I once found a $50 bill in a pair of pants that I hadn't worn in years. It was like finding a hidden treasure that had been there right under my nose all along. That's how I felt when I visited the Barrel House. My sister had eaten there last month and she just loved it. She went on and on about how delicious the food was ("Fresh and original" were the words she used), and how friendly the employees were. Ok, sis, you have my attention.
My wife and I just returned from our first visit, and dang if she wasn't spot on with here recommendation! There's a ton of shaded, outdoor dining available, but we wanted to eat inside. As we entered the bar room/dining room we were met with an absolutely charming decor. Much like the tasting rooms we've seen touring distilleries in Louisville. Such a great vibe.
My sister was also 100% correctamundo about the staff. Our server was such a fun person to chat with and really made us feel at home as if we were regulars, despite this being our first visit. Heck, even the folks sitting at the bar were super-friendly, and soon the entire room was talking and laughing together. It was so cool!
The menu offers a generous selection of foods, without being heavy-handed. It's a bar menu, but not your typical, ho-hum, been-there-done-that board of fare. I won't go into all their offerings here. Visit their website and you'll see what I mean. I can tell you what we had and what we thought of it.
We started with their half-size Charcuterie Board. They may call it "half-size', but we dove into it, ate our fill, and still had leftovers! Delicious and varied meats and cheeses that were wonderful, but the big surprise for me was their homemade in-house hummus. To be clear, I do not like hummus. I have never liked hummus. But my wife, after eating some, insisted that I try it. Ok, I'll try a small bite, knowing I would hate it. Wrong! It was fantastic! Holy Crap, it was good!
Next up, I tried the "mcbarrel mcnachos". I'll cut to the chase. I have never tasted nachos like these, and I'm 60! Their 'special sauce' was the bomb! The whole ensemble was just so freakin' yummy! My wife had the wobble wobble turkey gobble sandwich. She never eats a lot, but when she was done, there was nothing left but a couple of kettle chips. She drilled the entire sandwich, something I've seen her do maybe 3 or 4 times in our 30+ years of marriage. That says it all.
Do yourself a favor. Visit the Barrel House. You just might feel like you found your own hidden treasure! read more