Hail + Hog Kitchen and Tap - G3 Restaurant Group's Redskins-Themed American at One Loudoun in Ashburn with Chef James Wilson - Closed

[JBag57]

With all of the chatter about the Isabella Galleria deal, as well as the regrettable (already) deal that the Nationals struck to rename the Red Porch as the Budweiser Whatever, it seems that the news this week that was overlooked is that the Redskins have partnered with some restaurant group to open a Redskin-themed restaurant at One Loudoun.  You sub-50 year olds will be able to find and post links easily, so help me out.

Interesting that the Redskin name itself is not part of the branding.

Will not be going unless I see 10+ favorable reviews on this forum...

[dgreen]

Here is a link:

02/12/16 - "Redskins-Themed Restaurant Coming Soon in Loudoun County, VA" on m.redskins.com

[genericeric]

These G3 guys (http://g3restaurants.com/) run a few other NFL restaurants so they must know what they're doing, but I don't see the market for another restaurant of this size in that development with a beer/sports pub theme.  Either they feel they can generate enough business within the Redskins organization, Dan Snyder knows something about the team moving to Loudoun more than the rest of us, or this is purely a vanity project since other teams have done the same.  Likely a combination of all three.

The menus at the other restaurant are so completely predictable.  I hope they are good, because if they are I'd be there every week, but I think I'll manage my expectations on this one.

[Destruya]

So will the older and more "classic" entrees here always get rave reviews and inspire cult worship, while all the new stuff will be bland and unexciting?

The RG3 Burger: "Only available during our opening week, this burger costs 21 million dollars and is made with the finest beef on the planet...paired with the cheapest bread, cheese, and supplementary ingredients our crippled budget could afford after slaughtering the million dollar heifer.  If the burger sucks, always remember it's everyone else's fault but the management's."

The "Name" Burger: "Made from only the finest cuts of Bison, and seasoned with traditional American Indian spices, we ask that you savor the *rich cultural history* in every bite of this burger, seeing as absolutely no proceeds of each sale go to tribes that aren't already supported by casino profits."

(I'm going to Hell for this one)

The Theismann Burger: "Our standard burger, but served cut in half and open-faced.  You'll never admit why, but you'll want to see it again and again."

And I'd bet *money* that seeing as the original name for this place was supposed to be "Redskins Grille," the name change is their hedging their bets on the name getting changed in the future.  "Hail" can mean "hailing" anything, and "Hog" works for anything football-related.

[Bob Wells]

This group has a few similar places in other cities,such as Jerome Bettis' Grille in Pittsburgh. The Yelp reviews of the places are in the average 3-star range. Just standard stuff.

The new name actually has local meaning: Hail refers to the team song, Hail to the Redskins, while Hog hearkens back to the legendary offensive line of the 1980s, the Hogs (Joe Jacoby etc.) John Riggins was an honorary Hog.

[DonRocks]

The Theismann Burger: "Our standard burger, but served cut in half and open-faced.  You'll never admit why, but you'll want to see it again and again."

Served off the bone, well-done.

I'm sorry.

(I figure if Joe himself can joke about it, it's not forbidden - he has been a class act regarding this injury, considering the excruciating pain he must have endured.)

Does anyone know where G3Restaurants' corporate headquarters is?

[Bob Wells]

For trivia fans, it was going to be the home of the Loudoun Hounds baseball team.

[genericeric]

Does anyone know where G3Restaurants' corporate headquarters is?

Zoominfo lists their corporate address as Houston, TX.  It also appears they have a new Jets themed restaurant opening soon.

[DanielK]

I wonder if, even partnering with the teams, they can't use the actual team names due to NFL licensing.

[Bob Wells]

looks like so far it's been either the team name or a beloved player. this would be first one to be neither.

The first two are Eddie George's Grille 27 in Columbus and Jerome Bettis' Grille 36 in Pittsburgh.

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[Destruya]

This place finally has a website (and menu) up.

HailandHogMenu.pdf

Given their copious competition at One Loudoun, they're certainly aiming (probably too) high with those prices.  Also, I've got to at the litany of ingredients they list for their Filet Mignon.  The more you try to do to a piece of meat to set it apart or add ~new dimensions of flavor~, the more I start wondering about the starting quality of it.

EDIT: Though looking into coffee-rubbed filets, it makes me more tempted to try it myself rather than pay nearly $40 for it.

[Bob Wells]

8 hours ago, Destruya said:

This place finally has a website (and menu) up.

HailandHogMenu.pdf

Given their copious competition at One Loudoun, they're certainly aiming (probably too) high with those prices.  Also, I've got to at the litany of ingredients they list for their Filet Mignon.  The more you try to do to a piece of meat to set it apart or add ~new dimensions of flavor~, the more I start wondering about the starting quality of it.

EDIT: Though looking into coffee-rubbed filets, it makes me more tempted to try it myself rather than pay nearly $40 for it.

Those prices are ridiculous.

[Ericandblueboy]

36 minutes ago, Bob Wells said:

Those prices are ridiculous.

They seem on par with the chain joints around McLean/Tysons.  I paid $15 for a burger at Earl's Kitchen & Bar (at Tysons).  It was a good burger, and I gained 1.6 lbs overnight, which I blame on the oversized burger.

[Bob Wells]

36 minutes ago, Ericandblueboy said:

They seem on par with the chain joints around McLean/Tysons.  I paid $15 for a burger at Earl's Kitchen & Bar (at Tysons).  It was a good burger, and I gained 1.6 lbs overnight, which I blame on the oversized burger.

But this is Loudoun County. Our local Glory Days Grill, with plenty of tvs and similar food, but lower prices, is usually mobbed because families can eat decently for a moderate price. People will resist paying $15 for an average burger. $30 ribeyes are not gonna fly.

[genericeric]

19 minutes ago, Bob Wells said:

But this is Loudoun County. Our local Glory Days Grill, with plenty of tvs and similar food, but lower prices, is usually mobbed because families can eat decently for a moderate price. People will resist paying $15 for an average burger. $30 ribeyes are not gonna fly.

They're charging $32 for a 5 oz filet that you can get down the road at Clydes Willow Creek for $15 in June - less than half the price.  Clydes is what it is, but its hard to see the value add of paying $17 more to eat the same meal at HH.  Even DC Prime down the road is only charging $2 more (without sides) for their respective 8oz filets, and that is a 'luxury' steakhouse.

At least the beer list isn't too bad, and they do appear to be trying to focus on a few locals.  That is some pretty expensive real estate with a lot of competition to be floated by people watching the games 16 Sundays a year, though.

[Ericandblueboy]

Loudoun is the richest county in VA.  Maybe they thought people there drink Cristal with their wings.

[Destruya]

20 hours ago, Ericandblueboy said:

Loudoun is the richest county in VA.  Maybe they thought people there drink Cristal with their wings.

Not just the state. The whole flippin' country. Fairfax is a very close second.

[Poivrot Farci]

23 hours ago, Bob Wells said:

Those prices are ridiculous.

Organic free-range 1/2 chicken for $19/$21 is ridiculously and suspiciously cheap. Unless the chicken is certified organic it can not be labeled or sold as organic. "Local grassfed beef" without specifics of where in VA or who means absolutely nothing.

Commodity beef (what they are likely using for the filet) is more expensive than it used to be -drought, supply, demand.  

 

[DaveO]

On 6/9/2016 at 10:50 AM, Bob Wells said:

But this is Loudoun County. Our local Glory Days Grill, with plenty of tvs and similar food, but lower prices, is usually mobbed because families can eat decently for a moderate price. People will resist paying $15 for an average burger. $30 ribeyes are not gonna fly.

Haven't been to Glory Days in a number of years.  If the quality is the same that is a pretty good/or better than average sports bar wherein the food is a bit better than most.  And its a "chain".  Not sure if its a chain or franchised or the original owners have a piece of additional Glory Days and are more involved in maintaining their standards which are above the norm.  And they are family friendly while also being similarly very bar oriented.  Geez, I looked at their website and there are a lot more glory days than they used to have in the past.  All of them are outside the Beltway in VA,, then there is a Baltimore oriented group and they are also in Florida.  I probably last visited one 8,  9 years ago...but they would get mobbed at that time.

[genericeric]

Popped in here last week to grab a drink and check out the 'scene' while waiting to have dinner elsewhere.  Interior is what one would expect from this sort of thing - 'corporate upscale' with sporty memorabilia around, but not too kitschy.  A serious number of TVs that can be seen from pretty much anywhere in the restaurant, friendly staff that seemed responsive, etc.  

But none of that is post-worthy.  What may be are the bar stools, which are the most comfortable bar stools my ass has ever sat upon, and I've tried out a lot of bar stools.  These go a long way toward making this a very attractive option for camping out for most of a day on Sundays during football season.

What was odd, though, was the bartender's response when I commented on how nice they were.  "Watch out for staples" he says, "some customers have been getting poked from the staples."  There is a joke here about Dan Snyder spending too much money on something that is supposed to be really nice but ends up not living up to expectations...

[Destruya]

No, no, no...you see, the staples are a *feature*, not a flaw.  Fedex Field is renowned for having some of, if not the shittiest 'Average Joe' seats in all of professional football's ~Pantheon of Stadia~, and you should consider yourself *lucky* should you get a 'pokey' stool, because then you're not only experiencing the crystal-clear 'almost like you were there' experience of 4K Super Ultra Mega Deep-Dish Hi-Definition television screens, you're *also* getting the experience of feeling *exactly like a fan* who overpaid for tickets.  They should slap a 'reserved' sign on the stapled stools and make people pay *extra* for the experience.  Coming Soon: headphones that feature an obnoxious seat neighbor screaming endlessly in your ear the entire time!

Also, the RG3 Burger is no longer available.  In its place is now the "Nostalgia Burger," which costs $19.91, and comes with a ~Limited Edition~ Redskins toothpick flag with the team logo on one side and the seal of Super Bowl XXVI on the reverse...and *nothing else* to justify the additional cost.

[genericeric]

Bankruptcy forces closure.  

[DonRocks]

On 8/9/2017 at 3:14 PM, genericeric said:

Bankruptcy forces closure.  

The employees found out about the closure, the day of the closure. That, plus bankruptcy, most likely means they aren't getting any severance pay.

[Destruya]

One Loudoun does not seem to be doing as well as they'd hoped - 'stalled' would be the word I'd use to describe it.  I see the new townhomes and condos going up - and some of them have rooftop decks/verandas...unless you're a hobby plane spotter, I'd imagine it takes a very special breed of people to *elect* to pay a premium to live quite literally on an approach and departure pattern for an international airport that services heavies.

[genericeric]

6 hours ago, Destruya said:

One Loudoun does not seem to be doing as well as they'd hoped - 'stalled' would be the word I'd use to describe it.  I see the new townhomes and condos going up - and some of them have rooftop decks/verandas...unless you're a hobby plane spotter, I'd imagine it takes a very special breed of people to *elect* to pay a premium to live quite literally on an approach and departure pattern for an international airport that services heavies.

Some places have certainly struggled (Voltaggio's two concepts and HH stand out), but it does seem that traffic has significantly increased over the last year.  Eddie Merlot's, Matchbox and even Uncle Julio's are all pretty jammed on weekend nights.  That being said, I always felt like Hail and Hog was a bad fit for the neighborhood.  It was a downtown, tourist restaurant with prices to match that was located in a suburban location lacking many tourists.  G3's other restaurants are located closer to the stadiums and can take advantage of the fan traffic.

Of course even that fan traffic can't always save them, as one of G3's other restaurants, Colts Grille, also closed abruptly in July.  They're now down to just two locations.