The only thing better than the classic diner decor is the maid-rite sundaes... The only thing better than the maid-rites is the classic breakfast options... The only thing better than the breakfast is the amazing fresh pie... The only thing better than the pie is the wonderful staff who will go out of their way to make your day! read more

The Barn - Classic Diner - American Near Me - Brainerd, Minnesota

We were looking for a great breakfast and The Barn was the answer. The food was topped by the amazing service. Everything was good, we left with full bellies, and don't forget the pie! We will be back! read more

Super tasty food... my son had the country fried chicken and he gave it a 5/5 rating. My beef hash was fantastic too but it had a little extra salt. My daughter thought the hash browns were one of the best. The pancake was good, but was expecting even better. This is a solid 4.5 star. We are staying at the Grand View Lodge and glad we checked out this unique spot in Brainerd. read more

Great local establishment that's always crowded and serves breakfast specials all day. I visited with my sister and we each had a "Maid-Rite" which is basically a sloppy joe with onions, pickles, and mustard. Not being a mustard fan, I opted for adding my own ketchup. We had great, cheap, and fast service right around the lunch rush. The Barn is a local favorite, has adorably quaint country decorations, and is usually full of friendly farm folk wearing coveralls and/or John Deer hats. "It's so country here, I love it" says my sister. I agree... A perfect window into small town Brainerd, MN. On the way out we were happily accosted to select one of about a dozen pie varieties. Sister picked a slice of the Dutch apple pie (with a crumbly top) and I picked a slice of rhubarb custard to take home with us. read more

The Barn - Half-eaten Made-Rite served in a checked waxed paper - American Near Me - Brainerd, Minnesota

This is a very nice spot to eat made-from-scratch food. I had the hot beef sandwich which of course is an open faced sandwich, with very flavorful sliced beef, beef gravy on bread with a side of homemade mashed potatoes which were excellent (as was the hot beef sandwich). Finished off with a slice of their blueberry pie with a scoop of vanilla ice cream. The pie was very good, with large blueberries in the midst of a flaky but firm crust. Everything was great. We will be back!! read more

Stopped on our way at through town based on the yelp reviews and weren't disappointed. The country fried steak was the best we've had in MN, and I had to try the Maid Rite because I've never had one. It was amazing. Cottage fries were great, hash browns were crispy. Service was very fast and very friendly. We had to try a piece of pie (mixed berry, heated up, add whip cream). Everything was great. Knocked off a star because we found a hair in the pie. All that and a pop for $19.75. read more

See all

You know those places that probably exist just to heighten your immune system? This is one of those. Don't question the sanitation of pies sitting out in the open air, the lack of hand washing, the questionable meat dispensed out of the center island. This is a classic downhome greasy spoon, take it for what it is. We stopped in for breakfast and were pleased with the friendly service, good food and chatty locals. I wasn't brave enough to try the Mystery Meat, but the mister did (I think it's formal name is a Maid Rite sandwich: white hamburger bun, mustard painted on, 4 pickles and hearty onion portion with the sloppy joe-esque meat). His review: "it's effing delicious" read more

The Barn - American Near Me - Brainerd, Minnesota

The Barn is the perfect place to go if you love small town cafes and home cooked meals! We have yet to try the made rite sandwiches, but we have heard that they are amazing, so I would give those a shot! You will not be disappointed with anything on the menu. I would highly recommend the pie! Later that day, my fiancé went back to buy a whole pie- it's that good. read more

Home cooked food in a relaxed atmosphere. Good prices and tasty pie. Will definitely come back next time we're in town.

I stopped for breakfast here when visiting family in the area. Great food and service and I will definitely return the next time I am in Brainerd. read more

Traditional diner fare, but with Maid-Rite (loose meat) burgers. Staff is always pleasant and even fun. Cash only, but ATM on site. I try to eat there at least once a month. read more

Such good food and such GREAT prices!! Everything is always perfectly done. Friendly owners and sweet staff!! Definitely recommend. So tiny but SO good and cute! read more

Amazing place. Amazing food. Amazing people. They've adapted well to the new COVID-19 rules and could use your support. Currently only open for pick up and delivery. Expect to see them have seating when the state allows it. Love this place. Keep up the amazing job you've been doing and don't give into the pressure of the people defying state rules. read more

We went to the barn for pie as I heard if in the area to go here. Completely satisfied! We had the lemon meringue pie. We will for sure come back for more! read more

Best service and waitresses are top of the line . Excellent prices and hometown feel!

Because this is an ipen air place, you can see all of the action from your seat. Not one person washes their hands here. From wiping tables, clearing dirty plates, handling money, palming a fresh bun, using fingers to put pickles on a burger, using hands to scoop up crumbly pie pieces onto a plate.... not one time. 7 employees working. It is November. It is flu season. That is not sanitary at all. read more

Driving up to Brainerd most recently, I noticed a very prominent Olive Garden along the way. Prominent in the way Bonanza used to be prominent but is now mostly not even there to the naked eye. The soul of Brainerd, over the years, like many small towns, has mostly been gutted. Paul Bunyanland owner's kids selling out to Kohls. A Best Buy, Target, Walmart, Cost Co, Home Depot, Menards. It's been suburbanized. At one point it was a soulful little tourist-driven / blue collar / farm town. Now it's a smaller version of Bloomington. Are you happy retail gods? Do the tourists who come north here for the weddings at Grand View Lodge really like going to Cub Food instead of driving to the much closer Shaffers? I don't know. Probably. But "The Barn" is where you will find that original Brainerd spirit still surviving. It's very Northeast in very good ways. You see "Northeast" was the poor part of town. Growing up the mall in Northeast Brainerd was called "the old mall". There was a crappy Pamida there. The poorer people lived there and it was just never well respected. To some extent this is very true today, even moreso. However the people in this area have good authentic hearts and that's on constant display the moment you walk into The Barn. Folks like like folks. There isn't a deep rooted sardonic and condescending irony coming out of their mouths like you often see in the big city. The notion of being "hipster" or "bro" doesn't even cross their minds. What you will find are good people who like good food and gather here to eat. The main waitress (you'll know her when you see her) is a real spitfire. She is sassy, she is saucy, she is everywhere. Throwing out quick jokes, comments, and livening the place up not just a little. You will love the way she moves and reacts, always busy, but always having time to check up on how you're doing. Concerned, matronly, always on her feet, quick to laugh and even quicker to make you laugh. She always knows the menus and pies inside and out. Ask her advice on anything and you shall get it, drenched in truth. Not coming from a script the chef would like you to say about the food. Oh did I not mention the pies yet? Oh god yes the pies. We all had pie and all shared our pieces around the table. Coconut Cream, was dense and delicious. The Rhubarb a la mode was divine. They could open an ice cream shop with the quality of ice cream you get. It was a pie orgy for the palate, and one I won't soon forget. One thing I would encourage is for you to let go of the idea that it's OK to beat yourself up for treating yourself to rich, delicious pie once in a while. Man cannot live on pie along, but go here without the burden of gluttonous guilt, and just enjoy the amazing @#!$ing pie. That's all. And aside from the pies they all have sandwiches called MAID RITES. These are similar to sloppy joes without the sauce. While mostly overshadowed by the pie, they are tasty treats that you should try at least once before you die. Be sure to get one with everything on it. It's not huge or too filling, so get one for curiosity sake if nothing else. In retrospect I recall our school lunch serving these, I just didn't know their name. Definitely not as good as the ones you'll find here though. Walking out, I asked myself, why, after being born and raised in Brainerd, had I never eaten here before. And it goes into those assumptions you have on as a kid. That places that come from the city, like Applebees and Olive Garden are great, while our hometown eats are looked down on as low class. Things to be avoided. How sad is that. Luckily I have opened my eyes and grown out of that limited way of seeing the world. I now revel in it. You should as well. A trip to Brainerd is great, go to BIR, or golfing, or fishing, or just relax at one of the lodges, but a trip to Brainerd is not complete, that is to say you haven't seen the real Brainerd until you've been to The Barn. One thing to note is they don't take credit card, but do have an ATM on site. Another thing is there is limited seating. Don't be ashamed or shy to wait for a table to open up. Eventually one will. read more

We've been here twice now - once for lunch and once for breakfast (breakfast all day!). Friendly wait staff, tasty coffee and AMAZING food. The Maid Rites (aka loose meat sandwiches) are very nice, the pie is NOT TO BE MISSED! Seriously, the pie is all freshly made at The Barn. The pie crusts are incredibly delicious (and the crust is my least favorite part), and the fillings marvelous. My wife gets the coconut creme with a meringue top and the meringue is some of the most beautiful I've ever seen or tasted. Order your pie immediately to reserve a piece (a sign of how great they are). Today we enjoyed the Maid Rite sundae which is an ice cream sundae bowl with mashed potatoes, gravy, Maid Rite, shredded cheese, onions, and chopped tomatoes (I posted a picture). I'm not sure they're listed on the menu, but they do have a sign on the side of the pie case. The sundaes were very nice - a good balance of a hot beef sandwich and taco - kind of All American. Naturally we had to follow up with pie - rhubarb for me, coconut creme for her and the pie was predictably amazing. Get here early, hours are 5:30 AM to 4:00 PM weekdays, closed at 3 on Saturday and closed Sunday. Remember - pick and order pie quickly. When you die and go to heaven, this is the pie they serve! read more

The Barn - The outstanding Maid-Rite Sundae (single scoop) at The Barn. - American Near Me - Brainerd, Minnesota

I love the Barn. The place is small but comfortable and tables turn quickly. If you come in a large group, plan on sitting at separate tables. Waitresses are efficient and friendly, they treat everyone with a smile. Maid Rites are available from open untill close, so if you're there and don't want one of their great breakfasts, Maid Rites are waiting. And they are amazing! Their bacon is great too- thickly sliced, each order is generous. And the pies- so many varieties. I had Sour Cream Raisin. That's a kinda hard one to find, and theirs is excellent. Whenever you're in Brainerd, this is a must stop. read more

Loved the small town diner feel. The staff was so friendly and you can tell they knew the regular's names, orders, and schedules. I really enjoyed our server, she was very funny and attentive. I ordered an Omelet with toast and hashbrowns while my boyfriend ordered french toast and eggs. We shared a slice of Rhubarb pie. All the food was delicious, however I will need to remember to ask for no butter on my toast next time, as it was drenched in butter! Icky. We will definitely be back for more! read more

Cute little diner in Brainerd/Breezy Point area. I step in and immediately feel as though I stopped off the beaten path on a road trip through the south. Such a fun, friendly vibe here. Delicious food made with wholesome, fresh farm to table ingredients! If you are a Paleo fan, this is your breakfast stop! Waitresses are the nicest, friendliest people I've met. They treat everyone like you're a "regular" and can name every pie they have in 2.5 seconds flat! (Did I mention their pies are ALSO homemade/freshly baked every day?!) Come here. Get the bacon. It's greasy. It's delicious. Don't forget a piece of pie. I recommend rhubarb with ice cream :) You're welcome. read more

Local gem. The pies here are out of this world good. I tried the custard pie and the rhubarb custard pie and just about died. This place will change your life and how you eat pies. About the only place you can find Maid Rites too. The staff is courteous and fast. Everyone here knows each other but not in an intimidating way. Just all around a great place to eat. read more

We have been going here since we were kids. Best chicken sandwich and onion rings in town! Even after the owner died we felt as if they welcome us like family. It's a wonderful little place to eat if you catch the right time. Since it's limited seating, and parking, you have to make sure you hit it up when it isn't so busy. Great place! read more

So we're up here to visit family and to see the Minnesota State Fair. The in-laws just LOVE this place. The specialty is apparantly the Maid Rite sandwich, which consists of finely chopped and cooked ground beef. It is served on a handburger bun with diced fresh onions and pickles [I think, dill). Optional cheese, of course. It's a good sandwich, if you're in Brainerd at lunch time, you ought to give it a try - for the same reason you get a footlong hotdog when you visit Coney Island. But it's not sometime to go gaga over. I would get it again if we come back, but it's not the sandwich that I'm going to find myself talking about whenever the topic of Brainerd, Mn comes up. Service is good, friendly, fast, and they laugh it my stupid jokes. Not bad at all. Prices are reasonable. They make a decent profit without gouging the customer. read more

The Barn is a pretty typical diner - tho with an incredibly friendly patrons and staff that treat a newcomer like a regular. Husband and I came in on a Saturday morning for a later breakfast/brunch. We sat at a smaller booth by the door and folks leaving made a point to offer us their now empty table since our table got drafty. The service was great. Server a little forgetful, buy she made sure we laughed about with her. (Seriously, she said Ufda). A really hard sell on their pie, which was worth it. We had the Dutch Apple to go, but the meringue pies had their meringue toppings that were like skyscrapers. The food was good and I was able to substitute sausage in my breakfast special for a slice of ham easily bigger than my hand. (I think our server joked about them not really having many rules) It's a slice if Minnesota culture and someplace I would definitely return. read more

I stopped into the Barn trying to escape the sea of chain restaurants in the Branerd area. In precious reviews everyone kept mentioning Maid Rites and I had no idea what they were talking about! If you don't want to google it I'll let you in on the secret: Maid Rite is a franchise of diners that opened in the 1920s. If I had not looked it up I would have never known this place was a chain. It is a cute little building full of locals. Everyone had to be at least twice my age in there and they all knew one another. The omelet I ordered was pretty nasty but I ate it anyways. The house made rhubarb custard pie on the other hand was excellent. The service was fast and friendly. I thought it was a little strange that they don't make hash browns there. It seems like a breakfast staple. I probably won't come back next time I'm in town but it's a personal preference thing. I'd say if you're coming through town and looking for a greasy joint with loads of character, you should go! I liked the experience. read more

This is some of the best eats in town. You probably won't find a table if you come for lunch and if you come slightly after lunch you probably won't get the pie you wanted. Unassuming place with staff that seems to have worked there, and worked together, since the beginning of time. The maid-rite is always the best, but I think everything is good. Pops come in cans, prices are decent, service is quick. read more

So good! The loaded hash browns were cooked perfectly, the French toast was delicious, and the pie was amazing. I wish we weren't just passing through because I would love to eat here more. read more

The sisters who run this wonderful little spot along Washington St are a delight. They have big laughs and joyful attitudes, even during these unusual days. My ham and cheese omelet was delicious! They have two picnic tables out back which allowed for a more civilized experience than Sitting in my car during my Covid road trip. read more

Loretta is a hoot! Had the hot beef sandwich which was amazing, and a delicious slice of apple pie. I will return if I'm in the area again!!

Awesome place of you like dives, and especially if you are a fan of the infamous Maid-Rite sandwich. Nice service with fun wait staff (they may call you honey or sugar), in a tiny little restaurant. Worth a stop. read more

I only get to The Barn a couple of times per year. Typically one summer trip, then two others for ducks and deer. This is a staple of every outing. Two Maid Rites and a Pepsi (keep it in the can). That's all you need. If I lived in this area, it would be a once a day outing if it were possible. read more

When you want a delicious breakfast and a hilarious waitress then this is the place! I was rolling on the floor! I love small cafes when a waitress loves her job and will talk to anyone. The pancakes are fluffy just like the omelets. Cant wait to go back! Always a special treat to dine here. read more

The Barn - American Near Me - Brainerd, Minnesota

See all

Tiny place, just 10 booths and 8 counter stools with good breakfasts and burgers, as well as old-fashioned Maid-Rite loose meat burgers. Great pie. Place is always crowded with locals. Best part was hilarious diner waitress who called customers "Darlin',"or "Princess," and in the case of one elderly gent: "my little love blossom." When told we had not yet decided on pie choice, she advised us to "wink, whistle or wave" when ready. read more

The Barn - Tiny diner, great pie - American Near Me - Brainerd, Minnesota

Winner winner breakfast not dinner. Superb service with friendly staff and excellent food. Hamburger was perfectly cooked and not overly salted. The eggs actually tasted like eggs - finally a place to come back to... read more

Cute little diner on Washington St. My sons and I ate lunch here and they both enjoyed the Maid Rite sandwiches and a big piece of their homead pie. They don't take credit cards to bring cash or check. We enjoyed the small town, family friendly feel of this place. The service here was great. We'll definitely stop in again. read more

Good homemade breakfast food. Quaint little place with friendly service. NO credit cards, so bring cash. Everyone around us ordered pie. We didnt, but will try it next time. It looked good. We had the breakfast special and it delivered. Eggs were cooked right, the sausage patty had some nice spice, and the home fries were the right mix of salt and butter. read more

The Barn - Breakfast special with an additional pancake. - American Near Me - Brainerd, Minnesota

Very small, even the cups and coffee mugs! Can really only accommodate 2 people per booth. Food was decent but nothing to write home about. Although it has its small town charm and the wait staff was nice I would not recommend unless you have a party of 2 or less and are just wanting to pass time. Better option in the Brainerd area for the same price. read more

We tried the barn in spite of some of the reviews about cleanliness This place is fine and the food was great? It is a typical diner setting and was actually somewhat comfortable we will return read more

It's very good! And it's pretty cheap$. Get there pancake they are delicious! It's small and very pack all day! The pies are really good you should get them but beware there huge! And if your in to Pokemon go there is a pokestop so when your eating you can get more poke balls! read more

The Barn - American Near Me - Brainerd, Minnesota

See all