#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

#143: New Yorker Pizza

Date Visited: 4 August 2013

Meal: Dinner

Diners: Me, Wendy, & Andy

Experience: Over the past five years, this South King Street location has had four different tenants: first it was the Fractured Prune, then Kabob & Falafel, then Juliano’s, and now we have New Yorker Pizza. I was able to talk with the new owner, Qasir Alekozai (who goes by “Q”), who said they’d been open for about a month at the time of this visit. Q also said he’d previously been in the pizza business for about eight years in New York.

On this visit, we ordered a large Deluxe Supreme (Pepperoni, Sausage, Mushrooms, Onions, & Green Peppers), a large Pepperoni & Bacon, and a Stromboli. These pizzas are our favorite combinations, and the ones we use to size up pizza restaurants. In this case, our family found it was very good but not great; better than average. The Stromboli was particularly good. However, with so many pizza choices in Leesburg, our favorites are still Fire Works when we want gourmet pizza, and Vocelli or Rocco’s for “everyday” pizza.

New Yorker Pizza has a fairly extensive menu, offering Antipasti, Pasta, Italian dinners, Salads, Wings, Calzones, Gourmet Pizzas, Hot Subs, Cold Subs, Gyros, Wraps, and Desserts - lots to try, and all dishes are made to order. Please consider supporting this locally-owned and operated business, and check it out for yourself!

Location: 828 S. King St., Leesburg, VA, 20175, 703-777-2218

Web site: http://newyorkerpizzas.com/

Total bill: $45.18 + $10.00 tip = $55.18