Leesburg Restaurant On Best DC-Area Dishes List

LEESBURG, VA — Most folks in Loudoun County probably have either heard of or been to MELT Gourmet Cheeseburgers, 525 East Market Street in Leesburg. Not only does it routinely pop up on various "best hamburger" lists both in the region and the state, it also has developed something of a cult following since opening in April 2012.

Now, though, it finds itself on the Washington Post's "40 Most Essential DC Restaurant Dishes of 2017." Its cheeseburger is cited alongside such dishes as "butterscoth cremeux," and "gnocchi bokki." Take a bow, owners Steve and Debbie Hancotte (pictured).

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The Post determined the top dishes by polling readers, industry insiders and its own staff. It received over 400 submissions and narrowed it down through a taste test. Staff explain, "We curated a selection that could cater to meat-eaters and vegetarians, sweets lovers and fried-food fans, suburban dwellers and urbanites without cars."

Here's how the Post described the aforementioned MELT cheeseburger:

"Is there such a thing as a destination hamburger? If so, it’s found at Melt Gourmet Cheeseburger in Leesburg, a solid hour’s drive northwest of Washington. The standard cheeseburger here is a statuesque beauty, a half-pound patty formed with an Angus blend of short rib, brisket, chuck and other trimmings.

"Tucked inside a house-made sourdough bun, the patty comes draped with a melted, semi-translucent blanket of American cheese, as surreal as a Dalí painting. One bite, and the burger drips its juices all over the place, suggesting that Melt not only knows how to buy and hand-form good ground beef, but also how to grill it."

See the full list of the DC area's best dishes here.

Photo: MELT Gourmet Cheeseburgers