Barley & Smoke — Restaurant in Peoria

I have mixed feelings about our first experience here on New Years Day. I made reservations about a week prior for a 5pm spot on New Years Day. After putting in the notes of the reservation that I had a picky eater and hoped there was a kid's menu to order from, I got an immediate text from the owner saying they don't have a kids menu but would make whatever I wanted. I asked for a grill cheese and fries and he said that they would accommodate. So, when we arrived, we were seated right on time but did not get any service, menus or water for about 15 minutes. It appeared there was one server for the entire restaurant and he didn't make it to our table for quite a while. We finally got menus and he came back to take our drink orders, I knew there was a special New Years menu, but it wasn't printed anywhere, so I had to ask.

After we decided what we wanted, I mentioned my picky eater and the server was familiar with what I had asked for in the previous conversation with the owner. He stated the grill cheese was going to be $16 and if we added fries, it brought it to $21! At that point, there was nothing else on the regular menu that my son would have eaten, so for $21 I ordered a basic grill cheese and fries.

We were there for over an hour before our food came - which was getting very frustrating. I don't know if the server could sense it but he walked over with a whiskey in his hand and set it in front of my husband. He said "the owner would like to thank you for your service. We hear you're an Air Force officer and pilot". Now, while I appreciate the gesture - I have NO IDEA how he knew this information. As far as we know, have never met the owner or the server so how would he know my husband's occupation other than finding our social media online and seeing it? Again, I appreciate the gesture, but at the same time, he wasn't in uniform, we weren't talking Air Force stuff at the table - it was odd that a stranger would point out that he knew what my husband does for a living. Forgive me if we've met along the way - but I would hope if that was the case you would've walked over and said hi.

Food was tasty, decent portions, but took far too long to get to us. By the time we were done, we had been there for 2 hours and 15 minutes...way too long unless you are being served courses that take up some of that waiting time.

I don't know that I would return for a family dinner, maybe for light appetizers and drinks at the bar. But for the money, I would expect faster, more attentive service and maybe lower the price of a basic grill cheese sandwich to be commensurate with the ingredients. My grilled veggies, hummus and bread dish that I ate as a main was less expensive.

Cool concept, food was good - but just a couple of quirks that would keep me from spending $250 on...

We checked out the brand new speakeasy, Barely and Smoke, inside PBA this weekend. The experience was pretty awesome. They walked you through the kitchen to get to the secret room :) our waiter was very awesome. He made the whole expensive even more fun. Over all the drinks, appetizers, and entrees were very well prepared and unique. You might wonder why we only give it 4 stars? Pleas keep reading...

Appetizers we tried: Pork Belly - really good. The flavor was on point, not too sweet, and the texture was perfect. 10/10

Bone marrow and oysters - oysters can be a bit bigger. They were on the smaller side. 9/10

Japanese potatoes - this missed the mark quite a bit. It was a bit undercooked. And the flavor was mild. We had some very mind-blowing ones from Pa"La. 4/10

Charcuterie board - It was ok. Maybe add some crackers or bread slices to complement the cheese and stuff. 6/10.

Entrees: Bao Buns - this was amazing. They definitely know what they are doing with the pork bellies. 10/10.

Wagyu beef hamburger - this was also very tasty. The normal PBA burger was already really good. Somehow they managed to top that. Very rich flavor, perfect temperature, and all the sides go well together. Oh, and it is only $19. 10/10

Octopus with Potatoes - this was the biggest disappointment of all the things we tried. For $32 and as a big plate entree, it had 3 tiny Octopus tentacles put on top of 3 scallop looking potatoes cooked on some chilli sauce. The portion was extremely tiny. I feel like the frozen seafood package from Costco tastes better than this. This item needs some drastic overhaul... 3/10 (3 for the effort)

Dessert: We had the French donuts for dessert. It came with 4 donuts and they were definitely the best donut we ever had. 9/10

Drinks: B&S 75 - this is a nice spin of the French 75. 9/10

Smokin' Aces - this is another nice spin on the old fashioned. It is actually better than the Oaxacan Old Fashioned. 9/10

Oaxaca Old Fashioned- this was made with Mexican corn whiskey. It didn't taste bad, but it is a unique taste. I feel like they should have renamed this to be something else. It doesn't remind me of old fashioned. 7/10

Blackberry Thyme-Out - this was a bit on the sweet side. 7/10

Overall, we enjoyed our visit, and we plan to come back , but we will definitely not order the...

A Hidden Gem of Culinary Creativity and Warm Ambience

Stumbled upon Barley & Smoke and wow -- what a hidden gem. This place isn't just a restaurant; it's a culinary journey across cultures, textures, and perfectly balanced flavors.

We kicked off the evening with a WhistlePig PiggyBack Rye Old Fashioned -- smoky, strong, and beautifully stirred -- followed by a bold glass of Cult Cabernet Sauvignon, which paired perfectly with the richness of the meal.

To start, we had half a dozen oysters from British Columbia -- fresh, briny, and served with an elegant mignonette that let the natural flavor shine. Then came the pork belly, and let me just say: if you only order one thing, make it this. The cheddar jalapeño cornbread base, combined with hot honey and pickled Fresno chile, was a beautiful, unexpected dance of sweet heat and savory richness.

The diversity of the menu is what really stood out -- from Wagyu burgers to bao buns with bulgogi, to the Santa Maria Ribeye with rosemary potatoes, it's a mix of global inspiration executed with elevated finesse. Every dish we saw coming out of the kitchen looked like art.

The ambience? Refined but relaxed -- the kind of place where you feel equally at home sipping cocktails or settling into a long, thoughtful dinner.

I ended the evening with a crisp glass of Taonga Sauvignon Blanc, a local Arizona selection that added a refreshing, citrusy finish -- the perfect close to a layered, satisfying experience.

The service was beyond a hospitality moment!

Whether you're a foodie, cocktail enthusiast, or just want to impress someone with a surprise gem, Barley & Smoke absolutely delivers.

We forget to thank Megan for her guidance in our journey of flavor...