In a town with a lot of good food, this little bar has good drinks but even better food. Possibly best food in town

I visited on a Wednesday night. I had the Buffalo Trace old Fashion. It was very good, however not took a long time to get drinks. We started with the Brie Cheese Curds. They were very good. I would highly recommend. They came with a Strawberry dipping sauce. It was also very good, however, it didn't really go well with the cheese curds. I then had the shrimp and grits. The shrimp was seasoned and cooked nicely. The grits were ok. they were a little pasty. I'm from the south, so that could just be cultural differences. The Burger was excellent. It was cooked and seasoned perfectly. The fries were good and crisp. Over all, I would eat here again. I wouldn't rant, rave, and tell everyone I know about it, but I would eat there again. read more

Loved the cocktails and the food was all very good . Chilli was good and Nashville hot chicken was yum

Barrel + Rye has become one of our favorite go-to spots for our weekly date. The atmosphere is dark and cozy, just like we love. Although it is a smaller dining area, it is easy to forget that anyone else is there in its coziness. Their seasonal menu never disappoints, and we always find some favorites each time! A couple of the best appetizers include the Baked Brie with sourdough and, if you are up for adventure and want an amazing flavor explosion on your palette, go for the baba ganoush! It is hands-down one of the best small plates we have shared here in the area! The drinks are always made proportionately, are presented in a lovely fashion. Of all of them I have tried, they are all great! The servers here are always friendly, quick, and knowledgable and helpful if you have any questions at all about an item on their menu. This is such a neat place with great food and service; it is hard to NOT go there almost every week! If you are on the fence, please go give it a try, you will not be sorry! read more

Great place, great drinks and good use of space. Real bartenders here too that know Manhattans and martinis.

Never had this happen before but walked in asked if we had a reservation (we didn't) asked to wait. Quickly escorted to table after passing several open ones where we started to remove coats and be seated only to learn from host that the table had just been reserved and we could sit at bar. read more

Solid food, good wine and dog friendly. Perfect place for a late fall lunch in Geneva. Fresh and accommodative menu. read more

Barrel + Rye - Outstanding outdoor seating - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Geneva, Illinois

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Great food and service at this place. First time there and loved the unique menu, beer selection was good and the folks there are super friendly and attentive. Highly recommend! read more

Amazing food and service! We loved the southern and the buffalo chips were to die for. The perfect amount of chips and topping.

Barrel and Rye was great! I Had the barrel burger and it was one of the most juicy and flavorful burgers I've ever had. I also loved that a side salad was an option instead of just fries. The atmosphere is really dark and romantic which I liked! The only negative was the service wasn't great. They were busy but it took about 10 minutes for a server to come over and greet us. read more

This place blew up. I was in/out when I was told there was a 2 hour wait. I expected a wait on Friday night but 2 hours? Damn. I'm surprised this place hasn't started using Open Table yet. Or at least start taking reservations. read more

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We love this place. However, it's small and they don't take reservations so sometimes there is a wait. We usually try to go early for a cocktail and appetizer. Their old fashioneds are terrific! They also have a cedar smoked manhattan that is wonderful. Favorites from the menu are the Chicken Shawarma sandwich and the Bistro Cobb. Many times we just get a glass of wine or a cocktail with the House Board, which has a rotating selection of meats and cheeses. read more

Amazing cocktails, food and ambience. The perfect spot for a date night, special occasion or happy hour. If you like quiet places with a ton of open space this may not be for you. My wife and I have been coming here since they opened years ago and it only gets better. Service is always outstanding and don't be afraid to eat at the bar. Great place that knows the industry well. read more

My friends Son owns this place and it's fabulous. I had cocktails here with his Mom, Gette, and what a fantastic afternoon we had. The decor is gorgeous and the Whiskey display & selection is dynamite. The Cocktails were perfectly hand crafted and delicious. Our Bartender was amazing and very knowledgeable in the spirits he served. We had the Duck Poutine, The Salmon Bruschetta and Charcuterie. Great local hangout right in the heart of Downtown Geneva. read more

Barrel + Rye - #brunchlife - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Geneva, Illinois

I wanted to try this place for my birthday with my wife and kids. When we walked in, there was a 30 minute wait despite there being at least 3 tables clearly open. We put our name on the list to get a text when a table was ready. We received the text less than 10 minutes later. When we went back to get the table they wanted to put us at a high top with no high chair. They said well, we have a low top but someone's name is already on the list. Keep in mind, we were already there and the person/people on the list were not. They would not allow us to take the low top despite the fact we have two small children and were present at their restaurant. Word to the wise, don't go with children and don't expect them to accommodate you even if you're on the list. Word to the owners; accommodate the patrons who are present and waiting to eat, especially those who have children but, are still looking for a nice meal. It may be good food and drinks but not worth it since the guy taking our name didn't even bother to take notice of our children. read more

Amazing food and drinks. I almost don't want to tell you how good this place is because I don't want it to be too hard to get a table.

Favorite dinner spot in Geneva. Wife and I have been here a couple times and have not had any food or drink that was less than outstanding. HIGHLY recommend the shrimp and grits but we've also had a few of their salads that were all done perfectly (meats warm, veg cool, not over-dressed but not under-dressed). Desserts are also top-notch. Small indoor dining room adds to the high-quality feel and helps maintain a more intimate environment than sister restaurant Burger Local - which we also love. Great bartenders and service staff always provide a pleasant and enjoyable experience. This is a perfect date night experience. read more

Good food & drink - one of my favorite places in Geneva to meet friends. They love the Old Fashioned there and the shrimp & grits are amazing read more

Delicious food with unique flavor combinations. They have a really fun atmosphere for dining with friends.

Sweet lord this place was awesome. The cocktails are great - and what a great ambiance. Awesome whiskey bar. Had the Brie cheese curds, Duck poutine and the poke. So. Darn. Good. Can't wait to go back. A bit pricey, but you get what you pay for. Nice addition to Geneva. read more

Barrel + Rye - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Geneva, Illinois

Excellent food and service! I love this place. They are often changing the menu and adding different cocktails. I highly recommend!

We went here around 730pm on a Sunday night. It was a little confusing to find because it was dark and the town was dead. Not one person out. But it's late and cold on a Sunday night. We walked in and saw the place pretty much full. The noise level was low and comfortable to hold a normal conversation. We were sat right away and had a very nice server. I ordered the house board and my fiancé the brisket grilled cheese. House board was very good but I wish it had more cheese on. There was 2 types of cheese, two types of meats (warm sausage and some sort of ham?), sauerkraut, and 2 types of beets. I'd prefer changing out the sauerkraut for another cheese but that's just my preference. My fiancé loved his grilled cheese and Sid the brisket was delicious. We had a nice night here and both enjoyed our food. We will definitely be back. read more

Barrel + Rye - House board - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Geneva, Illinois

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Drinks and service were great. Food was mediocre and expensive. Small venue, cozy for the holidays. read more

Barrel + Rye - Old Fashioned - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Geneva, Illinois

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Went there over the weekend and asked to sit outside. No problem. We were handed a card with a UPC code, instead of a menu. We were supposed to use our phone and place an order to be brought to our table. Sorry, but I'm not an employee. No menu, no business. read more

Creative cocktails & bourbon selection, great bar service, love the vibe and cozy food.

Restaurant week dinner was delicious! The pear salad, chicken roulade, and stout brownie were nicely presented in different size and color bowls. All dishes had a nice mix of flavors. Highly recommend this restaurant/bar. read more

Great food - salads and burger were excellent. That alone would have me giving 4-5 stars. But... Drinks and food are overpriced. I would've liked a glass of sangria, but not at $10. Bad enough my bill for a salad and iced tea was $20 (not including tip). Service was just mediocre. Outdoor patio umbrellas are over the plants; not the dining tables. Our table was in the sun and my mother had to move her chair over to the corner of the table to try and get some shade, so it was difficult for her to eat comfortably. I overheard other patrons complaining about the direct sun, too. We asked to be moved to a shaded table but the server said something about the tables being reserved - but we never saw anyone sitting there the entire time we were there. We would've sat inside but the music was blaring - to the point where we couldn't talk to one another without yelling across the table. Guess this is more of a place to come for whiskey tastings (there was an impressive list) and loud music. read more

Awesome selection of whiskey's and knowledgeable staff. Staff were also very friendly. Food was good, the only thing is that it's a small place. Few tables to sit at but plenty of bar space. read more

I wish that I could airlift this restaurant to my hometown! Had a fabulous lunch here consisting of the brie plate as an appetizer, which was perfectly presented with delicious berries and a honey drizzle. We also had tomato bisque, mac and cheese, and chicken shwarma which were also perfectly presented and not to mention delicious. The service was fantastic despite the place bustling with holiday shoppers. I'd return in a heartbeat! read more

Some of the best food I've had in a while! Drinks were also very good and had a fun way about them. Can't wait to come back

We really enjoyed this whisky bar and restaurant! Huge selection of whisky, which my boyfriend loved. I even ordered a vodka cocktail which was delicious and unique from other restaurants. They have a smaller food menu, but we did order a salad and the fried chicken sandwich. Both were delicious! Overall, it had a rustic and cool vibe. Would love to return! read more

The 3 of us decided on this place for lunch. We wanted to dine inside but because the music system was excessively loud where a conversation would be impossible to hear, we asked to be seated outside. The outdoor patio area was terrible on a brightly sunny day. Not enough shade to keep from burning our skin. Another table of people were loudly complaining about the lack of shaded seating. On a good note, the food was excellent. I had a salmon salad was was perfect. My relatives also thought the food was clearly the star of the show. We did not try any of the adult beverages because we were driving. The ice tea was watered down & not very good. Although the food was excellent, it's not likely we'd go back because of the seating & excessively loud music. read more

Great spot for lunch or a light dinner. This has been one if my favorite spots for years. They feature a great selection of small plates, salads and sandwiches, not really an entrees. Their salads are my favorite. They also have a huge Whiskey selection that is more than fairly priced. With a rotating seasonal cocktail menu as well as local draft beers, Barrel has something for everyone. Seats are hard to come by during the prime time so try and come a bit before or after peak hours for the best experience. Some of the best staff around, do yourself a favor and check these guys out. Cheers!!! read more

The three of us loved the decor and the lighting! Every staff member was friendly and polite. We found the menu unique, with many options that sounded interesting. We will definitely return, but we have a couple of requests. Please make sure the macaroni and cheese is served hot. No one enjoys lukewarm M&C. And although every other component of the Brie Burger (onions, cheese, toasted bun) was fantastic, the burger was not seasoned! I took half of it home to reheat later, with SALT and PEPPER added. Fries were perfect, hot and crispy. We also appreciated having the ketchup and mustard bottles on the table, rather than tiny little paper cups. Good selection of beverages. read more

Great service love the atmosphere had a practical magic cocktail great for Halloween with the spiced skull ice cube

Amazing Primo Old Fashioned and duck poutines. Beautiful area. My wife and I can't wait to go back

Great place for drinks. The food is also really great! Our first visit there but it won't be our last.

Wonderful craft cocktails and excellent food! Sarah and the other bartenders are amazing!!! Not the typical bar food, thankfully!!! Can be very loud though...like most bars! read more

Food is outstanding. Drink menus is also great. If you like bourbon and rye, this is the place for you. It is a smaller place, but well worth the wait. Service was great, knowledgeable servers and very attentive. Been there twice and not disappointed either time. read more

Delicious food, romantic vibe inside. Great service- the server introduced me to my new favorite cocktail- a French martini. Love this place! read more