Good restaurant in Manassas, VA?

[Rella]

I don't want to go as far as Centerville, VA (6-10 more miles) to a restaurant called Sweetwater Tavern, which I thoroughly enjoy, but as I drive east and shop at Manassas often, I'm just wondering if there is a similar restaurant that I have missed.

We like to eat around 4pm and if beer or wine is served, that would be a plus.
Even though Sweetwater is a chain, I'm not interested in chains that are available everywhere. Any suggestions? Thanks.

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Sweetwater Tavern
14250 Sweetwater Ln, Centreville, VA 20121

[Manassas64]

I don't know if Sherri knows anything about Katerina's Greek Restaurant. It's new. I only know about it because someone posted a review on Trip Advisor for it. There are 2 reviews and they are both positive (but that doesn't mean anything as they could be plants becuase it's a new restaurant).

But I definitely want to check it out.

[sherriberry]

Panino's is my favorite but a bit pricey. They have a sister restaurant in The Plains called Girasole. Carmello's is, I think, better since the fire/remodel. Smaller menu, but very good. The current space is one of the nicest in town-much more open and less cramped than before. They have a small, more casual addition now called Monza. Pastas, sandwiches, etc.and their wood burning oven for pizza should be up and running by nowalso, a decent beer selection. Gunni's is also italian, my meal wasn't great but friends who have gone since loved it. Okra's has some of the best crab and corn chowder I've ever had if you're a soup lover. We really don't have something similar to Sweetwater. And although the new Juke Box Diner on 234 looks neat from the outside, the food is horrible. I literally was able to bounce my crabcake on the table. I really wanted to like it as I work practically next door, but sadly, after giving it three tries, it's out.

[Rella]

Oh, My - thank you, Manassas 64 and sherriberry!

I just returned from Manassas, tired and weary after hitting Wegmans, HomeGoods and Costco; just couldn't go any further east, so turned around and came back home, sad to say.

But am armed with restaurants abound which you all have given me to consider my next trip.

My real appreciation!

[sherriberry]

I really love the food at Tony's but be aware it is an order/pickup at the counter type of place. BUt you will not leave hungry-huge portions. And ifit means anything, I have never been there without seeing policemen or firefighters eating there. My office gets lunch from there at least once a week. Best steak and cheese in town.

[Manassas64]

Is Monza non-smoking? I know that before the fire when they were doing tapas over on that side with the bar, people could smoke and it made it a big hard to enjoy my meal with people puffing in my face.

And thanks for the heads up about Juke Box. I think there is one in Annandale and I went to it maybe 10+ years ago and it was awful, so I was going to wait and see what the verdict was on this one. I guess some things don't improve with time.

And I've been to Girasole twice and loved it. I forget the name of the restaurant, but the owners/husband was the chef at an Italian restaurant I used to eat at all the time in DC in the 80s. The man bangs out some good Italian food.

[basketwoman]

Thanks for all the info on Manassas. Didnt realize there were actually some good restaurants there. I'll write them down for my next visit. Went to Carmello's years ago, but had forgotten about it. It was very good, as I remember.

[sherriberry]

I think you can smoke when they have tables outside, but no smoking inside. The new inside of Carmelo's is really beautiful and you don't bump elbows w/ the people at the next table like you did before. Just make sure to ask about the specials because some of the waiters are better about reciting them than others. We heard about a special that interested me by overhearing another waiter. Most of the staff are new-not many from pre-fire. And Juke box was really horrendous. I read an interview from the owner who said everything was made from scratch, yet their menu clearly states that they "proudly serve kraft macaroni and cheese" with the Kraft corporate logo. To be specific, My first meal was the open faced turkey sandwich w/ mashed potatoes and gravy. The turkey was thin sliced deli turkey, potatoes were lumpy(and not in a good way) and the gravy had a metallic taste. Second time was a burger requested medium and was a hockey puck and the fries coated like the ones at Burger King. Third was the seafood platter w/ fish filet, shrimp and crab cake. Fish was about 1/4" thick, all bread, shrimp the same and crabcake bounceable. Scratch made? I thindknot! As for Panino/Girasole, the resto was Tiberio. They really won me over when I took my mom there for her first meal out after being in rehab post stroke. We went for lunch and she had been craving fettucini alfredo since her stroke and although it was not on the menu, they cheerfully offered to make it for her. And if they have the lemon meringue pie or the pumpkin cheesecake for dessert-go for it. You will not be disappointed. We have probably been a few dozen times and have always left happy.

[Manassas64]

Tiberio's! Yes.

Oh Sherri you are making me hungry. LOL

Sherri, have you been to that Tapas place in the old church in Old Town? I have never seen a single person going in or out and don't know anyone who has eaten there. Obviously they are still in business, so I'm guessing people are eating there, you just can't tell from the outside.

[sherriberry]

I have been to an event they catered and bought food from their booth at the Manassas Railway festival, but not gone to the resto. Food was very cilantro-heavy, and since cilantro tastes like soap to me, I didn't much care for it. Hubby liked it though. Have seen groups going in that looked like Quincenara(sp?) celebrations. I think that is just a cursed location for a resto-this must be at least the 7th or 8th place there.

[Manassas64]

LOL It either needs an exorcism or just go back to being a church.

[Manassas64]

As Sweetwater is my crack of choice, I choose to drive.

We have a lot of nice restaurants in Old Town Manassas. If you like cajun food, Okra's www.okras.com is a good place. It gets pretty crowded weekend evening nights, but if you go around 4 you should be okay.

For Thai, we have Siam Classic on East Street (there is another Thai restaurant on Center that is not as good (IMO). It's small and they do a booming take out business, but you shouldn't have a problem at 4.

On the pricier side, we have City Square Cafe, which faces the train tracks on Battle Street. They have an international menu and I've never had a bad meal there. There is also Panino's on Libera Avenue, which has outstanding Italian food.

For Pizza, next to Panino on Liberia (same shopping center) is Tony's Pizza (different from Tony's in Fair Lakes/Gainesville), they have a full menu of italian classics besides pizza and it's a zoo Friday and Saturday nights, but if you go early or during the week you should be fine.

Also pricey is Carmelos, it's also Italian, but they had a fire recently and just reopened and I don't know of anyone who has gone since the reopening, so I can't say if it's as good or better than it was before.

We also have another Italian place called Gunni's http://www.gunniscuisine.com/ off Sudley Road, across from the Popeye's Chicken. It's relatively new. I've had lunch there a couple of times and it's quite good and it's a little pricier than, say, TGI Fridays, but they make good food.

You might also have better luck posting in the Washington DC forum, too. If I think of any more, I will come back and post.

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City Square Cafe
9420 Battle St, Manassas, VA 20110

Siam Classic
9403 East St, Manassas, VA 20110

[basketwoman]

Drive the distance..... it's worth it to get a decent restaurant. Don't know of any in Manassas. If someone else knows of a hidden treasure in Manassas, I would be interested in hearing about it myself.

[Rella]

Drive the distance .. you,of course, are right!

I read a posting re Staunton, VA. I was wondering where or if you ever found a place to eat that you could recommend. We are close to Harrisonburg, VA (50 miles south) but we never go there. Staunton is another 25 miles from Harrisonburg, VA, but I've not been there in years. South 81 just doesn't seem to offer much to entice to go that route.

There is a place on the way to Harrisonburg, on Route 11, whether it is there or not anymore, where we've eaten and has received a lot of good reviews. Blue Rock Inn.

[ForFoodsSake]

Try the Staunton Grocery -- it's been excellent when I've been there.

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The Staunton Grocery
105 West Beverley Street, Staunton, VA 24401