Gainesville is set to welcome a new locally owned restaurant and bar next month when Grain & Grog opens. The tavern is the joint venture of seasoned hospitality veterans Mikey Love and Steven Chandler.
“There’s really nothing like this in Gainesville — a family-oriented, local tavern. The perfect place to get together, whether it’s with your family, for a birthday party, or a date night,” says Love.
Love, a bartender with over 25 years in the industry, first met Chandler in 2006 while working as a barback at the now-defunct Sully’s Restaurant & Lounge in Chantilly. The two became fast friends and maintained their friendship despite starting families, working in and out of the restaurant industry, and Chandler’s move to the West Coast.
It wasn’t until Chandler’s family moved back to Prince William County in 2020 that the dream of opening their first restaurant began to take shape.
“We decided we wanted to do something together between our two families,” says Chandler. Together with their spouses, the Loves and Chandlers began brainstorming Grain & Grog as a “neighborhood-style” restaurant where everyone feels welcome.
Keeping with the family-friendly theme, the business is the most accurate expression of a family affair. Jessie Love, Mikey’s wife and a co-owner, will serve as the general manager, while Ali Chandler, Steven’s wife and a co-owner, will handle the financials.
Love emphasizes the importance of a welcoming atmosphere and high-quality food. “That’s our main schtick really … superior ingredients and customer service.”
Steven Chandler, who started waiting tables at 15 years old, will take the helm on cocktails and mixology, rolling out a menu of classics with seasonal rotation.
The restaurant will feature 16 beers on tap and an American-style menu with classics like smash burgers, club sandwiches, and a Monte Cristo sandwich, which is a ham and cheese sandwich, batter-dipped, deep-fried, and served with jelly.
Grain & Grog aims to be more than just a restaurant. The owners want it to be a community hub where great food and great company go hand-in-hand.
“For a bartender, owning your own restaurant is a dream come true,” says Love.
With the anticipated soft opening of Grain & Grog on June 15, that dream is about to become a reality. 7960 Crescent Park Dr., Gainesville
Feature image courtesy Grain & Grog
For more stories like this, subscribe to Northern Virginia Magazine’s Food & Drink newsletter.
Read More