Best kabob you will ever eat in Northern Virginia, and OMG, it’s in the mall!

You are in the mall and your feet are aching. You spent way too much and you didn’t even buy what you came in to get. Kids are screaming more than usual. Wait. There is bliss right around the corner and it’s called Grill Kabob. We can hear Gregorian chants as we say the name. When we eat there, we are one piece of baklava away from heaven. The Middle Eastern eatery is a mom’s dream come true. They are renown for their chicken kabobs. They serve the juicy tender pieces of white chicken meat chargrilled over an open fire and served over two types of rice, one spiced and one perfectly buttered.

A Little Bit of Hamburg in the Heart of Leesburg

You know it was inevitable. First, England adopted curry as their national dish, and now it seems Turkish Döner became as German as strudel. Turks, who arrived in Germany as a supplemental work force after World War II, are now 3 million strong with 3rd and 4th generations having been born in the country.

Those of you who visited Germany may have seen Döner Houses at every street corner serving the Turkish version (the original) of gyro sandwiches. You now have a Loudoun County version in the heart of Leesburg, behind the government building and across from Market Station.

First thing you notice with this establishment is the silver colored Döner Kiosk outside that sits in the middle of a German biergarten. You order your food and beer(s) inside the adjacent building that seats up to 8 with re-used airplane seats (yes, you may still end up in the middle seat), with the outside biergarten providing supplemental seating. There are numerous German and Turkish beer selections including Warsteiner and the Turkish Efes, which is a great lager. From the menu, we tried Döner Sandwich, Döner Box and the Schnitzel.

A Persian Gem Hidden Among Commercial Buildings:

Famous Persian poet Omar Khayyam wrote “If one may have a loaf of the flower of wheat - a two Maund jar of wine - a thigh of mutton - seated with a heart’s darling in a ruined place – that is a pleasure that is not the attainment of any Sultan.” You don’t have to be a Sultan to find 3 out of the 4 (bread, wine and mutton) at this Persian Kebab restaurant.

We have been a long time customer of Sorrento Grill in Herndon, so when we heard that they were opening a restaurant in Ashburn, we were ecstatic. This new location is richly decorated with mosaic covered walls, inside fountain and a mahogany wood full bar.