The Barrel Room

I find this place disappointing when they don’t even have mix for a Bloody Mary… Who the hell doesn’t keep Bloody Mary mix in the house? The area really caters to college kids, so I guess tap beer and lower standard alcohol are the right choice… No decent ginger beer for a mule and no Bloody Mary mix at all when I went wasn’t good.
The food was ok but not spectacular. The pork was dry when it came… And I had to ask for some sauce. Odd… The lumpia was seriously lackluster… And I was so excited to order them. :(
Maybe I should have tried a beer, maybe I should have eaten something else, but at the end of the day this place was just «ok»…
On a note about staff or management I found some of the responses to reviews «interesting»… Or should I say unprofessional. Whoever answers reviews should know that responding to a review (especially a 1 star) only legitimizes that review and it won’t be filtered. (Read up on filter system)… See, if it’s someone who doesn’t really review and doesn’t keep their count up… That review disappears, so next time ignore it. See rule #1 «the customer is always right»… And when you get a bad review, if it’s wrong… Ignore it. If they are correct, say you apologize and invite them back.
At the end of the day you need a focus, who is your core customer and how do you best service them. That is what keeps the doors open. You can’t please everyone all the time…
As for me? Would I go back? I’d probably go try the taps. Guess that’s why it was called the #barrelroom

Not only are the pours minuscule. You pay $ 12 for a drop of bourbon. But the bartenders are far too busy with friends to serve you.

Went here on a whim with some friends. Really enjoyed the atmosphere and the food was good. Unfortunately didn’t get to partake in their beer selection (I’m currently pregnant) but definitely plan to come back when I can. :)

Trivia Night — 2^nd Thursday Every Month — 7PM! Full Bar with a focus on bourbons and craft beer. Food is good. Been a few times and will go back for more.

Had bangers and mash and it was outstanding! The beer list is awesome and our service was great. I definitely will be back and will recommend to all my friends.

This is one of our go-​to bars for live music and a fun night out! I’m not able to comment on their food since we have not eaten there but there Moscow Mule is the best I’ve ever had! The wait staff are very attentive and friendly!

We went last night to meet up with friends that we hadn’t seen in quite awhile — and we were sorely disappointed in what was served and the presentation. The wings were still pink on the inside, burgers were charred and the chicken on my Cesar salad was burnt after I had to request it to be added. Our nacho tots appeared to be dumped right from the Ore Ida bag and average taco toppings added on top. I know this isn’t your norm as I had been to here before. It is apparent that your establishment is completely unprepared to handle any crowd surge or large influx of people. We won’t be returning for any type of meal.

So, I’ve been to The Barrel Room several times before, and it has always been delicious and a fun experience. However, I just left from something that can only be described as painful, and I bet you’re excited to hear *all* about it.
I showed up to find the restaurant busy. It wasn’t packed, and there were a few tables empty, but we were far from the only people there. Perfectly normal for a Saturday night (and definitely since it’s the Saturday before Valentine’s Day). We took a seat at the bar, and ordered our drinks. All was well.
After looking over the menu, we decided wanted some food. It took a little while to get our server’s attention, which wasn’t really a big deal because she had plenty to do, and we aren’t really in the business of being grumpy customers. We patiently waited and ordered our food, and Captain America was on the TV, so we quickly got lost in Chris Evans and all was still well.
Our food had not come out in 20 minutes, but no biggie, it was busy.
At 25 minutes, a different bartender came by and got us refills, which was pretty nice! Still no sign of our server, but whatever. Still no biggie.
30 minutes.
35 minutes.
40 minutes. Still no server, still no food. We had ordered Lumpia and Mac and Cheese, and we discussed that our meals weren’t exactly long haul efforts to prepare…
45 minutes. Our server shows up, asks how everything is. We said «drinks are great. If the food isn’t being prepared in the kitchen yet, can we cancel it? We’re on a schedule and have to leave in 15 minutes.» She replies «Sure, let me just check on it.»
50 minutes. Server reappears. Says «they’re making it now, don’t know what happened back there, sorry. If you’d like you can still cancel, but they are making it.» We say «yes please, we’d still like to cancel.» She says «No problem» and disappears. She didn’t offer us discounted drinks, or barely apologize. We know it’s not her fault, but we’ve been waiting 50 minutes since we ordered our food, and we expected some sort of apology or a free drink or *something*.
55 minutes.
60 minutes. The previous bartender who refilled our drinks appears. He asks us how everything is, we tell him that we’d like to cash out and that we cancelled the food orders. He says no problem, and gives us the check on the spot.
Now, you have to understand. We’re not being petty. We left our server a 25% tip, and secretly prayed it went to the nice bartender. It’s not her fault the kitchen was backed up and it took an hour for us to be done with the experience. However, it is her fault that she didn’t stop by until 50 minutes after we had ordered our food. It is her fault that she didn’t try to offer us any compensation once she had realized that we had been waiting 50 minutes after ordering food, and mostly it is absolutely her fault that we left feeling frustrated and still hungry.
I would pin it at 80% kitchen, and 20% server that we left hungry and unhappy from a place we have previously so enjoyed.
This 2 star review goes out to the times we’ve previously enjoyed there, and to the nice bartender with the light blue glasses who gave us more beer. For you, bartender with light glasses and previously delicious food, we may consider coming to The Barrel Room in a month once we’ve forgotten how completely frustrating this has been.
It’s been 25 minutes since we left The Barrel Room. I’ve spent most of that time writing this review, but above all — I’M STILL HUNGRY.

Came to grab a bite and have a few beers before an Admirals game. Although they were closed, they responded to me for a reservation. Service started quick and got our food and a few rounds of drinks with more than enough time before the game. They had a great selection of beers and the food was phenomenal. Only negative of the night was that when they got busy, we didn’t see our server for about 20 mins and had to hunt her down for our checks. However, overall, great place for drinks and food and would strongly recommend it.

We came for restaurant week and we’re fortunate to get there early, as this place fills up fast.
Their special menu was amazeballs! I’m sorry, there is really no other word to describe this menu. We both started with the duck confit poutine, wow, wow, wow! The duck was so flavorful and merrier well with the gravy, fries, and cheese curds.
Entrée… bailed lamb shank… it could not get any better. The meat was so tender it just fell off of the bone. It was sitting on top of a fresh and zesty tabbouleh. There were fresh pieces of jalapeño throughout, which gave it just a bit of «zip». My friend got the pork belly on stone ground grits ans Brussel sprouts. The sprouts were cooked amazing and we needed another plate! The grits could have used some salt and pepper and could have cooked a bit longer.
Dessert was another to die for… OMG moment! The rose apple with cinnamon ice cream. The presentation was incredible (check my pic) and I wanted to lick the plate! My friend had the mint chocolate chip cheesecake and it was so huge! The dessert was more dense than a traditional cheesecake, more like a pie. It was minty fresh and incredibly tasty!
It’s a shame these items aren’t on their regular menu…
Our waiter seemed nervous, but he did well. Although he wasn’t as knowledgeable about the beer, as I would’ve hoped.
The beer selection is great and the 5oz portions are served in these tiny snifter glasses, which were so adorable!

Love the atmosphere and drink selection! And the mac n’ cheese is to die for! Great place to go if you’re craving a unique burger and looking for a chill place to eat. Stumbled upon this place after a long day of shopping at Macarther mall. Definitely will be coming back.

The pimento cheese and bacon marmalade burger is a game-​changer. The saltiness and sharpness of the cheese combined with the really sweet marmalade. It is mouth-​watering. It is everything.
I asked for my burger to be served in halves. That was no problem. The temp was almost perfect, slightly more medium well instead of medium but oh-​so good nonetheless. The char-​grilled patty was kinda overwhelming on one half, though, which led me to believe they cut it before they cooked it and cooked it separately. Or it was just burnt on one side; let’s be honest. I could get past that, because of the toppings. They were oozing out with every bite. It’s a messy and delicious burger. The veggie burger is said to be just as amazing. They skimp on the sauce for that though, and then charge you 50 cents if you ask for more. However, I am generally pleased, and the Barrel Room is now my choice burger joint.

I had an awesome first visit. The service was great, the food (tater tot nachos!!) was delicious and innovative. I liked the twist on the more traditional bar snacks and was enthusiastically looking forward to more great experiences at a new location in town.
The second visit was terrible. I was with a group and the server paid more attention to other tables before she even got our table sorted out! One person in the group ordered bourbon which he was told they were out of and he then ordered a beer. About 10 minutes later our server came back to tell him the beer was out and he ordered another one. There was a somewhat understandable confusion and the wrong beer was brought out. She apologized and took back the wrong beer… but took quite some time to return the proper one as she decided to deal with other tables rather than sort a mistake.
Finally, the bill was paid by one member of the party and she was told the group would sort out the tip. Instead of waiting, she went around to every member of the group with her hand out and said they had to tip her! The most attention we got all evening was to demand tips from each individual! It was incredibly embarrassing as I had said such nice things about this place.
I was still willing to give this establishment another try in the future despite the bad service, but when the server went around telling each person in the group they had to give her a tip ruined any chances of that happening.

My husband and I had our biweekly date night tonight and we decided to try this place because I want to learn more about scotch and my husband loves beer.
The atmosphere was great, little slow on a Sunday evening which was perfect for us. It allowed us more time to ask questions about different drinks.
We would love to go here on a Friday or Saturday evening and looks like a great place to meet up with friends.
We had an appetizer, salad and entrée. The appetizer was bacon covered asparagus and it was baked. I loved every bite. The blue cheese dressing for the salad was the best I’ve had to date. It had a nice spice to it which I enjoyed. Our entrees also were very good for the price.
We tried several scotches and craft beers. The bartender did a great job explaining different tastes and was very helpful in making our decisions.
We look forward to coming back and trying more again in the future! Overall great place for a date night or even to catch up.

We just stopped in for cocktails late on a Saturday afternoon. My lady ordered her usual Tequila-​groni (a negroni with Patron tequila instead of gin. She hates gin.) and I sampled around a bit.
My first drink was the Sazerac made with Bullet Rye. It was good enough to remind me of the first time I tried one in New Orleans several years ago. Between the absinthe rinse, the bitters and the Rye whisky you get a very unique and quaffable drink.
After talking to the bar manager, he convinced me to try their number one selling cocktail, their version of the Moscow Mule. Served in a copper mug, its vodka, fresh lime and a slug of superb ginger beer, which I am not normally a fan of. The ginger beer is sharp, peppery and not too sweet. I have forgotten what the brand name is but apparently it is available at Total Wine. I’ll be looking to stock up on my next visit.
Its a crisp and refreshing tipple and perfect for warding off the hot, steamy afternoon.
This place is definitely worth a visit.

Pretty cool little up scale bar. Tons of beer to choose from. Nice cocktail list. The wait staff is friendly. They take your order from a iPad and it also has a card reader to swipe your card. They have this ginger drink I can’t remember what it is but it’s really good and it comes in a cool little metal cup. This place is way better than the last little hole in the wall bar that was here before. The décor was really cool! The Thomas Edison bulbs were amazing I love those! The only bad thing about this place is that it was so freakin hot inside I don’t know if it was all the bulbs and candles everywhere or what. I was sweaty after a round of beer haha! Good place though

I came here on a Friday night for dinner with a friend. I expected it to be like a typical bar, but it was much nicer. For the record, all of the tables are high tops in case you don’t like those. I thought it was funny the hostess seated us at a table for 6, but there weren’t any other small tables available. Sound traveled like crazy in this bar, and I could barely hear our server when we were trying to order. I think that would be my biggest complaint, but what can I say? It’s a bar! For drinks, I opted for a raspberry martini, which I thought was a bit bitter, but I still liked it. If you’re a beer fanatic, this place is for you! They had a huge variety of beer at the bar.
As for the food, the menu selection is pretty limited, but everything looked delicious! I really wanted to try the pulled pork sandwich, but they ran out so I got the mushroom and Swiss burger– medium rare. The meat fell apart and was a little dry, but the mushrooms and cheese made up for it. I wish the bread had been toasted. I ended up taking the bread out in the end. I also ordered a side of sweet potato fries, and they were delicious! Overall, I thought this was a neat new place. Service and food were both great, and I would highly recommend it!

This is another review from a non-​beer drinker. Having read that they do offer full bar service with cocktails included, my curiosity drove me to visit a few nights ago to sample their martinis and a few bites of their food.
One pleasant surprise in store for me was recognizing my bartender, who used to work at the bar of one of my favorite restaurants in Ghent. He served me well there, and he also served me well here.
They didn’t have any of my favorite gin brands in stock for my martinis. This was understandable, as the emphasis here is upon suds instead of spirits. I was just grateful that they had any gin at all.
They did have Bombay Sapphire East, which was one of my favorites a few years ago. I chose this one for my martinis, and my bartender made them very well, stirred and not shaken, like he did before at the other bar I mentioned.
I found the menu to be rather limited, sticking primarily to bar food. There were a number of hamburgers, chicken sandwiches, and pizzas listed, none of which I was in the mood for that evening. I did see an Asian salad dish that sounded tempting and which I almost ordered.
Somehow, I changed my mind and chose their chicken wings instead, which I ordered HOT. They arrived on my plate, a total of eight in number, surrounded by serveral celery sticks.
My wings turned out to be another pleasant surprise. They exhibited the type of dry and crispy texture I enjoy, and they were just hot enough to bring a smile to my hot tooth. They were meaty and flavorful without being loaded down with excess breading and sauce.
There are few things I hate more in life than an order of wings that are so drenched in sauce that they shine bright lights in my face and drip when I pick them up. I was so very glad and relieved that their wings rose above this style of preparation. My applause to their kitchen staff.
Overall, I enjoyed my visit. To be honest, I don’t expect to be a regular customer, due to the fact that my preferences lean toward establishments with more expanded culinary and cocktail selections.
In closing, I want to recognize and praise them for a job well done during my recent visit.

I’m not a beer drinker, so take this with a grain of salt. Or, consider this review from the perspective of a non-​beer-​drinking friend.
I tried 3 of their «sweet» beers and didn’t like them. So, I ordered a sweet old fashioned (yummy). I, also, ordered a burger (the one with bacon jam-​yummy) and Parmesan fries (fries with powdery Parmesan sprinkled atop– tasted as if they were naked fries). It was all good. Service was decent. We had a weird hiccup with the fries, but nothing awful and recovery was cool.
I went with a beer drinker. He tried a couple and didn’t like them either. Then again, taste is highly subjective & it’s great to be able to sample before committing. He had an excellent cheeseburger.
If you go there for beer, you may or may not be disappointed. But, the food (basic bar variety) and service are solidly good & the place is clean. Another great addition to Downtown Norfolk/​Granby Street!

We had a fantastic time here last night at the soft opening. The place itself is stunning and has a cool vibe. I’m wishing I had gotten pics of the food offerings, but I was too involved with the beer menu.
Some friends ordered burgers and these insanely tasty tater tot fries with cheese, sour cream, the works. The offerings are perfect if you’re going to delve into any of the beers on tap.
It’s a stout and porter-​heavy lineup but there’s a great variety. I will say the prices for drafts and bottles are a bit high, but I expected it walking into this place. I won’t likely be buying the $ 32 25 oz. bottle, but feel free if that’s your thing. They also offer a Moscow mule with ginger beer that is like nothing else I’ve tried. Heavy on the ginger and would pair well with Thai food, but delicious nevertheless.
I’ll certainly be returning. Here’s hoping they offer happy hour specials so I can try some of the drafts that are out of my price range!