LOCAL FLAVOR

Crossroads Tabletop Tavern Serving Fun, With a Side of Food

By Marianne Weaver C rossroads Tabletop Tavern may serve food and drink but make no mistake: This venue is not the typical Main Street eatery.

“Crossroads is not a restaurant, except as a technicality,” said John Hornberger, owner/operator. “It is a boardgame tavern. It provides a comfortable, clean place for friends and families to interact, face to face, in a healthy way, and it serves food and drink to provide a full evening’s social experience.”

Jeanean Winner, Manassas, heard about Crossroads through Facebook.

“As someone who doesn't drink alcohol, it is sometimes difficult to find entertainment beyond seeing a movie, going to a concert or driving into D.C.,” she said. “I was excited to see a venue centered around games.”

She said she was impressed by the wide range of game selections, ranging from family standards like Monopoly, to some older games, Euro-Game, party games and games she’d never heard of.

“Something I felt was really special about Crossroads is that in contrast to some bar/restaurant owners that just see it as a business or a means to make money, the owner appears to be genuinely passionate about his shop and the games themselves,” she said. “When I have stopped in to place a carry-out order, he has offered to teach me a new game while I waited. When I have gone to Crossroads alone for lunch, they have some single-player games, he has offered to join me in a game. He has also helped in clarifying game-play questions and giving recommendations based on preferences.”

30 | April 2020 prince william living That is exactly the type of impression Hornberger said he strives to impart. He said he does not want a business like other restaurants that offer food and drink, a little atmosphere and maybe some live entertainment.

“We give people a chance to entertain each other,” he said. “And that’s more human and more natural.”

Kasi Martin, Alexandria, said she and her family stumbled upon Crossroads when they were exploring Historic Downtown Manassas.

“We noticed this lively restaurant and when we walked in one whole side was filled with board games. My husband and I are big nerds and love table-top games! This place had it all,” she said. “The atmosphere was extremely inviting and we loved the idea of bringing our daughter here to grab lunch and just ‘unplug’ and really have some fun together.”

All paying customers get a seat at the table and access to the library of more than 1,400 board and card games. Some are classics, and some are weeks old: Sorry, Clue, Backgammon, Candyland and Mice & Mystics, Photosynthesis, Splendor, Architects of the West Kingdom, Oval Office, Le Havre, Troyes, Kingdom Builder, Catan, Lost Cities, Camel Up … and hundreds more.

“Too many people judge us as a restaurant, but the real value of what we offer is lost on them,” Hornberger said. “This is a place to spend quality time with friends and family, plus we have food and drink, and the food and drink is quality.”

Caption

On the Side: Food and Drinks “I opened the store not in the typical entrepreneurial spirit of making money, but because I think games are a healthy way for people to interact and engage, and something like this truly is good for the world,” said Hornberger. “Manassas didn’t need another bar or restaurant.”

That said, the menu supports the theme, practically and metaphorically.

“We try to have food that is tavern-style so the ‘tavern’ part meets expectations,” he said. “We want the food to be easy to eat and not get (too much) in the way of game play, and, importantly, since food takes a back seat to games and fun, the menu is fun, and all the items are named after games and game themes.”

He said the burgers, served with fries, are always popular. The Hobbit’s Hamburger is a seasoned beef patty topped with garlic aioli, lettuce, tomato, onion, pickle, and choice of cheese. The dragon burger is a spiced beef patty, dragon sauce, spicy caramelized onions, jalapenos, lettuce, tomato, and pepper jack cheese. The Sheriff of Nottingham burger features a beef patty topped with royal bacon, thin onion straws, mead-poached green apple slices, creamy bleu cheese and a sweet house-made apple jam. For vegetarians, the beef patty can be replaced by a portobello mushroom, and a lettuce wrap is available for those going gluten free.

Another favorite, he said, is the four-flavor chicken feet, which are beer-battered chicken tenders, served with seasoned fries and choice(s) of dipping sauces: Chickyboom BBQ, Bleu Cheese, Husker Dew, Dr. Sriracha, Ranch, Honey Mustard, Classic Buffalo or Dragon. Guests can order four to eight pieces.

Hornberger said he tries to source food locally, whenever possible. “Much of it is at least from Virginia,” he said, adding that two neighboring bakeries — Lemonade Bakery and Weinegar’s — provide desserts. “It’s a lot of effort to find a

The menu offers a variety of items to include burgers, pizza and local desserts.

reliably available source for something, and if it’s on the menu, then reliability is key. Farmer’s market, for example, was used a lot in the beginning, but variability in quality, availability and price made it unreliable.”

The bar, located on the second floor, features beer, wine and spirits from local breweries, vineyards and distilleries. Opposite the bar is a ballroom, which is often rented out for birthdays, retirements and wedding receptions.

“There just happens to be two floors, it's not by design,” said Hornberger. “It tends to be more ‘adult’ than family-friendly. People love the potions, and also the beer selection, but the wine selection is seriously underappreciated.”

PG-13 games are kept upstairs. And, he said, since Dungeons and Dragons groups tend to migrate upstairs, they also offer a case of retail goodies and a D&D resource archive.

Laura Gray, a Realtor at Coldwell Banker Elite in Gainesville, said she is a fan of the game-tavern concept.

“The highlight of the experience was probably the enormous selection of games available to borrow and play, though the menu is fun too,” she said. “Everything is easy to eat while you play and a lot of the food is game themed. I've seen restaurants that offer a few games to pass the time but nothing like Crossroads ever.”

Crossroads Tabletop Tavern is located in Manassas at the intersection of Main and Center Streets, adjacent to the railroad tracks. To view the menu or learn about special events, visit ttoptav.com or the tavern’s Facebook page.

Marianne E. Weaver (mweaver@princewilliamliving.com) is a freelance editor and writer. She earned a BA from the University of Pittsburgh and an MJ from Temple University.