THE BEST! The food is BOMB (likely the best sandwich I've ever had), but equally enjoyable is the owner Matt's character and demeanor; from a guy that has waited tables for 20 years, this place makes me happy. I take my family here for an experience, and that's what it is. I basically pull a beer out of the fridge, tell 'em how hungry we are and he takes care of the rest. Never been served anything that I didn't sit there and rave about. It's not Burger King, and it's definitely not your way. read more

For some of the best sandwiches in the Adirondack region, definitely check out Barley. They opened up during the pandemic and serve up some incredible bites - from Beef on Weck sammies, Muffalettas, to awesome raw fish bites - the sandwiches are creative, cohesive, filling and a great value. The owner/chef can be a bit brisk, but it's just part of the charm of coming here. I had the fish sandwich which featured raw ahi tuna, egg, avocado on a delicious piece of toasted bread. It was incredible! The ingredients were fresh and came together perfectly. There are only a few tables inside, so plan accordingly. They also have gluten free bread for those who might be avoiding gluten! read more

I'm giving two stars based off of pictures of food and not based on anything I ate. I went in a few weeks back, looking to grab a few sandwiches to take home for a family of 5. Upon walking in, you quickly realize that there is no menu, chalkboard, or anything regarding food, pricing, or ingredients. I looked around and the owner asked if I was going to eat, which was part of the plan and told me to sit down at the counter. He talked for a few minutes to a couple that he either knew or was attempting to befriend and then told me that he had pastrami, some fish left, and he could make a veggie sandwich. I didn't want pastrami, the leftover fish, or some rando veggie sandwich, so I told him that I'll see what my group thought and simply walked away. His beef gets a good recommendation but upon asking about its availability, I received a quick and rather harsh "no". I'm not exactly sure of the business plan or customer service protocol, but needless to say, I wasn't impressed at a place that I have followed on social media and sought to support on one of my trips to the North Country. Maybe I'll give it another chance and be blown away, but this time, I felt rather blown off and taken back by the owner's general demeanor... read more

Matt is an excellent chef. Keeps odd hours (which you have to do to stay afloat up here), so if he's open, go in and eat what he cooks you. He does ramen and dumplings most Monday nights, highly recommend. If you're looking for a sandwich place with a list of sandwiches to choose from, there are other places in town for that. read more

Came in on a local recommendation. My kid had to pee so we did that and then planned to order. Bathroom was not particularly clean... but decent. Then we asked what he had as there was no menu. He said he had turkey and roast beef. Kids are picky so we decided to sneak out while he was talking to someone else. On our way out he harassed us for leaving. Not a great experience! read more

The guy is a total asshole. Maybe I caught him on a bad day but his customer service is abysmal. He obviously has no interest in providing anything to acquire new business. read more

Walked in looking to grab a bite potentially and owner gave snide remark. No menus. Did not feel welcome. Owner should take lessons on customer service. read more

I went in for the Saturday dinner reservation, the menu was Asian-themed. First course was a cabbage salad with a ginger pear dressing, absolutely delicious and prepared me for the coconut braised beef and kimchi that was the second course. Third course, the weed kicked in between my second and third bite, and time slowed down over the most delicious bite of food I have ever experienced. Owner came over, looked at me, laughed, and said "you're fuckin' high." We all laughed. 10/10. read more

Been here for sandwiches on two occasions; neither time did I think the sandwiches were especially good. It's a slightly odd place - unusually dark and slightly forbidding seeming from the outside. Maybe it was a bar in an earlier incarnation. The owner does a lot of chatting with the customers, of which I have not seen many (but, to be fair, both occasions were outside prime lunch hours - more like 2:30, instead of 12:30) - there were two other customers eating during the most recent visit; I don't think there were any during the previous visit. Most of the owner's chat is about himself and his views on things, but give him points for trying to engage. The first visit involved a chopped meat and cheese sandwich, and a turkey sandwich. The second visit's order was a chicken sandwich. None were very good. In fact, the chicken sandwich had a funny taste, and went largely uneaten. And none of the sandwiches were inexpensive -- they start at about $11 or $12. On the plus side, they do include a bag of chips. One notable thing - on the most recent visit, they were also selling lemon donuts. It was a genuinely delicious donut. Maybe they should think about becoming a donut shop primarily or altogether instead of a sandwich shop. There aren't a lot of sandwich options, weirdly, in Saranac Lake, so you may have to content yourself with Barley Sandwich. But I doubt we will be back. read more

Rude!!!!! Because I said no to what he offered the place looked disgusting. Not clean at all

Great sandwich with good quality meat and mayo. Friendly man who is generous and fast.

I walked in hoping to order delicious sandwiches for lunch from a local business on my first visit to Saranac Lake. The place was empty and I asked if he's open. He sarcastically replied "does the open sign say open?" I looked around for a menu while he rudely informed me that it's almost 3 o'clock and he closes at 5. He can serve me duck, chicken, or vegetable. I was still looking for a place to sit when he made a crummy comment about my wife. My sister-in-law and her husband interjected "nope, we're out-a-here". As we're leaving, the guy behind the counter continued to harass us until we got out the door. I honestly was hoping that the whole episode was his way of adding a unique, funny atmosphere to our dining experience. Instead, he was just mean and rude, and didn't make anyone feel very welcome. I think I get why the place was empty. Later that night around our campfire, we reflected on that bizarre episode at Barley's and invented random theories to explain the sandwich guy's behavior. One such theory was that he was the son of the owner, hated sandwiches, and was trying to drive away customers. Another was that he just got off his meds, and didn't do it gradually. A third theory was that he's just an A-hole. Needless to say, we were not impressed. read more

Can't comment on the food because the owner is so rude that we just turned around and left. Excellent Customer service and good food is the key for a successful eatery. read more

This was an unique restaurant experience! The front of the building, made you think you were entering a traditional German beer garden, only to be pleasantly surprised by the modern artful dining room, overlooking the working kitchen. What made this even more unique is the owner, Matt, in which I loved! He was personable, yet tested the boundaries of traditional customer service with his directive approach. To further this experience, there are no menus, but choices to the type of protein and notification of any food allergies. That was it! I had a veggie sandwich and my husband had the chicken salad. Both were the best sandwiches we ever had. I love to try new foods and was not disappointed. Food is an art and there are so many times, we try to massage our orders only to lose site of the chef's intent. This place allows you to have an open mind! I definitely will be back if I'm ever in the area and have already recommended this place to others! read more

Stopped in with three friends today to check out this new place (new to us) and enjoy a nice lunch. I wish I could say we enjoyed, but unfortunately I cannot say so. When we arrived there were no other patrons in line ahead of us or behind us. With each question we asked (like "would you recommend the chicken or tuna", or " could you make the salad without onions"), we got what we felt was a very rude reply - to the point where we felt very uncomfortable and ultimately left without ordering. I took a little time to look at other reviews and saw a number of similar comments on Google. Not only was our business lost today, we will not be back and we will not be recommending to our friends. I am hopeful the owner will take a moment to reflect on this and other reviews and offer better customer interactions in the future. Kindness wins patrons and repeat customers and referrals. read more

Wow. That was a surprise. Drove by and saw the lights still on at 6 on a Thursday night. Took a chance and walked in. Matt (the owner) says, "You eating?" I said, "Uh...yeah." No menu....chef's choice...you eat what he decided to make tonight. I spent the next hour and a half eating a 3 course meal (wedge salad, bruschetta, roast pork loin/new potatoes/green beans) that rivaled the best restaurants in the area, drinking wine, and having great conversations with the other patrons. How does this happen in a little upstate NY town? Apparently Thursday Night Supper Club is a thing at Barley Sandwich. The food is great, the vibe is welcoming, and you get a musical education, too! Feeling adventurous? Try the Thursday Night Supper Club. You won't be sorry. read more

Thoroughly unappealing. And that's just the owner. Seems to go out of his way to antagonize prospective customers by being intentionally rude and insulting. Food looks ordinary, but I can't say for sure since we walked out on his nonsense. Just make the sandwiches, man, and drop the weird playacting that you're some kind of local Chef Ramsay. It's not working for you or your business. read more

Awesome soup, sandwich and beers stop. Fresh as it gets. Gees this sounds like a home work assignment. You must add 85 more words.

The owner was absolutely horribly rude. As a local, I was bringing my friends from out of town into his establishment during winter carnival weekend. I also had other friends already there from out of town that asked us to come join them. Usually he has a menu either online or at the shop. It was extremely busy and I went to the front just to ask for a menu and he said he didn't have one. And I said "OK well, I'm not sure what I can or can't order?" He stated "you get what you get." I said "I don't understand what you're saying?" and he said "you don't place a specific order you just tell me how many people we make you food." I was really confused by this because I wasn't sure about allergies, pricing, or anything else, so I was standing there, kind of dumbfounded. He then proceeded to yell at me and tell me that he would get to me but first he had to get to three other people around me as he started pointing at them and yelling at me to move out of the way. I said "forget it I'm out, I'm leaving." I went and told my friends that, I was not going to be having lunch with them and support his business as he was extremely rude and I didn't even understand what was happening. As we were leaving, I went back up one more time and explained that I was a local and that I didn't deserve to be treated that way nor does anyone and I will be writing a review. As I was walking away, he yelled yelp.com! As if I did not know where to write a review. After we left, my friend that did stay there with his two young children was was explaining to him that his kids were really hungry and he wasn't sure what kind of food you could make for kids. He asked if you could make a grilled cheese, and he said no. He looked around at what other people were eating and he said well, can you make me that shrimp plate? And he said "no, you are not hot enough." I really have no idea how this man stays in business. read more

Love the sandwiches here! Always unique ingredients and well done. The owner is a really outgoing, funny guy. If you are in Saranac Lake you should make it a point to stop in. The fish sandwich is especially great! read more

Driving through town and decided to stop at this unique local restaurant. Not only was the food tasty and filling, but the environment was fun and the owner was personable. Definitely a place worth checking out. We ordered the turkey sandwich, shrimp po boy, and chicken shawarma. The ingredients were obviously fresh, the meat was a high quality, and the bread felt like home. The price was modest, and the meal was worth every penny. read more

Wow! Could the gentleman working there be anymore rude and condescending? Probably not! I had a 30 second question and answer with him and left. He asked what can I do for you like I was bothering him. I said I'm here for food and drink. He pointed at a refrigerator. I asked about wine. He said Prosecco or red....let me guess, you want Chard or Sauv Blanc or some shit? So I started to head out the door and he said "what, I don't understand ". That's obvious! he does not understand the first thing about customer service. Maybe try with a hi, what can I help you with. Or hello, how are you doing? Thanks to him I'm enjoying a delicious Verdejo and fried oysters at Blue Moon Cafe. Thanks very much Mr. self absorbed rude guy! You're great! I know you already know that though. read more

Popped in last week for some PBRs. Great atmosphere and friendly, direct customer service from Matt. Will be back again for a sandwich next time I'm in Saranac Lake. They looked delicious. read more

What a great find! The restaurant was bright, modern and clean, with colorful concert posters and quirky artwork brightening up the walls. Then there was the food. I had the "beef on weck" sandwich, a Buffalo NY specialty. It was awesome. The best food I've had during my vacation in the Adirondacks. The meat was so tender and the side of au jus, was flavorful. My friend had an excellent chicken sandwich. The owner was friendly and fun to talk with. If I lived in the area, it would be my go-to lunch spot. read more

Barley Sandwich - a view of the counter area - Sandwiches Near Me - Saranac Lake, New York

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Very tasty and done just right. Got the Turkey sandwich. Well balanced and lots of flavor. Chips included. Great little spot that does a sandwich right. read more

We were looking for a delicious sandwich place in Sarnanac Lake and saw the reviews for Barley sandwich, so decided to pop in. My husband had the roast beef and I had the turkey. These are the best sandwiches ever - the ingredients were all very high quality (mixed greens for lettuce, fresh bread, chef made bacon jam, etc) and the mixture of flavors was absolutely to die for. I highly recommend stopping in and trying this place out! read more

We just ordered take-out from Barley Sandwich. The food is very fresh and authentic...nothing from the freezer! The roast beef was delicious, served on a Weck roll with a side of horseradish. We also shared a beet salad, with grilled chicken. The dressing was fabulous and the vegetables crisp and fresh. Definitely will be ordering again! read more

I just had the best turkey sandwich of my entire life with the freshest ingredients, the best bread, and the most unreal bacon jam. If I could just get a jar of that bacon jam, I'd put it on everything every day. Wow. Too good. I can't wait to go get another one of these sandwiches read more

Great new place right along the RiverWalk! Grab a bite to eat and enjoy the French press coffee and super delicious moist and tender roast beef! read more

By far the best sandwich shop in Saranac Lake. Inventive, flavorful, choices on good bread. Choose between, beef, turkey, duck, ahi tuna, salami, vegetarian. Beer, wine, soda. Great to eat in or take away. The owner is a lovely guy with a great attitude trying to make a go in trying times. Must try! read more

All of the food was great! Customer service was top notch. Very personable! Would definitely recommen!

This place absolutely nailed it! I was talked out of a fast food lunch & we found the Barley Sandwich, and what a treat it was! We both had the Caprese sandwich. It was spectacular & flavor filled with every bite. We were highly impressed. To add to it, the owner was an absolute blast to hang out & talk with the entire time! Great food, great atmosphere & a great experience overall! Highly recommended! A+++++ read more

Amazing sandwiches! My husband and I ordered curbside take-away due to the current quarantine restrictions. The owner happily served us two of the best sandwiches we'd had in a while! I highly recommend the beef on weck...heavenly and fresh! I got ordered it "wet" and the meat was so juicy and tender. We look forward to coming back to this wonderful new gem in Saranac Lake! read more

My wife and I ate lunch here a few weeks ago and had pretty good sandwiches. Today, however, my wife took my daughter and son in law for lunch and had a terrible experience. The door was open when they walked in and the owner/cook yelled at them to shut the door. He continued to be loud and rude to them. My wife asked if he just wanted them to leave and his response was just that "technically" he wasn't open, even though others were eating in the restaurant. There is absolutely no excuse for treating customers with such rudeness. Even though we are local we will NEVER return and will NEVER recommend this to anyone unless for some reason you like being treated terribly. My family left, very upset, but had a nice lunch in Lake Placid, instead. read more

This place opened during covid which in its self was impressive. Going beyond that the owner is an artist, and you can tell he uses the best ingredients in his sandwiches. I was only in the area for a week and found this place when strolling around but boy do i wish i found it sooner. I would have gotten it almost everyday. I highly recommend this sandwich shop and will make sure i get back there even though i live 6 hours away. read more

While I would love to give it zero stars I can not so a 1 star review it is. Was in town with a friend (we both live in the area) and decided a sandwich sounded good. We walked in around 11 am and were rudely asked if we had been there before. I had not but my friend had. While talking to us a few more people walked in and he said he would wait to explain it to all of us at once. Ok not a big deal. We were then told we had a choice of a chicken sandwich, some other sandwich or ramen. No mention of price or what exactly was on the sandwiches or in the ramen (I am very picky and have some allergies so this is never good for me). I went there because I had heard amazing reviews of the Turkey and Tuna sandwiches from friends. Needless to say we decided to go else where. Honestly I will not go back. Besides what respectable (I use that term loosely) sandwich shop only has 2 choices of sandwiches. Now I could see if there was a limited menu and those 2 sandwiches were specials. read more

The Art of Sandwich!! Outstanding freshness and flavor profile on the Turkey sandwich. I had a tomato soup that could have been a meal in itself! Matt cut everything fresh in front of us! The take away kit was clever with chips and pickles! Don't miss this place!! We will definitely be back! read more

The owner/operator was combative. Maybe I caught him on a bad day, but I won't be back.

Delicious eats. Good beers and Prosecco. Wonderfully awkward service. One man gathers what another man spills.

Decided to try Barley today while driving through Saranac Lake and was not disappointed! I was greatly surprised by the portion size vs price, it's cheaper than my usual Subway sandwich but WAYYY better. I also got chips and a pickle with my sandwich which sweetened the deal. The place has a nice charm and the workers (owners?) are funny, I will definitely be back. read more