The Barn; Decadent Dining

Exquisitely remodeled from the old Hoggy's, The Barn has transcended expectations and transformed into an intimate, classy bar and restaurant for upscale diners. BBQ connoisseurs will enjoy their various and numerous cuts of meat that are made precisely to your liking. Before we delve into the main course, let's discuss appetizers, which you can't go wrong with any of them here. We devoured the baked oysters bingo- I have never eaten anything of the like, other than raw oysters, which are on a whole other level and cannot even be compared. I could have ordered another round of these delicious bite-size apps. We shared a basket of ribs, which then turned into two baskets, as the meat slipped right off the bone and melted in your mouth; you couldn't stop after just one. The spicy sauerkraut balls were wonderful, even coming from someone who was never a fan of sauerkraut, the combination of flavors was pleasantly appealing to the palate. In case you particularly enjoy having some vegetables and dip before your meal, or cheese and a few pickles, there is a small plate bar with all of these options that you can grab at your own discretion.

 I highly recommend sipping on a Bourbon Hemingway, especially if you prefer your bourbon to have a lighter feel to it with citrus bursts, specifically grapefruit that provides just enough tart to make the drink wonderfully balanced.  I haven't ordered a filet mignon in years, as most of the time I more readily order scallops or fresh, wild-caught fish, but let me tell you I was delighted with my choice (a 6.oz filet)! It was cooked to perfection, with all of it's juicy tenderness intact, and I never even bothered to use the sauce as the seasoning was exceptional on it's own. The asparagus was tender and well seasoned, which preparing these until they are just right can prove to be difficult and many restaurants get them plain wrong by serving them tough and dried out. There were no complaints from the other seven people in my party that night, I swear a hush came over the table as we all took in our plates and immersed ourselves in the magnificent dish in front of us. The service was great, and if another server noticed that we were out of drinks, they didn't hesitate to come and replenish our waters or bring us another beverage. The timing of the dishes arriving to our table was not delayed, nor did we ever wonder where our appetizers/dinner/desserts were since they came out at a pleasant pace, so as to not rush us or keep us waiting. Their after dinner drinks were phenomenal and hit the spot.

Do not pass on the dessert! Every item on the menu was remarkable and came highly recommended by the server, no surprise there as they all made my mouth-water just reading the descriptions. I have a soft spot for coconut cake and this was by far the best I have ever eaten; it was extremely moist and was very much complimented by the chocolate sauce. Each bite was savory and just sweet enough without being over powering. You can tell they were baked fresh and were days from becoming stale, whereas some restaurants leave you pondering over the actual date the desserts were baked. The creme brûlée was the special for the night, it's presentation was definitely aesthetically pleasing and inviting to your taste buds. Many creme brûlées can be too sweet, if not paired with a tart fruit or topping, but they mastered the art of flavor combinations by adding blueberries and lemon zest atop mint leaves. It had a very rich taste that had me going back for more after each bite and I was rather disappointed when the dish was empty, regardless of the fact that I was entirely too full! The Barn lived up to every expectation as a Cameron Mitchell concept and then went beyond with its unparalleled flavor profile from the starters to the decadent desserts. I'd be crazy not to recommend this place to every one of my clients in the area, as it outshines most, if not all, of the restaurants nearby.

Feel free to share your experience at this restaurant; the more the merrier!