Games, Grub, and Good Times

Crossroads Tabletop Tavern 38°45'03.0"N 77°28'18.0"W

Two years ago, shortly after moving to Manassas, Virginia, we found ourselves making regular trips to a chic Old Town district. Among the quaint local shops, in the old buildings that used to be banks and drugstores nearly a century ago, are several gems that have become regular places for us to take visiting friends and enjoy our date nights. One of these gems is the Crossroads Tabletop Tavern.

Crossroads is one of the coolest places in Downtown Manassas. It was once a shabby pub, closed up long before we arrived. The building now hosts one of the most unique locales I have ever explored. One part board game store, one part bar, and one part restaurant, Crossroads is an amazing joint to take a first date, have a group outing with friends, or just enjoy a nice solo outing. Starting downstairs their main sitting area is nothing special, but its lending library of over three hundred games ensure that there is something to keep everyone entertained.

A small portion of the main wall of the game lending library.

Heading upstairs you will find a room full of tables. While this room can be used to play board games, its main purpose is to provide space for your next tabletop night, be it board games or tabletop roleplay. Across from this area, you will find the bar that hosts small and large groups of people. In addition, the bar has a variety of rotating local beer, sours, and ciders on tap.

The menu is an impressive list of gourmet, game-inspired meals. Each item features a punny board game name, such as the Totchikoro Loaded Tater Tots and the Sheriff of Nottinghamburger. Our personal favorite is the Chicken Feet, Crossroads's take on a

shareable chicken tender platter which comes with up to four house-made sauces. There is even a seasonal menu that rotates new dishes every few months should you start to find the menu boring.

Back downstairs, nestled between the dining area and lending library, is the tavern's store. Like a Cracker Barrel for geeks, Crossroads's entry area is a fully stocked store. Similar to Cracker Barrel. The tavern does not require you to eat to shop the store but, just in case you would like to try a game before you buy, almost everything for sale in the shop is available in the lending library. The staff is ready to teach you every game on hand, and their menu will keep you fed for hours. It is hard not to grab some friends, snag a beer and a board game, and sit among their custom artwork while you game the night away.

The best part about the Crossroads Tabletop Tavern, besides the amazing food and atmosphere, is that we would have never found it had we not taken that first five-minute drive downtown to explore our new neighborhood. It is our proof that adventure and discovery can be as close as just around the corner from your home.

It may look empty but, I had to take these on a Tuesday night because weekends the Tavern is packed full of people.

Edited by W.C. Dunning