Open List Home >> Falls Church, VA >> Restaurants & Food >> Restaurants >> Sweet Water Tavern
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Sweetwater Tavern in Merrifield is a two star Southwestern restaurant. This place features outdoor dining. When you step inside the restaurant, you'll notice a family atmosphere. This restaurant is inexpensive. This restaurant is open late.
4.0 of 5 stars.
One of the best chain restaurants in VA. I can honestly say I've never had a bad dish here. I like to come here with a friend and have one of the home brews (my favorite is Great American Ale), people...
yelp.com - user review - 10/08/2009
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3.0 of 5 stars.
I will say up front that I am not a fan of restaurant chains even though they litter the burbs of the DC metro area. My 3.5 years of being spoiled by the NYC dining experience has caused me to shun...
yelp.com - user review - 10/07/2009
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5.0 of 5 stars.
After hearing many wonderful things about this "non-chainy" chain, we decided to check out Sweetwater Tavern last Friday. SOOO glad we did!First, the service: basically impeccable. I have never had...
yelp.com - user review - 10/07/2009
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4.0 of 5 stars.
Yeah, it's a chain. But when a place is consistently good you have to give it its due. I have been going to ST occasionally for six years or so, maybe two or three times a year, and the product has...
yelp.com - user review - 10/07/2009
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4.0 of 5 stars.
Great food, good service--always crowded but worth it. Cigarette smoke from the bar is annoying though
yelp.com - user review - 10/01/2009
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4.0 of 5 stars.
I love this restaurant! I've never had one bad experience, and I hope I never will! The food is always great.. I've had almost everything they serve on the menu. My favorites are: Hot Spinach...
yelp.com - user review - 09/11/2009
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4.0 of 5 stars.
I went here on a summer Wednesday night with family and it was packed! The wait took awhile like around thirty minutes. Everyone's food was really good, however it did take while to get drink...
yelp.com - user review - 09/05/2009
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5.0 of 5 stars.
Sweetwater's been a family favorite since it opened. Love love love the decor, and as with all the Great American restaurants, the menus good and varied, with lots of excellent choices. The filet...
yelp.com - user review - 08/28/2009
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4.0 of 5 stars.
Just like the other Great American Restaurants as far as the menu goes, except for the beer selection. Good, busy happy hours on nice afternoons, with a good-sized bar indoor. There's an outdoor...
yelp.com - user review - 08/21/2009
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5.0 of 5 stars.
I must admit this is tops as far as chain restaurants go! My brother-in-law refused to eat at chains but was fooled into thinking Sweetwater was it's "own" place. If you go on the weekend at...
yelp.com - user review - 08/21/2009
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4.0 of 5 stars.
Solid restaurant. It's hard for Mike's and Carlyle Grand to be topped in my opinion. I think I actually like the other place in Annandale better (the name escapes me). However, the food is always good...
yelp.com - user review - 08/21/2009
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5.0 of 5 stars.
I can't believe I'm giving in to so many chain restaurants, but this is honestly one of my faves. I've made trips here just for the complimentary rolls (ie donuts) that they serve and the to die for...
yelp.com - user review - 07/31/2009
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3.0 of 5 stars.
This is a true story. When I was in high school and everyone was going to homecoming dances and whatnot while I stayed at home, I always heard them talking about having dinner at Sweetwater Tavern...
yelp.com - user review - 07/23/2009
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4.0 of 5 stars.
I don't know why people give this place only three stars. The Great American Restaurants are a refreshing alternative to the other chains that crowd the suburbs. I only wish that they had a location...
yelp.com - user review - 07/16/2009
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4.0 of 5 stars.
The parking lot here is packed! Make sure to call ahead.Man, those donut-bread things are addicting. I had the drunken ribeye and LOVED IT. The other two ordered prime rib and didn't like it so much....
yelp.com - user review - 07/14/2009
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2.0 of 5 stars.
This location sealed it--Sweetwater is probably my least favorite member of the Great American chain. These restaurants have no personality--they're all set up the same. Last time I went there, a...
yelp.com - user review - 07/11/2009
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5.0 of 5 stars.
We go all the time. Food is worth the price and the wait if there is one. They have a call ahead if you are worried about waiting. There bread is awesome. You have to try the ribs and sweet potato...
yelp.com - user review - 06/26/2009
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5.0 of 5 stars.
Sweetwater is a must try, both locations in Sterling and Merrifield are constantly top notch. Their food quality is always well monitored and the team style service is maybe the best in Northern...
yelp.com - user review - 06/18/2009
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4.0 of 5 stars.
the food is good the caeser salad is a bit to much dressing
yelp.com - user review - 05/19/2009
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3.0 of 5 stars.
Atmosphere: This place is huge, cavernous and over-the-top "All-American" with the red, white & blue touches and the huge mural of Monument Valley, but it's furnished nicely and you can have a...
yelp.com - user review - 05/01/2009
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5.0 of 5 stars.
This restaurant gets five stars for good food, good beer, and above all consistency. They also have call ahead seating, and you will need to do this on a Friday or Saturday night when this place is...
yelp.com - user review - 04/26/2009
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5.0 of 5 stars.
Can't go wrong here... or at there sister establishment, Artie's. Sweetwater is where I go with my guy friends who have any class at all. :) The atmosphere is vibrant. The rotating selection of beer...
yelp.com - user review - 04/12/2009
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5.0 of 5 stars.
We go to Sweetwater with our friends every now and then and every time we have to choose a restaurant in VA, we always choose this restaurant.There are a lot of very positive factors about this place....
yelp.com - user review - 04/10/2009
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3.0 of 5 stars.
3.75If I reviewed this place simply based on the food it would be a 4. I know some of my friends won't agree but to bad for them. I checked out Sweet Water the first time with a colleague of mine,...
yelp.com - user review - 04/09/2009
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3.0 of 5 stars.
3.25 stars. Although I would like to categorize this restaurant as a daring alternative for the Ruby Tuesday crowd, it would be somewhat inaccurate. A better comparison might be to the Dallas-based...
yelp.com - user review - 03/30/2009
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3.0 of 5 stars.
"I ventured out to Falls Church for this?!" I'm only kidding. Partially. I actually was tagging along with Venu N. who so kindly let me join him on his weekend lunch plans. The company was well worth...
yelp.com - user review - 03/30/2009
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3.0 of 5 stars.
The Husband and I headed here for dinner on a Friday night early on in our time out here in VA. Big mistake. We had no idea just how insanely busy this restaurant would be on a Friday night. We...
yelp.com - user review - 03/10/2009
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4.0 of 5 stars.
Barleywine tapped yesterday.
yelp.com - user review - 03/05/2009
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4.0 of 5 stars.
It's annoying how I can't stop thinking of good things to say about GAR. Went with bf for an after work meal on a Tuesday night and the place was PACKED. Didn't want to suffer the 10-15 minute wait...
yelp.com - user review - 02/25/2009
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4.0 of 5 stars.
I love SWT! To be honest I am a fan of all the GAR's. What I love about this place is the atmosphere -- fun, festive, but relaxed. The food is awesome. And you can get the lobster bisque on Saturday...
yelp.com - user review - 02/21/2009
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2.0 of 5 stars.
Recently R and I had something to celebrate and we wanted to go out for a meal somewhere that was a little bit different from where we've been going. Also we were over in Fairfax and wanted to go...
yelp.com - user review - 02/06/2009
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4.0 of 5 stars.
Another great experience at Sweetwater. Meet a few friends for happy hour last night and I must say I always have and always will enjoy Sweetwater's beer. Every few months they have a new beer(s) on...
yelp.com - user review - 02/05/2009
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4.0 of 5 stars.
The food was great, the service was excellent, the server was fantastic! I loved the ozzy bread :) I went here for a "Brunch" meeting and found the atmosphere totally wonderful. We went there on a...
yelp.com - user review - 02/02/2009
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3.0 of 5 stars.
Decent food but even better beer selection. The chocolate waffle was the best part of the meal! I'd go back.
yelp.com - user review - 01/28/2009
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4.0 of 5 stars.
Pretty good all-American restaurant with a little bit of fusion twist in some of their entrees. I was pleasantly impressed by their Grilled Ahi Tuna Salad, which is essentially seared tuna crusted w/...
yelp.com - user review - 01/25/2009
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4.0 of 5 stars.
I love this place. The Beer is always changing, and improving. The Tuna is wonderful on a salad. Try the bread pudding. Yum.Just hope someday they stop the smoking at the bar.
yelp.com - user review - 01/22/2009
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2.0 of 5 stars.
The brew-pub idea is over: when you can get "craft-brewed" beers at any supermarket, when airlines sell it between ORD and IAD, micro-brewed beer is ubiquitous. This means, the beer should be able...
yelp.com - user review - 01/19/2009
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The tuna salad is amazing. The breads are unreal. I have visited this restaurant several times and never had a bad experience. Everyone is aways pleased with their meals. The microbrews are great and the...
citysearch.com - user review - 01/07/2009
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4.0 of 5 stars.
Ah yes another GAR review. They are all starting to sound the same-people are friendly that work here-food is decent, but overpriced-always ridiculously crowdedAnd thats pretty much the story....
yelp.com - user review - 01/06/2009
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4.0 of 5 stars.
I love their rolls. They are so good, and I am never hesitant to ask for more :). Also, for my small eaters out there (I am not one) but do know some. You can order a kids meal, such as chicken...
yelp.com - user review - 01/03/2009
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3.0 of 5 stars.
Awesome: the bread. My friends call it "donut" bread, but that's kind of a misnomer. I think "yeast rolls" would be more accurate, but regardless of the name, they're damned tasty.Good: my burger was...
yelp.com - user review - 12/29/2008
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3.0 of 5 stars.
The Sweetwater Tavern rolls (baked by Best Buns) are good in a simple, comforting way: they are sweet, salty, soft, and warm. They are also a good harbinger of the quality of food that the restaurant...
yelp.com - user review - 12/05/2008
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2.0 of 5 stars.
Someone really needs to explain to me the appeal of Sweetwater Tavern. Back when my office was within walking distance (behind Yorktown Shopping Center), I didn't mind so much meandering over here...
yelp.com - user review - 11/26/2008
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4.0 of 5 stars.
I've been a fan of the Great American Restaurants Chain since they opened this Sweetwater here, what seems like, 10 years ago. How they manage to bring consistently talented, interesting, and...
yelp.com - user review - 11/18/2008
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4.0 of 5 stars.
I've been to Coastal Flats and Carlyle so far, so Sweetwater Tavern is now the 3rd restaurant of the Great American chain I've been to... Each of these Great American restaurants have the same...
yelp.com - user review - 10/03/2008
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To eat here at Sweetwater Tavern is such a treat. I don't know which I enjoyed the most (I went twice in one week) if it was the ribs or the drunken ribeye steak. Good service, but very loud here which I...
citysearch.com - user review - 08/30/2008
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1.0 of 5 stars.
Don't eat the crab cakes. They gave me diarrhea.
yelp.com - user review - 08/22/2008
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The wait here is usually pretty long, but it is definitely worth the wait. The food is sooo good!
kudzu.com - user review - 08/20/2008
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5.0 of 5 stars.
I've been going to Sweetwater for a year now. My husband and I go here whenever we want something more than the usual takeout. The very best dish at this place is the crab cakes. I cannot say enough...
yelp.com - user review - 08/17/2008
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4.0 of 5 stars.
My half roasted chicken was fantastic. The egg rolls were great as well as the spinach artichoke dip. I have also had the lobster bisque which is in another class by itself. And you can't forget...
yelp.com - user review - 08/15/2008
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I used to dine here at least twice a month and have become rather...
urbanspoon.com - user review - 08/13/2008
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5.0 of 5 stars.
Great BBQ and great beer. My boss took me here during a business trip because this was his favorite place while he lived in the DC area. I am so thankful that he did. This is mostly a brew pub with...
yelp.com - user review - 08/13/2008
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4.0 of 5 stars.
Bread service was indeed awesome: piping hot rolls and melting butter...Our Tex-Mex "egg rolls" were spectacular, as was our filet mignon, crab cakes, and grouper special. All dishes were well...
yelp.com - user review - 07/30/2008
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4.0 of 5 stars.
I was here a LONG time ago and I don't remember anything to rave about. However all my friends kept telling me they love this place. So I went along with my wife to Sweetwater Tavern around 7pm...
yelp.com - user review - 07/18/2008
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4.0 of 5 stars.
Has to be the best bread service ever! I can't get enough of their donut rolls and soft churned butter. I think it's well above average for a chain restaurant. When I did my psych rotation at...
yelp.com - user review - 07/16/2008
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4.0 of 5 stars.
I ordered the Drunken Ribeye - cooked extremely well, smothered in their 'drunken' sauce - I loved it! It came with the mashed potatoes and the house salad with their dressing. Good amount of food...
yelp.com - user review - 06/16/2008
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There is a reason that Sweet Water is always busy. The food and service just can't be beat. We have given many gift certificates for Sweet Water and have never heard of a bad experience there.
kudzu.com - user review - 06/04/2008
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This is a very good restaurant. The service is top notch. The quality is top notch. The beer is brewed there and is top notch.
kudzu.com - user review - 06/03/2008
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The freshly brewed beers are very good. You can even buy the beer to take home in a decanter. The food selection is very good. I usually have one of the steaks but the seafood/fish is also very good. Very good...
kudzu.com - user review - 05/31/2008
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If you go to Sweet Water be sure to take a grinder of micro brew home with you, you will be glad you did! The beer selection is excellent and the brews are truly unique, and did I mention the food?!
kudzu.com - user review - 05/31/2008
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Sweet Water not only has excellent microbrews (brewed in-house) but also has excellent food. Get there early to avoid the lines or enjoy a brew while waiting. The steaks are awesome!! If you are fortunate you...
kudzu.com - user review - 05/29/2008
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4.0 of 5 stars.
Pops always likes to hit up the Great American Restaurants when he comes into town by himself and doesn't have my mother quickly cutting and whisking away half of his grilled critter selections. I...
yelp.com - user review - 05/28/2008
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Terrific menu, great chef, always a good time. The perfect blend of casual comfort with VERY classy food.
kudzu.com - user review - 05/28/2008
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4.0 of 5 stars.
I swear I wrote a review for this place already!The service is great, very attentive. I like the food here. Typical American cuisine but with a flavor all their own. The sweet bread rolls...
yelp.com - user review - 05/14/2008
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3.0 of 5 stars.
I second Kristina B's review - this place does know how to make a medium rare burger medium rare. Wish I got to try their beers so I know what to recommend to someone if he or she wants to share a...
yelp.com - user review - 04/01/2008
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4.0 of 5 stars.
Sweetwater's is a great place to sit outside and enjoy a warm evening with someone you love. The bar area can be loud and crowded when there's an event or a holiday, but other than that I've always...
yelp.com - user review - 03/01/2008
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4.0 of 5 stars.
I went here for happy hour and ended up getting a dessert. I have to say that the dessert was nothing special. It seemed straight out of any other chain-type restaurant, but I'm giving it 4 stars...
yelp.com - user review - 01/27/2008
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3.0 of 5 stars.
One of the few places in Northern Virginia that does a medium rare burger properly...and has growlers of beer for sale. It does have long waits, however.
yelp.com - user review - 01/16/2008
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2.0 of 5 stars.
If you're a vegetarian, be aware there is pretty much nothing you can eat here...you can ask for a salad without the meat they would normally add...
yelp.com - user review - 01/16/2008
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4.0 of 5 stars.
Darn good food and excellent service. We stopped in for lunch with a taste for burgers. We had a minor issue with the burger and the waitress dragged the manager over. He had the revised credit card...
yelp.com - user review - 12/04/2007
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4.0 of 5 stars.
One of our favorite places in the neighborhood to eat at. The food is always good and service usually outstanding and when they occasionally slip up management takes care of it in a way that makes you...
yelp.com - user review - 11/17/2007
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Wonderful customer service, amazing food, and a great environment with a really nice view. I love getting the steak here, with potatoes on the side mmm. Their potatoes are delectable I wish I could eat there...
kudzu.com - user review - 11/12/2007
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Food and servise is great. Drunken Rib-Eye is my favorite. A little overpriced though
kudzu.com - user review - 11/12/2007
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It's so rare in this area to find a restaurant with quality customer service. Sweetwater is consistently superior to other local restaurants in that the food quality and customer service is near perfection -...
kudzu.com - user review - 11/07/2007
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really good food, very crowded tho! they brew there own beer, very good local place to hang out with friends or take the wife. its good a great menu and great service!
kudzu.com - user review - 11/07/2007
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IF you want 5 star quality of service and food this is the place to be. Food is phenomenal. They take hospitallity to the next level. A little bit pricey but it definitely is worth it.
kudzu.com - user review - 11/07/2007
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You will love the way everything is on this location. A must go.
kudzu.com - user review - 11/07/2007
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Easily one of the best restaurants and values in the area. The service and quality of food are always top notch.
kudzu.com - user review - 10/30/2007
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Be sure to bring a designated driver so you can enjoy copious amounts of adult beverages fresh brewed on the premises.....and the food is good. The crab cakes are the very best.
kudzu.com - user review - 10/26/2007
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5.0 of 5 stars.
I'm no food connoisseur but I have an opinion like y'all. And I have to say that Sweetwater Tavern has _the_best_ steak I've ever tasted. The drunken ribeye. Others I've met have independently...
yelp.com - user review - 10/04/2007
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4.0 of 5 stars.
For consistency over the years, this restaurant/microbrewery gets the prize. Recently, they made a serious mistake changing some salad ingredients, substituting chunks of red potatoes and dried...
yelp.com - user review - 07/18/2007
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4.0 of 5 stars.
Todd's review was spot on, though I haven't tried the chicken salad he recommends. See my Artie's review, as the two restaurants are uncannily similar. Oh, wait, maybe that's because they're owned by...
yelp.com - user review - 07/02/2007
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4.0 of 5 stars.
Always packed. Friendly Staffs. Good Filet Mignot.(July07) Went there again for lunch and ordered roasted young chicken. It was very tender. Excellent!
yelp.com - user review - 06/22/2007
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4.0 of 5 stars.
I went there a couple of times when visiting VA. Their donut bread is awesome. I could just eat that. The other food was OK, nothing great. Typical bar food. Decent service. Will go again for the...
yelp.com - user review - 06/09/2007
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2.0 of 5 stars.
I've been to this place twice and I have yet to eat anything with any real flavor. The atmospere is equally as flavorless. This could be any TGI McMonkeySpank's Steak Hut chain restaurant in any...
yelp.com - user review - 05/30/2007
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4.0 of 5 stars.
Pretty Decent. I had never head of this place but went to it anyways. There was no line when I went, we got seated right away. I just ordered a hamburger. It was really really good. Normally at...
yelp.com - user review - 05/21/2007
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upscale decor... excellent food and impressive beer selection... staff is very attentive and seem to understand a parent's needs... booths are great for the kids... best to call ahead and get on the wait...
lilaguide.com - user review - 02/08/2007
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4.0 of 5 stars.
I love their beers.Get a growler...then you can have the beer at home and it is affordable to fill up!I love their monterey salad...try it.CALL AHEAD for a seat. there is always a wait
yelp.com - user review - 01/21/2007
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3.0 of 5 stars.
I admit that I do judge a restaurant by its atmosphere. I walked into Sweetwater Tavern and was surrounded by hokey cowboy-ish decor with the over-friendly staff wearing the cowboy ties and vests....
yelp.com - user review - 10/18/2006
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3.0 of 5 stars.
Beer. This place has amazing beer. I had a pint and the sampler (that I shared of course). My chicken salad was good, though the dressing, though tasty, was too heavy. Next time I'll order it on the...
yelp.com - user review - 07/24/2006
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5.0 of 5 stars.
I've never had a bad meal at this restaurant. My co-workers and friends and I used to go here for lunch a lot and I also found myself here for dinner & drinks a fair amount. They make their own beer...
yelp.com - user review - 06/28/2006
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4.0 of 5 stars.
Yes the wait here is really long some times, but then you do the smart thing and CALL AHEAD to put your name on the wait list. It helps a lot!Ok, so the free doughnut bread is good but there are a...
yelp.com - user review - 02/02/2006
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3.0 of 5 stars.
Restaurant-Brewpub. This place is a local chain. I dislike chains. The place always seems to have a wait of no less than 3 hours. I hate lines with a passion. If the joint is that popular, why not...
yelp.com - user review - 11/30/2005
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When my family comes to town, they insist on eating here at least once or twice during their short visits. I highly recommend the fried calamari, and ribeye (or filet mignon) with mashed potatoes and ...
judysbook.com - user review - 09/24/2005
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This restaurant gives out very generous portions. The food is alright, very good if you're hungry. I ordered pasta and I was surprised when the food came because the bowl was huge. I normally can't...
judysbook.com - user review - 09/13/2005
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Be careful of long wait times...
lilaguide.com - user review - 02/01/2005
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Very friendly servers and accommodating with car seat slings and highchairs, but space is a little tight. The tables are bolted to the floor, so if you're in your third trimester, you might not fit into a...
lilaguide.com - user review - 01/26/2005
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Very kid-friendly, great food and fantastic service.
lilaguide.com - user review - 11/29/2004
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Although the wait times can be extraordinary, the food is great and they are generally very accommodating to children. All tables are booths which makes it easy to slide the infant seat in next to you.
lilaguide.com - user review - 09/23/2004
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pairing big entrees with tasty microbrews...
cityguide.aol.com - user review
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despite the faux western decor mimicking a frontier barroom, this restaurant serves anything but rustic, frontier foods: we love the "big salads," but most people probably favor the very big entrees starring...
gayot.com - user review
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