AN ESCAPE IN LEESBURG - THE WINE KITCHEN - DID YOU SAY HAPPY HOUR?

Enjoy a refreshing, palette-discriminating menu in a relaxed yet classy atmosphere. For me, the Wine Kitchen has it all and has only gotten better . . . it is still an “anchor” restaurant in the very happening, downtown district of Leesburg, VA that other restaurant owners are and should be trying to mirror.


Having lived and worked alongside many business owners now for over 20 years in Leesburg, many friends and clients who know I love to cook (and eat!) ask me where to find great food and wine.  The Wine Kitchen, as I've written about in the past when it first opened, remains one of my favorites! Their food and wines are superb, and because "thank goodness" they offer imports from  countries like Italy and Spain (more) where they regulate what goes into their wines.  Natural ingredients are used - not the food coloring and nasty chemicals and preservatives our bodies reject with headaches, and unlike many US wines without regulation.  This is a one of a few important reasons why I frequent the Wine Kitchen over other restaurants and continue to recommend it to family, friends and newcomers to Leesburg, VA.

The Wine Kitchen's willingness to educate us, while adding a bit of "social" to our dining experience, adds a very special touch while serving your wine with one of their own personal/descriptive Wine Cards.  Have some fun in deciphering if your own experience or palette matches the poetic journey they describe on this little card, and keep it even as a keep-sake for that special occasion or night.

The Wine Kitchen has paired their wines with local farms in a relaxed yet hip style, while the demeanor of its available Executive Chef, Tim Rowley, is a prized possession as he listens to his guests.  Not only does the Chef incorporate current trends, the Wine Kitchen is now offering a full array of impressive cocktails with an impressive Happy Hour you shouldn't miss!  The staff, some of my favorites being Agnes and Morgan, are "excellent" and I am brought back because they not only know their wines, food and specialty cheeses to a very impressive degree, but their decorum is as if they were hand-picked for this restaurant.  

Upcoming events to pop by the Wine Kitchen for:

• Tuesdays are "Flight Nights"
• Wednesdays (confirm if still running) enjoy $$$ off any bottle of wine in-house
• Happy Hour Tuesday-Fridays from 3 - 6 pm

Enjoy the Wine Kitchen or you are missing a treat.

Mary's Real Estate Site

LIVE EARLIER TODAY on Good Morning Washington . . . THE WINE KITCHEN IN LEESBURG - Eat, drink and be educated!

"Good Morning Washington" on local Channel 9 (WUSA) visited the WINE KITCHEN in Leesburg, VA!  

The Wine Kitchen, whose motto is "Eat, Drink, Simply" has gotten it right.  They are filled to capacity every night for dinner . . . their staff has grown and is always extremely educated and friendly.  With a more recent Happy Hour Menu , they offer samples of delectable morsels in a much more light-hearted fashion while still presenting their always inviting DC-style atmosphere.  The Wine Kitchen's great vibe brings me in to one of my all-time favorite American Bistros time-after-time.  

The Executive Chef, Tim Rowley, is a prized possession at the Wine Kitchen and his style and relaxed demeanor add to the enjoyment of the dining experience.  He listens to his patrons if they have something to share and is available.  The local meats, produce and cheeses that he incorporates into his diverse menu, equally mirror this very "real" yet relaxed and palette-discriminating food style.  It is food you can feel good about eating, simply. 

NOTE: The Wine Kitchen currently donates a portion of all our weekday lunch proceeds to Loudoun Free Clinic to help in their mission to support health care services for Loudoun County residents who would otherwise do without.

As originally posted, I try to visit every new restaurant in the area, and the Wine Kitchen is no exception.  Not only is their food and wine selection superb, but they have a willingness to educate us and add a bit of "social" to our dining experience.  I think you will just love The Wine Kitchen that has paired with local farms and others to impress your palette. 

The décor in Leesburg reminds me of a DC restaurant.  Their style though is quite unique in that they not only serve you food and wine, but you are adorned with a "descriptive wine card" paired with each glass of wine that you order.  I love this concept because it's both educational and social. 

Whether you are ordering food or wine by the glass (prices vary and are very competitive) or you are partaking in one of their "Flights," they add a unique touch by serving you one of their Wine Cards.  It adds to your dining experience as you try to decipher from your own glass of wine whatever flavors they have poetically described on this little card.  I think you will enjoy this fun, learning experience and walk away with one of those little wine cards as a special souvenir from a very special restaurant.  It's a great concept.

There are too many dishes on the menu that I love to name, but suffice it to say "everything is top-notch."  The gourmet infusion into their farm-style dishes, as well as European introductions, appeal to the most meticulous taste buds and will possibly cause you to pause.  Some of my favorite dishes (they change often) have been the scallops (however they are being offered), the Butternut Squash Soup, and the Burrata is to die for you must try.  Others I've enjoyed have been:

The Rosemary Gnocchi - sweet potato, kale, walnuts, blue cheese and pomegranate reduction

The Hanger Steak  (A FAVORITE ) celeriac walnut risotto, sautéed spinach and shallot gastrique

The Braised Short Ribs - celeriac and black garlic puree, smoked mushrooms, sweet pan soy sauce 

Each day they have a selection of wonderful cheeses they present on their blackboard and under "Cheese and Charcuterie" offering three artisanal cheeses for $13 or a Charcuterie Plate for $12.  This is one of my favorite menu items, being Italian and enjoying worldly cheeses and platters of this type.   If you want to get a glimpse before dining, they have more than one location but the  Dinner Menu noting happy hour morsels in Leesburg is wonderful.

When it comes to their wines, it goes without saying that their name says it all!  The fact that they offer numerous non-domestic wines too from all around the world, I very much appreciate.  For several years now, I have given up on US wines (unless they are produced by a local, small vineyard) because they did not agree with my head, and I learned this stems from possibly the pesticides used or added preservatives for a long-term shelf life.  I have no worry at the Wine Kitchen, regardless, and with plenty of wine varietals to choose from and the obvious success of this restaurant today, others should mirror the concept. 

What also makes the Wine Kitchen so unique, is the offering of a smaller size portion of plated food (smaller plates).  They are certainly hearty enough, and I find them to be the  ideal portion.   The Wine Kitchen in Leesburg was one of the first to offer what I deem "gourmet" food in a lighter quantity and at a reasonable price.  The best part of this concept for me, I do not go home stuffed and feeling like I spent a fortune on dinner and a glass of wine.  Nor do I feel guilty not able to finish and having to bring home food I did not need to pay for in the first place.

The small plate concept is smart amidst a Town filled with busy, working locals, tourists on a budget venturing out, and simply people that like to go out to eat without spending a fortune . . . the Wine Kitchen has gotten it right, in my opinion, and they are filled to capacity every night for dinner because they have.

Because I originally wasn't keen on a few aesthetics of the restaurant (when they first opened up), I didn't feel compelled to return over and over if I was venturing out on a busy weekend night.  If you arrive early for your reserved table or you do not have a reservation for even one of their bar stools, you have to find a comfortable place to wait and it's not easy.  Their bar is not your typical restaurant bar, so it's too awkward to stand behind it because of those having dinner.  This leaves you in an open area amidst on-looking tables of diners and no comfortable place to lean and wait . . . this has been my only criticism of this beautiful restaurant to date.

The Wine Kitchen is a hot spot in Leesburg and you need to wait it out - your table, the food and the wine are all well worth it and your  experience will hopefully be FABULOUS.

Enjoy yourself - Mary!

The Wine Kitchen - Leesburg
7 South King Street
Leesburg, VA  20175
(703) 777-9463
The Wine Kitchen

Mary Dionisio Roberge - you can also find my blog on my Realtor web site with McEnearney Associates in Leesburg VA

Travinia Italian Kitchen - a marvelous spot in Leesburg!

Travinia Italian Kitchen has been a great addition to Leesburg's growing restaurant scene.  With live music, outdoor seating, welcoming and fashionable decor ambiance, and great food, Travinia is sure to be one of Leesburg's hot spots this spring and summer.

First, the food: Their menu features delicious Italian comfort food and Travinia's own special dishes.  While they went through a rough patch with their food I noticed, it has been great again for the last couple of months!  Here is a sampling of  my own favorites:

• Rigatoni Bolognese: Braised Short Ribs in a red sauce with a dollop of Mascarpone (an Italian Cream Cheese that melts beautifully and in your mouth!) tops this exquisite dish, all served over a hearty bowl of Rigatoni.
• Veal Scaloppini: Simply delicious and plentiful!  I go a more Italian traditional route and have red/marinara sauce over just my Capelini instead of the veal sauce which is a lemon butter with artichokes, mushrooms and pancetta. 
• Polo Isabella: Chicken Breast (add risotto, yum!) and goat cheese with a lemon butter sauce served over a bed of spinach.  This is a favorite of many of my friends.
• Mussels: The mussels I had came in their own "nontraditional" sauce which I loved.  A wonderful treat which I highly recommend - you will not want them to take your plate if there is bread left and scooping up the sauce using your shell/spoon is a delight!
• Margherita Pizza: My daughter gets this almost every time and loves it.  Served with fresh mozzarella and plum tomatoes.  A great kid-friendly dish that adults will enjoy as well.
• I've enjoyed the Caesar, Spinach & Goat Cheese and Granny Smith Apple (not what you think) salads which are all good and plentiful.  When ordering one to accompany your own Entree, "share."
• One dish I do not recommend and commented on to a waiter for the kitchen (as did several friends who I asked not to judge them on this dish!) is the Butternut Squash Ravioli.  Why?  Simply because they are served in butter, and it is too much and does not compliment the ravioli.  Butter turns to oil too when heated for a while, so if you love Butternut Squash Ravioli as I do, ask for a sauce substitute like a "light cream."  I'd love to see them pair these with a light Sage Cream Sauce I make for my own yellow squash ravioli which would compliment it and not overpower the delicate flavor of the squash. 

Next up, ambiance: Immediately upon your entering the restaurant, you are greeted by a lovely atmosphere with plush couches and a hostess who treats everyone who arrives like gold.  I believe she has been there since the restaurant opens, and she is an incredible asset to their team.  Now that it is warm outside, you have a number of seating options:  1) indoors at gently curving rows of tables and spacious booths; 2) outdoors on the patio where there are fire pits that add charm and fun to the restaurant; or 3) the bar area, which opens up to the outdoors in the spring and summer for some wonderful breezes.  If you choose to sit indoors, you can see your food being prepared through the glass divider to the kitchen.

On the weekends, allow for a wait time, but do not be dissuaded from staying - Travinia has a spacious waiting area with plush couches and their wait times are often shorter than they say they will be.  Kids and adults alike are able to sit much more patiently than in such a relaxed environment.

The background music is lively without being loud, so it is always possible to have a conversation with your friends and family while you dine at Travinia.

And speaking of music - Travinia has live jazz every Wednesday from 7 to 10pm.  I so was pleasantly surprised to find this out when I was at dinner one evening, so we decided to stay longer to enjoy the fun duo that was performing!  And coming soon, there will be a band every Friday night from 10pm to 2am with the dining area cleared for dancing.  I can't wait for the fun to begin!

Be sure to check out this happening and delicious restaurant the next time you treat yourself to an evening out.  You will not be disappointed.

1605 Village Market Blvd SE, Suite 104, Leesburg, Virginia
http://www.traviniaitaliankitchen.com/travinia-leesburg-va.php