Redwood Opens on Bethesda Row Next Week With Flexible Event Space

Redwood Restaurant and Bar, which opens on the pedestrian-friendly Bethesda Row on July 21, is the latest venture from Eli Hengst and Jared Rager—owners of Sonoma and Mendocino Grille. With 7,500 square feet and 18-foot-tall ceilings, Redwood features a local and seasonal American menu, which includes potted Pennsylvania rabbit with apricot mustard and king salmon with grilled summer squash succotash.

To round out the eco-friendly theme, Redwood is decked with walls made from wooden olive oil casks and features recycled seatbelt chairs and stone and cork floors. The space is sectioned into four different areas—lounge, bar, dining room, and private event space. “The idea was to create intimate pockets and keep the ambient noise down,” Hengst said.Redwood is flexible with rental options, offering full-buyouts or reservations for selected sections of the restaurant. The 120-seat dining room, with mesquite wood tables holding wheatgrass centerpieces, is the largest space and can be divided into two. The lounge can hold as many as 75 for a reception and offers custom-made, bark-paneled walls, orange leather seats, and silk-veneer hanging light fixtures. The 15-seat elevated dining bar offers a quieter space and a separate charcuterie and cheese menu.

With a fireplace and a private bar, the event space—with room for 24 seated or 50 standing guests—can be sectioned off by textured sliding glass doors, and opens up to the sidewalk patio, which will soon hold 100 seats.