Ballywhack Shack Cafe — Restaurant in Occoquan

Quite disappointed in our visit. Picked this place to have lunch while visiting the area because of the advertised gluten free options, particularly the hot dog buns from a local bakery. Was told when we got there that they NO LONGER HAVE GLUTEN FREE BUNS for the hot dogs (although it clearly states on the menu that they do) and suggested that we go to their Cafe up the street which has gluten free bread for sandwiches. I didn't want a sandwich. I wanted a hot dog. So they dug some gluten free sandwich bread out of a cooler and once they confirmed it was "still good" because it had "been in there for awhile", they offered to put the hot dog on that. I declined because that would be weird to try and roll up a hot dog in a piece of sandwich bread of questionable freshness. Kudos to the staff at the stand who did everything they could to get me something I could eat. However, they do need to have a bit more education on gluten free food as they weren't sure if all the ingredients on the K-pop hot dog were gluten free or not. I ended up getting two plain hot dogs with relish and onions, no bread, a bag of chips, and some absolutely delicious blackberry lemonade (seriously, gotta try the lemonade!) The hot dogs themselves were good, but wish they were a little bit more warmed up. I am always grateful to see places offering gluten free options because I know they aren't required to do so. But when I am in an unfamiliar area and drive a bit of a distance to visit a specific food establishment just to find out that the gluten free option no longer exists as advertised, it really puts a huge...

The 18th century mill town of Occoquan has it's fair share of sit down restaurants, many of which have outdoor patios. However, in a quaint town as this, time must not be wasted. Ideally, you'll order a quality lunch to-go and wander down Mill Street stopping inside shops and art galleries. Ballywhack Shack provides that experience. Open Thursday-Sunday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., here's why you should go:

1. Food: Their specialty is sandwiches, hot dogs and Italian sodas, but they also have a large coffee menu with special drinks like brown butter toffee lattes. Yelpers rave about the sandwiches, but I love a good hot dog. After ordering the "Dutch Dog," I can say that ranks among the best hot dogs of my life. It comes cut down the middle on a bun with melted cheddar cheese and house-made pepper cabbage slaw. The combination of flavors is so good!

2. Location: It's in the middle of Mill Street in Historic Occoquan. Although there’s shared seating and a loft area above, grab your food to-go and wander down the street exploring all the shops and galleries. Or head to River Mill Park to sit on one of many benches along the river. Next door to Ballywhack Shack is Potomac Chocolate. If you buy one of their $9 bars, you can sit at the table on their porch.

3. Space: It's literally a small red shack. You walk up to a small window, order and the worker hands you your food minutes later. It's so quirky that you can't help but love it.

If you find yourself in Occoquan, stop by Ballywhack Shack for a...

Came around 10am on a Saturday for the PERFECT brunch date! Doesn’t break the bank as intensely as other places (perfect for a couple of broke college kids), but is absolutely worth it for a local spot. Spent a little less than $20/person for food and a drink, perfect for a casual date that still counts as “going out”. Vibes and atmosphere are lovely, and one of the cleanest bathrooms I’ve been to in Occoquan! Staff was polite and respectful, and I was surprised at how quick our food and drinks came out despite how busy the store was. I appreciate friendliness, but I’d rather have efficiency, and I’m pleased to report that the staff was working very hard behind the scenes. I wish there was more seating, but it’s not too bad for a tiny spot! The patio/porch seating was nice and clean. Our drinks were delicious (and they had non-dairy milks & milk alternatives available!), and so was the food. I was pleasantly surprised by how many different delicious foods were on the menu. There’s definitely something for everyone!...