Came back to Barley Mac after what was definitely a one-off experience. The staff was amazing and I had the Coccoli which was honestly out of this world. I wasnt sure what was going on in that dish but all i know is that I LOVED it. The nutella pancakes were the perfect amount of sweet and the mimosas were hearty for their very low price of $3 a pop. As its a neighborhood staple, I will definitely be returning again for brunch to try out all the different menu items that looks so delicious. read more

Food ok, service super rushed. From the beginning, it just wasn't an enjoyable experience. No welcome to barley Mac, here are our specials -- or just friendly conversation. Food/drinks: The fruity drinks are realllllly sweet. A good bar does a fruity drink without making it overly sweet. This bar was typical Arlington style, just sugar with a hint of booze. Asked for American cheese on my burger and got the smoked Gouda i specifically said I didn't want. Don't plan on coming back. There are other places in the area that are more relaxing and have better food. When we got a to go box, the waiter was rushing and placed it down in such a hurry that it basically fell off the table. The whole experience was mediocre at best. read more

Waited 30 minutes for our table despite having a reservation and then were told it would be 30 minutes for our food to come out. An hour later they said there are 3 tables in front of us and then they would start our food. We left read more

What a disappointment this place was! I made a reservation for my birthday for brunch one one month in advance. There were 15 of us. Called a few days prior to confirm everything and was so excited to celebrate at Barley Mac. As my party was seated, we could clearly see that our server was over extended with tables on the patio as well as our large group. We waited an hour (not exaggerating) just to receive drinks/champagne. I asked to speak with a manager and was told to go talk to her on the expo line.  Everyone in my party has worked in the restaurant industry at some point so we know what being in the weeds looks like. I go to the manager who was a young black lady (didn't catch her name nor did she mention it) told her we were STILL WAITING on drinks an hour later. She was so busy, there really wasn't anything she could do at that moment and time. Went back to my party hoping that things would turn around. They didn't.  We received food that wasn't ours and were still waiting for several drinks. At this point the manager did come over and apologize, which I appreciated. However, my birthday was ruined. My entire party left without eating and went next door to Inca where they served us food and drinks immediately! I will never return back to this place. At least not until I know that it is adequately staffed and prepared for service. I understand that in today's climate, a lot of restaurants are short staffed. However, that's no excuse.  Plenty of things could've been done to prevent a group of 15 (who were there to spend money) from walking out. We witnessed other tables get up and walk out as well. It looked like the kitchen was understaffed as well as the FOH. I know brunch can be a difficult shift to work but what happened yesterday was totally unacceptable and inexcusable. Hopefully this place can turn it around so others don't show up like I did, looking to celebrate and/or just eat, and leave frustrated and disappointed.  The manager on duty that day (Tania) did call me the following day and apologized again. However I asked to speak with someone higher than her to understand why they would leave her, their staff, and fellow patrons high and dry the way they did. 4 days later I've yet to received a response. So I'm not leaving reviews on all public sites and will be posting a video on IG/TikTok as well! read more

Came to Barley Mac for a small (8 in our party) team dinner. Knowing that this place is from the same owners of a few popular bars in the area and Barley Mac is more of a sit-down restaurant, I was not sure what to expect. Let me tell you this, both the service and the food are excellent! We had the grilled octopus - very tender, top 2 octopus dishes I've had in the area. The coccoli was unique - basically balls of dough, like donut holes, with truffle honey and prosciutto on the side. Calamari - as good as I've had anywhere. I ordered the squid ink linguine with grilled shrimp for my entree. It was my first time trying squid ink pasta and it was delicious. Not to mention, the plating was also delightful. The wait staff stayed on top of keeping our water glasses full. Very good local restaurant that I will definitely be visiting again. read more

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Waiting 45 mins for a beer only to be told that their bartender was fired. lol. This place is ridiculous. STAY AWAY!!

The Barley Mac Truffle Mac is the best thing that has ever touched my lips. It is not too greasy, not too heavy, not too salty, and just the right amount of creaminess and texture. If I could I would order 3 servings of these as a meal. I also LOVED the breakfast pizza! Be careful though because the portion is very large, and I don't think I would be able to eat it all by myself. Service is very professional, and I always felt like I was being treated like royalty. Will definitely be making this a regular spot for me whenever I am in Rosslyn. read more

MY. NEW. FAVORITE. PLACE. TO. EAT. Scoped this place out on no other than good ole trusty Yelp and made reservations as a few friends and I were planning on being in the area on a Friday evening after work. Front of house staff was extremely accommodating as we were running a bit late and they kindly pushed back our reservation (thank you again!). As soon as we arrived, we were immediately seated and ordered our food. I ordered French onion soup as an appetizer and for my entrée the grilled chicken wings, truffle fries, and Brussels sprouts. When I say EVERY-THANG was on point, it literally was! With my absolute favorite being the Brussels sprouts *drools all over again* that had chunks of dried pineapple throughout which was a GREAT combination with the flavor of the sprouts and champagne vinaigrette (OMG!). The wings were grilled perfectly and had a sticky + sweet drizzle which was also ah-mazing! Oh, and the truffle fries and French onion soup were A+, too!! The service was also great as our food came out super, super quick and our server continued to be attentive even while the restaurant filled up with other patrons. I cannot wait to go back yall as I'm definitely going to the bar next time - I want to see what their Happy Hour is like *Birdman hand rub*. read more

We sat outside and order some drinks and dinner. I got a local cider and some friends got the sangria. We also ordered the mac and cheese, truffle fries, fig and prosciutto pizza, meat lovers pizza, french onion soup, and meatballs. The food was good. Service was good. read more

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After such a stellar first experience here, in had a strong craving today for a second visit. Same warm, friendly service - it seems the bartender was my waiter and he did an excellent job of multitasking. Sweet heat - i luv spicy, jalapeno-tasting cocktails and this did not disappoint. Passion fruit margarita - still amazing. Crabcake entree - wasn't blown away. Overall, fairly flavorful, but the filler did detract a bit from the crabcake. The fried fries were pretty good, though lukewarm. Still, a decent dish, overall. Key Lim Pie - mmmmmm, creamy and delicious. The blueberries and accompanying sauce was a welcomed addition. read more

Food is pretty great. Had the grilled octopus. The octopus itself was perfect, tender with a slight char flavor. The crispy fingerling potatoes that came with it were not crispy and were cold. When I brought it up with the server, she said it was supposed to be on a cold salad because the chef felt that made the octopus more tender. That might be true, but I don't like cold potatoes ... especially if they are supposed to be crispy. Maybe do the octopus with something else or plate the dish differently so you can get crispy warm potatoes and keep the octopus tender. Also had the branzino which was also served with crispy potatoes. This time, the potatoes were warm and actually crispy. There were what I think were sweet potato crisps on top which I wasn't expecting (pleasant surprise). The fish itself was excellent. The lemon white wine caper reduction was good but only after I squeezed out more lemon juice. I could not taste the white wine either before or after I squeezed the lemon. Maybe my palate just isn't that refined. The baby kale underneath the fish was also delicious. That with some warm beets and maybe some carrots would make a great salad. It was a nice day when I went so I sat in the patio which apparently is part of the happy hour seating area so I ordered a whiskey smash. The smash tasted like straight bourbon on ice. No trace of citrus or mint flavor. I was also disappointed that it didn't come with a garnish. Aren't cocktails supposed to be garnished? The mint is the thing that makes a whiskey smash refreshing no? The wait and bus staff were great and attentive. I do hope that the tip is split evenly among the wait and bus staff. I had 2 servers and 2 bus people service my table. Not once did anyone offer to refill my water. Usually, not a problem, but the whiskey smash was strong and I was trying to stay relatively hydrated. I also ordered an espresso at the end of dinner. BIG MISTAKE! The espresso was horrendous. Just nasty. Tasted like that little bit of burnt that was left in a coffee pot. Espresso should be smooth and have a nice crema (the thing which in my opinion makes that little bit of liquid worth $4). This had no crema and was just ick. Wouldn't even pass as bad drip coffee. Just yuck. Either the espresso was not made in a good commercial espresso machine, or whomever made the espresso had no idea how to operate / did not clean the machine. The only other thing that was aggravating was that I did not receive all my change. I paid in cash and they apparently round out the change (in their favor of course). The restaurant is pricey so if you're eating there the few quarters that they don't give back to you probably won't break the bank ... but still ... uncool. read more

I loooved this place. My coworkers came for a happy hour, and although the happy hour deals aren't that cheap, the quality of the food and drinks definitely make up for it. The interior is beautiful with a rustic and modern touch, and it gets decently packed for weekdays it gets more into the weekend. We had a vanilla chai cocktail, which was pretty well spiced and mixed. We ordered the margherita pizza, the calamari with fried zucchini, and the bruschetta. The pizza was SO GOOD. it's hard to find a decent pizza place around, and I 100% recommend this place. The calamari was surprisingly light--it was delicately hand battered, and came with the zucchini, which was a delight. The bruschetta was pretty good, and came with a balsamic reduction drizzled over standard bruschetta topping and great, crusty (sorry!) bread. I'm already making plans to come back! read more

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I came here for a HH with some coworkers. They have a really cute outdoor seating area, but since it was so hot that day, we sat inside. For drinks, I tried the Mango Basil Margarita and the Blueberry Lemon Mule. While both drinks were delicious, I preferred the margarita. The mule was definitely a little sour. For food, I tried their popular Truffle Mac and it surely did not disappoint! It was super creamy, cheesy and juicy. The breadcrumbs gave a nice crunch and it came out steaming hot. Definitely would love to come here again :) read more

I know I write a lot of brunch reviews... but I cannot express how much Barley Mac is my new favorite brunch spot. Food, service, presentation, cheap mimosas -- they have it all. Where to start... probably the Coccoli - these little crispy dough balls covered in truffle honey served with prosciutto and a soft cheese. WOW! So good - everything on the plate paired incredibly well together. Honestly I'll probably just get three plates of these for myself next time I'm there... or at least some to go. Huge shoutout to our waitress who suggested we get this dish! For my main, I got the pesto gnocchi - it was super good and very filling. It had sausage, gnocchi, pesto, and a fried egg on top. Others at the table got the benedict, the pancakes, and an omlete. Everyone thoroughly enjoyed their meals! Honestly another highlight was the mimosas! They were only 3 dollars each! Can you believe? I have not been at another brunch place that has mimosas or other breakfast cocktails that cheap -- at least not one where the drink still tastes great and hasn't been shorted on the alcohol. I will definitely be back! Always and forever. My friends are already tired of me asking to come here every weekend. read more

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One of my new favorite brunch spots in the area! I've been here twice now. Don't be fooled if open table says there aren't any reservations available, they are generally not very full for brunch so give them a call! The brunch drinks are one of the best deals in the area; less than $5 for bloodys, mimosas, and their own concoctions of each. (Note their "bloody Mac" has bourbon instead of vodka; might not be what you're expecting) The food is delicious! I've tried their Benedict and prosciutto and Gouda omelette and both were better than expected. The servers are on top of their game and can always be found if you need anything, and the atmosphere is cozy and warm. Perfect for an outing with friends or a date! I've also heard the dinner is great; can't wait to try it! read more

Had delivery from Barley Mac so can't comment on the service. However, the food was overall very good. The calamari was only ok, but the salmon, French onion soup, and roasted chicken eggroll were great. The coccoli was also very good, although not something I would eat regularly. I'm looking forward to trying other dishes. read more

Understaffed. 25min to get a drink. 50min to get happy hour food. And, lackluster food at that.

This is one of my favorite places in Rosslyn. The service (pre-COVID) was fantastic. Prompt and very personable staff. The food is also amazing. My friends and I would go for brunch often. Although Virginia does not permit bottomless brunch, the options for purchasing a champagne bottle with great delicious mixers (like the passion fruit or the blueberry juice) is great. Definitely order a side of truffle Mac and cheese and crispy Brussels sprouts. I say dream about these. Highly recommend. Will definitely be supporting this business to make sure they stay open! read more

I came here for lunch with a group of 8. We made a reservation ahead of time, though it didn't seem like we needed one as there were many tables available. The server was very attentive from start to finish and placed bottles of water on the table so that we could refill on our own which was nice. He helped a few of my colleagues out with suggestions on what they should order and the food came out quickly. We started with truffle mac and cheese and brussel sprouts, both of which were average. The brussel sprouts had pineapple and macadamia nuts on top which I thought was an interesting choice. For my meal, I got their special burger with gouda, caramelized onions, bacon and a special mayo with fries. The burger seemed very salty and I only ended up eating half of it. It was a $16 burger where the patty seemed more on McDonald's level. The rest of the table shared the same sentiments around the food as well. read more

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This restaurant was a great pick for a friends birthday brunch! They had ample outdoor seating with great service. Mimosas were also only $3 each! The food was amazing! I ordered the breakfast pizza with no meat but subbed it with the homemade pesto and some veggies. It came out very tasty and at no extra charge. I had the opportunity to taste some other dishes that my party had ordered and they were all equally as good. The ingredients were fresh and the portions were large! read more

Barley Mac - Bars Near Me - Arlington, Virginia

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Fantastic food and service! We started this morning with a passion fruit mimosa for $3 (woot!) and a bloody Mac that was refreshing yet punchy! Then we shared some truffle Mac & cheese that was comfort food turned up to 11. Crunchy, creamy and didn't need salt--a real rarity, IMO. Then I had the kale salad with rare steak; awesome but for a smidge under seasoned on the meat. Salt and pepper took care of it. The showstopper was the spinach and mushroom omelet; hubby said the spinach was smoky, which made all the difference. Excellent flavors, filling and the sides went well together. Finished with coffee and another mimosa; for $60 including tip, it was worth every penny. We'll definitely be back. read more

Barley Mac - What's left of my awesome kale salad with steak. The steak was a wee under seasoned, but some salt and pepper took care of it! - Bars Near Me - Arlington, Virginia

My husband I tried Barley and Mac this evening and were not disappointed. We started off with Crispy Brussels (the pomegranate seeds added a great burst of flavor) and Seared Jumbo Sea Scallops (they were fabulous). We split the Braised Short Ribs and Peach Cobbler which were equally fantastic. The service was spot-on from our waiter to the general manager checking on us. Oh..I almost forgot try the Juicy Lucy IPA. read more

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Based on previous menu pictures, I really wanted the pork chops. It seems this item is seasonal because the current menu selection was slightly different. Tonight's meal consisted of sweet potato purée, chargrilled cauliflower, and two bone-in pork chops. The pork chop was done very nicely with great seasoning and cooked medium all the way through. I wasn't a fan of the sweet potato purée, as it was too sweet and very strong in seasonings. The mole shmear was a nice touch and tamed the purée's taste. I would highly recommend this place and come back again (next time getting the amazing looking burger!) read more

Barley Mac - Bars Near Me - Arlington, Virginia

Nice place in the standard gastro-pub American genre. The staff was relatively understanding of small kids, but not terribly flexible on substitutions. Look, I get it, if you change what is standard on a dish it causes more work for the kitchen. But at 10:30AM on a Sunday, it wasn't slammed... and the swap was to go from more expensive (bacon) down to less (eggs) as a side dish. Both items are priced on the a la cart menu, so it is clear what they cost. The unforgivable sin was refrigerator cold bun on an otherwise pretty good burger. read more

Arrived at the tail end of the lunch rush. We were escorted to a table quickly. Enjoyed the hot crisp calamari. It was lightly fried not chewy. We the duo of sauces complemented it well. The pizza (enough for two) and Cuban (loved the Gouda sub) hit the spot. Will be back soon. read more

This is my third time leaving this place. My lastest experience involved my daughter arriving from NY and trying to take her out for a late dinner. We raced over at 9 pm only to be told they closed the kitchen an hour early. No apparent reason was given other than the staff wanted an early night. Sadly that will be my late attempt at one of my highly valued neighborhood restaurants. read more

Found this place randomly while going down Rosslyn that had a nice outdoor patio area so we decided to try it. Came in for lunch and we were handed a somewhat short menu. Food: We decided on the Coccoli which is to die for, especially if you love cheese and charcuterie. Its basically prosciutto and fresh mozarella served with the softest rolls ever topped with honey. This thing alone makes it worth coming here to eat. We also got the gnocchi with ragu and the prosciutto pizza which were both good. Get the Coccoli and you wont regret it!!!!!!! read more

Barley Mac - Bars Near Me - Arlington, Virginia

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My Dad, my fiancé and myself went here Sunday afternoon for brunch. We had a wonderful waitress who suggested we get the Brussel Sprouts... and OH MY GOSH they were delicious!! The waitress was kind and so very helpful. My Dad loved his BELT sandwich and I got the florentine Benedict which is always good. This place has a great atmosphere....And this restaurant holds a special place in my heart because my first date with my fiancé was here in 2019. The food and service are always on par here. read more

I had the truffle Mac and cheese and the grilled salmon. Now all though the presentation for the truffle Mac is underwhelming, I can assure you it is absolutely seasoned and flavored to perfection! The salmon and veggies that came as my entree for equally flavorful. The veggies were cooked to perfection and I actually enjoyed eating them (normally HATE veggies). The salmon was topped with two different types of sauces. I cannot remember what they were but they added a delicious, lemon taste to the salmon. Overall, the food was amazing. The only reason it's not getting 5 stars is because, although the staff was very sweet and nice to me, I did feel they forgot I was there a couple times as it took a while for anyone to return to refill my water or to bring me my check. read more

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This place is fine. It's a solid bar in the Rosslyn area where choice is limited, so I always end up here for work happy hours and such. The whiskey and beer selection is good enough and they have some okay happy hour promotions, so it attracts a lot of young professionals and folks on business trips alike. For the food, it's typically American "gastropub" bar food, like fried brussel sprouts, pizza with cured meats, mac and cheese, roasted potatoes, and truffle fries. For the price of the food and the mediocre (slow) service, the dishes are too small and a little too greasy for me. If I were to pick, I would head into DC (or Clarendon) for a more interesting happy hour crowd, better drinks, and better food. Worth a visit if you're already in Rosslyn, but not quite worth the trek for me. read more

I've been here a couple of time and always had a great experience. The happy hour is a great deal and the vibe of the place is really cool. I definitely recommend the brussels sprouts which are crispy and super flavorful. The one thing I was not impressed by was the mac and cheese, so I would recommend avoiding that. Service is friendly and prompt! read more

I have been a frequent customer since Barley Mac has opened its doors-2 years ago. It is a perfect fit for the Rosslyn/Courthouse neighborhood here in Arlington. Last weekend myself and some girlfriends made a reservation to celebrate a 30th birthday. We were seated promptly by the host and greeted right away by our server. We ordered a round of drinks and appetizers to start with. Grilled Octopus, Coccoli, and Pan Roasted Sea Scallops. AMAZINGLY DELICIOUS! I highly recommend the Scallops or Octopus. I'm a sucker for seafood! Dinner was just as delicious and flavorful. The wine was flowing, why not. We are celebrating a 30th! :) Although we were all quite full, we ordered birthday dessert. Chocolate Gnocchi....that's right! If you're a chocolate lover, you need this. Overall, our dining experience was wonderful. Always has been! read more

Barley Mac - Bars Near Me - Arlington, Virginia

I've been here a few times. Once for drinks, another time for a corporate event, and for happy hour. My favorite visit was my recent happy hour (HH) trip. They have HH from about 3-7pm, and I got there between 3:30-4pm. This was a great time to arrive because they were not crowded and my friend and I were able to get a seat in the bar area. The servers here are amazing and super helpful! Let's talk food. I had the Margerita pizza which was big enough for me to eat, and for me to share 2 slices. It was delish! I also had the chili bourbon wings and the mac and truffle mac and cheese. They were super yummy!!!! The wings were sticky, sweet and savory. I am excited to go back for more, hopefully in the near future. Their truffle mac is also super good. The HH food items are between $7-$9, which is not a bad price. I also took pleasure in their cocktail of the month, which for October 2017 was their take on a dark and stormy. All in all, check out Barley Mac. When the weather is nice they have a great indoor/outdoor scene with a nice patio. You will not be disappointed. read more

I found it; I found the local for another area. It's name is Robert Paul-errrr, Barley Mac. Barley Mac hits every little spot. It's a big space, with a large dedicated bar and and equally sized restaurant area, and is well lit and comfortable. The outdoor deck is gorgeous, and I'm looking forward to coming back and relaxing on a warm summer night on one of a dozen tables that face Wilson Boulevard. The bar specializes in Whiskey, and has a deep bullpen of really creative cocktails and high end whiskeys. I saw a handful of great Japanese varieties on the shelves, and had one of the best old fashioned's I've enjoyed In the area. (Hat tip to Majestic Lounge (Del Ray) and Vermillion (Old town) for the other contenders for best-in-the-suburbs variants. Food here was exceptional, and was even better than I expected it to be. Pillowy soft and perfectly fork tender scallops with pork belly and polenta set the stage for smoky sauce'd Brussels, mixed w/pancetta. (Easy to overcook or go wild on sauce; these did neither) the burger was as good as it gets, with thick cut bacon and a sweet tomato marmalade on a thick, properly made burger. I didn't even need to double check the beef mix; they nailed it. Service was prompt and unobtrusive, and it was easy to slide in on a weekend to grab a table without a reservation. No complaints. Great spot. read more

Barley Mac - Bars Near Me - Arlington, Virginia

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Happened into this place and had an instant connection with our server. She guided us though the menu deftly and understood our likes and dislikes. Have been back several times and continue to bring friends to this really great place! read more

Barley Mac. Upscale delicious eats and wide range of whiskeys/bourbons. You can't go wrong. Events: Oyster Fest is always a good time. Comes once a year. But you don't need an event to make this place the best choice for whatever occasion! Stop looking for dinner anywhere else - You've found THE spot read more

Me and my wife frequent this place for happy hours as their price for the pizza is really a good deal but they don't allow you to take it home if you don't finish the food unfortunately. This is actually very annoying. We had multiple waiters who had inconsistent rules with this which makes us very confused. Nevertheless, the pizza is good for the price that you're paying for it. This is a great place in Arlington to stop by. There's also ample parking space around the area. We hope the manager fixes the rule on the happy hour take out and make it more consistent. read more

Edit* Barley Mac deserves more than 5 stars. After leaving a bad (read, nasty) review a week ago, one of the managers contacted me within a day offering for my date and I to come back and enjoy a meal on the house to make up for our previous experience. How can we refuse? Their food is good! However, I am thoroughly impressed. We had excellent and authentic service from the minute we arrived and enjoyed our meal very much; this alone is above and beyond what I would expect to come of a poor review on yelp. Not one, but two of the managers stopped by to introduce themselves and make sure all was well. This restaurant is so very understated and deserves more credit than they have received; when we finished our meal a manager came by again and said he had a strange question, do I like Panic! At the Disco? I was like yeah sure, I grew up listening to their music. So he says hold on I have something for you and comes back with a signed Panic! At the Disco guitar for us. Now, Barley Mac doesn't deserve 5 stars because they gave me a guitar. The manager told us they received the guitar as part of a fundraiser auction for the Make A Wish Foundation and nobody made a bid on the guitar so they had it still. Barley Mac deserves 5 stars because they granted a wish to a child with cancer. They deserve 5 stars because they make it extraordinarily clear that they care deeply about their customers in a real way. I am a nurse, I don't know many nurses who care that much about the service they provide. read more

Barley Mac - Not making this up - Bars Near Me - Arlington, Virginia

This place is a tar pit. A weekday dinner here (before dinner rush) will take about 2 hours. Time itself seems to dilate as you enter. The staff is very friendly. The food is extreme-- bland, over seasoned, cold, delicious-- but never the same thing twice. read more

My friends birthday was this past weekend and we chose Barley Mac as it is close to DC and seemed good. When we arrived around dinner on Saturday it wasn't too crowded, most people were dining outside since it was nice out, so we got great and attentive service inside. I'm giving this place only three stars because the food wasn't amazing. Everyone at the table agreed that everything was just "eh." I got the margherita pizza and it was very bland, imagine literally cheese, sauce, crust, not a lot of flavor. I did appreciate how good the service was and they even gave my friend a complimentary dessert for her birthday which was nice, I just wish the food was better! read more

Barley Mac - Bars Near Me - Arlington, Virginia