We love to go to ethnic restaurants -- our favorite cuisines are Lebanese, Greek, Moroccan, Afghani, and Indian. Since there's nothing like that around here, we'll usually go to Frederick, DC, or Balto if we want something different. The coolest local new place has been Leila's downtown, owned by a lovely couple from Afghanistan (I think) who serve some amazing food. But I worry about that place and its chances for success, because many people won't take a chance on something unfamilar. It's gotten me wondering, what "new" cuisine do you think our area is ready for now? Would an Indian restaurant succeed now, when a few years ago that great Indian place on the Dual Hwy could not? What would you most like to see in Hagerstown? A tapas bar, maybe a Vietnamese place? Are there any ethnic restaurants up or down 81 on PA, WV, or VA that I might not know about? I love love love all middle-east/ mediterranean foods, so if one of you told me that there was a Moroccan place in Chambersburg that I didn't know about, well, that might just make my day. ;-)

P.S. If you know of an Ethiopian place, keep it to yourself....that stuff is ickypants...

there's a new greek/ mediterranean place on dual highway... where Perkins used to be...

i personally LOVE thai food! there's a thai place in shepherdstown, but i think hagerstown needs one, to combat all the chinese buffets!

I've been to that place on Dual Hwy for lunch right after it opened, CD, it's called "Annafiare". Didn't have a very good experience there with the service, and they didn't offer what I expected (was hoping for souvlaki or dolmades). Very nice decor, though! I'd give it another shot but hubby was really unimpressed. I haven't actually had much thai food but you're right, hagerstown doesn't really have that yet, and you'd think it would be mainstream enough that we'd have one by now (same with Indian, that's pretty easy to find in larger towns). Perhaps there will be some funky new food places in the new Best Buy shopping center (I know there's a Chipotle coming in there).

Do you or anyone else know what ethnic places might be found in Martinsburg, Winchester, or Chambersburg?

Tucano- in winchester is brazillian....
La Carreta Mexican Restaurant - authentic mexican } these are all winchester
Violino Ristorante Italiano- authentic northern italian


towson has a TON of thai, japanese etc ( asian fusion)

oooh, Brazilian?!? AWESOME! I've never tried that, all I know is you get broiled meat on a stick. Meat is good. mmmmm (I'm remembering the episode of The Simpsons where they travelled to Rio; a large chunk of my cultural awareness comes from Homer ) Thank you for the heads-up!

I was born in Towson, yes they do have some off the wall restaurants. The best place to find decent ethnic places is Charles St in Bmore Mt Vernon section gay neighborhood. I dont know of too many places around here thats authentic at least from scratch for for food unless you stay at home and make it yourself using recipes.

Fells Point and Arbutus ( baltimore) have some great stuff too.

Fells point is a great neighborhood but alot of places are dirty inside. Arbutus is a lil suburb that I dont venture into. With all that good research youve been doing CD you should check up on that place called Apex on broadway near fells pt. Been there done that too. You have some very adept information gathering techniques.

Let's try and keep on the topic "Any new ethnic restaurants in this area?", please folks. Flipper you're officially on notice.

On notice for what anyway. So tell me is Chipotle cheap?

http://www.chipotle.com/#

so that's going in the new best buy shopping center?

also, i LOVE this place in shepherdstown!! : Shaharazade's Exotic Tea Room 141 W. German St. PO Box 3298 Shepherdstown, WV 25443 Phone: 304-876-1000Website: http://www.shaharazades.com"Shepherdstown's most unique restaurant. Casual dining with a full breakfast, lunch, and dinner menu. Specializing in freshly made soups, vegetable salads, fruit salads, grilled sandwiches...and wonderful Middle Eastern and Mediterranean items like spanikopita, hummus, falafel, couscous salad and shish kabob. Much of our food is organic and vegetarian.

In addition Shaharazade's serves over 40 kinds of quality teas from around the world and has a full line of appetizers and deserts."

also:

Three Onions Restaurant & Lounge 117 East German St. PO Box 3625 Shepherdstown, WV 25443 Phone: 304-876-8000E-Mail: info@threeonions.comWebsite: http://www.threeonions.com Three Onions Restaurant & Lounge is located in downtown Shepherdstown, West Virginia. Opened in the Summer of 2005, Three Onions offers a unique, global cuisine. With it´s immaculate atmosphere, Three Onions has quickly become one of the tri-state area´s most talked about restaurants. With its sleek, contemporary decor and attractive clientele, Three Onions brings cosmopolitan flavor to small town West Virginia.

The most intriguing aspects of Three Onions Restaurant & Lounge are the Martini Bar and Lounge area. The lounge area is decorated with a lush sofa for those folks who want to enjoy their evening as if there were sitting right at home. Our menu features delicacies like Pan-seared Woodfired Halibut and New Zealand Lamb. For a light fare, try a Woodfired Pizza, Mediterranean Sampler, or the Seafood Ceviche. Please take a moment to review our fine menu. You will find a fusion of delicacies designed by Chef Mark Pastoral to please the likes of every customer. Please enjoy!

You ARE quite the researcher, CD. Much obliged! We've been to Sheherezade's once for lunch, on a rainy Sunday afternoon, it was quite tasty, and I love how the draped fabric on the ceiling gives it that tent feel.

Chipotle is a chain (bleech), and the best food in Shepherdstown is, by far, Stone Soup Bistro. Every time I eat in the Thai restaurant in Shepherdstown it makes me sick. The food always tastes... institutional to me. However, I haven't been in there since the remodel, so it's been a while.

That kebab place (where Scoops N Slices used to be) is pretty good! They could use a more extensive menu (stuffed grape leaves, hummus, stuff like that). But overall the food was good and reasonably priced.

We were supposed to get a Thai place in Fountainhead Shopping Center, but for some reason the sign is gone. Perhaps they changed their mind.

I would love an Indian or Greek or Lebanese restaurant, but I'm not sure H-town would support it. The success of some of these crappy chains (um... Garfield's totally blows) makes me question the general state of the palates around here. LOL

New Korean/Thai place opened upon Blue Ridge Summit a few weeks ago. Haven't tried it yet, but I better do it quick, nobody EVER stays in that place very long and I don't think an "exotic" restaurant will do very well in that particular neighborhood. If interested, it's beside the Mini-Mart at the top of the summit (Route 16).

Peacefrog, it sounds like you have a lot of the same tastes that I do! We went to Stone Soup once for lunch and it's our new favorite Shepherdstown place (second being yellow brick bank). Never tried the thai place. We like Leila's (the kebab place downtown here) a bunch, but their menu is too limited, I agree. The Helmand in Baltimore is a full-blown Afghani place with absolutely amazing food -- we go there for birthdays, anniversaries, etc. I'm drooling just thinking about it! I do think that eventually, Hagerstown will start to get the Indian places, the Greek places, the Middle-Eastern places (REAL Middle-eastern places with stuff like kibbeh and m'saka and those spicy pickled pieces of cauliflower), the Korean places -- people may complain about "outsider city people" invading our county, but at least they bring along good ethnic restaurants in time. I'm just getting tired of waiting! I'm HONGRY!!

FYI there is a mediterranean restaurant in frederick, in the shopping center down Rt. 85 where Champions billiards is. It's pretty good, and they bake their own pita bread as it's ordered. Our hands-down favorite is the Lebanese Taverna in DC (my mother-in-law is middle-eastern and it's her favorite)

The Thai place in Fountainhead Plaza isn't going to happen. Not sure what happened there, but that's what my dad told me.

Durango downtown is nice.. I believe the owner is from El Salvador but its mostly Mexican-style/TexMex. Really good food.

There are a few places in Frederick, even an Ethiopian place, forget the name. Just go down Market St and you'll find a bunch.

Dolce on Frederick St has some of your common Italian dishes but they have some other types of Meditteranean food as well. He's from Italy (I think), she's from Romania.

The kabob place that Peacefrog mentioned (Laila's Kitchen) IS good and they'll make you whatever you want, just ask for it. They're from Afghanistan.

There's a Greek place in Chambersburg, but I forget the name... its been awhile.

The new Japanese place Nikko is by Lowe's. Been there once and it was a good experience... some of the best steak I ever had (I got steak hibachi). The sushi was okay... I was focused on my steak though.

Thanks Coma! I don't know anyone who's been to Nikko yet, but my favorite thing to get at House of Kobe is their hibachi filet, so I'll have to try Nikko's based on your recommendation. And I'll go hunting in Chambersburg for the Greek place you mentioned.

Never heard of Dolce, but I haven't been down Frederick St. in awhile. Is it where Mama's used to be?

Been to Dolce's twice and haven't had a good experience there yet, but thinking about trying them again on Coma's recommendation.

I ate at Nikko's but had sushi, not hibachi. As far as the sushi went... bleech. The hibachi may be better, though, I didn't try it.

Bummer that the Thai place isn't going to happen. Ah well.

It's down farther between the Amvets and that Pete's drive-thru place, across from the Lumber Yard. They have a bunch of flags on the roof.

its not really that new, but Sakkura has pretty good japanese, and the sushi is GREAT. they also have alot of vegetarian options.

Hubby loves the sake at Sakura...he keeps his little bottle toasty warm on the edge of the hibachi table.

I'm going to have to look for Dolce. How exciting!

Yeah, we are old Sakura fans from back in the day when they were in the smaller building.

Sushi is definitely the best in town there, although service can vary.

Another Sakura fan here, though I only go a few times a year. When I go, I always do hibachi, sushi, and booze, which can add up for a couple.

I`ll take good ole home cooking with an iron skillet over any other kind of cooking.
No cats, squid, or uncooked fish for me yuck.

Mcgee - just eat it. It tastes fantastic. Old School isn't always good.

When I get food from Dolce, I get carry-out. I don't like to eat there because the freakin' AC never works and with that place being small and those big ovens and grills... it's not the best atmosphere.

I like Sakura too, and the atmosphere is nicer, but Kobe service is always better and my family has known the owner for a long time.

even the cats! <3

Don't you hate it when you order cat in a fine dining establishment, then you find a hair in it? That ALWAYS seems to happen to me.

fyi we finally went to Dolce for lunch today. it was fantastic! we ate in since it wasn't too hot, and the temperature in their tiny dining room was comfortable -- not crowded, but they had steady business which was reassuring. very nice people, great service. i had stuffed cabbage which was awesome, and my husband said his cheesesteak was the best he's ever had in Hagerstown. seriously! they had some ethnic stuff but it was mostly the pizza/Italian cuisine. we'll definitely go back. thanks for mentioning this place.

For those of you that rave about Kobe---- Last thursday we ordered sushi to go and were told it would be 15 min. turned out to 1hr and 15 min and the sushi was not the best. at those prices it will be long time before we go back again.