My friends and I loved this place! This is this first time I explored downtown Geneva and it was so cute. The rustic look and the lights really made the decor look different- even though the place is small, it flows well. The servers were friendly and there is outdoor seating as well. For drinks we got 'Georgia on my mind' which was on the minty side and the other was called 'hot in here' which had a spicy kick to it. For food, a recommended one is the duck poutine! If you have never had duck before, this is a good dish to try our first because it's mixed in with french fries and cheese. For my main dish, I ordered the southern burger (which they can make less spicy if you ask) and got a side of Mac and cheese ($2 extra but worth it). It's a pretty decent size portion. Definitely would go back and on a weekday again so there is less rush :) read more

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What a wonderful place! I am so happy this was my last dining out experience before the country shut down and we all turned to take out. My fiance and I took a little date night here to have a few drinks and good food. We were not disappointed. It was so cute and clean inside. I love little places like this with a rustic feel. We went at about 5:30pm on a Friday and while it was busy, we were able to be seated right away. Our waitress was very nice and knowledgeable answering our questions as they were not providing menus at that time to avoid person to person contact. We ordered our drinks. I got a simple dirty Shirley (kiddie cocktail with vodka) and my fiance got the old fashion. The drinks tasted great and enough spirits to feel like you got your money's worth, but not too much. Their selection was pretty nice too. For food, I ordered the brie burger... YUM!. I love brie cheese and this burger was delicious. I wanted something light to go with it so I ordered a side salad which is always risky at a bar. However, this salad was fresh and tasty. My fiance got the southerner. I was a little nervous getting it because of the spice, but it wasn't spicy at all! Just very flavorful with a little warmth in the back of your mouth, but no burn. I will absolutely come here again! It was very delicious and they have a nice selection of food and drinks. read more

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The food was amazing. Our hostess was very sweet and charming, and the ambiance was perfect.

Wife and I tried this place for an early Thursday dinner. We got table immediately and tried two specialty cocktails both delicious. The food seemed very fresh and delicious We thoroughly enjoyed ourselves and will return. read more

We had such a wonderful meal here. Im from California and here to attend a wedding. My sisters in law decided to get together for some sister time which included brunch at Barrel + Rye. Everything we had was absolutely delicious. We started off by sharing the Elote and Salmon Bruschetta. Then three of us had the Poke Bowl while the other sister had the Salmon Salad. To top it off we shared an order of truffle fries. The fries were crispy and flavorful. Everything we had actually, was delicious. I can't speak for the other dishes but if they were as good as the ones we had, they'll be winners! read more

Barrel + Rye - Poke Bowl and Truffle Fries - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Geneva, Illinois

Great service from our bartender, so attentive in asking us if we needed more drinks, etc.... A very large selection of whiskeys, which is their specialty. read more

Barrel + Rye - Large whiskey collection! - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Geneva, Illinois

I've enjoyed every single visit to Barrel + Rye. I stopped in for a business lunch and enjoyed a delicious burger. My Brie burger was cooked to the correct temperature and was well seasoned. Barrel + Rye is one of the few places that you expect and get a well made burger. If you love a good burger and a beer, this will become you go-to. You can pair your burger with so many wonderful beers, but I am a singie malt man. This visit I varied my selection and enjoyed a pour of Angel's Envy. When you visit, enjoy a delicious starter. I always enjoy the baked Brie. The chef has an amazing palette, and is very creative. Stop in soon and you'll enjoy this local gem! read more

Came here with my wife during a weekend getaway to Geneva. This was our first time in Geneva and we were blown away by Barrel + Rye. My wife specifically gave her chicken schwarama sandwich a solid 5 stars. Great service, friendly staff, and really cool vibes. We will definitely be back if we visit Geneva again! read more

The food was delish but that was sullied by the incredibly rude food runner. Our waitress could care less about us (never checked in on us or refilled our water or asked us if we wanted to order..... very indifferent to us being there). Back to the food runner.... The dark haired girl literally shoved our food at us, not caring if we had to reach across 2 other people to fetch our food from her grubby hands OR if there was any room on the table (spoiler alert there wasn't!!) I have never in my life experienced such a terribly rude person - just rotten to her core, like it seemed she hated us personally the way she treated us. Very shocking behavior in such a great restaurant. read more

Cocktails are solid. Service up at the bar was unfriendly but efficient. Somehow it feels that, after $94 on cocktails which was fine as we had 7, charging $1 for a slice of bread feels stingy. read more

Barrel + Rye - $1 for a slice of bread - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Geneva, Illinois

This is such a little gem. In a sea of many locally owned bars and restaurants, this is the spot. Cute, cozy, amazing drinks, delicious food and a warm environment. So many tasty whiskey selections. And for those of you who aren't a fan of brown liquor (‍), "2020 is bananas" hits the spot. I think I ordered 3 It's hard to find good poutine down here in the "south", but THIS is the place to get it. What a treat read more

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Unfortunately, today's 3rd Street adventure left me a little disappointed. The menu lacks variety...it was tough for everyone to find something they enjoyed. I had the B + R salad (without avocado) with shrimp which was pretty good but a little overpriced considering is wasn't very filling. I also tasted a bit of the duck poutine which was very good and much more filling. Our waiter was excellent but he could have been a bit more prompt with water refills. My cup had dirty lipstick marks which was very upsetting especially given the current situation - their cleaning processes should be excellent right now. read more

Barrel + Rye - B+R Salad with shrimp - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Geneva, Illinois

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We enjoyed our visit to barrel and rye! My husband and I dropped in on a Saturday night about 930 and we got seated right away. Our waitress came over right away and gave us some menus. I naturally have no idea what I wanted so she gave us as much time as we needed. I got the cedar smoked manhattan and oh my goodness I could go back just for it. You could smell and taste the smokiness and it was made with bulleit Bourbon which is one of my favorites. It was smooth and definitely strong but the vermouth and bitters toned it down. I wasn't too hungry so I asked for a recommendation and I got the B+R salad with chicken. The salad was huge and I loved the cilantro vinaigrette. It wasn't overpowering but it had the perfect amount of dressing and complimented well with the feta and tortilla strips. My husband got the southern fried chicken sandwich and it was amazing. I obviously had a huge bite and if I was really hungry I would get that again. The atmosphere in here was perfect for a date night. There was dim lighting and I loved the bulb lights and the rustic wood touches. Everything was reasonably priced as well. We will definitely be back! read more

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Finally got to check out Barrel + Rye and it did not disappoint! I had an event in Geneva across from B+R so I had to come in! I was by myself so I was able to quickly snag a seat at the bar. I ordered the Bubbles + Bramble: Kettle One Vodka, Chambord, Prosecco and a blackberry. This drink was great and refreshing! I also got the B+R salad with shrimp-wow! I can see why everyone raves about this salad-loved the light cilantro vinaigrette! The shrimp was seasoned and grilled perfectly. The bartenders were accommodating and so efficient that I was able to make my event in time! Can't wait to come back to try the rest of the menu. read more

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

The food, drinks, and atmosphere were amazing. A small place but very well done. You will want to do call ahead seating on a Friday or Saturday about 4 hours before you want to be seated. BUT so worth it. The Brie burger was outstanding. I also did the bourbon flight with pappy van winkle. We went with 8 of us and everyone enjoyed the dishes they ordered. The Brussel sprouts are nervana read more

Barrel + Rye - The bourbon flight - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Geneva, Illinois

Great menu choices. Excellent drinks and specialty drinks. Nice semi-casual place to enjoy with friend and/or spouse Excellent indoor and outdoor seating weather permitting Excellent service with attentive personnel Quality food with special local flavors and "twists" to many entrees. Fish fry is awesome. Phillip is the best! read more

Stopped into B+R with my husband a couple of months ago for dinner.  Some hits, some misses.   First, we got seated right away and the service was good.  Nothing exceptional though.    Now, the food....   The brie curds... not sure what to say about these except they were - different.  Not a huge fan.  I like chewy, squeaky cheese in my curds...not soft cheese.  So, my husband ate most of them.   Shrimp and grits, ya'll...shrimp and grits!!!!!!!!!!!  Fantastic meal, but I really wish it was a little larger.  It was pretty big, but so darn tasty that I wish I'd had more of it!   Hubs tried a glass of Lagavulin, because it was Ron Swanson's favorite drink on Parks & Rec.  He thought it was interesting...but wouldn't order again.  To me, it tasted like licking burnt campfire wood - but I'm not a whiskey fan at all.   My Howl at the Moon cocktail was so-so.  I didn't care too much for the flavor.  The waitress told me that if I take a tiny bite of the marshmallow, and then sip the drink, it gives the drink a whole different flavor.  It still wasn't my fav, but not bad.    And the bourbon milk cocktail was delicious!!!!  Get one, you won't be sorry.   I would definitely come back when in the area.  Great vibe, décor and plenty of interesting options to choose from. read more

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Came here on a Wednesday afternoon and sat outside on their patio. We've sat inside previously (not too much room indoors). Highly recommend a visit, we've never been disappointed. We started with burrata and figs, which was delicious. The honey brittle is a nice addition. We also had the Brussels sprouts salad and chicken shawarma, not pictured as we were too hungry and forgot to take pictures. The salad was refreshing and all the ingredients work well together. Chicken shawarma was also good, just wish it had more yogurt sauce. We upgraded our side to Brussels sprouts, which was actually the highlight of the meal. It's tossed in this sweet maple-soy glaze/sauce. Service was also commendable. Our server was knowledgeable about the menu, attentive, and kind. We'll keep coming back! read more

Barrel + Rye - Burrata and Figs - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Geneva, Illinois

I thought the food - including apps- were amazing. We took my friend and her 4 year old son - not realizing that it wasn't that kind of place. Still, the server was really sweet with our 4 year old boy. Dark and small- which is nice cocktail atmosphere in my opinion. I had wine - not whiskey - but I hear it's the place to go for whiskey lovers. I would for sure go back- maybe just not with a little one. read more

The atmosphere was warm and inviting. Our server was friendly and attentive. However, my friend and I felt the food was really nothing to write home about. I spent a lot of time on Yelp looking for a place to eat great food while watching Sunday football. The pictures looked enticing and the menu seemed to have a ton of promise. However, the actual taste of the food somewhat on the forgettable side of things. We started with the Brie cheese curds, and they were the highlight of the whole meal. For the main course my friend ordered Brie burger which was topped with grilled pears and caramelized onions. She thought the burger was bland and that the pears tasted a bit like a dollop of apple pie on top of the burger. I had the braised beef grilled cheese with shallot marmalade horseradish aioli, havarti cheese and a tomato basil soup shot on the side. None of the flavors "popped" for me in the sandwich, but I did like the tomato basil soup shot and my side order of grits. It's a good restaurant, with very nice employees, I just didn't have the foodie experience I was hoping to enjoy. read more

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I've been ordering the salmon salad for the last few years but the last 3-4 times I've gotten it it has either had zero bacon or very very little. It used to have big chunks that made the salad amazing. Now it's just a good salad. read more

Good food, great service. My wife is vegetarian so they definitely have options she loved. Recommend doing a reservation as it can get busy 6pm time. Enjoy! read more

Great place. Pricey - but that was expected. Got the scallops and you only get 2 and its $20. That's kind of ridiculous if you ask me but at least they were good. Would be back for drinks for sure as they are true whiskey drinks. Which is why we went anyways. Ill be back! read more

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

Great dinner last night! Ally was a great server and I had the salmon dinner which was one of my favorite meals ever! Amazing flavors with carrot risotto, Brussels sprouts, pickled fennel and arugula. Hubby had steak frites and he was also super happy with his dish. Great location and superb food! read more

We ate dinner there early Saturday evening. Things were really hopping in Geneva, and we were glad we'd made a reservation. Our party of four enjoyed a lovely meal on the patio. We each ordered a different entree, and every one was happy with their choice. Our excellent server steered me to order the chicken shawarma on naan, and I loved it. The B+R salad with shrimp and the birria grilled cheese got good reviews, while the burger was judged to be average. Getting back to our server, she also helped one of our party decide which local shop would best satisfy her ice cream craving. All in all, we had a very good experience. read more

Good food, prices are a little high for what you get. Excellent service though ! Enjoyed it but nothing really bringing me back in.

Ive been in a few times at night for drinks, and the cocktails were always delicious. Now I've heard stories of their food and wanted to try for myself. Which was definitly a good choice. I ordered their tuna salad, duck poutine, and curds all of it was amazing. There was a slight mistake where my tuna salad had no tuna! So I called them back and they were very accommodating. 11/10 customer service 10/10 food Would recommend to others and will be back to try more of their menu. read more

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I absolutely love this place! Awesome friendly, knowledgeable, helpful staff. A+ cocktail menu that always changes out with new drinks I'm dying to try. A food menu with both comfort food and better-for-you options... What's there not to love!? I've come here for late night drinks, dinner, lunch, and early afternoon Sunday funday. It's a good spot to be at anytime! My most recent experience was lunch with a friend. We split the Mac and cheese and each had a salad. We both loved what we ordered! Our server was super nice and funny. Drinks were on point as always. I really have nothing bad to say! I love you Barrel + Rye! read more

Barrel + Rye - Shrimp salad - dressing was to die for (seriously). Mac and cheese - big portion and super tasty! Fattoush salad. - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Geneva, Illinois

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Barrel + Rye is a solid 4.5, whether going for just drinks, a nice dinner, or enjoying the patio. The cocktails, wine selection, and Whiskey selection are great. The food is also very good, with the occasional just ok. Highly recommend the Brie burger, the hummus plate, and the pork belly. Mainstay in Geneva. read more

Visited Barrel + Rye for a Sunday lunch. This was my 3rd or 4th time there, and have always enjoyed, but this visit was my favorite. Started with the Buffalo Blue Cheese Chips which were great. Of other restaurants that have a similar item, this was the best I've had. The Primo Old Fashioned was also good. My girlfriend got a seasonal cocktail which was really good. I believe it had tequila and coconut(among other things) and almost tasted like a Pina Colada. For entree, I got the Nashville Hot Chicken sandwich, which was a special. I hope they add this to the permanent menu as it was the best thing I've had in all my visits there(Better than the Southern chicken sandwich IMO). Had truffle fries as my side, which were also very good. Others at the table got the B&R salad and chicken shawarma, which everyone enjoyed. Lastly, when the check came our waitress said they took the chips off the bill because our food took a while to come out. Honestly, we didn't even feel like it took any longer than expected, so that was very appreciated and our waitress was tipped accordingly. Very good visit overall. Will definitely be back soon! read more

I've come here twice now and had a good experience both times. The service has been great! The drinks are a little too pricey for me. I had the Strawberry Bellini and it was just ok in my opinion. The menu items look very delicious! I definitely want to come back to try a salad. The macaroni and cheese was very creamy and tasty. I enjoyed the mix of cheeses they used and the bread crumbs on top. The portion size was generous. My mother had the shrimp and grits. She enjoyed the grits quite a bit but for me the bacon in the grits is too overpowering. The bite I had was good but I'd get sick of it fast because of the bacon. If you like bacon you'd find the grits delicious with a great texture. The shrimp was too spicy/salty. The space is really small so if it is busy good luck! Also, their website states they open at 12 but I got there at 11:50 and the place was packed! So I'm not sure when they actually open. read more

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As the saying goes, if it ain't broke don't fix it. The team behind both Barrel + Rye and Maize + Mash found a formula that works, and aren't shy about re-using successful concepts. The combination of craft drinks and modern, tapas-style comfort food was enough to grab my attention. Barrel + Rye is one of those suburban restaurants that delivers a city type menu and atmosphere. What's not to love about whiskey and hearty meat and potato centric dishes? The only downside is the wait sometimes. I've previously attempted to go here twice but had to settle for other restaurants because the wait for a table was too long. We tried again on a Monday night and easily got a table, although it was surprisingly busy for a weekday. Drinks: They had a good selection of signature whiskey drinks, and our server seemed to know her stuff about various whiskeys. We were slightly disappointed though that their whiskey flight was a pre-selected set of whiskeys, and wasn't customizable. Food: We ordered a little bit of everything, and it was surprisingly filling. Brie curds with apricot pepper jelly - This was a great appetizer for people who appreciate contrasting flavors. It had a little bit of everything. You had the creaminess and saltiness of the brie, a nice crunch from the breading, sweetness from the apricot jelly, and just a hint of spice from the pepper. I had to control myself from poppin em in my mouth like chips. Elotes dip - Carb on carb deliciousness. They took elotes and made them even creamier and cheesier, then topped it on some chips. Solid app. Dirty pork fried rice - I saw this was one of the most reviewed dishes, so we went ahead and got it. I was sold when I read fried pork shoulder, andouille sausage, and bacon all in the same sentence. However, this dish was a little disappointing. It just seemed very dry, like it needed some sort of underlying sauce or flavor that binded everything together. The meat tasted good, but they used basmati rice instead of the typical jasmine rice and I don't think it absorbed the flavor as well. On top of that, the cornbread was a little out of place and further added to the dryness of each bite. Shrimp and grits - This came with about 5 pieces of shrimp that were perfectly blackened with a really nice seasoning blend. Then underneath was a super savory pile of grits. Even if you typically hate grits, you'll love these. They didn't skimp on the cheese, and the pieces of bacon throughout were little bursts of flavor. Southern chicken sandwich - I was torn between a burger and this chicken sandwich, and I went with the unconventional choice of chicken. I'm glad I did because this was hands down the best dish of the night. The chicken was juicy on the inside with a nice crispy breading. There was a good spice mix in the breading and they also drizzled it with a little syrup to give you that sweet and savory chicken and waffles vibe to it. Then it was topped with a nice thick slice of melted Gouda, crispy bacon, and a fried egg, which is my holy trinity of sandwich toppings. Just solid. Loved every bite. A bonus were the fries that came with it. I almost went with the mac n cheese, but it was a pleasant surprise to see the fries were the crispy, battered style fries. Overall, Barrel + Rye is a solid place if you can get a table within a reasonable wait. They have great craft drinks and a menu full of familiar, yet modernized American comfort dishes. read more

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This place is yummy! Took my brother for his Birthday We called in a phone reservation or idk what they call it Because it's not really a reservation I think you have to call in an hour before you come in They have a huge selection of wine The place is really small and the decoration is beautiful The lights are dim too read more

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

Great whiskey spot. My husband loved his flight, and we enjoyed the small plate menu. I will say this is probably better for pre-dinner drinks than a full dinner, as the rest of the menu is not super impressive... plus it's such a small space and they don't take reservations. If you don't want to wait, basically, come at 5:30 or call ahead to see if they can put you on the list. read more

Great unique menu, my favorites are the Brie cheese curds, green beans and salmon bruschetta. Whiskey and cocktails on point too. For a casual spot, the interior is beautifully done and romantic at night. read more

The food was really quite tasty but we waited forever for our table....this is a problem if you have somewhere to be. They need to work on their timing a bit. I had the pot roast sandwich... delish! The dipping sauce was yummmmm! Drinks were spot on! Try a few! The town is adorable.... go visit for sure! I will come back to check other places out. Seems like a cute town to raise your kiddos! read more

We went here with a group after work one evening. We ordered about 10 apps and drinks. The service was excellent, the food was spectacular and the drinks were yummy and served promptly. What more could you want from happy hour?! read more

What a great place for a great lunch! Went here with my mom and aunt for lunch and it was a wonderful and tasty experience. My mom started out with the Sacred Sage cocktail and loved it. She isn't big on super sweet drinks so this was perfect for her. She said it was a great combo of sweetness with spots of sour. For my meal I went with the Southern Sandwich and wow! I must say I was a bit apprehensive about fried chicken with bread and cheese with bacon. BUT WOW! It was probably one of the best sandwiches I have ever had. The bun was light and was the perfect mode of transport for this sizable sandwich. The fried chicken had great flavor with the five pepper spice. Not over seasoned at all! The Gouda really added a lovely smoked flavor to this sandwich and created a delicious complexity. The bacon wasn't too thick and gave it some great flavor. The fried egg, which I was unsure about, was one of the best parts of the sandwich. The yolk acted as this web that held the flavors together. Compliments to the person who suggested putting a fried egg on it like it was awesome. Lastly, the maple syrup finished it off by giving both savory and sweet. It was not overpowering whatsoever and acted coherently with the flavor of the sandwich. It added some needed sweetness to cut the salty. Overall, our meal was delicious and the prices were pretty good too. I would come back here any day. The staff was lovely and extremely kind. They also ensured that proper Illinois state COVID rules were followed. A FULL 5 stars for this gem! read more

Reasons to go...the cocktails, the service, the duck poutine. Reasons not to go...it's nowhere near where I live. But, but...DUCK POUTINE. Indescribably good. Just go. read more

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

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Great food. Great service. The chicken in the inside of the satai is to die for! Will come again for sure.