If you’re looking for a hearty meal, a beer, and an excellent atmosphere on your next trip to Occoquan, then stop in at the Cock & Bowl.
Owned by couple Jacquie and Michael Lopez, this restaurant is a culmination of their love for entertainment, food and French and Belgian culture.
The Cock & Bowl at 302 Poplar Alley has become an established local favorite, recognized as one of the Best New Restaurants by Northern Virginia Magazine. The restaurant was also rated number two for one of the Top Prince William Places.
The location of the Cock & Bowl was originally a Belgian restaurant, and while studying Belgian culture, the Lopez’s discovered the French culture that they loved was deep within the roots of Belgian culture and decided to expand on this theme for their restaurant. Their menu also incorporates seafood elements like mussels, and a popular item – frites—which are dipped in mayonnaise.
One thing that many patrons rave about at the Cock & Bowl is their extensive beer list.
“Beer is so much more approachable,” Jacquie Lopez commented, comparing it to French wines. “We have a two-page food menu, and a 12-page beer list – we’re a beer joint,” Michael Lopez said of the atmosphere he wants to convey to patrons.
In addition to their beers, and their comfort food meets that French cuisine dishes, Cock & Bowl offers restaurant goers live acoustic music on their patio. And like a good reporter always does, I decided to dig in and see for myself if the Cock & Bowl’s food and atmosphere lived up to the reputation.
After poring over the menu, I selected a shrimp dish called the “Crevettes Bucolique.” This dish was a great portion of shrimp with a cream based sauce, garnished with steamed spinach and tomatoes. For the side dish, I ordered the famous frites with mayonnaise, which truly live up to their reputation. This meal is light seafood fare that melts in your mouth, leaving you happily satisfied with the portion and flavors.
My companion selected the “We Are the Champignons” mussel dish for her entrée, which was a delicious plate of mussels, with a cream and mushroom based sauce, along with a side of bread. While many people may shy away from seafood, particularly shell fish, my companion commented that the mussels were light and not over-burdened by the seafood taste, and that the creamy rich sauce complimented the mussels nicely.
One of the best known Belgian dishes in American culture is Belgian waffles, and the Cock & Bowl offers these Belgian waffles in a variety of forms on their menu for a dessert treat. If you’re a little weary of having a breakfast item for dessert, then take a look at their varieties with fudge and caramel, topped with a scoop of Hagen Daz ice cream.
The “Ganache Belgian Waffles” are far from your traditional breakfast waffles, with a light fluffy waffle made fresh, topped with whipped cream and a heavy dousing of chocolate. This dessert is as fun to look at as it is to eat, and hits the spot after a beer and a great meal.
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ARTfactory and Birmingham Green made headlines in Manassas this week. ARTfactory’s Rooftop Productions, now Actors Theatre, won seven awards at the 2024 DC Broadway World Awards, including Best Musical for Kinky Boots and Best Choreography for The Rocky Horror Show. ARTfactory’s Pied Piper Theatre also earned recognition, winning Best Theatre for Young Audiences for its production of The Wizard of Oz.
Meanwhile, Birmingham Green, ranked as Northern Virginia’s top nursing home by Newsweek Magazine, announced Duane Smith as its new Nursing Home Administrator, effective December 30, 2024. Smith brings extensive experience from senior living leadership roles across multiple states and holds several professional qualifications. Birmingham Green continues its 90-year mission of providing quality long-term care to Northern Virginians in need.
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Should Virginia ditch the longstanding practice of electing the General Assembly and the governor in odd year elections?
The first odd year election in Virginia was in 1851, after a new state Constitution was approved and members of the House were elected to a two-year term. Before that, members of the House had one-year terms, and voters selected members every single year.
Now, Senate Majority Leader Scott Surovell says modern day voters are sick and tired of voting every year.
A Manassas man was sentenced today to 18 years in prison for providing drugs and alcohol to a child in exchange for sex acts and possession of child sexual abuse material (CSAM) depicting the same victim as well as other children.
According to court documents, Olajide Benjamin Ayilaran, 24, met a 14-year-old girl during the summer of 2023 and began communicating with the victim via iMessage. In the messages, Ayilaran offered to provide the victim drugs, alcohol, and nicotine products in exchange for sex acts. Between at least Nov. 21, 2023, and Feb. 29, 2024, Ayilaran met the victim nine times, usually in the morning before the victim went to school, to exchange the products for sexual acts. Ayilaran would wait for the victim in his car in a nearby park. When the victim arrived, he gave her the drugs and alcohol and then had the victim perform sex acts on him in the car.
Travel to French soil and join us for a night filled with two of the most beloved French traditions—no plane ticket required! ?
On January 25th, we invite you to experience the magic of Galette des Rois, a 700-year-old tradition celebrated across France throughout the entire month of January (and even beyond!). This sweet, almond-filled puff pastry topped with a golden crown isn’t just a treat—it’s a celebration! The lucky person who finds the fève (a porcelain charm hidden in one of the slices) becomes the King or Queen for the Day, and don’t worry—there will be plenty of royalty to go around! ??
But that’s not all! In France, Les Voeux (New Year’s wishes) continue throughout January, often accompanied by Champagne and good cheer. We’re bringing that festive spirit to you, with a lively evening packed with French food, wine, and music.
What’s in store:
Experience the passion and drama of Puccini’s “The Girl from the Golden West”.
Featuring special guest musicians from The Chesapeake Youth Orchestra,
this performance brings Puccini’s masterpiece to life with an extraordinary cast.
