Canteen Restaurant — Restaurant in Barrington Township

HORRIBLE BBQ.i had such high hopes and i was let down!! I should’ve known that a place that people of barrington Illinois were raving about was not going to be good. Especially a Bbq place. I wish i never paid for this or put this disgusting food in my mouth.

I got the brisket platter. It was like my meat was either pan fried or boiled in water. It came out looking like it had been sitting out in the sun for days. It was brownish gray. It was so dry. Had NOOOO FLAVOR!!! I added salt to EVERY SINGLE BITE. My boyfriend (who eats everything and doesn’t have super high standards) even said it was disgusting- and he likes everything!! I got a side of mac and cheese and it was so grainy and wet and tasted like a frozen meal Mac and cheese. So disappointed. The side wasn’t even good. Putting up a front like this was cooked at a high level…. There were also sooo many little flies everywhere!!!! They kept flying at me or onto the food. It was disgusting and made the experience even worse. I don’t know how everybody there looked like they were enjoying their food because there’s just no way. I think the owner was sitting outside but I’m not sure. But if he was- maybe go inside and try to make some better food because that was terrible and i am so disappointed that i spent my hard earned money on that. Please take the time to better your food and quality.

My boyfriend got a skillet with burnt ends and he said that the sauce was too much and just over powered everything. I didn’t try it but it looked gross.

Don’t be fooled by how cute the place sounds/looks....

HORRIBLE BBQ. This place is a disgrace, Gordon Ramsay would have a heart attack if he attempted to turn this place around.

Let me start with the brisket platter. This place has smokers on display outside of their restaurant along with grills, various other charcoal contraptions and yet…..when ordering my brisket, I received a pan-fried brisket that you can easily tell they heated on a pan because of the marks on the brisket itself. BLAND, no flavor whatsoever and the brisket tasted old. Really old. Then the sides, Mac n cheese and coleslaw. Mac n cheese was grainy, separating, hot, so hot that you instantly knew it was microwaved. Just plasticky taste, absolutely disgusting. Coleslaw was absolutely miserable, I have had better coleslaw at KFC and Popeyes. I also ordered a sausage link and it was inedible. I mean literally inedible. I think the owners have given up or maybe nobody simply cares. There is no standard at this place. The sauce was literally possibly Baby Kay’s watered down to save costs and there were bugs everywhere inside. My wife even had a gnat crawling on her plate. I instantly got bubble guts and now who knows how long I will be using the bathroom for. I wish I had never gone here, please don’t waste your money. For $70, which is what I spent, you can have some damn good food at home. Plus some wine to go along with it. This place should have the health inspectors come check it out, I bet they get shut down...

A BBQ Breakfast Experience Like No Other!

I don’t usually write reviews, but this place absolutely deserves the praise. From the moment I walked in, I could smell that rich, smoky aroma of meat that told me I was in for something special — and I wasn’t wrong.

This BBQ spot doesn’t just do lunch and dinner — they’ve taken things to the next level with a BBQ breakfast that blew me away. I ordered the smoked brisket with eggs, and every bite was packed with deep, smoky flavor, perfectly seasoned potatoes, and melt-in-your-mouth brisket. You can see they smoke their meats fresh daily outside! This is the real deal.

But the burnt ends? On another level. Crispy on the outside, juicy and tender inside, with that perfect taste that only comes from hours in the smoker. Best I’ve ever had — no exaggeration.

Beyond the food, the service was top-notch. The staff was genuinely friendly, welcoming, and treated everyone who walked in like a regular, even if it was their first visit. It’s that kind of warm, local charm that makes you want to come back before you’ve even finished eating.

The portions are generous, the prices are fair, and the quality is unmatched. Whether you’re a BBQ fanatic or just someone looking for a breakfast that’s a little out of the ordinary — this place is a must-try.

I’ll definitely be back, and next time I’m bringing friends. Five stars...