Ruta Ukrainian Restaurant has permanently closed its Bethesda location at 4862 Cordell Avenue after operating for slightly more than two years. The closure was first identified when a “currently closed” sign appeared in the window without explanation, prompting local media reports. Representatives later confirmed the shutdown, and the restaurant was removed from the business’s website.
The Bethesda storefront originally opened in August 2024 inside the former Momo Chicken space and was promoted as Maryland’s first Ukrainian restaurant. It served as the second location for the brand, which launched its first site in Washington, D.C.’s Capitol Hill neighborhood in 2023. While the Bethesda branch has shut down, the original Capitol Hill restaurant remains open.
The restaurant’s menu featured traditional Ukrainian dishes, including varenyky dumplings, chicken Kyiv, red and green borscht, and meat holubtsi (stuffed cabbage served with sour cream). The name “Ruta” is derived from Ukrainian folklore, referencing a yellow Carpathian flower that legends claim turns red for a brief moment during the holiday of Ivana Kupala, offering true love to whoever finds and picks it.
No specific reasons or details have been provided regarding the permanent closure of the Cordell Avenue location, leaving the brand’s regional presence limited to its original Washington, D.C. storefront.
