Local Gourmet
By Margaret New
G-G Cafe, Coffee Bar;Savor the taste of Italy in a whipped-cream- and cinnamon-topped frozen cappuccino at G-G Cafe’s new coffee bar. This past spring, owner Michael Luu began serving up the best cold coffee drinks in town on the first floor of the 123-year-old building in historic Leesburg.
For six years, locals have enjoyed this charming Italian restaurant’s European-style allure, with its signature entrees and ambiance reminiscent of southern Italy.
“Customers who’ve come from Italy fall in love with the building because they say it’s like Italy,” Luu says.
Now, locals can enjoy that same allure sitting on a high-top chair in Luu’s Coffee Bar below the main restaurant. The Italian villa decor, candlelit lighting, and soft, Italian music in the background all create a cozy atmosphere on both floors. Luu's Coffee Bar offers the same ambiance and European appeal as the restaurant, but now diners have the option of picking from a coffee menu rather than a dinner menu for more casual conversation.
With Lavazza Espresso (Italy’s leading coffee roaster) and a cappuccino maker already on hand, Luu decided a different sort of coffee shop was needed in Loudoun County. It’s been three years since Luu bought the restaurant from its previous owner, and since then, Luu says, he and his wife have set out to improve the restaurant daily.
“I don’t see Lavazza coffee a lot,” server and recent Loudoun Valley High School graduate Terry Pheng says. “It has so much body and richness to it.”
Pheng is right. Lavazza is not commonly seen in the area, and its taste is a distinct, intense blend of sweet and creamy flavor.
Choose between hot or cold: Espresso Macchiato, Mexican Spiced Cocoa Latte, Mocha Frappe or Frozen Cafe Latte or Italian Cream Soda. Also on the menu are ice cream shakes, fruit shakes and fruit smoothies (including passionfruit, raspberry, pina colada and tropical). Coffee bar drinks range from $1.95 to $4.45.
Drink your Lavazza with a made-from-scratch cannoli, a crisp pastry shell with a creamy filling. Made by slowly beating egg yolks into warm milk and cream for thickness, the dense sweet cream offers some surprises: the taste of fresh vanilla bean and chocolate chips.
Prices for the G-G Cafe appetizers range from $1.95 to $10.95. Lunch or dinner options of pasta, veal, chicken, and seafood entrees are $6.95-$29.95. Salads, subs and sandwiches are $4.95-$7.95. Also, check out G-G Cafe’s extensive wine list, with traditional Italian and European wines, and its 11 a.m.-3 p.m. lunch menu. For more information on dining in, takeout, delivery or catering, visit www.ggcafe.com . G-G Cafe is at 2 W. Market St. in Leesburg.
Rebekah Pizana is a student at Patrick Henry College. She can be reached at gourmetwriter@gmail.com