Alright! A small bistro focusing on spirits, rather than beer, as the craze currently goes. Yes, they have some local beers on tap, but their focus and inventory is mainly liquor. The food doe....I tell ya........Is awesome. We maxed out. On poutine, on gumbo, on brussel sprouts. I had the Southern, which is a magnificent sandwich of fried chicken and maple syrupness. Oh jeese. I'm in love. Give me more. He had the Black and Blue and it did not disappoint. We waddled home. Though, you must know, space is limited. Expect a wait, or go during the shoulder times. read more

So they changed their yelp page, so the other reviews aren't here, but I promise that I do not know the owners as some of the other reviewers have pointed out that the reviews seem to be people that know them. I do not! The atmosphere here is great. It is cozy, great decor and an awesome bar. The drinks are top notch and if you want a great bourbon, this is the place to go. The only complaint on that front is that it's not the biggest place, and they don't have many places to sit for parties of two. The night we were there, most of the couples had to be seated at the bar, which is fine sometimes, but sometimes you just want to sit at a table. The wait staff needs more training. The hostess was great and very helpful and checked on us a lot while we waited. Our waitress however was a little rude and hurried and wasn't very good and checking in on us (my husband's drink was empty for about 20 mins before she even walked by and even then he had to stop her). As others have stated, I think this is attributable to the newness of the place. Here's the reason for my 3 star (I can deal with the other two things!), the food was just okay. We had a shrimp salad which was good but far too sweet. We also had the fried pickles and okra, but they were very heavily breaded and honestly not that great (Geneva Ale Houses still reign supreme). They are very spicy though, just to warn those who don't like much spice. We then each ordered a sandwich, I the southern fried chicken everyone recommended, and my husband the pesto BLT. I was not a fan of the chicken. I know a lot of people loved it, but I think it was just to breakfast tasting to me. It has a fried egg and maple syrup drizzled on it. I think that would have been good, had the chicken been spicy as it was described, but it was not at all spicy and so I was a bit disappointed. My husband said his BLT was fairly good. We are definitely going to try this place again though, we really liked the look of it, and the whiskey list (my husband is a huge bourbon guy) so we will give it a shot again since it is so new and I think they just need to work out some of the kinks. I will update once I do so, looking forward to giving it another shot! read more

I went to Barrel and Rye last night. We went at 5:30 (early- trying to get a seat)-no such luck. There was a 45 minute wait, but two seats opened up at the bar after about 20 minutes and we decided to just eat at the bar. We both had the B + R old fashions. They were really good! We ordered the burgers. Not impressive. He had the fries, which were delicious and I had the side salad which was also very good. Next time I will just stop in for the cocktails. The servers were nice, busy, but still had decent service. The atmosphere was nice and cozy. read more

Decided to go here with my wife after parents night for our daughters preschool. Gotta say this place was a fantastic find in a relatively short search radius. Being fans of tapas (and no, this isn't a tapas place), we decided to stick with a multitude of appetizers. The standard cheese/meat board had a very nice variety to choose from. The roasted brussel sprouts with bacon were awesome, but were missing that char/crispness that would have taken then to another level. On a whim, I got the chicharon and it was absolutely delicious. Crispy with a good dusting of spices, paired with an equally spicy sauce....could sit at the bar with a bar and a basket of those for the day! To bring the caloric level down a bit, we added just their basic salad which kept pace with the other food. Beer selection is pretty good, and the house drinks are on point . My wife had the Moscow mule, while I had the old fashioned. Both made well with a good balance of their respective ingredients. The atmosphere is pretty cozy, given the abundance of Edison lightbulbs (adds a great deal of "warmth" to the place). Our waitress was knowledgeable with the menu and beer selection and was attentive when needed. We will definitely be going back again....gotta try the bone marrow! read more

I'd give 3.5 stars if I could. Got there around 8 pm on a Sunday night without reservations and was told it would be a 25 minute wait. As we were walking around nearby discussing other options, they called to say our table was ready making our wait about 5 minutes instead of 25. We were seated at a high top table near the bar, and it was incredibly loud due to the music and bar patrons. Like loud enough that it was difficult to hear across the table and everything was punctuated with a "what did you say?" The interior is nicely decorated though. We had wanted to try this restaurant mainly because the Brie cheese curds sounded so delicious and almost immediately we were told they were out for the night, so that was actually a pretty big bummer. The waitress recommended some other appetizers but as a vegetarian, I was pretty limited in what I could eat so we declined. For drinks, we had the strawberry cucumber mojito and the Manhattan. Both were good. The mojito could've been a little stronger, but the cherries used in the Manhattan were of higher quality than the nasty bright red ones you get at the grocery store so that was a nice touch. For entrees, we had the falafel sandwich (me) and the flank steak sandwich (boyfriend). We both got fries as our side. The fries were nicely seasoned but not the best I've ever had. The sandwiches were good but I felt like the falafel had a little too much of a kick to it from the chipotle sauce it was served with - I'm not being wimpy about the spice level, but it tasted a little one dimensional like it was just pure heat without flavor. To tamper it down, I stuck some of my fries into the sandwich which worked out well to round it out. So, all in all it was fine but not exceptional by any means. read more

Cocktails were great. Food was good. Server was super friendly and helpful. However, the host was not so amazing. He had a lackluster attitude when we walked in. Told us the wait was 1 hour and we said ok. He just stood there and stared at us, didn't say can I take your name. I said well how about any seats at the bar? He said there are some you can do that. So we go to the bar. 5 min goes by and a ton of tables open up. We ask the bartender if we could grab one of those. She gets the host guy. He comes over and says, well I can put your name on the list, it should be 20 min. So we went from a 1 hour wait to 20 min now. He comes back a few minutes later and says oh you can have that table over there. Here's how that conversation should have gone: Hi welcome to Barrel + Rye. We have a little bit of a wait right now but I can get you guys seated at the bar. What is your name I'll get you a table as soon as I can. First impressions are everything. He set the tone and it wasn't welcoming. read more

OMG! It doesn't get a whole lot better than this. Well, unless you go down the street to Burger local which is owned by the same people. We had a run to Carol Stream to do some after Christmas shopping the Sunday after Christmas. We couldn't find much around there that was appealing, and decided to come back to Geneva since we have had lock the last several restaurants we went to here, we were not disappointed. We had tried burger local the day before, and we knew the same owner on this one, so decided to give it a shot. We were greeted at the door as we walked in, and seated immediately. The host was very friendly. As we came to find out, this was going to be the same with all the staff we met. Our server was at our table within five minutes to take our drink order and our drinks arrived at the table shortly thereafter. My wife had a standard burger with fries and I decided to try the pork belly. My wife always orders well done ( wife or life of me I can't figure out) and I medium rare. Both were prepared to perfection. While we both got fries with ours, I decided I really wanted to try the Brussels sprouts with bacon jam, one of my favorite vegetables. the sprouts were on believable. They should be served as an appetizer, there is enough to be as such. They stand very well on their own. The beer selection look excellent, however we can't speak to it since right now I'm on some medication that prevents me from trying it. Trust me, I'll be back. We now have two excellent choices for lunch or dinner when in Geneva, and luckily they're owned by the same individual which means the quality and service should be consistent. We highly recommend. read more

3.5 stars!!! made a trip out west tonight to get out of the city and visit one of my favorite little towns of Geneva IL. Lots of quaint charm. My best boys picked out this place Barrel + Rye because they know my love of upscale takes on gastro american food and basically the entire menu had our mouths watering. We scoured the cocktail menu and let me tell you, it looked good. real good. I settled on a fall themed rum drink that was going to have a burst of citrus freshness, my friend had to settle on an old fashioned (because the place was out of vermouth? please notice this and plan accordingly because you are a whiskey establishment and your server spent precious moments selling us on the amazing sounding cedar manhattan. so sad to have missed that) and my other friend chose a nice crisp fall cider. My drink was about as lack luster as finding some apple juice in the back of the fridge in college and saying what the heck and dumping a bunch of rum into it. Sure I drank it to catch a buzz, but in no way did I enjoy it. The old fashioned was a little sweet, but that comes with the territory and when my friend ordered a second and asked for a little less simple syrup it was absolutely delicious. I ordered their whiskey milk drink for my second round and with bits of cookie it seriously tasted like a boozy rendition of your morning milk after you finished your cinnamon toast crunch ( and I very much enjoyed this). Enough about booze, on to the food. The service - The girl was sweet and helpful and I really can't say anything bad here. So.... we were not conservative AT ALL and for the three of us we ordered the duck poutine, wings, bone marrow, a 16 dollar venison burger with what sounded like perfect toppings, a korean bbq sandwich, elotes and brussel sprouts as sides, and pumpkin pie for dessert. Duck Poutine - This was delicious. first off it was huge. And the curds and gravy had great flavor. There was a ton of salty well cooked duck, and although I did absolutely drown the entire thing in ketchup it was just because I was enjoying it a lot, a great sharable plate. A+ The bone marrow - presented her differently with a TON of roasted garlic on top. I don't have a boyfriend to kiss so I am not complaining. I enjoyed the bread here and would only say to put about 4 times as much fennel on the plate because it was such a welcome addition and I ate most of it on my one bite before my friends even had a chance. B The wings - I don't do wings but the boys seemed to enjoy these dry rubbed wings and I didn't mind the fact that there was now basically a bottle of blue cheese at the table that I could dip my french fries in because I have absolutely no shame. N/A The brussel sprouts - the first few bites showed promise and everyone at the table was giving their yums of approval. But a couple sprouts in and the color disappeared and you could tell that these sprouts really needed some more love and time to cook. A worthy effort on the flavor profile, but make sure that side is perfect. C- Elotes - my friends and I discovered elotes this year and I am seriously in love. spicy corn covered in cheese and mayo? I can't even. This one was off the cob and bursting with flavor. My friend was commenting that he detected mint on the dish and I wasn't sure if he was upset or interested, but if it was the first pass it my way, I was happy to finish it. A+ Korean BBQ - Riding the fence here. This sandwich was ruined by a thick thick bun. I only eat the bottom and I still found it too breadie. Also we noticed on the menu this weird obsession with the bread... categories like "between the bun" "between bread" just seemed a little overkill to us. focus on the flavors, not the brown slab you put it on. The meat was cooked nicely and I would have liked more of that pear slaw to brighten up the dish, it provided a nice freshness. B and then.... oh the Venison burger. We were discussing how we should order the burger because I would prefer if they bring the animal straight to the table. Barbaric I know, but I love my meat as raw as possible. Then the waitress said "chef recommends medium to medium rare." Perfect! this was going to be delicious. Well what showed up was a burger so overcooked the bun had completely taken over and the flavor of the cheese and onion was lost because no juiciness remained on this sandwich. And how can you fix an overcooked burger when the kitchen is already closed? If you say you are going to do something chef, DO IT! What a huge disappointment, especially for the price. F Pumpkin pie - out comes an entire mini pie COVERED in ice cream. The boys felt it lacked that strong spice but I really enjoyed how simple it was and the buttermilk made it so decadent, even though it wasn't a thick custard like you normally see from pumpkin pie. If it is the only one I have this season, I will be fine with that. B All and all pretty good and mostly enjoyable. Until next time Geneva :) read more

Barrel + Rye - bone marrow, duck poutine, and wings... oh my! - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Geneva, Illinois

This place had a really nice atmosphere, delicious food, and great drinks. My husband and I had the brie cheese curds and felt like rebels because we've heard people raving about the duck poutine. We also had the pork burger and the Southern sandwich. Both were super tasty and unusual. My husband had a smokey manhattan that was superb and I was pleased with the beer list. It's great to have so many unique options that you can't find other places, even in a type of restaurant that has become increasingly popular all over. Geneva is totally worth the drive from Naperville to get some really wonderful food. read more

My wife and I had a truly great experience here a few weeks ago. I had heard nothing but good things about this place, and it did not disappoint. There are some excellent places in Geneva, so they have some competition, but after a Friday dinner here a couple of weeks ago, I have no doubts that they'll thrive. The food was excellent. The kind of thing that you still talk about for days afterward. You can tell that the place is still pretty new, as things were a little slow at times, but I'm sure this will change in time. I do also wish that they took reservations, because the location is small, and fills up very, very quickly. Lastly, there's a really subtle touch that I greatly appreciated. They have a short, but very well chosen craft beer list, and each of the beers were from Illinois breweries. read more

Wow! We were pleasantly surprised and glad we tried this place. The food was very good. The service was great. Definitely will be back.

Maybe the best wings I've ever had - seriously, so surprised that this would be the spot to find them. The dry rubbed siracha and hot wings were to die for. I appreciated the decor and vibe this place has, it reminded me of something that would be in the city. There was a great drink menu, but they were missing a few of my favorite local craft beer brands which was a bummer. Wish the place was a little bit bigger, we were crammed next to a table of rowdy kids (but who brings kids to a place like this??). All in all, we will be back here again and can't say enough good things about the wings! read more

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

My lovely wife and I met three of our friends in downtown Geneva last Saturday night to have dinner at Barrel + Rye. Two of those friends had already eaten there and gave it good marks. We arrived around 5:15 and immediately put our name and phone number on their list. The wait at that time was estimated to be a very Bien Truca-ish 1-1/2 hours, so we popped next door to the very excellent bar at Wildwood for some drinks and conversation. We got called right on time and we're very glad we caught up at the bar because as soon as we walked into B+R, we were met with a huge wall of sound that made it hard to converse for the rest of our meal and very hard to hear our wait person as she described the menu items. There were some miscues on the service side that had us waiting for both drinks and apps. The craft cocktails were rather short pours for the price, but I had an excellent Sazerac that was nicely chilled without being on the rocks. The charcuterie and hummus apps were pretty good, but I had to remind our server about my roasted red pepper soup which was delivered at the same time as our mains. It had probably been sitting somewhere ready to deliver as it came out unable-to-eat hot as if it had been popped into the microwave. Nice roasted pepper flavor though. Missteps aside, both food and drinks were good and given thumbs up by all, though the food was rather too salty for my taste. We'll have to return at least one more time so I can get a roasted bone marrow fix. read more

I'm so happy with this place! It definitely exceeded my expectations for customer service and food! The first visit here was about a week and a half ago and since then I've been back 2 more times! I think the best part is that each visit was just like the last, amazing! This place is small and busy so it can be load but not unpleasant at all. You just hear people having a great time, whether at the bar or seated at tables. I think the décor helps a lot to keep it with that kind of atmosphere. It's very modern industrial, maybe a bit hipster, but just nice and relaxed. The menus are on these funky clipboards and their beer list is written on a chalkboard wall. On my first visit I kind of thought this place would be more like a bar with some small appetizers or the regular bar food but I was pleasantly wrong. They have classic bar food but with a modern and updated twist. The cheese curbs are made with Brie and have an apricot pepper jelly to dip in. WHAT?! Yeah, it's amazing! The grilled cheese is the best grilled cheese I've ever had with gouda, provolone, arugula, avocado, and guanciale (kind of like Italian bacon) served on Sourdough! Their fries are even bomb and worth noting! I definitely recommend getting a drink if you can. They have lots of options to choose from and they're all pretty unique. Their whisky list is more than a page long! To top it all off, the service here is excellent. The waiters and waitresses are extremely polite and friendly. They answered all of my questions about the menu and gave me great recommendations on drinks and food. I don't think there was a time, at any of my visits there, that I had an empty water glass. I know that's a little thing but it's the little things in life people! I mean, if you're looking for a fancy sit down restaurant like Niche than this place is not for you. But if you're looking for a fun, lively place with great drinks and food to hang out and have a good time than this is definitely a place to try out! read more

I have been to barrel and rye a couple times now and this last experience was my favorite. I ordered the salmon salad and now I crave it. This has to be one of the best salads and salmon dishes I have ever had. On top of great food they also have a good drink menu. Their mixed drinks are their speciality but they also have a nice craft beer menu with the beers constantly changing. This is now one of my go to places in Geneva. read more

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Well how do you say thank you for another perfect meal? Committed to a keto life style and carb free life these guys went out of their way to make perfect House Board and wings. Bravo read more

Barrel + Rye - House Board carb free - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Geneva, Illinois

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Enjoyed a fun trip to downtown Geneva for the day and an even better experience for lunch! Based on the reviews and of course some of the delicious pictures, we thought this was definitely the place we're banking on and excited to check out. Good news...its even better than could've expected! When I say great I mean I struggle to find a negative or room for improvement area. Immediately upon entry to the unique restaurant, we were greeting by who would end up being our waitress. Although a little wait (less than 20 minutes-the restaurant is small, and is telling of the food that there wasn't a table), we were seated shortly, and greeted again by Jill, who was great! Our appetizer of hummus, made in house and varying yummy flavors day to day. Served with toasted pita points and crudités. Delish! We then shared both the duck poutine and the southern sandwich with a side of mac and cheese, and again, wow! At first taste it's clear these folks both know what they're doing and they execute it well! We ate til we had not a square inch of space left for more, and unfortunately couldn't then find the room for the homemade desserts, which I'm sure are just as fantastic as everything else we both tasted, and saw others enjoying (also looked fantastic!) I'll surely visit again to this establishment, and look forward to trying something new, also likely revisiting some of the deliciousness we had! :) read more

This place is not cheap and probably difficult to get a table, but for good reason. It's amazing! Great service, drinks taste awesome, and I love the food. They had a variety of artisan breads, meats, and cheeses. The light fixtures were so retro giving this place a modern vibe. They were also accommodating and kind. Continue doing what you do barrel + rye. read more

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Really great vibe. Warm people and environment. Comfort, with a little edge to it. Fried pickles and okra is a nice treat. Crispy with a good kick. Large bourbon and Scotch list if that is your thing. Huge bar to sit and chill at. We will be back. The bbq shrimp is delicious! read more

Barrel + Rye - Back of bar. - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Geneva, Illinois

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For a suburban eclectic place, I think Barrel & Rye is a solid 5 out of 5. I was hesitant before we went there that our wait was going to be forever.. I read a lot of the reviews and many people were commenting on the long wait since they don't take reservations. When we got there at 6:30pm on a Friday night they were packed. Not one open table. The hostess said it was going to be an hour, so we went next door for a drink. 20 minutes later we weren't even done with our cocktails and they had already called us letting us know our table was ready. It was a beautiful night and we were able to sit outside!! We tried all the staples. The curds, shrimp and grits, Memphis board, and duck poutine. All were out of this world. I would recommend trying them all. The curds and poutine were my absolute favorites. After we indulged in small plates, we all got entrees. I had the venison burger and it was stellar. Super tasty, juicy, and packed with flavor. The cranberry BBQ sauce on the burger is delightful. I opted for the brussel sprouts instead of the fries and they were well worth it. We also got a side of the Mac and cheese with bacon and it was great as well. All in all, everything we tried was packed with flavor and the wait was not an issue. I'll definitely be back soon! read more

Been here several times, this is one of those places that makes it hard to try a new restaurant. Prices are reasonable, portions will satisfy even the healthiest of eaters, and the food will have your taste buds dancing for hours. Seriously the food is gourmet quality fine dining with a casual corner pub feel. The burgers and sandwiches will only leave you wishing you had room to order another. If you're into bourbon and whiskey then this could just be paradise for you. They offer about 200 different varieties which can vary based on availability and the pours are anything but short. If you're in the area stop in, its an experience that you won't regret. read more

This was a great whiskey pub. The duck poutine went well with the house distilled rye. I had the Berkshire pork burger and will return to try the venison burger. The Burger and sandwich selections were different enough to make the food interesting. The service was on point. Our server was great and helping us make selections. The place is small so go early on Friday or Saturday. We will go back for more. read more

This is a solid go to for any event. Great food. Great drinks. Great atmosphere. Great service.

I went here with my husband a on a recommendation from a friend. Good: extensive whiskey list that impressed my husband, waitress turned down air as we were sitting under a vent unsolicited, fast service, yummy fries. So-so: food was just okay, "Geneva priced" (meaning my $7 sandwich cost $12), whiskey drinks (hard to mess-up an old fashioned) were bland, vibe didn't make me want to stay for a second drink. Suggestion: sit at the bar, drink only straight whiskey, eat somewhere else. read more

Great place! The food was amazing- highly recommend the salmon brushetta! And the cocktails were delicious! Service is also wonderful! It's a great spot to spend with friends! read more

We went here by chance. We were looking for a late breakfast and the Egg Dock down the row was so crowded. There was no one here so we poked in and checked out the clipboard, I mean menu. Well it was a clipboard. If pinterest and instagram opened up a gastropub bistro, it would be this place. We had some brie fried cheese curds with a apricot jelly. It was pretty good. Really damn rich though. It needed a cut of acid or heat to make it shine, but a good app to start. I had an old fashioned. It was fantastic. It cost as much as a bottle of street hooch, but was one of the better ones I have had. (thank the maker there wasn't a shitty maraschino cherry in it) I had the venison burger. It was suggested I order it rare/med rare. I ordered it rare. It came out med/well. It was pretty damn good. The meat was on the tough side since it was overcooked, but I don't like to send food back, I like to complain about it a week later on Yelp. The place was cozy, and everyone was nice. They know how to make a drink, and the food is pretty good. The menus are kinda dumb on the giant clipboards, but that won't stop me. Make sure to shake your piggy before you go, because lunch for 2 with drinks and apps was over fifty bucks. read more

This was my first visit to Barrel + Rye, but it definitely won't be my last. The atmosphere was great, though the restaurant is a bit small and only has 2 low top tables. The drinks were phenomenal my table tried the Barrel Old Fashioned, the Luchadores, the You Got What I Need, and the Sup-Herb Strawberry, they were all a hit. The found was good as well, in particular, the Duck Poutine and the Brie Burger. read more

I was looking forward to coming here because of recommendations from friends so I had great expectations. I thought the bread on my grilled cheese was too dry and the soup was just okay. The pace was also too loud and dim for me. Maybe I should give this place another try next time and it'll be a better experience. read more

I love the quaint location. The food is always incredible. I especially love summer times when you can sit outside on the patio! If you're looking for a great spot for food and friends, this is it! Try their drinks they are unique and so good!! read more

Thank you for saving our afternoon with awesome service, great food and drinks. After being ignored and then treated rudely at Burger Local we were a little sad at our afternoon being rude and Barrel and Rye saved the day. Thank you!! read more

Nice spot with an outdoor patio in the heart of Geneva. Stopped for Mother's Day lunch. Menu is mostly burgers, sandwiches and salads priced between $11 and $16. I had the Streak Cobb with hearts of palm, blue cheese, bacon, avocado, pumpkin seeds on romaine. Good sized and fresh. Steak was closer to medium well where I requested medium rare was the only flaw. Service was attentive. Full bar. read more

Barrel + Rye - Dining room/bar - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Geneva, Illinois

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Very good food and service. Limited seating and almost all high top tables/bar. We have enjoyed the drinks and all of the menu items.

Very good first showing. Great whiskey list and food. Atmosphere is very nice and the size is perfect for a date or meeting with friends. The Memphis charcuterie plate was delicious and had a fun nod to the dry rub that they are known for. The duck poutine was everything that poutine should be, rich and salty. Using brie for the cheese curds added a nice element to this WI classic. The wings were great, instead of sauce more dry seasoning which was very good. My only complaint was several whiskies we asked for were not in stock even though they appeared on the menu. The menu looks like it could be easily reprinted with up to date bar inventory. If not that, they could have led with what isn't available so the ordering didn't become frustrating. Service was good. We eventually got a most excellent Special Edition Journeyman Rye that was not on the menu and that made up for everything. My brother and I also split a cocktail which was quite good but I'd have preferred a different glass. (Trivial but just my own taste) Very good, recommended. I will be back and I hope to give that extra star for consistency and no repeat of the whiskey list being unreliable. read more

Great food. Asked the server to pick my side and they picked a corn side.... AMAZING. Grilled cheese awesome too. Service great! Always busy which is never a bad thing. I'll have to go back and try a drink. read more

I have enjoyed dining and ordering take out at B&R multiple times before my latest dining experience there. I was dining there for a special occasion with my family. It started when we walked in and told the host that we have a reservation. His response was "you do?". Not a good start. No table was prepared and the table we ended up at was missing a chair. They brought us a broken chair for my child to sit in. We ordered 2 apps (because they are so small in portion size), 2 cocktails, 2 kids drinks, 2 sandwiches, a kids meal, and an entree. The total with tip(20%) was $165. The birria meat on the $17 grilled cheese was sparse. The entree we ordered was the steak frites, the most expensive dish on the menu at $31. The meat was chewy(cheap) and not cooked to order, we ordered medium and it was medium rare. It was served as 5 slices in a bowl where the fries were soggy with some limp asparagus over the top (maybe 7-10 1/2 pieces). The sauce was over salted and not pleasant. Not sure why steak is served in a bowl causing the bowl to rock on the table when trying to cut the meat. It would also be nice if it was described in the menu that the meat would be served sliced. The service from our server was great as has been my experience in the past as well. We left and the host rolling silverware at the end of the bar looked up and did not say a thing, such as "thank you - have a good night". This dinner left a bad taste in my mouth for the price paid. I do not see myself frequenting B&R anytime soon. Such a shame! read more

Stacie was our server. We attacked the appetizer menu and charcuterie boards first!!! We then strategically moved on to the burgers. Once we had conquered we celebrate with homemade pie! A fantastic time was had by all!!!!! The bourbon and whiskey menu is impressive and everything was top notch. Highly recommended. read more

Great spot. It may be small, but has tons of appeal. They do have tables to sit and eat, but when there's no seating, there is a huge bar to sit at. The food was really good. Had the venison burger, which was excellent. Came on a pretzel bun which was so good. As you might guess, they have a huge selection of whiskey and bourbon. If you like beers, good selection on tab and bottles. I can't wait to go back and try more food. A lot of appetizers and they have a section called boards. They bring out a small board that has different stuff depending on what you want. Could be meats and cheeses, or hummus and pita. Highly recommend going read more

Went here for lunch with co workers and had a terrific meal. I ordered the salmon salad and it was excellent. It came with candied walnuts, slices of pair, shaved Parmesan cheese, and A really tasteful dressing. I would rate my meal 10 STARZ as the salmon was cooked to perfection. The inside bar decor was very modern and clean and the wait staff were super friendly. I hope to visit again real soon! read more

After a long weekend in Chicago, my friends and I were headed home to Des Moines. We'd been trapped in a convention hotel all weekend and decided we needed real food before embarking on our five-hour drive. I did a quick Yelp search and immediately began salivating over the cocktail photos for Barrel + Rye (hey, why not? I wasn't driving). It's always tricky to go for a place that doesn't take reservations when you have a large group, so I gave the restaurant a call; they were full inside, but there was seating for six outside. I did a quick survey of my group. It's July and it's hot - is sitting on the patio OK? They all nodded eagerly, we headed to the restaurant, and were seated immediately in the warm sunshine. Oh. My. God. In the blink of an eye, my strong, awesome friends suddenly transformed into whiny babies. Holding menus over their faces to block the sun... complaining about the heat... covering their heads with layers of clothing. I have never seen anything quite like it!! Thank goodness, one of the servers walking by took pity on us, magically made room at a table inside, and our twenty minute meltdown was over. Once we were inside and the drama settled down, we could actually focus on the restaurant. The interior itself is warm and welcoming - particularly love the tin-look ceiling and the rustic light fixtures. The acoustics of the room are pretty loud - we couldn't hear each other well - but it had a fun, energetic ambiance. The cocktail menu looked just amazing. I ordered a bourbon milk punch - I rarely see it on menus outside New Orleans, and it sounded like the most wonderful thing in the world on a hot day. It was sweet but not too sweet, with a cinnamon dusting and - no joke - a Nilla wafer on top. I drank it in about five minutes flat and followed it up with a Bubbles + Bramble (gin, not vodka please). I love anything with gin and champagne, and this was - again - not overly sweet but just the right amount of tart from the blackberries. Highly recommended. I saw the brie cheese curds on the menu and had to order them for the table. They were really unique - I love brie so these were right up my alley, but I did expect a bit more flavor and heat from the apricot pepper jelly. I really hemmed and hawed over what to order - there was so much that sounded good! My friend ended up with a blue cheese burger, which tasted fantastic but a little dry. She hadn't been asked for a burger temp and it was definitely on the more well-done side - good to know if you're thinking about a burger. I decided to go all out and have duck poutine as my meal, with the added blue cheese and mushrooms. I have to say that the french fries here are really spectacular - I'm not sure if they are double-fried or battered, but they are exceptionally crispy and just all-around fantastic. The cheese curds on the poutine were wonderful, I liked the gravy, and the duck was pretty decent though a little dry. Overall it was a great choice and I'd absolutely order it again. I did also get a quinoa pear side salad, which I wasn't all that enamored with - there were quite a lot of raw red onions mixed in, which I can't stand. I do wish their menu emphasized function over form, as there was no description or ingredient indication beyond "quinoa + pear salad" and thus no way for me to know I was ordering a bowl of quinoa, pears, and onions. Again, good to know for next time. Our server was incredibly friendly, very understanding about the whole melting-in-the-sun drama, and just terrific overall. We really enjoyed our stop here and I will definitely keep it in my bookmarks for my next drive through Geneva! read more

Just stopped in for a couple beers and an app. The hummus plate was great. Lotsa fresh pita and a terrific pairing of roasted garlic and wasabi hummus offerings. The beer list was quite solid despite it being a cocktail themed restaurant. Server and host were both very friendly and helpful. Nice outside seating area, but it is kinda small (4-5 small tables) and their outside patio chairs are incredibly uncomfortable. read more

Barrel + Rye - Hummus is great!!!!! Special wasabi flavor is heavenly - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Geneva, Illinois