Day Tripping - DC Metro
Bar-B-Cue, Maryland and Virginia
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Bar-B-Cue
There is More Than One Kind, Folks!!!
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Restaurant One


Houndstooth Cafe - Hanover (VA)
(Located at the corner of Routes 301 and 54 in Hanover.
Take Exit 92 on I-95 South of Kings Dominion on Route 54.)

In addition to the area's connection with Patrick Henry, another reason to visit Hanover Courthouse is to eat at the Houndstooth Café, located in an old country store which has been refurbished as a restaurant.

We first heard of this restaurant from a review in Virginia Magazine and we are so glad we did. We found a quaint, friendly establishment where the wait staff goes out of their way to make you feel welcome and comfortable. On the two occasions we ate there, we had different staff members each time, both of whom were terrific.

The menu offers a variety of sandwiches and entrees, but the reason to eat here is the barbecue - beef, chicken, or pork!

The pork barbecue we tried is tender, tasty, moist, and not soaked in any kind of sauce. The sauce is added on top, sufficient and perfect, but not overwhelming.

And every morsel you consume confirms the fact that you are, indeed, in "hog heaven." Hush puppies are delicious (and we mean REALLY delicious) as an accompaniment to the barbecue.

The menu also offers many fresh seafood items.

The dessert specialty is the "Houndstooth Derby Pie" and is perfect, served warm and chocked full of pecans, chocolate chips and bourbon.

If you are of a mind, you may also order homemade brownies, apple pie, or cheesecake.

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Houndstooth Cafe
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Owner Connie Cunningham also offers the "Houndstooth Feast for Four", a whole barbecued pork butt with three vegetables, hush puppies, and beverage. Call 804-537-5404 for hours as lunch and dinner are not served every day.

Lunch:
  • Tuesday - Friday from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.

    • Dinner
  • Tuesday - Thursday from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m.
  • Friday - 5 p.m. to 9 p.m.
  • Saturday - 5 p.m. to 9 p.m.

    • Sunday and Monday - Closed

    The Restaurant in located at the corner of Routes 301 and 54 in Hanover. Take Exit 92 on I-95 South of Kings Dominion on Route 54.

    Our Rating (Five Chefs is Highest)

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    For Map And Directions to HoundsTooth

    Restaurant Two

    Brewer's Alley - Frederick (MD)
    (Located at 124 North Market Street in Downtown.
    Take I-270 to Market Street in Frederick.)

    A very good and popular restaurant in Frederick, Maryland, is Brewer's Alley (an American restaurant with generous portions) on North Market.

    We've enjoyed outstanding luncheon offerings on two separate occasions and recommend them heartily, and we really savored their soup, the Bar-B-Cue, and their wonderful desserts - especially the bread pudding.

    The Bar-B-Cue was tender, very fresh-tasting, and with a sauce that was tangy and just a bit sweet. The portion was very generous and included terrific fries.

    If you're lucky enough to be in Frederick on a warm day, and when their outside tables are available, your experience will be enhanced considerably. Downtown is usually very busy and people watching makes your experience even better. The service is personal and professional. We couldn't find a fault.


    Brewer's Alley
    (Click on Photo for Larger Image)

    Our Rating (Five Chefs is Highest)

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    For Map And Directions to Brewer's Alley

    Restaurant Three

    Red Fox Inn - Middleburg (VA)
    (Located at 2 East Washington Street.
    Take Route 50 from the DC area (26 miles) to Middleburg.)

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    The Red Fox Inn
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    (Photo by Ron Patterson)

    We've tried a number of restaurants in and around Middleburg, but we always seem to end up at the Red Fox Inn.

    On our latest sojourn (March 12, 2005) to this locale, one of our favorite towns in the Commonwealth, we took time for a late lunch at the Inn. Even at 1:45 p.m., the restaurant was full and bustling.

    Lucky for us, we weren't able to be seated immediately and had the chance to talk to the new owner. He had some wonderful stories about Middleburg - sorry, we won't repeat them, but they were enjoyable, especially coming from such a friendly host.

    We ordered the beef bar-b-cue with French fries. Folks, this is one terrific sandwich. The beef, in strips and tender chunks, is never overwhelmed by the tangy bar-b-cue sauce.

    The sauce itself is sweet as well as tangy, but not sweet to the point of surprise. The sandwich was plentiful and the fries hot and not over-salted.


    Our Rating (Five Chefs is Highest)

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    For Map And Directions to The Red Fox Inn

    Restaurant Four

    Black Bear Bistro - Warrenton (VA)
    (Located at 32 Main Street.
    Located in Fauquier County off I-66.
    Take US-29 South toward Gainsville/Warrenton for 11.5 miles.
    Within an hour's drive from Washington, DC)


    (Photo by Ron Patterson)

    I (Ron) am a barbecue fanatic and we devote this page to restaurants with barbecue we really, really like. This barbecue moves to the top of our list. The Bistro Chef has found a way to neither mimic the sweet barbecue that some prefer nor deliver the vinegar-laced recipe that others enjoy. This barbecue, enhanced by peach chutney (brilliant addition) grabbed my interest immediately. Unlike so many such sandwiches, the barbecue was not dripping with sauce - the bun held together throughout the meal and there was no attempt to pile on so much meat that you end up having to use your knife and fork to eat a sandwich - I just hate that.

    The Black Bear Bistro is located at 32 Main Street. Please check out their web site and don't miss an opportunity to try them out - you won't regret it.

    Our Rating (Five Chefs is Highest)

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    For Map And Directions to Warrenton and the Black Bear Bistro


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