Backseat Bar & Grill

On Sunday, June 19, 2016, Father's Day, my daughter and I had lunch at the Backseat Bar & Grill, 104 Full House Drive, off Route 11, Martinsburg Pike, about a mile north of Winchester, Virginia.

The phone number is (540) 665-9033. Hours are Sunday, 7:00 AM-9:00PM; Monday, 11:00 AM-9:00 PM; Tuesday, 7:00 AM-9:00 PM; Wednesday-Saturday, 7:00 AM-10:00 PM.

This is a large place in a strip mall, with separate entrances for the bar and grill. A retro Bob’s Big Boy statue holding up a hamburger is outside the bar entrance. A large concrete patio out front between the two doors has a black iron fence and seven black iron tables with umbrellas.

We entered via the restaurant door, which had no vestibule. A small bar is to the right with eight stools. The seating area is broken up by waist-high dividers, next to booths, which are also along the front and left side wall.

The floor is tiled with a red and white checkerboard pattern; the ceiling has light acoustic tile. I noticed an ATM hanging on the back wall, along with a single TV screen.

We peeked into the adjoining main bar area through a wide door toward the back. Its large bar is U-shaped, with high-rise seating all around and along the front windows. Its outside entrance also has no vestibule.

A small stage to the right of the entrance is used for occasional music programs. There were several TV screens in this room, along with a wall-mounted juke box and several video games.

The menu is a double-sided 8.5 x 14-inch laminated sheet. Categories on one side are Appetizers (including Shareable), Soup and Salads, and Sides; on the flip side are Sandwiches and Wraps, and Backseat Bowls.

Also, Drive-In Specials, Kids Meals, and Refreshments. One of the appetizers was a bit unusual, “Fried Pickle Spears, Breaded, Deep Fried, and served with Ranch Dressing”. There are also Daily Specials.

My daughter ordered the Steak and Cheese Sub, “Juicy Chopped Season Steak on a Toasted Philly Sub Roll, Smothered with Melted Provolone Cheese and Grilled Onions, Topped Off with Lettuce, Tomato, and Mayo”.

My choice was a Beefy Bowl, “Juicy Roast Beef, Sautéed Mushrooms and Onion Served Over Creamy Mashed Potatoes and Topped With Beef Gravy”. Our food was served on large oval platters that had been warmed, a nice touch. I rate the place as a keeper.

When I first visited the Backseat after it opened early in 2005, it was only a single room, which is now the restaurant section. Later, it took over the space next to it at 102 Full House Drive, previously occupied by a tanning salon, and remodeled it into the present large bar room.

Full House Drive gets its name because the site was once the location of the Winchester Drive-In Theater, which closed in 1986. In its final years it showed pornographic films.

My last few visits to Backseat Bat and Grill did not make a good impression because service was so slow it really took away from the food. Last Tuesday, I returned for what I considered was one last chance for this establishment to redeem itself. The good news is that we were seated quickly and our waitress was very friendly. Service with a smile is always nice!

Unlike previous visits, this time our food came out quickly and the roast beef and swiss sandwich (with onion rings) was very good. My wife had the soup of the day (minestrone) and had to send it back because it had too much of a tomato taste. She ended up with the chicken noodle and that also wasn't very good - too salty. The kids loved their corn dogs and hamburger, which was very large for kids meal. We did have to ask for refills, which is a big no no in my book.

I was happy with my food and surprised about how quickly we were served. Had our drinks been refilled without asking, I would have given this 4 stars. The good news is that Backseat is now back on my radar.