When Jacob Musyt started his job as the director of food and beverage for Salamander Resort, resort owner Sheila Johnson gave him one non-negotiable instruction. But don’t turn away just because there are a few people ahead of you the tables turn quickly, and the food is guaranteed worth the wait. Melt is delicious, but it’s hardly a hidden gem, so call ahead for take-out and expect to wait in line to place your order and maybe to find a seat, especially on weekends. The Hancottes are also serious about combating childhood cancer, with that campaign kicking into high gear in September during childhood cancer awareness month. In lieu of tips Melt customers may add on cash on their tab to be donated to these organizations. Poster-sized prints of adoptable animals from Loudoun County Animal Shelter and Save The Tails decorate the walls (each with the sticker asking you to let the subject “MELT your heart”). In addition to food, the Hancottes have a twin obsession in philanthropy. Steve’s conscious to keep kid-friendly and vegetarian-friendly recipes on heavy rotation, but he throws in plenty of creative options to keep regulars interested. There’s a German-inspired version (“It wasn’t a big seller, but some people still ask for it,” he said of the recipe that includes bratwurst and mustard seed) to a list of Tex-Mex takes dotted out with jalapeños, jack cheese, roasted corn and black beans. Steve counts his four cheese with pesto as among the most popular dishes, but he has a huge variety of ingredients on hand thanks to his extensive burger menu, so he’s constantly trying out new combinations. We have something like 13 different cheeses on hand for the burgers, and sometimes we get in special ones just for the mac and cheese.” “I look at seasonal ingredients and try to think what might be good,” said Steve, who jokes that he serves as the chef, janitor and handyman as well as the owner. When Steve and Debbie sat down to plan out their menu before they opened, they decided to make a different mac and cheese every month (they have a special burger and shake of the month, too.) Photo courtesy of Steve and Debbie Hancotteīut their mac and cheese is just as good. Steve and Debbie Hancotte make a new flavor of mac and cheese every month at Melt in Leesburg. Their amazing milkshakes (some of the adult variety) have earned their own awards.
As its name implies, Melt is best known for its truly delicious and creative burgers (their crab, lamb, turkey, tuna, bison and vegetarian versions have just as many fans as the traditional beef ones.) According to Trip Advisor, Melt makes the seventh-best burger in the United States, and Business Insider voted them the No. Husband-and-wife owners Steve and Debbie Hancotte used to run fine dining establishments, and they kept that same passion for exceptional food and attention to detail when they opened the casual and perennially busy Melt five years ago. Don’t be fooled by this restaurant’s modest location tucked into a Leesburg strip mall their food is obsessively prepared and absolute top quality-including the mac and cheese. If you haven’t been to Melt, stop what you’re doing and get in the car. So start with these three favorites, then keep up the taste testing. Over the last several years I’ve made it my personal mission to find the best bowls of mac and cheese around, and while there are loads of great options, a few restaurants do have truly stand out versions. Luckily, in the Middleburg area the dish shows up on a surprising number of menus, and even local country stores and barbeque joints make a tasty version that’s perfect for a quick fix on the run. When the mercury starts to drop and the days get shorter, cravings for comfort food come on strong, and for me that means indulging in some delicious macaroni and cheese. It’s hard to find a bad bowl of macaroni and cheese in the area, but a few local restaurants have extraordinary versions.
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