#130: Ironwood Tavern

Date Visited: 20 June 2012

Meal: Dinner

Diners: 4 - Me, Wendy, Andy, & Alicia

Experience: Ironwood Tavern opened on 29 February 2012. The history of this location is that it was a Sizzler when we moved here in 1987, then it became Ponderosa, then Red Apple Buffet (after I started this blog), then the short-lived Buffalo Wings & Beer (never visited), and now Ironwood Tavern. We had heard good things about this place, so we decided to go for a belated Father’s Day dinner.

On this Wednesday night, the restaurant was not very busy - only about five other parties were there with us. We were greeted with a basket of bread and whipped butter while our server took our drink orders. Since Ironwood Tavern emphasizes their two dozen craft beers on tap, I had a Fat Tire Amber Ale (a favorite of mine).

We started off with the Southwest Spring Rolls appetizer. Although this has become a restaurant standard, Ironwood’s version was pretty good; crispy and hot, with a just-spicy-enough dipping sauce. Plus, we happened to be there early enough to take advantage of the Happy Hour pricing of $5.

We all ordered salads; Wendy and I got the Ironwood Salad (“Mixed greens, raspberries, candied pecans, goat cheese, & champagne vinaigrette”) - nice. Andy and Alicia got the Caesar Salad.

For my main course, I ordered the Ironwood Burger (“Half pound wood grilled burger seasoned with crushed pepper corn, A1 sauce, topped with melted Gorgonzola, sauteed mushroom, lettuce, tomato, onion, & bistro sauce”). I ordered it Medium and it came just that way (yea!) It was an interesting combination of flavors. (I liked it, but if it’s a great cheeseburger you want, go to Melt.) Wendy got the Pork Chop (“Wood grilled & served with sweet potato mash, sauteed green beans, & apple jack brandy sauce”). She like the grilled finish, sweet & salty taste. Andy and Alicia both got the BBQ Burger (“Half pound burger topped with Smoked apple wood bacon, cheddar cheese, fried onion straws, our house made BBQ sauce, lettuce, tomato, & onion”). Andy rated it a “7-1/2 out of 10,” which is pretty good. For dessert, we shared a Double Fudge Brownie. It was good but not remarkable.

The vibe of Ironwood Tavern is confusing; they have good blues music playing in the background, but the decor and artwork of the place has no apparent theme. Andy said it was a “very plain restaurant.” Our server was attentive and pleasant, which improved the experience. Overall, we felt the place to be maybe above average, but not destined to become a favorite. However, as all the positive Yelp reviews indicate, your experience may be different. Give ‘em a try!

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

Web site: http://www.ironwoodtavern.com/

Total bill: $110.02 + $22.00 tip = $132.02

#129: Balducci's

Date Visited: 16 June 2012

Meal: Dinner

Diners: 2 - Me & Wendy

Experience: According to their website, this Balducci’s location in the Leesburg Corner Premium Outlets is more properly called a “Balducci’s Express,” even though the sign says “Balducci’s Food Lover’s Market.” It’s in the location formerly occupied by City Deli. Readers of this blog may be more familiar with the real “Balducci’s Food Lover’s Market” (gourmet grocery store) locations in Alexandria, McLean, and Bethesda. I’m a big fan of these stores and often have the opportunity to visit the Bethesda location. I always find some delicious treats and a high-quality lunch-to-go (sushi!) when I need it. This Balducci’s Express in Leesburg, however, is a different story. As far as I can tell, they basically stock only a very limited selection of pre-made sandwiches, salads, and a few sides.

On this visit, Wendy and I were looking for a quick, light dinner, and we were in the mood for sub sandwiches. We arrived about an hour or so before the mall closed, and were told by the guys behind the counter that the sandwiches and things in the glass case in front of us was all that was available, and they couldn’t make us anything new!?!

I ordered the Santa Fe sandwich that featured shredded chicken, red peppers, and chipotle seasonings on a baguette-type roll. Wendy got the Club sandwich that featured ham, turkey, bacon, and swiss cheese on a ciabatta roll. She also got another one to take home to Alicia. As these were listed on the menu as “hot” sandwiches, each in turn was put into an oven for one minute before being served to us. The best I can say is that the sandwiches were OK. The bread itself was better than anything inside. Alicia really did like hers, though.

On the whole, this was a rather disappointing experience, and I don’t think we will be back. It’s too bad, because the experience you get at a Balducci’s Food Lover’s Market is completely different.

Location: 241 Fort Evans Road NE, Leesburg, VA 20176

Web site: http://www.balduccis.com/

Total bill: $31.30

#128: Georgetown Cafe

Date Visited: 14 June 2012

Meal: Lunch

Diners: 2 - Me & Wendy

Experience: The Georgetown Cafe is one of the oldest fixtures in Leesburg. Located in the historic downtown area on King St., it is across the street from Blue Mountain Cafe and Windy City Red Hots. Georgetown Cafe is just one of the properties owned and operated by Fabian Saeidi & family, including Leesburg Colonial Inn, Old Town Grill (formerly The Green Tree Restaurant), King's Court Tavern, Balls Bluff Tavern, and Bella Luna Restaurant (currently closed for renovations). We found out from our server that the plan is for King’s Court Tavern (a rented property) to move into the Bella Luna location (Saeidi-owned), but she was unsure of the fate of Balls Bluff Tavern. The decor of the Georgetown Cafe was simple, with trestle tables just like in the Old Town Grill.

Anyway, the Georgetown Cafe menu is filled with 17th century-themed meals, to go along with downtown Leesburg’s colonial vibe. All of the meals have interesting names (with historical notes included), such as Ben Franklin's Pleasure, The Hot Canadian, The Thoriughfare Gap Express, The Hessian Reuben, The Ambassador, The Blue Ridge, English Pub, Captain's Pleasure, and The Signer's Sandwich.

For starters, Wendy and I both had ice tea and soup. I got the 17th Century Peanut Soup, which was thick, creamy, rich, and very filling. The peanuts and celery bits were not too crunchy, making for a silky smooth experience. Wendy got the Tomato Basil Soup, which was also thick, chunky, and delicious.

For my lunch, I ordered The Ranger's Basket, described as a "half pound of fresh ground sirloin broiled, served on a kaiser roll, and topped with bacon & cheese. Served with lettuce, tomato, and fried potatoes." When the dish arrived, I saw that this was a fancy description for a bacon cheeseburger and fries platter. However, ordinary it was not. The bun was soft but perfectly toasted on the inside, the meat was actually cooked medium the way I ordered it, the bacon crisp, the tomato juicy, and the fries hot and crispy. Yum.

Wendy ordered one of the specials, a Grilled Cheese Sandwich, with the aforementioned Tomato Basil Soup. The sandwich was constructed with thick, Texas Toast-style bread, and the cheese nice and melty. She liked it.

We thoroughly enjoyed our lunch at Georgetown Cafe and plan to go back to try many of the other dishes. To be fair, most of the Yelp reviews rate the place as average to poor, but our experience today was great. We especially urge your support of this locally-owned and operated restaurant, holding up the traditions of Leesburg’s colonial heritage. Check ‘em out yourself!

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

Web site: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Georgetown-Cafe/122404092575

Total bill: $26.20 + $6.00 tip = $32.20