Virginia Barbecue Offers a Taste of the South

Virginia Barbecue, a growing, Virginia-based Southern barbecue chain, will open a new location in late May in the Engleside Shopping Plaza off of Richmond Highway in Alexandria.

Known for its authentic southern barbeque served with a focus on speed and value, Virginia Barbecue is expected to be a popular lunch spot as its 3-5 minute order delivery time can accommodate tight lunch breaks.

The franchised restaurant, which will be located in a former Quizno’s shop, will provide dine-in, carry-out and pick-up catering. 

Washington, DC native Jamie Christian, franchise owner of the new location, said it was an easy decision to open up a barbecue-style restaurant in Mount Vernon.

“I grew up eating this type of food my whole life — it’s really very flavorful, Southern-style comfort food,” Christian said. “We are excited to get to know the members of this community and share our good food at good prices.”

The restaurant’s main feature is its barbecue pulled pork, which is slow-smoked over hickory logs for 12 hours and prepared in two different regional barbeque styles: Virginia with a tomato-based sauce, and North Carolina with a vinegar-based sauce. Texas Smoked Beef Brisket BBQ hand-pulled and tossed with natural juices is also a customer favorite.

The extensive list of fresh side orders includes French fries, roasted red potato salad, southern shredded slaw, baked beans, corn bread muffins, country green beans, seasoned collard greens, hush puppies, whipped Idaho potatoes and macaroni and cheese.

According to VA Barbecue founder Rick Ivey, the restaurant plans to introduce two new prototypes at the Mount Vernon location this year: fresh-cut French fries and fresh battered hush puppies.

The Virginia Barbecue concept was created by Ivey, an executive chef who launched the original Virginia Barbecue in Ashland, VA in 2000. Ivey is a Certified Executive Chef, with more than 25 years of experience in the restaurant industry.

“We’re a great, quality barbecue place, but also a quick-turnaround lunch place … a great option for those customers with short lunch breaks,” Ivey said.

Christian added that he plans to create a very family-friendly atmosphere in his new Mount Vernon restaurant.

“I want it to be a laid-back atmosphere, very family-oriented and comfortable,” he said.

Mount Vernon-Lee Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Holly Hicks Dougherty looks forward to the new restaurant opening up in the community.

“We welcome new businesses with open arms. They provide new amenities, needed jobs and help keep dollars in the local economy,” Dougherty said.

Most of Virginia Barbecue’s 15 locations are in Virginia, though the company has franchises in Delaware, Maryland, Missouri, North Carolina and Pennsylvania, California and Texas. Ivey said three additional locations “are currently in the works.”