Downtown Leesburg is known for its picturesque old town feel offering restaurants, cafés, bars, breweries, and entertainment. As the weather gets warmer, the tight streets flood with people searching for activities on their night out. Here are three options we recently visited.
South Street Under- 9.5/10
Overview: Located right under the Tuscarora (Tuskie’s) Mill Restaurant, and owned by Tuskie’s, South Street Under serves deli items as well as breakfast sandwiches and baked goods. With plentiful outdoor seating and a homey feel, South Street Under is the perfect spot to grab a small bite to eat. This spot is open from 7am to 5pm.
Atmosphere: The decoration of South Street Under created a homey atmosphere to enjoy with a small group of people. The interior of the place is small, so we’d suggest sitting outdoors if possible. We sat indoors. While ordering, the workers were friendly and well-mannered, creating a judgment-free atmosphere.
Order: After looking at the extensive menu, we decided on a BBBLT ($10) and a ham and swiss sandwich on ciabatta ($9.25). The BBBLT is marketed as a normal BLT sandwich with three times as much bacon while the ham and swiss is a traditional sandwich which can be served hot or cold. For the amount we had gotten for both sandwiches, we agreed the prices were reasonable.
Taste: BBLT
With the amount of bacon added on to my go-to sandwich, I was immediately interested in the BBLT. The bacon was especially crunchy and greasy, too much grease that it was constantly dripping all over my paper, causing a mess. The tomato and lettuce were both crisp and fresh, but further allowed the bacon to stand out. If you are an avid BLT lover, this dish will change your life. Overall, I think that this was enough food for a small after school snack, but I would recommend grabbing a bag of chips or another item if needed.
Taste: Ham and Swiss
South Street Under turns this classic into a staple. The first bite of this steaming sandwich you are immediately greeted with the flavorful juicy ham accompanied by the creamy melted swiss cheese, pulled together by the locally famous ciabatta bread which is the true MVP of this sandwich. The crisp edges of this bread and salted finish enhances this sandwich’s texture and flavor significantly. This sandwich’s many layers of thin ham slices and creamy cheese is very filling and will hold you over for some time, possibly even leaving you with leftovers for later. I would definitely recommend this if you are in the mood for something savory!
Birch Tree Bookstore/Foliage Plant Shop – 9/10
Overview: Located right next to the parking garage with signage to point you towards the door, Birch Tree Bookstore is a unique bookstore with both a variety of selections and garden items including pots, plants, totes, and knicknacks. The store is open from 10am to 6pm every day except Sunday.
Vibe: Walking into the bookstore, you are immediately surrounded by shelves home to books ranging every genre you could imagine. The almost intimidating walk-in area is quickly settled by comfy chairs and subtle lighting. Plants surround the books, giving you a sneak peek at what the back of the store has to offer: plants hanging from the ceiling and shelves of fun potted plants, just like the books. In the back of the store, next to the plant area, is an area dedicated to local artists and small businesses displaying their products throughout the room. Overall, the vibe of this store is superior, with a perfect mix of books and other inventory while maintaining a calm vibe.
Inventory: From murder mystery books to succulents galore, the independent bookstore supports nonprofits and local artists. Many of the knicknacks were handmade and the prints were made by artists from Leesburg, which is a standout quality to us both. In addition, there is a large variety of books from young adults to childrens, as well as a large variety of real plants, pots, and garden-related items for purchase. The only negative factor would be the price of all items, which were unreasonably priced.
Service: When walking into the store, we were greeted by a friendly hello by the store employees. Those working were very friendly and happy to help with any questions we could’ve had and made sure to check up on us regularly.
(Photo by Sophia Casciano)
Grutos- 9/10
Overview: Gruto’s is a small ice cream shop located in the heart of downtown Leesburg next to the corner of South King Street. The shop is known for its iconic phrase “see you tomorrow” and the vast selection of soft serve flavors, toppings, and even a treat for your furry friends. Gruto’s is open Mon-Thurs: 12-9:00 pm. Fri & Sat: 12-10:00 pm. Sun: 2-9:00 pm. This is a great spot to grab some soft serve before you walk the streets.
Atmosphere: Gruto’s fits the aesthetic of a family owned ice cream shop with pictures of the owner’s family and employees posted for customers to see. With colorful walls and select seats inside there is no hiding that the space inside is tight so luckily orders come out quick and there is outdoor seating behind the building. When ordering, the staff is very kind and quick to say “see you tomorrow” before you leave, creating a friendly environment.
Order: After taking a long look over all of the different combinations we had to choose from we landed on a small Black Raspberry/Vanilla Twist in a cone with rainbow sprinkles ($5.96) and a small Banana/ Chocolate Twist in a cup ($5.19). The only other available twist option was a classic Vanilla/Chocolate Twist.
Taste: Black Raspberry/Vanilla Twist Cone with Sprinkles
My go-to ice cream order always has to include a cone and rainbow sprinkles. I was intrigued by the flavor twist of vanilla and black raspberry. My doubts sure set in thinking that this order would be very chaotic, but it quickly proved me wrong. The sweet creamy vanilla melted perfectly together with the raspberry. The rainbow sprinkles are always a great touch to an ice cream in a classic cake cone. The small size was fairly larger than expected; the ratio between ice cream to cone most definitely leaned towards ice cream which definitely tests your commitment to a drip free cone. Overall, I think that this order was a perfect combination to experience what Gruto’s has to offer and is a very reasonable price.
Taste: Banana/ Chocolate Twist In a Cup
For the past few years, my go to Gruto’s order has always been banana and chocolate. Like usual, I got a small in a cup, and in my opinion, it is the perfect size. The flavors were sweet, full of flavor and the banana tasted exactly like the fruit itself. With the mix of chocolate, this ice cream was a perfect way to finish off my night in downtown. My only suggestion for those who like to spice things up would be to add your favorite topping. But for me, this iconic duo will never fail.
