Out-of-towner, came because of good word of mouth. Place was very nice, staff very friendly. Had French Onion soup and one of their specials, Beef Tips Burgundy. Soup was served barely above room temperature, tasted okay. Main course was flat ... wouldn't call it gross, but it just had no taste. Good, lean cuts of meat but gravy was very bland, as if it was heavy on cream or flour. Disappointing to say the least. read more

Most disgusting food I've ever eaten. Meat was dry and fatty and I could tell the mashed potatoes were made from instant. I'll NEVER go there again. Absolutely disgusting. read more

Stopped for dinner, very disappointed. Soup had a burnt taste. Ordered a Roast Beef dinner which is their specialty. Both the beef and mashed potatoes were lukewarm. By the time the server came back to our table my friends were done eating. Only thing left to do was to box it up and bring home. Won't be going back there again. read more

Great atmosphere, it's very calm and the low lighting definitely creates a mood. The menu is a bit over priced for what you get. I feel that when dining here you pay for the atmosphere rather than great food. This is a decent place to bring the family. There is outdoor seating available, however they do not take reservations. read more

I have been eating here for 40 years. Beef on Weck Platter every time. Always the best !

Oh how I miss the beef on weck! I love this place and its the only resteraunt besides the Texas hot in Wellsville that I miss.

The best beef on weck. Every time I come home to visit I come here. It's a must. Love love love. The staff are nice and it's always clean and cozy. French onion soup is delish! read more

4 stars really people!!!! I'm going to keep this food not fit for my dog restaurant review brief. Lines out the door like pigs at feeding time for the slop they call "gravy" aka heart attack fat sauce as the signature dish!! The requirement evidently for a food establishments in upstate NY is quantity NOT quality. read more

This had to be the worst meal if my life. Waited in line for 30 minutes to eat food not adequate for my dogs. It was all a pile of slop and who on earth would pay hard earned money for this place. read more

I used to go to this restaurant regularly when I visited Olean, NY. Beef N Barrel was the recommended choice for dining in the area, however I've recently stated away due to the declining quality of food. At first I thought it was just my personal experience until one of my coworkers who also travels to Olean for business shared the same feedback with me. I have no doubt that The Beef N Barrel will continue to be a successful restaurant in the area due to its history and neighborhood roots but if you're looking for a WOW experience with great service and great food this is not the place to go. read more

I just wish KC or just about any other part of the world you could get thus special goodness of Beef on Weck! I can't get enough when I visit Western NY. And this is by far #1 or 2!!!! read more

One of Olean's finest and perhaps my favorite restaurant. "The Beef" specializes in high-quality roast beef at very affordable prices. The atmosphere is cozy and the beef-cutters are situated so that you may watch them as they work. The staff is always friendly and ensures a great visit. Although I've never been truly disappointed with a dish, I'd have to say my favorite meal is the baked french onion soup (always arrives to the table hot and with lots of melted cheese!) accompanied with the traditional hot roast beef sandwich (comes with mashed potatoes and is smothered in gravy!) If your stomach permits you to reach the dessert course, go with a cup of coffee and a peppermint snowball. The Beef also offers daily lunch and dinner specials. Some of the best are the chicken and biscuits and the yankee pot roast sandwich. For the first timer, I'd suggest almost any beef dish, and if you've not been to western New York, you MUST try the beef on weck. (I have found the chicken dishes to be a bit dry on occasion.) All-in-all, a great place to eat, very reasonably priced, and highly recommended! read more

I ordered the prime rib (which was the special). I ordered it med rare I got it well done and cold. I sent it back they brought another which was all fat. On the other hand the baked potato was great and the bloody Mary as well. Everyone else's meal was okay. The service was awful. read more

I was passing through Olean during some Thanksgiving travel and consulted Yelp and a local contact for a place to stop for dinner. All signs pointed to the Beef'N Barrel as the place to go. I was skeptical but went anyway. I should have trusted my judgment. Here's what I experienced: 1. The ambiance and decor are terrible - straight out of a Ponderosa in 1985. It felt like a bad wedding reception with the waitstaff all in vests and clip-on ties and the "beef bars" in each room. 2. The service was rude - we had to wait for several minutes upon arrival before anyone greeted or seated us (even though it was only about 5pm and things weren't busy) 3. My "beef on wick" was terrible. It was tough and cold. I ordered it medium, as I always order beef, but overheard everyone around me ordering it well done (which in my world is a crime against beef), but maybe that's what it takes to get it hot. 4. My companion had spaghetti and meatballs. It came with a salad that had rotten cucumber in it (that had been cored in an attempt, I think, to salvage some part of what was clearly a bad cuke). Her spaghetti had been cut into two inch pieces and was desperately overcooked (perhaps that's how the older clientele there likes it). 5. The baked beans and potato salad I ordered with my salad were good and that's what brought this to a two-star review. I would never go back and never recommend this restaurant to anyone. read more

I love their beefeater salad and my kids like their chicken tenders! Nice place for date night. I also enjoy their potato skins yummy . Their house dressing is to die for and they have a pretty amazing ranch dressing as well.. Very professional staff and always great service! read more

I have lived in Olean about 6 years now it is one of the better places to eat in Olean. The roast beef is excellent and the places smells like a carnivore's dream. The Beef on Wick rivals what you can get in Buffalo. However, note the use of the phrase "in Olean". I would give it 3 and 1/2 stars if I could as they are not really a 4. The decor is really bad, kind of a grandma's 80's country look. However, they cater to a older local crowd so most of their customers probably enjoy it. The wall paper is so over done the pattern will give you a head ache if you stare at it too long. Stick with the beef dishes! They do offer other things on the menu but it is not their strong suit. Fish specials tend to be drowning in butter, batter, or seasoning. I have never had good pasta or chicken here. read more

Where is the beef you may ask? It's right here. Hands down the best place to satisfy your meat craving. My favorite things to get are the beef on weck sandwich, Reuben sandwich, anything steak, and for dessert the peppermint snowball. Don't forget the french fries with gravy. This food will make your mouth drool like a baby. The service is excellent, the servers are quick and friendly. You can come here casual or formal dressed. you bring your kids, grandparents, or significant other cause everyone loves steak even vegans read more

When in Western NY .. this is what you do. Come here. Order French onion soup. Get hot bacon dressing on your salad. Eat as much beef as possible. Go home. Take a nap. Come back and repeat. read more

My wife and I were driving through the town, and ordered sandwiches in the bar. I had a steak sandwich, my wife got a chicken sandwich. They were very good, but boy, the service was slooooow. It took well over 1/2 an hour to get the sandwiches after we ordered. And we both were never offered refills for our soft drinks. If you want a long, long, casual evening I would recommend the place. If you are hungry, or need to do something else in the evening, pass this place by. read more

Who doesn't love the Beef? I've eaten here for years and have tried almost everything on the menu and always walked out satisfied. Beef on weck is WNY's signature and BnB always does it just right. Their french onion soup is amazing, as are their sides. I agree that at times you can run into a wait, but I see that as a testament to the deliciousness of the food. Definitely check this place out if you're in the area. read more

Omggg my friend and I stopped here during a quick over night stay on a road trip from the desert! Truly exceeded our expectations. We sat at the bar bc we were starving and there was no wait. I cannot even tell you how wonderful our bartenders Tom and PJ were! They were so kind to us, cleared a spot for our jackets, moved us to better seats so my friend wasn't smooshed while trying to eat. And then they brought over our jackets AGAIN and found a place for them. We don't really drink alcohol and sometimes bartenders seem annoyed when you sit at "their" bar and don't drink, they did not act that way. Both Tom and PJ went way out of their way to give us a wonderful welcome to their town and restaurant and it was so nice. PJ actually recommended a state park for us to go see and holy *%#{ we could not have been more grateful for that; we ended up going to the park the next morning and had one of the most beautiful days together. This is the kind of experience you remember on a trip and it was really so nice. As an ex server and bartender, I know It means a lot to people when you're genuine, kind etc. we were happy to tip them 100%. Thanks so much guys! read more

The Beef 'n Barrel is definitely my number one choice for the best restaurant in Olean and the surrounding area. The top quality beef is the best you'll find anywhere. The entire staff is always friendly and make you feel right at home. The decor is very pleasing to the eye and always decorated for the season. The daquiri's are the best I've ever had and very reasonably priced. read more

Awesome Beef, keep it simple and go with the beef, my favorite is Beef on Weck, with lots of fresh horseradish.

Truly outstanding in every way. We were a party of two dining at 5 pm on a Saturday Night. The place was packed but, we were seated immediately My daughter ordered the most beautiful Rueben, I had the Blue Max sandwich. The French Onion Soup was perfection and it was ordered with bread and cheese on top. They offer a featured pie of the day, the day we went the pie was Banana Cream. Our service was skilled and had worked in this hot spot for many years. We watched a young man hand carve thin slices of beef and we met the Owner in the bar area. We found out they bake everything (all breads, pies, cakes) on the premises. A+ from us!!! read more

For me, the place to eat if you are visiting the southern tier area. I went to college nearby at St. Bonaventure and this was my favorite spot to go. Get the beef on wick, or any other kind of beef (you would assume that's what to order right?). The decor isn't super up to date and the place is pretty plain Jane inside but that doesn't bother me. I've never had a bad meal here and the service is always excellent and friendly. You may have to wait on the weekends, esp. if there is a Bonnies basketball game or some form of a graduation/ function at SBU. Certainly worth a stop in if you're driving through the area. read more

We often drive to Buffalo and return to Maryland via Rt 219. The detour to Olean and Beef and Barrel are more than worth the extra miles. This place, its people, its food (especially the roast beef) and its prices can't be beat. Saw a few negative comments but there are some folks that just can't ever be satisfied (would complain about anything). Give em ice cream and they demand spinach. As for us, we think The Beef and Barrel is a Southern WNY treasure in all regards. The J's Ellicott City, MD read more

Beef-o-rama. If you're from a city, you've likely never been to a place like this nor can you likely imagine such a place. Once you get over the shock (beef carving stations throughout the restaurant, hosts in full suits, floral wallpaper--wha?), you might kind of love it. If you eat beef. Despite a few salads on the menu, this is not a restaurant for vegetarians. I'd say that even if you lean vegetarian, you might be put off. But if you do eat beef, get the beef on weck sandwich medium or rare. It's certainly one of the best big meat sandwiches I've ever eaten. read more

First time there we stopped for lunch. very relaxing and wonderful atmosphere. Beef tenderloins were cooked perfect and staff was very friendly .Can't wait to go back and try dinner menu. read more

I ordered the broiled haddock lunch special which was advertised for $8.25. I asked for Cajun seasoning, and it comes with side salad, so i asked for choices, which I chose the hot bacon dressing. I braved minus 2 degrees to walk to the restaurant which is across the street from my work and when I go to cash out my bill was $15.01!!! I asked why so high, the cashier stated it costs extra for seasoning and the dressing. I was charged an extra $4.70 to sprinkle Cajun seasoning on, plus .95 for the dressing. The fish was dry and in a hundred pieces in my container. I will never order takeout again!!! read more

I am not sure what the hype is for this place. I ordered the roast beef dinner tonight and the beef was good but not a lot flavor. the fries were soggy and the rolls tasted like they bought them at the grocery store in a bag. the service was pretty good (not great) which was the reason I gave 2 stars instead of 1. I was disappointed and will not.be going back read more

I go here for lunch with co workers a couple times a year. My favorite lunch is the pastrami. You can have it either on rye or pumpernickel. It comes with coleslaw in the sandwich as well as a dill pickle spear and chips on the side. I usually have to take 1/2 the sandwich home as the portion is large. Nice place to go with friends. read more

We love to go to this restaurant. The beef on weck is fantastic. The salad dressing is homemade. They have a great selection of beers. The service has always been fast when we have been there. read more

Always an excellent choice, a must stop when in the area. The beef on weck is the best in the area. Great choices for everyone in your dining party. Clean, lots of seating, we'll managed with excellent wait staff. read more

I've been here three times over the last six weeks. The service is great. The food is great. The beer and wine selection good. You won't find a better prime rib anywhere. Everything is tasty right down to the mash potatoes and gravy! read more

I'm in town on business and stopped in on my first Monday. I sat at the bar and was greeted quickly by the bartender. This night I had the prime rib dinner which was excellent. Cooked exactly how I ordered it and flavorful Went back on Friday and once again sat at the bar. The same bartender quickly attended to me. I have found out that his name is Tommy. Very professional. That evening I had the seafood pasta alfredo. This is where they lost one star and it's most likely just personal preference. The sauce was soupy, not thick like most alfredo sauce I have had and the pasta noodles were a little over cooked for my liking as I like my pasta Al dente. The flavor however was great. Would definitely recommend this restaurant to everyone. I worked in the hospitality business for many years in the past and pay attention to customer service. The staff is on top of things and very friendly. There is a young man that seats customers and he is entertaining and has a great personality. I did not get his name and wish I had to give him a great review as well. read more

Love this place, every time we go, we are treated like royalty by the owners and staff. they always give the best service and the best food (it doesn't matter how busy they are, they treat every customer as if they are the ONLY customer). Prime Rib is always fantastic, the best salads in town, even down to the croutons. Favorite salad dressing is the celery seed. Cheesburger Salad with thousand island tastes like an upscale big mac. for dessert, it must be the Peppermint Snowball, you won't regret it. read more

I've been going to this place since I was a young child and I can't remember a bad experience. The inside is very nice and everything is reasonably priced. Beef is always cooked perfectly. It's probably my favorite restaurant in the area. read more

I habe heard many good things about here. So to finally have the chance to go i was excited. And it was what everyone said it was. The food was amazing and the portions where huge. The half order of sald was out of this world. The cut of meats where also soooo good. Cant wait to go back lookimg forward to it. read more

I love this place!! I always start out with the blooming onion. Then go with the traditional open face sandwich with extra gravy! The gravy is the best ever! I should order a glass and just drink that! Great quality food at a very fair price. This place has been around forever and I always make my way back there when I'm in town! It's the beef baby!! read more

Recommended by a friend from Buffalo, so we took a chance, and are thrilled we did. By far, the best roast beef (Beef on Wick) sandwich we've ever had!!! Restaurant was charming and clean, excellent service, beautiful flowers and outside eating area, and the food was amazing! read more