Our dear friend and the best Realtor in this area took us to dinner at the Sweetwater Tavern on a Sunday evening. The food is outstanding; the service is amazing and the atmosphere is fun. Don't miss the desserts, the bread pudding or the Deep-Dish Apple Pecan Pie. read more

Food and service are consistently excellent. This restaurant is part of Great American Restaurant group. We have eaten at almost all of the restaurants in the group. They are all excellent. They are our favorite restaurants in Northern Virginia. The menu varies a little from one restaurant to the next, but every restaurant has a relatively broad menu from salads to sandwiches to chicken and seafood and steak entrees. All are prepared fresh and to your liking. If you ever have a meal that isn't perfect, let your server know and they will fix it. Some of the favorite meals we consistently order are chop house salad, Caesar salad, crab cakes, blackened prime rib, chicken and salmon. The prices are getting a little higher, but the value is still very good for the quality and quantity of food provided. Sweetwater Tavern is a little bit noisier and more upbeat than some of the other GAR restaurants. Most have outdoor dining options. read more

Sweet water Tavern had lovely staff, fast service and delicious food. The best salmon I've ever had. Also, very accessible and understanding staff. I have a task trained medical alert service dog, and due to my brain injury and visual discrepancy issues, I need help navigating through crowded spaces. The staff gave us plenty of room to navigate, and gave us time to have my dog settle under the table. They spoke clearly when I told them I was hard of hearing and were very patient when I needed things repeated. Will definitely return! read more

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Not typical of a GAR, service going downhill. Our server was friendly but we honestly didn't see him for a good 10 minutes when our full crowd arrived. Our group of 6 was patient but when a beer glass had a chip, and the server went to replace it, we didn't see that replaced drink for over 20 minutes. Food was good, consistent with our regular visits. Our seating area was roomy since they sit larger groups on their patio, read more

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Ribs with broccolini and shoe stribg fries. I ordered it every time, and the staff is always very nice. They even let me get the kids meal for $5- 12 which is a huge amount of food when you get a grilled cheese with fries when I ordered carry out. is my boyfriend's favorite restaurant. read more

Service was good! Overall it's what I expect from sweet water but this location the quality seems a little lower than other locations Filet mignon had a nice grill and burn flavor from the sear but was a bit tough and even though it was pink for medium rare, a bit dry too Crab cake had sweet crab and crunch bits but felt pretty heavy Raspberry lemon drop martini is good! A little strong but sugar rim balances it. Not very sour Ozzie rolls were warm and bouncy no issues read more

Sweetwater Tavern - American Near Me - Centreville, Virginia

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Sweetwater Tavern is one of those places that you go to because you know exactly what to expect and you get that. Our steak cravings brought us back to this institution tucked in Centreville. It was a crowded weeknight but we were able to secure a table a few hours before dinner. However, some (if not all) the tables have enough space and the ambiance is lively. We got the Community Bread Basket (never to be skipped I learned) and Crispy Fried Point Judith Calamari - both were fantastic! We both had rib eyes - Aged 5 Star Reserve Prime Rib and Drunken Rib Eye Steak. One needed to be re-fired but it was okay (cooking steaks is complicated) - it went back great! Both steaks were too huge for us. The sides were delicious as well. The service is excellent as always. Oh, if you don't want to drink alcohol, try their House Brewed Root Beer! read more

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Always good food at Sweetwater! Delicious dishes from a plentiful menu so everyone in the group is sure to find something they like. Wait staff is always super attentive and fast. I really love their hustle! The restaurant is a great atmosphere to enjoy with a date, some friends, or family. read more

Sweetwater Tavern - Southwest Chicken Salad - American Near Me - Centreville, Virginia

I have been to other great American restaurants and think I have had a better experience. We came in we were greeted with water and start with ozzie rolls. We asked for additional butter and the butter never came when we ordered (asked twice). We asked for extra plates and when the food came out, we had to ask again. The pasta we got was room temperature. The roast chicken salad is always a classic and my favorite item to order - no complaints there. It was busy on a Friday night. read more

Sweetwater Tavern - Jambalaya Pasta and Sweetwater Roast Chicken Salad - American Near Me - Centreville, Virginia

Went there for lunch today. Great service. Good, clean environment. Awesome food as usual. Ozzie rolls are always recommended. The firecracker shrimp has a refreshing taste, making it a very good appetizer. Egg rolls are crispy but not dry, and are highly recommended. Artichoke dip is good too. Order Louisiana pasta for the entree. It is a very balanced dish, and has a small kick in it. And lastly, the turtle cheesecake is a must-try! read more

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This place reminds of a fancier olive garden by design minus the Italian food. Food here was great! Having the mix bread basket, baby back ribs, and roasted chicken. Selection of alcohol is pretty decent too. I would like to see them add ciders to the list. The waitress we had was attentive and awesome! I can see why it was so packed when we arrived. I would highly recommend reserving. read more

Sweetwater Tavern - Baby back ribs, Great American Fries, coleslaw - American Near Me - Centreville, Virginia

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I love the GAR (Great American Restaurants) group--they consistently deliver some of the best dining experiences in the DMV area. This was my second time dining at Sweetwater Tavern, and once again, it did not disappoint. Because I've fully embraced the perks of adulthood, I started my meal with dessert--my all-time favorite, the white chocolate bread pudding. It's rich, comforting, and absolutely worth every bite. For my entrée, I tried the Louisiana Pasta for the first time, and it instantly became my second favorite dish from the GAR group--right after the Crazy Lasagna at Ozzie's. The flavors were bold, the portion was hearty, and it hit all the right notes. Their lemonade is also worth mentioning--refreshing, delicious, and perfectly consistent with what I've enjoyed at their other restaurants. Customer service was stellar, which is no surprise. I've never had a bad experience at any GAR restaurant, and this visit to Sweetwater Tavern just added another reason to keep coming back. read more

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This is a great restaurant! I have been here 3 times. Every time I have been here it has been lovely. The food comes out relatively fast. The food is amazing. I got the southwestern chicken salad it was the best salad I have ever had. The service was excellent. The water was lovely and attentive. The ambiance is amazing! We sat outside and it was super warm. Overall this is an amazing restaurant definitely go! read more

Sweetwater Tavern - DELICIOUS!!! - American Near Me - Centreville, Virginia

I went day after Valentine's Day very busy. Been going here for 25 plus years only 1 problem. Had other problem waiter took order to people who came 5 minutes seated after us. No problem. Here is the kicker waited 45 minutes for appetizer. Ask the waiter the forgot to put in our order. We did not complain however gave us free appetizer and dessert that was nice. Went back next week for lunch here is a restaurant hack, $14 bbq sandwich with fries. Best lunch deal in Centreville get it before 1130am they run out. Still giving 5 stars. read more

Sweetwater Tavern - Smoked BBQ Pulled Pork - American Near Me - Centreville, Virginia

I love the salmon here always cooked just right. Broccolini always cooked right as well so many other places cook it till it's mush. This was just right. Service is great as usual. They have a new drink the Sangarita a mix between sangria and a margarita very good. read more

Sweetwater Tavern - Short Smoked Salmon Filet - American Near Me - Centreville, Virginia

I had to take my wife to Dulles Airport for a late evening international flight, so we gave Sweetwater Tavern in Centreville VA a try. I hadn't been there in over 20 years, but it looked the same inside. And the ambiance was that it was a very happening place on Friday night during prime dinner hour. We had a 6:00pm reservation on a Friday night, and they were plenty busy when we walked in. But we were seated within minutes of 6:00pm, well before the expectation that their website sets of seating you within 15 minutes of your reservation. Our young waiter was very nice. The comedy highlight was when they were out of the draft beer we requested, and we suggested his help picking a similar beer. It was obvious he knew NOTHING about the beers on the menu when he gave us suggestions. Food was quite good. The prices were "Fairfax County prices", i.e. way higher than we expected in a chain restaurant, but I'm guessing that that is not a problem specific to Sweetwater Tavern. The most interesting thing was that we got charged $1 for the bread before the meal, which was offered and we asked for. I've heard of restaurants charging for a generic pre-meal bread basket, and I think this is the first time it's ever happened to us. It was definitely worth the $1, especially compared to the prices of everything else on the menu. All in all, a good experience. I wouldn't hesitate to go back, but there wasn't a "wow factor" that would make me actively seek it out. read more

Sweetwater Tavern - Wood Grilled Chicken Breast - American Near Me - Centreville, Virginia

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Yelp Reviewers, you've done it again !! I located this place on Yelp in advance. I knew I'd be in the area, and I needed to pick somewhere yum. Easy to locate, free onsite parking lot parking, welcome hostess station upon entrance. This place has an onsite distillery. It's a win win for beer drinkers They feature all of their beers on the menu. The hostesses were amazingly kind. Hubby and I were taken to our seat. This place is a Winter Wonderland. Beautiful Christmas tree, lights, and gorge poinsettias EVERYWHERE. They were huge and gorge. We were sat in a comfy spacious booth. We were immediately greeted by Alexis. She was great! Super quick, and efficient. Collectively, we ordered the following. Firecracker Shrimp - Highly recommended. Nice sized shrimp, flavorful. Roasted Half Young Chicken - Amazingly seasoned. Cooked perfectly. Tender. Jambalaya Pasta - Great sauced entrée. Robust flavor, great flavor, tender protein. An absolute treat. This may sound a little different for a review BUT, the bathrooms are so clean and comfy. The heat was at the perfect temperature and made me forget it was 30° outdoors!! Hubby and I thoroughly enjoyed every aspect of this visit. I highly recommend and we'll definitely be back!! Oh, I highly recommend you make reservations. They use Resy reservation system. You can access from their website for convenience. bon appétit !! read more

Sweetwater Tavern - Firecracker Shrimp, Roasted Half Young Chicken, and Jambalaya Pasta. Perfecto. - American Near Me - Centreville, Virginia

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I have been eating at the SWT in Centreville since they opened in 1996. I have never had a bad meal there, and in the last thirty years I have only had one poor service experience there. And in that case one of the managers did something that I think was brilliant. A lot of places would have offered a free dessert. In which one may eat it, but still leave with a "bad" experience under one's "belt". Instead he came back with my tab and gave me a fifty dollar gift card and said: "I hope that you will come back and give us another chance to make you happy". One is NOT going to blow off a fifty dollar gift card, and I have been going there ever since. Kathleen is my favorite bar tender and is always friendly and efficient. The ambiance can be fairly loud as this place is always crowded. My Apple watch often warns me about the loud environment over 90 DB. The only negative thing that I have to state is that their bar stools are really uncomfortable! They lack padding, and could be thirty years old. read more

Nice Family Sit-Down Vibes and Great Service * Price: The menu's got a good range--appetizers start at $10, and the bigger dishes like steaks and seafood go up to $45. My calamari was $16, the smoked salmon was $29, and the mango martini was $9.75. * Food: I really liked everything I tried! The calamari was tender and not dry, the mango martini wasn't too strong (watch out lol), and the smoked salmon came with mashed potatoes and broccolini. Portions were huge, and everything tasted amazing. * Cleanliness/Setting: There's a ton of seating, mostly booths, and the place was super clean. * Service: The staff was great! We got seated right away with our reservation, and everyone was super friendly and on top of things. They checked in on us regularly and knew the menu really well. read more

Their steak was amazing. Service was alright, the ambiance was okay, typical American restaurant but their apps and steak are very yummy. Service 3/5 Their salmon is too salty for my liking. read more

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Came here for lunch. Decided on the pulled pork sandwich. The portion of meat was generous. It was covered in a sweet and tangy BBQ sauce. The fries are thin a crispy. A tasty lunch indeed. read more

Sweetwater Tavern - Pulled pork sandwich. - American Near Me - Centreville, Virginia

Great American rarely fails. Always good food, great service, alot invested in the atmosphere in their many locations.

Everything was so fun! We sat at the back bar and the service was fast, knowledgeable, and very sweet. It was pretty quiet outside there and very warm despite being the patio bar. The food came out very quickly and was so good! we got the eggrolls as an appetizer, incredibly filling. You could get it as a meal and then i got the wood grill chicken breast (i think that's the name) It was so yummy and the pasta was pretty typical butter pasta but it did have a good parmesan taste to it. Would definitely get that dish again and will be absolutely going back to sweetwater! Our bartenders were incredibly sweet and very funny! read more

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Food was good. Service was great! I got the hot artichoke parm dip, raspberry lemon drop, and the Louisiana pasta. All were great! Boyfriend ordered the chili pineapple margarita, baby back ribs with mashed potato and Cole slaw. We'd come back. read more

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Recently a friend and I went to Sweetwater in Centreville, even though my recent visits have been sub par. It is sad, because it isn't the food, it is the service. I've always thought very highly of the service at all the affiliated restaurants in the chain. This days experience (March 26, 2026 at 4:15) started fine, until our food arrived. My friend is gluten intolerant and they gave her croutons that were not gluten free. I typically order a salad, and the amount of lettuce or greens is very small. It is the cheapest ingredient in the restaurant. I've talked to managers in the past and they have explained that everything is weighed in the back. They also understood the desire for more "cheap greens" and have told me to ask the wait staff for a plate of lettuce and they will bring it. Today, the wait staff, server and the manager came to ask why I needed more lettuce. The manager actually asked me if I wanted to order another salad. This is very sad. Shame on you Sweetwater! read more

Stopped in for dinner last night with our grandkids. We were starving and ordered appetizers with our drinks - right away. The server was super polite but seemed a bit overwhelmed. Our food came out well before the drinks, but it was quite good --- Tex-mex styled egg rolls with a yummy avocado sauce and the crab fritters. Their haystack coating was crunchy and the sauce was flavorful. The eggrolls were the standout, though. For dinner, my stepdaughter recommended the short smoked salmon, and it didn't disappoint. I loved that they asked how I'd like it cooked, and it really did come out medium rare (like h. The Dijon cream was excellent and broccolini cooked perfectly. My husband ordered the Jambalaya pasta and didn't seem particularly pleased. And my son-in-law thought his ribeye was pretty good - but said he preferred the salmon. The kids really enjoyed their Mac & cheese and chicken fingers. All in all it was a really good meal. There are so many pics out there of this place and its food, so I just relaxed and enjoyed my meal. We'll be back! read more

I've been going to this Sweetwater for over 20 years. I've only had one "bad" meal (found a hair), but their reaction/service was incredible, so I still give them five stars. They used to never take reservations - and now they do, so I'm a super happy camper. It gets packed on the weekends because it's a great place for it all: family, dates, for the gals, for the boys, drinks, anything! This location has a fun cowboy vibe to it and it's always clean. There's ample parking and I love that there's a back exit if you're at the back bar. I think their Ozzie's rolls have changed since COVID but, sadly, most things have... :( I still order them though and a menu item that people seem to miss out on (which is my go-to) is the "wood grilled chicken breast" - people don't realize it's a pasta; it's delicious. All, and I mean ALL, of their menu items are good (even every single salad -- their buttermilk ranch is my favorite) and they're so great about accommodations with your food, like removing mushrooms or subbing sides. This is one of those safe, consistent, go-to places that never disappoints. read more

Sweetwater Tavern - Ozzie Rolls - American Near Me - Centreville, Virginia

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We had a great experience at Sweetwater tavern in Centreville. It was our first time going here for dinner and there was a little bit of a wait. We enjoyed their craft brews and thought they were reasonably priced. Although there is a full list of beers on the menu, they have only about 10 in rotation at a given time. The menu had a selection of salads, handhelds, and entrees to choose from. The menu pricing tends to jump significantly from the salads and handhelds to the entrees. My husband categorized our experience as "an upscale Texas Roadhouse". Since the menu was a bit pricey, we would come here for a special occasion only. read more

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This is my first time visiting this location and it did not disappoint. I had a burger and fries, the burger was absolutely the best I've had in a long time. The wait staff was amazing and the restaurant was very clean. Thank You! read more

Sweetwater Tavern - Burger and fries - American Near Me - Centreville, Virginia

The food was delicious. Great atmosphere. Quiet but friendly service. There was indoor and outdoor dining. The appetizers were very good. read more

Sweetwater Tavern - Outside of restaurant - American Near Me - Centreville, Virginia

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Sweetwater Tavern is hands down one of my favorite restaurants. The service is exceptional--there's always someone ready to assist before you even realize you need something. The food is consistently flavorful and comes out quickly, and the open-concept kitchen adds a fun, dynamic touch to the dining experience. The Ozzie rolls with honey butter are a must-try--perfectly sweet and savory. No meal is complete without their indulgent bread pudding, served with cream sauce and ice cream. My absolute favorite dish is the salmon which comes out so tender and juicy and perfectly flavored every single time I've ordered it. With reasonable prices and strong, tasty cocktails, Sweetwater is my go-to spot for a reliable, delicious meal. I'll be back again and again! read more

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Celebration place for the best of everything. Big shout out to Matt (the awesome manager) and our server (Mariana) for exceptional service and surprising us with special appetizers after our table for 7 wasn't quite ready. Our family has been coming here for over 20 years and each visit has given us exceptional food and ambiance and hospitality. Many thanks to all your team for creating the atmosphere of family. Do not miss this amazing experience. read more

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First time here as an out of towner. I checked reservations on the plane ahead of time and all times were available. By the time we arrived though there was a 30 minute wait so recommend making reservations in advance. The bar is self seating and first come first serve. If you don't want to wait for a table, you can sit at the bar but self serve (eg place order with bartender). After we got seated, the service went downhill from there. Our server made us feel as if she were just going through the motions. No smile and no eye contact. It was my birthday and the hostess said that dessert was on the house. Our waitress did not mention a birthday dessert. When I asked about it, she asked me to repeat what I was asking and I was embarrassed to repeat what the hostess said. The waitress then said it was only complimentary if our table purchased a dessert. That was disappointing considering the hostesss said dessert was on the house. I left feeling the service was extremely below expectations. The food was good but not worth waiting nor the below mediocre expectations. Highly recommend management address the service. read more

Sweetwater Tavern - 12oz 12 oz. 5 Star Reserve Prime Rib - American Near Me - Centreville, Virginia

My father and I got lunch at Sweetwater Tavern. I got the Monterey Salad with Spiced Pecans. Service was great as always and my dad loved it. read more

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I generally get the drunken ribeye, even during snowpocalypse. We stopped in 'cuz nothing else was open. Many items were just not available because the delivery trucks couldn't get in, but they had drunken ribeyes. Amazing! The waiter said that someone always comes in the day before to get the steaks marinating for the next day. I call that dedicated. My 2nd fave is the chicken tenders. They have this tempura batter that makes them really tasty. Bring your own wings sauce, though. Sweetwater doesn't have Frank's. (They might have some Crystal in the back. YMMV.) The chophouse salad also makes a nice lunch, especially with some salmon on top or those tenders. I really like the willingness to adjust and modify. read more

I wish there were 10 stars! I cannot say enough about this particular Sweetwater Tavern location and staff. We brought my 90-year-old in-laws here the week of Christmas and they were so incredibly kind, accommodating, and understanding of their special needs. I am so grateful... They don't even know how much they did to make this a special night! Our server, Maria was EXCELLENT and food was great! Thank you, thank you thank you!!! read more

Meets the standards and expectations of all the Great American restaurants in the area. This general crowd-pleaser works well for dinner plans in a pinch because there's so much seating. The food comes out quickly and the service here is always friendly. I don't think I've ever eaten anything bad here. It's American food that will always hit the spot, I would recommend the jambalaya pasta (normally I go home with leftovers) as it's flavorful and packed with different proteins and veggies. read more

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Third time isn't a charm. Been here many more times than 3 but.... Apparently we like the food enough that it must be enough to over look the terrible host staff. The serving staff is always consistent. In fact our server tonight was incredible. Wish we could remember the same. Now.... Do not take reservations if you can't come close to honoring them. 30 minutes past or time and there are still people ahead of us. And to have the host staff go through a list of reasons why it is their fault or worse, not their problem, nothing they can do! Really, that is how you train your people to interact!?!?! One day, just maybe, they can deliver on a complete experience. Until then, enjoy the food and wait staff. Try and ignore the incompetence of the hosting staff. read more

Another amazing meal at Sweetwater Tavern this evening! The salmon was cooked to perfection and the mashed potatoes were tastefully complementary. Additionally, the bar tenders Peter, Liana and Assistant General Manager Katie, insisted I try the new seasonal dessert, Blueberry Brown-Butter Cake, which was excellent! I can only describe it as sweet summer nostalgia on a plate. Cheers! read more

Sweetwater Tavern - Blueberry Brownbutter Cake - American Near Me - Centreville, Virginia

Good place to go. Loved the salad. I was hoping for more food selection esp for steaks but it was good for a casual date night.