurant.
(3)Kelly J.
Just moved to the Silver Spring area from Northern Virginia, and Adega is my new favorite place. I don't want to rave too hard about it though, because it is already too crowded! I went for lunch a few weeks ago with a friend, and while we stood in line to order, we mocked a table with two women who ordered a pizza, a sandwich, a pasta, and a salad. Wouldn't you know it - all of the menu options at Adega looked so yummy, we soon found ourselves in the same boat! We split the appetizer mussels (white wine sauce with garlic and gorgonzola - I seriously wanted to DRINK the sauce). I had the arugula and pear salad and added salmon. The fish was perfectly cooked and comes with an awesome chipotle sauce and black sesame seeds. I went for dinner last night and enjoyed the same salad (a creature of habit, I guess) and the hummus appetizer. The pita bread is served grilled and warm and there is plenty of it! My friend had the fried calamari salad and it looked amazing. I can't wait to come back and try something new! Already looking forward to it.
(4)Mahoganie B.
I have to thank a friend of mine who suggested this place for me as a lunch spot to conduct a laid back interview or meeting. I went on a weekend day during lunch hour and to my surprise it wasn't crowded!!!! Yaaaay! I'm in love with the set up and the food! The sweet potato fries are sooo delectable and the Ginger Brew... the ginger is strong but I'm a fan!!!!! It washed those fries down really goooooooooood! The items on the menu don't seem overly done, but they also seem to have some kind of healthy benefit; such as the sweet potato or egg plant fries. They do have burgers and flatbread (YUM!) The food items are just casual but the do mix/pair well with wine! Ok.. so when you walk in, after you pick your seat.. you go to the front and order/pay for your food. You are given a buzzer and of course pick up your food with your buzzer goes off. This method seems effective, but I don't wanna image the scene when it's crowded in there and your cutting through the line to get to the food counter to pick up your delights! Still, I'm in love with this place. This seems ideal for - not only lunch, but - happy hour and perhaps a quick bite with friends or date, before a night out. I'm here for this!
(4)M. K.
Stopped in here before a show at the Fillmore and felt at home the minute I walked in...cozy atmosphere + wine + moderately-priced gourmet sammies? SOLD. I ended up choosing one of the specials, the crabcake sandwich, and thought it was pretty good for a cafe. Roll tasted fresh and the yellow pepper remoulade was a nice added touch. The actual crabcake was a little burnt on the outside, but I was able to overlook that due to the tasty sauce and the A-MAZING truffle fries. Seriously, they were awesome. Thin shoestrings with tons of flavor...I'd go back for those alone. Only cons: -Heavy BBQ-ish smokey smell throughout cafe -White wine I ordered was very warm, almost room temperature Will definitely return for more fries and to try one of their burgers that everyone seems to be raving over.
(4)Rachel D.
In my top three favorite restaurants to go to on any given night. It's such a cool place; I love the small cafe feel. The food is always yummy...of course paired with a glass of wine! I always try their different house wine whenever I go and it never disappoints.
(5)Danielle L.
Great Selection of Wines... Red and White! Great Food! Great Atmosphere! Great Place hang and chill with friends. Chicken Flat Bread- Great Steak Flat Bread- great Sweet Potato Fries - Yummy The Jerk ( Jerk Chicken Wrap) - Love it Happy Hour - 4-7 25% off of apps! However they get minus 1 start for the bathroom set up! I single use bathroom! Wine and Beer = Bathroom usage.
(4)Ruth C.
The guy handing out orders seemed like he hated his life but at least he took his assembly line hygiene seriously, and the rest of the staff members were much friendlier. Bruschetta while we waited. The cheese used had the texture of overly firm tofu, but the fresh tomatoes, basil, and faint hint of garlic made each bite less dubious. The herb-seasoned buttered toast was my favorite part of our meal here: not too greasy, just the right amount of crunch and flavor. At heart, I'm always gonna be a bread'n'butter kinda gal. Migrated outside to enjoy the cooling weather, cute cops, and some live music from the plaza. Split a Napa Valley Cabernet burger. Not sure if shredded lettuce would've helped if it had been present, but I found it a little lackluster. I already take issue when the bun-to-patty sizing doesn't match up, but the toasted foccacia was overly dry and not very enjoyable. I ended up consuming only as much bread was needed to prevent the tomato slice and provolone-graced patty from smearing on my hands. Even then, I still needed to dip half my bites in mustard to keep the bread from being a choking hazard. The patty itself was subtly flavored and moist at medium. Sweet potato fries were ready after a short delay, and emerged piping hot from the warm kitchen. I preferred the lemon mango sauce over a ketchup accompaniment, but ultimately found these starch strips less tasty than the plain kettle chips. I can see myself returning to give this place a chance to redeem itself. To-try list includes the jerk, smokin' turkey reuben, and Duke Ellington... and the eggplant fries have got to be better than the sweet potato fries. The flatbreads I spotted coming out of the kitchen looked divine, and I'm sure I'd cave to my lobster bisque craving.
(3)Libby F.
I still love this place for delicious, fresh fast food. The salads are always made with mixed greens and their homemade dressing is the best. I came on Monday during happy hour and reading a recent topic on the talk threads had me craving calamari. They have it here and it is pretty good. It's not as good as 8407 Kitchen Bar's, but it is two bucks cheaper ($7). It was happy hour as I mentioned, so select appetizers and glasses of wine (large selection) are 25% off. That means my calamari was only $5.25 and my Shiraz was $4.89. For just ten bucks, it was very satisfying! At these prices, I'll be back for happy hour again.
(5)Frankie B.
Good food, but a bit overpriced for the size and content. The inside is loud, small, and hot due to the heat from the kitchen. I had the jerk chicken sandwich, flavor was good, but the chicken breast was small on the bun. Te sweet potatoe fries and dipping sauce were really good. My friend had the pesto chicken which was tasty but small for the price.
(4)Steve L.
Don't mistake this for a restaurant. Its more like a liquor store with good take out food. The food is great, staff are extremely friendly & helpful. Price is reasonable for the quality. Downside: plastic plates & silverware. Wait on yourself & bus your own table! Will I be back??? Hell to the YA
(4)Antoine W.
Location The restaurant is in the heart of Downtown Silver Spring, easily accessible by Metro and car. The Fenton Street parking garage is right across the street. It's a little hidden if you aren't looking closely. It sits next to Whole Foods and Baja Fresh (which are more noticeable due to their signage) and behind the large pavilion (summer)/ice skating rink (winter) area. Atmosphere Part wine store, part café, with light wood furnishings, it reminds me of some of the wine stores at vineyards I have visited in Napa Valley. Very clean inside. Casual atmosphere. Service The cashier and cooks all seemed very polite and courteous. They were also very knowledgeable in wine. I am the self-proclaimed "wino" in my group of friends. I had some friends with me who did not know what kind of wine to try and the staff gave great recommendations; all but one had a wine that they enjoyed. Food The food was very delicious and budget-friendly! We ordered the cheese sampler block (came with three different cheeses, bread, and a delicious jelly preserve) and the calamari. I didn't expect such good calamari from a small place like this. Now, this isn't Napa Valley or Italy, but for the wine enthusiast, you will be pleased with the concept. (And there are soft drinks for the non-wine drinkers). This is a great place OUTSIDE of the city (with free, easy to find parking) that's casual, budget-friendly, and overall a cute place to go. It is highly recommended and would definitely return!
(4)Fu P.
This place is a great Silver Spring hang-out. Wine is a little over-priced, but they have a monopoly on the cool wine bar market. Food is good. Burgers are the best on the menu. Don't miss the eggplant fries. seriously.
(4)Jessica H.
Pricey, but sometimes you get what you pay for. They have great smaller plates (I've never had the entrees). The eggplant fries and sweet potato fries combination, with a bottle of Australian red wine. Can't go wrong. NOM+NOM. If you are unsure about what kind of wine you want, the people behind the counter are VERY helpful. I assure you they will not judge you ;-). I consider myself a wine-o and I asked a few questions to the guy, and he knew what the hell he was talking about. So ask-way yelpers. The place does get a bit crowded, but if you are lucky, you can sit by the window and people watch. The location is great, because it overlooks the new downtown Silver Spring skating rink. If you are claustrophobic, go someplace else...its a tiny place, but if you are in the mood for wine and light foods...do it.
(4)Hain L.
an a-ok place for food but they do have a nice selection of affordable wine. The restaurant part almost operates like a fast food joint. The eggplant fries were really good but the quesadilla wasn't the best I've had. I'd go back to pick up some bottles of wine but not sure about eating there.
(3)Roy S.
I really liked the Penne Pesto w/ chicken. Good wine selection but its all on the pricey side... Its on of these new hybrid restaurants without waiters. Classier then fast food, but similar concept.
(4)Elisabeth H.
WOW people seem to really love Adega...I am thinking or hoping then that we just caught it on an 'off day'. Made plans on Friday to see a movie, walk around, and get a bite in downtown Silver Spring. Being that this is somewhere neither of us frequent I turned to yelp for some suggestions. Based purely on the reviews we decided that this was the place. The location is very convenient to shopping, movie theater, etc. The menu had a ton of options and a lot of wine to choose from. There were two men working the counter area one, who was older then the other was great, he was helpful personable and very pleasant. The other, younger man, seemed like he wanted to be anywhere else but there and was too cool to really help or answer our questions. I eat gluten free so really count on the help and knowledge of people working at a restaurant to come up with the best options. There was a BBQ special that looked good so I asked the younger man if that was gluten free. His response was a yeah it should be, which really didn't help me. I asked if he could ask someone since BBQ is not always and not a go to gluten free option. He asked and was told absolutely not. Good thing I asked him to double check....I ended up going with the truffle fries which are not breaded but do share a fryer and a bleu cheese stuffed burger with no bun plus the bottle of wine to share. The total with a small tip was $33 pretty reasonable. We sat down waiting for our food. My buzzer went off and I got mine, my friends came shortly after. My fries were cold from the get go which was disappointing but didn't stop me from enjoying, because a. they are fries and b. I was hungry. I ordered my burger medium rare and it was very very rare. The cheese on the inside of the burger wasn't even melted. I don't have a problem with rare meet but it would probably be a problem for most and rarer then they should be serving it. The food was fair, but I could totally see the potential for a huge YUM if the execution had been on, which is why I would really like to believe it was just an off day/time/whatever. I would say I'd be back but realistically I never find myself in the area.
(3)Debra N.
The wine is excellent, the wine cellar has a fabulous selection, the food melts in your mouth, the location is entertaining and the people (staff & customers) make for good conversation. This may be my favorite place for a relaxing glass of vino...
(5)Maboud E.
Wine selection is pretty great as well as the food. A bit over-priced in my opinion. Staff is knowledgable and helpful and the atmosphere is nice.
(4)anon r.
4 stars because staff was nice and patient. 3.5 stars for the food and atmosphere. i think they'd be a standout for economy class restaurant in downtown silver spring if the music were quieter and calmer - would give this place a more upscale vibe, but apparently others like the casual/pub feel. i requested extra lemon for my tuna tartare tacos, which were ok - kept me from ordering pork belly burger ;P
(4)Sarah F.
The only reason I'm rating this higher is because the food is a bit pricey. But it is tasty. I ought my mum here for a light lunch, because I knew they'd be reliable and have soup and other light options. You order at the counter and wait for your order to be called. The staff are nice and helpful. I particularly like the Eggplant flies and the fact that you can get a half and half order of these with the sweet potato fries. We also had mushroom and brie soup which was good and sliders. The wine selection on the shelves is good and I like being able to browse whilst I wait for my order. They have outdoor seating which is nice when there's live music in the pubic area outside. The biggest draw back of this place is that the plates and cutlery is all plastic and disposable. which is a real pet peeve of mine.
(3)Jane W.
Ate here today for lunch. After waiting 25 mins for my order, I got my fish tacos. They were far from the "best". The fish was so salty and not very good. The rest of the salsa was only OK. After taxes and tip it ended up being over $15. Will not be back.
(2)Patrick W.
I'm not a wine guy, but I like the food and the casual atmosphere. It's quick and easy and inexpensive as well as consistent. Nothing for me to complain about.
(5)Alexandra S.
Had lunch here on Friday and really enjoyed it. First of all, the ambiance of eating in the wine shop is v nice, next the Cuban sandwich was excellent. Tasty, juicy.... Yum mm! They have a diverse menu and aren't that expensive. I also hear you can buy a bottle of wine and they will open it for you and u can drink it there.
(4)Liz R.
The sweet potato fries are DELICIOUS!!! I had their Jerk wrap and was pleased. I was a bit disappointed the wrap had all of the lettuce and the chicken on one side. Then again I am a bit picky, hey I don't like turning my wrap around and around to get the equal amount of fixings. My husband has had their Jalisco and Bison Burger and has loved them. This place def needs more seating. Staff was friendly.
(4)Casey H.
Adega is a solid 3. The food here is reliably pretty good. I have been there enough to sample burgers, several kinds of sandwiches and a few salads. Some are great--the burgers are all tasty, for instance. The sandwiches are a bit more hit and miss. Some are awesome, others bland or poorly made. The sweet potato fries are always tasty--definitely upgrade from the chips. The store is occasionally quite crowded, and the seating situation is first come, first serve. The tables are frequently a bit dirty too--they need more regular bussing. In all, Adega is a solid choice in a convenient location. Definitely not the best grub in downtown Silver Spring, but you won't regret it if you find yourself there.
(3)Veronica J.
Meg nothing to write home about. Food was good don't get me wrong but pricey for what I got
(2)Sarah M.
The eggplant fries are amazing. So delicious. They come with marinara sauce, and the small order was plenty. They have a great wine selection (and you can buy bottles of wine while you're waiting for your food!) and a decent beer selection too. They don't have servers, you order at the register, they give you your beverage of choice and then you wait for your food. It was a little slow when I was there, so minus one star.
(4)Mary L.
I think I am addicted to this place. I love their food specially their salads. Between food and drinks the bill can add up, but the service is great. It is hard to get a table during the weekends, but that is how popular it is. Happy Hour is OK, they still charge around $6-$8 a glass of wine, which I can get for cheaper in DC. Overall, I love the ambiance. It is very relaxing and conveniently located.
(5)Bex G.
A good menu with solid wine and beer options. You can buy bottles and 6 packs of beer. There is good happy hour and daily specials.
(4)Jake K.
How I missed this review is beyond me. I've been going to Adega now, usually several times a year, to gnosh on the selection of burgers and the to-die-for sweet potato and eggplant fries. I typically ask for a half and half to keep things interesting and love the dips that you get for the fries. As for the store, I typically don't like to purchase wines in Maryland since the selection is limited by the state distributor. Since I'm in VA, I always like to order my wines directly from the vineyard or whatever caught my fancy from the WSJ wine club (a mixed case per quarter). Adega is set up in a wine cellar style motif and from what I can tell, is reasonably priced for what is offered. I always like to stop by when I'm in SS to Adega for a burger - the other restaurants just don't impress me there.
(4)Sara O.
A little less than 3.5 stars - Good fried fast food with easy access to wine and booze. Not a restaurant though. You order at the counter and pick up your food. I expected a sit down restaurant. It looks much nicer outside then it is inside. We went for happy hour and got 20% off the delicious fattyness of eggplant fries, bbq sliders, and fried calamari. I would shy away from the lackluster mini burger. The wines by the bottle are inexpensive, but the ambiance is part wine store, part above average fast food restaurant. Not the best ambiance for the product but the food makes up for it.
(3)Adam A.
Everything's good here. Beautiful cozy ambiance. Solid menu with a rotating specials. Amazing eggplant and sweet potato fries. The roast beef and blue cheese sandwich is bomb.
(5)A S.
The food isn't great, it's just average but I love the fact that this place is a wine cellar and restaurant in 1. Good wine selection. We had some type of peach wine that was really good. Good for date nights and just hanging out with a glass of wine to relax. Friendly staff and great location.
(3)N S.
Despite the three stars, I really like something about this spot. The menu descriptions read much better than the food actually tastes, that I will say. I've had a few of the sandwiches, the hummus, and the sweet potato fries. Quite frankly, everything is just ok, but something about the ambience and the nice casual feel of the spot just works well with a relaxed meetup with a friend. It's also nice to be able to enjoy a bottle of wine at retail cost with no corking fee. I had eaten here several years ago and never returned. I'm pretty sure that was due to not being impressed with the food. I would recommend the owners check out the menu of Cafe Tu O Tu in Georgetown and try and emulate fare along the lines of that. Still relatively inexpensive, but tasty. With some improvement on the food, I have no doubt this would be a minimum of four stars here on Yelp, but yet currently a three star which is not so hot. I tend to not be inclined to try any business below a 3.5.
(3)Alex O.
In a few months I'll be moving across the line into DC after nine years in Silver Spring. As the date for my departure looms closer, I've been thinking a lot about the places in Silver Spring that I will rarely, or perhaps never, visit again. Adega is not worth traveling any great distance to eat at. Furthermore, there are a few duds on the menu - the BBQ pork sandwich is mediocre at best, the smoked salmon wrap just doesn't come together very well, and the Jerk chicken sandwich always seems to be dry, overcooked, and lacking much in the way of jerk flavor. However, Adega also has many excellent stand outs. Honestly, if they served nothing besides their amazing (and quite filling) fish tacos, I'd give the place three stars. The things end up being a mess if you let them sit too long, but all in all, they may be the best fish tacos I've ever had. The large pieces of cod are grilled (not fried) and the citrus slaw and papaya salsa are both unique and delicious. Their take on a turkey reuben is also unique, featuring havarti cheese, wine reduced sauerkraut and asian pear cranberry chutney. It's not "light" in any sense but it is delicious. Sadly, they seem to have dropped their French Dip, which was one of the best versions I've ever had of that old (and usually tired) standby. Their bistro steak sandwich is okay when they overcook the steak and excellent when they nail it - I tend to ask for rare which usually ensures slices of steak closer to my liking, but YMMV. I also recommend the blackened ahi tuna wrap and the field green salad. And yes...they do indeed make THE BEST sweet potato fries I've ever had. Wine selection is quite good, if not over whelming, and on mondays and wednesdays they have some good "wine+meal" deals that can make for a tasty and relatively inexpensive date night. Like I said earlier, this is not a destination location, but it's the kind of local place that any neighborhood should be thrilled to have as part of the community. Now that I think about it, there's a very good chance that those fish tacos will lure me back here occasionally even after moving to the District.
(4)Julie O.
Great food, prices are reasonable. I just wish they had outdoor seating where you can drink your wine/beer.
(4)Sana J.
Definitely try the Caribbean chicken salad here, it is delicious! The seating arrangement is not too intuitive but its really cozy. Totally worth checking out.
(4)Brian J.
One of my favorite SS places to eat! Staff is very friendly. It is even kid-friendly! Definitely recommend eating here if you are in downtown SS!
(4)Josh R.
If only more places like this existed in the DC metro area. On Wednesday nights one gets 25% off a bottle from their excellent wine selection, as long as one buys two entrees. Given the fact that there is no corkage fee and the wine isn't marked up in-store, this ends up being the best deal in town. The service is also great: Even though entrees cost about $8-$12, they'll let you try the wine for spoilage before sticking with it. Last time I went a bottle seemed a bit off. A manager agreed that it was a bit acidic but said it was a feature of that kind of wine. He let me try it for a few minutes and exchange it if I wanted to. I ultimately got a full exchange for another wine that suited my palette. All the food we've had there has been excellent. The burgers, pulled pork, Cuban sandwich, Philly cheese steak, and pasta have met or exceeded expectations. My only qualm is that they should use real plates and silverware. Given the quality of the food and wine, it's a bit mismatched to eat the food on and with plastic. Adega is arguably my favorite restaurant in Silver Spring right now.
(5)Ian S.
I had an issue with the quality of a salad wrap, instead of complaining in person I decided to write feedback to the email address listed on their website and have not heard back.
(1)Krystal D.
The BF and I are big fans of casual wine shops that serve up food. We'd much rather go to a laid-back wine shop for an enjoyable happy hour than go to some random bar that's overflowing with people and serving up crappy drinks. While Adega had a great atmosphere and good wine, the food left much to be desired. We both ordered burgers, which while perfectly acceptable, were not anything special. "A-Ok" is actually the perfect word to describe them. If I happen to find myself up in Silver Spring during happy hour again, I might pay Adega another visit, but it's definitely not a place I'd go out of my way to visit.
(3)Joseph K.
walther rhee is the man and adega is best place in MD to get a great bottle of wine at a great cost. The food is outstanding too! most of the ingredients are made from scratch and with lots of love.
(5)Shannon M.
Adega is such a fun place to have a few bottles of wine with friends. Since they have a wine store onsite, you are not paying insane restaurant markups-they just charge the retail price for what you buy. They have a small but thoughtful menu and I have always been pleased by our selections. The desserts are all tasty and the sweet potato and eggplant fries were also standouts. Adega is a great place for a casual dinner and one of my top picks when we're eating out inSilver Spring.
(4)Kristina K.
Since specialty wine stores/wine bars are still a rarity, it much pains me to poorly rank Adega Wine Cellars. Before going any further, let's separately treat their business halves: wine store = 5, restaurant/cafe = 2. The wine cellar, while small, is quite awesome. As a specialty store, Adega's hand-picked wine selections tend to be tasty with very few proverbial lemons (sour grapes?). The stock size is small but they do carry some classy foreign beers, including a fair selection of Belgians. While it's a walk from the metro (4-5 blocks) and, if you are not familiar with the location, a bit of a scavenger hunt by foot or in car, I may take the challenge of finding the place...but will only go for a change in variety compared to other wine sellers in the area; still, 5 stars. Now for the big disappointment: the restaurant/cafe! Reading positive reviews on Yelp, I was eager to try their food and, knowing they'll cap and allow you to port any unfinished bottles, was eager to try a few. Being in the holiday season, we were home early and decided to head there for happy hour. While HH goes until 7 pm, the happy hour selection is very sparse, ~3 types of red wine--house wines, by the way--and they were out of one! First, a happy hour special of 3 types of house wine is sad, quite pathetic, really. I was hoping that they would replace the out-of-stock item with another similar selection but no such luck. Their big chalk board menu mentioned specials: Monday nights 40% off bottles with entree purchase, Wednesday nights 20% select bottles. 'Great', I thought, since it was a Wednesday and inquired details on the select bottles: apparently, they decided that today's special would be modified to require an entree. Huh?? If they have this sign posted so people know when deals are offered and someone came in after dinner expecting to get 20% off bottles without getting food, then this person just got an unsettling surprise. After facing our disappointment, we settled on a (full priced) Malbec/Italian-grape-I-cannot recall blend for ~$16, which did turn out to be awesome enough for us to take a few bottles to go. We ordered food next. Adega has no waiters so all orders occur at the counter and then customers get called back to pick up the food & drink. Oddly, there is a policy that even if you plan on purchasing several rounds (e.g., during happy hour), each order has to be settled without the option of an open tab. Thankfully, our shocked faces and a pleasant request prompted the sales clerk (like someone commented, they are not waiters or cashiers here, really, but some still-nameless hybrid) to allow an open tab. Curiously, it was to his discretion as per an internal consultation we overheard. Adega, thank you for making the exception but please consider changing policy to allow open tabs for all! (If not for the sake & ease of the customers and clerks, then for the economic sense: after all, credit cards do charge businesses a per transaction fee.) Back to the food: the sweet potato fries were alright but not nearly as good as the yummy eggplant fries. While both were a bit under seasoned for my taste, I still enjoyed them and kept going after crumbs of sprinkled parmesan cheese. The biggest disappointment was the bruschetta: stay away! The tomatoes were cold and under-ripened, the combo bland, and the cheese made me want to whimper. The pulled pork sliders were quite good in that smoky-sweet kind of way and provided a nice finish. In sum, I might be tempted to come back but, most likely, only for the wine shopping. Though there is not another wine bar around, I'm unlikely to seek it out for happy hour or after-dinner treat.
(3)Tara I.
I like this place. It's that simple! Its like when Panera meets Wine menu. It's casual, inexpensive, the food is tasty (holler at the eggplant fries), and there is a mini wine store inside (that's also inexpensive)! If you catch it on a good night (generally Friday) they'll have wine tastings. The menu never changes. LOL. Great spot for a vegetarian. I like their salads and soups... and of course their wine. I don't like that you have to bus your own tables, because not everyone cleans up after themselves so well. The restrooms are LIMITED and every time I go, it's like mad packed... and it never seems freshly cleaned. There's outdoor seating but guess what? Drinking the good stuff is only allowed indoors! Makes sense but it kind of blows. Cute date spot, or after the movie spot, or grab something not so fancy spot, or ust because spot.... hope you like it.
(4)Annie D.
I was not a fan of this place. We went in for lunch the other day and both of our sandwiches were pretty crappy. I'm wondering if we just didn't order the right thing because folks on here seem to really be into this place. The sandwich I had was just not good, really dry and I feel like the bbq sauce and rosemary foccacia shouldn't ever be served together. I would go back to try the pizza or these french fries that yelpers are over the moon for, but I'm not really in a rush. Also, 2 draught beers and 2 sandwiches put us well over $30. The food was way too mediocre for those prices.
(2)Dee J.
A fab local business option in downtown Silver Spring. I'm a big fan of the Jerk Chicken Salad, Lobster Bisque, and Half 'n Half fries. YUMMY 8) Adega's staff is very friendly and the dining area is always clean. Nice casual place for a date or out-of-town visitors.
(4)Sam M.
Our friends introduced us to Adega though we have lived in the area for 20+ years. The best part has to be the selection of wines and beers on the shelves which you can either purchase at store price and take home, or even better drink there. They also have a selection of draft beers. The food there has been very good. I suggest getting the half and half fries with sweet potato and eggplant. The staff is friendly. A downside is it is usually pretty crowded and you may have to wait for a table if you have a larger group. There are tables with stools that allow for you to share with another party.
(5)Winnie K.
Food is hit or miss here, but the eggplant fries are to die for. The Jerk Chicken Wrap is also delightful. Good selection of wine and beer, but I've found better value elsewhere. Great atmosphere and I love that it's an independent business in the chain-infested world that is Downtown Silver Spring. They also have a frequent diner card, though I'm not sure of the details... I always forget mine, unfortunately! For drivers - there are two garages that are quite close to Adega/DTSS area.
(4)Nat B.
This restaurant makes me glad I live so close to downtown Silver Spring! Excellent food (definitely try their eggplant fries!), a really nice selection of wine and friendly staff has made me a regular. As the other Yelpers mentioned, they have specials daily (even on weekends). We came in Saturday evening and they were offering a special of 2 entrees (some seafood dishes excluded), an app and a select bottle of vino for $40. Definitely a sweet deal if you order a higher priced entree (mine was $15 and my wife's entree was $13). The bottle we chose, a Temparillo - wasn't great though. We should've inquired for their suggestion instead of just picking one out. Great seating area made us feel right at home, away from home. Recommended!
(4)Steve R.
I've eaten here three or four times, which must mean that I like it! The menu is primarily sandwiches, wraps, salads, etc., but definitely different than you will find at a bar and grill. Each has a twist to make it unique. Lots of flavor! I've only been there for lunch, so I haven't tried the wines.
(4)Ben B.
Interesting little sandwich and wine place located above the ice skate rental for the seasonal ice rink in Veterans Plaza in Downtown Silver Spring. They have a descent sized menu of sandwiches, flatbreads and wraps in the $8-12 range that come with chips, or an up-charge for sweet potato or eggplant fries. Mostly classic items on the menu that the owner has jazzed up with sauces or unique breads. They also serve wine by the glass and include a couple of different price points for reds and whites. I believe you can also buy a bottle for your table. They also sell bottles of wine in store and have a small but nice collection you can browse. The only thing missing form this place is the ability to sit outside with your wine. There are a couple of tables outside, but they are an after thought and are awkwardly along the railing and people are constantly walking by. Because it's not against the store and fenced off you can't bring alcoholic beverages there. I've been here numerous times and it's a good place to go when i'm not sure what it is I want.
(4)Stacey G.
Adega is expensive, but worth it. Tucked away, so it's never too busy, and stocked with excellent food and fine wines. The Big Jerk is a treat to your tastebuds and every order comes with kettle chips which is always great. Their to-go stands up to travel and the bread is fresh and delicious. I try to go there at least once a week as a treat to myself for getting paid! :)
(5)Tara G.
LOVE this place and their well priced wines and dinners!!! GREAT for happy hour!!!
(5)Katlyn Y.
We found this place through Yelp and were not disappointed by the reviews. Comes across as a very informal place, but definitelys has great amenties. The food menu is inventive and very good. The wine menu is interesting and flavorful. The best part is the place is affordable and very nice to use. Overall great experience and we plan of revisiting. Often.
(4)David C.
Food is awesome! I used to work there so i know whats good. Every now and again I'll catch myself daydreaming of some of their tasty eats. =) First of all, the Turkey Reuben always kicks butt. All time favorite there. I don't usually like reuben sandwiches, but the pear-cranberry chutney in this sandwich makes it so good! I've always loved the Capellini Fresca. Fresh bruschetta tomatoes, basil, garlic, chunks of mozzarella? Whats not to love? I like to add chicken to mine for a little protein. Ceasar Wraps are awesome! I dunno why, but it's just good. With chicken or steak. Either way. Yum. Jerk Wrap and Sandwich. The jerk seasoned chickenwith the mango combined with the lime mango vinaigrette..... awesome. I could eat these a lot without getting tired of them. The sandwich definitely changes it up as well because of the baguette. Eggplant fries and Sweet Potato fries! Both are great. Some will prefer one or the other. You can get a half/half basket of each anyways. Love em both but I like the eggplant fries just a little bit more. Grilled Tofu Salad! So delicious! The flavor of the grilled tofu is just awesome. I've custom ordered this into a wrap as well in the "red" tortilla. I forgot which one that was...maybe sun dried tomato?... soo delicious that way, but if you don't finish it, the tortilla will get soggy, but then it can pretty much be turned back into a salad. Ok hope this is a helpful kick start to try something great at Adega =)
(5)Brian G.
Great wine selection - both for in-house and take home enjoyment. The flat bread pizzas are fantastic. Now with the ice skating rink opened for the season it will make for a fun outing for the family too.
(4)Kristin M.
My husb and I love this place - an upscale but comfy cafe featuring a great wine selection. We hit it during the day, sometimes sitting outside (though you can't drink wine outside, wah), as well as at night after a movie at AFI or something. We just introduced it to a friend, and she took her mom a few days later! Tried a few things on the menu - some homeruns, some disappointments. It's all about ordering the right things, which is why we haven't experimented too much. The Duke Ellington Sandwich is my favorite (roast beef, hefty slice of brie, caramelized onions, other deliciousness, all on fresh baguette). My biggest let-down was a flatbread sandwich, which was kind of soggy and totally fell apart as soon as I tried to eat it. We also always get the lobster bisque - which always says "when available," but has yet to ever be unavailable when we go in. It's been over-salted on 2 occasions, but when it's right, it's so dang good it's worth rolling the dice. One thing to note is that you don't have to be a wine connoisseur to feel at home here. There are plenty of those in attendance, speaking knowledgeably to and asking intelligent questions of the staff; however, I was given the same attention and treated with the same respect when I told them I was looking for a sweet wine with high alcohol content. Fitting for dates or groups, this is a great place to keep in your rotation.
(4)Lara S.
This could very well be the greatest place on earth (or at least in Silver Spring) for wine and a sandwich. I will admit they are semi-expensive during the week, however if you go for 40% off wine night on Monday nights you can get an entree and a bottle of wine for under 20 dollars!! You really can't beat that. The staff is extremely nice and helpful- I came here for my birthday last year and they reserved tables for me even though that isn't a policy of theirs. They are also extremely knowledgeable with the wine so don't hesitate to ask them for suggestions!! This place is definitely a hidden treasure, I'm there every couple weeks or so and hope to see you as well!
(5)