Your mystery dining couple got word of another brand-new restaurant opening down in the Lorton area called the Fireside Grill. Ever since Lorton Prison shut its doors in 2001, Lorton has been the fastest growing area in all of Fairfax County. With the completion of Lorton Station Town Center, another nice little area has sprung up for folks to walk about, shop and get a bite to eat. The Fireside Grill just recently opened on the corner of the entrance into the town center, sporting an all-glass façade, towering ceilings, an open kitchen and a completely smoke-free environment.

We were graciously greeted by the hostesses and were seated in a booth near the kitchen where she noticed that they could use some décor to warm the place up a bit. He noticed that the sheer size of the place causes an echo effect with all the sounds, but not too overbearing. A few decorations here and there would definitely make a difference, but it was still a very nice place inside. Our server was extremely polite addressing us as "sir" and "ma'am," and he welcomed us to the Fireside Grill and asked us if this was our first time there. He, being a former server many eons ago, always likes servers' use of the "first-time" question. It can be a big help in guiding guests to the right choices.

We were promptly delivered a very appealing bread service-a simple split baguette that had two choices of spreads, a tasty garlic butter and an even tastier smoked tomato herb. It was an excellent start and we hadn't even ordered yet. For appetizers we tried their wood fired ribs with Jerk barbeque and pineapple salsa. She noted right away how the meat just slid off the bones. He loved the Jerk barbeque as it provided a unique flavor. We also went with their seared scallops, which were cooked perfectly and were complemented well with pineapple salsa. She thought it could have used a bit more flavor while he totally disagreed and thought they were excellent.

He also tried their balsamic onion soup with apple-wood smoked bacon, tomatoes and herbs that was topped with a crispy pizza crust and four cheeses. He loved the flavor, but it was so filling and he thought it was too much going on in one bowl. She got their Fireside house salad with organic greens, sun-dried cherries, almonds, yellow pear tomatoes and a balsamic vinaigrette. She enjoyed it and thought it tasted wonderful.

For entrees, the shrimp rigatoni was a winner, with plenty of vine-ripe marinara and sautéed shrimp. The flatbread pizzas were also a nice, unique menu choice. She opted for the flatbread shrimp, mozzarella, tomato and basil pesto, and in her words it was "very different and very good." He chose the filet merlot, which was a petite filet over a grilled portobello mushroom, caramelized onions, cheddar mashed potatoes and with a merlot demi glace. He thought it was a nice presentation, had all kinds of wonderful flavors, but unfortunately the filet was overcooked. But even though these things do happen in any restaurant, he wanted it be known that besides the temperature of the steak, the dish itself was excellent.

As we turned our sights over to the dessert menu, we noticed something we rarely see-an offering of a trio of desserts or a dessert sampling "tapas style." We couldn't pass that up, because we hardly ever see that option. So without much hesitation the trio was on its way: three small tastings of crème brulee, key lime pie and amarino cherries in a chocolate mousse. And the winners were the key lime pie by a mile, the cherries in chocolate mousse was a distant second and the crème brulee stumbled at the start.

Overall, we were thoroughly impressed by the Fireside Grill. They have a very simple, yet modern American menu, a wide variety of choices, a grand interior and a great location. We see no reason not to go back and enjoy some more. Give them a try and we think you'll be equally impressed as well.

The Fireside Grill is located at 9000 Lorton Station Boulevard in the Lorton Station Town Center. Check out their Web site for complete lunch and dinner menus, directions and hours of operation at www.firesidegrillva.com.

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