#142: Sbarro

Date Visited: 24 July 2013

Meal: Dinner

Diners: Me

Experience: Well, this was a case of taking one for the team. I’ve been putting off a visit to Sbarro because I could predict what the experience would be like. Today I did it, and my prediction came true. It was awful.

Sbarro is located in the Leesburg Corner Premium Outlets food court, along with Arthur Treacher’s, Nathan’s Famous, Starbucks, Burger King, and Balducci’s. Sbarro is mainly just a place to grab a quick slice of pizza during a shop-till-you-drop mission at the outlet mall. The pizzas are all pre-made and on display in a glass-protected warming area.

On this visit, I came kind of late (about 8 PM), surveyed the offerings, and selected the one that looked the least unappetizing. It turned out to be the Veggie pizza (red onions, mushrooms, green peppers, tomato, olives, and broccoli). Apparently the warming area doesn’t really keep them warm enough, because the guy had to put my slice back into the pizza oven for a couple of minutes. Even then, it wasn’t very hot. The crust was a little too crunchy and the experience was more like having a slice of leftover pizza warmed up in the microwave at home. Maybe I should have gone with the Pepperoni. On the plus side, the slices are huge.

I almost never write negative reviews, but this time I can’t avoid it. Maybe it wasn’t so good because I got there late, but I’m thinking it wouldn’t have been much different otherwise. If you want, give ‘em a try and see if you have better luck, but if it’s pizza you want, any other Leesburg option would be a better bet (search this site, too many to list here).

Location: 241 Fort Evans Rd. NE, Leesburg, VA, 20176, 703-779-2040

Web site: http://sbarro.com/

Total bill: $7.86

#141: Five Guys

Date Visited: 14 July 2013

Meal: Lunch

Diners: Me, Andy, & Alicia

Experience: Five Guys has arrived in Leesburg! It is located in the Battlefield Shopping Center on Edwards Ferry Road.

The popular national burger chain, with stores in 48 states (sorry Alaska and Hawaii!) is now here. Five Guys began in 1986 with the first store located in nearby Arlington, Virginia. Five Guys is best known for serving never-frozen, fresh-cooked burgers with lots of toppings and very generous servings of french fries, cut fresh daily and cooked in peanut oil. Another distinctive of Five Guys is the sparse menu; all they offer is burgers (but many variations), hot dogs, fries, and drinks. Oh yeah, nowadays they also have a few styles of veggie sandwiches (I guess for vegetarian/vegan friends you drag in with you).

On this visit, I ordered the Bacon Cheeseburger. As for toppings (all free), if you ask for “everything” you get mayonnaise, lettuce, pickles, tomatoes, grilled onions, grilled mushrooms, ketchup, and mustard. I asked for everything but pickles. Other available toppings include relish, onions, Jalapeno peppers, green peppers, A1 steak sauce, barbeque sauce, and hot sauce. Andy also got the Bacon Cheeseburger but only with ketchup, mustard, and grilled onions. Alicia got the Cheeseburger with ketchup, lettuce, and onions. We got one large order of fries to share (tons). We also got one fountain drink for me and two waters (free) for the kids. Everything was delicious.

I think Five Guys is probably the best nationwide burger chain (but only because In-N-Out is only on the west coast!) In Leesburg, you can get better burgers at Melt or BurgerFi, but sometimes you just can’t beat the sheer, greasy joy of Five Guys. They also have nice, modern online ordering via web browser or apps for iOS and Android. Go get a burger now!

Location: 1083 Edwards Ferry Rd., Leesburg, VA, 20176, 571-442-8575

Website: http://fiveguys.com/

Total bill: $31.16