Golden Flame Restaurant

The sad thing is that this restaurant is closed. I was fortunate to be there just a few weeks before this happened. Hope all the employees have found other work. They were all exceptional!

This great restaurant has closed. Looks like for good. There’s a leasing information sign on the door.

Went there for a networking event and grabbed some dinner.
It was tough to choose an entrée due to the many delicious options. Many of the people I met in the bar have been are regulars and all rave about the food there. Ended up going with the ribeye, chargrilled ribeye, which was cooked to perfection. I got my eye on the beef short ribs and the jambalaya for future visits.
Great atmosphere in the bar area, very friendly staff and regulars that have been coming there for years.
Only dowside is that they could have a better beer selection on tap, but otherwise a great establishment I would highly recommend.

Craving a steak on a Saturday evening, I decided to try this place out. Had the steak entrée with baked potato (menu indicated potato gratin) and garden salad. Steak was a bit tough but wonderfully flavored with red wine. French bread came out piping hot. My cousin enjoyed her large Caesar salad with grilled chicken.
The whole time we were the the only diners in the main dining room. I have no idea how it will stay open with such a sparse patronage.

3.5 stars
I love finding the hidden gems within a neighborhood!
Not too many restaurants last more than 10 years. The Golden Flame has… FOUR TIMES OVER! This is a Greek family owned restaurant and the family has a huge presence in the dining room. I called to see if they were doing lunch service after 2pm and I could actually hear the guy smiling through the telephone!
The menu is studded with a few classics from the 40’s –50’s supperclubs as well as the new inspirations from Chef Pedro Matamoros from the Tabard Inn, Nicaro and 8407 Kitchenbar. I grabbed a bowl of French onion soup and for lunch the liver and onions. The soup arrived piping hot and the onions were thick and had a little snap with each bite. Well balanced flavors and a surprisingly great hint of thyme! The cheese was the only downfall. The cheese had the consistency of raw mozzarella instead of Gruyère. It was tasty but a bit difficult to eat. i literally had ti cut it with a knife.
I asked the server what he liked and he suggested not the most expensive things on the menu but what he thought would go with the first course. SALADS! Good choice but not today! I went for the liver and onions. It was seared medium rare and topped with loads of sauteed onions and a lonely strip of bacon… sigh… What also impressed me was the fact that the server took it on his own volition and put the gray on the side. LOTS of flavor from the fresh herbs and the gravy was slightly lumpy. I kinda like that! The entrée was hot and, with the addition of the gravy, was very tasty! Each individual component lacked salt and pepper…
This place is solid!

I ate here tonight. Not sure what the old menu was like but we found a mix of classics like prime rib, French onion soup, NY strip and then some new like Lavender Chicken and Duck. I went for Prime Rib which was super good. Came with crisp fresh green beans and baked potato with au jus. Warm fresh bread as well. Hubby went for Ny Strip with au gratin potatoes and green beans. Hubby stated that it wasn’t the best food he has ever had but was good. The owner greeted us and thanked us which was a nice touch and we had very attentive servers. The only potential improvement and very minor would be an option for a side salad. About the same price as Rays though without a la carte sides which is appreciated and without the rudeness/​quirkiness of Rays. I would definitely go again.

We were so disappointed when we recently went to 8407 Kitchen Bar. The food was not the same. We learned that the chef, Pedro Matamoros, was no longer there. We found out that he is at The Golden Flame, a local restaurant that has been in Silver Spring for like 40 years. So off we went.
The restaurant is struggling with long-​term clientele who like the old menu, but they need to cultivate a new, younger set of customers. Well, with Chef Matamoros, they certainly can do that. It’s Saturday night, and we ate there both last night and tonight. I know that sounds weird, but it was so good we went back. The service is excellent, and the food is what previously spoiled us at 8407. This place will soon be very busy, so go now!
They basically have two menus — the standard one is the old menu, and an extra one stuck inside is the chef’s items. We strongly recommend going there! We were told that a new website is being developed and that a Facebook page will go up soon.
Be aware that there is an inside parking area around the corner from the front of the restaurant — be sure to park there (turn left off Fenton onto Cameron, then an almost immediate left into ground level parking in the building). Predatory towing on a lot across the street that is owned by an apartment complex is going on — it is not clearly signed, and we were towed Friday night. We plan to complain to the county on Monday morning.
We are so excited to have Chef Pedro back! Yay!

We tried the Golden Flame based on the new chef and several positive reviews. However, the food was expensive and mediocre, the service poor, and the ambiance befitting a retirement home. The only nice thing I have to say about my experience was that the bread was warm.

So. Fucking. Happy. Right. Now.
I don’t know how some women can subsist on fruit and salad. I need protein (insert bawdy joke here). So it’s a struggle to not clog my arteries with a bacon cheeseburger every day.
Today, I decided to try something new for lunch and go to Golden Flame. Despite their frequent outings to Silver Spring, nobody I know has eaten here. But it’s around the corner from my office so I figured, why not?
Even though there was a plethora of free tables, I headed to my natural habitat, the bar. As soon as the menu was in front of me, I knew what I wanted: the hangar steak salad and a glass of Malbec.
I commend myself on an excellent choice. The steak was tender enough to be cut with a butter knife (since the server never brought me a steak knife) and the salad of romaine lettuce, grilled onions, tomatoes, feta, and mushrooms was a perfect complement. Very filling and satisfying yet healthy.
The Malbec was great. Don’t remember the name, just that it’s the only one on the menu, it’s Argentine, and $ 9.

The new chef (Pedro Matamoros, formerly of 8407) prompted us to visit this place for the first time. A lot of the great things he brought to 8407 show up on the menu here, including the lamb bolognese, charceuterie, and some of the sandwiches. The food was really fantastic. We had the special scallops with a roasted veggie salad and italian salsa verde (delicious, with more generous saucing than you would expect at 8407) and the «gyro-​marinated» salmon (also delicious). The service was very friendly, but the staff was still getting the hang of the new menu. The bar program doesn’t appear to have been updated. We will definitely be back and are glad to have such fine food so close to home.

Golden Flames — -just what I need in Silver Spring. Never heard of this place, never comes up on Google search– that is until I was looking for a salad bar after being hung over all day from partying the night before.
Not even a mile from the house, there it was– this little place on Fenton but away from all the hubbub near the movies and H&M. There’s free parking in the back on Saturday night with a door directly to the restaurant from the garage. If you drive in downtown SS on the weekends– you KNOW that’s 2 stars all by itself!
Owner greeted me– sweet, old fashioned, «I really take pride in my business and patrons» kind of attitude-​which I LOVE! The food was great. Got the chicken marsala and too many trips to that salad bar to mention. Now this isn’t like Ruby Tuesday salad bar with a ton of offerings BUT its got lettuce, spinach, traditional fresh salad toppings and a good ranch so I was happy. The service was also pretty good. Waiter was very personable-​even sang me a song.
What will make me visit this place on a regular basis is that it was a cozy, i am not in the middle of a metro area kinda feel. Yea – like other reviewers I picked up on the mafia-​esk feel, BUT being from New Haven, Ct I find that kind of thing comforting. It is old school… like me. The atmosphere was cool– people talking to others at the next table like they go way back but they probably just met that night. The place isn’t swanky but its comfortable, the food is good, the service is great and it will not break the bank. So happy I found this gem in my back yard and I will be back… regularly!

Had a very nice meal there. I would go back.

I think you’re deeply insane if you love the Golden Flame. This bizarre, out of the way restaurant has weathered Silver Spring’s metamorphosis since the 70’s. Always the quiet little secret place that my parents took me to, it’s enjoyed something of a resurgence, I think… Which is great, because there’s not much of old Silver Spring left.
The Flame has always felt like some sort of mafia front operation. Everybody knows everybody, there’s a cadre of regulars almost always at the bar, and the wait staff haven’t changed in what seems like decades. More often than not, on the bar side (I’ve never eaten on the restaurant side), you walk in and there’s this Old West moment of silence where the handful of patrons and staff turn to look at you. I keep expecting folks to go for their guns. But, once over that hump, you’re always welcomed with open arms. Even if it’s your first time, you’re a regular. It’s that certain love for the customer that has (sadly) become almost quaint these days. I tend to retreat deep into the lounge area of the bar, sitting away from the true regulars and the strange cast of drinkers who gather around the bar. The food, while slightly pricey, is always lovely. A bit too heavy for summer fare, but lovely in the winter. The drink selection is woefully limited, yet that’s easily forgiven and outweighed by the age and atmosphere. I don’t think I’ll ever be a regular. It’s one of those spots where you need to be in the right place to enjoy it, if you know what I mean. If you want a quiet beer in old Silver Spring, then hit the Flame.

Intended to somewhere else for steak but they weren’t open so decided to try this place. At first it went well, seated quickly and given beverage quickly. Server didn’t have an opinion about the food, asked how’s the seafood Marsala and he tells me it’s noodles with seafood… Really?
Ordered prime rib because I love it and they had their name on it, golden flame prime rib, but it was one of the worst prime ribs I have ever eaten. I ordered rare but they served it raw! Cold in spots, Luke warm overall.
The only plus was the salad bar. It was great! It had a limited selection but exactly what I like in a salad. I would go back for unlimited soup and salad, but not for the prime rib.
Atmosphere was nice and bathrooms relatively clean.

Honestly, I only decided to come here because I made reservations for my wife and I at a National Harbour restaurant and when I read the reviews on the place it scared me away. Plan B: find a nice restaurant and be able to make reservations there two days before Valentine’s Day! I called on Sunday night and they said no problem for a party of two at 8:45pm. When we walked in, my first thought was I made a mistake this place looks a little weird to me. But I couldn’t have been more wrong, our server Louis was great from start to finish. He got our drinks right away and we scanned over the special Valentine’s menu for around 10 min. We quickly ordered an appetizer, the calamari which was very good. Then we ordered our entrees, not overpriced at all, I got the Surf and Turf. They even let me sub a Prime Rib steak for the NY strip. They also have a Salad bar with dinner, I admit it wasn’t the best I have ever had. But free is free, so no complaints here. I really like the fact that the staff seemed to know most of the customers by name. I heard a lot of «Thank you for coming in» and «We hope to see you again very soon.» This is something that is very important for customers to hear, they want to feel that for their hard earned money they were treated with great customer service and a mouth watering meal. All in all, our bill was under 100 bucks which I thought was amazing in terms of what we ate for dinner. I had no problem leaving a 25% tip for Louis, he deserved it ! We will definitely come back!!!

This is a well kept secret. I’ve lived in Silver Spring for years and only came to know this place about 4 years ago. It is kind of off the beaten path which is nice considering the traffic and how crowded things get in the hub of the ‘new’ Silver Spring.
This restaurant is family owned and Pop and his two sons do a good job. Most of the clientele seem to be long-​time, regular customers.
Small bar area but a TV for watching game. Food is good and consistent. Nice place to go for a quiet dinner.

The Golden Flame is amazing, I have never had a bad dish here, everything is delcious from the down home traditional dishes to the fancier chef’s specials (and if you come on the right day what a culinary delight you are in for).
This is a family business and the pride in their work shows in the service and quality of food.
The chef is truly talented and made a shrimp trio that looked like a dish from Top Chef, along with a dessert he said he was «working on», which was hands down the best dessert I’ve ever tasted (a salty, sweet, stawberry top bisquit in some type of balsmic reduction, yum).
I’ll definitely be looking to hold some type of get-​together, birthday cocktails/​appetizers and have them cater some office events in the future, delicious.

This place is a throwback to when the [insert blue hair, early bird special dining establishment here] was fine dining, this is not a review on the food, simply the bar atmosphere.
After walking around silver spring looking for a nightcap, yet not trying to pay 15 $ a drink, we ended up here.
A hotel bar without the hotel, a quiet peaceful place with all the element you need for a quick B&B and away with you.
Friendly staff/​bartender. Leaves you be.
The bathrooms are atrocious, that said, if I wanted a drink before returning home and needed not the bustle, this is your joint.
Almost a speakeasy feel, Saddle up, grab a beverage, and try not to think this place will offer up anything, yet what is is.

My parents favorite place to eat. I like it too.

Just came back from here for my anniversary dinner and was very impressed. Had one of the best meals that I’ve had a long time: Land and sea (a sirloin along with crab cakestuffed shrimp). The food was just absolutely fantastic and then my girlfriend and decided to top it all off with an slice of almond cake. That just did us in.
Wonderful litte place and definitely worth the coin.