Barrel House — Restaurant in Coralville

Mikael was absolutely amazing!!! My party of 7 came in last night around 7:30pm as a walk-in and the restaurant was super busy. As soon as we walked in, Mikael who was running around was the host who greeted us with a smile right away. He said he had to do a quick lap around the restaurant to see if there was a table available since a lot of the tables had menus on them for reservations. He immediately came back and saw there was another party behind us and asked if they had a reservation which they did and he quickly sat them. He came right back to the host stand afterwards and told us one second while I clean a table. He went and bussed a table of 8 people’s worth of plates and drinks and cleaned the table in under 2 minutes where he sat us down what seemed like almost instantly for how busy they were. It was very impressive. Yet what was more impressive was within 5 minutes of sitting down we watched Mikael seat 6 more tables while also greeting them and bussing all their tables. I was astonished that within that 5 minutes he managed to pour 12 waters and dropped 5 of them off at a table and then came over and handed my party our waters and also told us he was going to be our server. At that point I was mind-blown that this man was also our server and running around doing the jobs of a busser and a host, while also watching him make bar drinks a couple times. As soon as he brought us waters he told us he would be right back, where I then watched him seat 5 more tables and then walked around and talked too 9 different tables including one outside which I can only assume were tables he was serving. Considering how much Mikael was running around and how busy it was I was not upset at all when it took him 10 minutes to get back over to us, and super energetically asked us if we wanted something else to drink. I don’t know how he was able to stay so positive with how much he was moving. We put in our drinks, appetizer and food order all at once and then he said I apologize and promise we will get it out as soon as possible but I am going to be honest we have about 22 different orders ahead of yours with To-Go orders with only two cooks. He then went around and checked on all his other tables and was running food while also attentively watching the door for guests. But his warning to my table and I made us worried it was going to take over an hour before we got our food and made us consider leaving if it hit an hour and 15 minutes since we were a bigger party. To my amazement he personally brought out all our food and kept refills coming during our insanely quick 45 minute wait. The food came out hot and absolutely delicious. When a restaurant is that busy and understaffed with that many reservations you would expect bad service, mid quality food, and long wait times. Yet Mikael and the kitchen managed to make our first experience here one to remember. We will definitely be back for sure just for him the next time we are in town. This restaurant exceeded my expectations. I am the General Manager at River Roast in Chicago, and he had better service, speed and attitude than any of my current staff. He said he was in school here in Iowa City, otherwise I was going to poach him to be my Assistant Manager. If he is not already a manager at Barrel House, he needs to be immediately. He was keeping the team afloat for sure, I’ve never seen anything like it. So if you are ever in the Iowa City / Coarlville area you need to stop at Barrel House and see Mikael the once in a...

Update: We gave it another shot a few months later and they ended up adding a greeter which was a good move. We were seated quickly but nobody seemed to know we were there. Our server admitted that the greeter was a new addition and apologized for the extended delay in acknowledging us as the staff was still working through the process.

The food was decent again and came out at a reasonable time. The margarita flight they have was much less interesting than I was expecting.

Overall, I may go back at some point but nothing was exceptional. It was an okay dining experience but I can go somewhere else local and likely have they same quality food with better service and location.

Original Review: We tried to go in the middle of the week spontaneously because our other dinner plans had fallen through. There was less than 5 tables seated and we stood at the door for about 2 minutes and nobody acknowledged us so we just left. We got some eye contact, but no actual acknowledgement or wait time and, again, there were barely any tables. Maybe it's a fluke?

We're generally pretty forgiving and will chalk up some bad experiences to "ordering the wrong thing" or "being busy" or "just opening". We'll try again. We went back Sunday with the intent to give them another shot.

Place was pretty busy... stood at the door for maybe 5 mins with no acknowledgement. We were seated eventually close to the bar and got a drink order in. We watched our beer be poured and sit at the bar for about 5-10 minutes until it got to our table. We ordered an appetizer. We watched the staff bring out entrees, go to 3 or 4 tables asking if the food belonged to them, then get taken back to the kitchen a few times. We put in our entree order and received our appetizer a few minutes later. We asked for more napkins the person bringing our app out and we never saw her again.

We waited 38 minutes for our entrees. We timed it.

It was actually stressful watching the staff struggle to coordinate and get food out and people greeted and seated. Our server was hustling and he managed to scrounge some napkins up as soon as we asked which was appreciated.

Food tasted good but my wife's fries were cold so obviously had been sitting for a good amount of time. The firecracker portion of her meal was more cracker and less fire, not super flavorful or maybe it was not sauced appropriately. My burger was medium, which is preferred, but I wasn't asked my preference so it could just as easily have been accidentally undercooked considering the rest of the meal. I was happy with my food.

Got our check with the 3% CC convenience fee added so we paid in cash. We still got charged the 3% fee when received our change but were over the experience so we left.

Generally, not a great experience.

We may try it out in another 6 months to see if there's been an improvement and then either write it off entirely or add it to our list of possible local...

From the moment you step into the establishment, Ilish makes sure your dining experience is unparalleled. Her ability to blend professionalism with a warm, personal touch is nothing short of remarkable. Ilish isn't just a server; she's a master of her craft, ensuring every guest feels not only attended to but truly valued.

Her attention to detail is impeccable. Whether it's remembering your drink preference from a previous visit or noticing when you need a little extra time to decide on your order, Ilish does it all with a smile that's both genuine and infectious. It's clear she not only loves her job but also excels at it, making each dining experience memorable.

What sets Ilish apart is her intuitive service. She can gauge the mood of her guests, providing lively banter or giving space when needed, always ensuring the atmosphere is just right. Her recommendations are always on point, showing her extensive knowledge of the menu and a keen understanding of her guests' preferences.

Moreover, Ilish's efficiency is unparalleled. Even on the busiest nights, she manages her tables with grace and composure, ensuring everyone's needs are met promptly without ever making you feel rushed. Her ability to multitask while maintaining a friendly demeanor is a testament to her exceptional skills and dedication.

In a world where genuine hospitality can sometimes feel like a rarity, Ilish stands out as a beacon of what true service should be. She's not just a server; she's a part of what makes the dining experience so enjoyable and why you'll find yourself eagerly returning.

Thank you, Ilish, for consistently exceeding expectations and for making every visit a delight. Your hard work, dedication, and radiant personality do not go unnoticed. You're not just the best server; you're the heart and soul of the...