Stock and Barrel is a lovely restaurant nestled right in the heart of BA District designed with a gastro industrial aesthetic and an unpretentious vibe. Our server was very welcoming and kind and represented the restaurant with a lot of pride and praise. I just want to state that when prices for food and drinks are this high, I am going to be far more critical because I expect the food and experience to match the value. Below is a reflection of this and why I gave it 4 stars.
We unknowingly arrived during their Happy Hour which was great because we got to enjoy some of their signature shareables at a nicer price. However, when they arrived, we were also told that the portion served was smaller because it was their Happy Hour. I would have been just fine never knowing that. Also, we were introduced to their snack specials before initially ordering as a small bite of food to enjoy while deciding what to eat. We were told it was best served one per person, so we ordered two of their Tartare on their Potato Tot, one for each of us. We also ordered their Happy Hour Whipped Feta and Ribeye Cigar Wraps. The shareables came out pretty quickly so we tucked into them. I want to be very clear when I say these were both absolutely delicious. The Whipped Feta was textural bliss and their toasted sourdough added to the experience. Wrapping the Ribeye Cigar in a lettuce leaf topped with their chimichurri was a heavenly bite if there ever was one. About 15 minutes later, just one of the Tartare Tots came out. We first were like, well too late for the snacking while deciding experience part of this and also weren't sure if we should wait for the other one. We just chalked it up as she didn't hear that we asked for two or the kitchen forgot. So we shared it and honestly, it too was absolutely amazing. Deeply flavorful tartare with the perfect crunchy salty bite of the tot hit the expectation right on the head.
It was right about this time we got our second round of drinks. Her watermelon cocktail was honestly not enjoyable due to the lack of watermelon flavor in the drink, but it was nicely garnished with a pretty watermelon ice cube. Someone brought me a drink which wasn't what I ordered. I didn't mind, it was the other drink I was going to order so rather than make a fuss, I accepted it and it was nice. Our server noticed the mistake and tried to correct it. I let her know it was ok and I was enjoying this one.
My wife ordered the Wagyu Meatballs and Charred Green Beans for her entree and I ordered the Crab Fried Spaghetti. Again, all were delicious. Excellent crunchy texture on the green beans, super tender and lucious meatballs, and my fried spaghetti had some char on the noodles, a nice hit of heat and spice, and the crab was cooked perfectly. The only problem was, her items were cold and my pasta was barely warm. We were running late for an event so we didn't have the capacity to mention it. Too bad though, served at the right temp, I'm sure both would have been knockouts.
Also, I think we are done with 18 dollar drinks as a concept. Seems to be becoming a norm as of late and yea, the drinks were ok to good, but I don't know, it just seems egregious to me.
But the food was exceptional and the service was polite and kind, despite the missteps. We'd probably come back and explore more their interesting and eclectic menu. read more