Little Blue Menu, Chick-fil-A’s experimental restaurant concept in College Park, MD, will close early next year and convert to a traditional Chick-fil-A, according to Streetcar Suburbs.

The restaurant, located at 7242 Baltimore Avenue, has operated for about three years and is currently the only Little Blue Menu location in the country. A second location in Nashville opened in 2021 and closed in 2023.

Little Blue Menu was created as a test-and-learn concept for Chick-fil-A, offering items not typically found at the chain’s standard restaurants. Its menu includes burgers, pizza, bone-in wings, onion rings and sweet potato tots alongside Chick-fil-A staples such as chicken sandwiches, nuggets and waffle fries.

According to Streetcar Suburbs, a restaurant representative said Little Blue Menu will remain open through early 2027 before converting to Chick-fil-A. The Little Blue Menu name is a reference to the blue menus used at Chick-fil-A founder Truett Cathy’s original restaurant in Hapeville, Georgia.

Earlier this year, local food blogger Nick “Mr. 8 That” Sevilla, a University of Maryland alumnus, visited the College Park location to try several of its unusual menu items.

During his visit, Mr. 8 That tried the mushroom Swiss burger, Chick-fil-A pizza, sweet potato tots, classic burger and East Heat bone-in wings. He gave the food a 3.5 out of 5 for taste and 4.1 out of 5 for price, for a final score of 7.6.

Mr. 8 That said the burger was one of the biggest surprises, describing it as tender for a fast-food burger, while the mushrooms still had a good bite. He said the Chick-fil-A pizza delivered familiar flavors but was somewhat dry without a base sauce, while the East Heat wings had a teriyaki-style flavor with a hint of lime.

Little Blue Menu did not reach Mr. 8 That’s threshold of 8 out of 10, but he said the restaurant is still worth visiting for Chick-fil-A fans interested in experiencing the chain’s one-of-a-kind test concept before it closes.

Back Nine Golf is coming to the Germantown Commons Shopping Center at 13052 Middlebrook Road in Germantown.

The indoor golf concept offers 24/7 access to private, technology-equipped golf simulator bays, allowing customers to play virtual versions of courses from around the world. According to its website, Back Nine Golf is designed for golfers of varying skill levels, from beginners to experienced players looking to practice and improve their game.

The Germantown location will join a growing number of Back Nine Golf facilities across area, including Leesburg and Fairfax in Virginia, as well as Crofton, Eldersburg, Ellicott City, and Waldorf in Maryland.

An opening date for the Germantown location has not yet been announced.

The Sunshine Burger at Sunshine General Store in Brookeville has once again earned statewide recognition, this time being named Maryland’s best cheeseburger in Tasting Table’s “Where To Find The Best Cheeseburger In Every US State.”

In its latest write-up, Tasting Table highlighted Sunshine General Store as an example of the growing trend of highly regarded food being served from gas stations. The publication pointed to strong Google reviews for both its regular and bacon cheeseburgers. The recognition adds to a growing list of accolades for the longtime Montgomery County favorite.The publication has also previously selected Sunshine General Store as Maryland’s choice for its list of the best hole-in-the-wall burger joints in every state.

Locally, the Sunshine Burger has built a loyal following over the years (video of the burger below). The half-pound burger typically comes topped with lettuce, tomato, onion, ketchup, mustard, and mayonnaise, offering a straightforward build that relies on quality and execution.

Part of what keeps people talking, though, goes beyond the food. The setting inside Sunshine General Store is famously… authentic. In a previous feature, we described it as resembling “a truck stop diner scene from an ’80s movie,” complete with a handful of tables and a small counter area. One commenter summed up the experience bluntly: “Best burger in Maryland, just don’t look at the walls.”

Despite the appearance, loyal customers continue to swear by it. Online reviews echo the same sentiment. One Yelp reviewer wrote, “Don’t let it fool you because they serve the best burger in DMV,” while another added, “Hands down the best burger you will ever eat… just don’t scrutinize the inside.”

The burger continues to spark conversation well beyond Brookeville. A post last year in the Frederick-based foodie group “The Frederick Fatty” drew thousands of reactions and hundreds of comments in a couple days, with many chiming in to defend its reputation as a must-try destination.

Even food critics have taken notice. After releasing its “10 Best Burgers in the D.C. Area” list in 2023, The Washington Post later acknowledged that the Sunshine Burger may have been overlooked. Writer Tim Carman noted that it “checks all the boxes,” praising its straightforward approach and reliance on the fundamentals of a great burger.

Still, not everyone is convinced. Over the years, some potential customers have admitted they couldn’t get past the store’s appearance, with one person saying they “walked in and walked right out.” It’s a divide that has only added to the burger’s mystique.

Love it or question it, the Sunshine Burger continues to hold its place as one of Maryland’s most iconic bites, now backed by national recognition. Sunshine General Store is located at 22300 Georgia Ave in Brookeville. Hours are Tuesday through Thursday from 5am to 5pm, Friday and Saturday from 6am to 5pm, Sunday from 6am to 3:30pm, and closed on Mondays. Contrary to the lore you may have heard, credit cards have been accepted for years now.

 

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