Milltown

MilltownMilltown
MilltownMilltown
Bar, Eatery

307 E Main St
Carrboro, North Carolina, 27510
United States

// CLOSED //
PLACE STATS
Average:
4.31
Reviews:
16
Ratings:
28
pDev:
11.6%
View: Place Reviews
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Photo of AngusOg
Reviewed by AngusOg from North Carolina

4.43/5  rDev +2.8%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4.5 | service: 4.5 | selection: 4.5 | food: 4.25
Was in late night after a show across the street at The Cat's Cradle on a Thurs night, and it was totally dead and they had their limited late night menu on. So just keep that in mind. Its why i gave lower marks for vibe. I ordered the quesadilla, and they were adequate. I was starving, drunk and high, so they probably should have been phenomenal. Now for the most important part, the beer selection eas very good. Did not count, but lots of drafts and bottles. I went with a Marshal Zhukovs, which was a great end of night sipper. Would definitely be ok trying again if I find myself back in Carrboro area.
Sep 19, 2017
 
Rated: 4.2 by seanchai from Virginia

Apr 06, 2017
 
Rated: 4.51 by CanConPhilly from Pennsylvania

Jul 06, 2016
 
Rated: 4.4 by okono from Colorado

Sep 01, 2015
 
Rated: 4.88 by Ieatplates from North Carolina

Jan 22, 2015
 
Rated: 4.93 by crazyninjamaster from North Carolina

Jan 22, 2015
 
Rated: 4 by Highbury09 from North Carolina

Aug 19, 2014
 
Rated: 4.5 by Sicem99 from North Carolina

Aug 11, 2014
 
Rated: 4.75 by AlexFreeman from North Carolina

Jul 06, 2014
 
Rated: 4.25 by woodchip from North Carolina

Jun 25, 2014
 
Rated: 4.5 by KevinGordon from North Carolina

Mar 10, 2014
 
Rated: 5 by flipdog0 from North Carolina

Dec 18, 2013
Photo of Sayson
Reviewed by Sayson from North Carolina

4.7/5  rDev +9%
vibe: 4.5 | quality: 4.5 | service: 5 | selection: 5 | food: 4
I've made Milltown a regular stop over the last few months. I sit at the bar. The service is attentive and knowledgeable. Ethan, the manager, is a true proponent of beer. In the Chapel Hill/Carrboro area, he gets the most interesting kegs, especially in terms of limited releases. It's rare that I see a beer at nearby Tyler's that wasn't at Milltown first. The lines are clean and well cared for. Some of the kegs are hard and pricey, so sometimes the price of a pint can be a surprise. The food is standard pub fare with a Belgian twist. The fries are especially good. If you're in Chapel Hill/Carrboro, Milltown should be on your must stop list. Also, parking is available in the lot next to the Army surplus store.
Nov 27, 2012
Photo of Mantooth
Reviewed by Mantooth from North Carolina

4.33/5  rDev +0.5%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4.5 | service: 4 | selection: 4.5 | food: 4.5
My girlfriend & I hit this place three times in an overnight stay in Chapel Hill (2/11/12) and it did not disappoint once. We saw a gig at the Cat's Cradle - this place is just across the street. Their drafts when we were there:

Big Boss Angry Angel
Alagash White
Delirium Tremans
Duck Rabbit Baltic Porter (2011)
Dupont Avec Les Bons Voeux
Foothills Total Eclipse
Foothills Sexual Chocolate (2011)
Foothills Sexual Chocolate (2012)
Founders Centennial
Fullsteam Hogwash
Guinness
Highland Gaelic
Kulmbacher Monchshof Schwarzbier
Lagunitas New Dogtown Pale
McChouffe
Miller High Life (Champagne of Beers)
Southern Tier Imperial Oat Stout
St. Bernardus Abt 12 & 8

The bottle list was even more impressive - heavy on Belgians (nothing wrong with that) but covering all aspects of beer too.

The vibe is great, laid back & bohemian.

We ate there twice, I highly recommend the salmon (which was on special so it may not be available at all times) and the nachos (be sure to get the house made guacamole).

The staff were super cool & knew their brews. I was told they're going to have a Founders blowout soon featuring CBS, KBS, etc...

If you're in the area - give this place a shot, you'll be happy you did.
Feb 13, 2012
Photo of dbrauneis
Reviewed by dbrauneis from North Carolina

3.75/5  rDev -13%
vibe: 3 | quality: 3.5 | service: 3.5 | selection: 4.5 | food: 4
I found Milltown to have the best selection of Belgian craft beer in the Triangle... including farmhouse/saison and sour. I was impressed by the menu - they do a really nice job of breaking it down by style/country/etc that makes it easy to see what is on it. In my opinion and on the times I have visited, the bottle selection has been more impressive than the draft selections.

I have only had the food at brunch and while it was good it was nothing spectacular.

On all of the times I have visited the vibe has been quiet and low key though it should be noted that I usually visit when UNC is out of session and frequently in the afternoon.
Jan 20, 2012
Photo of VncentLIFE
Reviewed by VncentLIFE from North Carolina

4.6/5  rDev +6.7%
vibe: 4 | quality: 5 | service: 4 | selection: 5
Wow. My first trip was waiting for the Event Horizon release. I learned that Milltown is the Founders pipeline. They have it all. I actually purchased bottles of CBS, KBS (2011), Cantillon Gueuze, and Girardin Gueuze. Granted all were a bit pricey, but it is a bar. CBS alone was $32! I didnt complain because they still had it in December. If you want Founders and youre in the Triangle, go here. They have it all, probably in bottles and on tap. Their other selection is solid with a wide variety on tap. Their bottle list is endless and ever-changing. Just come in, you wont be let down!
Dec 03, 2011
Photo of Beerness
Reviewed by Beerness from North Carolina

4.13/5  rDev -4.2%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4 | service: 4 | selection: 4.5 | food: 4
I've been a few times, and I'm a fan of this place...well, I'm a fan of any place that puts beer where it belongs...on a pedestal. With a book for a beer list and a big chalkboard at the end of the bar listing all that's currently available. They have a very nice selection of Belgians, American craft, locals, and more. They usually serve the beer in proper glassware, which I appreciate more and more. And with the Belgians, that go great with their variety of mussels and fries, they have many on draft, which seems to be pretty rare in my area.

The staff is pretty knowledgeable overall...bartenders definitely, but the servers ain't bad in that department either.

Great variety of seating, with a nice patio, enclosed on three sides, bar, and some booths and tables. The patio is the best part of that, as it's pretty large and well buffered from the main street.
Jun 08, 2011
Photo of chaz410
Reviewed by chaz410 from North Carolina

4.45/5  rDev +3.2%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4.5 | service: 4.5 | selection: 4.5 | food: 4.5
I live in Charlotte NC and am originally from Chapel Hill. One time visiting home I heard of this great Belgian brewpub/eatery in carborro called Milltown. I've never been to an exclusive Belgian place anyways so I thought I'd give it a try. Man was I happy to stop by!! The place is decorated like a quaint Belgian eatery, has a great atmosphere, kind and knowledgable staff and a beer list that will make any beer nerd drool. A HUGE list of Belgian bottles and a tap listing of about 4-5 Belgians (Like Delirium and Kwak!) along with a handfull of NC micro taps and other popular micros from Avery, Dogfish, and Brooklyn. Food is amazing and the beer is reasonably priced for what it is. What was also impressive was that every time I've been there, no matter what I ordered to drink, it always came in the brewery's signiture glass, even the Kwak on tap came in the quarter yard kwak glass! The manager Josh is a top notch guy too and you can tell he wants only the best quality at his place. I truely enjoyed it and will be back EVERY time Im in the area!
Oct 06, 2009
Photo of gyllstromk
Reviewed by gyllstromk from Belgium

4.85/5  rDev +12.5%
vibe: 5 | quality: 5 | service: 5 | selection: 5 | food: 3.5
This is the best craft bar in Chapel Hill/Carrboro. Plenty of good regular drafts, plus they get some limited releases that aren't really available anywhere else, like Ommegang Rouge, Paul's Day Off, and Hopslam. Awesome patio which rocks in the Spring and Summer. Prices are quite good for craft beers. Staff are friendly and know their stuff: you say, "give me the St. Bernardus 12" and the bartender says, "we just ran out of it but here's a free sample of Allagash Four, which I think you'll like". If you like good beer you belong here.
Aug 06, 2009
Photo of jdubjacket
Reviewed by jdubjacket from Georgia

3.74/5  rDev -13.2%
vibe: 3 | quality: 4 | service: 4 | selection: 3.5
Went to this place a few months ago with some friends while visiting Chapel Hill. One of the guys we went with did some research and came across this place, so we decided to check it out.

Walked in and the atmosphere struck me as sort of run-down establishment. Did not look kept up very well. Didn't expect a 5-star restaurant, but it looked a little dirty.

Beer was fresh. Didn't encounter any skunk beers during my visit there.

Business was slow that night so service was pretty good. Received alot of attention from the staff. They were generally pretty knowledgeable and made some decent recommendations. Had Allagash on top. The place specialized in Belgian and Belgian-styled ale... hence the Allagash. They also had St. Bernardus on tap. I enjoyed an Allgash, a St. Bernardus and a Rochefort 10 while here. However, some of the beers on the menu were not actually in stock.

Overall, a decent place. It was a little pricey though.
Jun 03, 2009
Photo of andrewm190
Reviewed by andrewm190 from North Carolina

2.42/5  rDev -43.9%
vibe: 3.5 | quality: 1.5 | service: 1 | selection: 4.5 | food: 2.5
This used to be *the* beer establishment the area. Not any more. The selection, at first glance, appears top rate. Wrong. You will likely have to order a couple beers before the waitress comes back for the second time and informs you that they don't have that beer...again. They used to have a very impressive and reasonably priced "beer of the month." The beer of the month is still there, but it is no longer reasonably priced, and there is a good chance that they will have settled on Miller High Life for that month, as happened 3 out of the last 4 times I have been there (on separate months).

The waitstaff is hit or miss. Some are nice, others are particularly bitter about something, and don't mind sending you their vibe. The crowd can also be hit or miss; and occasionally includes beernerds - like us no doubt - and snooty "scene" kids that don't know beer but insist on smothering you and everyone around with their nonesense. This, however, I regard as a minor problem. The real issues are the ones listed above, and the exorbitant prices.

On the plus side, they do have a lot of beers that are hard to find, and they are all served in the appropriate glass - a quality I might be undervaluing do to my overall disappointment with how the establishment has sunk.

I used to love this place, and it took numerous times experiencing the problems listed above - consistently - before I decided to write this review. It's not what it was, and that's a shame.
May 07, 2009
Photo of BernardusHo
Reviewed by BernardusHo from North Carolina

4.38/5  rDev +1.6%
vibe: 3.5 | quality: 5 | service: 3.5 | selection: 5 | food: 4
This hole in the wall is a Belgian beer drinker's paradise. The beer list is a book detailing the history of each beer and it's brewery. There is also a giant blackboard with a listing of all their bottled beers. Allagash 4 on tap, as well as Tremens, Bernardus(out), several other good ones. Service was slow but not too bad. Food was okay - cheese grit block different but good. Has a little courtyard with tables outside for good weather drinking. Will definitely return as their selection is as good as it gets for Belgians.
Feb 08, 2009
Photo of GJ40
Reviewed by GJ40 from North Carolina

4.28/5  rDev -0.7%
vibe: 4.5 | quality: 4.5 | service: 4 | selection: 4.5 | food: 3.5
I've been to Milltown several times but somehow I hadn't reviewed it yet. It's a real neighborhood bar that specializes in Belgian beer but offers some nice American beers as well.

The atmosphere is very comfortable and unassuming. The decor includes simple furnishings and a display of beer trays, beer signs and a wide variety of glasses on display behind the bar. Seating options include a good sized bar, tables, an outdoor courtyard and old swivel style stools at a counter style bar.

The beer selection includes 18+ on tap with a wide variety of styles. They also have a huge bottled Belgian selection. The beer menu is organized nicely by country. Within the Belgian section, it's then grouped by brewery and within that, by beer. The have good written commentary at both the brewery and beer levels.

The food is typical pub fare. I really like the Prime Rib Sandwich but my wife had it once and didn't think it was that good. We had the Cheese Plate last visit and it was decent.

The server we had was fantastic. I didn't catch her name but she was very attentive and new her beer.

I really like Milltown for its selection, authenticity and comfortable environment.
Nov 09, 2008
Photo of blackie
Reviewed by blackie from Oregon

4.22/5  rDev -2.1%
vibe: 4.5 | quality: 4 | service: 4 | selection: 4.5 | food: 4.5
atmosphere: Unassuming from the outside. At the front of the rectangular building is a small dining room in the windowed storefront, maybe 8 or so tables. Further back is a wooden bar with maybe 15 seats, with various glasses lining the mirrored wall behind. An island in the barroom has seating for maybe 7 on each side, with 6 or so more tables in the room. Walls are painted cinder block with blackboards detailing the beer selection and some beer paraphernalia here and there. Matches are shown on a large projector in the barroom. The lighting was low but just fine, and in combination with the low-key decor set a relaxed mood. Smoking is not allowed.

quality: Milltown makes good use of proper glassware. Quality seemed high.

service: Good service, no problems.

selection: A few local draft selections (Big Boss Seasonal, D-R Porter, French Broad ESB) and quite a few national and import drafts round out the list...maybe 16 in total. Didn't check out the large bottle list, but it seemed to be largely Belgian. I prefer drafts, and I would give the draft list a 4, but will go the extra 0.5 for the bottles.

A good place to hang out before heading across the street to the Cradle.

08/29/08: Stopped by before the Rosebuds and Superchunk benefit at the Cradle. Finally got to try the food. I had the Mussels en Kwak, and was blown away. The broth was fantastic (I finished my meal by drinking it from the pot), the mussels juicy, plenty of bread for sopping, and the frites delicious. All for something like $12.
Jan 17, 2008
Photo of NCSUdo
Reviewed by NCSUdo from Massachusetts

4.58/5  rDev +6.3%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4.5 | service: 4.5 | selection: 5 | food: 4.5
Stopped in at this place to have dinner with my girlfriend and her family. You couldn't tell it from the outside but this place has its act together when it comes to beer.

Boasting 16 beers on tap, including Chimay Tripel (White label), St. Bernardus (can't remember which), DFH 60-min and Highland Brewings Tasgall Ale, with 140 beers on the menu. The menu is dominated by Belgian Ales, with a small selection of American, English and German beers. Each beer came with its on glass and was accompinied by description, ranging from brief to in depth, along with explainations of styles and places (such as the Trappist offerings). Excellent selection if you are looking for Belgian beers, but it goes with out saying you are going to have to pay.

The atmosphere was laid back, wasn't very crowded for a Saturday night. A little on the edge of Chapel Hill, so it seems to be tucked away from the college crowd. The only gripe from me is that the inside is not well lit around the bar, but the front is and there is an option to sit outside.

Service and food was above par. I had the ribeye special and enjoyed it, while the others liked there food as well. A good menu, blending some Belgian stylings while also experimenting with beer in some of the sauces. You will probably end up paying more beer then food, which helps balance out the price. Just pretend you paid top dollar for the food and not the beer.

On a side note, they do offer the local favorite, PBR. After indudlging in Belgian Ales all night, another in the party decided it was time to tone things down before heading out for the night. However, up asking for a PBR, we were informed that they were out. Go figure, kegs of 60-minute and Chimay, but out of PBR.
Jun 08, 2007
Photo of wedge
Reviewed by wedge from North Carolina

4.1/5  rDev -4.9%
vibe: 3.5 | quality: 4.5 | service: 4 | selection: 4
Stopped in for a drink on a Friday night around 9:30 and the place was pretty full. About 15 taps of mostly of Belgian style and local beers. Allagash White, Saison Dupont, St Bernardus "Brown" (Grottenbier I assume), De Koninck. The wall behind the bar is full of glassware of varying styles, so you don't get every beer in a pint glass. Service was alright considering how busy it was, there were only two guys behind the bar. The interior is dim, casual, and smoke free. Lots of beer signs and other crazy crap on the walls as well as a large chalkboard with the bottle selection, listed by style. I didn't look to closely because when I go to a bar, I'm not too interested in getting beer in a bottle. Nice place overall, I'd like to visit in the summer to utilize the outdoor seating.
Nov 18, 2006
Photo of cracgor
Reviewed by cracgor from Texas

4.01/5  rDev -7%
vibe: 3 | quality: 4 | service: 4 | selection: 4.5
This little bar is located right next to Surplus Sam's or whatever the name of that Army Surplus Store across from the Cat's Cradle is. Drove by it a bunch without even realizing it for awhile now. The inside of the place has a few indoor tables for dining. It is well lit, and I didn't really notice any smoke, but I don't remember if inside is smoke free. A bar, and then a second set of bar seats away from the actual bar. Outside are a bunch more seats. Most people were sitting outside when I went to enjoy the cool summer night. The people at the bar were on average in their 30s which is a little older than I would prefer. Service was pretty quick and proper glassware, etc appears commonplace. No problems with the quality of beer I enjoyed. Selection on bottle is very good but tends to be a little pricey. On tap they had about 8 to 10 craft beers which were reasonably priced. The entire selection seems to be Belgian heavy which sucks for me since I prefer english and german beer. I did't try the food, but my friends liked their fries for what it is worth.
Jul 29, 2006
Milltown in Carrboro, NC
Place rating: 4.31 out of 5 with 28 ratings