Restaurant- Tenderjacks

Tenderjacks- Buy One Entree, Get One Free 

Tenderjacks

http://www.tenderjacks.com/

506B East Market Street     Leesburg, VA 20176
703-669-4866

My credentials for being a sound judge of burger joints? I’m beef-fed, not born but bred Nebraskan; I thought steak ONLY came from Omaha! I’ve also eaten in every burger joint from here to Vienna. Tenderjacks has more than your average burger joint menu- so I felt a fair review would require samples of more than just their beef. Luckily, my 9 year old son with a 16 year old’s appetite accompanied me on this visit.

My son ordered the combo platter for $7.99- perfect portions- 2 of each item- for one medium sized appetite or two small ones. Starting with well seasoned, chicken tenders- very juicy, and since they were broiled, there was no grease to weigh down the meal. Tasty dipping sauces included the KC barbeque sauce, which tastes authentic, and the buffalo sauce- spicy, so beware. The Coyote Wings were fatless, oh so meaty and flavorful to the bone. The dusting of mesquite seasonings transported me to my childhood backyard and my father’s hibachi, where barbecue sauce is an insult to the flavor already smoked into the meat. Next- the Southwestern Egg Rolls- wish I knew how they tasted but my son devoured them without even considering sharing a bite. All I can tell you is that they were tightly rolled since he didn’t drop one, single bean, and there was no grease on the platter from the rolls, which is always a good sign when dealing with fried foods. Finally, the pair of Mini Cheeseburgers- aaah, we’re on myturf now. Any restaurant that can cook such a small piece of meat to medium well is aces in my book. The special sauce was too much for my son, but to me- the tangy, slightly mustardy, maybe a touch of horseradish with teeny chopped pickles was just the right accent to zest up the tiny burger.  Get the sauce on the side if you order them for children.

I ordered a Provolone ‘Shroomer burger, medium- to medium well, and they got it exactly right. This allowed me taste the true quality of the beef- is it fatty, stringy or grisly? None of the above.  Every bite of the thick, lightly seasoned patty was rich with the high quality beef that Tenderjacks uses. The fresh, warm bun was well balanced with the size of the burger- not so big that it got in the way of the meat, and tasty enough on its own that I didn’t do my usual “eat only the top to save room for the meat” trick. (No my friends, it’s not low-carb consciousness- it’s the greedy carnivore in me. )

The expression “little things mean a lot” really stands out at this Leesburg eatery. The décor is inviting without trying too hard to be “hip” or trendy. A friendly hostess clearly instructs newbies on how it works- her smile is infectious. I found it refreshing that the menus, ketchup and salt/pepper shakers aren’t greasy from the previous diners’ hands. Roomy and well-padded seats are quite comfortable. The music is fun 60’s-80’s lite rock/pop- back when music was good- loud enough to embarrassingly sing along with an old favorite, low enough to have a conversation across the table without straining.

Tenderjacks operates like a well oiled machine- everyone’s job seemed to be- everyone’s job!  Even the manager was bussing tables as it got busier, yet he still took time to thank us for coming and give us a coupon for our next visit. A lot of pride went in to every aspect of this Tenderjacks, and it shows in the dining room, cleanliness, meal preparation and presentation, and positive attitudes radiating from the bussers to the management.

There’s not a demographic that wouldn’t enjoy dining at Tenderjacks- well, except those vegetarians who refuse to be around cooked animals- they should pass. But everyone else who enjoys a casual, satisfying, dining experience for less than $10 a head should check it out- it’s worth every reasonable penny.

Tenderjacks passes with Flying Colors! 

“All things require skill but an appetite” ~ the English poet, George Herbert.

Coffee Houses- Bean Scene

The Bean Scene Cafe

http://www.beanscenecafe.com/index.html

44260 Ice Rink Plaza, Suite 117    

Ashburn, VA    703.723.9838

Pleasant surprises come at the most  unexpected moments- like discovering a favorite, missing CD tucked away in the wrong case, or- having 10 minutes to kill before an appointment, and happening upon a welcoming cafe that delivers a better than average menu with a nicer than usual atmosphere. My first visit to Bean Scene was more of an afterthought than a quest- rather than sit on Waxpool for 30 minutes to drive 4 miles, I decided to wait it out in that new-ish café near the Icehouse.  

A friendly face greeted me from behind the counter and took my order for a hot Chai tea… nothing remarkable yet- just courteous, efficient service. What DID stand out, however, was the stiff, cappuccino-like foam blanketing my steaming mug of Chai- now that was different! The aromatic fragrances of cardamom, cloves and ginger were a warm reminder that winter was around the corner. A small sip introduced a spicy creaminess and authentic flavor that I had only found in Indian restaurants. 

Sinking into a comfy chair in the corner, I watched the steady stream of patrons: construction workers, moms with toddlers, solitary business people using the free WiFi, and still others networking and negotiating deals. As I savored that perfectly decadent tea, it occurred to me- I’m really relaxed. As folks strolled in and out of Bean Scene, you could see the tension leaving their shoulders, and sense the relief that only comes with the comfort of finding a temporary escape from the rush rush rush of NoVa living.  Instead of a herd of hurried, harried java junkies frantically ordering fancy coffee creations, the vibe at Bean Scene can best be described as a steady cycle of satisfaction. No one tapped impatiently waiting for their order. Instead, patrons browsed the tidy array of local business cards- adding their own at times- and rifled through the collection of paperback books and recent magazines that added to Bean Scene’s “stay as long as you’d like” ambiance.

Patrons nodded or greeted one another in passing, reminding me of my Midwestern hometown where eye contact and pleasantries are the expectation, not the exception. Such a soothing, nostalgic experience- I was reluctant to drain the remnants of my tea and trudge back to reality.

You won’t find an endless menu of trendy “pseudo names” and sugary drinks with traces of coffee flavor, no gimmicks or fancy merchandise at Bean Scene. The original drink menu boasts interesting choices like Vietnamese bubble tea, fruity smoothies, shakes, and freezes, and a variety of hot coffees and teas- as simple as Espresso, or as complex as Café Borgia. A simple yet innovative menu offers breakfast, crepes (which are feather-light and flavorful, as my next visit revealed!), quiches and pastries as well as hearty sandwiches, soups and salads.

Overall- Bean Scene feels- Inviting. No rush, no pretension- just a friendly neighborhood café where you can enjoy the atmosphere as the much as the meal. 

The Bean Scene Cafe passes with Flying Colors!

“A crust eaten in peace is better than a banquet partaken in anxiety.” ~Aesop