Howard Eats: Smashing Grapes opens in Columbia’s Merriweather District
Columbia’s Merriweather District has become a dining destination at warp speed, welcoming new eateries at a fast-paced clip over the past couple of years.
One of the latest entries is Smashing Grapes, a 7,000-square-foot kitchen and wine bar with indoor and outdoor dining plus private event rooms. The restaurant is from the Crofton-based Titan Hospitality Group, which also operates The Blackwall Barn & Lodge in Columbia.
“We wanted to curate Smashing Grapes’ new design to fit the lively area and expand the dining scene with an upscale kitchen and wine bar,” said James King, Titan Hospitality Group founder and CEO, in a May news release announcing the opening of the restaurant.
Smashing Grapes focuses on Mediterranean and global cuisines in addition to expert wine pairings. Menu offerings include house-made pasta, pizza, charcuterie boards and more.
To celebrate its opening, the restaurant also kicked off Vine Time, a happy hour special that includes $12 bar snacks like goat cheese stuffed peppers, mojo shrimp and marinated olives, alongside $10 specialty cocktails, $5 hard cider or beer and $5 glasses of wine. The happy hour promotion runs Monday to Thursday, 3 p.m. to 6 p.m., and Friday and Saturday, 9 p.m. to midnight.
Titan previously operated two Smashing Grapes restaurants in Anne Arundel County. The Annapolis location closed last year and later reopened as The Lodge. A second location in Gambrills is being renamed and converted into The Farmhouse, a farm-to-table eatery.
Smashing Grapes is at 6200 Valencia Lane, Suite C125, Columbia.
New dining in Howard
Bushel and a Peck Kitchen & Bar now offer lunch and happy hour service in Clarksville Commons. The restaurant features dishes inspired by and, when possible, sourced from the Chesapeake region. “Whether our customers want to grab a quick bite at the bar, soak up the sunshine on the patio, or gather for a work lunch, they know that they can always find a welcoming, approachable dining experience here,” said Joe Krywucki, owner and chef. 12250 Clarksville Pike, Suite H, Clarksville
A new Korean restaurant, Namu Ramen & Rolls, recently opened for carryout and delivery in Clarksville Commons. Once renovations of the space near Kendall Hardware are complete, they will be open for dine-in service from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Korean ramen is a mainstay on the menu. The noodle dish is made with chicken-based broth, which is different from the well-known Japanese style that uses beef broth. More than 40 different types of sushi rolls round out the menu. Namu is owned by Jini and Yeong Chea, experienced restaurateurs who recently moved to the county. Their previous venture, Red Kimono, was a popular dining destination in Fairfax, Virginia. 12250 Clarksville Pike, Suite G, Clarksville
In Columbia, a fried chicken chain from the West Coast has opened its doors. Crimson Coward Nashville Hot Chicken serves up — you guessed it — chicken tenders, sandwiches and wings in a spectrum of spice, from no-heat to “Burnnnn Baby Burn.” In addition, the restaurant offers specialties like “Joey Eats Fries,” a plate of fries topped with a boneless chicken breast, slaw, pickles and cheese. 7090 Deepage Drive, Columbia
On the horizon is Pupatella Neopolitan Pizza, which has plans to open its first Maryland outpost this summer in a former Pizza Hut space. The restaurant chain, based in Northern Virginia with more outposts in Washington, D.C., was founded over a decade ago by a student from Naples, Italy. Pupatella has certification from the Verace Pizza Association, verifying that its pies are made to strict authentic Neopolitan standards. In addition to pizza, diners can find street snacks like sausage arancini and zucchini fries as well as paninis, salads and small plates. 9160 Bendix Road, Columbia
Kyo Matcha, a Japanese dessert and teahouse chain that already has a location in Ellicott City, opened in the Merriweather District. The cafe features desserts like rolled cakes, crepe layer cakes, cheesecake and ice cream, of course, in the brilliant hues of matcha green tea. 6200 Valencia Lane, Suite C115, Columbia
Howard County reporter Susan Soldavin contributed to this article.