BARRETT'S BARLEYCORN PUB & GRILL
Hoppen Hierarchy:★★★
District: Blackstone
Watering Hole with Elevated Pub Food
Perfect For: Lunch; Casual Dining; Drinks; Happy Hour
Standout Dishes: Chicken Philly; Reuben; Pork Tenderloin (Thursdays and Fridays)
What Barrett’s Barleycorn Pub & Grill is today is not at all what the owners originally intended it to be.
When it opened, Barrett’s was a fun-loving bar that served a few food items out of its tiny kitchen. It was far more focused on helping patrons unwind from a long day rather than thrill their tastebuds. However, around 2008 owner Karen Barrett started noticing a shift; Barrett’s had developed such a beloved menu that it was now known more for food than drinks. Visitors were far more likely to bring their families and nosh on a philly cheesesteak than take shots or pound Guinesses.
While it’s difficult to pinpoint why the shift occurred, it’s helped Barrett’s become one of Omaha’s most universally-loved institutions. In fact, the restaurant has so beloved menu items that patrons argue which is the best.
Among the favorites are Barrett’s cheesesteaks. The Beef Philly is a familiar take on the famous sandwich, though far better than most you’ll find in Omaha. Tender roast beef is complemented by melted cheese and sautéed mushrooms and onions and served in a massive toasted hoagie. One bite is all it takes to understand how this sandwich came to fame.
But it’s not even the most popular Philly on the menu. That distinction goes to the Chicken Philly, a wild sandwich that is absolutely wonderful in that sloppy, over-the-top way bar food should taste. Not only is the shredded chicken marinated in teriyaki and Szechuan sauces (giving it a sweet, salty zing), but the classic Swiss cheese is mixed with cream cheese, adding a gooey fattiness. It’s a bizarre sandwich that defies logic, but it just works.
So how did Barrett’s develop such a unique flavor combination? Well, the morning after a few drinks were consumed, ingredients and techniques were applied to the philly until this hangover-induced masterpiece was born.
That theme carries throughout Barrett’s menu. While the staple bar food—burgers, sandwiches, fish & chips—are all present, each has one or two special touches that make it uniquely Barrett’s. It’s why the egg rolls have Sante Fe influence, onion chips replace onion rings, and the famed Pork Tenderloin Sandwich (a special on Thursdays and Fridays) adds cheese, mayo, lettuce, tomato, pickles and onions to its breaded cutlet for additional flavor.
Then there’s the One-Eyed Mick (also known as the Pat Dunn Sandwich), a combination of ham, fried eggs, cheese, and mayo that made its way on the menu because it was an employee’s favorite sandwich. The marble rye bread is toasted perfectly and adds a burst of buttery flavor into each bite. The eggs are delicious and the ham adds a welcome saltiness. This is basically the best breakfast sandwich you’ve had on steroids.
But the unique twists aren’t all that makes Barrett’s special, as the Reuben proves. There’s nothing particularly novel about this sandwich, but it’s arguably Omaha’s best version of the classic sandwich. Thinly sliced salty corned beef dances in lockstep with sweet, tangy 1000 Island dressing, sour sauerkraut, and oozing Swiss cheese, making this napkin-killer of a sandwich a hit from the first bite.
While Barrett’s has become known for its food, it hasn’t lost the fun vibe that originally made the bar such a hit. You feel welcome from the moment you step in the door. The restaurant is run by a family, and you feel a part of it from the warm, welcoming demeanor of the cooks and servers. Barrett’s has become a popular hangout on NFL Sundays and during Creighton basketball games, and its sand volleyball court allows it to host leagues outside in the summer.
And whatever you order, you won’t leave hungry. The portions are enormous, even without the provided fries—though the traditional crinkle cut option is great, I recommend upgrading to the twisted Curly Q Fries, which put Arby’s version to shame.
Simply put, you won’t find something quite like Barrett’s anywhere else in Omaha. This friendly pub not only promises a good time, but it also elevates and redefines what you think about bar food moving forward.