Press
August 28, 2026
Fox 5 DC Zip Trip Rockville - "Taste Of"
Ayse Meze Lounge highlighting Rockville’s restaurant scene.
August 19, 2026
WUSA9 RAMWDC Summer Restaurant Week
Ayse Meze Lounge participating in RAMWDC Summer Restaurant Week.
September 18, 2025
Tapas, pizza & cocktails at King Farm
An ambitious new tapas restaurant opened its doors this week in Rockville’s King Farm neighborhood. Ayşe Meze Lounge, from longtime Frederick restaurateur Nezih Pistar, has taken over the old Nick’s Chophouse space at 700 King Farm Boulevard. The menu blends Italian, Greek and Turkish cuisine at moderate prices. Specialties include Lebanese fried chicken with hot honey tahini; Brussels sprouts in hot-and-sour dressing; and Neapolitan-style pizzas fired in a brick oven. The spacious dining room seats more than 100, plus a 30-seat bar. There’s also a private dining room for events, and a dog-friendly patio that will soon host live music. Ayşe is a new incarnation of a restaurant that Pistar previously owned in Frederick. He still runs two other businesses there: the tapas spot Isabella’s, and the Italian restaurant Pistarro’s. In Rockville, he says, “Our goal is to create a place that will make people feel at home, where they can bring their family, maybe bring their dog, and it won’t hurt their budget.”
September 10, 2025
Beloved Maryland Restaurant That Closed in 2020 To Open New Restaurant on September 18th
Fans of Mediterranean cuisine can finally mark their calendars, AYSE Meze Lounge will officially open its doors in Rockville’s King Farm neighborhood on Thursday, September 18th.
Last fall, we shared that the restaurant would be returning about five years after closing its beloved Frederick location in 2020. The comeback has generated plenty of anticipation, and the opening date now signals the start of a new chapter for the popular concept.
AYSE will continue under the guidance of owner Nezih Pistar, who helped make the original Frederick location a regional favorite. The restaurant promises to blend authentic Mediterranean recipes with modern culinary techniques, offering the same elevated dining experience that earned it a loyal following. Located at 700 King Farm Blvd #170, the new Rockville restaurant takes over the space previously occupied by Nick’s Chophouse.
Diners can look forward to a menu that celebrates the rich traditions of the Mediterranean, featuring vibrant mezes, expertly grilled seafood and meats, and signature dishes such as manti and wood-fired branzino. A sample menu is already available online, giving guests a preview of what’s to come.
AYSE is operated by the KIOS Restaurant Group, which also runs Pistarro’s Ristorante and Isabella’s Taverna and Tapas Bar in Frederick. The move to Rockville represents both an expansion for the group and a welcome addition to Montgomery County’s diverse dining scene.
