Blu Barrel Bar & Grill — Restaurant in Abilene

1st time to visit the establishment and was very impressed with the menu and the prices. Everything on this menu is well thought out and I would like try to more. I had the half dozed oysters and the pulled pork sandwich with fries. Oysters were spot on and surprise to find here in this bland town. Every oyster was perfect. The pulled pork is probably the best in this town. Smoked, moist, flavorful, the fires were cooked perfect and tasted wonderful. 5/5 food. Service. Come on. It's just one dude, low maintenance sitting at the bar to eat (non drinker) but heavy tipper. To order or get my servers attention was frustrating as she was more focused on the regulars down the bar conversation about football. When I would get your attention your were short with me just trying to get an order in as your kitchen closes on 45 minutes and cooks area ready to go home on a Saturday night. I was never checked on to see how any course of my meal was, a refill on my soda, or I was thinking about another 1/2 dozen oysters. But tick tick tick... Inside if I could put in an order for the pork sandwich. Got a short reply from her, asked to please put bbq sauce and coleslaw on side. As not to drown the pork. The pork came out completely wrong so the kitchen refired it. From the response from the kitchen this seems like not the first or second time. The kitchen staff were 100% professional. Just disappointed as if was my first visit. Only reason I would comeback is the food was good. What happened to the service industry? Get out if you don't like it. I did 35 years...

My husband and have tried to like this place. We have gone at least 6 times. Great happy hour but each time we have gone we have witnessed poor behaviors by management and employees. The first time the manager was pretty much flirting with the female staff instead of taking care of the customers on a very busy day. The second time we watched an recent off duty employee sitting at the bar and she was very intoxicated and the manager talked her a few times,yet she kept getting served alcohol. There were two more times where we saw 2 managers on duty and again both were playing around with staff and one staff member continued to shoot a nerf gun at the bartender and she in turn kept dropping the f-bomb loudly and managers laughed and did nothing. Luckily nothing hit a customer. The last time our menus were covered in food and sticky stuff. There are plenty of employees standing around and hanging with managers, they should be wiping down the menus. Food is ok. Typical bar food. It seems they are busy enough so need to act...

I'm not sure how long this place has been open but it was my first time here. A group of 4 for a night out. Inside has been remodeled(formerly R bar location). Looks really nice, nicely updated, extended patio. Austin was our server, he admitted it was his 2nd day on the job. He did make mistakes but was very friendly and had a good attitude. Give him a break if hes ur server, hes trying. Mozzarella sticks were super crispy and tasty, beer nice and cold. If u go after 10 p.m. , the only thing they serve is appetizers. It's a fairly long list so it wasn't a big idea to us. Steady crowd on a Saturday night and begin to thin out between 10 and 11 p.m. Got a visit from manager , very friendly as well. Overall great time. I hope it stays in business. Good first impression. Hope to take pictures next time. I like having...