Two new restaurants just opened their doors at Rockville Town Square. Hopes are especially high for El Mercat Bar de Tapas, a showcase for Spanish cuisine on Gibbs Street across from First Watch. This is a notoriously difficult space that’s been home to everything from Bobby’s Crabcakes and Ev & Maddy’s to Lab Cafe and Gumbo Ya Ya. But this new venture may have the right recipe for success: It’s headed by acclaimed chef George Rodrigues, previously with the D.C. restaurant Boqueria. Also new at Rockville Town Square is MaLa Canteen, serving Chinese street food in the former Friendship BBQ space on Maryland Avenue. Meanwhile, a few doors down, Mr. Smoothie has finally gone dark.
