Pot o Pho

Pot o Pho

Sunday, November 20, 2016

Winchester has a pho restaurant in the Ward Plaza off of Pleasant Valley. They offer a variety of pho along with other Vietnamese cuisine. If you're looking for vegetarian food they also offer a vegetable-based broth and tofu in the soup. The owner is friendly and while the venue is not often crowded the food is very good. Stop by Pot-o-Pho to try something new and get out of your comfort zone! 

Read more »

Hideaway Cafe

Hideaway Cafe

Tuesday, June 7, 2016

The Hideaway Cafe opened up just a few months ago in Winchester. True to its name, the Hideaway Cafe is tucked away across Braddock Street from Handley Library. As you enter there are signs guiding you downstairs to the warm niche where you can buy your coffee. The baristas are friendly and are ready to answer any questions you may have about their coffees and teas (they have a fierce cold brew). There is a piano in one corner where musicians come to play on some weekends. A wide variety of seating is available from couches, a picnic table bench, high tables, and classic seating. Crayons are provided for both little ones and adults to get creative at some tables and books abound in a cozy corner. The Cafe has done an excellent job of combining coffee and entertainment, giving the cafe an open, welcoming, and community-centered feel. The owners have done a great job syncing their business with the feel of Old Town while also adding their own flare, so utilize your sleuthing skills and come find the Hideaway Cafe. 

Visit the Hideaway Cafe website here.

Read more »

Chocolate Escape

Chocolate Escape

Friday, February 19, 2016

This month some friends and I met together downtown to meander the Loudoun Mall in search of decadent chocolates. The Chocolate Escape was back in town for the third year (you can see last year's post here)!

We started our journey at Brewbakers with their chocolate mouse martinis (and select members opting in for a glass of wine on the side). This was a delicious dessert and an excellent start to the tour. 

We also stopped by the Winchester Book Gallery, which was offering a smattering of different desserts that were made from some of their cook books. Isn't that a clever idea? 

The next stop on our tour was actually Murphy's Beverage Company, but we got distracted with the chocolate wine tastings. Then we headed on south to the Bright Box. They had a talented duo, Someone to Ride the River With, singing for the event so customers could buy some chocolates and then listen to live music.

We also hit up The Black Rose, which is a quaint boutique that offers a variety of little desserts and foods along with some gifts and trinkets.

All in all, I'm very glad that the city of Winchester has continued to do these events and that the turnout is great. It's a fun event to draw people into the heart of Winchester and recognize all the our community has to offer. A big thanks to the coordinators and participating businesses; we had a blast.

Read more »

CrepeWorx

CrepeWorx

Wednesday, December 16, 2015

My husband and I visited CrepeWorx, a new restaurant on the walking mall. They create, you guessed it, crepes! 

What's nice about the ordering options is you can choose from pre-created crepes (both savory and dessert types) or you can build your own once to suit your tastes. I ended up trying their Turtle dessert crepe which has chocolate, nuts, and caramel and it was delicious; it was very sweet and would be a nice item to order and share as a dessert on a date. My husband did a 'build your own' crepe and he made it into a savory breakfast crepe. He enjoyed the flavors a lot, but told me he was still hungry afterwards. 

We agree the interior atmosphere has been revamped splendidly and that the food tastes good. My recommendation would be to go for lunch when you might be looking for a meal that's not too heavy, or for breakfast. The hours at CrepeWorx suggest they agree, as most days they are open from 7:30am - 3:00pm. This would be a great place for friends to meet up for a brunch or a bible study to meet and chat. Stop by and try a crepe and bring a friend. 

You can visit their Facebook page here. 

Read more »

Farmers Market

Farmers Market

Saturday, May 30, 2015

The Winchester Farmers Market is open for the season and with a new location at the Taylor Pavilion. There are many vendors that are selling a variety of fresh produce, meats, cheeses, and baked goods. You can stop by and get some cool, refreshing drinks and chat with the vendors and volunteers. Musicians will be performing each Saturday so be sure to set aside some time each week to support our community and check out the variety offered at the market. 

Read more »

Restaurant Week: Jack Knuckle Gourmet

Restaurant Week: Jack Knuckle Gourmet

Monday, March 2, 2015

Today kickstarts Winchester's annual Restaurant Week. This is a great weeklong event that is put on by local businesses downtown to entice customers to try new places and new foods. If you have old favorites you can still stop in for some varying menus and affordable food. Most participating restaurants are either offering three course meals for $25 or 2 for $25 deals. 

Our first stop is a little non-traditional this week. Jack Knuckle Gourmet is participating in Winchester's Restaurant Week and is creating meals for two people for $25. What's unique about them is that they are a food truck that roams around the town. You can check out their Restaurant Week Menu here. For the event week the truck is parked right behind Winchester Towers on Cameron Street. Grab some friends and try out their soups, sandwiches, and sides. 

Tonight my husband and I tried out the gourmet grilled cheese, cream of asparagus soup, and falafel along with two drinks all for $25. Since it's a little chilly out and we live close to downtown we decided to eat at home, but you could sit along the wall on Cameron Street to eat and chat if you desire. As we were getting our food, three more families showed up to try out the food truck. The employees delivered service with a smile and I'm interested in testing out their other sandwiches in the weeks to come.

Interested in finding out what other businesses are participating? There are a bunch in our historic downtown and you can check them all out on their website or facebook page.

Read more »

Bonnie Blue

Bonnie Blue

Monday, January 26, 2015

Bonnie Blue is a little restaurant on the corner of Bowscawen and Amherst Street in downtown Winchester. It makes for a convenient lunch spot and lots of people order their food to go from here. There are a few tables inside the building as well as a handful outdoors, which can get packed during the summer on sunny days.

Their menu is written on a chalkboard over the kitchen, which opens into the seating area. Most of the menu consists of meat platters and sandwiches such as pulled pork and smoked chicken (you can see their full menu here). They also serve Route 11 potato chips, a favorite in Shenandoah Valley, along with other sides including collard greens, fried apples, potato salad, cole slaw, and mac & cheese. I will say there's practically nothing vegetarian, so if that is your diet choice be prepared to eat a combo of different side dishes. However, if you eat meat you'll be in heaven. They've got lots of fresh cooked choices for you. 

All in all I would say you have to try it if you live in Winchester because there's no other place in town quite like it. It's a local joint that serves some regional food with a unique style and flair. Service has always been quick and friendly at Bonnie Blue. While stopping in, you can also try out some coffee from Hopscotch since one of their branches is inside the restaurant along with some pastries and artisan breads that are available throughout the day. 

Read more »

Bon Matin chez LeRoy

Bon Matin chez LeRoy

Monday, January 19, 2015

There's a new french bakery in town and I love it. You can bet that it'll be featured on here a little more often. Surprisingly, Winchester didn't have a bakery before this (not for the past few years anyways). My husband and I always say it's one of the first things we would have added to our town and ta-da! Here we go. 

Since we were eating as a sort of brunch, the spinach and feta quiche and a raspberry croissant were our selections. They were both mouth wateringly delicious. When you order the pastries, the server will plate them for you right away and if you order the quiche they will warm the quiche in an oven for you so that it's toasty when served. The server was friendly and checked in once to make sure everything was up to standards (it was).

With my sweet tooth I really loved the croissant, and my husband enjoyed the savory quiche. I'd highly recommend it for a small lunch with a girlfriend, or a place to study, or even a small bible study/study group meeting place. I hope they find a lot of success because I'm impressed with what they bring to downtown.

Atmosphere: Excellent.
Service: Quick and friendly
Food: Delicious, ideal for breakfast and brunch (also manageable at lunch, but they can get a rush hour)

Read more »