Mill St. Draft Garden — Restaurant in Occoquan

Not sure if we just got the last, sad slab of brisket (because right after we ordered it, it showed as “sold out” on the menu), but I could’ve built a brick patio with what they served us. Tough, dry… giving “leather.” When we rhetorically asked the server if that was normal, she casually shrugged, “Oh, every time I’ve had brisket, it’s been like that.” Like… ma’am?? That’s not reassurance, that’s a cry for help. Maybe it was oven-baked, maybe it’s been cryogenically frozen since 1997 - either way, it was one of the worst pieces of meat I’ve ever put in my mouth. And I dated a DJ in college, so trust me, my standards are low.

Beer selection though? Chef’s kiss. We grabbed a flight during happy hour - the Ono IPA leaned sweet, the Clever Girl IPA was balanced and interesting, and the Kölsch was a solid win. Honestly, the beer is what saved the date.

The food? Straight-up Shakespearean tragedy. Fish tacos (catfish, of all things) tasted vaguely like river water - and not in that quaint “Occoquan charm” way. However, if they could carry the sear and seasoning on the fish into the rest of their food, it would be a step in the right direction. No amount of seasoning could mask how dry the meat was. The brisket? Sahara. Wings? Sahara with seasoning. Chimichurri? A drizzle of sad green liquid that should be illegal to call chimichurri. When I order chimichurri, I want garlic, vinegar, herbs - I want my taste buds assaulted. Instead, I got parsley water. We begged for extra sauce and were informed, "No, we can't give you more chimichurri," and were offered ketchup, ranch, and chipotle mayo before the kitchen finally dug up some BBQ that bumped the brisket from “absolutely inedible” to “slightly less inedible.”

Bright spots: the fries were bomb - crispy, seasoned, perfect. Coleslaw was 90% purple cabbage and mayo, but somehow addictive. I couldn’t decide if it was genuinely good or if I’d just gone delusional from chewing through brisket bricks. Final verdict: 7.4/10 would order the fries and coleslaw again.

To be fair, the outdoor seating is excellent, the vibe is great, the music was on point, and the beer makes it worth a visit. Just don’t waste your time on the mains. Stick with beer and sides, and you’ll be golden.

Disclaimer: this is Occoquan, not exactly a dining capital. Take it with a grain of salt, grab a pint, and live your best life.

Follow-up: my husband ate most of the food, and he just threw up. Drinks and vibes only -...

It's almost as though someone lifted one of the coolest little spots at some beach resorts and dropped it in Northern Virginia, including the proximity to water (Except in this case it is the Occcoquan River and not an ocean). The first thing you will notice is an extremely friendly, casual vibe brilliantly accentuated by ceiling fans that chase the heat away. Seating is divided between long picnic tables complete with QR codes for ordering. I came solo because I had a few hours to kill while the wife and kids were out BTS shopping, but it would be an amazing place for a large group meet up. For those that prefer a more private setting, there are smaller tables that double as fire pits in colder weather. I can't wait to come back in the fall! The scenery is also exquisite as though it was somehow set in Mayberry by the river or the town in To Kill A Mockingbird. I had one of their house beers, Falcons Smash, and it was an expertly brewed IPA that had something for hop lovers. There are also myriad other beers, and I am sure they are great too, plus a plethora of adult beverages for those who, somehow, don't like beer. I didn't eat here this time, but the dishes that were walked out looked and smelled amazing. The menu is very impressive and we will certainly visit on a Wednesday for the Kids Eat Free bonanaza. The place also offers a wide array of special events and live music to really maximize the ambiance and entire experience. It has hard to believe that I hadn't come here yet, and harder to believe that I somehow held out on the scrumptious smelling food, but I ain't as young as I used to be and am fighting the pot belly blues. However, I will be back. Oh yes. I will be...

I wish I had waited to order until after I went to the bathroom, because I would have left right then. The bathroom needed some attention as far as cleanliness, and there was no toilet paper available in the stall. My husband had taken our family here as a surprise for me because they had so many gluten free options. He ordered for the family on their app, and ordered me a GF beer. A worker came over to tell him they apparently “just ran out”, so he picked a glass of pinot Grigio verbally with the worker. Once I came back from the bathroom the worker came back over to tell me they just ran out of that as well, apparently. Crazy how the “just” run out of so many on a non-busy Sunday evening. Our order was dropped off, in a very timely manner thankfully. The food though definitely was not all it was hyped up to be. We had carnitas tacos, cheeseburgers, and an order of fries. The kids like their burgers, thankfully. The tacos looked great, but the shells must have been old/stale because the edges were hard to the point where it hurt my teeth to break it down. The inside the of the taco was good, but the shell ruined it. The side order of fries was way way way over seasoned and a blast of salt to your tastebuds. The worker/server never came back over after telling us they were just out of the wine as well, otherwise I would have mentioned something to them. I was super excited once we got to the establishment and I saw all the GF options because that definitely a rarity, but we definitely will not be back. We will stick with the fabulous pizza just...