After closing in January 2020 following a seven-year run in downtown Frederick, Ayse Meze Lounge is making a comeback—this time under the name AYSE and about 25 miles south in Rockville. Nezih Pistar, the founder of the Mediterranean restaurant named after his mother, has applied for a liquor license for AYSE’s new location at 700 King Farm Rd. in the King Farm neighborhood.
A public hearing for the liquor license application is set for October 17th, marking a key step in the restaurant’s return. AYSE will occupy the space formerly home to Nick’s Chophouse, which closed in 2021 after two decades of service.
During its time in Frederick, Ayse Meze Lounge earned a 4.4-star rating on Google with over 500 reviews and a 4.1-star rating on Yelp with more than 420 reviews. Pistar’s other Frederick restaurants, Pistarro’s Ristorante and Isabella’s Taverna and Tapas Bar, also boast strong reviews across various platforms.
We’ll share updates on the opening timeline and menu details as they become available.
