We weren't planning on going in. We were just on a walk, and the smell of burgers beckoned. I hadn't been to Barney's in ages - granted, I've been out of Berkeley for nearly a decade now - but was on a staycation, and my kids love Gott's in Palo Alto, so I was curious to see how this stacks up. Bless Berkeley eateries for having kids menus. It's like this automatic given at every place we went to this week, crayons and all, and Barney's is no exception. Kids feel seen. I feel seen (why waste food by making the kids buy something too big for their bellies?). We didn't end up getting the burgers after all, but the hot dog and the chicken tenders. My 4 year old claims that it was the first hot dog he has ever eaten. I have no idea if that is true, and if true, how that is even possible, but by golly, he ate the whole thing. Yay! My 9 year old saved his tenders and enjoyed heated up leftovers over the course of two other meals... so they stayed good, as did the curly fries which I think were his favorite. Here is why I am writing a review. The service. I was both blown away and touched by the quality of our server. I can only guess - though it would have been possibly rude to ask - that she is also a mom. She had the attentiveness that I feel I am required to have every meal at our house: we had barely said hello and she noted that she was going to refill our ketchup jar because it was looking a little low. She told me she was going to brew me a fresh cup of coffee when I ordered mine. She made sure I had refills. She whispered to me "do you want the milkshakes before the meal or after...?" because she is a pro and she knows that this could ruin the meal, but of course, it MAKES the meal for the kid consumer. She made me feel relaxed. Like I wasn't the one running around (I wasn't) for once. The glory of eating in a restaurant once in a while, or when in Berkeley, as often as possible. The burgers that were floating around me looked indulgent. I'm a vegetarian anyway, so what do I know, but I could tell the company in the place that day were all satisfied and happy that they were at Barney's. Thank you for the AMAZING service. You are a role model for people in the food industry. read more

One of my fave joints for an upscale burger. The staff is attentive and makes sure you're taken care of. My go-to is the voodoo burger medium. I love the mushrooms smothered in their special voodoo sauce accompanied by bacon and blue cheese crumbles. Their milkshakes are also top tier, perfect thick consistency. I recommend the strawberry shake or the blackberry shake. They have plenty of indoor and outdoor seating, not overcrowded and open space to eat comfortably. read more

Barney's Gourmet Hamburgers - Voodoo burger - Burgers Near Me - Berkeley, California

An Albany staple! The fries are where Barney's really shines. I always order pickle chips and at least one type of fries for the table. The curly fries have been a favorite for over a decade. The portions are generous, a large basket of fries easily feeds 4+ people. And I love that they always give a serving of ranch to each person so we don't have to ration it. The burgers are thick and cooked to your preference. They are not my preferred style of burger, but I do like their salmon sushi burger. The burger itself is just okay but with all the toppings I think it's unique and very tasty. The milkshakes are also fantastic, I especially like the strawberry, which has real fruit in it rather than a syrup. Last time I tried the chili for a smaller meal, it was decent but wouldn't order again. There's both indoor and outdoor seating, and the interior has an elevated diner feel. Also, many families come here, and the staff are used to people making modifications and special requests on their orders. read more

Barney's Gourmet Hamburgers - Chili bowl - Burgers Near Me - Berkeley, California

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My experience was the service was friendly enough but they missed my order completely while my family got their orders and I was left waiting. Because my son just had a track meet and it was late, we were hungry but wanting to go home. So as I waited for my order, my kids tore into their burgers, I wondered how my simple Barney burger, medium cooked, thousand island dressing on the side, could be missed. The Barney salad was delicious- loved the sprouts it came with. When my burger finally came, it was super juicy and I was pleasantly surprised how juicy it was- so juicy that it was leaking pink juice as I took each bite. I had to put salt on my burger twice because it was bland. I was imagining the order cook rushed my burger, didn't cook it long enough nor did they salt it. Ate in a rush, asked for boxes and the check and we wrapped up our unfinished food to go. Four stars could have been the meat being cooked more, salted and not missing my burger. read more

Barney's Gourmet Hamburgers - Barney salad - Burgers Near Me - Berkeley, California

I've been going to Barney's for like 35 years, it's seriously the best burger/fries around, the patties are really high quality. I really love their curly fries and ranch that they make. Hard to find a better milkshake, too. It's a bit crowded inside usually for us hermits, but we just get it to go. No complaints. read more

June 6 2025 1:12 pm 3.7 stars. We stop by here every few months even though it's about a 15 mile drive one way. If you become a semi-regular like us, you will notice that you see some of the same staff for years. They are usually smiling. That my Friend is a good sign. Teresa P. our server was top of the line today. We especially enjoy the quality of the beef here. It always tastes as if is freshly ground, and the cooks have the cooking process spot on. Pretty much every visit we share a curly fries and the the North Beach burger. Wife insists that Barny's curly fries are second to none. Eat here and you will leave feeling refreshed and as if you enjoyed quality fixings. For the ambiance, it can get noisy, especially if school age kids are on vacation. Usually it is pleasant with pretty fast service (slow enough service to prepare your food perfectly). Management: There are some large decorative murals that are overdue for a dusting. There is only one restroom for all of California's genders and it needed cleaning today. It would be nice if there was a sign directing customers to report messes. read more

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Barney's is a family favorite of ours whenever we come to the Bay Area. What a local treasure this place is and it never disappoints. Usually there is a wait for a table and once you eat there, you'll see why. Today we got a seat right away as we went just as they opened for lunch. We visited the location on Solano. The menu is vast and has something for everyone. Although we typically order a new burger or chicken sandwich each time we visit, we ALWAYS order the curly fries. They have a house made ranch as well that is delicious and like I've never had anywhere else. The staff are friendly and knowledgeable about menu options and don't mind you asking questions. The floor to ceiling windows make the place bright and cheerful. You need to add Barney's Gourmet Burgers on your next visit to the East Bay. read more

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Ordered burgers to go the place inside was clean they do have outdoor seating. The service at the front counter were helpful. read more

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Barney's burgers are righteous, but I'm here for the fried vegetables. Hard crispy and hot and moist on the inside. Greasy yeah, however they're unique! read more

Still one of our go-to burger joints in the area. Flavors unchanged. Just wanted to provide updated menu pics read more

Barney's Gourmet Hamburgers - Menu (1/2) as of 5/2/25 - Burgers Near Me - Berkeley, California

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Rotten greens, air smells of urine. This Barneys has gone way down hill. Both my daughter's and my food had greens so rotten they were slime. The waitress gave us here employee discount on my daughter's salad but a $22 salad that was rotten should have been comped. It was inedible. The piss smell clung to my clothes and hair. We will NEVER eat at the Solano Barney's again. read more

Best Burger on Solano Ave, Regret the new Logo on back of staff T shirt : "Heart of First Bite" this is inviting sexual harassment toward servers. Please join me in protesting at corporate level. read more

Barney's Gourmet Hamburgers - Offensive on back of server's t shirt. Required to wear while working - Burgers Near Me - Berkeley, California

Absolutely amazing place. I dine out very frequently here. The food is always top notch and the service is great too. Teresa is amazing! So are all their other servers. Super healthy menu (chicken versions of all their burgers; a whole menu side of salads). I have eaten nearly everything on the menu. NOTHING disappoints. read more

Barney's Gourmet Hamburgers - Chopped Chicken Salad - Burgers Near Me - Berkeley, California

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Always a pleasure. It's been far too many years since I've been on Solano ave. Enjoyed having my family with me to enjoy superb burger, very crispy chicken and of course the curly fries. Their lentil soup was also delicious. The food is made on site and they do the simple things well such as grilling zucchini and sourcing top quality bread. Thank you for the great meal and hopefully it won't be another 15 years until my next visit. read more

Came here for lunch. The onion ring was really crunchy and good. Burger was standard but no lettuce and tomato. Not sure if we were supposed to request them. The restaurant was nice and bright and clean. read more

Wanted to have a good burger. So we came here. My brother in law's favorite burger joint. We ordered: Barney's Burger, Maui waui, and Baja burger. We also ordered to share: steak fries, truffle fries and sweet potato fries. Omg. Their burgers is thick,huge and juicy. Not only was the food good, but their service was awesome too. We would definitely come back. read more

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Man, I hate leaving a review like this, I've been coming here for 20 years but lately it's gone downhill. Prices have gotten outrageous. $22 for a burger?! $9 for a shake?! That's insane. The food is good, don't get me wrong, but no burger is worth $22. They eliminated their parking to make outdoor seating. I get that during the pandemic they had to roll with the punches, but the pandemic has been over for years. Everything is back to normal now but they haven't turned their outdoor seating back into parking spaces. People need MORE parking, not less. I dunno, hopefully some new management can come in and turn things around. The food is great and I'd love to keep coming here, but not at these prices. read more

Barney's Gourmet Hamburgers is a classic spot on Solano Ave. in Berkeley, with other locations throughout the Bay Area and just learned throughout LA too! I've been coming to Barney's for as long as I can remember ~ a very nostalgic spot known for their juicy burgers, creamy milkshakes, hearty salads, crispy beer battered onion rings/veggie basket, steak fries, curly fries, and more. Their menu has def. evolved over the years adding elevated hot dogs, chicken/fish sandwiches, sweet potato fries, pickle chips, and pretzel buns to name a few to the mix. If I'm not sticking to something classic, I do love their Falafel Salad (romaine, housemade falafel, artichoke hearts, cucumber, tomato, feta & vinaigrette) or as a Pita (house-made falafel, lettuce, tomato, cucumber, avocado, feta & tahini sauce, in a whole wheat pita). They have a dynamite 1000 Island sauce they bring for their burgers/sandwiches, which I always ask for a couple of sides of..this in my memory came before the In N' Out sauce so always have to have ample amounts, ha! The blackberry shake is my jam ~ they have a variety of flavors like Oreo or Turkish Coffee, but this one is too unique to pass up! With menu options for all parties from kiddos to those on a health kick, ample parking, friendly service, and indoor/outdoor seating, Barney's is a pretty solid spot to grab your next burger fix n' fries. read more

Barney's Gourmet Hamburgers - a knife stuck in a burger - Burgers Near Me - Berkeley, California

Teresa provided great service and was patient when we placed our order. Food wise I highly recommend the Caribbean jerk burger, it was so flavorful with bit of heat. The chicken tenders were thin in meat portion and dry. I do not recommend ordering that. The Barney chicken sandwich was mid. The slaw I think saved the sandwich. A small order of fries is a good portion to share with 2-3 ppl. I liked the season curly fries and skinny fries. Kid's menu available. The Mac and cheese was a hit! Root beer float winner and loved that they have kid's Oreo milkshake. Ambiance nice and spacious. I enjoyed the booths setting. read more

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What happened to you, Barney's?! They used to be great. Then they were just ok/fine, but last night it was sad, dirty, and staff were clearly overwhelmed. Here's what was going on: 1. Walked in and stood waiting to be seated. Not too busy, open tables and no acknowledgement for about 5 min (to be clear, there was no line for tables- just us). 2. To-go bags were stacked up and 2 people were trying to figure out something with that. 3. Filled, dirty bussing tub was sitting on top of a dirty table for the entire time we were there inches away from where a family was sitting. 4. Phone ringing and a guy walks up to answer it before acknowledging that we, and another guy who's walked in, are standing RIGHT THERE. Poor customer service training. 5. We are acknowledged and allowed to sit at one of two tables. As we approached our chosen table, noticed that there were crumpled napkins and food underneath. 6. Menus were brought immediately. Then the server who brought our menus went to the table next to us to confirm the number of menus they needed. They had been seated the entire time we were waiting to be seated and no one even brought them menus?! Red flags everywhere so we left the chaos and stress. I believe Barney's has been operating on their once-great reputation and has done nothing inspiring or new besides a few menu updates. Even the design and color palette is stuck in 2005. Priority might be on take-out and delivery service. Kitchen looked overwhelmed. Front of house staff are trying, but they're overwhelmed and not trained to take care of the people who are in-house. I want Barney's to get back its mojo. C'mon Barney's (ownership)! Get it together. I'm rooting for you. The nostalgia and delicious curly fries and steak fries just aren't enough. read more

Barney's Gourmet Hamburgers - 2 staff working out an order issue - Burgers Near Me - Berkeley, California

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I love their turkey burger. It's both juicy and tasty! I would give you a five but the tomatoes and onions are not always the best quality and really that is simple to fix! It's my pet peeve when they give you the end of the tomato with the brown part from the vine and often they are mealy. No one wants to eat that. And also give a full slice of red onion instead having bits missing. You have gourmet burgers why skimp with the fixings! read more

Thank you so much to the tall man with facial hair whose name I didn't catch but he took photos of us so very patiently and turned on the heater for our outside seating. The curly fries are dangerously addictive and it was heartbreaking to watch my friends turn into monstrous chaineaters who couldn't control themselves and ate them all before the main dishes arrived. The salads are in big portions, I got the Chipotle Chicken one and it satisfied me enough. read more

Barney's Gourmet Hamburgers - Chipotle Chicken Salad - Burgers Near Me - Berkeley, California

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It's so sad to write this because I grew up eating here, but it's also sad what this place has turned into. The quality of food has gone way down and the prices are sky high!! I ordered a Maui Waui with a garden patty. It was not good. Just a whole wheat bun, with a pineapple ring and drowned in a brown sauce (imagine the cheapest teriyaki sauce you could buy). Well, only the bottom bun was drenched in sauce. It was like a sloppy joe and tasted like nothing. Get this... it was $19. For something I could have slapped together at home (but I wouldn't because it wasn't good) for $3... this was just not what I was expecting. My husband got the BLT. The bacon was cheap (super thin) and sparse. At least the lettuce looked fresh? The service was sad, too. Our waitress looked so busy and our food was brought out to the wrong table a few times. They're probably short staffed... that's what it looked like from the dining area. The only good thing here is the curly fries except we got all the bits and ends (bottom of the bag). But curly fries are always good... even if they're from Safeway, so if you're looking for a decent, quality meal... it isn't here. read more

Really great burgers & fries. They have the best milkshakes ever! The staff is really friendly. The place is small but always clean. I enjoy sitting in their outside patio when it's warm. read more

This place used to be outstanding, big portions and really good taste. no one left hungry... but i had not been back for years and when I did it was quite disappointing. Everything was not right and we all were disappointed. Never going back read more

I am writing to get the owner's attention. I would like the owner to look at his/her/their calendar to view who was working this evening, Saturday, September 13th at the Solano Ave. location around 6 PM. The three gentlemen who served me - and all your other customers this evening - are your greatest asset! Julian, Aki and a third gentleman whose name I didn't get were, hands down, the best waiters I have seen in longer than I can remember! The service was absolutely stellar. They seated me quickly, took my somewhat complicated special order with speed and attentiveness, filled my water glass before I had to ask, brought me the dishes at the right times instead of all at once, checked on me several times (when's the last time anyone did THAT in the Bay Area?!) and then, once they were sure I was done, brought the bill with speed. And were so gracious and kind the entire time! Because of this, I asked for their names so I could write you about them. But it wasn't just for me that they did all this, it was for everyone there. I saw them take other complicated orders - splitting milkshakes, holding the sauce, cutting something in half by request.....and as I looked around me, I saw that all the other customers were having flawless service also. These three men really acted as a team. It was really impressive. You are very lucky to have them! Please let them know you saw this review and that you are grateful for them! You can't find employees like this everywhere! I think you, the owner, should know how great they are. They made my night. read more

Not worth it really. The highlight of my experience was the very nice and sweet server chick, the dude who kept bringing me my hard-to-find-on-tap Scrimshaws out to me and sitting in the parklet on a gorgeous low-key Saturday afternoon. The so-called Moroccan burger tasted just like any other burger and was pretty bland. The burger was all top bun making you have to eat it with K&f which I don't prefer. The lettuce was green and tomatoes and pickles were good, but they kept falling off the burger making me have to either get my fingers all messed up putting them back on the burger or just picking them up off the plate and eating them pff the burger. AND they served the 1000 island dressing on the side, which is bullshit - just don't don't put too much on the bun brah, and then you won't have to put it on the side. The $21 I paid for the burger (i don't care if it's wamyu beef or not) wasn't worth it and could have gotten just as bland a burger at Foster's Freeze. Really disappointing, but it was a gorgeous day and the service was good so I tipped them well. The garlic spicy curly fries were good but too big of a serving for a "single" order. And where was the pepper in the condiments cart? I get it Solano and the rent's but I end up with an almost $70 bill for. burger & fries with 3 beers an tips. Well, I guess if I was bourgey and didn't venture out of Albany or El Cerrito this would be cool, but there's many other places than this I'd like to try if I' gonna spend $30 on the food potion of my meal. read more

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Nice clean cute place. Servers were super kind and helpful. Brought a concern up to our waitress and she fixed the issue immediately. Burgers are thick, meaty and cooked very nicely. We also got the chili cheese fries which were just okay. Chili was very tomato forward but rather bland but we probably should've gotten another fry dish anyways. Shakes were good and overall great experience. read more

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I can't believe I haven't reviewed Barney's yet, after having eaten here at the Solano location, for years. The prices have gotten a little high, that's for sure, but it is a very solid burger place, and they have multiple other things, as well. I always loved the fried vegetable basket, but sometimes things would be a little soggy. Which comes with the territory, especially if you're taking food home. That said, I don't know if they changed their batter slightly, but the other day we got the vegetable basket, minus mushrooms, and also the fried pickles, and they were just slamming. Crispy as can be, and delicious. Their salads are great, and so are the milkshakes. My husband likes the Greek burger, and I like the one that comes with artichoke hearts, mushrooms and cheese. It is a delicious mess. Their steak fries are good, too, and this is coming from a person who is generally not crazy about fries. Interestingly, they have good falafel, too. You really can't go wrong here. The staff are really nice, too! It's a fun place to eat. read more

Barney's Gourmet Hamburgers - Fried vegetable basket with extra onions, and no mushrooms. Also some fried pickles. Absolutely fantastic! Still crispy as take-out! - Burgers Near Me - Berkeley, California

The food here is great, cooked to ur liking, friendly staff. I did however have an issue with an online order, but Sofia (assistant manager) was able to make things right. Great burger spot. read more

First time I had seen my sister since the pandemic started in March 2020. All three of us fully vaccinated. Saturday June 19, 2021 noon, left El Dorado Hills driving 104 miles to Berkeley, arriving 230pm, too late for Kirin and Sichuan Style Chinese restaurants, which close at 2pm. My sister didn't want Zachary's Pizza, so we walked from her house to Barney's. We were going to eat outside, but it was too cold, with high temperature in El Dorado Hills 103, and Berkeley only 67. Sister ordered the $10.50 veggie club, I ordered the $15.50 big Barney burger, and wife ordered the $11.50 Barney's Portobello burger. Now we just ate at omelets at Bella Bru in El Dorado Hills at 11am, our first meal of the day after driving from South Lake Tahoe, so you think we wouldn't be hungry, right? Wrong, wife and I ate our hamburgers like it was our last meal, and mine was a 1 pounder of grilled ground beef patty, lettuce, raw onions, pickle and a side of mayo. No cheese on my burger, and no fries needed either. No leftovers from us, it was that good. Sister took her veggie sandwiches, with tomato, avocado, cheese, lettuce on wheat bread, home to eat for dinner. She had eaten lunch earlier out of town. First time in decades that she went to a hamburger joint, as she doesn't eat red meat, nor fried food. My last review was about the time I ate two breakfasts in 1 day. This is about the time I ate two lunches in 1 day. read more

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I had the salmon burger.Not very good.Very small on a crummy roll. My stomach has been upset for two days. read more

Absolutely disgusting. Let me tell you why... Been going to Barney's on Solano Ave. in Berkeley for years. Grew up in the area, and was living in the Thousand Oaks Neighborhood even before Barney's was a thought. That being said, the utter disappointment from this week is only saying what most restaurants are doing: declining in quality. This is a conversation had with friends & family about restaurant businesses ALL OVER THE SF BAY AREA. It is derives from nothing more than laziness and greed. This business alone makes enough money to uphold it ONCE (not anymore) stellar reputation, service and quality food. Ordered a simple burger, The Guacamole burger. The latest change to this burger is Tortilla Strips...GET RID OF THIS ADDITION FOR THIS BURGER...WHY YOU ASK? The tortilla strips tasted of FISH...this is BEYOND DISGUSTING. I don't want a reply from some "manager," or even the owner saying this is impossible. No it's not. I became ill from this. There are two ways this could happen, and Barney's knows each way...STOP BEING LAZY. The once nice and decent tasting guacamole is bland and disgusting too...then again, how can one distinguish the actual flavor of it with FISH FLAVORED TORTILLA STRIPS? The burger patty was cooked just fine, the bun was nice, even fresh...yet the entire Guacamole Burger ruined because of sheer laziness, and frankly selFISHness. GET RID OF THE UNNECESSARY TORTILLA STRIPS ON THIS BURGER. They also become soggy...which is adding to further grossness, and gross texture. The Guacamole has no flavor, and the gross fish flavor from the re-heated tortilla strips with the guacamole is unpalatable...and made me vomit. Yes. Vomit. The Curly Fries were disgusting too...WHAT HAPPENED? They were overcooked, and hard as nails...these were once the best curly fries in the area... NOT ANY MORE. Husband ordered the Chicken Strips - GROSS!! They were like eating chicken jerky...Disgustingly overcooked...just GROSS. Charging higher prices, have subpar cook help... NEVER GOING BACK TO BARNEYS...the ground beef was ruined on the Guacamole Burger because of the fish flavored tortilla strips, and the no-flavor, sin sabor, guacamole...too bad...because the burger patty itself was cooked as ordered: Medium Rare. Which is why the 2 Stars, and that is being generous. My mouth is traumatized, as is my stomach days later... Barneys Blunder...this place is going down hill. Used to be a local favorite. Bye, Bye Barneys... read more

We had a traditional burger and steak fries and they were outstanding. The char on the burger was delicious and the fries were crisp on the outside and soft inside. First time to the area and was fantastic. The staff were attentive and the ambiance was comfortable. read more

Barney's Gourmet Hamburgers - Vanilla Milkshake! - Burgers Near Me - Berkeley, California

Had a bad experience while visiting for Fathers Day. There were several booths available but we waited over 20 minutes for a seat. A small group was ahead of us who were waiting just as long. I asked one of the workers if they were still seating tables but he just looked at me and walked away. They weren't that busy and I can understand why if they are treating customers in such a rude and non-caring way. read more

I haven't been there in ages and their food is still really yummy! I ordered a medium rare regular burger on a prezel bread. Get the bun on the side so it doesn't get soggy. It was perfect! Others in my party ordered the salmon burger and the hot dog with fries. They too really loved their meals. I plan to visit this place again for my burger fix! read more

Ok. This may be my last $17.50 basic Barney Burger without fries. So good but not $17.50 good...and is not a "Dining Experience" either. I will miss it. read more

I miss coming here for great burgers it been several years since i last enjoyed their delicious juicy burgers . It's still great burgers and fries, but my favorite is the shakes! The Turkish coffee shake is so good, and when they give you the shake in the metal mixing cup, it's everything! I walked in and was quickly helped by Paloma she was friendly and helpful, and the customer service was excellent. read more

Yes yes yes! Such great food! Great customer service! And the Oreo Milk Shake (EXTRA OREOS) is a MUST, EVERY SINGLE TIME!!!! Great environment for families, because it has something for everyone! read more

I haven't been to Barney's since they discontinued my favorite hamburger, the Parisian, which had blue cheese and marinated onions on a burger patty served on a baguette. That was 3 or 4 years ago. Then Lori L wrote a review and I got into a conversation w/ her about it and she told me about their French burger, which she thought was the same. When I went online to check their menu I saw blue cheese and bacon, which is not the same flavor profile. She encouraged me to call them to confirm and the woman I spoke to confirmed the blue cheese and marinated onions, so I knew I could have it, hold the bacon. I texted my friend Mary, whom I haven't seen since before the pandemic, and suggested we meet at Barney's, telling her about my hamburger's return. We met here today for lunch. We each got a hamburger, no fries, no salad. Just burgers. The hamburger was marvelous, rare as ordered, and very tasty. I'm very pleased to have it back as an option. Not much else on the plate, aside from sauce which I didn't use. No lettuce or tomato like before, but the burger was all I really wanted. We ate inside, as the outdoor tables were all occupied. We visited for a very long time, having a lot to catch up on after so many years. Our server was Brenda and she was lovely. At no time did we feel rushed and we were able to catch up thoroughly. read more