Reviewing Open Road: Quality American cuisine on the outskirts of Washington D.C.

Open Road is a great classic American bar and grill located just steps away from the Rosslyn Metro station. If you work in the area or are staying here on your vacation in Washington, D.C., this is a fantastic spot for burgers and beers after a long day. 

As you approach Open Road, you immediately see their grand patio. It’s a large space with plenty of tables to enjoy your meal outside. During my visit, I sat inside, but when I return, I’ll definitely be checking out their happy hour on the patio!  

Inside, the restaurant features Americana decor and has a cool motorcycle on display to play into the open road theme of the restaurant. Both the hostess and our waitress were so kind and friendly. The service was also quick despite the restaurant being quite full both inside and outside on the patio.  

We opted to start with cocktails. I ordered the Basil & Blue, which was gin, blueberries, ginger, lemon, and basil. It was so delicious! I would absolutely order this drink again; it was ideal for the start of the summer season. My dining partner got the Bourbon Smash, which was bourbon, bitters, lemon, and mint. They also enjoyed their cocktail and thought it was very flavorful and fun.  

For our main course, I ordered the veggie burger, which was a house made patty, sunflower seeds, hummus, cucumber, red onion, pickled beets, and sliced avocado served on a brioche bun with sweet potato fries. The veggies burger was exceptionally good, tasted fresh, and was truly filling. The sweet potato fries were an amazing side. I would order this entrée again. My dining partner got the jambalaya, which was a unique take on the classic southern dish. It was made with penne pasta, andouille sausage, chicken, shrimp, diced tomatoes, scallions, chipotle cream sauce, and Parmigiano Reggiano. Since Open Road offers a wide selection of beers in both draft and bottles, we both got craft draft beers to enjoy with our meals. 

No dinner is complete without dessert, so we ordered the hot fudge ice cream cake! It was so delectable with house-made chocolate cake, vanilla bean ice cream, hot fudge, and chocolate peels on top. It was the perfect end to our meal. 

If you’re seeking an additional nightcap after your meal, I highly recommend checking out Salt, Open Road’s sister bar and speakeasy. They offer upscale hand-crafted cocktails and small bites. Salt is located right underneath Open Road, and you can access it by going down the stairs inside the restaurant. 

Overall, Open Road offered an excellent selection of classic American dishes, cocktails, and beers. I’d recommend it for a post-work happy hour or a casual sit-down lunch or dinner with family or friends. This is a wonderful staple in the Rosslyn neighborhood for good eats and chill vibes.