Sheesh Grill

A new kabob restaurant opening in Northern Virginia is like a tiny blip appearing in a radar full of dots. So when a place called Sheesh Grill opened up in Chantilly, not many people thought too much about it. Regardless, that didn’t stop many from trying the new restaurant; kabobs still hold dear to many NoVA residents.

It didn’t take long for the place to explode virally on many local community Facebook groups. It was through the South Riding Community Page where I had first recognized the restaurant. Comments on the place summarized it as the best new kabob place in town. Intrigued, I decided to equip an accomplice and venture down Route 50 to comprehend the hype surrounding this location. After finishing a meal at this place, I can confirm that the hype is undoubtedly valid.

Upon entering the restaurant, I wasn’t blown away. The interior is minimalistic, yet clean with a modern wooden look. A couple of tables are sprawled in the back and booth-like seats were arranged by the front. Move a couple of feet forward and you will arrive at the cashier. Behind the cashier, you can see almost the entire kitchen and a cook cutting generous pieces of flesh off of a rotating shawarma machine. If you look to your right, you can see the entire menu sprawled out along the wall. The menu looks simple yet appealing to the eye as the background is off-white and the text has a consistent, typewriter-like font.

Ordering off the menu was as simple as its design. The appetizers consists of normal kabob sides such as falafel with the only exception being French fries. The entree works like Chipotle with a Build-Your-Own-Meal design. You start off by choosing a protein which consists of falafel, chicken, beef, lamb, and salmon. Then, you must select a base, similar to burrito or bowl at Chipotle. The base consists of either rice, wrap, or salad. Finally, you must select two sides from their arsenal of delicious entries that include chickpeas, fries, and veggies.

The only true caveat I noticed from my experience was the price. At eleven dollars per meal, it certainly seems expensive when compared to other kabob joints. However, considering the sides and the amount of food given, I would deem this price reasonable. Not to mention, this is Northern Virginia, a region where both the Chipotles and Taco Bells of the world can coexist. The meal I ordered consisted of lamb gyro, basmati rice, chickpeas, and fries. My friend had ordered the same item, but instead of lamb, he ordered chicken.

The first thing I noticed when handed the tray of food was the size of the meal. The bottom of the dish they gave was about the size of a piece of paper. Half the tray was filled with a bed of steamed rice. On top of the rice was succulent pieces of cooked meat with a plentiful drizzle of cilantro dressing. On the other side of the tray was enormous portions of the two sides.

I started off my dipping one of my fries into a cup of cilantro dressing. As the fry entered my mouth, my brain entered euphoria as the crisp texture of the fry was supplemented by the salty taste of the sauce. After that experience, I transitioned over to the other side: the chickpeas. The chickpeas looked and tasted like Channa Masala, a popular Indian dish. Mixing some of the chickpeas with the rice gave additional purpose to the grain as consuming them both together provided your mouth with a salivating desire for more.

And then there was the meat. The shredded slices of lamb gyro laid peacefully on the bed of rice waiting to be devoured. As I attempted to grasp a piece of meat with my fork, I found it difficult as the slices were very thin. It was necessary to fold some of the strips onto itself in order to give enough depth for me to properly skewer it with my fork. Upon biting into the lamb, I nearly drooled on how succulent the shredded meat tasted as its tenderness led to it melting in the back of my tongue. Furthermore, the cilantro dressing drizzled on top mixed with the juices that erupted from the meat which created a warm, yet salty taste. Mixing the protein, rice, and chickpeas created a combination of tenderness and dryness at the best ratio possible.

Due to the immense quantity given per meal, I found myself taking a solid half-hour completing it. During this time, I found that having a conservation with friends is the best way to properly enjoy the meal considering the large amount of time being spent on it. All in all, the dining experience was casual, yet enjoyable; a combination that is known to provide nostalgic memories throughout our lives. In the future, I know that I will reflect back on the days when I would be eating kabob with friends and enjoying both the company of my friends and incredible food.

Sheesh Grill

13940 Lee Jackson Memorial Hwy,

Chantilly, VA, 20151