Barney's Beanery — Restaurant in Pasadena

I had an inexcusably awful experience with Liz C ( #1075) on the night of Sunday, January 24. My Girlfriend and I arrived and placed an order for a Cali Burger, Spicy Chicken Sandwich, Carne Asada fries, and a Barneys IPA at 7:55 PM. Our bill was $40 and change, and we left a 5$ tip, which is around %12, which is by no means bad for a takeout order with no additional service( Considering that 6.07 is 15%). We received our food and sat at the outside table, which was part of the outside corridor, so we were perfectly in our right to do that( we even asked if it was ok, and they said it was). once our food arrived my girlfriend asked to use the restroom, and there was no problem, she was granted the privilege to use the bathroom. Around 8:30 PM we were getting ready to leave, and I wanted to use the restroom as well, and went to the side entrance and asked if I may. Liz said no and at first, I thought she was joking, so I laughed, but she was serious. I then replied that my girlfriend just used it, why was I not allowed to? she said that it was because they were closing( keep in mind that it was 8:30 PM, and their business hours stated that they were open until 10 PM), I had seen other people using the restroom, so I will admit that I was curious why I was singled out. I walked away irritated, then sat back down. I did not mention this to them, but I have a congenital birth defect that necessitates that I use the restroom frequently, and I had just drunk water and really needed to use the facilities. I returned to the entrance and asked why I was being singled out, and once again I was told that they were closing, which was untrue at 8:30 pm. Liz then told me that it was for customers only, and I explained that we just purchased food and a beverage. She reiterated that they were closing, and after begging for a minute she Raised her voice at me and said " FINE, USE THE RESTROOM" which only added insult to injury I used the bathroom and returned outside. as we drove by their Colorado entrance we noticed that there were new guests placing orders ( This was approximately 9 PM), so we called back and politely asked what time they were open for pick up orders, Liz picked up the phone and said 9:30, to which I was shocked.

I cannot understand why I was singled out.. We tipped, and were courteous and polite. We visit barneys around 2-3 times a month at least, and the service is usually exceptional ( In fact our last experience was fantastic, and server Angie was absolutely spectacular in her service as usual, even as a cashier)

The Major issue I have here is the fact that it was extremely uncomfortable to have to wait to use the bathroom for me, especially as a guest when my girlfriend had no issue using it. We tipped, and were polite. I could almost understand if they were actually closing, but this was not the case, they were open for another hour and a half. It was extremely humiliating to have to beg to use the restroom, especially when others are using it, and the bar is open, and we are guests eating outside. I have never experienced anything like that, and it was totally uncalled for. There is no reason to lie to a guest and tell them that they are closing, we caught Liz in a lie when we called back. It is extremely humiliating that I should have to beg to use the restroom. I will be calling the restaurant tomorrow and telling the general manager about our experience. I did not deserve to be singled out and treated unfairly when other guests were not. I had not even...

After three years of loyal Thursdays at our usual bar and restaurant, a change in management left it lackluster, prompting our group of Gen Xers and Boomers to seek a new spot. We landed at Barney's Beanery, and here’s how it went.

The vibe hits you right at the door—friendly security welcomes you into a lively, hip bar area. The ceiling is decked out with license plates from across the U.S., string lights add a cozy glow, and tables are adorned with photos of 60s and 70s bands and singers. The crowd skews younger, mostly 20- and 30-somethings, but the music, a mix of 70s classics to current Top 40, bridges the gap nicely. On Thursdays, they offer karaoke downstairs and pool tables upstairs, which adds to the fun.

Seating was our first hurdle. Our group, typically 8 to 12 strong, struggled to find a table, as most are set for four. The wait staff, however, was fantastic—especially our server, Peter P., who went above and beyond to secure a table that worked for us. His friendliness and attentiveness set the tone for a great experience.

The menu impressed us. The beer selection is stellar, and the food options are surprisingly robust for a bar and the kitchen is open until midnight. They serve breakfast all day, so several in our group opted for eggs Benedict and bagel sandwiches, while another ordered fish and chips. I went for the Juicy Burger, stuffed with cheese, paired with crispy, well-seasoned fries. The food exceeded our expectations—the burger was phenomenal, and those fries alone are worth a return visit. The only menu letdown was the limited wine selection, which could use a bit more variety.

We hit one snag: the kitchen seemed to lose our fish and chips order. Peter was quick to sort it out, ensuring it arrived promptly, which we appreciated. The staff’s overall warmth and hustle, especially Peter’s, made the night feel special.

The only real downside is the seating. With tables mostly capped at four, it’s tough for a larger group like ours to settle in comfortably for our usual eat-drink-and-chat routine. Still, Barney’s Beanery delivered a great experience, and I’d highly recommend it for its atmosphere, food, and stellar service—just maybe not...

With friends yesterday, Friday night, looking for a good spot in Old Town for karaoke and hit up Barney's Tiki Room in the basement. There's no doubt it's a fun time with a good crowd, people who are supportive and enjoy being there. The bartenders are attentive to those who are at the bar as well. The person who runs the karaoke this past Friday night, however, was quite possibly the worst example of a karaoke DJ I have ever encountered. We got there around 9pm and immediately put in our songs. He said it'd be about an hour wait. No problem we tipped him a buck as this is our usual gesture to the DJ to let them know I appreciate their time and attention in advance. After listening to multiple people get up and sing 2 or 3 times, we inquired again after an hour an a half. The karaoke DJ then very bluntly informed us that if we wanted to sing like the others we would have to "tip to skip". Now, I understand tipping to get someone up there on a special occasion to make sure it's a special time. But the guy who ran this karaoke was just taking money from the same people to essentially have them have their own karaoke party. The other karaoke nights around town are run by pretty conscientious karaoke DJs - they accept tips, sure, but they make sure that the people who haven't had a chance to sing yet in an evening get priority. That's because karaoke is about everyone having a good time. It's about inclusivity, regardless of who you are, how you sing, what music you like, or how much money you have in your pocket. This person who runs the karaoke at Barney's was inconsiderate and non-inclusive towards most of the customers last night who wanted to sing, but didn't tip him $20 or more. This Barney's has a nice vibe, but they need to reconsider who they get to run...