A great addition to the Leesburg dining scene, the forty-seat restaurant on South King Street has been getting a lot of attention since opening their doors late last year. In going with the current trend of nodécor- is-the-new-décor, the Wine Kitchen sports bare bulbs and café-like blackboard menus. Wines are sold by tastings, glass or bottle and patrons are given a $10 discount when a bottle is purchased to go. We recommend the eclectic flights.

My friend tried a trio of rosés and nodded in approval, while I went with the local wines. In keeping with the owner’s efforts to support and give back to the community, the restaurant takes advantage of the variety of local and organic ingredients raised by area farmers. The Wine Kitchen’s signature dish is the Chicken Waffles which consists of crisp, fried quail on cornmeal waffles with bacon caramel syrup. Unlike your typical potato type, Parisian Herb Gnocchi is a delicately sautéed dough with vegetables. Another entrée of note is the Flat Iron Steak, a skirt steak drizzled with thick chimichuri sauce. The portion sizes augment the tastings and allow you to experience various menu items as well. The Wine Kitchen does have a menu for kids, but we recommend that you hire a sitter and enjoy the atmosphere and hip scene.