Chowhounds

On Monday, September 13, I had lunch at Chowhounds, at 6 South Loudoun Street in Winchester. This is located on the Oldtown Walking Mall, just across from the Wilkins Shoe Center.

Chowhounds serves Breakfast and Lunch all day and every day from 7:00 AM to 3:00 PM. The phone number is (540) 662-2500, and it has delivery, carryout, and dine-in service.

Although a small place, it has sidewalk dining, as most eateries on this mall do since its recent extreme makeover; even the hamburger joint has this feature now. There are four metal round tables here with chairs and one rectangular table, surrounded by an iron fence.

Chowhounds is definitely small, and has several seating arrangements to maximize using the limited space. The door is set back a little from the building's front, and as you enter you see a narrow shelf along the left wall, with several stools for patrons who don't care to stand there.

A counter is at the rear, also with stools. A high-rise table with two chairs is in the front window for those who wish to be seen. Along the right wall are two tables for two, and a long table in the center of the room can seat six people with a little crowding.

The five-page menu has only one page devoted to Breakfast; the remaining four pages show Lunch items. These may be summarized as burgers, cheese-steaks, subs, and other sandwiches; also fried chicken, a fish filet, and hot dogs, along with chili, salads, desserts, and drinks.

I ordered a bowl of chili, which came with two-pieces of freshly-baked cornbread. I decided on lemonade for my drink, instead of my usual Dr. Pepper, to avoid the caffeine. The chili was good, in a small bowl that would not have been adequate for someone with a more robust appetite than mine. The cornbread was also good, and obviously incorporated sugar. The glass of lemonade was very large.

The tiling on the floor has bold black and white squares in a checkerboard pattern, and the walls repeat the black and white motif with wide vertical stripes. The décor is essentially utilitarian.

The restaurant opened a little more than a month ago, replacing Swirls Café and Sandwich Shop, which closed at the end of July. At one time the place was called Swirls Olde Towne Brunch, and offered ice cream and frozen yogurt, but I have no recollection of eating at either Swirls.