Barrel & Brew Craft Bar, Kitchen & Spirits — Restaurant in New Milford

By far this has to be THE worse experience I’ve had at an establishment, but in hindsight, after seeing so many reviews about the staff being rude I’m not surprised.

When we called to make a reservation for dinner, we were advised that there was a 90 minute time limit for dining, which is fairly normal. Upon arriving at the facility, we asked if there was a time limit at the bar which we were told there was not, so we decided to give up our table to sit by the bar since we knew we would probably stay longer than 90 minutes.

In the two hours that we were there, we order food and three rounds of drinks for 3 people. After the 3rd drink, we decided to get some water and hydrate before drinking more. It was at this point that the bartender approached us and stated that “as per the owner”, if we weren’t going to drink anymore, we had to leave and he would be bringing us our check. The bartender was apologetic and insisted that it was not him saying this, but the owner. We asked to speak to the owner three times before he finally showed face.

The owner Albert denied having said this to the bartender. Which makes no sense as to why a bartender would just make this up. At no point did the owner apologize or try to rectify what was said to us with his staff. He literally just shrugged it off. Needless to say, I will never give an establishment like this my business. I am literally disgusted at the treatment we received, so be warned not only by me but by the other reviews that the staff and owner at this facility are rude and...

Had the pleasure of attending a fantastic Reinado Cigar event at Barrel & Brew in New Milford, NJ, hosted by fellow Cuban and Reinado owner, Antonio Lam. The vibe, the cigars, the food... everything hit the mark.

The standout cigar for me was Antonio's Reinado Grand Apex, the name says it all. This 91-rated blend (as seen in Cigar Snob) delivered smooth, complex notes of bittersweet chocolate and cedar, with a subtle touch of dark cherry on the finish. One of the most enjoyable smokes I've had in a while.

Barrel & Brew really impressed with their Latin-inspired menu. The dishes were flavorful and felt like elevated home cooking. For me, the ceviche was next level!! Fresh, balanced, and absolutely delicious.

Owner Albert and his team didn't miss a beat. They went above and beyond. Perfectly presenting and pouring Glenmorangie 12, 14, and 16-year scotches (obviously, the 16-year was our favorite), while making sure everyone had what they needed, from cigars and drinks to perfectly timed apps. Just a great vibe all around. Natalia.. our server was awesome!

The night kicked off with smooth background Latin jazz, which set the mood perfectly. As things warmed up, the live DJ brought his own flavor, keeping the energy high and even getting a few folks dancing. Great music, great people, and a memorable night.

Looking forward to the next Reinado event already. If you get the chance to go......

Barrel & Brew Craft Bar and Restaurant left us quite disappointed. We arrived at 9:15 pm and didn’t eat until 11:15 pm. Luckily the DJ was great and we made the best of it but the amount of excuses we got from various servers in regards to why our meal was delayed was ridiculous. First it was because they had multiple birthday parties and the kitchen was backed up. Then it was because a new system had erased our orders so they took it again. There was no excuse for why they charged $99.36 for 6 glasses of Pinot or why we paid a BOLD $42.60 gratuity for a party of 3. They never offered a bottle of wine versus a glass but not sure if that would even have mattered. They tried to make up for the wait with three tequila shots and a lame joke about how even though our food took long we got free shots. Most of the staff was very unprofessional and dismissive. When we finally got our food one of the staff members opened the door and left it open while we were at the front of the restaurant trying to eat our late dinner. The atmosphere was nice and the food wasn’t bad or expensive but almost feels like they prolonged our dinner so we would keep ordering $16.50 Pinots. And no prices for drinks are not listed on the menu … won’t be going back to this strip mall overpriced spot. So no need to offer your free appetizer or 40%...