Cheesetique

Karthik found this adorable place called Cheesetique right outside Alexandria, VA. It’s basically a cheese/wine store with a  bar/restaurant in the back. I wasn’t even hungry but we decided to have a quick bite because who can say no to cheese? The wait staff were incredibly friendly and very patient with us when we couldn’t decide between the many delicious sounding things on the menu. We eventually settled on a strawberry drink (Muscat Frizzante, strawberry puree, mint, lemon), chilled cucumber soup (creamy, peppery, refreshing), and a grilled cheese with 3 year cheddar, raw milk Dragon’s breath, Dubliner, and pimento peppers (appropriately gooey, packed with flavor, pure deliciousness, mixed greens w/ shallot vinaigrette was a perfect compliment).

• Menu: pretty easy to tell what is veg but you can always ask your waiter/waitress for clarification. Please note that not all of their cheeses might fit into your definition of vegetarian (microbial rennet vs animal rennet). Small plates (6/6), Leafy Greens (2/4 – not sure if their Caesar dressing is veg), Grilled Cheese (4/6), Large Plates (1/4),
• Total: $13.50 not including drink, tax, tip

The Verdict: GO NOW! They had a free wine tasting when we were there too. It’s fun, casual, and you will probably end up buying something that you don’t need.