Barrel House Restaurant and Bar — Restaurant in Mount Juliet

I wanted to share my recent dining experience at Barrel House. First off, let me say that this has always been one of our favorite places to eat. We've loved all the food, never had a bad meal, and the people have been very friendly, welcoming, and accommodating. So, when a very special event in our family came up, we thought the Barrel House would be the perfect place to celebrate and introduce some new guests to this hidden jewel in Mount Juliet.

However, with the recent menu change, we encountered several issues that seemed to affect everyone from the front of the house down. We understand that adjusting to a new menu can be challenging for the Cook staff, causing the well-oiled machine to lose its rhythm and cohesiveness. This can naturally impact the entire team.

Our experience began with the Hostess, who didn't seem welcoming, lacked a smile, and seemed a bit lost. We wrote this off as someone having a bad day. But the experience continued with the Waitress, who was short and seemed preoccupied, as if she had better things to do. This affected our orders, which were incorrect, and the food lacked its usual "flavorfulness" and presentation flair. One of the dishes we ordered was way too spicy, even for someone who loves spicy food like myself. When we explained the issue to the Waitress, we received no response. We ordered something else, requesting "NO ONIONS" on the burger, but it came with more onions than usual. We picked them off and set them aside. No one checked in with us about our meals or the food we sent back, and we weren't asked if we wanted dessert. The party we were with just wanted to leave, and I doubt they'll be back.

I, on the other hand, will come again, but it will be a while. I hope this review creates some positive changes for Barrel House. We hope this gives you time to adjust to the new menu and return to the friendly, welcoming, and accommodating atmosphere we've enjoyed...

A Mixed Bag of Homey Comfort and Missed Opportunities Stepping into Barrel House was a pleasant surprise; its homey and cozy atmosphere belies a much larger interior than initially perceived. My primary draw was the fried green tomatoes, and they did not disappoint—they were absolutely delicious. I also thoroughly enjoyed the vegan quesadillas, though I wished the cashew cheese sauce had been at least room temperature to truly elevate the dish.

However, the Brussels sprouts were a significant misstep. As a person who really enjoys brussels , I was disappointed by their distinct, propane gas, flavor. When I brought this to my waitress's attention, her response was puzzling: "Yeah, a lot of customers say this, but we cook them in the same oil as the green beans." This raised a red flag, as this information upfront could have saved me from a disappointing order and the establishment from food waste. While I appreciate that she removed them from the bill, it's unfortunate for both the customer experience and the restaurant's bottom line.

On the positive side, the staff was exceptionally friendly, which was a refreshing change of pace. That said, the service itself left something to be desired. Our waitress only appeared to take our order and deliver the check. We had to proactively seek out napkins, and dirty appetizer plates, along with self-serve dishes, remained on our table throughout the meal, creating an uncomfortably crowded and cluttered dining experience.

Despite these service hiccups and the unfortunate Brussels sprouts, I would definitely return tomorrow for the fried green tomatoes and vegan quesadillas alone. They were truly the stars...

Edited to add: The owner has responded to my review below. He just couldnt help but insult me because I could tell not all the food was from scratch. Nothing says a chef is confident in his skills like lashing out at a guest that did not enjoy their experience at his restaurant. This place won't last because they don't respect the opinions of the very people they depend on.

We visited for dinner and although the service was good and the food came out quickly, we were not impressed. We ordered the Reuben egg rolls, which were $15. We were served 2 egg rolls, sliced on a bias with a side of thousand island. They were tasty but meager. My husband ordered the Italian beef sandwich. The fries were cold and the au jus that it was served alongside was oily and unappetizing. I ordered the Cuban sandwich. It was tasty but my waffle fries were also cold. Both sandwiches were $17. Overall the food was pretty good, on the level of Cheddar's or a similar chain, but the price point was ridiculous. All the food was fine, but in no way elevated in order for the price to make sense. We had planned to order cocktails but after seeing that all mixed drinks were at least $15, we decided not to. And while we did not order dessert, the price of the bread pudding was also $15. If you've made bread pudding, you know it's an inexpensive dessert, and definitely not worth that. Our server was Gary, and he was very friendly and professional, but we will not be back. There are way too many great restaurants in Mt Juliet that are not overcharging...