Modern Barn — Restaurant in Bethel

Some of the people reviewing this restaurant have never worked in a restaurant and it really shows... Plus there's kinda this thing going on in the world right now... global pandemic and labor shortages... Buncha Karens running around writing bad google reviews in Bethel, ME. This place literally has a sign on the door explaining what they're going through, and if you're in a huge hurry go somewhere else. And to super-bully Cassie Roan from NYC... Walgreens down the street doesn't have a $5 cheeseboard... I went and looked... Check your NYC attitude and relax on your exaggerations. There's a special place for you in the "I'd like to talk to the Manager line!" Now that I have that out of my system onto my review lol...

My fiance and I are from out of town, Philadelphia area, so we're used to great dining and experiences associated with it. I'd put this place in line with some of our favorite spots in the city. The location was unique... we were just driving through a neighborhood and then it popped up, but that was pretty cool in my opinion... It kinda sneaks up on you. We made a reservation the night before for two and they had a ton of availability and were one of the only restaurants open on Tuesday night in town. The ambiance when you get in there is gorgeous... live edge wood bar and tables, exposed beams and really pretty wood paneling, a wine wall installation, some interesting design elements, pellet burning stove that we were sat next to.

Apparently on Tuesdays they have some really great drink/taco specials that we obviously took advantage of, $5 margaritas and red wine. For food, we started with the candied bacon which had two slices, this bacon was thicc... dare I say voluptuous, and candied to perfection, perfect app for two people. My fiance had the Angus burger and fries, which was really good and the fries were crispy and delicious. I didn't want a huge meal bc we had some beers and an app at a brewery before this but got the carnitas taco and thought it was really delicious. It was packed with meat and toppings... AND in one of the self standing hard taco shells! (Never change that... I don't even understand how other taco shells exist.) THEN for dessert we shared the s'mores brownie sundae... Oh my lawddd that was amazing!!! Fudgey, soft brownie with melted marshmallow on top, served with not vanilla but cookies & cream ice cream. Food was absolutely delicious.

Service-wise... we were greeted with a smile, sat pretty quickly in a great seat, order was taken quickly and food/drinks came out in a reasonable time. Our server was really nice... we laughed and chatted a little (but not too much - good balance), she made two really great wine suggestions and I especially liked the one and without asking she brought the bottle out so I could take a pic to remember it.

We had a great experience... I don't often write reviews... it's really only when I disagree with a rating an establishment has on Google/dining apps and in my opinion this is rated WAY too low. We enjoyed our meal in literally every way. Modern Barn staff keep your heads up, keep doing what you're doing and hopefully the Karens cut you a break. Great meal, good drinks, loved...

Prepare yourself for an otherworldly experience at The Modern Barn – a place where sanity takes a vacation and surrealism reigns supreme. Upon entering, I was greeted by an onslaught of garish red hues that made me question if I had stumbled into a psychedelic red barn straight out of a Salvador Dali painting.

The décor was an inexplicable mishmash of barnyard meets avant-garde. Picture this: life-sized cow sculptures adorned with neon-red sunglasses, chandeliers crafted from pitchforks dangling above tables, and walls plastered with oversized portraits of perplexed chickens wearing bowties. It was a tribute to the absurdity of design, leaving me wondering if I had unwittingly stepped into a twisted, surreal dream.

As for the food, it seemed like the chef had taken inspiration from a whimsical fantasy rather than culinary expertise. I was served a dish that defied logic – a towering structure resembling a miniature red barn made entirely out of tomato slices and strawberry-infused quinoa. It was as baffling to taste as it was to behold.

The staff seemed to blend in seamlessly with the eccentric ambiance, dressed in checkered red overalls with cow-print bowties, their demeanor mirroring the baffling atmosphere. They went about their tasks as if participating in an avant-garde performance art piece rather than providing traditional restaurant service. In conclusion, The Modern Barn is an enigmatic world where reality and eccentricity collide. If you seek an experience that challenges your perception of normalcy and embraces the outlandish, then by all means, step into this red-hued wonderland. But for those seeking a conventional dining experience, prepare for a journey beyond the realms of...

We patroned this restaurant after looking at the menu and thought it was a upscale establishment. Unfortunately, we arrived and saw multiple open tables but we're told the wait was 30min and the manager rudely stated "well where else are you gonna go at this time". After we waited we put food orders in and it took 1hr for the appetizers to arrive. The wings were ice cold when the arrived and the manager gave a lame excuse that they were "new wings". The manager did comp them. The main course came and the Bolognese noodles were cold. The ribeye came out and was also cold. We told the server who offered to put it back on the grill and when it came back was not good. Worst part it was $50 and they didn't offer to comp it or reduce it. Would not recommend to go here.

Response from the owner 52 minutes ago

"We are sorry you didnt enjoy your visit to Modern Barn. While tables appeared empty to you there were incoming reservations for each of those tables. When it is a busy vacation week, we are usually unable to accommodate walk ins and we did our best to accommodate you. Yes our wings were new wings as the food suppliers are also out of stock of many of their items this busy week and many substitutions are made. The ribeyes were requested medium rare and they are thick 18oz ribeyes. We comped your wings and made a new order for you. We were not made aware you were still unhappy with your steak because had we known we would have easily taken it off the bill. Perhaps you will try us again when it is not vacation week."

Just because it's a vacation week does not...