#167: King Street Oyster Bar

Date Visited: 8 June 2016

Meal: Dinner

Diners: Me & Wendy

Experience: Good news and not-so-good-news for downtown Leesburg: Local restaurateur Rick Allison has closed down Pittsburgh Rick’s, but turned around and opened a new creation, King Street Oyster Bar! (see Loudoun Now article for details). Pittsburgh Rick’s lives on, however, in the form of a food truck which you can follow on Twitter as @PittsburghRicks. On to King Street Oyster Bar...

We went on a Wednesday night and it was packed, a good sign! Having the words “Oyster” and “Bar” in the name, you would expect that they have a decent selection of beers that go well with fish, and you’d be right; I started off with our server’s recommendation of a Ballast Point Grapefruit Sculpin (5.6%).

For starters, we got the Blue Cheese Chips, which feature great homemade chips, and the Bacon-wrapped grilled oysters, which feature an interesting balsamic reduction for some zing. They also serve several kinds of raw oysters, which I’ll have to try another time.

For main dishes, I got the hot Lobster roll (they also have a cold one). It was nice and buttery! Having had real Maine Lobster rolls on vacation not too long ago, this one is the real deal. I’ve heard it said that a true Lobster roll consists of only three ingredients: “1) Lobstah, 2) roll, and 3) too much butter.” That’s the way they do it here. Wendy had the Shanghai Sea Bass, and her comment was “best fish I’ve ever had… stands alone.” Well, that’s quite an accolade from someone who’s not that crazy about fish. Both of our dishes were perfectly tender and delicious.

King Street Oyster Bar is a great new addition to downtown Leesburg, serving a wide variety of seafood dishes, expertly prepared, in a fun atmosphere. Support a local business!

Location: 12 S. King St., Leesburg, VA 17205, 571-442-8068

Website: http://kingstreetoyster.com/

Total bill: $84.05 + $20.00 tip = $104.05

#166: Plaza Azteca

Date Visited: 10 April 2016

Meal: Dinner

Diners: Me & Wendy

Experience: Continuing our theme of new Mexican/South American restaurants in Leesburg, this visit takes us to Plaza Azteca, in the Village at Leesburg. The Village at Leesburg now has enough restaurants that they publish a printable directory. It lists 18 restaurants and I’ve reviewed 12 of them so far. Plaza Azteca is a national chain, with locations in Virginia, Pennsylvania, Maryland, and North Carolina. We first discovered it a few years ago when our son attended Christopher Newport University in Newport News, VA (Go Captains!); it was a popular student hangout. The Leesburg location is in the spot formerly occupied by Finnegan’s Sports Bar & Grill (good riddance).

We were started off, of course, with the house chips & salsa. The chips are made on premises and a bit thicker than average, which is a good thing. The menu features all the Mexican-style dishes you’d expect in a Mexican restaurant. One of the more fun appetizers is the Fresh Guacamole, which is made in front of you on a cart. You can specify the spiciness you want, and we asked for medium, but it seemed hardly spicy at all to me. It certainly was made with fresh ingredients and had just the right chunky-yet-creamy texture and we thoroughly enjoyed it.

For our main courses, I got the Texas Fajitas (grilled steak, chicken, and shrimp) with the expected sides of rice, refried beans, sour cream, and pico de gallo. Wendy got the Shrimp Tacos, which had an enjoyable mix of hot shrimp and tortillas against the cold veggies. Other than that it was good but not exceptional; the portions were on the large side, and we left stuffed.

Our server was very professional and courteous, but not as attentive as we might have preferred (our drinks went un-refilled for almost the entire meal). The new decor is nice, with high-backed booths for a little extra separation from other customers.

If you’re shopping in the Village at Leesburg and have the urge for quality Mexican food, give Plaza Azteca a try.

Location: 1608 Village Market Blvd., Leesburg, VA 20175, 703-779-3612

Website: http://plazaazteca.com/

Total bill: $52.37 + $12.00 tip = $64.37

#165: Señor Ramon Taqueria

Date Visited: 5 April 2016

Meal: Dinner

Diners: Me & Wendy

Experience: Leesburg seems to have quite a few new Mexican/South American restaurants lately, so following our review of Pollo Inti II, we are going to continue that theme for the next several reviews. Senor Ramon Taqueria opened 24 February this year, located where Puccio’s used to be (not to worry, Puccio’s is still doing fine, they just moved down the street to 211 Loudoun St. SE). According to a recent Loudoun Times-Mirror article, the owner is Damian Dajcz, and he always wanted to be part of downtown Leesburg. He was behind the counter and greeted us when we arrived (we recognized him from the picture in the article).

There are two types of tacos offered: “Traditional” ($3) and “Our Tacos” ($4). We ordered a variety for our first tastes. I got the Senor Ramon (“Carne Asada, Chorizo, grilled Guacamole, Sour Cream, Red Onions, and Hot Lava Jelly”) and the Morris (“Spicy Lamb, Pico de Gallo, Pickled Onions, and Cilantro Cream”). Wendy got the TS 478 (“Crispy Shrimp, Charred Corn, Salsa, and Poblano Cream”) and a Traditional Taco (“Served on a Corn Tortilla, Onions, Cilantro, and Lime”) with Carnitas. All the tacos come in double corn tortillas. The fancier tacos tend to “leak” a bit because of all the meat juices and sauces, so be careful. The pickled red onions (on most everything) were a tasty uniqueness. Wendy’s overall comment: “flavorful!”

We also got a side of Chips & Salsa to share (not actually on the menu anywhere). The chips come piled high with some of the same ingredients as the tacos, like the pickled red onions. They have three help-yourself salsas at a bar, and we liked the Salsa Verde the best. It was very creamy, not very spicy, and we had a lot of it!

The tacos are a little on the small side (perfect for snacks), so we were still hungry and ready to try more. For our second round, I got two Traditional Tacos, and Wendy got the Jose Jose (“Lime Adobo Grilled Chicken, Roasted Garlic Mushrooms, Shredded Monterey Cheese, Sour Cream, and Jalapeno Jam”). All just as good as the first ones. We also got a Beef Empanada to share, which had a nice thin crust and plenty of meat. This too was used a vehicle for consuming even more of the creamy Salsa Verde!

Service was quite fast because they are cooking all the time, so it’s quick and easy for them to take some of the freshly cooked meat and put tacos together to order. Overall, we thought the tacos were fun, with creative names that matched the well-blended flavors. Damian told us he will be adding beer, wine, and Sangria to the menu soon, as well as finishing an outdoor seating area in the back. BTW, I asked Damian what inspired the “TS 478” name; he said it was the tail number of a friend’s airplane!?!

We really liked Senor Ramon Taqueria, give ‘em a try and support a local restaurant!

Location: 15 Loudoun St. SE, Leesburg, VA 20175, 571-442-8436

Website: http://senorramon.com/

Total bill: $25.90 + $5.18 tip = $31.08 (first round), $13.42 (second round), total: $44.50

#164: Pollo Inti II

Date Visited: 6 February 2016

Meal: Dinner

Diners: Me & Wendy

Experience: Pollo Inti II is the latest restaurant to open up in Leesburg, their specialty being Peruvian and Central American fare. They are located in between Pho Royal and DQ Grill & Chill in the Fort Evans Plaza II shopping center, and their original location is in Sterling (hence the “II”). You may know that “Pollo” is the Spanish word for Chicken, but I bet you’re wondering what “Inti” means (we were!) - according to their website, “Inti is the ancient Incan sun god. He is revered as the national patron of the Inca state.”

Not surprisingly, our server greeted us with Chips & Salsa, but their salsa is a bit unique; quite wet and tangy, with shredded carrots. We also ordered a couple of appetizers to try. I got the Pupusa Frijol/Queso (“Corn flour tortilla filled w/cheese & beans") and Wendy got the Pupusa Revuelta ("Corn flour tortilla filled w/pork & cheese"). Both come with a spicy slaw and a bit of non-spicy red sauce on the side because pupusas by themselves are kind of plain. We were a little surprised at how big they were; you get your money’s worth on these.

Not being very familiar with this type of cuisine, we asked our server for recommendations. The first thing she pointed to was the #43 Bisteck a lo Pobre ("Tender beef sautéed in Peruvian spices. Served w/rice, French fries, egg, plantain & salad"), so I went for it. It was a BIG meal! The steak was nicely done, with a fried egg on top, a bed of French fries below, and slices of a fried plantain on either side. It also came with a side salad and a mound of white rice. I’m glad I followed my gut instinct (pun intended) and took the recommendation. I also recommend it to you, it was delicious and satisfying. Wendy got another of our server’s recommendations, the #32 Aji de Gallina ("Shredded chicken stew seasoned Peruvian style"). It came in a creamy yellow sauce and she enjoyed it. Again, a fairly large portion, with about half of it coming home for another day’s lunch! Several sauces were also brought to the table: Red - very spicy hot, Green - cool, Cilantro?, and Yellow - Mayonnaise (with Mustard or maybe Turmeric?)

The restaurant’s environment was clean and warm, with Spanish-language hip-hop music playing over the sound system. Our server gave us pleasant and attentive service. Prices are very reasonable and portions are generous. I’ve sometimes been chided for never writing bad reviews, but honestly we had a great experience trying some unfamiliar food, and heartily recommend it to you too. If you plan to go, there is a 15% off coupon you can print out under the “About Us” section of the website.

Location: 544 Fort Evans Rd., Leesburg, VA 20176, 703-777-7184

Website: http://www.pollointi.com/

Total bill: $38.82 + $10.00 tip = $48.82

#163: Bonchon

Date Visited: 16 August 2015

Meal: Lunch

Diners: Me & Wendy

Experience: Bonchon is the highly-anticipated latest addition to the restaurants at the Village at Leesburg. Bonchon has a narrowly focused specialty, which is the perfection of a Korean comfort food favorite: fried chicken. According to their corporate website, Bonchon is the Korean word for “my hometown.” Bonchon has locations worldwide, originally in South Korea (duh!) and south Asia, and in the U.S. mostly on the east coast and in California. The Bonchon tagline is “Addicted Yet?” and you’ll know why once you try it.

We started off with the Potstickers with Soy Garlic appetizer. There was nothing too special about the potstickers themselves, but the Soy Garlic sauce gives you a foretaste of what’s to come (and it’s delicious!)

The main item at Bonchon is of course their fried chicken. They serve it two sizes, wings and drumsticks, and there are several combinations of these offered. We got the Medium Combo (10 wings and 5 drumsticks) with Soy Garlic sauce. They also have a spicier sauce, or you can get half spicy-half Soy Garlic. I must say I’ve never had tastier fried chicken; there’s something about the way they cook it and the sauce that just works great. Your taste may be different, but I’m addicted! For some variety, Wendy ordered the Bibimbap with Bulgogi (“White rice with assorted seasonal vegetables, topped with an egg* and served in a sizzling stone bowl with Korean red pepper paste on the side. Your choice of topping: (bulgogi/spicy chicken/seafood/tofu).”) It was good, but you go there for the fried chicken.

The only downside of Bonchon is that it’s a bit pricey for the amount of food you get. Other than that: Recommended!

Location: 1607 Village Market Blvd., Leesburg, VA 20176, 571-442-8882

Website: http://leesburgva.bonchon.com/

Total bill: $53.38 + $10.00 tip = $63.38

#162: Trinity House Cafe

Date Visited: 15 August 2015

Meal: Breakfast

Diners: Me & Wendy

Experience: Looking for an alternative to your tired old corporate chain coffee shop? Check out Trinity House Cafe! From their Mission statement: “Trinity House Café, on the corner of Church and Market Streets in the heart of historic Leesburg, VA, is an outreach of the John Paul II Fellowship, a Christian non-profit dedicated to renewing community and culture.”

On this visit, I ordered the Notre Dame breakfast (“warm croissant with butter & jam, seasonal fruits & yogurt”) and a regular coffee. The croissant (baked there) was as one should be, light and flaky. The fruit was a cup of grapes, and the yogurt was vanilla. A nicely balanced array of flavors. Wendy ordered the Breakfast Sandwich (“mini omelet with cheddar cheese in a toasted bagel”) and added a slice of ham. She also tried the C.S. Lewis Latte (“Earl Grey tea, steamed milk, cardamom, almond syrup”). Unique!

Trinity House Cafe is about more than just food. It’s about hospitality, and they host “a variety of community and culture-renewing events such as art classes, talks, concerts, theatrical performances, movie nights, craft circles, and children’s programs.” The cafe occupies the George Head House, a building from Revolutionary times, listed on the National Register of Historic Places as part of the Leesburg Historic District. Trinity House Cafe is a warm, cozy, relaxing, inviting place to spend time with good food, good friends, and/or good books! Come on in and support a local business!

Location: 101 E. Market St., Leesburg, VA 20176, 703-727-3721

Website: http://trinityhousecafe.com/

Total bill: $20.26

#161: Yummy Pig

Date Visited: 14 August 2015

Meal: Dinner

Diners: Me & Wendy

Experience: Leesburg has another new Barbeque restaurant: Yummy Pig! It occupies the empty space that was The Q Company, so now Leesburg has three barbeque specialty restaurants: Yummy Pig, Smokehouse Live, and Red Hot & Blue (barely qualifies). Yummy Pig had their soft opening on 20 May, and is now fully open for business.

On this visit, we both decided on the “Pig Heaven Platter” (2 meats, 2 sides, and cornbread or chips). I chose Beef Brisket, Bratwurst, Yummy Slaw, Bacon-Blue Cheese Potato Salad, and the Cornbread. Wendy chose Beef Brisket, Pulled Pork, Scalloped Potatoes with Bacon, Cucumber-Onion Salad, and the Cornbread (see menu for details).

The meats come with no sauces applied, so you can do it yourself. Yummy Pig provides four house-made specialty sauces: Sweet Bourbon, Chipotle BBQ, Tequila Mustard, and 4-Pepper Vinegar; they also have a variety of commercial hot sauces. Unlike some barbeque places, the meats are served cut up into bite-size pieces. The brisket was cut into thin strips, the brat was cut into bite-size slices, and the pulled pork was of course already falling apart (as it should be). I think we both liked the Beef Brisket best - cooked till almost falling apart with a smoky, almost-crispy, flavorful crust. It seemed best with the Sweet Bourbon sauce. I thought the Bratwurst was also cooked exceptionally well - smoky, crispy crust, and tender inside. It seemed best with the Tequila Mustard. I didn’t get to try Wendy’s Pulled Pork because she ate it all before I was ready for a taste; I guess it was good! We also liked the brisket dipped in the 4-Pepper Vinegar, which added a nice “pop” and wasn’t too spicy. The sides were interesting too; the Yummy Slaw is a somewhat delicate creation using finely shaved Savoy Cabbage, and the Bacon-Blue Cheese Potato Salad was uniquely creamy delicious!

Yummy Pig also offers Ribs, Street Tacos, Chili, Barbeque Salad, and a bunch of other sides that we’re looking forward to trying next time. Since it wasn’t too busy and it was getting near closing time, owner and chef Jim Thompson came over to talk with us. Very friendly and appreciative of our visit (he didn’t know I was reviewing the place), he talked about the origins of the restaurant, his catering business (largely supported by weddings!), how the food is made (large smoker inside inherited from The Q Company, small smoker out front to draw people in), and plans for new menu items (more appetizers, bratwurst sandwiches, chili sliders, crab cakes - yum!) Nothing at Yummy Pig is ordinary; every item seems to have a slightly unique, flavorful twist. I’m sure it has something to do with everything being made in-house. Come on in, enjoy the food, and support a local business!

Location: 17 Catoctin Cir. SE, Leesburg, VA 20175, 703-629-8669

Website: http://yummypig.com/

Total bill: $39.42

#160: Smokehouse Live

Date Visited: 19 June 2015

Meal: Dinner

Diners: Me, Wendy, Bob, Joyce, Perry, and Laurie

Experience: Leesburg has a new Barbeque restaurant: Smokehouse Live! It’s a big deal, a big restaurant, and more than just food. Smokehouse Live opened up at the beginning of June in the Village at Leesburg, and according to the Washington Post, it is the largest in the D.C. metro area, and among the largest nationwide. How big? It’s Texas-big, occupying 16,000 square feet and able to seat about 600 guests at once. On this visit, we were joined by a quartet of good friends/good food lovers, so we got a good sampling of what Smokehouse Live has to offer.

At Smokehouse Live, you order your food by the piece in a buffet-type line called the Marketplace. You get a “Grub Stub” card upon which your choices are recorded by various servers as you go through the line. Smokehouse Live is all about the barbeque, offering multiple types of Beef, Pork, Poultry, and Sausage, served “from Pit to Counter,” all sold by the pound. Most of the meat is done with dry rubs, and they offer several serve-yourself house-made sauces that you can add to taste. When you order your barbeque, you just tell them how much you want, then they weigh it out in front of you, ask you what kind of bread you want, wrap it up in paper, and hand it to you in a basket. Then there are lots and lots of sides (also ordered individually, in 4/8/16 ounce sizes) like cornbread, onions, pickles, slaw, potato salad, pasta salad, deviled eggs, mac ‘n cheese, green beans, cheese grits, baked beans, and chili. If you’re not too stuffed after all that, there are puddings, pies, tarts, cake, cookies, and ice cream for dessert.

For this visit, I tried the Beef Texas Short Ribs, Beef Brisket, and Shiner Bock Brat Sausage, as well as the Kitchen Sink Baked Beans and Southern Slaw sides. I also got to sample the Cheese Grits, Cornbread with Roasted Peach Butter, and a few bites of a yummy-gooey-chocolatey dessert of some kind.

Overall, I liked the taste of the barbeque very much and thought it was first class, but not all of our friends thought so. I think part of the reason was that the Texas Short Ribs (beef) were a bit fatty for our taste, and at $24/pound, a little hard to swallow (pun intended). And therein lies an unexpected downside of all these choices. The prices (per pound or ounce) really add up fast, and you can end up spending quite a bit without realizing it until you see the total. Again, i think the barbeque was exceptional, but I recommend being conservative in the amounts you order. My eyes were much bigger than my stomach, and I did spend quite a bit on my meal. On the other hand, I had plenty of leftovers for some great lunches over the next few days!

The “Live” part of Smokehouse Live refers to the fact that they’ve got a proper music stage and lots of country, folk, bluegrass, blues, and rock bands lined up several days per week. On this visit, the band was just getting set up as we were leaving, so we didn’t get that experience.

I also had an earlier visit on 14 June, which was a Sunday afternoon. This happened to be the day Smokehouse Live introduced their Sunday Brunch. The Brunch menu is also served buffet-style, and offers a Scrambled Station, Smokehouse Live (Eggs) Benedict, Thanksgiving Casserole, Biscuit French Toast, Meats (Applewood Smoked Bacon, Country Ham, Pulled Pork, Buttermilk Fried Chicken), Smoked Sausage Gravy, Creamy Local Stone-Milled Grits, Red Skin Home Fries, Granola, and Sweets (Seasonal Cast Iron Cobbler, Seasonal Fritter, Bacon Sticky Buns, Cookies, Whoopie Pies, Cupcakes, and Mini Pick-Ups). Whew! I sampled almost everything, and nearly every dish has a distinctive smoky/barbecue taste - Yum! The Sunday Brunch buffet is a fixed price of $19.95 for adults. On this visit, we were lucky enough to have a live band, Bob Perilla’s Big Hillbilly Bluegrass, which was fun and appropriate.

Lots of choices and lots of taste - but try a little at a time! Support a locally-owned business and try Smokehouse Live yourself!

Location: 1602 Village Market Blvd., Leesburg, VA 20175, 571-447-5483

Web site: http://smokehouse-live.com/

Total bill: $95.06 + $20.00 tip = $115.06

#159: Panda Cafe

Date Visited: 14 May 2015

Meal: Dinner

Diners: Me & Wendy

Experience: I have a new favorite Chinese restaurant! Panda Cafe opened a few weeks ago in Leesburg’s AutoZone Center (formerly Prosperity Center). It’s a small place, but I’m currently pretty excited about it. The restaurants still at AutoZone Center include Del Rio, RJ’s Deli, and Little Caesars (J&W Asian Bistro, Sal’s NY Bar & Grille, and Dolce Coffee House all closed).

We started out with hot tea and two appetizers. The Shrimp Spring Rolls were crispy and flavorful, and the the Cheese Wonton Crab Rangoon was light, crispy, and hot.

I ordered Kung Pao Chicken for my entree (it’s my standard test for a Chinese restaurant). It came with peanuts on top, not mixed in, which kept them crunchy. The spiciness was just right for me, relatively hot. The sauce was nearly perfect, not too thick, nor too runny. I got the combo, so it came with Fried Rice and an extra Spring Roll. All delicious.

Wendy ordered one of the Chef’s Specials, the Dragon & Phoenix (“Crispy chicken and shrimp with vegetables.”) The chicken stayed crispy, the vegetables were light and crunchy, and nothing was overcooked. Clever use of Orange slices for separating the two parts of the dish. This one came with White Rice.

We were pleasantly surprised to be served a plate of artfully cyt Orange slices for dessert, on the house. On top of everything else, Panda Cafe really understands presentation. Even though it appears to be a rather modest little Chinese restaurant, every dish is very cleanly presented, and each one has some sort of unique little flourish.

Since our first visit was so positive, we had the opportunity to visit again a few days later on 17 May. That time I got the Crispy Chicken entree. It was excellent too! This sealed the deal as my new favorite Chinese restaurant! I encourage you to give them a try and support a local business!

BTW, here's a summary of all the Chinese restaurants I've reviewed so far (that are still in business):

• Panda Cafe (visited 14 & 17 May 2015 - this review)
• Chen’s Garden (visited 28 February 2013)
• Hunan Cafe (visited 4 April 2011)
• Mandarin Express (visited 28 February 2010)
• Wei's Garden (visited 8 January 2010)
• James Cafe (visited 25 November 2009)
• Jasmine (visited 25 April 2008, again on 12 November 2012 for the Sushi bar)
• Golden China (visited 5 April 2009)
• China King (visited 3 April 2009)
• Taipei Cafe (visited 18 April 2008)

Location: 707-F E. Market St., Leesburg, VA 20176, 703-777-5660

Web site: http://pandacafeleesburg.com/

Total bill: $29.73 + $10.00 tip = $39.73

#158: Pittsburgh Rick's

Date Visited: 1 May 2015

Meal: Dinner

Diners: Me, Wendy, Chris, Jennifer, Dwight, & Lisa

Experience: It was Leesburg First Friday, and some friends from church wanted to get together for dinner somewhere downtown. I mentioned that I hadn’t been to Pittsburgh Rick’s yet, and that settled it. I also heard that Pittsburgh Rick’s was truly authentic from some friends at work who are from Pittsburgh.

Although Pittsburgh Rick’s seems like a rather small, modest sandwich shop, the owner, Rick Allison, graduated from the Culinary Institute of America (CIA!), and has worked at some high-class restaurants. He started his first restaurant, The Dock at Lansdowne (since closed), and now Pittsburgh Rick’s, specializing in local Pittsburgh favorites.

The menu features a number of “Pittsburgh Style Sandwiches,” and for this visit, I ordered the “Pastrami & Cheese,” which is listed as the #1 best seller. Wendy got the “Pitts-Burgher & Cheese,” listed as the #2 best seller. The unique thing about these sandwiches is they all come topped with french fries, cole slaw, and tomatoes - yes, all IN the sandwich! It’s a unique experience all right, and you’ll just have to try one to understand. For dessert, we ordered an “Almost Famous Bread Pudding Cupcake” topped with Maple Applewood Bacon and salted Maple glaze (after finding out they didn’t have the Burnt Almond Torte anymore).

The complete menu includes starters (chili, soup of the day, wings), salads, sides (cole slaw, chips, fries), other desserts, a kid’s menu, and breakfast items. Pittsburgh Rick’s also does catering and has a Food Truck (I’ve spotted them in Reston) - check out their Facebook page for news.

We found Pittsburgh Rick’s to be fun and understated, with a uniquely tasty menu. We encourage you to support a local business and give them a try!

Location: 116 E. Market St., Leesburg, VA, 20176, 703-737-3700

Web site: http://pittsburghricks.com/

Total bill: $31.90

#157: Sakura Japanese Steak, Seafood House, & Sushi Bar

Date Visited: 15 March 2015

Meal: Lunch

Diners: Me, Wendy, Andy, & Britney

Experience: Having celebrated two birthdays in the middle of the previous week, we didn’t need much of an excuse to have a nice lunch out after church. I’d seen the announcement for Sakura’s opening in Leesburg Today a few weeks ago, so we decided to give them a try. The full name of the restaurant is “Sakura Japanese Steak, Seafood House @ Sushi Bar” and this is their 22nd location. Most of the other locations are in Maryland and Virginia, with a couple in New Jersey and one in California. In Leesburg, Sakura is located in the new Fort Evans Plaza II shopping center, in the location of the short-lived Japanese Kitchen. In terms of similar cuisine in Leesburg, Sakura competes with Kobe Japanese Steak & Seafood.

Sakura’s signature offering is Teppanyaki-style dining, so that’s what we went with. All entrees come with a choice of appetizer: Chicken Liver, Sauteed Mushrooms, or Teppanyaki Shrimp Flambe; we all picked the shrimp. All entrees also include Shoyu Onion Soup (different! very tasty), Sakura salad (typical ginger dressing), assorted vegetables (grilled), and steamed rice or fried rice. I chose the Teppanyaki Steak & Shrimp, Wendy chose the Shrimp & Scallops, Andy chose the New York Steak, and Britney chose the Salmon Steak. Our chef for the Teppanyaki “show” was Tamio, and he did a great job demonstrating all the standard tricks such as the flaming onion ring volcano, etc. It might not look like there is much skill involved in the actual cooking, but I thought he did very well, especially getting the Scallops just right. The meal also included Sakura’s homemade sauces, one of which Tamio called “Japanese Ranch”. They were both a little different than the standard ones you might expect.

Overall, we were very pleased with our meal, and will probably be back to try the Sushi. As mentioned above, our chef Tamio was great, and we were well taken care of by our server Crystal. We were also warmly thanked by manager Aaron on the way out. Give Sakura a try yourself! (and when you do, check out the coupons on their website)

Location: 516 Fort Evans Rd. NE, Leesburg, VA, 20176, 703-771-6395

Web site: http://sakurasteakhouse.com/

Total bill: $107.09 + $20.00 tip = $127.09

#156: Bello Pranzo

Date Visited: 9 February 2015

Meal: Dinner

Diners: Me & Wendy

Experience: Wait, ANOTHER pizza restaurant in Leesburg? Yes, it’s true! Bello Pranzo had its grand opening on 31 January, located next to the Cobb Theatre in the Village at Leesburg. As reported in my 22 January review of Pizzarella’s, it’s a crowded market and Bello Pranzo must now compete with at least eighteen other pizza restaurants!

When we entered the restaurant on this cold, rainy Monday at about 7:00 PM, we were the only customers inside. We were very warmly greeted by our server Anita, who immediately took our drink orders and then suggested we sit down and take our time reviewing the menu. While we looked over the choices, she explained that this restaurant is one of a group of family-owned restaurants in New York, and this is the first one to be located outside New York.

Once we had reviewed the extensive menu, we settled on a few representative items. Wendy started out with a Small Garden Salad, which featured cherry tomatoes, cucumber, sliced black olives, red onion, and shaved Parmesan (nice touch!) with the house Italian dressing. It was crisp and cold. I got an order of the Beer-Battered Onion Rings to share. They were pretty much perfect - just the right size, crisp, and hot.

We next tried the Bello Stromboli (“Pepperoni, Ham, Sausage, Meatball & Mozzarella”). The crust was light & crispy, and every bite was a little different thanks to the four meats. While we were eating, the chef came by and asked how we liked everything. We complimented him on everything, and then I hesitatingly mentioned that I thought it could have used a little more cheese. He graciously explained that that’s the way he was taught to make it; if you add too much cheese, it just leaks out during cooking, and it makes the crust too soggy. I didn’t expect to get a lesson in Stromboli making from the chef!

Our main dish was the Bello Gourmet Pizza Specialty (“Sausage, Pepperoni, Onions, Mushrooms, Peppers, Meatballs and Topped With Extra Cheese”). This is New York-style pizza, which is a thinner crust than I’m used to. You pretty much have to eat it with a knife and fork (at least the center part). The crust was soft & chewy all the way to the edges. We especially liked the fresh ingredients, which stayed crispy and were not overcooked. About halfway through, we were both quite full and took the rest home in a box. A good test of a pizza is whether it’s any good as leftovers the next day; I had most of the rest for lunch the next day and I can say that this one was still excellent!

Because of their New York roots, Bello Pranzo also features some great desserts. They proudly feature “Junior’s Most Fabulous Cheesecake”, which apparently is quite a big deal in New York. We bought a slice of the cheesecake with strawberries to take home and have the next day; it was very smooth, creamy and refreshing, not too sweet or too wet or too crumbly.

Overall, we found the food at Bello Pranzo to be uniformly fresh, crisp, not greasy, and delicious. I urge you to give them a try!

Location: 1600 Village Market Blvd. SE, #132, Leesburg, VA, 20175, 703-777-7715

Website: http://bellopranzova.com/

Total bill: $48.73 + $10.00 tip = $58.73

#155: Pizzarella's

Date Visited: 15 January 2015

Meal: Dinner

Diners: Me, Wendy, & Alicia

Experience: Another pizza restaurant in Leesburg? Yes, it’s true! Pizzarella’s is in the Exeter Shopping Center on Battlefield Parkway, strategically located in the northeast part of town, away from most other restaurants. Owner Robert Amireh opened the restaurant last October, and also operates another Pizzarella’s location in Fairfax, as well as Coney Island Diner in Ashburn and Purcellville, and Mezze Grill in Ashburn.

The Leesburg pizza market is crowded, and Pizzarella’s must compete with New Yorker Pizza (was Juliano’s), Sbarro, Little Caesar’s, Giovanni’s, Rocco’s (was Joe’s), Manhattan Pizza, La Villa Roma, Pizza Hut, Pizza Hut Express, Pizza Hut WingStreet, Ledo Pizza, Andy’s, CiCi’s, Domino’s, Vocelli, Fire Works, and Papa John’s.

For this first visit we tried to sample some of Pizzarella’s signature items as well as our family favorites. One unusual item was the Bang Boo Shrimp appetizer, which consists of crispy fried shrimp in a slightly spicy sauce (similar to Bonefish Grill’s Bang Bang Shrimp). We liked it a lot! Alicia was craving Onion Rings, so we got a large order of them: good-sized and crispy. We got two pizzas, our traditional Pepperoni & Bacon, and a Hawaiian. Both were above average (if a little soggy on the bottom).

Overall, we liked Pizzarella’s very much. They have quite a wide variety of menu items to try, and we had good service. Check out Pizzarella’s yourself, and support a local business!

Location: 700 Fieldstone Dr. NE, Leesburg, VA, 20176, 571-510-0909

Web site: http://pizzarellas.com/

Total bill: $42.15 + $10.00 tip = $52.15

#154: Leesburg Diner

Date Visited: 11 January 2015

Meal: Lunch

Diners: Me and Wendy

Experience: Leesburg Diner is the reinvention of the former Leesburg Restaurant; same location, same cozy-retro-downtown vibe, new management. The new owner is Michael O’Conner, who also owns Palio Ristorante Italiano. The official grand opening was 13 December 2014, and they’ve kept the original slogan, “The place to eat & meet since 1865”, reflecting the long history of the place. Since we hadn’t had a real breakfast, we went straight from church to Leesburg Diner for a late brunch.

I started out with a coffee and Wendy got a hot chocolate; nothing special, but it was a great way to get warmed up from the freezing weather outside. Now, what is special about Leesburg Diner is their Peanut Soup! This is what the former Leesburg Restaurant made into a legendary local favorite. It is described as “Virginia style”, based on a chicken stock, with pureed peanuts (including some chunks for texture), a little hot sauce, and green onion garnish. Yum! This is one of the things you MUST try when you visit.

For the main course, I got the Fried Chicken & Waffles (“Hand battered fried chicken and a Belgian waffle served with hot syrup”). This dish is one of those strange combinations that you just have to try for yourself to appreciate. Here, the battered chicken is nice and crunchy and the waffle was perfectly done. I ended up putting the syrup on everything, which compensated for the slight dryness of the chicken. Wow, I liked it! Wendy got the Greek Omelet (“Feta cheese, spinach, diced tomatoes, red bell peppers and Kalamata olives”). This omelet was large and stuffed! She chose the home fries as her side, and they were nice and crispy. Overall, the dishes were simply prepared, cleanly presented, and had fairly large portions.

We chatted for a few minutes with Chris, the manager on duty, who seemed genuinely enthusiastic about the place. He said they had been open about five weeks and that business was good. We experienced great, attentive service the entire time. I encourage you to check out Leesburg Diner yourself, and support a local business!

Location: 2 West Market St. NW, Leesburg, VA, 20176, 703-728-5134

Web site: https://www.facebook.com/TheLeesburgDiner

Total bill: $38.16 + $8.00 tip = $46.16

#153: Leesburg Public House

Date Visited: 13 December 2014

Meal: Dinner

Diners: Me and Wendy

Experience: Leesburg Public House is the latest restaurant to occupy this storied location near Walmart. When we moved here in 1987 it was a Sizzler, then Ponderosa, then Red Apple Buffet (after I started this blog), then the short-lived Buffalo Wings & Beer (never visited), then Ironwood Tavern, and now Leesburg Public House. The restaurant is self-described as “Seasonal American Cuisine by Chef Mark Marrocco” and a place to “Enjoy a fabulous menu in a fun and comfortable new restaurant, featuring over 30 craft beers on tap, unique cocktails and top-notch wine.”

On the advice of our server, we picked the Bacon Popcorn appetizer, which is hot buttered popcorn in a brown paper bag, with crumbled bacon on top. Fun! There were several other appetizers that looked good too, but will have to wait until the next visit.

Since this is a beer joint, of course I had to order a beer. Again, on the advice of our server, I picked a Maine Beer Company Weez, from the “Malty & Smooth” section of the menu, described as “Hoppy American Black Ale”. It was really dark and great on this cold night.

For my main dish, I got the Southern Man Burger (“Praline Bacon, Pimento Cheese, Sweet Onions, Red Pepper Mayo, Lettuce”). I ordered it medium, and it was actually medium! (well, it looked medium.) The pimento cheese and red pepper mayo were a good combination of flavors. Wendy got the Baja Shrimp Taco (“Flour Tortilla, Guacamole, Pico de Gallo, Cilantro Slaw, Crispy Tortilla Chips”). Although the name is singular (“Taco”), you actually get three. The shrimp in the tacos are lightly battered and have a slightly spicy, creamy sauce on them. They had a nice fresh and light texture. She was also able to substitute Asiago Polenta instead of Tortilla Chips - yum!

Reviews on Yelp are mostly very good, with just a few instances of service issues. Our service was extremely good; our server was cheerful, attentive, prompt with refills, and had good presentation.

Check out Leesburg Public House yourself, and support a local business!

Location: 962 Edwards Ferry Rd. NE, Leesburg, VA, 20176, 703-777-6333

Website: http://leesburgpublichouse.com/

Total bill: $47.36 + $10.00 tip = $57.36

#152: King's Tavern & Wine Bar

Date Visited: 30 September 2014

Meal: Dinner

Diners: Me, Wendy, & Alicia

Experience: I finally got around to visiting King’s. For many years, it was located downtown on King St. and was known as the King’s Court Tavern. In 2012, owner Fabian Saeidi moved it around the corner to it’s present position on King St., replacing the old Bella Luna restaurant. In the process, it was expanded and renamed King’s Tavern & Wine Bar, though the old King’s Court Tavern sign still hangs in front. Mr. Saeidi also owns the Old Town Grill (formerly The Green Tree), Georgetown Cafe, and The Leesburg Colonial Inn.

A large part of the reason we went to King’s on a Tuesday night was to see our friend Bob play guitar with the Arcadians, a New Orleans-style jazz band.

We started out with an appetizer. We ordered the Baked Brie, but there was a mixup and we got the Stuffed Mushrooms instead! It was OK. As for drinks, I had a Honkers Ale, and Alicia had one too, since she’s now 21. Wendy had an iced tea.

I ordered the Fish & Chips for dinner. I had it here once before and liked it. It was good this time too. Wendy and Alicia both had the Blue Ridge sandwich (Virginia ham). Alicia said "it was alright."

Alicia and I still had room for dessert, so I ordered he Pecan pie, but they were out of that so I settled for German chocolate and a coffee. Alicia had the Tiramisu.

Overall, the food and service was just kind of average, but the music was good!

Location: 19 South King St., Leesburg, VA, 20175, 703-777-5000

Web site: http://kingstavernandwinebar.com/

Total bill: $74.14 + $15.00 tip = $89.14

#151: Sweetz Bakery

Date Visited: 19 July 2014

Meal: Dessert (before dinner!)

Diners: Me, Wendy, & Mimi

Experience: We had a great day getting up late, having a big breakfast, and taking a trip to Great Country Farms with our friend Mimi. Because we missed lunch, we were feeling a mite peckish and decided to have dessert before dinner, so we visited Sweetz Bakery! Sweetz is located in the Battlefield Shopping Center, along with Five Guys, Golden China, Ledo Pizza, Which Wich, Cold Stone Creamery, Starbucks, and Ruby Tuesday. Sweetz is one of two cupcake-oriented specialty restaurants, along with Cupcakes Actually.

For this visit, Wendy abstained, so it was just me and Mimi ordering. I got a Chocolate Peanut Butter cupcake, and Mimi got a Boston Cream cupcake. Mine was cool, creamy, and delicious; I’m not sure how Mimi’s was, as she devoured the whole thing before I could sample it. We then washed ‘em down with a couple of San Pellegrino sparkling waters. It turns out there are “everyday” cupcake flavors (ours were included), and then there are daily specials that vary. Sweetz also has a few other kinds of baked products, as well as specialties like wedding cakes.

If you like cupcakes, check out Sweetz for yourself, and support a local business!

Location: 1057 Edwards Ferry Rd., Leesburg, VA, 20176, 571-291-9141

Website: http://sweetzbakery.com/

Total bill: $10.22

#150: Chimole Wine & Tapas Lounge

Date Visited: 6 June 2014

Meal: Dinner

Diners: Me & Wendy

Experience: Chimole is the only “true” tapas restaurant in Leesburg, as far as I know. It’s the newest restaurant located in the center of downtown historic Leesburg on King Street, along with Windy City Red Hots, Blue Mountain Cafe, Georgetown Cafe, Old Town Grill, China King, and The Wine Kitchen. Our first visit to Chimole happened to coincide with Leesburg’s First Friday event, so we had live music in the restaurant!

To get into the tapas mood, I started off with a Bay Island Red Sangria (berries, apples, and oranges, with Punti Ferrer Merlot and Cabernet from Chile). Wendy (designated driver) had an iced tea.

Our first plate was an appetizer, the Chimolito “Signature Salsa” & Chips (onions, tomato, cilantro, garlic, habaneros, citrus juices, and spices). The citrus flavor made it especially nice and refreshing.

Our second plate was the Tres Quesos (goat, provolone, and mozzarella cheeses, sun-dried tomatoes, house mayo, and lettuce on Rosemary Focaccia bread). It also came with a roasted red pepper dipping sauce.

Our third plate was the Combo Tapas Platter (6 tacos and 6 enchiladas, with three different meats: chicken, pork, and beef). The tacos are served bite-size on tortilla chips, and the enchiladas are made with soft corn tortillas, meat, cabbage, cheese, and homemade sauces. The platter came with more of the delicious roasted red pepper aioli as well as a savory barbecue sauce.

If you visit their website, you’ll find that Chimole is about more than just good food - owner Yovanna Reiser promotes unique Honduran artwork and pottery. In fact, the website hardly mentions food; for more about the restaurant, you’ll need to visit the Chimole Facebook page.

Check out Chimole for yourself, and support a local business!

Location: 10 S. King St., Leesburg, VA, 20175, 703-777-7011

Web site: http://chimole.com/

Total bill: $51.48 + $10.00 tip = $61.48

#149: Cupcakes Actually

Date Visited: 22 March 2014

Meal: Dinner

iners: Me, Wendy, & Andy

Experience: Cupcakes Actually is located in the Village at Leesburg, in between Noodles & Company and Firebirds Wood Fired Grill. Besides this location, they have another one in Fairfax. Cupcakes Actually is a product of the relatively recent cultural obsession with upscale, gourmet cupcakes. The menu is pretty simple, it’s mostly cupcakes! Different styles are featured every week, and there’s plenty of variety, including gluten-free and vegan choices. They also have other goodies, such as homemade gelato and sorbet, a coffee bar, breakfast pastries, and frozen treats - a full-service restaurant!

Our real purpose for this visit was to get some cupcakes for Andy’s birthday instead of a cake. We chose an assortment of three cupcakes: Fudge, Simply Red, and Dipped Peanut Butter. I only got to taste the Fudge one, and it was pure, creamy deliciousness. Andy devoured the other two before I got a chance to taste them, so they must have been good. To balance out all that sugar, I also got a small Cappuccino, which was just fine and well-made.

Check out Cupcakes Actually for yourself, and support a local business!

Location: 1607 Village Market Blvd. #108, Leesburg, VA, 20175, 571-442-8210

Website: http://cupcakesactually.com/

Total bill: $11.96

#148: Which Wich

Date Visited: 16 March 2014

Meal: Lunch

Diners: Me, Wendy, & Andy

Experience: Having our usual Sunday afternoon post-church discussion on where to eat, I suggested that we go to Quiznos, since the company just announced they were filing for bankruptcy, and we might not get another chance. So we headed over and found that Quiznos was already gone, replaced by Which Wich! Apparently they opened back in October of 2013 but I didn’t notice. Other restaurants in the Battlefield Shopping Center include Five Guys, Golden China, Ledo Pizza, Cold Stone Creamery, Starbucks, Ruby Tuesday, and Sweetz Bakery (not yet reviewed).

Which Wich is a franchised restaurant chain with a unique approach to ordering. Here’s a quote from the website, explaining things for those new to Which Wich:

“Which Wich is a fresh, innovative concept featuring superior sandwiches served in an edgy, magnetic environment. In addition to more than 50 customizable “wiches”, including the signature Wicked loaded with five meats and three cheeses, Which Wich is known for its revolutionary ordering system. Find the bag with the category you want, grab a red Sharpie, and mark up the pre-printed menu on the sandwich bag. Select your sandwich, then choose the bread, cheese, spreads, and veggies. Your wich is prepared just the way you want it and delivered in your personalized sandwich bag. After you’ve enjoyed your wich, grab another red Sharpie, doodle on the back of your bag, and hang your masterpiece on the community wall. Wicked, right?”

Well, I’m not sure about the “magnetic environment”, but it is a pretty cool system. There are really just ten different bags to choose from: Turkey, Ham & Pork, Beef, Chicken, Seafood, Vegetarian, Italian, R&D, Classics, and Breakfast. There’s plenty of variety and customization possible once you select your bag.

For this visit, I chose the R&D (Research & Development) bag, which for now equates to a Shrimp Po’ Boy. It includes ⅓ pound of breaded butterfly shrimp, plus lettuce, tomato, pickles, and Cajun Tartar Sauce. This one comes with a bag of chips, and I chose the House chips, which were crinkle-cut potato chips with salt & pepper. I did enjoy my sandwich and the chips were kinda different. Wendy and Andy both chose the Turkey bag and customized them appropriately. You can order the sandwiches hot or cold, with different kinds of bread, different sizes (7”, 10.5”, or 14”), and lots of cheeses, sauces, mustards, mayos, dressings, veggies, oils, and spices. Andy also got a Vanilla Shake and he said it was pretty good, but I don’t know because I was too slow to ask for a taste before it was all gone!

Our visit to Which Wich was pretty positive, now you give ‘em a try!

Location: 1015 Edwards Ferry Rd. NE, Leesburg, VA, 20176, 703-687-4345

Website: http://whichwich.com/

Total bill: $33.87 + $5.00 tip = $38.87

#147: DelMarVa's Southern Cafe

Date Visited: 9 February 2014

Meal: Lunch

Diners: Me, Wendy, & Andy

Experience: In their own words, DelMarVa’s Southern Cafe features “Southern, comfort food imported from Delaware, Maryland and Virginia.” It occupies the former location of Tenderjack’s (next door to Tropical Smoothie Cafe), and has additional locations in Sterling and Baltimore. I spoke to one of DelMarVa’s staff and was informed that they essentially bought out Tenderjack’s, getting rights to the name and menu. You will see several items on the menu that retain the Tenderjack’s nomenclature. The menu has grilled wraps, sandwiches, chicken tenders, burgers, salads, mac-n-cheese, and southern favorites, as well as weekend brunch selections (including breakfast pizza!)

On this visit I had one of the southern favorites, Cajun Shrimp and Cheesy Grits (“Cheesy grits covered in a spicy, andouille Cajun sauce, broiled shrimp and a buttermilk biscuit”). The generous serving of shrimp is delivered in big lumps of cheesy grits in the center of the plate, with the sauce all around. It was indeed just the right spiciness and delicious. I guess the biscuit adds to the “southern-ness” of the dish. Wendy had the Bacon, Tomato and Avocado Baked Mac-n-Cheese (“Our homemade cheese sauce and pasta, topped with smoky bacon, fresh avocado & diced tomatoes”). It came in a small cast--iron skillet on top a plate, and didn’t look like much, but she said it was very filling, as well as “creamy and cheesy.” Although not listed on the menu anywhere, Wendy also managed to get a cup of Tomato Basil soup for an appetizer. Andy got the Bacon Cheese Burger (“Smokey bacon, cheddar cheese and sweet tangy bacon marmalade”). A tough reviewer with high standards, he liked it a lot, rating it as better than the old Tenderjack’s version. The bacon marmalade seemed to be the magic ingredient.

We were pleasantly surprised at the food quality and noticed many other menu items that we’d like to go back and try. Give ‘em a try yourself!

Location: 506B E. Market St., Leesburg, VA, 20176, 703-669-4866

Web site: http://delmarvassoutherncafe.com/

Total bill: $43.77 + $10.00 tip = $53.77

#146: Wegmans

Date Visited: 26 November 2013

Meal: Dinner

Diners: Me, Wendy, & Andy

Experience: Well, yes, Wegmans IS too a restaurant! In my obsession to review every restaurant in Leesburg, I’ve got to include Wegmans, even though it’s mainly a supermarket. Previously reviewed restaurants at the Village at Leesburg include BurgerFi, Pinkberry, Firebirds, Finnegan’s, Eggspectation, Travinia Italian Kitchen, Flame Kabob, Noodles & Co., and Faang Thai. Still to be reviewed are Cupcakes Actually, Bean Bar, and the restaurants inside King Pinz and Cobb Theater.

Our Wegmans has a pretty decent Market Cafe. It’s a big buffet featuring all sorts of cuisines, especially asian and indian, along with a full salad bar. On this visit, I selected mainly chinese-style standards, Wendy got a more eclectic mix, and Andy of course got a pizza. It’s not fine cuisine, but it’s easy for everyone to find just what they want and exactly how much they want. The thing you have to be careful about is that it’s pay by the pound, so relatively dense foods tend to increase the cost quickly.

If you’re looking for wide variety in fast food with portions you control, give Wegmans a try.

Location: 101 Crosstrail Blvd. SE, Leesburg, VA, 20175, 703-669-2044

Web site: http://wegmans.com/

Total bill: $40.49

#145: Japanese Kitchen

Date Visited: 29 August 2013

Meal: Dinner

Diners: Me & Wendy

Experience: Leesburg has a new Japanese restaurant! Japanese Kitchen is located in the Fort Evans II shopping center along with Buffalo Wild Wings, Jersey Mike’s, Pho Royal, CiCi’s, and DQ Grill & Chill. They also have a location in Ballston, which seems to have been there a while.

We arrived at about 8:00 PM on this Thursday night, and there were only two other parties dining besides us. There was a weird, industrial-emo-jazz music channel playing. Our server was Donald (apparently the only server at the time) told us they had been open for about three months, but were not doing any advertising yet, in anticipation of a grand opening sometime.

We started out asking for hot tea; we got glass cups with green tea bags in them. Strange. We ordered Edamame for an appetizer, which was cooked just right and a generous portion. I ordered the Korean BBQ Beef Tenderloin Bento Box. The miso soup and seaweed salad were kind of average, but the Korean beef was really a surprise - very tender, juicy, and came with crisp grilled onions perfectly done; a real treat. The steamed shrimp shumai (dumplings) were also quite good, and not soggy.Wendy got the Tempura Udon. I didn’t get to try the tempura, as she downed them before I had a chance for a sample, but she said they were crispy and delicious. I did get to try her noodles and they were also enjoyable and toothsome!

Since we were there kind of late, towards the end we saw the chefs come out to eat their own dinner. All the staff (except Donald) looked Japanese to me, and their website has a similar authentic feel to it. We’ll probably come back and try some of the sushi rolls, as they looked pretty good too. Give ‘em a try yourself!

Location: 516 Fort Evans Rd. NE, Leesburg, VA, 20176, 703-777-8917

Web site: http://borurestaurants.com/

Total bill: $45.99 + $10.00 tip = $55.99

#144: Dos Tequilas Grill

Date Visited: 11 August 2013

Meal: Lunch

Diners: Me & Wendy

Experience: Located in Leesburg’s Bellewood Commons shopping center, Dos Tequilas Grill occupies the former location of Josefina Market (which I never got to visit before they closed). Other restaurants there include Red Hot & Blue, Starbucks, Pollo Loco, Papa John’s, Melt, Red Kabob, and Dunkin’ Donuts. According to their website, Dos Tequilas Grill specializes in Tex-Mex fare; their mission statement is to “bring to Virginia the best that Mexican food has to offer.”

When we arrived on this Sunday afternoon, there were only a few other customers dining. We were quickly seated, ordered a couple of iced teas, and enjoyed traditional tortilla chips & salsa. The website says it is their own salsa; it was of the “wetter” variety, delicious, and a great start. One not-so-great start was that I immediately knocked over my iced tea - the glass didn’t break, but it was kind of loud and obviously embarrassing. Our server cheerfully cleaned up the mess and brought me a fresh one.

On to appetizers... Dos Tequilas Grill serves a variety of authentic Salvadoran pupusas, so we ordered a couple: one cheese and one pork (“pupusa revuelta” - mixed ingredients). Just like the Wikipedia article says, “Pupusas are typically served with curtido (lightly fermented cabbage slaw with red chilies and vinegar) and a watery tomato salsa.” We got both with our pupusas, and I would describe the curtido as kind of like Mexican Kimchi. We were also served a very small cup of an extremely spicy green sauce (with appropriate warnings by the owner). The pupusas came out nice and hot, and all the sides combined with them for a great combination of flavors to start us off.

For my main course I ordered the Chile Relleno & Chicken Tamale. I guess there was a little mix-up in the kitchen, because the dish came with two Chile Rellenos and no Tamale. I didn’t say anything, and it worked out for the best. I’m not real experienced with Chile Rellenos, but these were great! Again, nice and hot, and with an assortment of sides. Even the rice and refried beans seemed better than average. Wendy ordered the chicken Chimichanga, which was fried just right; I had a couple of bites and enjoyed it too.

The Dos Tequilas Grill menu is fairly extensive, and I noted a few other dishes I’d love to come back and try (like the Huevos Rancheros). I encourage you to visit Dos Tequilas Grill, and support a worthy local, non-chain restaurant.

Location: 525 E. Market St. #F, Leesburg, VA, 20176, 703-443-0262

Web site: http://dostequilasgrill.amawebs.com/

Total bill: $35.40 + $10.00 tip = $45.40