Open Road is a popular restaurant and bar in Falls Church, right down the road from the always populated Mosaic Center. From the food to the decor, this restaurant is heavily themed on traditional American styles.

Open Road is open from 11 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. on weekdays and 10:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. on weekends. Brunch is offered on weekends from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

I walked in with my grandmother at around 5 p.m. There was live music playing in the packed bar. We decided to eat in the dining room. Other than ours, there were only a couple of other tables occupied. The room was relatively quiet and relaxed. There were no signs of any dinner rush throughout my meal.

After we were seated, a waiter came to take orders for drinks and appetizers and left a basket of popcorn for the table. The menu was priced reasonably and featured American favorites like burgers, fried chicken sandwiches, pizzas, BBQ pork ribs, and steak frites.

As an appetizer, we had their buffalo chicken dip served with tortilla chips. It came out to the table looking delicious. Upon taking my first bite, I realized that it tastes exactly like buffalo wings and ranch. The dip was extremely flavorful but overall unappetizing. The more I ate, the more I disliked it.

I ordered their loaded grilled cheese, which was also served with hand-cut fries that were enjoyable. They were crispy and hot with just enough salt and flavor. The grilled cheese however was nothing to write home about. The sandwich had avocado, applewood bacon, tomato, Wisconsin cheddar, and scallion aioli.

The bread was very greasy and the cheese did not compliment the sandwich at all. It could’ve been better with an American or Colby-jack cheese and different bread. However, the avocado and tomato were fresh and tasty.

I’m all for American dining but all of the food that was served was very greasy and had an overbearing amount of salt in it.

Their “Guest Favorite” is the Open Road burger which is a patty cooked to request, Wisconsin cheddar, tomato, romaine, onion ring, and scallion aioli, served on a brioche bun with hand-cut fries.

The service was exceptional. The staff was all welcoming, friendly, and attentive. The dining room is more suitable for larger parties. If you are by yourself or with a smaller group of people, I would opt to sit in the bar and enjoy the music and lighthearted atmosphere.

If you’re looking for a casual place to grab some drinks, appetizers, or wings, this is the place for you. Anything beyond that, I would not recommend.