Summary: delicious food and good service. Will visit again. Worth your dining dollar. Our group stumbled upon this tasty treat on a Sunday evening prior to the Zac Brown Band concert. We had not expected the restaurant to be open (they are normally closed on Sundays), so we were pleasantly surprised to be able to try it out. Despite a very busy crowd, we were seated quickly. The restaurant was obviously slammed but the management (chef's wife, whose name we regrettably did not catch) set up our drinks and apps in a timely fashion. Our server (Simon) was attentive and knowledgeable about the menu and meats. They offered a limited menu for the pre-concert crowd. Between the four of us we tried the Queso Fundido app, the Bison Burgers and the regular burgers. Everything was prepared very well and arrived at perfect temperatures and requested done-ness. The breads used for the buns were very good, almost worth a visit just on that count. Both the bison meat and ground beef were of excellent quality and tasted great. The trimmings on the sandwiches were also very good. The hand cut french fries were great. However, the home-made Siracha-infused catsup was the real star of the potato side dish. I wish they sold this as a to go item. I would definitely buy it. One of our group briefly considered pilfering a jar of the catsup, but our inherent dignity and practical considerations revolving around smuggling an open jar into the concert venue helped us take the high road. The mixed drinks were poured generously and the martinis were also delicious. The decor was clean and bright and it's obvious the restaurant just opened because everything is brand new. The only minor quibble I had was that the restaurant's door opens directly outside, which allows in some cold air. Not a dealbreaker for me. I figure I can wear a sweater if needed. We will be visiting again.
(5)
Marc H.
I'll get to the point immediately: the food is phenomenal! I went for dinner and ordered one of the dishes on special that night, bison short ribs with coffee au jus. The flavor was excellent and it was incredibly tender. I opted for the barley side dish, which was cheesy and cooked al dente. I loved it almost as much as the main entree. Before the main course, I enjoyed a mixed green salad with a blue cheese vinaigrette dressing. Everything was fresh and crisp. We were also provided a house-made Cracker Jack mix, which was spicy and sweet at the same time. It was an unusual but tasty snack to nibble on while waiting for our meals. The restaurant interior has a rustic wood decor, with one wall featuring a very nicely done mural of the Quad City area. The entire dining area was well lit and comfortable. All of the staff we encountered was friendly and helpful. The service was excellent overall. I'm thrilled the Quad Cities finally has a "farm to table" concept restaurant, especially one this good! I'll definitely be back for dinner again and will also have to try their lunch menu.
(5)
Jay Y.
Cocktail menu features an Old Fashioned which was without a doubt the most mediocre mixed drink I've ever been served. Sugar wasn't muddled properly, leaving a layer of sugar at the bottom of the incorrect glass. There was no orange zest in the cocktail, just an orange slice on the rim. This is a classic drink done improperly for no reason other than to seem different, perhaps? The brewers bread was old and tasteless. Points for having a quality olive oil. The organic popcorn was yummy, but unoriginal outside of the quad cities. My meal was served with a salad that--while containing crunchy substantial greens like kale and I believe Swiss chard--was littered with unnecessary ingredients. The jicama garnish was unnecessary from a texture standpoint and the dressing was apathy in liquid form. I ordered the bouillabaisse. The server told me it contained mussels, scallops and lobster. When it arrived I was amazed at how little broth was present especially at a $28 price point--a price point I'm fully accustomed to in Tampa. Bouillabaisse is traditionally served with non-oily whitefish, and I was looking forward to the smokiness promised by the tomatoes. Anyway, when my dish was served there were no mussels present. I was surprised to find the main attraction in the dish was salmon. This didn't work with the herb heavy stock. The salmon was overpowering and complicated the flavor of the dish without adding anything redeeming. The broth was overly garlicky--a phrase I don't believe I've ever used before--and extremely vinegary. This was served with yesterday's tasteless potatoes in gravy. Depressing. The lobster in the dish was without a doubt spoiled. At this point I made the server aware, after debating whether or not it was worth it. He looked at me with disdain and came back to tell me they just got it in that morning. Too bad. It tasted and smelled spoiled. He took my plate and then came back out to tell me him and the sous chef tasted the lobster and it "tasted fantastic". Now I won't get into the issues with the lack of customer service, but it was rotten flesh. I've eaten plenty of lobster and shellfish in my life and I know how it should taste. This dish was overall a failure and wasn't presented as described. The service was polite but I couldn't help but feel like our server didn't have a passion for or knowledge of the food he was serving. In the end they charged us for the rotten lobster bouillabaisse. They apparently couldn't be bothered with legitimate issues with their food. No manager came to the table. The dessert was decent but not redeeming. I got the feeling the kitchen looked at me as some uninformed moron who simply didn't understand their "craft". I get it alright--and I've seen it done correctly at places like Husk, the refinery, etc. Perhaps as a farm to table restaurant they should consider scrapping ingredients they get from thousands of miles away and focus on the local produce of the area. In the end, 2/5. I'd try it again if they got their act together, served what they described and took their patrons seriously. Otherwise, it simply isn't worth the price.
(2)
Jillian A.
I've been to Barley & Rye twice and had two very different, but very nice experiences: 1. My husband and I stopped by just for happy hour to check the place out. The bartender was incredibly knowledgeable about her craft, made some great suggestions on different liquors to try (we talked mostly whiskey and bourbons), AND she wrote down a few suggestions we made about a couple of liquors they should think about carrying. They have probably the best bar set-up I've seen around the Quad Cities, and their beer options were unique and varied. After that trip, we knew we needed to come back and try the food... and more beer. 2. We came back about a month later for dinner, and was not disappointed. Started with the Devil on Horseback appetizer, which was fantastic. I tried the honey bourbon dressing on my salad, and thought the flavor was great-- my husband had a taste and liked it too, which is surprising because he's normally not about sweet salad dressings. The entrees were fantastic-- I had the lamb and mushroom gnocchi, and my husband had a delicious steak burger that was on special. Normally I try and save some food for leftovers... but I ate everything off my plate, so that says quite a bit! Can't tell you about dessert, so I guess we'll just have to make another trip back!
(5)
Jamei M.
Amazing! Excellent staff, perfect flow, fantastic food. A new favorite. The sweet potato and chorizo soup was to die for... Sweet and savory deliciousness. The pork was by far the best I've ever tasted. Portions are perfect... All entrees come with a soup or salad and a side (either potato, barley, or seasonal veg). We were stuffed when we left but not unpleasantly so. We had an incredible time and will definitely be back to try something new on the ever changing menu!
(5)
Kyle F.
Great concept, except someone in the kitchen thought it was appropriate to drown all the food with salt. Many of the dishes were inedible due to the amount of salt. Went elsewhere for dessert to get rid of the salt taste. We will try again, but go easy on the salt, seriously.
(1)
Jesse E.
A fantastic dining experience for a date night or a night on the town. The food is farm to table fresh which shows the amount of dedication the chef took in thinking out and preparing the menu. You are defiantly in for a treat every time because the menu is always changing and evolving. The staff was friendly and knowledgeable about the menu. I would highly recommend to anyone looking for a great dining experience with a fantastic Quad cities inspired atmosphere.
(5)
Jessica H.
So delicious! My friend recommended this restaurant and said she'd been 3 times and loved it more with each visit. My boyfriend and I went for date night last night and enjoyed the entire evening. From the beautiful atmosphere, to our extremely attentive and knowledgeable server and delicious food, we left feeling full and satisfied. The only thing is it can be pricey so I would only suggest this for special occasions. For my boyfriend and I, our meal was $83 for 2 drinks, an appetizer and 2 meals. He loved his steak but did think the serving was small for $28. With that said, we still felt our meal was worth every penny and neither of us left with room to eat another crumb.
(5)
Emma E.
We went here for our 1 year wedding anniversary. Had heard good things from yelp & friends in the real world too! Service was very good, prompt and attentive. Cute guy with blue eyes and a well kept beard. Great decor, not toooooo fancy but special. Lobster bisque was simple and tasty. Popcorn was kind of a throwaway and the worst part- kind of tasted old like the random kernels you find in the couch cushions. But my lemonade jalapeño martini was great- nice and earthy, barely sweet. Salmon was awesome. So tender, and juicy! Breads were OK, but I would like to see them serve it hot and straight out of the oven à la Cheesecake Factory ( yeah it's a chain but dang it their bread is good!!) barley side was very tasty! Never had barley before. The waiter described it as risotto-like: great description. It was creamy and flavorful. We will be back but probably for lunch. Dinner was not cheap!
(4)
Sarah B.
Vegetarians - do not be scared off by the menu. I have been here twice and Chef Jared has made two completely different and delicious dishes for me. This place deserves to do well - thoughtful, unique, inviting. Go, eat, drink, enjoy!
(5)
Matt D.
Excellent food and drink. Didn't know what to expect but the kids loved it as well. The bacon wrapped dates were excellent.
(5)
Joe D.
Good concept. Poor management. They have a respectable list of beers (mostly bottles), but the menu does not include descriptions, alcohol content, or prices. To make matters worse, the waitstaff doesn't know anything about them. I asked our waitress for a recommendation similar to Sam Adams Boston Lager or a New Belgium Fat Tire, and she came back saying, "Our bartender recommends the Kentucky Ale or Stella." Stella? That's not even close. It's unbelievable that a restaurant named "Barley & Rye" knows nothing about their own beer offering.
(2)
Robbie P.
I went with a group of people for lunch + I was really impressed with the decor + atmosphere of this place. It was beautiful. Very well thought out and the best part - the food was mostly local! I had the Brussle sprout salad and all I can say is "PERFECTO"....The chef is an artist:-) I would not recommend this restaurant for anyone that has not eaten fresh food for it is a different type of eating. The food is created around what is "in season" and people that are not use to eating in season may not understand what the goal is when trying to eat locally. The flavors are fresh! I will return again + look forward to trying some new foods on the menu. The only complaint I have is the parking. You can't park right near the restaurant. Just drive the the back parking lot and it works just fine. It really is not that big of a problem. The food is well worth checking this place out. To the chef-PERFECTO!!! The service was great too.
(5)
Tom T.
Been here for lunch a couple of times. Nothing special. Average food. Average service. Many better places to eat in the Quad Cities.
(2)
Chris F.
I live in the apartments above Barley and Rye. My boyfriend and I finally decided to try it and boy we should have it tried sooner. So far we have only had drinks and appetizers AMAZING! the calamari is outstanding and we also ordered the flat which had olives,cheeses,pickled carrots,prosciutto,smoked bacon and bread my boyfriend ordered the bourbon flight which was a delicious pair and the next week we came in for drink they had a pig roast we were not too hungry but we wanted an appetizer so we ordered the pork belly confit the chef came out and said he would make us a a sandwich from the leftover pig and wow! the best sandwich we ever had! We are both from Chicago and this place would fit in.
(5)
D A.
Excellent menu. Wonderful service. Chef Jared is talented and personable. Wonderful flavors and combinations. Impressed with how many items Chef Jared makes himself.
(5)
Melissa M.
Moline should consider itself lucky to have a spot of this caliber. It rivals places I have been in downtown Chicago. The food is outstanding, the hand crafted cocktails are phenomenal, and above all is the knowledge and passion of each of the staff. This place is a must.
(5)
Roger L.
Opening Night has it's Glitches, service was fantastic but I will wait to see the lunch menu.
(3)
Tim D.
You should eat here. This is what we need to encourage in the Quad Cities. Jared Linn gave my wife and I an amazing vegetarian dish that was completely outside the menu, and highly appreciated. Well executed, enjoyable food and atmosphere.
(5)
Rebecca S.
The food was fantastic!!!! I had the chicken Alfredo and it was amazing! It was presented very well also. I went with a group of friends and we all got something different. No one at the table disliked their meal. The best part was the dessert. I tried the bacon cheesecake and was quite skeptical but it was amazing. Is was the perfect combination!
(5)
Tony T.
Excellent new restaurant in downtown Moline. I've been here four times and never been disappointed. Great menu with some very unique dishes and they really have some awesome nightly specials with choices you just won't find anywhere else. I will be back.
(5)
Deborah E.
Ate here in Nov.. Everything from the soup to the entree was indelible. I rarely complain and never send meals back, just try to enjoy the company of friends I am with. I wouldn't have said anything about this meal, but the server asked me if I wanted it boxed up, and I said no, that I couldn't eat it. Three couples, three of us ordered the featured soup. None of us could eat it. Three of us ordered the green bean side, again, none of us could eat them. Green beans? How can you mess those up. My entree was a pork chop that was so dry, cowboys could have stowed it in their saddlebags for jerky. Guess the server told the chef I did not care for my meal. He came to our table and was very defensive, said he has only received great comments, offered no apologies, and said he hoped we came back. Never gonna happen.
(1)
Tim D.
You should eat here. This is what we need to encourage in the Quad Cities. Jared Linn gave my wife and I an amazing vegetarian dish that was completely outside the menu, and highly appreciated. Well executed, enjoyable food and atmosphere.
(5)
Rebecca S.
The food was fantastic!!!! I had the chicken Alfredo and it was amazing! It was presented very well also. I went with a group of friends and we all got something different. No one at the table disliked their meal. The best part was the dessert. I tried the bacon cheesecake and was quite skeptical but it was amazing. Is was the perfect combination!
(5)
Tony T.
Excellent new restaurant in downtown Moline. I've been here four times and never been disappointed. Great menu with some very unique dishes and they really have some awesome nightly specials with choices you just won't find anywhere else. I will be back.
(5)
Deborah E.
Ate here in Nov.. Everything from the soup to the entree was indelible. I rarely complain and never send meals back, just try to enjoy the company of friends I am with. I wouldn't have said anything about this meal, but the server asked me if I wanted it boxed up, and I said no, that I couldn't eat it. Three couples, three of us ordered the featured soup. None of us could eat it. Three of us ordered the green bean side, again, none of us could eat them. Green beans? How can you mess those up. My entree was a pork chop that was so dry, cowboys could have stowed it in their saddlebags for jerky. Guess the server told the chef I did not care for my meal. He came to our table and was very defensive, said he has only received great comments, offered no apologies, and said he hoped we came back. Never gonna happen.
Incredible. Great setting with superb food! Best blue cheese dressing I've ever had. Great craft beer selection. And both main courses were fantastic. Other party commented best salmon they ever had. Great service also, friendly staff all around.
(5)
Kung Fu J.
Everyone likes the idea of farm to table food. I mean, why use local ingredients and suppliers? The problem is that it was hard to taste the difference, despite the increased price. The ambiance seemed a little bit stuffy for my taste. I enjoyed the murals on the walls and appreciated the local historical references. However, there isn't much to absorb the sound in the space, so that it's a bit loud. I know it's a minor detail, the subfloors seemed to be lacking, so that whenever someone walked by, it sounded and felt like they were stomping around. Overall, the food was tasty, but a bit overpriced in my opinion.
(2)
Jennifer S.
By far my favorite restaurant in the QC. The food was so fresh, creative, and scrumptious! I loved that the food was all local as well. Great drink menu. Favorite dishes were the Cajun chicken gnocchi and the filet with wasabi sauce. We were so full by the end we couldn't even manage the dessert. I would recommend for groups and date night. Great vibe for one of the best meals I've had! Must try!!!
(5)
Matt T.
My parents came into town from Chicago and wanted to take them somewhere new to try . You will not regret it the grass fed burger was amazing , and the farm to table ingredients were more than apparent in every aspect of the meal .100% will be back!
(5)
Leslie M.
Flavorless AND Clueless!!! - First Visit! Last Visit! I'd give negative stars if I could!!!!! I was utterly bummed at the lunch I had today at Barley Rye Bistro. Pork Belly BLT sound yummy right? YIKES! OVER HALF OF THE PIECE OF MEAT WAS PURE FAT! The sandwich was dripping in fat/oil, I could lightly push my finger into the top of the bread and a pool of fat/oil emerged. Just disgusting. I pulled it apart and tasted the meat, and other ingredients, etc., etc. No flavor whatsoever. Dull as cardboard. The server encouraged an appetizer, and being as this was our first visit we took the server's suggestion of Queso Fundido....which, yikes, looks like what you would find in a baby diaper. Equally oily and lacking flavor. My guest had the Brisket Tacos, which were described as "sweet tangy"....they too were oily with no flavor.....NO FLAVOR!!! The chef obviously did not taste his own food before sending it out, and the plating and oil excess tells me that they did not care one bit! So on to the clueless part. The server obviously saw that we didn't eat our food (with the exception of the french fries - they were edible) and asked if everything was okay....we sadly....were afraid to say no so we said.....uhhhhh....for a really long time. Any experienced server would have gotten the hint, but in this case, I ended up with a miserable experience, no lunch, and a $45 dollar bill. I can't shout my displeasure high enough. Never again.
(1)
LP F.
This is the place you want to dine when you're in Moline. A creative, delicious menu and EXCELLENT service. Farm to table is only the beginning!
(5)
Sinan G.
Barley & Rye always impresses. The food is some of the finest in the QC and knowing it's all locally sourced is an added bonus!
(5)
Chris L.
Went here for my daughter's 26th birthday. I ordered the Salmon and the potato special. The salmon BBQ seasoning was excellent along with the potatoes. The restaurant had a Chicago style feel to it where my daughter lives. The queso fundido appetizer was great for our group. The chef came out and spoke with us and asked our opinions of our entrees which was a nice touch at a new place. It's definitely an adult restaurant - not much for the kids. My mother ordered the lamb appetizer as her main entree and was very pleased with her meal as well. It was well priced and we'll definitely be back!
(5)
Rick J.
Finally a restaurant in the QCA that "gets it"! Great atmopshere.....relaxed, casual, hip, not a bar. Menu is varied and interesting. Food very well prepared. Flavors are right on.....restrained, not overboard. Had the rib eye.....great taste, fresh flesh. Wife had the lamb gnocchi....awesome! Great service, very attentive while not overboard. Well priced. Overall, best dining experience in the QCA mainly due to the fact it is the only place that supports local farmers, keeps its menu fresh and seasonal, and demonstrates a real due care for its product.
(4)
April B.
Wow. Wow!!! This place is amazing for fresh and local food. The appetizer I had was superb, and the draft craft beer selection is great. I men, I had an Enjoy By!!!! *highly recommend
(5)
T H.
Had dinner here last night and I was impressed. I travel and eat out all the time so I feel justified in my opinion ;-) I started with Cajun ahi tuna, in the mouth it simply melted and left a lovely bit of spice lingering. My associate had the Devil on Horseback starter which was a date wrapped in bacon with chorizo and bit of blue cheese...wicked good. Each had a filet which was done perfectly and on its own had lots of flavor. Ambience is nice; lighter woods which is unusual and nice to see for a change. Only thing to cause me to yank back a star was the service...20 to 25 mins for our drinks to get there. They didn't have ginger ale for my buddies rye and ginger so instead of asking if he'd like an alternative, they fussed about and made their own ginger ale from scratch. Now that's pretty cool if it didn't take nearly half an hour. Anyway, food is so good we had lunch there today and were impressed again by the food yet disappointed again by the service. Our waitress yacked it up with another patron while our food sat on the ready counter for over 5 mins. Another server saw me looking and brought it over. Totally worth going all the same. Cheers!
(4)
Kevin Y.
Have dined at Barley & Rye on a number of occasions and really appreciate the space, concept and the effort. While certainly not earth shattering in scope or James Beard worthy in execution, they do provide a solid option in the fine dining desert that is the QCA. I think the chef/owner here is doing a lot of things right such as using locally sourced and "trendy" by local standards ingredients. Sure the kitchen and floor don't always hit on all cylinders, but I suspect from reading some previous reviews that some of his menu offerings are perhaps and in all fairness misunderstood by chronic pub grub and chain feasting diners. Unfortunately, unless you are a passionate home cook or support Barley & Rye, I'm afraid the local options for anything other than deep fried gluttony are few and far between. Obviously, Barley & Rye is not the place to get a mound of chow and a Bud Light for under $10 per head with plenty of leftovers to stuff in your lunch box everyday the following week. So, everything in perspective. That said, it looks like this place is developing a good following and I hope that they do step it up and iron out the wrinkles. Along with the all the positives, I understand and have experienced infrequent glitches in taste, presentation and execution. Of course I trust that any chef/owner brave and visionary enough to offer up Barley & Rye to the QC in downtown Moline, IL is already taking steps to remedy his patrons and reviewers concerns. Certainly marrow bones and pork belly aren't for everyone, but if they are on your menu, make certain they are the best they can be. Don't let it leave the kitchen if not 110% of perfection. I think the prices are fair, but you need to rock every plate every time. No excuses and dispatch any and all squeamish finicky eaters and complainers to the Barrel House post-haste.
(4)
Brandon C.
Really a 3.5... but had to round down. Listen, I get it. The atmosphere. The menu. The KILLER whiskey selection. The farm-to-table thing. I get it. It is all great, creative, hip, trendy, neat, whatever you want to call it. BUT, the food didn't blow me away and it was WAYYY over priced. Farm to table doesn't cost THAT much more. And if you are gonna charge that much, a little larger portion size would be nice and each dish better blow my mind. I might come back, give it another try... will have to see if I can get approved for a loan right quick tho.
(3)
Mary N.
Very cute, modern, chic restaurant with fresh ingredients. The air conditioning was turned on a bit high so we opted to sit outside in the patio on a nice breezy evening. Our waiter was extremely friendly and attentive. One person in our party was a vegetarian and we asked for a suggestion. To our surprise, the head chef came out and spoke to us about what he could prepare that was off the menu. The food was superb! They were a little light on the pours of the alcohol but all well worth the price. Fruit Sangria: Fresh fruity light wine. Perfect for a summer on the patio. Kettle Corn: They put a little dish of it out on the table for you to eat. I love kettle corn but this was way too sticky. Looks like they drizzled honey onto it. You have to wash your hands after eating it. Not a good concept. Queso Fondito: This appetizer usually comes with chorizo but opted for the non-meat version. It was EXCELLENT! So simple, just melted cheese with rye bread...but it was made to perfection. It definitely has a kick to it. Asparagus Dill Soup: Not my favorite. I usually love asparagus but this item lacked much flavor. Maybe it just needed some salt. The presentation was unique (it came out in a glass canning jar) but the flavor just wasn't there for me. Pork Chop: Lovely slight char and cooked to perfection. Well seasoned and moist. I had the garlic mac and cheese side and that was a nice complement to my main dish. Not too cheesy or garlicly; nice and light. Vegetarian Dish: The Chef made a nice spread of different items for my partner to try. Great presentation; it came out on a wood slab. She had roasted carrots, kale salad, and fried squash flower stuffed with goat cheese. Tasted delicious! So glad we asked for a recommendation instead of just ordering a salad off the menu. Complements to the Chef!
(5)
B I.
first of all, if you have a half hour lunch break, you cannot go here. the lunch items apparently take 25 minutes or more to make. i had the cheeseburger wednesday special, after 25-30 minutes it came out & although i had ordered it medium-rare, the majority of it was well-done. it still tasted good although extremely messy. the fries are also good & the homemade ketchup is really good. however i wouldnt expect at a restaurant in this price range and with their goal of quality food to overcook a hamburger from med-rare to well-done. 25-30 minutes is too long for any lunch item. at dinner i guess that is acceptable, but i dunno how much longer a dinner would take there. i cant understand how a cheeseburger & fries would take nearly a half hour to get out. i get that everything is homemade, but that doesnt mean every single part of an item should be made only when something is ordered. i assume most things would be made ahead of time and then assembled onto a hamburger. maybe their methods need to be changed, because you can have the greatest food in the world, but if people get tired of waiting an inordinate amount of time for it, the restaurant is not going to succeed. after having an incorrectly prepared burger, the waitress made no mention of rectifying it with either a replacement or comp. only after i inquired a couple times about it was it taken care of. the waitress also virtually never came over to our table except to bring out our food. in summary, its probably one of the best restaurants in this area, definitely among the slowest, so it depends if you want to spend this kind of time and it is not cheap either. i guess get an appetizer and or drinks to pass the time.
(3)
Meghan H.
One of the best dining experiences, and whiskey and bourbon selections in the quad cities. All local ingredients, great lunches, and dinners as well. Beer dinners here are a must. Beautiful ambiance with exposed woodwork, private patio, and large window seating. Often if Chef has time, he'll come out and talk to you and see how your experience is going. The extra effort that they put in is really worth the price tag.
(5)
Dana S.
my man and I stopped here passing through IL on our road trip. what a great yelp find!!! we shared the meatballs off the app menu-- pretty good. we practically licked the plate lol. bae got a kale salad and I got the side salad with my dinner -- cucumber feta dressing is the BEST get it get it get it. yummmm then we shared the special pasta smoked chicken and corn or somethig with homemade fettuccine. it was good but WAYYYY too heavy. it was good we were sharing because I could never eat it all my self. I got a side of tarragon string beans and OMG they were heavenly. amazing and obviously plucked right from the farm and cooked JUST right. a MUST have. and lastly--- drumroll.... my favorite dessert is pecan pie. no question. and a slice was not only delicious but also 2 DOLLARS... SAY WHAT??? 2 bucks? soooo good yummmm eat it up yassss
(5)
Andrew A.
The food was inventive and delicious. Chorizo wrapped in bacon with blue cheese was terrific. Brisket with habanero, whiskey was equally great. But the service was so unbelievably slow. Slow, slow, slow. They we're busy initially but even after things cleared out they were still slow. With a little attention this could be great.
(3)
Mike And Nita B.
Really nice! Nice ambiance. Fun. Not the usual selection of choices for QCA Unique and creative menu. Extensive selection of bourbons.
(5)
Deb D.
One of our favorite places, especially for special occasions. Have been there with small and larger groups. Chef/owner Jared makes some excellent, creative, fresh, and local dishes. Love it! Never disappointed, foodies enjoy! Many beers; good cocktails & wine pairings.
(5)
Amanda A.
Gave Barley and Rye a second change last night and I'm so glad I did! They've made some changes to their food, both my meal and my friends meal were phenomenal. I had the scallops with tomato basil Mac and cheese, she had the burger with fries. Now all their entrees are served with bread beforehand as well as a salad or soup and a side which you choose from 4 options. This made it a way better "bang for your buck". With Red Crow Grille closing, this just may be my new spot for fine dining! AND it's on the Illinois side which is even better!
(5)
Robert B.
One of the better places to eat in the QC. Great drink selection including the best selection of whiskey in the area, lots to choose from on the menu, large portions and great presentation. Went on a Tuesday night and service was great. The short rib and meatloaf were awesome. If you are looking for great food, service and atmosphere check this place out!
(5)
Stephenie L.
Such an awesome and delicious experience! It's a farm to table kind of restaurant meaning that most everything on their menu comes from local farms and is homemade daily. Everything from the popcorn they put on your table to the salad dressing to the bread to the dessert. And everything is so amazing! My barbecue potato soup was amazing! It's homemade and served in a mason jar. I'm loving anything and everything mason jars so this was definitely a perk. I had the airline chicken with the mashed potatoes and uncommon gravy for my entree. The chicken was to die for. So many flavored and not dry in the least bit! My potatoes were pretty good and although the gravy was a little on the cool side, it had a delicious unique flavor. It was almost kind of sweet in a way! I'm glad my date insisted on dessert because my life wouldn't be the same had I not tried their homemade tiramisu. I'd never had tiramisu before so I'm glad I lost my tiramisu virginity to Barley and Rye. So so amazing. Everything about this place is well worth the 5 stars. I'd give them more if I could.
(5)
Lianne N.
The food was very good. But, I won't leave it at that, since nothing is that simple. We got an appetizer... it was dates wrapped in bacon and chorizo with bleu cheese. I don't remember what it was called officially. It was tasty. For $6, you get three wrapped dates. If I had to make a statement, however, my most pertinent judgment would be that presentation may be everything, but you might consider ditching the "fancy" plank that is under the wrapped dates. The first thing I noticed was some hairs sticking out from underneath my dates. I was perturbed... upon further investigation, I think the darkwood planks have some sort of hair in their structures... the hairs that appeared to have accidentally hitched a ride onto my apppetizers seemed to actually be part of the planks. Hmmm.... and when I moved the plank aside after we'd consumed our three wrapped dates, I noticed there were some dark splintered pieces on the table. Style and presentation is everything, but honestly, this appetizer couldve looked equally as stylistic and NOT brought along random hairs and splinters if they had put them onto a white plate with decorations rather than onto a dark wood plank with some random cheftastic flare. The food was good. The ambiance was nice. The help was extra attentive. The ambiance was also very pretentious. I may return, but I must say... they seemed like they were trying harder than necessary. I shouldnt have to decide that the hairs in my food were from an unnecessary plank of wood under my fancily-presented food. Ditch the pretentiousness and the rating might actually go up...
(4)
Adam S.
Highly recommend! Great spot for a date or night out. Best food in the Quad Cities, bar none. The calamari is superb, as is the pork belly appetizer. The smoked buffalo meatloaf, while barely meeting the definition of "meatloaf" was delicious and satisfying. The drink list is impressive: multiple pages of quality whiskies of every variety, plus craft beers and mixed drinks. Service was friendly and accomodating. Stylish but casual atmosphere. The food took a little bit longer than usual, but was worth waiting for.
(5)
Alma D.
Love the food! as an out of towner it's great to have food from a local place and from locally produced ingredients, highly recommended; wasn't sure about eating bison meatloaf but my daughter and I shared her bison meatloaf and my salmon and we both loved it! Good eats!
(5)
Gayle L.
Was here last night with a group of friends and most of what I was served was very poor. My lettuce in the lettuce salad had brown edges and brown spots. Now this is totally inexcusable! You can see the lettuce isn't good. I had lobster tail with roasted yukon gold potatoes, and pea pods. I did eat the lobster, but it was nothing special. The potatoes - 2/3's were raw inside and a couple of the cooked ones tasted just nasty, too much of the pepper and spices were on one hunk of potato. I finally ate those that were done when I poked them. The pea pods were not "unstringed". The two I ate were tough, almost inedible, very unpleasant. There were also beet slices on the plate. They were again undercooked - that might have been intentional, but they had obviously been "heated". I like al dente, but these were not that, they were heated raw to semi-raw to some cooked some not. Finally, I did order a desert, figuring it would be edible. I ordered the cheese cake ice cream. They brought out cheese cake instead and I had to correct that. This ice cream was grainy. I think it wasa fine cheesecake "curds", but it was strange. This was just one of the worst meals I have had in a very long time and I paid $59 for it (includes tip). The servver, Travis, was very good. One of our friends canceled out when she found out where we were going, saying they had been here and it was not good. But I wanted to see my friends. The sad part is that these problems are easily correctable. I have to think that this chef just isn't taking enough care. Who doesn't de-string the peas? One look at that lettuce should have told them to toss it.
(1)
Andi C.
This place is disgusting. I would say about 1/2 cup of garic on the quail and waffles. Every waffle square was filled with garlic and some very weird clove seasoning. Yuck! Made me think if Chef Ramsay came to review this restaurant. Nice ambiance and good beer is apparently a good enough smoke screen for the quad city folks. Reviewers that gave this restaurant 2 or more stars, focus on what you are putting in your mouth. Don't let the quirky uniqueness of the place fool your taste buds.
(1)
Mark C.
I went here with one other person with reservations and we were seated immediately, which was really nice. Seating was a little cramped for such an up scale restaurant, but overall I liked the unique atmosphere. We ordered a bottle of wine and it was presented at the table to us correctly, although I would say a little over priced for the bottle. They also gave us bread and some fancy caramel popcorn while we waited for our food. I ordered the trout on special which was really good and a large portion for the price. We both left with to go boxes. The specialty mac and cheese was a great side, but I liked the potato side even better. I would definitely go back, but probably order beer or a mixed drink instead of wine.
(4)
Stephen S.
The food blew me away! I expected a lot considering Chef Jared was previously the Executive Chef at Steventon's, but I didn't know it would be THIS GOOD! I promise you that you won't find anything else like this in the Quad Cities! Also be sure to check them out for lunch and dinner as they have a wide variety of selections offered for both.
(5)
Juan M.
Both my wife and I had issues with almost every course of our dinners. We had the popcorn they give you when you sit down. It was very stale, sticky and had bad flavors. I felt like walking out at that point because it gave me a bad feeling about the rest of the meal. We had the calamari app, the breading was soggy and had some pickled cabbage mixed in with it. Had an "asian" flavor, not great. My salad was mostly made of kale which if i ate it would require way more dressing than they gave me to stomach the tough leaves. A pretty large portion of the salad was wilted. The salad also contained one slice of cucumber minced and a few small peeled bits of carrot. I mention the cucumber and carrots because it was the highlight of my meal. My wife's soup was supposed to be a curry soap so you would think it would be a cream base soup but it was based with a chicken stock. She said tasted like watery chicken soup. My duck entree was very tough. I had to ask for a steak knife to cut it and they served it in a bowl so it make the act of cutting it very difficult. The duck was swimming in black beans and looked like soup when it came to the table. The flavors were not layered or interesting in any way. It tasted like a rubber duck and black beans. My wife had the filet and thankfully it was acceptable though it had a liver aftertaste. The potatoes au gratin we ordered with the meal had potatoes that were under cooked and pretty much just had a weird flavor of cheese sprinkled on top with bunch of oil sitting in bottom of the bowl. We both expected from the "farm to table" statement that we would be getting high quality and simple food but that really wasn't the case. We skipped dessert since nothing there was hitting the spot. The interior design was great though.
(1)
Linda R.
This is definitely a unique place, even for the Midwest. 90% of the menu comes from farms within 150 miles of the QCA and you can tell. Everything was insanely fresh, so much so that you almost think it's not normal when you taste it. We sampled many appetizers and our large group all ordered different entrees. Everyone was pleased with their food. I ordered the lobster ravioli and it was really good. The fried brussel sprout salad was unlike anything I've ever had before and it was surprisingly fantastic. The pork belly was wonderful. Even the cheeses were obviously not processed foods. If this is what real food is supposed to taste like, we're all getting rooked by the mass-production food companies... My only reason for not giving five stars is the noise level. The sound level makes talking to anyone not immediately adjacent to you impossible.
(4)
Cara M.
Always a fabulous meal!! Great location, good service, and excellent food and drink options. Always enjoy what we order and the menu changes often for newness!
(5)
Robert S.
Excellent farm fresh bistro in Moline. Party of three had the brisket, stroganoff and red snapper. All were delicious. The waiter was very accommodating and offered several good suggestions. An excellent dinner choice.
(5)
Yoyo A.
The food dances with flavor on your tongue and their bartenders make the best Manhattans you will find downtown. A mural shows the rich history of Rock Island County and the ambiance is on point! Can't wait to eat there again!!! Nom nom nom
(5)
R R.
So happy to find Barley and Rye in the Quad Cities! Wonderful farm-to-table restaurant with delicious food and 90% local ingredients from farms we know from the Davenport Freight House Farmers' Market. Everything is made-to-order, so this place is perfect for those who love food but have dietary restrictions or food allergies. We are vegetarian and lean towards vegan so after viewing B&R's online menu I concluded that I'd have to choose a salad. I was wrong! Our hostess and server told us Chef Jared would be pleased to make us vegetarian or vegan dishes with in-season veggies. Chef Jared came to our table to discuss our meal options. He seemed really happy to make us dishes suited to our finicky tastes. One of us has a long list of veggies on the No Fly List. Jared tailored our dishes to each of our tastes and offered me vegan options for everything from salad dressing to bread, side dishes, and entrees -- unheard of in the Quad Cities where even most healthier fare has meat, eggs, and/or dairy! I'm sure it was extra work for him, but I was so thankful he did not seem to mind. Jared made me a very creative, complex-flavored, perfectly executed Asian-style shaved brussels sprouts & shiitake mushroom dish with truffles. Even the brussels-sprouts-and-mushroom-hater and meat-lover both agreed it was the best dish on a table of amazing dishes. The leek barley side dish was also incredibly flavorful. Our out-of-town guest had short-ribs which he told us were the best he'd had. Both my companions appreciated the extensive beer and whisky list and our guest said he would join the bourbon club if he lived here. We will definitely return and bring all our visiting guests. In addition to excellent vegetarian / vegan options, Chef Jared said he also offers gluten-free options, including bread(!). This restaurant really is for everyone. A few reviewers have complained about the prices, but in addition to high-quality ingredients and thoughtful made-to-order preparation, entrees come with soup-or-salad, bread, and a side-dish for a filling meal. You can also order breads (he grinds his own flour) and desserts (by a dedicated pastry chef) for pickup. We ordered a fresh loaf of fig & walnut bread and can't wait to try it, but Jared also offers gluten-free bread loaves which I'd bet are much tastier than the frozen Udi's bread in stores. Update: The fig and walnut bread is amazing! Will definitely order again.
(5)
Robert H.
Had the Steak sandwich and Parmesan fries. Sandwich was incredible, cooked perfect and the fries were just as incredible. They make their own ketchup here and it was a great addition to the fries. I will definitely be coming back for more.
(5)
Jeffrey S.
Love the concept of farm to table. It is nice to find a restaurant in the QC that is not part of a chain. Great atmosphere. I was there on a cold Saturday afternoon and there were few people there. Our waitress was very attentive. We started with the bacon rapped dates. Good, but they should have left the sauce off. We had the brussel sprout salad and ahi tuna wrap. While both were good, the dressing in both was way to much. The flavor of the sauces on both were so overwhelming it was about all you tasted.
(4)
Jesse G.
I went there for lunch a couple times. The food hit the spot for a lunch, it was tasty and filling. The service was excellent, the people there are quite friendly.
I want to love this place so badly. Farm to market concept is excellent and something that doesn't hapen as often as it should in the QC, where we are endowed with truly great raw materials. Just had the brussels sprout salad and was surprised to see that they crisp fried the brussels sprout leaves... basically ended up like brussels sprout flavored paper with hard boiled egg, panceta and tomato. Had a brussels sprout salad here last spring which contained approximately the same ingedients but different technique that was on a whole 'nother level of awesome. Please bring that one back... raw brussels sprouts shaved thin on the mandolin, hardwood smoked bacon, poached egg, perfectly dressed. I want that one...fresh clean tastes without the deep fryer messing the whole thing up. Also, keep putting pork and brisket in as many things as you can. I don't know who is doing the smoking, but it is dead on. Not overwhelming but enough to know the meat spent time enough near burning hardwood. Brisket with maytag blue is an absolutely perfect sandwich. Keep it coming.
(4)
Matt B.
Made a reservation for a birthday celebration. Showed up 30 minutes early and was seated without delay. My expectation is that you street park in this area of Moline and this is the case.. Only 3 spaces in the lot for B&R.. Come on people practice your rarely needed parallel parking in the QC. I had added a note about the celebration while checking in on-line. We never mentioned it, but sure enough Thomas our server was prepared and knew it. No silly birthday song but a nice mention of the occasion. Great Server While I'd have loved to taste a flight of bourbon, as this heaven for bourbon drinkers I has a Hopilcious (i think) from Madison WI. Something new. We settled on an appetizer of queso.. served with rye bread.. not what I expected.. something new. Gnocchi for me and scallops for her... Gnocchi, not what i expected. something new.. Scallops, greatness... something new for QC. Chef Jared is out and the entrepreneurial spirit of a small business owner is great. Nice to talk with him. Don't recall anywhere else in the QC the chef serves the apps! If your looking for "something new" and "not what I expected" in a good way, Come here you won't be disappointed. If you want the same old same old then go somewhere else.
(5)
Scott A.
Something different for the area. The chicken and potato soup was good. The bread was very good. The scallops with chorizo was excellent. But the bread pudding was dry and disappointing. It is more expensive than typical restaurants in the area. We will go back, but we probably won't be eating there frequently. The service was very good as well.
(4)
E B.
We were driving from Boston to San Francisco and stopped in at this place. Boy were we surprised! The dinner was fantastic -- it wouldn't have been out of place among the best restaurants of Boston. The sous vide pork belly was the best we've ever had. Braised bison short ribs were astounding. The chef, Jared Linn, uses bourbon in sauces very well. The selection of house made breads -- rye, cornbread, bourbon and peaches -- was stellar. The smoked blue cheese and bacon mac and cheese was also fantastic. The butter bourbon martini was good for a cold night. The restaurant is family run; the sister is the lawyer, the father is the accountant, the brother helps in the kitchen, and the mother cleans. It just feels like such a wonderful genuine place that makes excellent use of the area's meat and produce. Definitely worth a stop in Moline!
(5)
Sif B.
WOW! This place is great. I had the Pork Belly app and it was incredible. The Grass Fed Sirloin was cooked perfect.
(5)
Chirag P.
Good. But not great for the money your paying for each course. Had the pork chops which were good. Girlfriend had the steak. Came out cold had to send it back. About $100 for two drinks and entree. Most likely not be back because it's just not a place suited for regular joes that like to eat good food and a reasonable price.
(2)
Lawrence H.
A refreshing and healthy addition to the Quad Cities, I attended a business dinner at the Bistro yesterday evening. For appetizers, the queso fundito, shrimp and artisan's meat and cheese platter were exquisite, dominated by flavorful and organic local colors (the duck prosciutto is phenomenal and cured on-site). For dinner, I recommend the half-roasted chicken drizzled with red wine bernaise and served on a cedar plank. A wonderful experience overall; 199 whiskies to choose from certainly does not hurt either!
(4)
Jean G.
Driving thru Moline, found this great spot where they have farm to table food. Got here for lunch n not soon after we sat down. There was a delivery of fresh veggies n herbs. For appetizer had the asparagus w/ bacon n mushrooms, awesome. Had the Bison burger and bean n brisket soup, it was delightful and delicious. Great atmosphere, great bartenders. Great selection of whiskeys, bourbon, n beers.
(5)
Katelyn J.
My husband and I have only been here once so far, but we will definitely be going back! I loved the atmosphere, our server was excellent! They had a great selection of brews, wines, and cocktails! Overall the food was good! I had the meatloaf, I will try something else next time :-)
(4)
Martin A.
Summary: delicious food and good service. Will visit again. Worth your dining dollar. Our group stumbled upon this tasty treat on a Sunday evening prior to the Zac Brown Band concert. We had not expected the restaurant to be open (they are normally closed on Sundays), so we were pleasantly surprised to be able to try it out. Despite a very busy crowd, we were seated quickly. The restaurant was obviously slammed but the management (chef's wife, whose name we regrettably did not catch) set up our drinks and apps in a timely fashion. Our server (Simon) was attentive and knowledgeable about the menu and meats. They offered a limited menu for the pre-concert crowd. Between the four of us we tried the Queso Fundido app, the Bison Burgers and the regular burgers. Everything was prepared very well and arrived at perfect temperatures and requested done-ness. The breads used for the buns were very good, almost worth a visit just on that count. Both the bison meat and ground beef were of excellent quality and tasted great. The trimmings on the sandwiches were also very good. The hand cut french fries were great. However, the home-made Siracha-infused catsup was the real star of the potato side dish. I wish they sold this as a to go item. I would definitely buy it. One of our group briefly considered pilfering a jar of the catsup, but our inherent dignity and practical considerations revolving around smuggling an open jar into the concert venue helped us take the high road. The mixed drinks were poured generously and the martinis were also delicious. The decor was clean and bright and it's obvious the restaurant just opened because everything is brand new. The only minor quibble I had was that the restaurant's door opens directly outside, which allows in some cold air. Not a dealbreaker for me. I figure I can wear a sweater if needed. We will be visiting again.
(5)
Marc H.
I'll get to the point immediately: the food is phenomenal! I went for dinner and ordered one of the dishes on special that night, bison short ribs with coffee au jus. The flavor was excellent and it was incredibly tender. I opted for the barley side dish, which was cheesy and cooked al dente. I loved it almost as much as the main entree. Before the main course, I enjoyed a mixed green salad with a blue cheese vinaigrette dressing. Everything was fresh and crisp. We were also provided a house-made Cracker Jack mix, which was spicy and sweet at the same time. It was an unusual but tasty snack to nibble on while waiting for our meals. The restaurant interior has a rustic wood decor, with one wall featuring a very nicely done mural of the Quad City area. The entire dining area was well lit and comfortable. All of the staff we encountered was friendly and helpful. The service was excellent overall. I'm thrilled the Quad Cities finally has a "farm to table" concept restaurant, especially one this good! I'll definitely be back for dinner again and will also have to try their lunch menu.
(5)
Cliff C.
My first visit. Nice cozy feel to the place. Ordered a salad with crab (supposedly from Boston) and Blue cheese dressing. Greens were ver nice, right amount of dressing (too many places drown the greens with too much dressing). Crab didn't make the grade, tasting more like cheap canned crab. Brussel sprouts were nice, though nothing extraordinaire. Rye bread tasted more like a sweet wheat dessert bread than the hearty, grain rye one might expect. I'll return though will favour selections more typical of the Midwest. Wait staff was friendly enough, though a long time between check-ins. Nice to have another potentially promising spot in the Quads.
(3)
Jay Y.
Cocktail menu features an Old Fashioned which was without a doubt the most mediocre mixed drink I've ever been served. Sugar wasn't muddled properly, leaving a layer of sugar at the bottom of the incorrect glass. There was no orange zest in the cocktail, just an orange slice on the rim. This is a classic drink done improperly for no reason other than to seem different, perhaps? The brewers bread was old and tasteless. Points for having a quality olive oil. The organic popcorn was yummy, but unoriginal outside of the quad cities. My meal was served with a salad that--while containing crunchy substantial greens like kale and I believe Swiss chard--was littered with unnecessary ingredients. The jicama garnish was unnecessary from a texture standpoint and the dressing was apathy in liquid form. I ordered the bouillabaisse. The server told me it contained mussels, scallops and lobster. When it arrived I was amazed at how little broth was present especially at a $28 price point--a price point I'm fully accustomed to in Tampa. Bouillabaisse is traditionally served with non-oily whitefish, and I was looking forward to the smokiness promised by the tomatoes. Anyway, when my dish was served there were no mussels present. I was surprised to find the main attraction in the dish was salmon. This didn't work with the herb heavy stock. The salmon was overpowering and complicated the flavor of the dish without adding anything redeeming. The broth was overly garlicky--a phrase I don't believe I've ever used before--and extremely vinegary. This was served with yesterday's tasteless potatoes in gravy. Depressing. The lobster in the dish was without a doubt spoiled. At this point I made the server aware, after debating whether or not it was worth it. He looked at me with disdain and came back to tell me they just got it in that morning. Too bad. It tasted and smelled spoiled. He took my plate and then came back out to tell me him and the sous chef tasted the lobster and it "tasted fantastic". Now I won't get into the issues with the lack of customer service, but it was rotten flesh. I've eaten plenty of lobster and shellfish in my life and I know how it should taste. This dish was overall a failure and wasn't presented as described. The service was polite but I couldn't help but feel like our server didn't have a passion for or knowledge of the food he was serving. In the end they charged us for the rotten lobster bouillabaisse. They apparently couldn't be bothered with legitimate issues with their food. No manager came to the table. The dessert was decent but not redeeming. I got the feeling the kitchen looked at me as some uninformed moron who simply didn't understand their "craft". I get it alright--and I've seen it done correctly at places like Husk, the refinery, etc. Perhaps as a farm to table restaurant they should consider scrapping ingredients they get from thousands of miles away and focus on the local produce of the area. In the end, 2/5. I'd try it again if they got their act together, served what they described and took their patrons seriously. Otherwise, it simply isn't worth the price.
(2)
Jillian A.
I've been to Barley & Rye twice and had two very different, but very nice experiences: 1. My husband and I stopped by just for happy hour to check the place out. The bartender was incredibly knowledgeable about her craft, made some great suggestions on different liquors to try (we talked mostly whiskey and bourbons), AND she wrote down a few suggestions we made about a couple of liquors they should think about carrying. They have probably the best bar set-up I've seen around the Quad Cities, and their beer options were unique and varied. After that trip, we knew we needed to come back and try the food... and more beer. 2. We came back about a month later for dinner, and was not disappointed. Started with the Devil on Horseback appetizer, which was fantastic. I tried the honey bourbon dressing on my salad, and thought the flavor was great-- my husband had a taste and liked it too, which is surprising because he's normally not about sweet salad dressings. The entrees were fantastic-- I had the lamb and mushroom gnocchi, and my husband had a delicious steak burger that was on special. Normally I try and save some food for leftovers... but I ate everything off my plate, so that says quite a bit! Can't tell you about dessert, so I guess we'll just have to make another trip back!
(5)
Jamei M.
Amazing! Excellent staff, perfect flow, fantastic food. A new favorite. The sweet potato and chorizo soup was to die for... Sweet and savory deliciousness. The pork was by far the best I've ever tasted. Portions are perfect... All entrees come with a soup or salad and a side (either potato, barley, or seasonal veg). We were stuffed when we left but not unpleasantly so. We had an incredible time and will definitely be back to try something new on the ever changing menu!
(5)
Kyle F.
Great concept, except someone in the kitchen thought it was appropriate to drown all the food with salt. Many of the dishes were inedible due to the amount of salt. Went elsewhere for dessert to get rid of the salt taste. We will try again, but go easy on the salt, seriously.
(1)
Jesse E.
A fantastic dining experience for a date night or a night on the town. The food is farm to table fresh which shows the amount of dedication the chef took in thinking out and preparing the menu. You are defiantly in for a treat every time because the menu is always changing and evolving. The staff was friendly and knowledgeable about the menu. I would highly recommend to anyone looking for a great dining experience with a fantastic Quad cities inspired atmosphere.
(5)
Jessica H.
So delicious! My friend recommended this restaurant and said she'd been 3 times and loved it more with each visit. My boyfriend and I went for date night last night and enjoyed the entire evening. From the beautiful atmosphere, to our extremely attentive and knowledgeable server and delicious food, we left feeling full and satisfied. The only thing is it can be pricey so I would only suggest this for special occasions. For my boyfriend and I, our meal was $83 for 2 drinks, an appetizer and 2 meals. He loved his steak but did think the serving was small for $28. With that said, we still felt our meal was worth every penny and neither of us left with room to eat another crumb.
(5)
Emma E.
We went here for our 1 year wedding anniversary. Had heard good things from yelp & friends in the real world too! Service was very good, prompt and attentive. Cute guy with blue eyes and a well kept beard. Great decor, not toooooo fancy but special. Lobster bisque was simple and tasty. Popcorn was kind of a throwaway and the worst part- kind of tasted old like the random kernels you find in the couch cushions. But my lemonade jalapeño martini was great- nice and earthy, barely sweet. Salmon was awesome. So tender, and juicy! Breads were OK, but I would like to see them serve it hot and straight out of the oven à la Cheesecake Factory ( yeah it's a chain but dang it their bread is good!!) barley side was very tasty! Never had barley before. The waiter described it as risotto-like: great description. It was creamy and flavorful. We will be back but probably for lunch. Dinner was not cheap!
(4)
Sarah B.
Vegetarians - do not be scared off by the menu. I have been here twice and Chef Jared has made two completely different and delicious dishes for me. This place deserves to do well - thoughtful, unique, inviting. Go, eat, drink, enjoy!
(5)
Matt D.
Excellent food and drink. Didn't know what to expect but the kids loved it as well. The bacon wrapped dates were excellent.
(5)
Joe D.
Good concept. Poor management. They have a respectable list of beers (mostly bottles), but the menu does not include descriptions, alcohol content, or prices. To make matters worse, the waitstaff doesn't know anything about them. I asked our waitress for a recommendation similar to Sam Adams Boston Lager or a New Belgium Fat Tire, and she came back saying, "Our bartender recommends the Kentucky Ale or Stella." Stella? That's not even close. It's unbelievable that a restaurant named "Barley & Rye" knows nothing about their own beer offering.
(2)
Robbie P.
I went with a group of people for lunch + I was really impressed with the decor + atmosphere of this place. It was beautiful. Very well thought out and the best part - the food was mostly local! I had the Brussle sprout salad and all I can say is "PERFECTO"....The chef is an artist:-) I would not recommend this restaurant for anyone that has not eaten fresh food for it is a different type of eating. The food is created around what is "in season" and people that are not use to eating in season may not understand what the goal is when trying to eat locally. The flavors are fresh! I will return again + look forward to trying some new foods on the menu. The only complaint I have is the parking. You can't park right near the restaurant. Just drive the the back parking lot and it works just fine. It really is not that big of a problem. The food is well worth checking this place out. To the chef-PERFECTO!!! The service was great too.
(5)
Tom T.
Been here for lunch a couple of times. Nothing special. Average food. Average service. Many better places to eat in the Quad Cities.
(2)
Chris F.
I live in the apartments above Barley and Rye. My boyfriend and I finally decided to try it and boy we should have it tried sooner. So far we have only had drinks and appetizers AMAZING! the calamari is outstanding and we also ordered the flat which had olives,cheeses,pickled carrots,prosciutto,smoked bacon and bread my boyfriend ordered the bourbon flight which was a delicious pair and the next week we came in for drink they had a pig roast we were not too hungry but we wanted an appetizer so we ordered the pork belly confit the chef came out and said he would make us a a sandwich from the leftover pig and wow! the best sandwich we ever had! We are both from Chicago and this place would fit in.
(5)
D A.
Excellent menu. Wonderful service. Chef Jared is talented and personable. Wonderful flavors and combinations. Impressed with how many items Chef Jared makes himself.
(5)
Melissa M.
Moline should consider itself lucky to have a spot of this caliber. It rivals places I have been in downtown Chicago. The food is outstanding, the hand crafted cocktails are phenomenal, and above all is the knowledge and passion of each of the staff. This place is a must.
(5)
Roger L.
Opening Night has it's Glitches, service was fantastic but I will wait to see the lunch menu.
(3)
Amanda A.
Gave Barley and Rye a second change last night and I'm so glad I did! They've made some changes to their food, both my meal and my friends meal were phenomenal. I had the scallops with tomato basil Mac and cheese, she had the burger with fries. Now all their entrees are served with bread beforehand as well as a salad or soup and a side which you choose from 4 options. This made it a way better "bang for your buck". With Red Crow Grille closing, this just may be my new spot for fine dining! AND it's on the Illinois side which is even better!
(5)
Dana S.
my man and I stopped here passing through IL on our road trip. what a great yelp find!!! we shared the meatballs off the app menu-- pretty good. we practically licked the plate lol. bae got a kale salad and I got the side salad with my dinner -- cucumber feta dressing is the BEST get it get it get it. yummmm then we shared the special pasta smoked chicken and corn or somethig with homemade fettuccine. it was good but WAYYYY too heavy. it was good we were sharing because I could never eat it all my self. I got a side of tarragon string beans and OMG they were heavenly. amazing and obviously plucked right from the farm and cooked JUST right. a MUST have. and lastly--- drumroll.... my favorite dessert is pecan pie. no question. and a slice was not only delicious but also 2 DOLLARS... SAY WHAT??? 2 bucks? soooo good yummmm eat it up yassss
(5)
Andrew A.
The food was inventive and delicious. Chorizo wrapped in bacon with blue cheese was terrific. Brisket with habanero, whiskey was equally great. But the service was so unbelievably slow. Slow, slow, slow. They we're busy initially but even after things cleared out they were still slow. With a little attention this could be great.
(3)
Mike And Nita B.
Really nice! Nice ambiance. Fun. Not the usual selection of choices for QCA Unique and creative menu. Extensive selection of bourbons.
(5)
Meghan H.
One of the best dining experiences, and whiskey and bourbon selections in the quad cities. All local ingredients, great lunches, and dinners as well. Beer dinners here are a must. Beautiful ambiance with exposed woodwork, private patio, and large window seating. Often if Chef has time, he'll come out and talk to you and see how your experience is going. The extra effort that they put in is really worth the price tag.
(5)
Amanda A.
Gave Barley and Rye a second change last night and I'm so glad I did! They've made some changes to their food, both my meal and my friends meal were phenomenal. I had the scallops with tomato basil Mac and cheese, she had the burger with fries. Now all their entrees are served with bread beforehand as well as a salad or soup and a side which you choose from 4 options. This made it a way better "bang for your buck". With Red Crow Grille closing, this just may be my new spot for fine dining! AND it's on the Illinois side which is even better!
(5)
Robert B.
One of the better places to eat in the QC. Great drink selection including the best selection of whiskey in the area, lots to choose from on the menu, large portions and great presentation. Went on a Tuesday night and service was great. The short rib and meatloaf were awesome. If you are looking for great food, service and atmosphere check this place out!
(5)
Deb D.
One of our favorite places, especially for special occasions. Have been there with small and larger groups. Chef/owner Jared makes some excellent, creative, fresh, and local dishes. Love it! Never disappointed, foodies enjoy! Many beers; good cocktails & wine pairings.
(5)
Juan M.
Both my wife and I had issues with almost every course of our dinners. We had the popcorn they give you when you sit down. It was very stale, sticky and had bad flavors. I felt like walking out at that point because it gave me a bad feeling about the rest of the meal. We had the calamari app, the breading was soggy and had some pickled cabbage mixed in with it. Had an "asian" flavor, not great. My salad was mostly made of kale which if i ate it would require way more dressing than they gave me to stomach the tough leaves. A pretty large portion of the salad was wilted. The salad also contained one slice of cucumber minced and a few small peeled bits of carrot. I mention the cucumber and carrots because it was the highlight of my meal. My wife's soup was supposed to be a curry soap so you would think it would be a cream base soup but it was based with a chicken stock. She said tasted like watery chicken soup. My duck entree was very tough. I had to ask for a steak knife to cut it and they served it in a bowl so it make the act of cutting it very difficult. The duck was swimming in black beans and looked like soup when it came to the table. The flavors were not layered or interesting in any way. It tasted like a rubber duck and black beans. My wife had the filet and thankfully it was acceptable though it had a liver aftertaste. The potatoes au gratin we ordered with the meal had potatoes that were under cooked and pretty much just had a weird flavor of cheese sprinkled on top with bunch of oil sitting in bottom of the bowl. We both expected from the "farm to table" statement that we would be getting high quality and simple food but that really wasn't the case. We skipped dessert since nothing there was hitting the spot. The interior design was great though.
(1)
Linda R.
This is definitely a unique place, even for the Midwest. 90% of the menu comes from farms within 150 miles of the QCA and you can tell. Everything was insanely fresh, so much so that you almost think it's not normal when you taste it. We sampled many appetizers and our large group all ordered different entrees. Everyone was pleased with their food. I ordered the lobster ravioli and it was really good. The fried brussel sprout salad was unlike anything I've ever had before and it was surprisingly fantastic. The pork belly was wonderful. Even the cheeses were obviously not processed foods. If this is what real food is supposed to taste like, we're all getting rooked by the mass-production food companies... My only reason for not giving five stars is the noise level. The sound level makes talking to anyone not immediately adjacent to you impossible.
(4)
Cara M.
Always a fabulous meal!! Great location, good service, and excellent food and drink options. Always enjoy what we order and the menu changes often for newness!
(5)
Adam S.
Highly recommend! Great spot for a date or night out. Best food in the Quad Cities, bar none. The calamari is superb, as is the pork belly appetizer. The smoked buffalo meatloaf, while barely meeting the definition of "meatloaf" was delicious and satisfying. The drink list is impressive: multiple pages of quality whiskies of every variety, plus craft beers and mixed drinks. Service was friendly and accomodating. Stylish but casual atmosphere. The food took a little bit longer than usual, but was worth waiting for.
(5)
Alma D.
Love the food! as an out of towner it's great to have food from a local place and from locally produced ingredients, highly recommended; wasn't sure about eating bison meatloaf but my daughter and I shared her bison meatloaf and my salmon and we both loved it! Good eats!
(5)
Jennifer S.
By far my favorite restaurant in the QC. The food was so fresh, creative, and scrumptious! I loved that the food was all local as well. Great drink menu. Favorite dishes were the Cajun chicken gnocchi and the filet with wasabi sauce. We were so full by the end we couldn't even manage the dessert. I would recommend for groups and date night. Great vibe for one of the best meals I've had! Must try!!!
(5)
LA A.
Incredible. Great setting with superb food! Best blue cheese dressing I've ever had. Great craft beer selection. And both main courses were fantastic. Other party commented best salmon they ever had. Great service also, friendly staff all around.
(5)
Kung Fu J.
Everyone likes the idea of farm to table food. I mean, why use local ingredients and suppliers? The problem is that it was hard to taste the difference, despite the increased price. The ambiance seemed a little bit stuffy for my taste. I enjoyed the murals on the walls and appreciated the local historical references. However, there isn't much to absorb the sound in the space, so that it's a bit loud. I know it's a minor detail, the subfloors seemed to be lacking, so that whenever someone walked by, it sounded and felt like they were stomping around. Overall, the food was tasty, but a bit overpriced in my opinion.
(2)
Stephenie L.
Such an awesome and delicious experience! It's a farm to table kind of restaurant meaning that most everything on their menu comes from local farms and is homemade daily. Everything from the popcorn they put on your table to the salad dressing to the bread to the dessert. And everything is so amazing! My barbecue potato soup was amazing! It's homemade and served in a mason jar. I'm loving anything and everything mason jars so this was definitely a perk. I had the airline chicken with the mashed potatoes and uncommon gravy for my entree. The chicken was to die for. So many flavored and not dry in the least bit! My potatoes were pretty good and although the gravy was a little on the cool side, it had a delicious unique flavor. It was almost kind of sweet in a way! I'm glad my date insisted on dessert because my life wouldn't be the same had I not tried their homemade tiramisu. I'd never had tiramisu before so I'm glad I lost my tiramisu virginity to Barley and Rye. So so amazing. Everything about this place is well worth the 5 stars. I'd give them more if I could.
(5)
Lianne N.
The food was very good. But, I won't leave it at that, since nothing is that simple. We got an appetizer... it was dates wrapped in bacon and chorizo with bleu cheese. I don't remember what it was called officially. It was tasty. For $6, you get three wrapped dates. If I had to make a statement, however, my most pertinent judgment would be that presentation may be everything, but you might consider ditching the "fancy" plank that is under the wrapped dates. The first thing I noticed was some hairs sticking out from underneath my dates. I was perturbed... upon further investigation, I think the darkwood planks have some sort of hair in their structures... the hairs that appeared to have accidentally hitched a ride onto my apppetizers seemed to actually be part of the planks. Hmmm.... and when I moved the plank aside after we'd consumed our three wrapped dates, I noticed there were some dark splintered pieces on the table. Style and presentation is everything, but honestly, this appetizer couldve looked equally as stylistic and NOT brought along random hairs and splinters if they had put them onto a white plate with decorations rather than onto a dark wood plank with some random cheftastic flare. The food was good. The ambiance was nice. The help was extra attentive. The ambiance was also very pretentious. I may return, but I must say... they seemed like they were trying harder than necessary. I shouldnt have to decide that the hairs in my food were from an unnecessary plank of wood under my fancily-presented food. Ditch the pretentiousness and the rating might actually go up...
(4)
Matt T.
My parents came into town from Chicago and wanted to take them somewhere new to try . You will not regret it the grass fed burger was amazing , and the farm to table ingredients were more than apparent in every aspect of the meal .100% will be back!
(5)
T H.
Had dinner here last night and I was impressed. I travel and eat out all the time so I feel justified in my opinion ;-) I started with Cajun ahi tuna, in the mouth it simply melted and left a lovely bit of spice lingering. My associate had the Devil on Horseback starter which was a date wrapped in bacon with chorizo and bit of blue cheese...wicked good. Each had a filet which was done perfectly and on its own had lots of flavor. Ambience is nice; lighter woods which is unusual and nice to see for a change. Only thing to cause me to yank back a star was the service...20 to 25 mins for our drinks to get there. They didn't have ginger ale for my buddies rye and ginger so instead of asking if he'd like an alternative, they fussed about and made their own ginger ale from scratch. Now that's pretty cool if it didn't take nearly half an hour. Anyway, food is so good we had lunch there today and were impressed again by the food yet disappointed again by the service. Our waitress yacked it up with another patron while our food sat on the ready counter for over 5 mins. Another server saw me looking and brought it over. Totally worth going all the same. Cheers!
(4)
Kevin Y.
Have dined at Barley & Rye on a number of occasions and really appreciate the space, concept and the effort. While certainly not earth shattering in scope or James Beard worthy in execution, they do provide a solid option in the fine dining desert that is the QCA. I think the chef/owner here is doing a lot of things right such as using locally sourced and "trendy" by local standards ingredients. Sure the kitchen and floor don't always hit on all cylinders, but I suspect from reading some previous reviews that some of his menu offerings are perhaps and in all fairness misunderstood by chronic pub grub and chain feasting diners. Unfortunately, unless you are a passionate home cook or support Barley & Rye, I'm afraid the local options for anything other than deep fried gluttony are few and far between. Obviously, Barley & Rye is not the place to get a mound of chow and a Bud Light for under $10 per head with plenty of leftovers to stuff in your lunch box everyday the following week. So, everything in perspective. That said, it looks like this place is developing a good following and I hope that they do step it up and iron out the wrinkles. Along with the all the positives, I understand and have experienced infrequent glitches in taste, presentation and execution. Of course I trust that any chef/owner brave and visionary enough to offer up Barley & Rye to the QC in downtown Moline, IL is already taking steps to remedy his patrons and reviewers concerns. Certainly marrow bones and pork belly aren't for everyone, but if they are on your menu, make certain they are the best they can be. Don't let it leave the kitchen if not 110% of perfection. I think the prices are fair, but you need to rock every plate every time. No excuses and dispatch any and all squeamish finicky eaters and complainers to the Barrel House post-haste.
(4)
Brandon C.
Really a 3.5... but had to round down. Listen, I get it. The atmosphere. The menu. The KILLER whiskey selection. The farm-to-table thing. I get it. It is all great, creative, hip, trendy, neat, whatever you want to call it. BUT, the food didn't blow me away and it was WAYYY over priced. Farm to table doesn't cost THAT much more. And if you are gonna charge that much, a little larger portion size would be nice and each dish better blow my mind. I might come back, give it another try... will have to see if I can get approved for a loan right quick tho.
(3)
Mary N.
Very cute, modern, chic restaurant with fresh ingredients. The air conditioning was turned on a bit high so we opted to sit outside in the patio on a nice breezy evening. Our waiter was extremely friendly and attentive. One person in our party was a vegetarian and we asked for a suggestion. To our surprise, the head chef came out and spoke to us about what he could prepare that was off the menu. The food was superb! They were a little light on the pours of the alcohol but all well worth the price. Fruit Sangria: Fresh fruity light wine. Perfect for a summer on the patio. Kettle Corn: They put a little dish of it out on the table for you to eat. I love kettle corn but this was way too sticky. Looks like they drizzled honey onto it. You have to wash your hands after eating it. Not a good concept. Queso Fondito: This appetizer usually comes with chorizo but opted for the non-meat version. It was EXCELLENT! So simple, just melted cheese with rye bread...but it was made to perfection. It definitely has a kick to it. Asparagus Dill Soup: Not my favorite. I usually love asparagus but this item lacked much flavor. Maybe it just needed some salt. The presentation was unique (it came out in a glass canning jar) but the flavor just wasn't there for me. Pork Chop: Lovely slight char and cooked to perfection. Well seasoned and moist. I had the garlic mac and cheese side and that was a nice complement to my main dish. Not too cheesy or garlicly; nice and light. Vegetarian Dish: The Chef made a nice spread of different items for my partner to try. Great presentation; it came out on a wood slab. She had roasted carrots, kale salad, and fried squash flower stuffed with goat cheese. Tasted delicious! So glad we asked for a recommendation instead of just ordering a salad off the menu. Complements to the Chef!
(5)
B I.
first of all, if you have a half hour lunch break, you cannot go here. the lunch items apparently take 25 minutes or more to make. i had the cheeseburger wednesday special, after 25-30 minutes it came out & although i had ordered it medium-rare, the majority of it was well-done. it still tasted good although extremely messy. the fries are also good & the homemade ketchup is really good. however i wouldnt expect at a restaurant in this price range and with their goal of quality food to overcook a hamburger from med-rare to well-done. 25-30 minutes is too long for any lunch item. at dinner i guess that is acceptable, but i dunno how much longer a dinner would take there. i cant understand how a cheeseburger & fries would take nearly a half hour to get out. i get that everything is homemade, but that doesnt mean every single part of an item should be made only when something is ordered. i assume most things would be made ahead of time and then assembled onto a hamburger. maybe their methods need to be changed, because you can have the greatest food in the world, but if people get tired of waiting an inordinate amount of time for it, the restaurant is not going to succeed. after having an incorrectly prepared burger, the waitress made no mention of rectifying it with either a replacement or comp. only after i inquired a couple times about it was it taken care of. the waitress also virtually never came over to our table except to bring out our food. in summary, its probably one of the best restaurants in this area, definitely among the slowest, so it depends if you want to spend this kind of time and it is not cheap either. i guess get an appetizer and or drinks to pass the time.
(3)
Leslie M.
Flavorless AND Clueless!!! - First Visit! Last Visit! I'd give negative stars if I could!!!!! I was utterly bummed at the lunch I had today at Barley Rye Bistro. Pork Belly BLT sound yummy right? YIKES! OVER HALF OF THE PIECE OF MEAT WAS PURE FAT! The sandwich was dripping in fat/oil, I could lightly push my finger into the top of the bread and a pool of fat/oil emerged. Just disgusting. I pulled it apart and tasted the meat, and other ingredients, etc., etc. No flavor whatsoever. Dull as cardboard. The server encouraged an appetizer, and being as this was our first visit we took the server's suggestion of Queso Fundido....which, yikes, looks like what you would find in a baby diaper. Equally oily and lacking flavor. My guest had the Brisket Tacos, which were described as "sweet tangy"....they too were oily with no flavor.....NO FLAVOR!!! The chef obviously did not taste his own food before sending it out, and the plating and oil excess tells me that they did not care one bit! So on to the clueless part. The server obviously saw that we didn't eat our food (with the exception of the french fries - they were edible) and asked if everything was okay....we sadly....were afraid to say no so we said.....uhhhhh....for a really long time. Any experienced server would have gotten the hint, but in this case, I ended up with a miserable experience, no lunch, and a $45 dollar bill. I can't shout my displeasure high enough. Never again.
(1)
LP F.
This is the place you want to dine when you're in Moline. A creative, delicious menu and EXCELLENT service. Farm to table is only the beginning!
(5)
Sinan G.
Barley & Rye always impresses. The food is some of the finest in the QC and knowing it's all locally sourced is an added bonus!
(5)
Jesse G.
I went there for lunch a couple times. The food hit the spot for a lunch, it was tasty and filling. The service was excellent, the people there are quite friendly.
(5)
E B.
We were driving from Boston to San Francisco and stopped in at this place. Boy were we surprised! The dinner was fantastic -- it wouldn't have been out of place among the best restaurants of Boston. The sous vide pork belly was the best we've ever had. Braised bison short ribs were astounding. The chef, Jared Linn, uses bourbon in sauces very well. The selection of house made breads -- rye, cornbread, bourbon and peaches -- was stellar. The smoked blue cheese and bacon mac and cheese was also fantastic. The butter bourbon martini was good for a cold night. The restaurant is family run; the sister is the lawyer, the father is the accountant, the brother helps in the kitchen, and the mother cleans. It just feels like such a wonderful genuine place that makes excellent use of the area's meat and produce. Definitely worth a stop in Moline!
(5)
Sif B.
WOW! This place is great. I had the Pork Belly app and it was incredible. The Grass Fed Sirloin was cooked perfect.
(5)
R R.
So happy to find Barley and Rye in the Quad Cities! Wonderful farm-to-table restaurant with delicious food and 90% local ingredients from farms we know from the Davenport Freight House Farmers' Market. Everything is made-to-order, so this place is perfect for those who love food but have dietary restrictions or food allergies. We are vegetarian and lean towards vegan so after viewing B&R's online menu I concluded that I'd have to choose a salad. I was wrong! Our hostess and server told us Chef Jared would be pleased to make us vegetarian or vegan dishes with in-season veggies. Chef Jared came to our table to discuss our meal options. He seemed really happy to make us dishes suited to our finicky tastes. One of us has a long list of veggies on the No Fly List. Jared tailored our dishes to each of our tastes and offered me vegan options for everything from salad dressing to bread, side dishes, and entrees -- unheard of in the Quad Cities where even most healthier fare has meat, eggs, and/or dairy! I'm sure it was extra work for him, but I was so thankful he did not seem to mind. Jared made me a very creative, complex-flavored, perfectly executed Asian-style shaved brussels sprouts & shiitake mushroom dish with truffles. Even the brussels-sprouts-and-mushroom-hater and meat-lover both agreed it was the best dish on a table of amazing dishes. The leek barley side dish was also incredibly flavorful. Our out-of-town guest had short-ribs which he told us were the best he'd had. Both my companions appreciated the extensive beer and whisky list and our guest said he would join the bourbon club if he lived here. We will definitely return and bring all our visiting guests. In addition to excellent vegetarian / vegan options, Chef Jared said he also offers gluten-free options, including bread(!). This restaurant really is for everyone. A few reviewers have complained about the prices, but in addition to high-quality ingredients and thoughtful made-to-order preparation, entrees come with soup-or-salad, bread, and a side-dish for a filling meal. You can also order breads (he grinds his own flour) and desserts (by a dedicated pastry chef) for pickup. We ordered a fresh loaf of fig & walnut bread and can't wait to try it, but Jared also offers gluten-free bread loaves which I'd bet are much tastier than the frozen Udi's bread in stores. Update: The fig and walnut bread is amazing! Will definitely order again.
(5)
Robert H.
Had the Steak sandwich and Parmesan fries. Sandwich was incredible, cooked perfect and the fries were just as incredible. They make their own ketchup here and it was a great addition to the fries. I will definitely be coming back for more.
(5)
Robert S.
Excellent farm fresh bistro in Moline. Party of three had the brisket, stroganoff and red snapper. All were delicious. The waiter was very accommodating and offered several good suggestions. An excellent dinner choice.
(5)
Yoyo A.
The food dances with flavor on your tongue and their bartenders make the best Manhattans you will find downtown. A mural shows the rich history of Rock Island County and the ambiance is on point! Can't wait to eat there again!!! Nom nom nom
(5)
Gayle L.
Was here last night with a group of friends and most of what I was served was very poor. My lettuce in the lettuce salad had brown edges and brown spots. Now this is totally inexcusable! You can see the lettuce isn't good. I had lobster tail with roasted yukon gold potatoes, and pea pods. I did eat the lobster, but it was nothing special. The potatoes - 2/3's were raw inside and a couple of the cooked ones tasted just nasty, too much of the pepper and spices were on one hunk of potato. I finally ate those that were done when I poked them. The pea pods were not "unstringed". The two I ate were tough, almost inedible, very unpleasant. There were also beet slices on the plate. They were again undercooked - that might have been intentional, but they had obviously been "heated". I like al dente, but these were not that, they were heated raw to semi-raw to some cooked some not. Finally, I did order a desert, figuring it would be edible. I ordered the cheese cake ice cream. They brought out cheese cake instead and I had to correct that. This ice cream was grainy. I think it wasa fine cheesecake "curds", but it was strange. This was just one of the worst meals I have had in a very long time and I paid $59 for it (includes tip). The servver, Travis, was very good. One of our friends canceled out when she found out where we were going, saying they had been here and it was not good. But I wanted to see my friends. The sad part is that these problems are easily correctable. I have to think that this chef just isn't taking enough care. Who doesn't de-string the peas? One look at that lettuce should have told them to toss it.
(1)
Andi C.
This place is disgusting. I would say about 1/2 cup of garic on the quail and waffles. Every waffle square was filled with garlic and some very weird clove seasoning. Yuck! Made me think if Chef Ramsay came to review this restaurant. Nice ambiance and good beer is apparently a good enough smoke screen for the quad city folks. Reviewers that gave this restaurant 2 or more stars, focus on what you are putting in your mouth. Don't let the quirky uniqueness of the place fool your taste buds.
(1)
Mark C.
I went here with one other person with reservations and we were seated immediately, which was really nice. Seating was a little cramped for such an up scale restaurant, but overall I liked the unique atmosphere. We ordered a bottle of wine and it was presented at the table to us correctly, although I would say a little over priced for the bottle. They also gave us bread and some fancy caramel popcorn while we waited for our food. I ordered the trout on special which was really good and a large portion for the price. We both left with to go boxes. The specialty mac and cheese was a great side, but I liked the potato side even better. I would definitely go back, but probably order beer or a mixed drink instead of wine.
(4)
Stephen S.
The food blew me away! I expected a lot considering Chef Jared was previously the Executive Chef at Steventon's, but I didn't know it would be THIS GOOD! I promise you that you won't find anything else like this in the Quad Cities! Also be sure to check them out for lunch and dinner as they have a wide variety of selections offered for both.
Love the concept of farm to table. It is nice to find a restaurant in the QC that is not part of a chain. Great atmosphere. I was there on a cold Saturday afternoon and there were few people there. Our waitress was very attentive. We started with the bacon rapped dates. Good, but they should have left the sauce off. We had the brussel sprout salad and ahi tuna wrap. While both were good, the dressing in both was way to much. The flavor of the sauces on both were so overwhelming it was about all you tasted.
(4)
Sean D.
I want to love this place so badly. Farm to market concept is excellent and something that doesn't hapen as often as it should in the QC, where we are endowed with truly great raw materials. Just had the brussels sprout salad and was surprised to see that they crisp fried the brussels sprout leaves... basically ended up like brussels sprout flavored paper with hard boiled egg, panceta and tomato. Had a brussels sprout salad here last spring which contained approximately the same ingedients but different technique that was on a whole 'nother level of awesome. Please bring that one back... raw brussels sprouts shaved thin on the mandolin, hardwood smoked bacon, poached egg, perfectly dressed. I want that one...fresh clean tastes without the deep fryer messing the whole thing up. Also, keep putting pork and brisket in as many things as you can. I don't know who is doing the smoking, but it is dead on. Not overwhelming but enough to know the meat spent time enough near burning hardwood. Brisket with maytag blue is an absolutely perfect sandwich. Keep it coming.
(4)
Marc H.
I'll get to the point immediately: the food is phenomenal! I went for dinner and ordered one of the dishes on special that night, bison short ribs with coffee au jus. The flavor was excellent and it was incredibly tender. I opted for the barley side dish, which was cheesy and cooked al dente. I loved it almost as much as the main entree. Before the main course, I enjoyed a mixed green salad with a blue cheese vinaigrette dressing. Everything was fresh and crisp. We were also provided a house-made Cracker Jack mix, which was spicy and sweet at the same time. It was an unusual but tasty snack to nibble on while waiting for our meals. The restaurant interior has a rustic wood decor, with one wall featuring a very nicely done mural of the Quad City area. The entire dining area was well lit and comfortable. All of the staff we encountered was friendly and helpful. The service was excellent overall. I'm thrilled the Quad Cities finally has a "farm to table" concept restaurant, especially one this good! I'll definitely be back for dinner again and will also have to try their lunch menu.
(5)
Cliff C.
My first visit. Nice cozy feel to the place. Ordered a salad with crab (supposedly from Boston) and Blue cheese dressing. Greens were ver nice, right amount of dressing (too many places drown the greens with too much dressing). Crab didn't make the grade, tasting more like cheap canned crab. Brussel sprouts were nice, though nothing extraordinaire. Rye bread tasted more like a sweet wheat dessert bread than the hearty, grain rye one might expect. I'll return though will favour selections more typical of the Midwest. Wait staff was friendly enough, though a long time between check-ins. Nice to have another potentially promising spot in the Quads.
(3)
Jean G.
Driving thru Moline, found this great spot where they have farm to table food. Got here for lunch n not soon after we sat down. There was a delivery of fresh veggies n herbs. For appetizer had the asparagus w/ bacon n mushrooms, awesome. Had the Bison burger and bean n brisket soup, it was delightful and delicious. Great atmosphere, great bartenders. Great selection of whiskeys, bourbon, n beers.
(5)
Katelyn J.
My husband and I have only been here once so far, but we will definitely be going back! I loved the atmosphere, our server was excellent! They had a great selection of brews, wines, and cocktails! Overall the food was good! I had the meatloaf, I will try something else next time :-)
(4)
Rick J.
Finally a restaurant in the QCA that "gets it"! Great atmopshere.....relaxed, casual, hip, not a bar. Menu is varied and interesting. Food very well prepared. Flavors are right on.....restrained, not overboard. Had the rib eye.....great taste, fresh flesh. Wife had the lamb gnocchi....awesome! Great service, very attentive while not overboard. Well priced. Overall, best dining experience in the QCA mainly due to the fact it is the only place that supports local farmers, keeps its menu fresh and seasonal, and demonstrates a real due care for its product.
(4)
April B.
Wow. Wow!!! This place is amazing for fresh and local food. The appetizer I had was superb, and the draft craft beer selection is great. I men, I had an Enjoy By!!!! *highly recommend
(5)
Matt B.
Made a reservation for a birthday celebration. Showed up 30 minutes early and was seated without delay. My expectation is that you street park in this area of Moline and this is the case.. Only 3 spaces in the lot for B&R.. Come on people practice your rarely needed parallel parking in the QC. I had added a note about the celebration while checking in on-line. We never mentioned it, but sure enough Thomas our server was prepared and knew it. No silly birthday song but a nice mention of the occasion. Great Server While I'd have loved to taste a flight of bourbon, as this heaven for bourbon drinkers I has a Hopilcious (i think) from Madison WI. Something new. We settled on an appetizer of queso.. served with rye bread.. not what I expected.. something new. Gnocchi for me and scallops for her... Gnocchi, not what i expected. something new.. Scallops, greatness... something new for QC. Chef Jared is out and the entrepreneurial spirit of a small business owner is great. Nice to talk with him. Don't recall anywhere else in the QC the chef serves the apps! If your looking for "something new" and "not what I expected" in a good way, Come here you won't be disappointed. If you want the same old same old then go somewhere else.
(5)
Scott A.
Something different for the area. The chicken and potato soup was good. The bread was very good. The scallops with chorizo was excellent. But the bread pudding was dry and disappointing. It is more expensive than typical restaurants in the area. We will go back, but we probably won't be eating there frequently. The service was very good as well.
(4)
Chirag P.
Good. But not great for the money your paying for each course. Had the pork chops which were good. Girlfriend had the steak. Came out cold had to send it back. About $100 for two drinks and entree. Most likely not be back because it's just not a place suited for regular joes that like to eat good food and a reasonable price.
(2)
Lawrence H.
A refreshing and healthy addition to the Quad Cities, I attended a business dinner at the Bistro yesterday evening. For appetizers, the queso fundito, shrimp and artisan's meat and cheese platter were exquisite, dominated by flavorful and organic local colors (the duck prosciutto is phenomenal and cured on-site). For dinner, I recommend the half-roasted chicken drizzled with red wine bernaise and served on a cedar plank. A wonderful experience overall; 199 whiskies to choose from certainly does not hurt either!
(4)
Martin A.
Summary: delicious food and good service. Will visit again. Worth your dining dollar. Our group stumbled upon this tasty treat on a Sunday evening prior to the Zac Brown Band concert. We had not expected the restaurant to be open (they are normally closed on Sundays), so we were pleasantly surprised to be able to try it out. Despite a very busy crowd, we were seated quickly. The restaurant was obviously slammed but the management (chef's wife, whose name we regrettably did not catch) set up our drinks and apps in a timely fashion. Our server (Simon) was attentive and knowledgeable about the menu and meats. They offered a limited menu for the pre-concert crowd. Between the four of us we tried the Queso Fundido app, the Bison Burgers and the regular burgers. Everything was prepared very well and arrived at perfect temperatures and requested done-ness. The breads used for the buns were very good, almost worth a visit just on that count. Both the bison meat and ground beef were of excellent quality and tasted great. The trimmings on the sandwiches were also very good. The hand cut french fries were great. However, the home-made Siracha-infused catsup was the real star of the potato side dish. I wish they sold this as a to go item. I would definitely buy it. One of our group briefly considered pilfering a jar of the catsup, but our inherent dignity and practical considerations revolving around smuggling an open jar into the concert venue helped us take the high road. The mixed drinks were poured generously and the martinis were also delicious. The decor was clean and bright and it's obvious the restaurant just opened because everything is brand new. The only minor quibble I had was that the restaurant's door opens directly outside, which allows in some cold air. Not a dealbreaker for me. I figure I can wear a sweater if needed. We will be visiting again.
(5)
Chris L.
Went here for my daughter's 26th birthday. I ordered the Salmon and the potato special. The salmon BBQ seasoning was excellent along with the potatoes. The restaurant had a Chicago style feel to it where my daughter lives. The queso fundido appetizer was great for our group. The chef came out and spoke with us and asked our opinions of our entrees which was a nice touch at a new place. It's definitely an adult restaurant - not much for the kids. My mother ordered the lamb appetizer as her main entree and was very pleased with her meal as well. It was well priced and we'll definitely be back!
(5)
Jay Y.
Cocktail menu features an Old Fashioned which was without a doubt the most mediocre mixed drink I've ever been served. Sugar wasn't muddled properly, leaving a layer of sugar at the bottom of the incorrect glass. There was no orange zest in the cocktail, just an orange slice on the rim. This is a classic drink done improperly for no reason other than to seem different, perhaps? The brewers bread was old and tasteless. Points for having a quality olive oil. The organic popcorn was yummy, but unoriginal outside of the quad cities. My meal was served with a salad that--while containing crunchy substantial greens like kale and I believe Swiss chard--was littered with unnecessary ingredients. The jicama garnish was unnecessary from a texture standpoint and the dressing was apathy in liquid form. I ordered the bouillabaisse. The server told me it contained mussels, scallops and lobster. When it arrived I was amazed at how little broth was present especially at a $28 price point--a price point I'm fully accustomed to in Tampa. Bouillabaisse is traditionally served with non-oily whitefish, and I was looking forward to the smokiness promised by the tomatoes. Anyway, when my dish was served there were no mussels present. I was surprised to find the main attraction in the dish was salmon. This didn't work with the herb heavy stock. The salmon was overpowering and complicated the flavor of the dish without adding anything redeeming. The broth was overly garlicky--a phrase I don't believe I've ever used before--and extremely vinegary. This was served with yesterday's tasteless potatoes in gravy. Depressing. The lobster in the dish was without a doubt spoiled. At this point I made the server aware, after debating whether or not it was worth it. He looked at me with disdain and came back to tell me they just got it in that morning. Too bad. It tasted and smelled spoiled. He took my plate and then came back out to tell me him and the sous chef tasted the lobster and it "tasted fantastic". Now I won't get into the issues with the lack of customer service, but it was rotten flesh. I've eaten plenty of lobster and shellfish in my life and I know how it should taste. This dish was overall a failure and wasn't presented as described. The service was polite but I couldn't help but feel like our server didn't have a passion for or knowledge of the food he was serving. In the end they charged us for the rotten lobster bouillabaisse. They apparently couldn't be bothered with legitimate issues with their food. No manager came to the table. The dessert was decent but not redeeming. I got the feeling the kitchen looked at me as some uninformed moron who simply didn't understand their "craft". I get it alright--and I've seen it done correctly at places like Husk, the refinery, etc. Perhaps as a farm to table restaurant they should consider scrapping ingredients they get from thousands of miles away and focus on the local produce of the area. In the end, 2/5. I'd try it again if they got their act together, served what they described and took their patrons seriously. Otherwise, it simply isn't worth the price.
(2)
Jillian A.
I've been to Barley & Rye twice and had two very different, but very nice experiences: 1. My husband and I stopped by just for happy hour to check the place out. The bartender was incredibly knowledgeable about her craft, made some great suggestions on different liquors to try (we talked mostly whiskey and bourbons), AND she wrote down a few suggestions we made about a couple of liquors they should think about carrying. They have probably the best bar set-up I've seen around the Quad Cities, and their beer options were unique and varied. After that trip, we knew we needed to come back and try the food... and more beer. 2. We came back about a month later for dinner, and was not disappointed. Started with the Devil on Horseback appetizer, which was fantastic. I tried the honey bourbon dressing on my salad, and thought the flavor was great-- my husband had a taste and liked it too, which is surprising because he's normally not about sweet salad dressings. The entrees were fantastic-- I had the lamb and mushroom gnocchi, and my husband had a delicious steak burger that was on special. Normally I try and save some food for leftovers... but I ate everything off my plate, so that says quite a bit! Can't tell you about dessert, so I guess we'll just have to make another trip back!
(5)
Jamei M.
Amazing! Excellent staff, perfect flow, fantastic food. A new favorite. The sweet potato and chorizo soup was to die for... Sweet and savory deliciousness. The pork was by far the best I've ever tasted. Portions are perfect... All entrees come with a soup or salad and a side (either potato, barley, or seasonal veg). We were stuffed when we left but not unpleasantly so. We had an incredible time and will definitely be back to try something new on the ever changing menu!
(5)
Kyle F.
Great concept, except someone in the kitchen thought it was appropriate to drown all the food with salt. Many of the dishes were inedible due to the amount of salt. Went elsewhere for dessert to get rid of the salt taste. We will try again, but go easy on the salt, seriously.
(1)
Jesse E.
A fantastic dining experience for a date night or a night on the town. The food is farm to table fresh which shows the amount of dedication the chef took in thinking out and preparing the menu. You are defiantly in for a treat every time because the menu is always changing and evolving. The staff was friendly and knowledgeable about the menu. I would highly recommend to anyone looking for a great dining experience with a fantastic Quad cities inspired atmosphere.
(5)
Jessica H.
So delicious! My friend recommended this restaurant and said she'd been 3 times and loved it more with each visit. My boyfriend and I went for date night last night and enjoyed the entire evening. From the beautiful atmosphere, to our extremely attentive and knowledgeable server and delicious food, we left feeling full and satisfied. The only thing is it can be pricey so I would only suggest this for special occasions. For my boyfriend and I, our meal was $83 for 2 drinks, an appetizer and 2 meals. He loved his steak but did think the serving was small for $28. With that said, we still felt our meal was worth every penny and neither of us left with room to eat another crumb.
(5)
Emma E.
We went here for our 1 year wedding anniversary. Had heard good things from yelp & friends in the real world too! Service was very good, prompt and attentive. Cute guy with blue eyes and a well kept beard. Great decor, not toooooo fancy but special. Lobster bisque was simple and tasty. Popcorn was kind of a throwaway and the worst part- kind of tasted old like the random kernels you find in the couch cushions. But my lemonade jalapeño martini was great- nice and earthy, barely sweet. Salmon was awesome. So tender, and juicy! Breads were OK, but I would like to see them serve it hot and straight out of the oven à la Cheesecake Factory ( yeah it's a chain but dang it their bread is good!!) barley side was very tasty! Never had barley before. The waiter described it as risotto-like: great description. It was creamy and flavorful. We will be back but probably for lunch. Dinner was not cheap!
(4)
Sarah B.
Vegetarians - do not be scared off by the menu. I have been here twice and Chef Jared has made two completely different and delicious dishes for me. This place deserves to do well - thoughtful, unique, inviting. Go, eat, drink, enjoy!
(5)
Matt D.
Excellent food and drink. Didn't know what to expect but the kids loved it as well. The bacon wrapped dates were excellent.
(5)
Joe D.
Good concept. Poor management. They have a respectable list of beers (mostly bottles), but the menu does not include descriptions, alcohol content, or prices. To make matters worse, the waitstaff doesn't know anything about them. I asked our waitress for a recommendation similar to Sam Adams Boston Lager or a New Belgium Fat Tire, and she came back saying, "Our bartender recommends the Kentucky Ale or Stella." Stella? That's not even close. It's unbelievable that a restaurant named "Barley & Rye" knows nothing about their own beer offering.
(2)
Robbie P.
I went with a group of people for lunch + I was really impressed with the decor + atmosphere of this place. It was beautiful. Very well thought out and the best part - the food was mostly local! I had the Brussle sprout salad and all I can say is "PERFECTO"....The chef is an artist:-) I would not recommend this restaurant for anyone that has not eaten fresh food for it is a different type of eating. The food is created around what is "in season" and people that are not use to eating in season may not understand what the goal is when trying to eat locally. The flavors are fresh! I will return again + look forward to trying some new foods on the menu. The only complaint I have is the parking. You can't park right near the restaurant. Just drive the the back parking lot and it works just fine. It really is not that big of a problem. The food is well worth checking this place out. To the chef-PERFECTO!!! The service was great too.
(5)
Tom T.
Been here for lunch a couple of times. Nothing special. Average food. Average service. Many better places to eat in the Quad Cities.
(2)
Chris F.
I live in the apartments above Barley and Rye. My boyfriend and I finally decided to try it and boy we should have it tried sooner. So far we have only had drinks and appetizers AMAZING! the calamari is outstanding and we also ordered the flat which had olives,cheeses,pickled carrots,prosciutto,smoked bacon and bread my boyfriend ordered the bourbon flight which was a delicious pair and the next week we came in for drink they had a pig roast we were not too hungry but we wanted an appetizer so we ordered the pork belly confit the chef came out and said he would make us a a sandwich from the leftover pig and wow! the best sandwich we ever had! We are both from Chicago and this place would fit in.
(5)
D A.
Excellent menu. Wonderful service. Chef Jared is talented and personable. Wonderful flavors and combinations. Impressed with how many items Chef Jared makes himself.
(5)
Melissa M.
Moline should consider itself lucky to have a spot of this caliber. It rivals places I have been in downtown Chicago. The food is outstanding, the hand crafted cocktails are phenomenal, and above all is the knowledge and passion of each of the staff. This place is a must.
(5)
Roger L.
Opening Night has it's Glitches, service was fantastic but I will wait to see the lunch menu.
(3)
Tim D.
You should eat here. This is what we need to encourage in the Quad Cities. Jared Linn gave my wife and I an amazing vegetarian dish that was completely outside the menu, and highly appreciated. Well executed, enjoyable food and atmosphere.
(5)
Rebecca S.
The food was fantastic!!!! I had the chicken Alfredo and it was amazing! It was presented very well also. I went with a group of friends and we all got something different. No one at the table disliked their meal. The best part was the dessert. I tried the bacon cheesecake and was quite skeptical but it was amazing. Is was the perfect combination!
(5)
Tony T.
Excellent new restaurant in downtown Moline. I've been here four times and never been disappointed. Great menu with some very unique dishes and they really have some awesome nightly specials with choices you just won't find anywhere else. I will be back.
(5)
Deborah E.
Ate here in Nov.. Everything from the soup to the entree was indelible. I rarely complain and never send meals back, just try to enjoy the company of friends I am with. I wouldn't have said anything about this meal, but the server asked me if I wanted it boxed up, and I said no, that I couldn't eat it. Three couples, three of us ordered the featured soup. None of us could eat it. Three of us ordered the green bean side, again, none of us could eat them. Green beans? How can you mess those up. My entree was a pork chop that was so dry, cowboys could have stowed it in their saddlebags for jerky. Guess the server told the chef I did not care for my meal. He came to our table and was very defensive, said he has only received great comments, offered no apologies, and said he hoped we came back. Never gonna happen.
(1)
Dana S.
my man and I stopped here passing through IL on our road trip. what a great yelp find!!! we shared the meatballs off the app menu-- pretty good. we practically licked the plate lol. bae got a kale salad and I got the side salad with my dinner -- cucumber feta dressing is the BEST get it get it get it. yummmm then we shared the special pasta smoked chicken and corn or somethig with homemade fettuccine. it was good but WAYYYY too heavy. it was good we were sharing because I could never eat it all my self. I got a side of tarragon string beans and OMG they were heavenly. amazing and obviously plucked right from the farm and cooked JUST right. a MUST have. and lastly--- drumroll.... my favorite dessert is pecan pie. no question. and a slice was not only delicious but also 2 DOLLARS... SAY WHAT??? 2 bucks? soooo good yummmm eat it up yassss
(5)
Mary N.
Very cute, modern, chic restaurant with fresh ingredients. The air conditioning was turned on a bit high so we opted to sit outside in the patio on a nice breezy evening. Our waiter was extremely friendly and attentive. One person in our party was a vegetarian and we asked for a suggestion. To our surprise, the head chef came out and spoke to us about what he could prepare that was off the menu. The food was superb! They were a little light on the pours of the alcohol but all well worth the price. Fruit Sangria: Fresh fruity light wine. Perfect for a summer on the patio. Kettle Corn: They put a little dish of it out on the table for you to eat. I love kettle corn but this was way too sticky. Looks like they drizzled honey onto it. You have to wash your hands after eating it. Not a good concept. Queso Fondito: This appetizer usually comes with chorizo but opted for the non-meat version. It was EXCELLENT! So simple, just melted cheese with rye bread...but it was made to perfection. It definitely has a kick to it. Asparagus Dill Soup: Not my favorite. I usually love asparagus but this item lacked much flavor. Maybe it just needed some salt. The presentation was unique (it came out in a glass canning jar) but the flavor just wasn't there for me. Pork Chop: Lovely slight char and cooked to perfection. Well seasoned and moist. I had the garlic mac and cheese side and that was a nice complement to my main dish. Not too cheesy or garlicly; nice and light. Vegetarian Dish: The Chef made a nice spread of different items for my partner to try. Great presentation; it came out on a wood slab. She had roasted carrots, kale salad, and fried squash flower stuffed with goat cheese. Tasted delicious! So glad we asked for a recommendation instead of just ordering a salad off the menu. Complements to the Chef!
(5)
Cara M.
Always a fabulous meal!! Great location, good service, and excellent food and drink options. Always enjoy what we order and the menu changes often for newness!
I want to love this place so badly. Farm to market concept is excellent and something that doesn't hapen as often as it should in the QC, where we are endowed with truly great raw materials. Just had the brussels sprout salad and was surprised to see that they crisp fried the brussels sprout leaves... basically ended up like brussels sprout flavored paper with hard boiled egg, panceta and tomato. Had a brussels sprout salad here last spring which contained approximately the same ingedients but different technique that was on a whole 'nother level of awesome. Please bring that one back... raw brussels sprouts shaved thin on the mandolin, hardwood smoked bacon, poached egg, perfectly dressed. I want that one...fresh clean tastes without the deep fryer messing the whole thing up. Also, keep putting pork and brisket in as many things as you can. I don't know who is doing the smoking, but it is dead on. Not overwhelming but enough to know the meat spent time enough near burning hardwood. Brisket with maytag blue is an absolutely perfect sandwich. Keep it coming.
(4)
Scott A.
Something different for the area. The chicken and potato soup was good. The bread was very good. The scallops with chorizo was excellent. But the bread pudding was dry and disappointing. It is more expensive than typical restaurants in the area. We will go back, but we probably won't be eating there frequently. The service was very good as well.
(4)
E B.
We were driving from Boston to San Francisco and stopped in at this place. Boy were we surprised! The dinner was fantastic -- it wouldn't have been out of place among the best restaurants of Boston. The sous vide pork belly was the best we've ever had. Braised bison short ribs were astounding. The chef, Jared Linn, uses bourbon in sauces very well. The selection of house made breads -- rye, cornbread, bourbon and peaches -- was stellar. The smoked blue cheese and bacon mac and cheese was also fantastic. The butter bourbon martini was good for a cold night. The restaurant is family run; the sister is the lawyer, the father is the accountant, the brother helps in the kitchen, and the mother cleans. It just feels like such a wonderful genuine place that makes excellent use of the area's meat and produce. Definitely worth a stop in Moline!
(5)
Sif B.
WOW! This place is great. I had the Pork Belly app and it was incredible. The Grass Fed Sirloin was cooked perfect.
(5)
Chirag P.
Good. But not great for the money your paying for each course. Had the pork chops which were good. Girlfriend had the steak. Came out cold had to send it back. About $100 for two drinks and entree. Most likely not be back because it's just not a place suited for regular joes that like to eat good food and a reasonable price.
(2)
Lawrence H.
A refreshing and healthy addition to the Quad Cities, I attended a business dinner at the Bistro yesterday evening. For appetizers, the queso fundito, shrimp and artisan's meat and cheese platter were exquisite, dominated by flavorful and organic local colors (the duck prosciutto is phenomenal and cured on-site). For dinner, I recommend the half-roasted chicken drizzled with red wine bernaise and served on a cedar plank. A wonderful experience overall; 199 whiskies to choose from certainly does not hurt either!
(4)
Jean G.
Driving thru Moline, found this great spot where they have farm to table food. Got here for lunch n not soon after we sat down. There was a delivery of fresh veggies n herbs. For appetizer had the asparagus w/ bacon n mushrooms, awesome. Had the Bison burger and bean n brisket soup, it was delightful and delicious. Great atmosphere, great bartenders. Great selection of whiskeys, bourbon, n beers.
(5)
Katelyn J.
My husband and I have only been here once so far, but we will definitely be going back! I loved the atmosphere, our server was excellent! They had a great selection of brews, wines, and cocktails! Overall the food was good! I had the meatloaf, I will try something else next time :-)
(4)
Andrew A.
The food was inventive and delicious. Chorizo wrapped in bacon with blue cheese was terrific. Brisket with habanero, whiskey was equally great. But the service was so unbelievably slow. Slow, slow, slow. They we're busy initially but even after things cleared out they were still slow. With a little attention this could be great.
(3)
Mike And Nita B.
Really nice! Nice ambiance. Fun. Not the usual selection of choices for QCA Unique and creative menu. Extensive selection of bourbons.
(5)
Meghan H.
One of the best dining experiences, and whiskey and bourbon selections in the quad cities. All local ingredients, great lunches, and dinners as well. Beer dinners here are a must. Beautiful ambiance with exposed woodwork, private patio, and large window seating. Often if Chef has time, he'll come out and talk to you and see how your experience is going. The extra effort that they put in is really worth the price tag.
(5)
Kung Fu J.
Everyone likes the idea of farm to table food. I mean, why use local ingredients and suppliers? The problem is that it was hard to taste the difference, despite the increased price. The ambiance seemed a little bit stuffy for my taste. I enjoyed the murals on the walls and appreciated the local historical references. However, there isn't much to absorb the sound in the space, so that it's a bit loud. I know it's a minor detail, the subfloors seemed to be lacking, so that whenever someone walked by, it sounded and felt like they were stomping around. Overall, the food was tasty, but a bit overpriced in my opinion.
(2)
Stephenie L.
Such an awesome and delicious experience! It's a farm to table kind of restaurant meaning that most everything on their menu comes from local farms and is homemade daily. Everything from the popcorn they put on your table to the salad dressing to the bread to the dessert. And everything is so amazing! My barbecue potato soup was amazing! It's homemade and served in a mason jar. I'm loving anything and everything mason jars so this was definitely a perk. I had the airline chicken with the mashed potatoes and uncommon gravy for my entree. The chicken was to die for. So many flavored and not dry in the least bit! My potatoes were pretty good and although the gravy was a little on the cool side, it had a delicious unique flavor. It was almost kind of sweet in a way! I'm glad my date insisted on dessert because my life wouldn't be the same had I not tried their homemade tiramisu. I'd never had tiramisu before so I'm glad I lost my tiramisu virginity to Barley and Rye. So so amazing. Everything about this place is well worth the 5 stars. I'd give them more if I could.
(5)
Kevin Y.
Have dined at Barley & Rye on a number of occasions and really appreciate the space, concept and the effort. While certainly not earth shattering in scope or James Beard worthy in execution, they do provide a solid option in the fine dining desert that is the QCA. I think the chef/owner here is doing a lot of things right such as using locally sourced and "trendy" by local standards ingredients. Sure the kitchen and floor don't always hit on all cylinders, but I suspect from reading some previous reviews that some of his menu offerings are perhaps and in all fairness misunderstood by chronic pub grub and chain feasting diners. Unfortunately, unless you are a passionate home cook or support Barley & Rye, I'm afraid the local options for anything other than deep fried gluttony are few and far between. Obviously, Barley & Rye is not the place to get a mound of chow and a Bud Light for under $10 per head with plenty of leftovers to stuff in your lunch box everyday the following week. So, everything in perspective. That said, it looks like this place is developing a good following and I hope that they do step it up and iron out the wrinkles. Along with the all the positives, I understand and have experienced infrequent glitches in taste, presentation and execution. Of course I trust that any chef/owner brave and visionary enough to offer up Barley & Rye to the QC in downtown Moline, IL is already taking steps to remedy his patrons and reviewers concerns. Certainly marrow bones and pork belly aren't for everyone, but if they are on your menu, make certain they are the best they can be. Don't let it leave the kitchen if not 110% of perfection. I think the prices are fair, but you need to rock every plate every time. No excuses and dispatch any and all squeamish finicky eaters and complainers to the Barrel House post-haste.
(4)
Brandon C.
Really a 3.5... but had to round down. Listen, I get it. The atmosphere. The menu. The KILLER whiskey selection. The farm-to-table thing. I get it. It is all great, creative, hip, trendy, neat, whatever you want to call it. BUT, the food didn't blow me away and it was WAYYY over priced. Farm to table doesn't cost THAT much more. And if you are gonna charge that much, a little larger portion size would be nice and each dish better blow my mind. I might come back, give it another try... will have to see if I can get approved for a loan right quick tho.
(3)
Matt T.
My parents came into town from Chicago and wanted to take them somewhere new to try . You will not regret it the grass fed burger was amazing , and the farm to table ingredients were more than apparent in every aspect of the meal .100% will be back!
(5)
Robert B.
One of the better places to eat in the QC. Great drink selection including the best selection of whiskey in the area, lots to choose from on the menu, large portions and great presentation. Went on a Tuesday night and service was great. The short rib and meatloaf were awesome. If you are looking for great food, service and atmosphere check this place out!
(5)
Deb D.
One of our favorite places, especially for special occasions. Have been there with small and larger groups. Chef/owner Jared makes some excellent, creative, fresh, and local dishes. Love it! Never disappointed, foodies enjoy! Many beers; good cocktails & wine pairings.
(5)
LA A.
Incredible. Great setting with superb food! Best blue cheese dressing I've ever had. Great craft beer selection. And both main courses were fantastic. Other party commented best salmon they ever had. Great service also, friendly staff all around.
(5)
R R.
So happy to find Barley and Rye in the Quad Cities! Wonderful farm-to-table restaurant with delicious food and 90% local ingredients from farms we know from the Davenport Freight House Farmers' Market. Everything is made-to-order, so this place is perfect for those who love food but have dietary restrictions or food allergies. We are vegetarian and lean towards vegan so after viewing B&R's online menu I concluded that I'd have to choose a salad. I was wrong! Our hostess and server told us Chef Jared would be pleased to make us vegetarian or vegan dishes with in-season veggies. Chef Jared came to our table to discuss our meal options. He seemed really happy to make us dishes suited to our finicky tastes. One of us has a long list of veggies on the No Fly List. Jared tailored our dishes to each of our tastes and offered me vegan options for everything from salad dressing to bread, side dishes, and entrees -- unheard of in the Quad Cities where even most healthier fare has meat, eggs, and/or dairy! I'm sure it was extra work for him, but I was so thankful he did not seem to mind. Jared made me a very creative, complex-flavored, perfectly executed Asian-style shaved brussels sprouts & shiitake mushroom dish with truffles. Even the brussels-sprouts-and-mushroom-hater and meat-lover both agreed it was the best dish on a table of amazing dishes. The leek barley side dish was also incredibly flavorful. Our out-of-town guest had short-ribs which he told us were the best he'd had. Both my companions appreciated the extensive beer and whisky list and our guest said he would join the bourbon club if he lived here. We will definitely return and bring all our visiting guests. In addition to excellent vegetarian / vegan options, Chef Jared said he also offers gluten-free options, including bread(!). This restaurant really is for everyone. A few reviewers have complained about the prices, but in addition to high-quality ingredients and thoughtful made-to-order preparation, entrees come with soup-or-salad, bread, and a side-dish for a filling meal. You can also order breads (he grinds his own flour) and desserts (by a dedicated pastry chef) for pickup. We ordered a fresh loaf of fig & walnut bread and can't wait to try it, but Jared also offers gluten-free bread loaves which I'd bet are much tastier than the frozen Udi's bread in stores. Update: The fig and walnut bread is amazing! Will definitely order again.
(5)
Robert H.
Had the Steak sandwich and Parmesan fries. Sandwich was incredible, cooked perfect and the fries were just as incredible. They make their own ketchup here and it was a great addition to the fries. I will definitely be coming back for more.
(5)
Mark C.
I went here with one other person with reservations and we were seated immediately, which was really nice. Seating was a little cramped for such an up scale restaurant, but overall I liked the unique atmosphere. We ordered a bottle of wine and it was presented at the table to us correctly, although I would say a little over priced for the bottle. They also gave us bread and some fancy caramel popcorn while we waited for our food. I ordered the trout on special which was really good and a large portion for the price. We both left with to go boxes. The specialty mac and cheese was a great side, but I liked the potato side even better. I would definitely go back, but probably order beer or a mixed drink instead of wine.
(4)
Stephen S.
The food blew me away! I expected a lot considering Chef Jared was previously the Executive Chef at Steventon's, but I didn't know it would be THIS GOOD! I promise you that you won't find anything else like this in the Quad Cities! Also be sure to check them out for lunch and dinner as they have a wide variety of selections offered for both.
Both my wife and I had issues with almost every course of our dinners. We had the popcorn they give you when you sit down. It was very stale, sticky and had bad flavors. I felt like walking out at that point because it gave me a bad feeling about the rest of the meal. We had the calamari app, the breading was soggy and had some pickled cabbage mixed in with it. Had an "asian" flavor, not great. My salad was mostly made of kale which if i ate it would require way more dressing than they gave me to stomach the tough leaves. A pretty large portion of the salad was wilted. The salad also contained one slice of cucumber minced and a few small peeled bits of carrot. I mention the cucumber and carrots because it was the highlight of my meal. My wife's soup was supposed to be a curry soap so you would think it would be a cream base soup but it was based with a chicken stock. She said tasted like watery chicken soup. My duck entree was very tough. I had to ask for a steak knife to cut it and they served it in a bowl so it make the act of cutting it very difficult. The duck was swimming in black beans and looked like soup when it came to the table. The flavors were not layered or interesting in any way. It tasted like a rubber duck and black beans. My wife had the filet and thankfully it was acceptable though it had a liver aftertaste. The potatoes au gratin we ordered with the meal had potatoes that were under cooked and pretty much just had a weird flavor of cheese sprinkled on top with bunch of oil sitting in bottom of the bowl. We both expected from the "farm to table" statement that we would be getting high quality and simple food but that really wasn't the case. We skipped dessert since nothing there was hitting the spot. The interior design was great though.
(1)
Linda R.
This is definitely a unique place, even for the Midwest. 90% of the menu comes from farms within 150 miles of the QCA and you can tell. Everything was insanely fresh, so much so that you almost think it's not normal when you taste it. We sampled many appetizers and our large group all ordered different entrees. Everyone was pleased with their food. I ordered the lobster ravioli and it was really good. The fried brussel sprout salad was unlike anything I've ever had before and it was surprisingly fantastic. The pork belly was wonderful. Even the cheeses were obviously not processed foods. If this is what real food is supposed to taste like, we're all getting rooked by the mass-production food companies... My only reason for not giving five stars is the noise level. The sound level makes talking to anyone not immediately adjacent to you impossible.
(4)
Chris L.
Went here for my daughter's 26th birthday. I ordered the Salmon and the potato special. The salmon BBQ seasoning was excellent along with the potatoes. The restaurant had a Chicago style feel to it where my daughter lives. The queso fundido appetizer was great for our group. The chef came out and spoke with us and asked our opinions of our entrees which was a nice touch at a new place. It's definitely an adult restaurant - not much for the kids. My mother ordered the lamb appetizer as her main entree and was very pleased with her meal as well. It was well priced and we'll definitely be back!
(5)
Adam S.
Highly recommend! Great spot for a date or night out. Best food in the Quad Cities, bar none. The calamari is superb, as is the pork belly appetizer. The smoked buffalo meatloaf, while barely meeting the definition of "meatloaf" was delicious and satisfying. The drink list is impressive: multiple pages of quality whiskies of every variety, plus craft beers and mixed drinks. Service was friendly and accomodating. Stylish but casual atmosphere. The food took a little bit longer than usual, but was worth waiting for.
(5)
Lianne N.
The food was very good. But, I won't leave it at that, since nothing is that simple. We got an appetizer... it was dates wrapped in bacon and chorizo with bleu cheese. I don't remember what it was called officially. It was tasty. For $6, you get three wrapped dates. If I had to make a statement, however, my most pertinent judgment would be that presentation may be everything, but you might consider ditching the "fancy" plank that is under the wrapped dates. The first thing I noticed was some hairs sticking out from underneath my dates. I was perturbed... upon further investigation, I think the darkwood planks have some sort of hair in their structures... the hairs that appeared to have accidentally hitched a ride onto my apppetizers seemed to actually be part of the planks. Hmmm.... and when I moved the plank aside after we'd consumed our three wrapped dates, I noticed there were some dark splintered pieces on the table. Style and presentation is everything, but honestly, this appetizer couldve looked equally as stylistic and NOT brought along random hairs and splinters if they had put them onto a white plate with decorations rather than onto a dark wood plank with some random cheftastic flare. The food was good. The ambiance was nice. The help was extra attentive. The ambiance was also very pretentious. I may return, but I must say... they seemed like they were trying harder than necessary. I shouldnt have to decide that the hairs in my food were from an unnecessary plank of wood under my fancily-presented food. Ditch the pretentiousness and the rating might actually go up...
(4)
T H.
Had dinner here last night and I was impressed. I travel and eat out all the time so I feel justified in my opinion ;-) I started with Cajun ahi tuna, in the mouth it simply melted and left a lovely bit of spice lingering. My associate had the Devil on Horseback starter which was a date wrapped in bacon with chorizo and bit of blue cheese...wicked good. Each had a filet which was done perfectly and on its own had lots of flavor. Ambience is nice; lighter woods which is unusual and nice to see for a change. Only thing to cause me to yank back a star was the service...20 to 25 mins for our drinks to get there. They didn't have ginger ale for my buddies rye and ginger so instead of asking if he'd like an alternative, they fussed about and made their own ginger ale from scratch. Now that's pretty cool if it didn't take nearly half an hour. Anyway, food is so good we had lunch there today and were impressed again by the food yet disappointed again by the service. Our waitress yacked it up with another patron while our food sat on the ready counter for over 5 mins. Another server saw me looking and brought it over. Totally worth going all the same. Cheers!
(4)
Rick J.
Finally a restaurant in the QCA that "gets it"! Great atmopshere.....relaxed, casual, hip, not a bar. Menu is varied and interesting. Food very well prepared. Flavors are right on.....restrained, not overboard. Had the rib eye.....great taste, fresh flesh. Wife had the lamb gnocchi....awesome! Great service, very attentive while not overboard. Well priced. Overall, best dining experience in the QCA mainly due to the fact it is the only place that supports local farmers, keeps its menu fresh and seasonal, and demonstrates a real due care for its product.
(4)
B I.
first of all, if you have a half hour lunch break, you cannot go here. the lunch items apparently take 25 minutes or more to make. i had the cheeseburger wednesday special, after 25-30 minutes it came out & although i had ordered it medium-rare, the majority of it was well-done. it still tasted good although extremely messy. the fries are also good & the homemade ketchup is really good. however i wouldnt expect at a restaurant in this price range and with their goal of quality food to overcook a hamburger from med-rare to well-done. 25-30 minutes is too long for any lunch item. at dinner i guess that is acceptable, but i dunno how much longer a dinner would take there. i cant understand how a cheeseburger & fries would take nearly a half hour to get out. i get that everything is homemade, but that doesnt mean every single part of an item should be made only when something is ordered. i assume most things would be made ahead of time and then assembled onto a hamburger. maybe their methods need to be changed, because you can have the greatest food in the world, but if people get tired of waiting an inordinate amount of time for it, the restaurant is not going to succeed. after having an incorrectly prepared burger, the waitress made no mention of rectifying it with either a replacement or comp. only after i inquired a couple times about it was it taken care of. the waitress also virtually never came over to our table except to bring out our food. in summary, its probably one of the best restaurants in this area, definitely among the slowest, so it depends if you want to spend this kind of time and it is not cheap either. i guess get an appetizer and or drinks to pass the time.
(3)
Yoyo A.
The food dances with flavor on your tongue and their bartenders make the best Manhattans you will find downtown. A mural shows the rich history of Rock Island County and the ambiance is on point! Can't wait to eat there again!!! Nom nom nom
(5)
Jeffrey S.
Love the concept of farm to table. It is nice to find a restaurant in the QC that is not part of a chain. Great atmosphere. I was there on a cold Saturday afternoon and there were few people there. Our waitress was very attentive. We started with the bacon rapped dates. Good, but they should have left the sauce off. We had the brussel sprout salad and ahi tuna wrap. While both were good, the dressing in both was way to much. The flavor of the sauces on both were so overwhelming it was about all you tasted.
(4)
Matt B.
Made a reservation for a birthday celebration. Showed up 30 minutes early and was seated without delay. My expectation is that you street park in this area of Moline and this is the case.. Only 3 spaces in the lot for B&R.. Come on people practice your rarely needed parallel parking in the QC. I had added a note about the celebration while checking in on-line. We never mentioned it, but sure enough Thomas our server was prepared and knew it. No silly birthday song but a nice mention of the occasion. Great Server While I'd have loved to taste a flight of bourbon, as this heaven for bourbon drinkers I has a Hopilcious (i think) from Madison WI. Something new. We settled on an appetizer of queso.. served with rye bread.. not what I expected.. something new. Gnocchi for me and scallops for her... Gnocchi, not what i expected. something new.. Scallops, greatness... something new for QC. Chef Jared is out and the entrepreneurial spirit of a small business owner is great. Nice to talk with him. Don't recall anywhere else in the QC the chef serves the apps! If your looking for "something new" and "not what I expected" in a good way, Come here you won't be disappointed. If you want the same old same old then go somewhere else.
(5)
Leslie M.
Flavorless AND Clueless!!! - First Visit! Last Visit! I'd give negative stars if I could!!!!! I was utterly bummed at the lunch I had today at Barley Rye Bistro. Pork Belly BLT sound yummy right? YIKES! OVER HALF OF THE PIECE OF MEAT WAS PURE FAT! The sandwich was dripping in fat/oil, I could lightly push my finger into the top of the bread and a pool of fat/oil emerged. Just disgusting. I pulled it apart and tasted the meat, and other ingredients, etc., etc. No flavor whatsoever. Dull as cardboard. The server encouraged an appetizer, and being as this was our first visit we took the server's suggestion of Queso Fundido....which, yikes, looks like what you would find in a baby diaper. Equally oily and lacking flavor. My guest had the Brisket Tacos, which were described as "sweet tangy"....they too were oily with no flavor.....NO FLAVOR!!! The chef obviously did not taste his own food before sending it out, and the plating and oil excess tells me that they did not care one bit! So on to the clueless part. The server obviously saw that we didn't eat our food (with the exception of the french fries - they were edible) and asked if everything was okay....we sadly....were afraid to say no so we said.....uhhhhh....for a really long time. Any experienced server would have gotten the hint, but in this case, I ended up with a miserable experience, no lunch, and a $45 dollar bill. I can't shout my displeasure high enough. Never again.
(1)
LP F.
This is the place you want to dine when you're in Moline. A creative, delicious menu and EXCELLENT service. Farm to table is only the beginning!
(5)
Alma D.
Love the food! as an out of towner it's great to have food from a local place and from locally produced ingredients, highly recommended; wasn't sure about eating bison meatloaf but my daughter and I shared her bison meatloaf and my salmon and we both loved it! Good eats!
(5)
Jennifer S.
By far my favorite restaurant in the QC. The food was so fresh, creative, and scrumptious! I loved that the food was all local as well. Great drink menu. Favorite dishes were the Cajun chicken gnocchi and the filet with wasabi sauce. We were so full by the end we couldn't even manage the dessert. I would recommend for groups and date night. Great vibe for one of the best meals I've had! Must try!!!
(5)
Robert S.
Excellent farm fresh bistro in Moline. Party of three had the brisket, stroganoff and red snapper. All were delicious. The waiter was very accommodating and offered several good suggestions. An excellent dinner choice.
(5)
Sinan G.
Barley & Rye always impresses. The food is some of the finest in the QC and knowing it's all locally sourced is an added bonus!
(5)
Jesse G.
I went there for lunch a couple times. The food hit the spot for a lunch, it was tasty and filling. The service was excellent, the people there are quite friendly.
(5)
April B.
Wow. Wow!!! This place is amazing for fresh and local food. The appetizer I had was superb, and the draft craft beer selection is great. I men, I had an Enjoy By!!!! *highly recommend
(5)
Gayle L.
Was here last night with a group of friends and most of what I was served was very poor. My lettuce in the lettuce salad had brown edges and brown spots. Now this is totally inexcusable! You can see the lettuce isn't good. I had lobster tail with roasted yukon gold potatoes, and pea pods. I did eat the lobster, but it was nothing special. The potatoes - 2/3's were raw inside and a couple of the cooked ones tasted just nasty, too much of the pepper and spices were on one hunk of potato. I finally ate those that were done when I poked them. The pea pods were not "unstringed". The two I ate were tough, almost inedible, very unpleasant. There were also beet slices on the plate. They were again undercooked - that might have been intentional, but they had obviously been "heated". I like al dente, but these were not that, they were heated raw to semi-raw to some cooked some not. Finally, I did order a desert, figuring it would be edible. I ordered the cheese cake ice cream. They brought out cheese cake instead and I had to correct that. This ice cream was grainy. I think it wasa fine cheesecake "curds", but it was strange. This was just one of the worst meals I have had in a very long time and I paid $59 for it (includes tip). The servver, Travis, was very good. One of our friends canceled out when she found out where we were going, saying they had been here and it was not good. But I wanted to see my friends. The sad part is that these problems are easily correctable. I have to think that this chef just isn't taking enough care. Who doesn't de-string the peas? One look at that lettuce should have told them to toss it.
(1)
Andi C.
This place is disgusting. I would say about 1/2 cup of garic on the quail and waffles. Every waffle square was filled with garlic and some very weird clove seasoning. Yuck! Made me think if Chef Ramsay came to review this restaurant. Nice ambiance and good beer is apparently a good enough smoke screen for the quad city folks. Reviewers that gave this restaurant 2 or more stars, focus on what you are putting in your mouth. Don't let the quirky uniqueness of the place fool your taste buds.
Takes Reservations : Yes Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Dinner Parking : Garage, Street Bike Parking : Yes Wheelchair Accessible : Yes Good for Kids : No Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Ambience : Trendy Noise Level : Average Alcohol : Full Bar Outdoor Seating : No Wi-Fi : Free Has TV : Yes Dogs Allowed : No Waiter Service : Yes Caters : Yes
Martin A.
Summary: delicious food and good service. Will visit again. Worth your dining dollar. Our group stumbled upon this tasty treat on a Sunday evening prior to the Zac Brown Band concert. We had not expected the restaurant to be open (they are normally closed on Sundays), so we were pleasantly surprised to be able to try it out. Despite a very busy crowd, we were seated quickly. The restaurant was obviously slammed but the management (chef's wife, whose name we regrettably did not catch) set up our drinks and apps in a timely fashion. Our server (Simon) was attentive and knowledgeable about the menu and meats. They offered a limited menu for the pre-concert crowd. Between the four of us we tried the Queso Fundido app, the Bison Burgers and the regular burgers. Everything was prepared very well and arrived at perfect temperatures and requested done-ness. The breads used for the buns were very good, almost worth a visit just on that count. Both the bison meat and ground beef were of excellent quality and tasted great. The trimmings on the sandwiches were also very good. The hand cut french fries were great. However, the home-made Siracha-infused catsup was the real star of the potato side dish. I wish they sold this as a to go item. I would definitely buy it. One of our group briefly considered pilfering a jar of the catsup, but our inherent dignity and practical considerations revolving around smuggling an open jar into the concert venue helped us take the high road. The mixed drinks were poured generously and the martinis were also delicious. The decor was clean and bright and it's obvious the restaurant just opened because everything is brand new. The only minor quibble I had was that the restaurant's door opens directly outside, which allows in some cold air. Not a dealbreaker for me. I figure I can wear a sweater if needed. We will be visiting again.
(5)Marc H.
I'll get to the point immediately: the food is phenomenal! I went for dinner and ordered one of the dishes on special that night, bison short ribs with coffee au jus. The flavor was excellent and it was incredibly tender. I opted for the barley side dish, which was cheesy and cooked al dente. I loved it almost as much as the main entree. Before the main course, I enjoyed a mixed green salad with a blue cheese vinaigrette dressing. Everything was fresh and crisp. We were also provided a house-made Cracker Jack mix, which was spicy and sweet at the same time. It was an unusual but tasty snack to nibble on while waiting for our meals. The restaurant interior has a rustic wood decor, with one wall featuring a very nicely done mural of the Quad City area. The entire dining area was well lit and comfortable. All of the staff we encountered was friendly and helpful. The service was excellent overall. I'm thrilled the Quad Cities finally has a "farm to table" concept restaurant, especially one this good! I'll definitely be back for dinner again and will also have to try their lunch menu.
(5)Jay Y.
Cocktail menu features an Old Fashioned which was without a doubt the most mediocre mixed drink I've ever been served. Sugar wasn't muddled properly, leaving a layer of sugar at the bottom of the incorrect glass. There was no orange zest in the cocktail, just an orange slice on the rim. This is a classic drink done improperly for no reason other than to seem different, perhaps? The brewers bread was old and tasteless. Points for having a quality olive oil. The organic popcorn was yummy, but unoriginal outside of the quad cities. My meal was served with a salad that--while containing crunchy substantial greens like kale and I believe Swiss chard--was littered with unnecessary ingredients. The jicama garnish was unnecessary from a texture standpoint and the dressing was apathy in liquid form. I ordered the bouillabaisse. The server told me it contained mussels, scallops and lobster. When it arrived I was amazed at how little broth was present especially at a $28 price point--a price point I'm fully accustomed to in Tampa. Bouillabaisse is traditionally served with non-oily whitefish, and I was looking forward to the smokiness promised by the tomatoes. Anyway, when my dish was served there were no mussels present. I was surprised to find the main attraction in the dish was salmon. This didn't work with the herb heavy stock. The salmon was overpowering and complicated the flavor of the dish without adding anything redeeming. The broth was overly garlicky--a phrase I don't believe I've ever used before--and extremely vinegary. This was served with yesterday's tasteless potatoes in gravy. Depressing. The lobster in the dish was without a doubt spoiled. At this point I made the server aware, after debating whether or not it was worth it. He looked at me with disdain and came back to tell me they just got it in that morning. Too bad. It tasted and smelled spoiled. He took my plate and then came back out to tell me him and the sous chef tasted the lobster and it "tasted fantastic". Now I won't get into the issues with the lack of customer service, but it was rotten flesh. I've eaten plenty of lobster and shellfish in my life and I know how it should taste. This dish was overall a failure and wasn't presented as described. The service was polite but I couldn't help but feel like our server didn't have a passion for or knowledge of the food he was serving. In the end they charged us for the rotten lobster bouillabaisse. They apparently couldn't be bothered with legitimate issues with their food. No manager came to the table. The dessert was decent but not redeeming. I got the feeling the kitchen looked at me as some uninformed moron who simply didn't understand their "craft". I get it alright--and I've seen it done correctly at places like Husk, the refinery, etc. Perhaps as a farm to table restaurant they should consider scrapping ingredients they get from thousands of miles away and focus on the local produce of the area. In the end, 2/5. I'd try it again if they got their act together, served what they described and took their patrons seriously. Otherwise, it simply isn't worth the price.
(2)Jillian A.
I've been to Barley & Rye twice and had two very different, but very nice experiences: 1. My husband and I stopped by just for happy hour to check the place out. The bartender was incredibly knowledgeable about her craft, made some great suggestions on different liquors to try (we talked mostly whiskey and bourbons), AND she wrote down a few suggestions we made about a couple of liquors they should think about carrying. They have probably the best bar set-up I've seen around the Quad Cities, and their beer options were unique and varied. After that trip, we knew we needed to come back and try the food... and more beer. 2. We came back about a month later for dinner, and was not disappointed. Started with the Devil on Horseback appetizer, which was fantastic. I tried the honey bourbon dressing on my salad, and thought the flavor was great-- my husband had a taste and liked it too, which is surprising because he's normally not about sweet salad dressings. The entrees were fantastic-- I had the lamb and mushroom gnocchi, and my husband had a delicious steak burger that was on special. Normally I try and save some food for leftovers... but I ate everything off my plate, so that says quite a bit! Can't tell you about dessert, so I guess we'll just have to make another trip back!
(5)Jamei M.
Amazing! Excellent staff, perfect flow, fantastic food. A new favorite. The sweet potato and chorizo soup was to die for... Sweet and savory deliciousness. The pork was by far the best I've ever tasted. Portions are perfect... All entrees come with a soup or salad and a side (either potato, barley, or seasonal veg). We were stuffed when we left but not unpleasantly so. We had an incredible time and will definitely be back to try something new on the ever changing menu!
(5)Kyle F.
Great concept, except someone in the kitchen thought it was appropriate to drown all the food with salt. Many of the dishes were inedible due to the amount of salt. Went elsewhere for dessert to get rid of the salt taste. We will try again, but go easy on the salt, seriously.
(1)Jesse E.
A fantastic dining experience for a date night or a night on the town. The food is farm to table fresh which shows the amount of dedication the chef took in thinking out and preparing the menu. You are defiantly in for a treat every time because the menu is always changing and evolving. The staff was friendly and knowledgeable about the menu. I would highly recommend to anyone looking for a great dining experience with a fantastic Quad cities inspired atmosphere.
(5)Jessica H.
So delicious! My friend recommended this restaurant and said she'd been 3 times and loved it more with each visit. My boyfriend and I went for date night last night and enjoyed the entire evening. From the beautiful atmosphere, to our extremely attentive and knowledgeable server and delicious food, we left feeling full and satisfied. The only thing is it can be pricey so I would only suggest this for special occasions. For my boyfriend and I, our meal was $83 for 2 drinks, an appetizer and 2 meals. He loved his steak but did think the serving was small for $28. With that said, we still felt our meal was worth every penny and neither of us left with room to eat another crumb.
(5)Emma E.
We went here for our 1 year wedding anniversary. Had heard good things from yelp & friends in the real world too! Service was very good, prompt and attentive. Cute guy with blue eyes and a well kept beard. Great decor, not toooooo fancy but special. Lobster bisque was simple and tasty. Popcorn was kind of a throwaway and the worst part- kind of tasted old like the random kernels you find in the couch cushions. But my lemonade jalapeño martini was great- nice and earthy, barely sweet. Salmon was awesome. So tender, and juicy! Breads were OK, but I would like to see them serve it hot and straight out of the oven à la Cheesecake Factory ( yeah it's a chain but dang it their bread is good!!) barley side was very tasty! Never had barley before. The waiter described it as risotto-like: great description. It was creamy and flavorful. We will be back but probably for lunch. Dinner was not cheap!
(4)Sarah B.
Vegetarians - do not be scared off by the menu. I have been here twice and Chef Jared has made two completely different and delicious dishes for me. This place deserves to do well - thoughtful, unique, inviting. Go, eat, drink, enjoy!
(5)Matt D.
Excellent food and drink. Didn't know what to expect but the kids loved it as well. The bacon wrapped dates were excellent.
(5)Joe D.
Good concept. Poor management. They have a respectable list of beers (mostly bottles), but the menu does not include descriptions, alcohol content, or prices. To make matters worse, the waitstaff doesn't know anything about them. I asked our waitress for a recommendation similar to Sam Adams Boston Lager or a New Belgium Fat Tire, and she came back saying, "Our bartender recommends the Kentucky Ale or Stella." Stella? That's not even close. It's unbelievable that a restaurant named "Barley & Rye" knows nothing about their own beer offering.
(2)Robbie P.
I went with a group of people for lunch + I was really impressed with the decor + atmosphere of this place. It was beautiful. Very well thought out and the best part - the food was mostly local! I had the Brussle sprout salad and all I can say is "PERFECTO"....The chef is an artist:-) I would not recommend this restaurant for anyone that has not eaten fresh food for it is a different type of eating. The food is created around what is "in season" and people that are not use to eating in season may not understand what the goal is when trying to eat locally. The flavors are fresh! I will return again + look forward to trying some new foods on the menu. The only complaint I have is the parking. You can't park right near the restaurant. Just drive the the back parking lot and it works just fine. It really is not that big of a problem. The food is well worth checking this place out. To the chef-PERFECTO!!! The service was great too.
(5)Tom T.
Been here for lunch a couple of times. Nothing special. Average food. Average service. Many better places to eat in the Quad Cities.
(2)Chris F.
I live in the apartments above Barley and Rye. My boyfriend and I finally decided to try it and boy we should have it tried sooner. So far we have only had drinks and appetizers AMAZING! the calamari is outstanding and we also ordered the flat which had olives,cheeses,pickled carrots,prosciutto,smoked bacon and bread my boyfriend ordered the bourbon flight which was a delicious pair and the next week we came in for drink they had a pig roast we were not too hungry but we wanted an appetizer so we ordered the pork belly confit the chef came out and said he would make us a a sandwich from the leftover pig and wow! the best sandwich we ever had! We are both from Chicago and this place would fit in.
(5)D A.
Excellent menu. Wonderful service. Chef Jared is talented and personable. Wonderful flavors and combinations. Impressed with how many items Chef Jared makes himself.
(5)Melissa M.
Moline should consider itself lucky to have a spot of this caliber. It rivals places I have been in downtown Chicago. The food is outstanding, the hand crafted cocktails are phenomenal, and above all is the knowledge and passion of each of the staff. This place is a must.
(5)Roger L.
Opening Night has it's Glitches, service was fantastic but I will wait to see the lunch menu.
(3)Tim D.
You should eat here. This is what we need to encourage in the Quad Cities. Jared Linn gave my wife and I an amazing vegetarian dish that was completely outside the menu, and highly appreciated. Well executed, enjoyable food and atmosphere.
(5)Rebecca S.
The food was fantastic!!!! I had the chicken Alfredo and it was amazing! It was presented very well also. I went with a group of friends and we all got something different. No one at the table disliked their meal. The best part was the dessert. I tried the bacon cheesecake and was quite skeptical but it was amazing. Is was the perfect combination!
(5)Tony T.
Excellent new restaurant in downtown Moline. I've been here four times and never been disappointed. Great menu with some very unique dishes and they really have some awesome nightly specials with choices you just won't find anywhere else. I will be back.
(5)Deborah E.
Ate here in Nov.. Everything from the soup to the entree was indelible. I rarely complain and never send meals back, just try to enjoy the company of friends I am with. I wouldn't have said anything about this meal, but the server asked me if I wanted it boxed up, and I said no, that I couldn't eat it. Three couples, three of us ordered the featured soup. None of us could eat it. Three of us ordered the green bean side, again, none of us could eat them. Green beans? How can you mess those up. My entree was a pork chop that was so dry, cowboys could have stowed it in their saddlebags for jerky. Guess the server told the chef I did not care for my meal. He came to our table and was very defensive, said he has only received great comments, offered no apologies, and said he hoped we came back. Never gonna happen.
(1)Tim D.
You should eat here. This is what we need to encourage in the Quad Cities. Jared Linn gave my wife and I an amazing vegetarian dish that was completely outside the menu, and highly appreciated. Well executed, enjoyable food and atmosphere.
(5)Rebecca S.
The food was fantastic!!!! I had the chicken Alfredo and it was amazing! It was presented very well also. I went with a group of friends and we all got something different. No one at the table disliked their meal. The best part was the dessert. I tried the bacon cheesecake and was quite skeptical but it was amazing. Is was the perfect combination!
(5)Tony T.
Excellent new restaurant in downtown Moline. I've been here four times and never been disappointed. Great menu with some very unique dishes and they really have some awesome nightly specials with choices you just won't find anywhere else. I will be back.
(5)Deborah E.
Ate here in Nov.. Everything from the soup to the entree was indelible. I rarely complain and never send meals back, just try to enjoy the company of friends I am with. I wouldn't have said anything about this meal, but the server asked me if I wanted it boxed up, and I said no, that I couldn't eat it. Three couples, three of us ordered the featured soup. None of us could eat it. Three of us ordered the green bean side, again, none of us could eat them. Green beans? How can you mess those up. My entree was a pork chop that was so dry, cowboys could have stowed it in their saddlebags for jerky. Guess the server told the chef I did not care for my meal. He came to our table and was very defensive, said he has only received great comments, offered no apologies, and said he hoped we came back. Never gonna happen.
(1)Barney S.
We are locals from the Quad Cities and were excited to try this restaurant because of the positive comments from one of our trusted friends as well as the many positive reviews on line. We finally went to dinner there on Saturday, January 18, 2014 and were happy with certain aspects of this dining experience but regrettably we were mostly discouraged. For the reasons I've outlined below, we will most likely not return to this restaurant, even if our friend tries to convince us that it was a one-time mistake and even if he offers to pay. My initial observation was very positive because the restaurant appeared so much smaller from the outside. The interior décor and theme was very welcoming with high ceilings that opened up the room and the old barn wood mixed in with art deco gave it a comfortable feel. The bar was very nice and large enough to accommodate a number of people while you waited for a table and they served various micro brewed beers which is always a plus. I did feel sorry for the people that were seated by the door because it was cold and there was not a suitable area for standing when you first enter the restaurant. The Staff appeared friendly but they were clearly overwhelmed with the Saturday night crowd. They seated us rather quickly in one of the higher seat backed tables, which I actually liked because I could see everything that was going on in the restaurant. The Good: The garden salad I received before my main meal was fresh and the dressing was tasty but the portion was very small. We had three appetizers; fried potato chips (average) and a goat onion cheese dip that was not much different than the package onion dip my wife makes for parties; a fried poached egg dish that was undercooked but still very interesting and tasty; and a Brussels sprout dish that was probably the best thing we ate at the restaurant. They also brought out some bread that was only average. The Bad: My main dish was a strip sirloin served over bed of lentil beans that was presented nicely but lacked any flavor. The meat was NOT prepared properly...I requested medium and the two thinly sliced pieces, less than the size of a hockey puck, were completely raw except for the outside. Instead of complaining I just tried to eat the raw pieces of meat. Tried is just what I did because the meat was so tough and chewy that after I sucked the blood out of each uncooked bite I had to take the uneaten portion out of my mouth and put it on the plate. I even had my friends try and one agreed that it was too tough and chewy. I regret now for not sending it back but I did not want to make it an issue in front of this group. I hoped that the waitress would have asked about my meal after seeing all the uneaten, chewed meat but that didn't happen. The Ugly: The pricing on these meals appears to be way overpriced, even for a "farm to table" theme, for what your getting. I've eaten at plenty of upscale restaurants where you don't particularly get a lot of food but you usually get a delicious meal and wonderful experience...well that was not the case at Barley and Rye. My wife had a soup and salad for her meal and there was nothing special about the salad and she could barely taste any dressing. Her soup tasted more like porridge than soup; it was not hot and also tasteless. I usually eat what's left on her plate but in this case I did not. The Ugliest: For a small restaurant there seemed to be an abundance of staff, which is a plus however our particular waitress was definitely one of the low points of the night. I chose not to reveal her name here because I'm hoping she was just having a bad night. She was professional but gave me the impression that she wanted to be somewhere far, far away. She never asked how our meal was and I believe that was for fear that she would get a negative comment or might be required to take something back to the chef and/or that they might be forced to reduce the bill. One member of our group couldn't drink one of the draft beers because it tasted so bad and she charged him $10 anyway. I regularly leave 20% plus tips but had a difficult time leaving 15%. In summary, The "farm to table" theme is a plus and makes up for the added expense however the average tasting food and unfriendly, disinterested service isn't enough to bring us back. The menu items are fairly priced for what we hoped was an upscale dining experience, however this was not an upscale dining experience and there are too many other restaurants that provide much better ambience, service and food for that price and why pay $10 for a brewed beer when you can get the same thing across the street at the Barrel House or Bent River for $3 or $4. I'm surprised this Chef / Owner has been able to stay in business this long and I will be surprised if this restaurant makes it through 2015 unless they make some significant changes starting with attitude.
(2)LA A.
Incredible. Great setting with superb food! Best blue cheese dressing I've ever had. Great craft beer selection. And both main courses were fantastic. Other party commented best salmon they ever had. Great service also, friendly staff all around.
(5)Kung Fu J.
Everyone likes the idea of farm to table food. I mean, why use local ingredients and suppliers? The problem is that it was hard to taste the difference, despite the increased price. The ambiance seemed a little bit stuffy for my taste. I enjoyed the murals on the walls and appreciated the local historical references. However, there isn't much to absorb the sound in the space, so that it's a bit loud. I know it's a minor detail, the subfloors seemed to be lacking, so that whenever someone walked by, it sounded and felt like they were stomping around. Overall, the food was tasty, but a bit overpriced in my opinion.
(2)Jennifer S.
By far my favorite restaurant in the QC. The food was so fresh, creative, and scrumptious! I loved that the food was all local as well. Great drink menu. Favorite dishes were the Cajun chicken gnocchi and the filet with wasabi sauce. We were so full by the end we couldn't even manage the dessert. I would recommend for groups and date night. Great vibe for one of the best meals I've had! Must try!!!
(5)Matt T.
My parents came into town from Chicago and wanted to take them somewhere new to try . You will not regret it the grass fed burger was amazing , and the farm to table ingredients were more than apparent in every aspect of the meal .100% will be back!
(5)Leslie M.
Flavorless AND Clueless!!! - First Visit! Last Visit! I'd give negative stars if I could!!!!! I was utterly bummed at the lunch I had today at Barley Rye Bistro. Pork Belly BLT sound yummy right? YIKES! OVER HALF OF THE PIECE OF MEAT WAS PURE FAT! The sandwich was dripping in fat/oil, I could lightly push my finger into the top of the bread and a pool of fat/oil emerged. Just disgusting. I pulled it apart and tasted the meat, and other ingredients, etc., etc. No flavor whatsoever. Dull as cardboard. The server encouraged an appetizer, and being as this was our first visit we took the server's suggestion of Queso Fundido....which, yikes, looks like what you would find in a baby diaper. Equally oily and lacking flavor. My guest had the Brisket Tacos, which were described as "sweet tangy"....they too were oily with no flavor.....NO FLAVOR!!! The chef obviously did not taste his own food before sending it out, and the plating and oil excess tells me that they did not care one bit! So on to the clueless part. The server obviously saw that we didn't eat our food (with the exception of the french fries - they were edible) and asked if everything was okay....we sadly....were afraid to say no so we said.....uhhhhh....for a really long time. Any experienced server would have gotten the hint, but in this case, I ended up with a miserable experience, no lunch, and a $45 dollar bill. I can't shout my displeasure high enough. Never again.
(1)LP F.
This is the place you want to dine when you're in Moline. A creative, delicious menu and EXCELLENT service. Farm to table is only the beginning!
(5)Sinan G.
Barley & Rye always impresses. The food is some of the finest in the QC and knowing it's all locally sourced is an added bonus!
(5)Chris L.
Went here for my daughter's 26th birthday. I ordered the Salmon and the potato special. The salmon BBQ seasoning was excellent along with the potatoes. The restaurant had a Chicago style feel to it where my daughter lives. The queso fundido appetizer was great for our group. The chef came out and spoke with us and asked our opinions of our entrees which was a nice touch at a new place. It's definitely an adult restaurant - not much for the kids. My mother ordered the lamb appetizer as her main entree and was very pleased with her meal as well. It was well priced and we'll definitely be back!
(5)Rick J.
Finally a restaurant in the QCA that "gets it"! Great atmopshere.....relaxed, casual, hip, not a bar. Menu is varied and interesting. Food very well prepared. Flavors are right on.....restrained, not overboard. Had the rib eye.....great taste, fresh flesh. Wife had the lamb gnocchi....awesome! Great service, very attentive while not overboard. Well priced. Overall, best dining experience in the QCA mainly due to the fact it is the only place that supports local farmers, keeps its menu fresh and seasonal, and demonstrates a real due care for its product.
(4)April B.
Wow. Wow!!! This place is amazing for fresh and local food. The appetizer I had was superb, and the draft craft beer selection is great. I men, I had an Enjoy By!!!! *highly recommend
(5)T H.
Had dinner here last night and I was impressed. I travel and eat out all the time so I feel justified in my opinion ;-) I started with Cajun ahi tuna, in the mouth it simply melted and left a lovely bit of spice lingering. My associate had the Devil on Horseback starter which was a date wrapped in bacon with chorizo and bit of blue cheese...wicked good. Each had a filet which was done perfectly and on its own had lots of flavor. Ambience is nice; lighter woods which is unusual and nice to see for a change. Only thing to cause me to yank back a star was the service...20 to 25 mins for our drinks to get there. They didn't have ginger ale for my buddies rye and ginger so instead of asking if he'd like an alternative, they fussed about and made their own ginger ale from scratch. Now that's pretty cool if it didn't take nearly half an hour. Anyway, food is so good we had lunch there today and were impressed again by the food yet disappointed again by the service. Our waitress yacked it up with another patron while our food sat on the ready counter for over 5 mins. Another server saw me looking and brought it over. Totally worth going all the same. Cheers!
(4)Kevin Y.
Have dined at Barley & Rye on a number of occasions and really appreciate the space, concept and the effort. While certainly not earth shattering in scope or James Beard worthy in execution, they do provide a solid option in the fine dining desert that is the QCA. I think the chef/owner here is doing a lot of things right such as using locally sourced and "trendy" by local standards ingredients. Sure the kitchen and floor don't always hit on all cylinders, but I suspect from reading some previous reviews that some of his menu offerings are perhaps and in all fairness misunderstood by chronic pub grub and chain feasting diners. Unfortunately, unless you are a passionate home cook or support Barley & Rye, I'm afraid the local options for anything other than deep fried gluttony are few and far between. Obviously, Barley & Rye is not the place to get a mound of chow and a Bud Light for under $10 per head with plenty of leftovers to stuff in your lunch box everyday the following week. So, everything in perspective. That said, it looks like this place is developing a good following and I hope that they do step it up and iron out the wrinkles. Along with the all the positives, I understand and have experienced infrequent glitches in taste, presentation and execution. Of course I trust that any chef/owner brave and visionary enough to offer up Barley & Rye to the QC in downtown Moline, IL is already taking steps to remedy his patrons and reviewers concerns. Certainly marrow bones and pork belly aren't for everyone, but if they are on your menu, make certain they are the best they can be. Don't let it leave the kitchen if not 110% of perfection. I think the prices are fair, but you need to rock every plate every time. No excuses and dispatch any and all squeamish finicky eaters and complainers to the Barrel House post-haste.
(4)Brandon C.
Really a 3.5... but had to round down. Listen, I get it. The atmosphere. The menu. The KILLER whiskey selection. The farm-to-table thing. I get it. It is all great, creative, hip, trendy, neat, whatever you want to call it. BUT, the food didn't blow me away and it was WAYYY over priced. Farm to table doesn't cost THAT much more. And if you are gonna charge that much, a little larger portion size would be nice and each dish better blow my mind. I might come back, give it another try... will have to see if I can get approved for a loan right quick tho.
(3)Mary N.
Very cute, modern, chic restaurant with fresh ingredients. The air conditioning was turned on a bit high so we opted to sit outside in the patio on a nice breezy evening. Our waiter was extremely friendly and attentive. One person in our party was a vegetarian and we asked for a suggestion. To our surprise, the head chef came out and spoke to us about what he could prepare that was off the menu. The food was superb! They were a little light on the pours of the alcohol but all well worth the price. Fruit Sangria: Fresh fruity light wine. Perfect for a summer on the patio. Kettle Corn: They put a little dish of it out on the table for you to eat. I love kettle corn but this was way too sticky. Looks like they drizzled honey onto it. You have to wash your hands after eating it. Not a good concept. Queso Fondito: This appetizer usually comes with chorizo but opted for the non-meat version. It was EXCELLENT! So simple, just melted cheese with rye bread...but it was made to perfection. It definitely has a kick to it. Asparagus Dill Soup: Not my favorite. I usually love asparagus but this item lacked much flavor. Maybe it just needed some salt. The presentation was unique (it came out in a glass canning jar) but the flavor just wasn't there for me. Pork Chop: Lovely slight char and cooked to perfection. Well seasoned and moist. I had the garlic mac and cheese side and that was a nice complement to my main dish. Not too cheesy or garlicly; nice and light. Vegetarian Dish: The Chef made a nice spread of different items for my partner to try. Great presentation; it came out on a wood slab. She had roasted carrots, kale salad, and fried squash flower stuffed with goat cheese. Tasted delicious! So glad we asked for a recommendation instead of just ordering a salad off the menu. Complements to the Chef!
(5)B I.
first of all, if you have a half hour lunch break, you cannot go here. the lunch items apparently take 25 minutes or more to make. i had the cheeseburger wednesday special, after 25-30 minutes it came out & although i had ordered it medium-rare, the majority of it was well-done. it still tasted good although extremely messy. the fries are also good & the homemade ketchup is really good. however i wouldnt expect at a restaurant in this price range and with their goal of quality food to overcook a hamburger from med-rare to well-done. 25-30 minutes is too long for any lunch item. at dinner i guess that is acceptable, but i dunno how much longer a dinner would take there. i cant understand how a cheeseburger & fries would take nearly a half hour to get out. i get that everything is homemade, but that doesnt mean every single part of an item should be made only when something is ordered. i assume most things would be made ahead of time and then assembled onto a hamburger. maybe their methods need to be changed, because you can have the greatest food in the world, but if people get tired of waiting an inordinate amount of time for it, the restaurant is not going to succeed. after having an incorrectly prepared burger, the waitress made no mention of rectifying it with either a replacement or comp. only after i inquired a couple times about it was it taken care of. the waitress also virtually never came over to our table except to bring out our food. in summary, its probably one of the best restaurants in this area, definitely among the slowest, so it depends if you want to spend this kind of time and it is not cheap either. i guess get an appetizer and or drinks to pass the time.
(3)Meghan H.
One of the best dining experiences, and whiskey and bourbon selections in the quad cities. All local ingredients, great lunches, and dinners as well. Beer dinners here are a must. Beautiful ambiance with exposed woodwork, private patio, and large window seating. Often if Chef has time, he'll come out and talk to you and see how your experience is going. The extra effort that they put in is really worth the price tag.
(5)Dana S.
my man and I stopped here passing through IL on our road trip. what a great yelp find!!! we shared the meatballs off the app menu-- pretty good. we practically licked the plate lol. bae got a kale salad and I got the side salad with my dinner -- cucumber feta dressing is the BEST get it get it get it. yummmm then we shared the special pasta smoked chicken and corn or somethig with homemade fettuccine. it was good but WAYYYY too heavy. it was good we were sharing because I could never eat it all my self. I got a side of tarragon string beans and OMG they were heavenly. amazing and obviously plucked right from the farm and cooked JUST right. a MUST have. and lastly--- drumroll.... my favorite dessert is pecan pie. no question. and a slice was not only delicious but also 2 DOLLARS... SAY WHAT??? 2 bucks? soooo good yummmm eat it up yassss
(5)Andrew A.
The food was inventive and delicious. Chorizo wrapped in bacon with blue cheese was terrific. Brisket with habanero, whiskey was equally great. But the service was so unbelievably slow. Slow, slow, slow. They we're busy initially but even after things cleared out they were still slow. With a little attention this could be great.
(3)Mike And Nita B.
Really nice! Nice ambiance. Fun. Not the usual selection of choices for QCA Unique and creative menu. Extensive selection of bourbons.
(5)Deb D.
One of our favorite places, especially for special occasions. Have been there with small and larger groups. Chef/owner Jared makes some excellent, creative, fresh, and local dishes. Love it! Never disappointed, foodies enjoy! Many beers; good cocktails & wine pairings.
(5)Amanda A.
Gave Barley and Rye a second change last night and I'm so glad I did! They've made some changes to their food, both my meal and my friends meal were phenomenal. I had the scallops with tomato basil Mac and cheese, she had the burger with fries. Now all their entrees are served with bread beforehand as well as a salad or soup and a side which you choose from 4 options. This made it a way better "bang for your buck". With Red Crow Grille closing, this just may be my new spot for fine dining! AND it's on the Illinois side which is even better!
(5)Robert B.
One of the better places to eat in the QC. Great drink selection including the best selection of whiskey in the area, lots to choose from on the menu, large portions and great presentation. Went on a Tuesday night and service was great. The short rib and meatloaf were awesome. If you are looking for great food, service and atmosphere check this place out!
(5)Stephenie L.
Such an awesome and delicious experience! It's a farm to table kind of restaurant meaning that most everything on their menu comes from local farms and is homemade daily. Everything from the popcorn they put on your table to the salad dressing to the bread to the dessert. And everything is so amazing! My barbecue potato soup was amazing! It's homemade and served in a mason jar. I'm loving anything and everything mason jars so this was definitely a perk. I had the airline chicken with the mashed potatoes and uncommon gravy for my entree. The chicken was to die for. So many flavored and not dry in the least bit! My potatoes were pretty good and although the gravy was a little on the cool side, it had a delicious unique flavor. It was almost kind of sweet in a way! I'm glad my date insisted on dessert because my life wouldn't be the same had I not tried their homemade tiramisu. I'd never had tiramisu before so I'm glad I lost my tiramisu virginity to Barley and Rye. So so amazing. Everything about this place is well worth the 5 stars. I'd give them more if I could.
(5)Lianne N.
The food was very good. But, I won't leave it at that, since nothing is that simple. We got an appetizer... it was dates wrapped in bacon and chorizo with bleu cheese. I don't remember what it was called officially. It was tasty. For $6, you get three wrapped dates. If I had to make a statement, however, my most pertinent judgment would be that presentation may be everything, but you might consider ditching the "fancy" plank that is under the wrapped dates. The first thing I noticed was some hairs sticking out from underneath my dates. I was perturbed... upon further investigation, I think the darkwood planks have some sort of hair in their structures... the hairs that appeared to have accidentally hitched a ride onto my apppetizers seemed to actually be part of the planks. Hmmm.... and when I moved the plank aside after we'd consumed our three wrapped dates, I noticed there were some dark splintered pieces on the table. Style and presentation is everything, but honestly, this appetizer couldve looked equally as stylistic and NOT brought along random hairs and splinters if they had put them onto a white plate with decorations rather than onto a dark wood plank with some random cheftastic flare. The food was good. The ambiance was nice. The help was extra attentive. The ambiance was also very pretentious. I may return, but I must say... they seemed like they were trying harder than necessary. I shouldnt have to decide that the hairs in my food were from an unnecessary plank of wood under my fancily-presented food. Ditch the pretentiousness and the rating might actually go up...
(4)Adam S.
Highly recommend! Great spot for a date or night out. Best food in the Quad Cities, bar none. The calamari is superb, as is the pork belly appetizer. The smoked buffalo meatloaf, while barely meeting the definition of "meatloaf" was delicious and satisfying. The drink list is impressive: multiple pages of quality whiskies of every variety, plus craft beers and mixed drinks. Service was friendly and accomodating. Stylish but casual atmosphere. The food took a little bit longer than usual, but was worth waiting for.
(5)Alma D.
Love the food! as an out of towner it's great to have food from a local place and from locally produced ingredients, highly recommended; wasn't sure about eating bison meatloaf but my daughter and I shared her bison meatloaf and my salmon and we both loved it! Good eats!
(5)Gayle L.
Was here last night with a group of friends and most of what I was served was very poor. My lettuce in the lettuce salad had brown edges and brown spots. Now this is totally inexcusable! You can see the lettuce isn't good. I had lobster tail with roasted yukon gold potatoes, and pea pods. I did eat the lobster, but it was nothing special. The potatoes - 2/3's were raw inside and a couple of the cooked ones tasted just nasty, too much of the pepper and spices were on one hunk of potato. I finally ate those that were done when I poked them. The pea pods were not "unstringed". The two I ate were tough, almost inedible, very unpleasant. There were also beet slices on the plate. They were again undercooked - that might have been intentional, but they had obviously been "heated". I like al dente, but these were not that, they were heated raw to semi-raw to some cooked some not. Finally, I did order a desert, figuring it would be edible. I ordered the cheese cake ice cream. They brought out cheese cake instead and I had to correct that. This ice cream was grainy. I think it wasa fine cheesecake "curds", but it was strange. This was just one of the worst meals I have had in a very long time and I paid $59 for it (includes tip). The servver, Travis, was very good. One of our friends canceled out when she found out where we were going, saying they had been here and it was not good. But I wanted to see my friends. The sad part is that these problems are easily correctable. I have to think that this chef just isn't taking enough care. Who doesn't de-string the peas? One look at that lettuce should have told them to toss it.
(1)Andi C.
This place is disgusting. I would say about 1/2 cup of garic on the quail and waffles. Every waffle square was filled with garlic and some very weird clove seasoning. Yuck! Made me think if Chef Ramsay came to review this restaurant. Nice ambiance and good beer is apparently a good enough smoke screen for the quad city folks. Reviewers that gave this restaurant 2 or more stars, focus on what you are putting in your mouth. Don't let the quirky uniqueness of the place fool your taste buds.
(1)Mark C.
I went here with one other person with reservations and we were seated immediately, which was really nice. Seating was a little cramped for such an up scale restaurant, but overall I liked the unique atmosphere. We ordered a bottle of wine and it was presented at the table to us correctly, although I would say a little over priced for the bottle. They also gave us bread and some fancy caramel popcorn while we waited for our food. I ordered the trout on special which was really good and a large portion for the price. We both left with to go boxes. The specialty mac and cheese was a great side, but I liked the potato side even better. I would definitely go back, but probably order beer or a mixed drink instead of wine.
(4)Stephen S.
The food blew me away! I expected a lot considering Chef Jared was previously the Executive Chef at Steventon's, but I didn't know it would be THIS GOOD! I promise you that you won't find anything else like this in the Quad Cities! Also be sure to check them out for lunch and dinner as they have a wide variety of selections offered for both.
(5)Juan M.
Both my wife and I had issues with almost every course of our dinners. We had the popcorn they give you when you sit down. It was very stale, sticky and had bad flavors. I felt like walking out at that point because it gave me a bad feeling about the rest of the meal. We had the calamari app, the breading was soggy and had some pickled cabbage mixed in with it. Had an "asian" flavor, not great. My salad was mostly made of kale which if i ate it would require way more dressing than they gave me to stomach the tough leaves. A pretty large portion of the salad was wilted. The salad also contained one slice of cucumber minced and a few small peeled bits of carrot. I mention the cucumber and carrots because it was the highlight of my meal. My wife's soup was supposed to be a curry soap so you would think it would be a cream base soup but it was based with a chicken stock. She said tasted like watery chicken soup. My duck entree was very tough. I had to ask for a steak knife to cut it and they served it in a bowl so it make the act of cutting it very difficult. The duck was swimming in black beans and looked like soup when it came to the table. The flavors were not layered or interesting in any way. It tasted like a rubber duck and black beans. My wife had the filet and thankfully it was acceptable though it had a liver aftertaste. The potatoes au gratin we ordered with the meal had potatoes that were under cooked and pretty much just had a weird flavor of cheese sprinkled on top with bunch of oil sitting in bottom of the bowl. We both expected from the "farm to table" statement that we would be getting high quality and simple food but that really wasn't the case. We skipped dessert since nothing there was hitting the spot. The interior design was great though.
(1)Linda R.
This is definitely a unique place, even for the Midwest. 90% of the menu comes from farms within 150 miles of the QCA and you can tell. Everything was insanely fresh, so much so that you almost think it's not normal when you taste it. We sampled many appetizers and our large group all ordered different entrees. Everyone was pleased with their food. I ordered the lobster ravioli and it was really good. The fried brussel sprout salad was unlike anything I've ever had before and it was surprisingly fantastic. The pork belly was wonderful. Even the cheeses were obviously not processed foods. If this is what real food is supposed to taste like, we're all getting rooked by the mass-production food companies... My only reason for not giving five stars is the noise level. The sound level makes talking to anyone not immediately adjacent to you impossible.
(4)Cara M.
Always a fabulous meal!! Great location, good service, and excellent food and drink options. Always enjoy what we order and the menu changes often for newness!
(5)Robert S.
Excellent farm fresh bistro in Moline. Party of three had the brisket, stroganoff and red snapper. All were delicious. The waiter was very accommodating and offered several good suggestions. An excellent dinner choice.
(5)Yoyo A.
The food dances with flavor on your tongue and their bartenders make the best Manhattans you will find downtown. A mural shows the rich history of Rock Island County and the ambiance is on point! Can't wait to eat there again!!! Nom nom nom
(5)R R.
So happy to find Barley and Rye in the Quad Cities! Wonderful farm-to-table restaurant with delicious food and 90% local ingredients from farms we know from the Davenport Freight House Farmers' Market. Everything is made-to-order, so this place is perfect for those who love food but have dietary restrictions or food allergies. We are vegetarian and lean towards vegan so after viewing B&R's online menu I concluded that I'd have to choose a salad. I was wrong! Our hostess and server told us Chef Jared would be pleased to make us vegetarian or vegan dishes with in-season veggies. Chef Jared came to our table to discuss our meal options. He seemed really happy to make us dishes suited to our finicky tastes. One of us has a long list of veggies on the No Fly List. Jared tailored our dishes to each of our tastes and offered me vegan options for everything from salad dressing to bread, side dishes, and entrees -- unheard of in the Quad Cities where even most healthier fare has meat, eggs, and/or dairy! I'm sure it was extra work for him, but I was so thankful he did not seem to mind. Jared made me a very creative, complex-flavored, perfectly executed Asian-style shaved brussels sprouts & shiitake mushroom dish with truffles. Even the brussels-sprouts-and-mushroom-hater and meat-lover both agreed it was the best dish on a table of amazing dishes. The leek barley side dish was also incredibly flavorful. Our out-of-town guest had short-ribs which he told us were the best he'd had. Both my companions appreciated the extensive beer and whisky list and our guest said he would join the bourbon club if he lived here. We will definitely return and bring all our visiting guests. In addition to excellent vegetarian / vegan options, Chef Jared said he also offers gluten-free options, including bread(!). This restaurant really is for everyone. A few reviewers have complained about the prices, but in addition to high-quality ingredients and thoughtful made-to-order preparation, entrees come with soup-or-salad, bread, and a side-dish for a filling meal. You can also order breads (he grinds his own flour) and desserts (by a dedicated pastry chef) for pickup. We ordered a fresh loaf of fig & walnut bread and can't wait to try it, but Jared also offers gluten-free bread loaves which I'd bet are much tastier than the frozen Udi's bread in stores. Update: The fig and walnut bread is amazing! Will definitely order again.
(5)Robert H.
Had the Steak sandwich and Parmesan fries. Sandwich was incredible, cooked perfect and the fries were just as incredible. They make their own ketchup here and it was a great addition to the fries. I will definitely be coming back for more.
(5)Jeffrey S.
Love the concept of farm to table. It is nice to find a restaurant in the QC that is not part of a chain. Great atmosphere. I was there on a cold Saturday afternoon and there were few people there. Our waitress was very attentive. We started with the bacon rapped dates. Good, but they should have left the sauce off. We had the brussel sprout salad and ahi tuna wrap. While both were good, the dressing in both was way to much. The flavor of the sauces on both were so overwhelming it was about all you tasted.
(4)Jesse G.
I went there for lunch a couple times. The food hit the spot for a lunch, it was tasty and filling. The service was excellent, the people there are quite friendly.
(5)Denny L.
Barley & Rye is for people who really appreciate food...and by appreciate, I don't mean "appreciate it so much I went ahead and super-sized my combo meal." I'm systematically working my way through the entire menu and have yet to run into anything that I don't absolutely love (favorite so far is the bison burger). Each entrée is expertly prepared and presented at this farm-to-table concept bistro, with a stout focus on locally sourced sustainable ingredients. You should expect to pay a premium for a premium quality product, so please don't complain about the prices. Nice to see them on Open Table as well...the Quad Cities does not deserve this restaurant, but hopefully it'll help get things moving in the right direction here. Barley & Rye is worth crossing the river for.
(5)Sean D.
I want to love this place so badly. Farm to market concept is excellent and something that doesn't hapen as often as it should in the QC, where we are endowed with truly great raw materials. Just had the brussels sprout salad and was surprised to see that they crisp fried the brussels sprout leaves... basically ended up like brussels sprout flavored paper with hard boiled egg, panceta and tomato. Had a brussels sprout salad here last spring which contained approximately the same ingedients but different technique that was on a whole 'nother level of awesome. Please bring that one back... raw brussels sprouts shaved thin on the mandolin, hardwood smoked bacon, poached egg, perfectly dressed. I want that one...fresh clean tastes without the deep fryer messing the whole thing up. Also, keep putting pork and brisket in as many things as you can. I don't know who is doing the smoking, but it is dead on. Not overwhelming but enough to know the meat spent time enough near burning hardwood. Brisket with maytag blue is an absolutely perfect sandwich. Keep it coming.
(4)Matt B.
Made a reservation for a birthday celebration. Showed up 30 minutes early and was seated without delay. My expectation is that you street park in this area of Moline and this is the case.. Only 3 spaces in the lot for B&R.. Come on people practice your rarely needed parallel parking in the QC. I had added a note about the celebration while checking in on-line. We never mentioned it, but sure enough Thomas our server was prepared and knew it. No silly birthday song but a nice mention of the occasion. Great Server While I'd have loved to taste a flight of bourbon, as this heaven for bourbon drinkers I has a Hopilcious (i think) from Madison WI. Something new. We settled on an appetizer of queso.. served with rye bread.. not what I expected.. something new. Gnocchi for me and scallops for her... Gnocchi, not what i expected. something new.. Scallops, greatness... something new for QC. Chef Jared is out and the entrepreneurial spirit of a small business owner is great. Nice to talk with him. Don't recall anywhere else in the QC the chef serves the apps! If your looking for "something new" and "not what I expected" in a good way, Come here you won't be disappointed. If you want the same old same old then go somewhere else.
(5)Scott A.
Something different for the area. The chicken and potato soup was good. The bread was very good. The scallops with chorizo was excellent. But the bread pudding was dry and disappointing. It is more expensive than typical restaurants in the area. We will go back, but we probably won't be eating there frequently. The service was very good as well.
(4)E B.
We were driving from Boston to San Francisco and stopped in at this place. Boy were we surprised! The dinner was fantastic -- it wouldn't have been out of place among the best restaurants of Boston. The sous vide pork belly was the best we've ever had. Braised bison short ribs were astounding. The chef, Jared Linn, uses bourbon in sauces very well. The selection of house made breads -- rye, cornbread, bourbon and peaches -- was stellar. The smoked blue cheese and bacon mac and cheese was also fantastic. The butter bourbon martini was good for a cold night. The restaurant is family run; the sister is the lawyer, the father is the accountant, the brother helps in the kitchen, and the mother cleans. It just feels like such a wonderful genuine place that makes excellent use of the area's meat and produce. Definitely worth a stop in Moline!
(5)Sif B.
WOW! This place is great. I had the Pork Belly app and it was incredible. The Grass Fed Sirloin was cooked perfect.
(5)Chirag P.
Good. But not great for the money your paying for each course. Had the pork chops which were good. Girlfriend had the steak. Came out cold had to send it back. About $100 for two drinks and entree. Most likely not be back because it's just not a place suited for regular joes that like to eat good food and a reasonable price.
(2)Lawrence H.
A refreshing and healthy addition to the Quad Cities, I attended a business dinner at the Bistro yesterday evening. For appetizers, the queso fundito, shrimp and artisan's meat and cheese platter were exquisite, dominated by flavorful and organic local colors (the duck prosciutto is phenomenal and cured on-site). For dinner, I recommend the half-roasted chicken drizzled with red wine bernaise and served on a cedar plank. A wonderful experience overall; 199 whiskies to choose from certainly does not hurt either!
(4)Jean G.
Driving thru Moline, found this great spot where they have farm to table food. Got here for lunch n not soon after we sat down. There was a delivery of fresh veggies n herbs. For appetizer had the asparagus w/ bacon n mushrooms, awesome. Had the Bison burger and bean n brisket soup, it was delightful and delicious. Great atmosphere, great bartenders. Great selection of whiskeys, bourbon, n beers.
(5)Katelyn J.
My husband and I have only been here once so far, but we will definitely be going back! I loved the atmosphere, our server was excellent! They had a great selection of brews, wines, and cocktails! Overall the food was good! I had the meatloaf, I will try something else next time :-)
(4)Martin A.
Summary: delicious food and good service. Will visit again. Worth your dining dollar. Our group stumbled upon this tasty treat on a Sunday evening prior to the Zac Brown Band concert. We had not expected the restaurant to be open (they are normally closed on Sundays), so we were pleasantly surprised to be able to try it out. Despite a very busy crowd, we were seated quickly. The restaurant was obviously slammed but the management (chef's wife, whose name we regrettably did not catch) set up our drinks and apps in a timely fashion. Our server (Simon) was attentive and knowledgeable about the menu and meats. They offered a limited menu for the pre-concert crowd. Between the four of us we tried the Queso Fundido app, the Bison Burgers and the regular burgers. Everything was prepared very well and arrived at perfect temperatures and requested done-ness. The breads used for the buns were very good, almost worth a visit just on that count. Both the bison meat and ground beef were of excellent quality and tasted great. The trimmings on the sandwiches were also very good. The hand cut french fries were great. However, the home-made Siracha-infused catsup was the real star of the potato side dish. I wish they sold this as a to go item. I would definitely buy it. One of our group briefly considered pilfering a jar of the catsup, but our inherent dignity and practical considerations revolving around smuggling an open jar into the concert venue helped us take the high road. The mixed drinks were poured generously and the martinis were also delicious. The decor was clean and bright and it's obvious the restaurant just opened because everything is brand new. The only minor quibble I had was that the restaurant's door opens directly outside, which allows in some cold air. Not a dealbreaker for me. I figure I can wear a sweater if needed. We will be visiting again.
(5)Marc H.
I'll get to the point immediately: the food is phenomenal! I went for dinner and ordered one of the dishes on special that night, bison short ribs with coffee au jus. The flavor was excellent and it was incredibly tender. I opted for the barley side dish, which was cheesy and cooked al dente. I loved it almost as much as the main entree. Before the main course, I enjoyed a mixed green salad with a blue cheese vinaigrette dressing. Everything was fresh and crisp. We were also provided a house-made Cracker Jack mix, which was spicy and sweet at the same time. It was an unusual but tasty snack to nibble on while waiting for our meals. The restaurant interior has a rustic wood decor, with one wall featuring a very nicely done mural of the Quad City area. The entire dining area was well lit and comfortable. All of the staff we encountered was friendly and helpful. The service was excellent overall. I'm thrilled the Quad Cities finally has a "farm to table" concept restaurant, especially one this good! I'll definitely be back for dinner again and will also have to try their lunch menu.
(5)Cliff C.
My first visit. Nice cozy feel to the place. Ordered a salad with crab (supposedly from Boston) and Blue cheese dressing. Greens were ver nice, right amount of dressing (too many places drown the greens with too much dressing). Crab didn't make the grade, tasting more like cheap canned crab. Brussel sprouts were nice, though nothing extraordinaire. Rye bread tasted more like a sweet wheat dessert bread than the hearty, grain rye one might expect. I'll return though will favour selections more typical of the Midwest. Wait staff was friendly enough, though a long time between check-ins. Nice to have another potentially promising spot in the Quads.
(3)Jay Y.
Cocktail menu features an Old Fashioned which was without a doubt the most mediocre mixed drink I've ever been served. Sugar wasn't muddled properly, leaving a layer of sugar at the bottom of the incorrect glass. There was no orange zest in the cocktail, just an orange slice on the rim. This is a classic drink done improperly for no reason other than to seem different, perhaps? The brewers bread was old and tasteless. Points for having a quality olive oil. The organic popcorn was yummy, but unoriginal outside of the quad cities. My meal was served with a salad that--while containing crunchy substantial greens like kale and I believe Swiss chard--was littered with unnecessary ingredients. The jicama garnish was unnecessary from a texture standpoint and the dressing was apathy in liquid form. I ordered the bouillabaisse. The server told me it contained mussels, scallops and lobster. When it arrived I was amazed at how little broth was present especially at a $28 price point--a price point I'm fully accustomed to in Tampa. Bouillabaisse is traditionally served with non-oily whitefish, and I was looking forward to the smokiness promised by the tomatoes. Anyway, when my dish was served there were no mussels present. I was surprised to find the main attraction in the dish was salmon. This didn't work with the herb heavy stock. The salmon was overpowering and complicated the flavor of the dish without adding anything redeeming. The broth was overly garlicky--a phrase I don't believe I've ever used before--and extremely vinegary. This was served with yesterday's tasteless potatoes in gravy. Depressing. The lobster in the dish was without a doubt spoiled. At this point I made the server aware, after debating whether or not it was worth it. He looked at me with disdain and came back to tell me they just got it in that morning. Too bad. It tasted and smelled spoiled. He took my plate and then came back out to tell me him and the sous chef tasted the lobster and it "tasted fantastic". Now I won't get into the issues with the lack of customer service, but it was rotten flesh. I've eaten plenty of lobster and shellfish in my life and I know how it should taste. This dish was overall a failure and wasn't presented as described. The service was polite but I couldn't help but feel like our server didn't have a passion for or knowledge of the food he was serving. In the end they charged us for the rotten lobster bouillabaisse. They apparently couldn't be bothered with legitimate issues with their food. No manager came to the table. The dessert was decent but not redeeming. I got the feeling the kitchen looked at me as some uninformed moron who simply didn't understand their "craft". I get it alright--and I've seen it done correctly at places like Husk, the refinery, etc. Perhaps as a farm to table restaurant they should consider scrapping ingredients they get from thousands of miles away and focus on the local produce of the area. In the end, 2/5. I'd try it again if they got their act together, served what they described and took their patrons seriously. Otherwise, it simply isn't worth the price.
(2)Jillian A.
I've been to Barley & Rye twice and had two very different, but very nice experiences: 1. My husband and I stopped by just for happy hour to check the place out. The bartender was incredibly knowledgeable about her craft, made some great suggestions on different liquors to try (we talked mostly whiskey and bourbons), AND she wrote down a few suggestions we made about a couple of liquors they should think about carrying. They have probably the best bar set-up I've seen around the Quad Cities, and their beer options were unique and varied. After that trip, we knew we needed to come back and try the food... and more beer. 2. We came back about a month later for dinner, and was not disappointed. Started with the Devil on Horseback appetizer, which was fantastic. I tried the honey bourbon dressing on my salad, and thought the flavor was great-- my husband had a taste and liked it too, which is surprising because he's normally not about sweet salad dressings. The entrees were fantastic-- I had the lamb and mushroom gnocchi, and my husband had a delicious steak burger that was on special. Normally I try and save some food for leftovers... but I ate everything off my plate, so that says quite a bit! Can't tell you about dessert, so I guess we'll just have to make another trip back!
(5)Jamei M.
Amazing! Excellent staff, perfect flow, fantastic food. A new favorite. The sweet potato and chorizo soup was to die for... Sweet and savory deliciousness. The pork was by far the best I've ever tasted. Portions are perfect... All entrees come with a soup or salad and a side (either potato, barley, or seasonal veg). We were stuffed when we left but not unpleasantly so. We had an incredible time and will definitely be back to try something new on the ever changing menu!
(5)Kyle F.
Great concept, except someone in the kitchen thought it was appropriate to drown all the food with salt. Many of the dishes were inedible due to the amount of salt. Went elsewhere for dessert to get rid of the salt taste. We will try again, but go easy on the salt, seriously.
(1)Jesse E.
A fantastic dining experience for a date night or a night on the town. The food is farm to table fresh which shows the amount of dedication the chef took in thinking out and preparing the menu. You are defiantly in for a treat every time because the menu is always changing and evolving. The staff was friendly and knowledgeable about the menu. I would highly recommend to anyone looking for a great dining experience with a fantastic Quad cities inspired atmosphere.
(5)Jessica H.
So delicious! My friend recommended this restaurant and said she'd been 3 times and loved it more with each visit. My boyfriend and I went for date night last night and enjoyed the entire evening. From the beautiful atmosphere, to our extremely attentive and knowledgeable server and delicious food, we left feeling full and satisfied. The only thing is it can be pricey so I would only suggest this for special occasions. For my boyfriend and I, our meal was $83 for 2 drinks, an appetizer and 2 meals. He loved his steak but did think the serving was small for $28. With that said, we still felt our meal was worth every penny and neither of us left with room to eat another crumb.
(5)Emma E.
We went here for our 1 year wedding anniversary. Had heard good things from yelp & friends in the real world too! Service was very good, prompt and attentive. Cute guy with blue eyes and a well kept beard. Great decor, not toooooo fancy but special. Lobster bisque was simple and tasty. Popcorn was kind of a throwaway and the worst part- kind of tasted old like the random kernels you find in the couch cushions. But my lemonade jalapeño martini was great- nice and earthy, barely sweet. Salmon was awesome. So tender, and juicy! Breads were OK, but I would like to see them serve it hot and straight out of the oven à la Cheesecake Factory ( yeah it's a chain but dang it their bread is good!!) barley side was very tasty! Never had barley before. The waiter described it as risotto-like: great description. It was creamy and flavorful. We will be back but probably for lunch. Dinner was not cheap!
(4)Sarah B.
Vegetarians - do not be scared off by the menu. I have been here twice and Chef Jared has made two completely different and delicious dishes for me. This place deserves to do well - thoughtful, unique, inviting. Go, eat, drink, enjoy!
(5)Matt D.
Excellent food and drink. Didn't know what to expect but the kids loved it as well. The bacon wrapped dates were excellent.
(5)Joe D.
Good concept. Poor management. They have a respectable list of beers (mostly bottles), but the menu does not include descriptions, alcohol content, or prices. To make matters worse, the waitstaff doesn't know anything about them. I asked our waitress for a recommendation similar to Sam Adams Boston Lager or a New Belgium Fat Tire, and she came back saying, "Our bartender recommends the Kentucky Ale or Stella." Stella? That's not even close. It's unbelievable that a restaurant named "Barley & Rye" knows nothing about their own beer offering.
(2)Robbie P.
I went with a group of people for lunch + I was really impressed with the decor + atmosphere of this place. It was beautiful. Very well thought out and the best part - the food was mostly local! I had the Brussle sprout salad and all I can say is "PERFECTO"....The chef is an artist:-) I would not recommend this restaurant for anyone that has not eaten fresh food for it is a different type of eating. The food is created around what is "in season" and people that are not use to eating in season may not understand what the goal is when trying to eat locally. The flavors are fresh! I will return again + look forward to trying some new foods on the menu. The only complaint I have is the parking. You can't park right near the restaurant. Just drive the the back parking lot and it works just fine. It really is not that big of a problem. The food is well worth checking this place out. To the chef-PERFECTO!!! The service was great too.
(5)Tom T.
Been here for lunch a couple of times. Nothing special. Average food. Average service. Many better places to eat in the Quad Cities.
(2)Chris F.
I live in the apartments above Barley and Rye. My boyfriend and I finally decided to try it and boy we should have it tried sooner. So far we have only had drinks and appetizers AMAZING! the calamari is outstanding and we also ordered the flat which had olives,cheeses,pickled carrots,prosciutto,smoked bacon and bread my boyfriend ordered the bourbon flight which was a delicious pair and the next week we came in for drink they had a pig roast we were not too hungry but we wanted an appetizer so we ordered the pork belly confit the chef came out and said he would make us a a sandwich from the leftover pig and wow! the best sandwich we ever had! We are both from Chicago and this place would fit in.
(5)D A.
Excellent menu. Wonderful service. Chef Jared is talented and personable. Wonderful flavors and combinations. Impressed with how many items Chef Jared makes himself.
(5)Melissa M.
Moline should consider itself lucky to have a spot of this caliber. It rivals places I have been in downtown Chicago. The food is outstanding, the hand crafted cocktails are phenomenal, and above all is the knowledge and passion of each of the staff. This place is a must.
(5)Roger L.
Opening Night has it's Glitches, service was fantastic but I will wait to see the lunch menu.
(3)Amanda A.
Gave Barley and Rye a second change last night and I'm so glad I did! They've made some changes to their food, both my meal and my friends meal were phenomenal. I had the scallops with tomato basil Mac and cheese, she had the burger with fries. Now all their entrees are served with bread beforehand as well as a salad or soup and a side which you choose from 4 options. This made it a way better "bang for your buck". With Red Crow Grille closing, this just may be my new spot for fine dining! AND it's on the Illinois side which is even better!
(5)Dana S.
my man and I stopped here passing through IL on our road trip. what a great yelp find!!! we shared the meatballs off the app menu-- pretty good. we practically licked the plate lol. bae got a kale salad and I got the side salad with my dinner -- cucumber feta dressing is the BEST get it get it get it. yummmm then we shared the special pasta smoked chicken and corn or somethig with homemade fettuccine. it was good but WAYYYY too heavy. it was good we were sharing because I could never eat it all my self. I got a side of tarragon string beans and OMG they were heavenly. amazing and obviously plucked right from the farm and cooked JUST right. a MUST have. and lastly--- drumroll.... my favorite dessert is pecan pie. no question. and a slice was not only delicious but also 2 DOLLARS... SAY WHAT??? 2 bucks? soooo good yummmm eat it up yassss
(5)Andrew A.
The food was inventive and delicious. Chorizo wrapped in bacon with blue cheese was terrific. Brisket with habanero, whiskey was equally great. But the service was so unbelievably slow. Slow, slow, slow. They we're busy initially but even after things cleared out they were still slow. With a little attention this could be great.
(3)Mike And Nita B.
Really nice! Nice ambiance. Fun. Not the usual selection of choices for QCA Unique and creative menu. Extensive selection of bourbons.
(5)Meghan H.
One of the best dining experiences, and whiskey and bourbon selections in the quad cities. All local ingredients, great lunches, and dinners as well. Beer dinners here are a must. Beautiful ambiance with exposed woodwork, private patio, and large window seating. Often if Chef has time, he'll come out and talk to you and see how your experience is going. The extra effort that they put in is really worth the price tag.
(5)Amanda A.
Gave Barley and Rye a second change last night and I'm so glad I did! They've made some changes to their food, both my meal and my friends meal were phenomenal. I had the scallops with tomato basil Mac and cheese, she had the burger with fries. Now all their entrees are served with bread beforehand as well as a salad or soup and a side which you choose from 4 options. This made it a way better "bang for your buck". With Red Crow Grille closing, this just may be my new spot for fine dining! AND it's on the Illinois side which is even better!
(5)Robert B.
One of the better places to eat in the QC. Great drink selection including the best selection of whiskey in the area, lots to choose from on the menu, large portions and great presentation. Went on a Tuesday night and service was great. The short rib and meatloaf were awesome. If you are looking for great food, service and atmosphere check this place out!
(5)Deb D.
One of our favorite places, especially for special occasions. Have been there with small and larger groups. Chef/owner Jared makes some excellent, creative, fresh, and local dishes. Love it! Never disappointed, foodies enjoy! Many beers; good cocktails & wine pairings.
(5)Juan M.
Both my wife and I had issues with almost every course of our dinners. We had the popcorn they give you when you sit down. It was very stale, sticky and had bad flavors. I felt like walking out at that point because it gave me a bad feeling about the rest of the meal. We had the calamari app, the breading was soggy and had some pickled cabbage mixed in with it. Had an "asian" flavor, not great. My salad was mostly made of kale which if i ate it would require way more dressing than they gave me to stomach the tough leaves. A pretty large portion of the salad was wilted. The salad also contained one slice of cucumber minced and a few small peeled bits of carrot. I mention the cucumber and carrots because it was the highlight of my meal. My wife's soup was supposed to be a curry soap so you would think it would be a cream base soup but it was based with a chicken stock. She said tasted like watery chicken soup. My duck entree was very tough. I had to ask for a steak knife to cut it and they served it in a bowl so it make the act of cutting it very difficult. The duck was swimming in black beans and looked like soup when it came to the table. The flavors were not layered or interesting in any way. It tasted like a rubber duck and black beans. My wife had the filet and thankfully it was acceptable though it had a liver aftertaste. The potatoes au gratin we ordered with the meal had potatoes that were under cooked and pretty much just had a weird flavor of cheese sprinkled on top with bunch of oil sitting in bottom of the bowl. We both expected from the "farm to table" statement that we would be getting high quality and simple food but that really wasn't the case. We skipped dessert since nothing there was hitting the spot. The interior design was great though.
(1)Linda R.
This is definitely a unique place, even for the Midwest. 90% of the menu comes from farms within 150 miles of the QCA and you can tell. Everything was insanely fresh, so much so that you almost think it's not normal when you taste it. We sampled many appetizers and our large group all ordered different entrees. Everyone was pleased with their food. I ordered the lobster ravioli and it was really good. The fried brussel sprout salad was unlike anything I've ever had before and it was surprisingly fantastic. The pork belly was wonderful. Even the cheeses were obviously not processed foods. If this is what real food is supposed to taste like, we're all getting rooked by the mass-production food companies... My only reason for not giving five stars is the noise level. The sound level makes talking to anyone not immediately adjacent to you impossible.
(4)Cara M.
Always a fabulous meal!! Great location, good service, and excellent food and drink options. Always enjoy what we order and the menu changes often for newness!
(5)Adam S.
Highly recommend! Great spot for a date or night out. Best food in the Quad Cities, bar none. The calamari is superb, as is the pork belly appetizer. The smoked buffalo meatloaf, while barely meeting the definition of "meatloaf" was delicious and satisfying. The drink list is impressive: multiple pages of quality whiskies of every variety, plus craft beers and mixed drinks. Service was friendly and accomodating. Stylish but casual atmosphere. The food took a little bit longer than usual, but was worth waiting for.
(5)Alma D.
Love the food! as an out of towner it's great to have food from a local place and from locally produced ingredients, highly recommended; wasn't sure about eating bison meatloaf but my daughter and I shared her bison meatloaf and my salmon and we both loved it! Good eats!
(5)Jennifer S.
By far my favorite restaurant in the QC. The food was so fresh, creative, and scrumptious! I loved that the food was all local as well. Great drink menu. Favorite dishes were the Cajun chicken gnocchi and the filet with wasabi sauce. We were so full by the end we couldn't even manage the dessert. I would recommend for groups and date night. Great vibe for one of the best meals I've had! Must try!!!
(5)LA A.
Incredible. Great setting with superb food! Best blue cheese dressing I've ever had. Great craft beer selection. And both main courses were fantastic. Other party commented best salmon they ever had. Great service also, friendly staff all around.
(5)Kung Fu J.
Everyone likes the idea of farm to table food. I mean, why use local ingredients and suppliers? The problem is that it was hard to taste the difference, despite the increased price. The ambiance seemed a little bit stuffy for my taste. I enjoyed the murals on the walls and appreciated the local historical references. However, there isn't much to absorb the sound in the space, so that it's a bit loud. I know it's a minor detail, the subfloors seemed to be lacking, so that whenever someone walked by, it sounded and felt like they were stomping around. Overall, the food was tasty, but a bit overpriced in my opinion.
(2)Stephenie L.
Such an awesome and delicious experience! It's a farm to table kind of restaurant meaning that most everything on their menu comes from local farms and is homemade daily. Everything from the popcorn they put on your table to the salad dressing to the bread to the dessert. And everything is so amazing! My barbecue potato soup was amazing! It's homemade and served in a mason jar. I'm loving anything and everything mason jars so this was definitely a perk. I had the airline chicken with the mashed potatoes and uncommon gravy for my entree. The chicken was to die for. So many flavored and not dry in the least bit! My potatoes were pretty good and although the gravy was a little on the cool side, it had a delicious unique flavor. It was almost kind of sweet in a way! I'm glad my date insisted on dessert because my life wouldn't be the same had I not tried their homemade tiramisu. I'd never had tiramisu before so I'm glad I lost my tiramisu virginity to Barley and Rye. So so amazing. Everything about this place is well worth the 5 stars. I'd give them more if I could.
(5)Lianne N.
The food was very good. But, I won't leave it at that, since nothing is that simple. We got an appetizer... it was dates wrapped in bacon and chorizo with bleu cheese. I don't remember what it was called officially. It was tasty. For $6, you get three wrapped dates. If I had to make a statement, however, my most pertinent judgment would be that presentation may be everything, but you might consider ditching the "fancy" plank that is under the wrapped dates. The first thing I noticed was some hairs sticking out from underneath my dates. I was perturbed... upon further investigation, I think the darkwood planks have some sort of hair in their structures... the hairs that appeared to have accidentally hitched a ride onto my apppetizers seemed to actually be part of the planks. Hmmm.... and when I moved the plank aside after we'd consumed our three wrapped dates, I noticed there were some dark splintered pieces on the table. Style and presentation is everything, but honestly, this appetizer couldve looked equally as stylistic and NOT brought along random hairs and splinters if they had put them onto a white plate with decorations rather than onto a dark wood plank with some random cheftastic flare. The food was good. The ambiance was nice. The help was extra attentive. The ambiance was also very pretentious. I may return, but I must say... they seemed like they were trying harder than necessary. I shouldnt have to decide that the hairs in my food were from an unnecessary plank of wood under my fancily-presented food. Ditch the pretentiousness and the rating might actually go up...
(4)Matt T.
My parents came into town from Chicago and wanted to take them somewhere new to try . You will not regret it the grass fed burger was amazing , and the farm to table ingredients were more than apparent in every aspect of the meal .100% will be back!
(5)T H.
Had dinner here last night and I was impressed. I travel and eat out all the time so I feel justified in my opinion ;-) I started with Cajun ahi tuna, in the mouth it simply melted and left a lovely bit of spice lingering. My associate had the Devil on Horseback starter which was a date wrapped in bacon with chorizo and bit of blue cheese...wicked good. Each had a filet which was done perfectly and on its own had lots of flavor. Ambience is nice; lighter woods which is unusual and nice to see for a change. Only thing to cause me to yank back a star was the service...20 to 25 mins for our drinks to get there. They didn't have ginger ale for my buddies rye and ginger so instead of asking if he'd like an alternative, they fussed about and made their own ginger ale from scratch. Now that's pretty cool if it didn't take nearly half an hour. Anyway, food is so good we had lunch there today and were impressed again by the food yet disappointed again by the service. Our waitress yacked it up with another patron while our food sat on the ready counter for over 5 mins. Another server saw me looking and brought it over. Totally worth going all the same. Cheers!
(4)Kevin Y.
Have dined at Barley & Rye on a number of occasions and really appreciate the space, concept and the effort. While certainly not earth shattering in scope or James Beard worthy in execution, they do provide a solid option in the fine dining desert that is the QCA. I think the chef/owner here is doing a lot of things right such as using locally sourced and "trendy" by local standards ingredients. Sure the kitchen and floor don't always hit on all cylinders, but I suspect from reading some previous reviews that some of his menu offerings are perhaps and in all fairness misunderstood by chronic pub grub and chain feasting diners. Unfortunately, unless you are a passionate home cook or support Barley & Rye, I'm afraid the local options for anything other than deep fried gluttony are few and far between. Obviously, Barley & Rye is not the place to get a mound of chow and a Bud Light for under $10 per head with plenty of leftovers to stuff in your lunch box everyday the following week. So, everything in perspective. That said, it looks like this place is developing a good following and I hope that they do step it up and iron out the wrinkles. Along with the all the positives, I understand and have experienced infrequent glitches in taste, presentation and execution. Of course I trust that any chef/owner brave and visionary enough to offer up Barley & Rye to the QC in downtown Moline, IL is already taking steps to remedy his patrons and reviewers concerns. Certainly marrow bones and pork belly aren't for everyone, but if they are on your menu, make certain they are the best they can be. Don't let it leave the kitchen if not 110% of perfection. I think the prices are fair, but you need to rock every plate every time. No excuses and dispatch any and all squeamish finicky eaters and complainers to the Barrel House post-haste.
(4)Brandon C.
Really a 3.5... but had to round down. Listen, I get it. The atmosphere. The menu. The KILLER whiskey selection. The farm-to-table thing. I get it. It is all great, creative, hip, trendy, neat, whatever you want to call it. BUT, the food didn't blow me away and it was WAYYY over priced. Farm to table doesn't cost THAT much more. And if you are gonna charge that much, a little larger portion size would be nice and each dish better blow my mind. I might come back, give it another try... will have to see if I can get approved for a loan right quick tho.
(3)Mary N.
Very cute, modern, chic restaurant with fresh ingredients. The air conditioning was turned on a bit high so we opted to sit outside in the patio on a nice breezy evening. Our waiter was extremely friendly and attentive. One person in our party was a vegetarian and we asked for a suggestion. To our surprise, the head chef came out and spoke to us about what he could prepare that was off the menu. The food was superb! They were a little light on the pours of the alcohol but all well worth the price. Fruit Sangria: Fresh fruity light wine. Perfect for a summer on the patio. Kettle Corn: They put a little dish of it out on the table for you to eat. I love kettle corn but this was way too sticky. Looks like they drizzled honey onto it. You have to wash your hands after eating it. Not a good concept. Queso Fondito: This appetizer usually comes with chorizo but opted for the non-meat version. It was EXCELLENT! So simple, just melted cheese with rye bread...but it was made to perfection. It definitely has a kick to it. Asparagus Dill Soup: Not my favorite. I usually love asparagus but this item lacked much flavor. Maybe it just needed some salt. The presentation was unique (it came out in a glass canning jar) but the flavor just wasn't there for me. Pork Chop: Lovely slight char and cooked to perfection. Well seasoned and moist. I had the garlic mac and cheese side and that was a nice complement to my main dish. Not too cheesy or garlicly; nice and light. Vegetarian Dish: The Chef made a nice spread of different items for my partner to try. Great presentation; it came out on a wood slab. She had roasted carrots, kale salad, and fried squash flower stuffed with goat cheese. Tasted delicious! So glad we asked for a recommendation instead of just ordering a salad off the menu. Complements to the Chef!
(5)B I.
first of all, if you have a half hour lunch break, you cannot go here. the lunch items apparently take 25 minutes or more to make. i had the cheeseburger wednesday special, after 25-30 minutes it came out & although i had ordered it medium-rare, the majority of it was well-done. it still tasted good although extremely messy. the fries are also good & the homemade ketchup is really good. however i wouldnt expect at a restaurant in this price range and with their goal of quality food to overcook a hamburger from med-rare to well-done. 25-30 minutes is too long for any lunch item. at dinner i guess that is acceptable, but i dunno how much longer a dinner would take there. i cant understand how a cheeseburger & fries would take nearly a half hour to get out. i get that everything is homemade, but that doesnt mean every single part of an item should be made only when something is ordered. i assume most things would be made ahead of time and then assembled onto a hamburger. maybe their methods need to be changed, because you can have the greatest food in the world, but if people get tired of waiting an inordinate amount of time for it, the restaurant is not going to succeed. after having an incorrectly prepared burger, the waitress made no mention of rectifying it with either a replacement or comp. only after i inquired a couple times about it was it taken care of. the waitress also virtually never came over to our table except to bring out our food. in summary, its probably one of the best restaurants in this area, definitely among the slowest, so it depends if you want to spend this kind of time and it is not cheap either. i guess get an appetizer and or drinks to pass the time.
(3)Leslie M.
Flavorless AND Clueless!!! - First Visit! Last Visit! I'd give negative stars if I could!!!!! I was utterly bummed at the lunch I had today at Barley Rye Bistro. Pork Belly BLT sound yummy right? YIKES! OVER HALF OF THE PIECE OF MEAT WAS PURE FAT! The sandwich was dripping in fat/oil, I could lightly push my finger into the top of the bread and a pool of fat/oil emerged. Just disgusting. I pulled it apart and tasted the meat, and other ingredients, etc., etc. No flavor whatsoever. Dull as cardboard. The server encouraged an appetizer, and being as this was our first visit we took the server's suggestion of Queso Fundido....which, yikes, looks like what you would find in a baby diaper. Equally oily and lacking flavor. My guest had the Brisket Tacos, which were described as "sweet tangy"....they too were oily with no flavor.....NO FLAVOR!!! The chef obviously did not taste his own food before sending it out, and the plating and oil excess tells me that they did not care one bit! So on to the clueless part. The server obviously saw that we didn't eat our food (with the exception of the french fries - they were edible) and asked if everything was okay....we sadly....were afraid to say no so we said.....uhhhhh....for a really long time. Any experienced server would have gotten the hint, but in this case, I ended up with a miserable experience, no lunch, and a $45 dollar bill. I can't shout my displeasure high enough. Never again.
(1)LP F.
This is the place you want to dine when you're in Moline. A creative, delicious menu and EXCELLENT service. Farm to table is only the beginning!
(5)Sinan G.
Barley & Rye always impresses. The food is some of the finest in the QC and knowing it's all locally sourced is an added bonus!
(5)Jesse G.
I went there for lunch a couple times. The food hit the spot for a lunch, it was tasty and filling. The service was excellent, the people there are quite friendly.
(5)E B.
We were driving from Boston to San Francisco and stopped in at this place. Boy were we surprised! The dinner was fantastic -- it wouldn't have been out of place among the best restaurants of Boston. The sous vide pork belly was the best we've ever had. Braised bison short ribs were astounding. The chef, Jared Linn, uses bourbon in sauces very well. The selection of house made breads -- rye, cornbread, bourbon and peaches -- was stellar. The smoked blue cheese and bacon mac and cheese was also fantastic. The butter bourbon martini was good for a cold night. The restaurant is family run; the sister is the lawyer, the father is the accountant, the brother helps in the kitchen, and the mother cleans. It just feels like such a wonderful genuine place that makes excellent use of the area's meat and produce. Definitely worth a stop in Moline!
(5)Sif B.
WOW! This place is great. I had the Pork Belly app and it was incredible. The Grass Fed Sirloin was cooked perfect.
(5)R R.
So happy to find Barley and Rye in the Quad Cities! Wonderful farm-to-table restaurant with delicious food and 90% local ingredients from farms we know from the Davenport Freight House Farmers' Market. Everything is made-to-order, so this place is perfect for those who love food but have dietary restrictions or food allergies. We are vegetarian and lean towards vegan so after viewing B&R's online menu I concluded that I'd have to choose a salad. I was wrong! Our hostess and server told us Chef Jared would be pleased to make us vegetarian or vegan dishes with in-season veggies. Chef Jared came to our table to discuss our meal options. He seemed really happy to make us dishes suited to our finicky tastes. One of us has a long list of veggies on the No Fly List. Jared tailored our dishes to each of our tastes and offered me vegan options for everything from salad dressing to bread, side dishes, and entrees -- unheard of in the Quad Cities where even most healthier fare has meat, eggs, and/or dairy! I'm sure it was extra work for him, but I was so thankful he did not seem to mind. Jared made me a very creative, complex-flavored, perfectly executed Asian-style shaved brussels sprouts & shiitake mushroom dish with truffles. Even the brussels-sprouts-and-mushroom-hater and meat-lover both agreed it was the best dish on a table of amazing dishes. The leek barley side dish was also incredibly flavorful. Our out-of-town guest had short-ribs which he told us were the best he'd had. Both my companions appreciated the extensive beer and whisky list and our guest said he would join the bourbon club if he lived here. We will definitely return and bring all our visiting guests. In addition to excellent vegetarian / vegan options, Chef Jared said he also offers gluten-free options, including bread(!). This restaurant really is for everyone. A few reviewers have complained about the prices, but in addition to high-quality ingredients and thoughtful made-to-order preparation, entrees come with soup-or-salad, bread, and a side-dish for a filling meal. You can also order breads (he grinds his own flour) and desserts (by a dedicated pastry chef) for pickup. We ordered a fresh loaf of fig & walnut bread and can't wait to try it, but Jared also offers gluten-free bread loaves which I'd bet are much tastier than the frozen Udi's bread in stores. Update: The fig and walnut bread is amazing! Will definitely order again.
(5)Robert H.
Had the Steak sandwich and Parmesan fries. Sandwich was incredible, cooked perfect and the fries were just as incredible. They make their own ketchup here and it was a great addition to the fries. I will definitely be coming back for more.
(5)Robert S.
Excellent farm fresh bistro in Moline. Party of three had the brisket, stroganoff and red snapper. All were delicious. The waiter was very accommodating and offered several good suggestions. An excellent dinner choice.
(5)Yoyo A.
The food dances with flavor on your tongue and their bartenders make the best Manhattans you will find downtown. A mural shows the rich history of Rock Island County and the ambiance is on point! Can't wait to eat there again!!! Nom nom nom
(5)Gayle L.
Was here last night with a group of friends and most of what I was served was very poor. My lettuce in the lettuce salad had brown edges and brown spots. Now this is totally inexcusable! You can see the lettuce isn't good. I had lobster tail with roasted yukon gold potatoes, and pea pods. I did eat the lobster, but it was nothing special. The potatoes - 2/3's were raw inside and a couple of the cooked ones tasted just nasty, too much of the pepper and spices were on one hunk of potato. I finally ate those that were done when I poked them. The pea pods were not "unstringed". The two I ate were tough, almost inedible, very unpleasant. There were also beet slices on the plate. They were again undercooked - that might have been intentional, but they had obviously been "heated". I like al dente, but these were not that, they were heated raw to semi-raw to some cooked some not. Finally, I did order a desert, figuring it would be edible. I ordered the cheese cake ice cream. They brought out cheese cake instead and I had to correct that. This ice cream was grainy. I think it wasa fine cheesecake "curds", but it was strange. This was just one of the worst meals I have had in a very long time and I paid $59 for it (includes tip). The servver, Travis, was very good. One of our friends canceled out when she found out where we were going, saying they had been here and it was not good. But I wanted to see my friends. The sad part is that these problems are easily correctable. I have to think that this chef just isn't taking enough care. Who doesn't de-string the peas? One look at that lettuce should have told them to toss it.
(1)Andi C.
This place is disgusting. I would say about 1/2 cup of garic on the quail and waffles. Every waffle square was filled with garlic and some very weird clove seasoning. Yuck! Made me think if Chef Ramsay came to review this restaurant. Nice ambiance and good beer is apparently a good enough smoke screen for the quad city folks. Reviewers that gave this restaurant 2 or more stars, focus on what you are putting in your mouth. Don't let the quirky uniqueness of the place fool your taste buds.
(1)Mark C.
I went here with one other person with reservations and we were seated immediately, which was really nice. Seating was a little cramped for such an up scale restaurant, but overall I liked the unique atmosphere. We ordered a bottle of wine and it was presented at the table to us correctly, although I would say a little over priced for the bottle. They also gave us bread and some fancy caramel popcorn while we waited for our food. I ordered the trout on special which was really good and a large portion for the price. We both left with to go boxes. The specialty mac and cheese was a great side, but I liked the potato side even better. I would definitely go back, but probably order beer or a mixed drink instead of wine.
(4)Stephen S.
The food blew me away! I expected a lot considering Chef Jared was previously the Executive Chef at Steventon's, but I didn't know it would be THIS GOOD! I promise you that you won't find anything else like this in the Quad Cities! Also be sure to check them out for lunch and dinner as they have a wide variety of selections offered for both.
(5)Barney S.
We are locals from the Quad Cities and were excited to try this restaurant because of the positive comments from one of our trusted friends as well as the many positive reviews on line. We finally went to dinner there on Saturday, January 18, 2014 and were happy with certain aspects of this dining experience but regrettably we were mostly discouraged. For the reasons I've outlined below, we will most likely not return to this restaurant, even if our friend tries to convince us that it was a one-time mistake and even if he offers to pay. My initial observation was very positive because the restaurant appeared so much smaller from the outside. The interior décor and theme was very welcoming with high ceilings that opened up the room and the old barn wood mixed in with art deco gave it a comfortable feel. The bar was very nice and large enough to accommodate a number of people while you waited for a table and they served various micro brewed beers which is always a plus. I did feel sorry for the people that were seated by the door because it was cold and there was not a suitable area for standing when you first enter the restaurant. The Staff appeared friendly but they were clearly overwhelmed with the Saturday night crowd. They seated us rather quickly in one of the higher seat backed tables, which I actually liked because I could see everything that was going on in the restaurant. The Good: The garden salad I received before my main meal was fresh and the dressing was tasty but the portion was very small. We had three appetizers; fried potato chips (average) and a goat onion cheese dip that was not much different than the package onion dip my wife makes for parties; a fried poached egg dish that was undercooked but still very interesting and tasty; and a Brussels sprout dish that was probably the best thing we ate at the restaurant. They also brought out some bread that was only average. The Bad: My main dish was a strip sirloin served over bed of lentil beans that was presented nicely but lacked any flavor. The meat was NOT prepared properly...I requested medium and the two thinly sliced pieces, less than the size of a hockey puck, were completely raw except for the outside. Instead of complaining I just tried to eat the raw pieces of meat. Tried is just what I did because the meat was so tough and chewy that after I sucked the blood out of each uncooked bite I had to take the uneaten portion out of my mouth and put it on the plate. I even had my friends try and one agreed that it was too tough and chewy. I regret now for not sending it back but I did not want to make it an issue in front of this group. I hoped that the waitress would have asked about my meal after seeing all the uneaten, chewed meat but that didn't happen. The Ugly: The pricing on these meals appears to be way overpriced, even for a "farm to table" theme, for what your getting. I've eaten at plenty of upscale restaurants where you don't particularly get a lot of food but you usually get a delicious meal and wonderful experience...well that was not the case at Barley and Rye. My wife had a soup and salad for her meal and there was nothing special about the salad and she could barely taste any dressing. Her soup tasted more like porridge than soup; it was not hot and also tasteless. I usually eat what's left on her plate but in this case I did not. The Ugliest: For a small restaurant there seemed to be an abundance of staff, which is a plus however our particular waitress was definitely one of the low points of the night. I chose not to reveal her name here because I'm hoping she was just having a bad night. She was professional but gave me the impression that she wanted to be somewhere far, far away. She never asked how our meal was and I believe that was for fear that she would get a negative comment or might be required to take something back to the chef and/or that they might be forced to reduce the bill. One member of our group couldn't drink one of the draft beers because it tasted so bad and she charged him $10 anyway. I regularly leave 20% plus tips but had a difficult time leaving 15%. In summary, The "farm to table" theme is a plus and makes up for the added expense however the average tasting food and unfriendly, disinterested service isn't enough to bring us back. The menu items are fairly priced for what we hoped was an upscale dining experience, however this was not an upscale dining experience and there are too many other restaurants that provide much better ambience, service and food for that price and why pay $10 for a brewed beer when you can get the same thing across the street at the Barrel House or Bent River for $3 or $4. I'm surprised this Chef / Owner has been able to stay in business this long and I will be surprised if this restaurant makes it through 2015 unless they make some significant changes starting with attitude.
(2)Denny L.
Barley & Rye is for people who really appreciate food...and by appreciate, I don't mean "appreciate it so much I went ahead and super-sized my combo meal." I'm systematically working my way through the entire menu and have yet to run into anything that I don't absolutely love (favorite so far is the bison burger). Each entrée is expertly prepared and presented at this farm-to-table concept bistro, with a stout focus on locally sourced sustainable ingredients. You should expect to pay a premium for a premium quality product, so please don't complain about the prices. Nice to see them on Open Table as well...the Quad Cities does not deserve this restaurant, but hopefully it'll help get things moving in the right direction here. Barley & Rye is worth crossing the river for.
(5)Jeffrey S.
Love the concept of farm to table. It is nice to find a restaurant in the QC that is not part of a chain. Great atmosphere. I was there on a cold Saturday afternoon and there were few people there. Our waitress was very attentive. We started with the bacon rapped dates. Good, but they should have left the sauce off. We had the brussel sprout salad and ahi tuna wrap. While both were good, the dressing in both was way to much. The flavor of the sauces on both were so overwhelming it was about all you tasted.
(4)Sean D.
I want to love this place so badly. Farm to market concept is excellent and something that doesn't hapen as often as it should in the QC, where we are endowed with truly great raw materials. Just had the brussels sprout salad and was surprised to see that they crisp fried the brussels sprout leaves... basically ended up like brussels sprout flavored paper with hard boiled egg, panceta and tomato. Had a brussels sprout salad here last spring which contained approximately the same ingedients but different technique that was on a whole 'nother level of awesome. Please bring that one back... raw brussels sprouts shaved thin on the mandolin, hardwood smoked bacon, poached egg, perfectly dressed. I want that one...fresh clean tastes without the deep fryer messing the whole thing up. Also, keep putting pork and brisket in as many things as you can. I don't know who is doing the smoking, but it is dead on. Not overwhelming but enough to know the meat spent time enough near burning hardwood. Brisket with maytag blue is an absolutely perfect sandwich. Keep it coming.
(4)Marc H.
I'll get to the point immediately: the food is phenomenal! I went for dinner and ordered one of the dishes on special that night, bison short ribs with coffee au jus. The flavor was excellent and it was incredibly tender. I opted for the barley side dish, which was cheesy and cooked al dente. I loved it almost as much as the main entree. Before the main course, I enjoyed a mixed green salad with a blue cheese vinaigrette dressing. Everything was fresh and crisp. We were also provided a house-made Cracker Jack mix, which was spicy and sweet at the same time. It was an unusual but tasty snack to nibble on while waiting for our meals. The restaurant interior has a rustic wood decor, with one wall featuring a very nicely done mural of the Quad City area. The entire dining area was well lit and comfortable. All of the staff we encountered was friendly and helpful. The service was excellent overall. I'm thrilled the Quad Cities finally has a "farm to table" concept restaurant, especially one this good! I'll definitely be back for dinner again and will also have to try their lunch menu.
(5)Cliff C.
My first visit. Nice cozy feel to the place. Ordered a salad with crab (supposedly from Boston) and Blue cheese dressing. Greens were ver nice, right amount of dressing (too many places drown the greens with too much dressing). Crab didn't make the grade, tasting more like cheap canned crab. Brussel sprouts were nice, though nothing extraordinaire. Rye bread tasted more like a sweet wheat dessert bread than the hearty, grain rye one might expect. I'll return though will favour selections more typical of the Midwest. Wait staff was friendly enough, though a long time between check-ins. Nice to have another potentially promising spot in the Quads.
(3)Jean G.
Driving thru Moline, found this great spot where they have farm to table food. Got here for lunch n not soon after we sat down. There was a delivery of fresh veggies n herbs. For appetizer had the asparagus w/ bacon n mushrooms, awesome. Had the Bison burger and bean n brisket soup, it was delightful and delicious. Great atmosphere, great bartenders. Great selection of whiskeys, bourbon, n beers.
(5)Katelyn J.
My husband and I have only been here once so far, but we will definitely be going back! I loved the atmosphere, our server was excellent! They had a great selection of brews, wines, and cocktails! Overall the food was good! I had the meatloaf, I will try something else next time :-)
(4)Rick J.
Finally a restaurant in the QCA that "gets it"! Great atmopshere.....relaxed, casual, hip, not a bar. Menu is varied and interesting. Food very well prepared. Flavors are right on.....restrained, not overboard. Had the rib eye.....great taste, fresh flesh. Wife had the lamb gnocchi....awesome! Great service, very attentive while not overboard. Well priced. Overall, best dining experience in the QCA mainly due to the fact it is the only place that supports local farmers, keeps its menu fresh and seasonal, and demonstrates a real due care for its product.
(4)April B.
Wow. Wow!!! This place is amazing for fresh and local food. The appetizer I had was superb, and the draft craft beer selection is great. I men, I had an Enjoy By!!!! *highly recommend
(5)Matt B.
Made a reservation for a birthday celebration. Showed up 30 minutes early and was seated without delay. My expectation is that you street park in this area of Moline and this is the case.. Only 3 spaces in the lot for B&R.. Come on people practice your rarely needed parallel parking in the QC. I had added a note about the celebration while checking in on-line. We never mentioned it, but sure enough Thomas our server was prepared and knew it. No silly birthday song but a nice mention of the occasion. Great Server While I'd have loved to taste a flight of bourbon, as this heaven for bourbon drinkers I has a Hopilcious (i think) from Madison WI. Something new. We settled on an appetizer of queso.. served with rye bread.. not what I expected.. something new. Gnocchi for me and scallops for her... Gnocchi, not what i expected. something new.. Scallops, greatness... something new for QC. Chef Jared is out and the entrepreneurial spirit of a small business owner is great. Nice to talk with him. Don't recall anywhere else in the QC the chef serves the apps! If your looking for "something new" and "not what I expected" in a good way, Come here you won't be disappointed. If you want the same old same old then go somewhere else.
(5)Scott A.
Something different for the area. The chicken and potato soup was good. The bread was very good. The scallops with chorizo was excellent. But the bread pudding was dry and disappointing. It is more expensive than typical restaurants in the area. We will go back, but we probably won't be eating there frequently. The service was very good as well.
(4)Chirag P.
Good. But not great for the money your paying for each course. Had the pork chops which were good. Girlfriend had the steak. Came out cold had to send it back. About $100 for two drinks and entree. Most likely not be back because it's just not a place suited for regular joes that like to eat good food and a reasonable price.
(2)Lawrence H.
A refreshing and healthy addition to the Quad Cities, I attended a business dinner at the Bistro yesterday evening. For appetizers, the queso fundito, shrimp and artisan's meat and cheese platter were exquisite, dominated by flavorful and organic local colors (the duck prosciutto is phenomenal and cured on-site). For dinner, I recommend the half-roasted chicken drizzled with red wine bernaise and served on a cedar plank. A wonderful experience overall; 199 whiskies to choose from certainly does not hurt either!
(4)Martin A.
Summary: delicious food and good service. Will visit again. Worth your dining dollar. Our group stumbled upon this tasty treat on a Sunday evening prior to the Zac Brown Band concert. We had not expected the restaurant to be open (they are normally closed on Sundays), so we were pleasantly surprised to be able to try it out. Despite a very busy crowd, we were seated quickly. The restaurant was obviously slammed but the management (chef's wife, whose name we regrettably did not catch) set up our drinks and apps in a timely fashion. Our server (Simon) was attentive and knowledgeable about the menu and meats. They offered a limited menu for the pre-concert crowd. Between the four of us we tried the Queso Fundido app, the Bison Burgers and the regular burgers. Everything was prepared very well and arrived at perfect temperatures and requested done-ness. The breads used for the buns were very good, almost worth a visit just on that count. Both the bison meat and ground beef were of excellent quality and tasted great. The trimmings on the sandwiches were also very good. The hand cut french fries were great. However, the home-made Siracha-infused catsup was the real star of the potato side dish. I wish they sold this as a to go item. I would definitely buy it. One of our group briefly considered pilfering a jar of the catsup, but our inherent dignity and practical considerations revolving around smuggling an open jar into the concert venue helped us take the high road. The mixed drinks were poured generously and the martinis were also delicious. The decor was clean and bright and it's obvious the restaurant just opened because everything is brand new. The only minor quibble I had was that the restaurant's door opens directly outside, which allows in some cold air. Not a dealbreaker for me. I figure I can wear a sweater if needed. We will be visiting again.
(5)Chris L.
Went here for my daughter's 26th birthday. I ordered the Salmon and the potato special. The salmon BBQ seasoning was excellent along with the potatoes. The restaurant had a Chicago style feel to it where my daughter lives. The queso fundido appetizer was great for our group. The chef came out and spoke with us and asked our opinions of our entrees which was a nice touch at a new place. It's definitely an adult restaurant - not much for the kids. My mother ordered the lamb appetizer as her main entree and was very pleased with her meal as well. It was well priced and we'll definitely be back!
(5)Jay Y.
Cocktail menu features an Old Fashioned which was without a doubt the most mediocre mixed drink I've ever been served. Sugar wasn't muddled properly, leaving a layer of sugar at the bottom of the incorrect glass. There was no orange zest in the cocktail, just an orange slice on the rim. This is a classic drink done improperly for no reason other than to seem different, perhaps? The brewers bread was old and tasteless. Points for having a quality olive oil. The organic popcorn was yummy, but unoriginal outside of the quad cities. My meal was served with a salad that--while containing crunchy substantial greens like kale and I believe Swiss chard--was littered with unnecessary ingredients. The jicama garnish was unnecessary from a texture standpoint and the dressing was apathy in liquid form. I ordered the bouillabaisse. The server told me it contained mussels, scallops and lobster. When it arrived I was amazed at how little broth was present especially at a $28 price point--a price point I'm fully accustomed to in Tampa. Bouillabaisse is traditionally served with non-oily whitefish, and I was looking forward to the smokiness promised by the tomatoes. Anyway, when my dish was served there were no mussels present. I was surprised to find the main attraction in the dish was salmon. This didn't work with the herb heavy stock. The salmon was overpowering and complicated the flavor of the dish without adding anything redeeming. The broth was overly garlicky--a phrase I don't believe I've ever used before--and extremely vinegary. This was served with yesterday's tasteless potatoes in gravy. Depressing. The lobster in the dish was without a doubt spoiled. At this point I made the server aware, after debating whether or not it was worth it. He looked at me with disdain and came back to tell me they just got it in that morning. Too bad. It tasted and smelled spoiled. He took my plate and then came back out to tell me him and the sous chef tasted the lobster and it "tasted fantastic". Now I won't get into the issues with the lack of customer service, but it was rotten flesh. I've eaten plenty of lobster and shellfish in my life and I know how it should taste. This dish was overall a failure and wasn't presented as described. The service was polite but I couldn't help but feel like our server didn't have a passion for or knowledge of the food he was serving. In the end they charged us for the rotten lobster bouillabaisse. They apparently couldn't be bothered with legitimate issues with their food. No manager came to the table. The dessert was decent but not redeeming. I got the feeling the kitchen looked at me as some uninformed moron who simply didn't understand their "craft". I get it alright--and I've seen it done correctly at places like Husk, the refinery, etc. Perhaps as a farm to table restaurant they should consider scrapping ingredients they get from thousands of miles away and focus on the local produce of the area. In the end, 2/5. I'd try it again if they got their act together, served what they described and took their patrons seriously. Otherwise, it simply isn't worth the price.
(2)Jillian A.
I've been to Barley & Rye twice and had two very different, but very nice experiences: 1. My husband and I stopped by just for happy hour to check the place out. The bartender was incredibly knowledgeable about her craft, made some great suggestions on different liquors to try (we talked mostly whiskey and bourbons), AND she wrote down a few suggestions we made about a couple of liquors they should think about carrying. They have probably the best bar set-up I've seen around the Quad Cities, and their beer options were unique and varied. After that trip, we knew we needed to come back and try the food... and more beer. 2. We came back about a month later for dinner, and was not disappointed. Started with the Devil on Horseback appetizer, which was fantastic. I tried the honey bourbon dressing on my salad, and thought the flavor was great-- my husband had a taste and liked it too, which is surprising because he's normally not about sweet salad dressings. The entrees were fantastic-- I had the lamb and mushroom gnocchi, and my husband had a delicious steak burger that was on special. Normally I try and save some food for leftovers... but I ate everything off my plate, so that says quite a bit! Can't tell you about dessert, so I guess we'll just have to make another trip back!
(5)Jamei M.
Amazing! Excellent staff, perfect flow, fantastic food. A new favorite. The sweet potato and chorizo soup was to die for... Sweet and savory deliciousness. The pork was by far the best I've ever tasted. Portions are perfect... All entrees come with a soup or salad and a side (either potato, barley, or seasonal veg). We were stuffed when we left but not unpleasantly so. We had an incredible time and will definitely be back to try something new on the ever changing menu!
(5)Kyle F.
Great concept, except someone in the kitchen thought it was appropriate to drown all the food with salt. Many of the dishes were inedible due to the amount of salt. Went elsewhere for dessert to get rid of the salt taste. We will try again, but go easy on the salt, seriously.
(1)Jesse E.
A fantastic dining experience for a date night or a night on the town. The food is farm to table fresh which shows the amount of dedication the chef took in thinking out and preparing the menu. You are defiantly in for a treat every time because the menu is always changing and evolving. The staff was friendly and knowledgeable about the menu. I would highly recommend to anyone looking for a great dining experience with a fantastic Quad cities inspired atmosphere.
(5)Jessica H.
So delicious! My friend recommended this restaurant and said she'd been 3 times and loved it more with each visit. My boyfriend and I went for date night last night and enjoyed the entire evening. From the beautiful atmosphere, to our extremely attentive and knowledgeable server and delicious food, we left feeling full and satisfied. The only thing is it can be pricey so I would only suggest this for special occasions. For my boyfriend and I, our meal was $83 for 2 drinks, an appetizer and 2 meals. He loved his steak but did think the serving was small for $28. With that said, we still felt our meal was worth every penny and neither of us left with room to eat another crumb.
(5)Emma E.
We went here for our 1 year wedding anniversary. Had heard good things from yelp & friends in the real world too! Service was very good, prompt and attentive. Cute guy with blue eyes and a well kept beard. Great decor, not toooooo fancy but special. Lobster bisque was simple and tasty. Popcorn was kind of a throwaway and the worst part- kind of tasted old like the random kernels you find in the couch cushions. But my lemonade jalapeño martini was great- nice and earthy, barely sweet. Salmon was awesome. So tender, and juicy! Breads were OK, but I would like to see them serve it hot and straight out of the oven à la Cheesecake Factory ( yeah it's a chain but dang it their bread is good!!) barley side was very tasty! Never had barley before. The waiter described it as risotto-like: great description. It was creamy and flavorful. We will be back but probably for lunch. Dinner was not cheap!
(4)Sarah B.
Vegetarians - do not be scared off by the menu. I have been here twice and Chef Jared has made two completely different and delicious dishes for me. This place deserves to do well - thoughtful, unique, inviting. Go, eat, drink, enjoy!
(5)Matt D.
Excellent food and drink. Didn't know what to expect but the kids loved it as well. The bacon wrapped dates were excellent.
(5)Joe D.
Good concept. Poor management. They have a respectable list of beers (mostly bottles), but the menu does not include descriptions, alcohol content, or prices. To make matters worse, the waitstaff doesn't know anything about them. I asked our waitress for a recommendation similar to Sam Adams Boston Lager or a New Belgium Fat Tire, and she came back saying, "Our bartender recommends the Kentucky Ale or Stella." Stella? That's not even close. It's unbelievable that a restaurant named "Barley & Rye" knows nothing about their own beer offering.
(2)Robbie P.
I went with a group of people for lunch + I was really impressed with the decor + atmosphere of this place. It was beautiful. Very well thought out and the best part - the food was mostly local! I had the Brussle sprout salad and all I can say is "PERFECTO"....The chef is an artist:-) I would not recommend this restaurant for anyone that has not eaten fresh food for it is a different type of eating. The food is created around what is "in season" and people that are not use to eating in season may not understand what the goal is when trying to eat locally. The flavors are fresh! I will return again + look forward to trying some new foods on the menu. The only complaint I have is the parking. You can't park right near the restaurant. Just drive the the back parking lot and it works just fine. It really is not that big of a problem. The food is well worth checking this place out. To the chef-PERFECTO!!! The service was great too.
(5)Tom T.
Been here for lunch a couple of times. Nothing special. Average food. Average service. Many better places to eat in the Quad Cities.
(2)Chris F.
I live in the apartments above Barley and Rye. My boyfriend and I finally decided to try it and boy we should have it tried sooner. So far we have only had drinks and appetizers AMAZING! the calamari is outstanding and we also ordered the flat which had olives,cheeses,pickled carrots,prosciutto,smoked bacon and bread my boyfriend ordered the bourbon flight which was a delicious pair and the next week we came in for drink they had a pig roast we were not too hungry but we wanted an appetizer so we ordered the pork belly confit the chef came out and said he would make us a a sandwich from the leftover pig and wow! the best sandwich we ever had! We are both from Chicago and this place would fit in.
(5)D A.
Excellent menu. Wonderful service. Chef Jared is talented and personable. Wonderful flavors and combinations. Impressed with how many items Chef Jared makes himself.
(5)Melissa M.
Moline should consider itself lucky to have a spot of this caliber. It rivals places I have been in downtown Chicago. The food is outstanding, the hand crafted cocktails are phenomenal, and above all is the knowledge and passion of each of the staff. This place is a must.
(5)Roger L.
Opening Night has it's Glitches, service was fantastic but I will wait to see the lunch menu.
(3)Tim D.
You should eat here. This is what we need to encourage in the Quad Cities. Jared Linn gave my wife and I an amazing vegetarian dish that was completely outside the menu, and highly appreciated. Well executed, enjoyable food and atmosphere.
(5)Rebecca S.
The food was fantastic!!!! I had the chicken Alfredo and it was amazing! It was presented very well also. I went with a group of friends and we all got something different. No one at the table disliked their meal. The best part was the dessert. I tried the bacon cheesecake and was quite skeptical but it was amazing. Is was the perfect combination!
(5)Tony T.
Excellent new restaurant in downtown Moline. I've been here four times and never been disappointed. Great menu with some very unique dishes and they really have some awesome nightly specials with choices you just won't find anywhere else. I will be back.
(5)Deborah E.
Ate here in Nov.. Everything from the soup to the entree was indelible. I rarely complain and never send meals back, just try to enjoy the company of friends I am with. I wouldn't have said anything about this meal, but the server asked me if I wanted it boxed up, and I said no, that I couldn't eat it. Three couples, three of us ordered the featured soup. None of us could eat it. Three of us ordered the green bean side, again, none of us could eat them. Green beans? How can you mess those up. My entree was a pork chop that was so dry, cowboys could have stowed it in their saddlebags for jerky. Guess the server told the chef I did not care for my meal. He came to our table and was very defensive, said he has only received great comments, offered no apologies, and said he hoped we came back. Never gonna happen.
(1)Dana S.
my man and I stopped here passing through IL on our road trip. what a great yelp find!!! we shared the meatballs off the app menu-- pretty good. we practically licked the plate lol. bae got a kale salad and I got the side salad with my dinner -- cucumber feta dressing is the BEST get it get it get it. yummmm then we shared the special pasta smoked chicken and corn or somethig with homemade fettuccine. it was good but WAYYYY too heavy. it was good we were sharing because I could never eat it all my self. I got a side of tarragon string beans and OMG they were heavenly. amazing and obviously plucked right from the farm and cooked JUST right. a MUST have. and lastly--- drumroll.... my favorite dessert is pecan pie. no question. and a slice was not only delicious but also 2 DOLLARS... SAY WHAT??? 2 bucks? soooo good yummmm eat it up yassss
(5)Mary N.
Very cute, modern, chic restaurant with fresh ingredients. The air conditioning was turned on a bit high so we opted to sit outside in the patio on a nice breezy evening. Our waiter was extremely friendly and attentive. One person in our party was a vegetarian and we asked for a suggestion. To our surprise, the head chef came out and spoke to us about what he could prepare that was off the menu. The food was superb! They were a little light on the pours of the alcohol but all well worth the price. Fruit Sangria: Fresh fruity light wine. Perfect for a summer on the patio. Kettle Corn: They put a little dish of it out on the table for you to eat. I love kettle corn but this was way too sticky. Looks like they drizzled honey onto it. You have to wash your hands after eating it. Not a good concept. Queso Fondito: This appetizer usually comes with chorizo but opted for the non-meat version. It was EXCELLENT! So simple, just melted cheese with rye bread...but it was made to perfection. It definitely has a kick to it. Asparagus Dill Soup: Not my favorite. I usually love asparagus but this item lacked much flavor. Maybe it just needed some salt. The presentation was unique (it came out in a glass canning jar) but the flavor just wasn't there for me. Pork Chop: Lovely slight char and cooked to perfection. Well seasoned and moist. I had the garlic mac and cheese side and that was a nice complement to my main dish. Not too cheesy or garlicly; nice and light. Vegetarian Dish: The Chef made a nice spread of different items for my partner to try. Great presentation; it came out on a wood slab. She had roasted carrots, kale salad, and fried squash flower stuffed with goat cheese. Tasted delicious! So glad we asked for a recommendation instead of just ordering a salad off the menu. Complements to the Chef!
(5)Cara M.
Always a fabulous meal!! Great location, good service, and excellent food and drink options. Always enjoy what we order and the menu changes often for newness!
(5)Denny L.
Barley & Rye is for people who really appreciate food...and by appreciate, I don't mean "appreciate it so much I went ahead and super-sized my combo meal." I'm systematically working my way through the entire menu and have yet to run into anything that I don't absolutely love (favorite so far is the bison burger). Each entrée is expertly prepared and presented at this farm-to-table concept bistro, with a stout focus on locally sourced sustainable ingredients. You should expect to pay a premium for a premium quality product, so please don't complain about the prices. Nice to see them on Open Table as well...the Quad Cities does not deserve this restaurant, but hopefully it'll help get things moving in the right direction here. Barley & Rye is worth crossing the river for.
(5)Sean D.
I want to love this place so badly. Farm to market concept is excellent and something that doesn't hapen as often as it should in the QC, where we are endowed with truly great raw materials. Just had the brussels sprout salad and was surprised to see that they crisp fried the brussels sprout leaves... basically ended up like brussels sprout flavored paper with hard boiled egg, panceta and tomato. Had a brussels sprout salad here last spring which contained approximately the same ingedients but different technique that was on a whole 'nother level of awesome. Please bring that one back... raw brussels sprouts shaved thin on the mandolin, hardwood smoked bacon, poached egg, perfectly dressed. I want that one...fresh clean tastes without the deep fryer messing the whole thing up. Also, keep putting pork and brisket in as many things as you can. I don't know who is doing the smoking, but it is dead on. Not overwhelming but enough to know the meat spent time enough near burning hardwood. Brisket with maytag blue is an absolutely perfect sandwich. Keep it coming.
(4)Scott A.
Something different for the area. The chicken and potato soup was good. The bread was very good. The scallops with chorizo was excellent. But the bread pudding was dry and disappointing. It is more expensive than typical restaurants in the area. We will go back, but we probably won't be eating there frequently. The service was very good as well.
(4)E B.
We were driving from Boston to San Francisco and stopped in at this place. Boy were we surprised! The dinner was fantastic -- it wouldn't have been out of place among the best restaurants of Boston. The sous vide pork belly was the best we've ever had. Braised bison short ribs were astounding. The chef, Jared Linn, uses bourbon in sauces very well. The selection of house made breads -- rye, cornbread, bourbon and peaches -- was stellar. The smoked blue cheese and bacon mac and cheese was also fantastic. The butter bourbon martini was good for a cold night. The restaurant is family run; the sister is the lawyer, the father is the accountant, the brother helps in the kitchen, and the mother cleans. It just feels like such a wonderful genuine place that makes excellent use of the area's meat and produce. Definitely worth a stop in Moline!
(5)Sif B.
WOW! This place is great. I had the Pork Belly app and it was incredible. The Grass Fed Sirloin was cooked perfect.
(5)Chirag P.
Good. But not great for the money your paying for each course. Had the pork chops which were good. Girlfriend had the steak. Came out cold had to send it back. About $100 for two drinks and entree. Most likely not be back because it's just not a place suited for regular joes that like to eat good food and a reasonable price.
(2)Lawrence H.
A refreshing and healthy addition to the Quad Cities, I attended a business dinner at the Bistro yesterday evening. For appetizers, the queso fundito, shrimp and artisan's meat and cheese platter were exquisite, dominated by flavorful and organic local colors (the duck prosciutto is phenomenal and cured on-site). For dinner, I recommend the half-roasted chicken drizzled with red wine bernaise and served on a cedar plank. A wonderful experience overall; 199 whiskies to choose from certainly does not hurt either!
(4)Jean G.
Driving thru Moline, found this great spot where they have farm to table food. Got here for lunch n not soon after we sat down. There was a delivery of fresh veggies n herbs. For appetizer had the asparagus w/ bacon n mushrooms, awesome. Had the Bison burger and bean n brisket soup, it was delightful and delicious. Great atmosphere, great bartenders. Great selection of whiskeys, bourbon, n beers.
(5)Katelyn J.
My husband and I have only been here once so far, but we will definitely be going back! I loved the atmosphere, our server was excellent! They had a great selection of brews, wines, and cocktails! Overall the food was good! I had the meatloaf, I will try something else next time :-)
(4)Andrew A.
The food was inventive and delicious. Chorizo wrapped in bacon with blue cheese was terrific. Brisket with habanero, whiskey was equally great. But the service was so unbelievably slow. Slow, slow, slow. They we're busy initially but even after things cleared out they were still slow. With a little attention this could be great.
(3)Mike And Nita B.
Really nice! Nice ambiance. Fun. Not the usual selection of choices for QCA Unique and creative menu. Extensive selection of bourbons.
(5)Meghan H.
One of the best dining experiences, and whiskey and bourbon selections in the quad cities. All local ingredients, great lunches, and dinners as well. Beer dinners here are a must. Beautiful ambiance with exposed woodwork, private patio, and large window seating. Often if Chef has time, he'll come out and talk to you and see how your experience is going. The extra effort that they put in is really worth the price tag.
(5)Kung Fu J.
Everyone likes the idea of farm to table food. I mean, why use local ingredients and suppliers? The problem is that it was hard to taste the difference, despite the increased price. The ambiance seemed a little bit stuffy for my taste. I enjoyed the murals on the walls and appreciated the local historical references. However, there isn't much to absorb the sound in the space, so that it's a bit loud. I know it's a minor detail, the subfloors seemed to be lacking, so that whenever someone walked by, it sounded and felt like they were stomping around. Overall, the food was tasty, but a bit overpriced in my opinion.
(2)Stephenie L.
Such an awesome and delicious experience! It's a farm to table kind of restaurant meaning that most everything on their menu comes from local farms and is homemade daily. Everything from the popcorn they put on your table to the salad dressing to the bread to the dessert. And everything is so amazing! My barbecue potato soup was amazing! It's homemade and served in a mason jar. I'm loving anything and everything mason jars so this was definitely a perk. I had the airline chicken with the mashed potatoes and uncommon gravy for my entree. The chicken was to die for. So many flavored and not dry in the least bit! My potatoes were pretty good and although the gravy was a little on the cool side, it had a delicious unique flavor. It was almost kind of sweet in a way! I'm glad my date insisted on dessert because my life wouldn't be the same had I not tried their homemade tiramisu. I'd never had tiramisu before so I'm glad I lost my tiramisu virginity to Barley and Rye. So so amazing. Everything about this place is well worth the 5 stars. I'd give them more if I could.
(5)Kevin Y.
Have dined at Barley & Rye on a number of occasions and really appreciate the space, concept and the effort. While certainly not earth shattering in scope or James Beard worthy in execution, they do provide a solid option in the fine dining desert that is the QCA. I think the chef/owner here is doing a lot of things right such as using locally sourced and "trendy" by local standards ingredients. Sure the kitchen and floor don't always hit on all cylinders, but I suspect from reading some previous reviews that some of his menu offerings are perhaps and in all fairness misunderstood by chronic pub grub and chain feasting diners. Unfortunately, unless you are a passionate home cook or support Barley & Rye, I'm afraid the local options for anything other than deep fried gluttony are few and far between. Obviously, Barley & Rye is not the place to get a mound of chow and a Bud Light for under $10 per head with plenty of leftovers to stuff in your lunch box everyday the following week. So, everything in perspective. That said, it looks like this place is developing a good following and I hope that they do step it up and iron out the wrinkles. Along with the all the positives, I understand and have experienced infrequent glitches in taste, presentation and execution. Of course I trust that any chef/owner brave and visionary enough to offer up Barley & Rye to the QC in downtown Moline, IL is already taking steps to remedy his patrons and reviewers concerns. Certainly marrow bones and pork belly aren't for everyone, but if they are on your menu, make certain they are the best they can be. Don't let it leave the kitchen if not 110% of perfection. I think the prices are fair, but you need to rock every plate every time. No excuses and dispatch any and all squeamish finicky eaters and complainers to the Barrel House post-haste.
(4)Brandon C.
Really a 3.5... but had to round down. Listen, I get it. The atmosphere. The menu. The KILLER whiskey selection. The farm-to-table thing. I get it. It is all great, creative, hip, trendy, neat, whatever you want to call it. BUT, the food didn't blow me away and it was WAYYY over priced. Farm to table doesn't cost THAT much more. And if you are gonna charge that much, a little larger portion size would be nice and each dish better blow my mind. I might come back, give it another try... will have to see if I can get approved for a loan right quick tho.
(3)Matt T.
My parents came into town from Chicago and wanted to take them somewhere new to try . You will not regret it the grass fed burger was amazing , and the farm to table ingredients were more than apparent in every aspect of the meal .100% will be back!
(5)Robert B.
One of the better places to eat in the QC. Great drink selection including the best selection of whiskey in the area, lots to choose from on the menu, large portions and great presentation. Went on a Tuesday night and service was great. The short rib and meatloaf were awesome. If you are looking for great food, service and atmosphere check this place out!
(5)Deb D.
One of our favorite places, especially for special occasions. Have been there with small and larger groups. Chef/owner Jared makes some excellent, creative, fresh, and local dishes. Love it! Never disappointed, foodies enjoy! Many beers; good cocktails & wine pairings.
(5)LA A.
Incredible. Great setting with superb food! Best blue cheese dressing I've ever had. Great craft beer selection. And both main courses were fantastic. Other party commented best salmon they ever had. Great service also, friendly staff all around.
(5)R R.
So happy to find Barley and Rye in the Quad Cities! Wonderful farm-to-table restaurant with delicious food and 90% local ingredients from farms we know from the Davenport Freight House Farmers' Market. Everything is made-to-order, so this place is perfect for those who love food but have dietary restrictions or food allergies. We are vegetarian and lean towards vegan so after viewing B&R's online menu I concluded that I'd have to choose a salad. I was wrong! Our hostess and server told us Chef Jared would be pleased to make us vegetarian or vegan dishes with in-season veggies. Chef Jared came to our table to discuss our meal options. He seemed really happy to make us dishes suited to our finicky tastes. One of us has a long list of veggies on the No Fly List. Jared tailored our dishes to each of our tastes and offered me vegan options for everything from salad dressing to bread, side dishes, and entrees -- unheard of in the Quad Cities where even most healthier fare has meat, eggs, and/or dairy! I'm sure it was extra work for him, but I was so thankful he did not seem to mind. Jared made me a very creative, complex-flavored, perfectly executed Asian-style shaved brussels sprouts & shiitake mushroom dish with truffles. Even the brussels-sprouts-and-mushroom-hater and meat-lover both agreed it was the best dish on a table of amazing dishes. The leek barley side dish was also incredibly flavorful. Our out-of-town guest had short-ribs which he told us were the best he'd had. Both my companions appreciated the extensive beer and whisky list and our guest said he would join the bourbon club if he lived here. We will definitely return and bring all our visiting guests. In addition to excellent vegetarian / vegan options, Chef Jared said he also offers gluten-free options, including bread(!). This restaurant really is for everyone. A few reviewers have complained about the prices, but in addition to high-quality ingredients and thoughtful made-to-order preparation, entrees come with soup-or-salad, bread, and a side-dish for a filling meal. You can also order breads (he grinds his own flour) and desserts (by a dedicated pastry chef) for pickup. We ordered a fresh loaf of fig & walnut bread and can't wait to try it, but Jared also offers gluten-free bread loaves which I'd bet are much tastier than the frozen Udi's bread in stores. Update: The fig and walnut bread is amazing! Will definitely order again.
(5)Robert H.
Had the Steak sandwich and Parmesan fries. Sandwich was incredible, cooked perfect and the fries were just as incredible. They make their own ketchup here and it was a great addition to the fries. I will definitely be coming back for more.
(5)Mark C.
I went here with one other person with reservations and we were seated immediately, which was really nice. Seating was a little cramped for such an up scale restaurant, but overall I liked the unique atmosphere. We ordered a bottle of wine and it was presented at the table to us correctly, although I would say a little over priced for the bottle. They also gave us bread and some fancy caramel popcorn while we waited for our food. I ordered the trout on special which was really good and a large portion for the price. We both left with to go boxes. The specialty mac and cheese was a great side, but I liked the potato side even better. I would definitely go back, but probably order beer or a mixed drink instead of wine.
(4)Stephen S.
The food blew me away! I expected a lot considering Chef Jared was previously the Executive Chef at Steventon's, but I didn't know it would be THIS GOOD! I promise you that you won't find anything else like this in the Quad Cities! Also be sure to check them out for lunch and dinner as they have a wide variety of selections offered for both.
(5)Barney S.
We are locals from the Quad Cities and were excited to try this restaurant because of the positive comments from one of our trusted friends as well as the many positive reviews on line. We finally went to dinner there on Saturday, January 18, 2014 and were happy with certain aspects of this dining experience but regrettably we were mostly discouraged. For the reasons I've outlined below, we will most likely not return to this restaurant, even if our friend tries to convince us that it was a one-time mistake and even if he offers to pay. My initial observation was very positive because the restaurant appeared so much smaller from the outside. The interior décor and theme was very welcoming with high ceilings that opened up the room and the old barn wood mixed in with art deco gave it a comfortable feel. The bar was very nice and large enough to accommodate a number of people while you waited for a table and they served various micro brewed beers which is always a plus. I did feel sorry for the people that were seated by the door because it was cold and there was not a suitable area for standing when you first enter the restaurant. The Staff appeared friendly but they were clearly overwhelmed with the Saturday night crowd. They seated us rather quickly in one of the higher seat backed tables, which I actually liked because I could see everything that was going on in the restaurant. The Good: The garden salad I received before my main meal was fresh and the dressing was tasty but the portion was very small. We had three appetizers; fried potato chips (average) and a goat onion cheese dip that was not much different than the package onion dip my wife makes for parties; a fried poached egg dish that was undercooked but still very interesting and tasty; and a Brussels sprout dish that was probably the best thing we ate at the restaurant. They also brought out some bread that was only average. The Bad: My main dish was a strip sirloin served over bed of lentil beans that was presented nicely but lacked any flavor. The meat was NOT prepared properly...I requested medium and the two thinly sliced pieces, less than the size of a hockey puck, were completely raw except for the outside. Instead of complaining I just tried to eat the raw pieces of meat. Tried is just what I did because the meat was so tough and chewy that after I sucked the blood out of each uncooked bite I had to take the uneaten portion out of my mouth and put it on the plate. I even had my friends try and one agreed that it was too tough and chewy. I regret now for not sending it back but I did not want to make it an issue in front of this group. I hoped that the waitress would have asked about my meal after seeing all the uneaten, chewed meat but that didn't happen. The Ugly: The pricing on these meals appears to be way overpriced, even for a "farm to table" theme, for what your getting. I've eaten at plenty of upscale restaurants where you don't particularly get a lot of food but you usually get a delicious meal and wonderful experience...well that was not the case at Barley and Rye. My wife had a soup and salad for her meal and there was nothing special about the salad and she could barely taste any dressing. Her soup tasted more like porridge than soup; it was not hot and also tasteless. I usually eat what's left on her plate but in this case I did not. The Ugliest: For a small restaurant there seemed to be an abundance of staff, which is a plus however our particular waitress was definitely one of the low points of the night. I chose not to reveal her name here because I'm hoping she was just having a bad night. She was professional but gave me the impression that she wanted to be somewhere far, far away. She never asked how our meal was and I believe that was for fear that she would get a negative comment or might be required to take something back to the chef and/or that they might be forced to reduce the bill. One member of our group couldn't drink one of the draft beers because it tasted so bad and she charged him $10 anyway. I regularly leave 20% plus tips but had a difficult time leaving 15%. In summary, The "farm to table" theme is a plus and makes up for the added expense however the average tasting food and unfriendly, disinterested service isn't enough to bring us back. The menu items are fairly priced for what we hoped was an upscale dining experience, however this was not an upscale dining experience and there are too many other restaurants that provide much better ambience, service and food for that price and why pay $10 for a brewed beer when you can get the same thing across the street at the Barrel House or Bent River for $3 or $4. I'm surprised this Chef / Owner has been able to stay in business this long and I will be surprised if this restaurant makes it through 2015 unless they make some significant changes starting with attitude.
(2)Juan M.
Both my wife and I had issues with almost every course of our dinners. We had the popcorn they give you when you sit down. It was very stale, sticky and had bad flavors. I felt like walking out at that point because it gave me a bad feeling about the rest of the meal. We had the calamari app, the breading was soggy and had some pickled cabbage mixed in with it. Had an "asian" flavor, not great. My salad was mostly made of kale which if i ate it would require way more dressing than they gave me to stomach the tough leaves. A pretty large portion of the salad was wilted. The salad also contained one slice of cucumber minced and a few small peeled bits of carrot. I mention the cucumber and carrots because it was the highlight of my meal. My wife's soup was supposed to be a curry soap so you would think it would be a cream base soup but it was based with a chicken stock. She said tasted like watery chicken soup. My duck entree was very tough. I had to ask for a steak knife to cut it and they served it in a bowl so it make the act of cutting it very difficult. The duck was swimming in black beans and looked like soup when it came to the table. The flavors were not layered or interesting in any way. It tasted like a rubber duck and black beans. My wife had the filet and thankfully it was acceptable though it had a liver aftertaste. The potatoes au gratin we ordered with the meal had potatoes that were under cooked and pretty much just had a weird flavor of cheese sprinkled on top with bunch of oil sitting in bottom of the bowl. We both expected from the "farm to table" statement that we would be getting high quality and simple food but that really wasn't the case. We skipped dessert since nothing there was hitting the spot. The interior design was great though.
(1)Linda R.
This is definitely a unique place, even for the Midwest. 90% of the menu comes from farms within 150 miles of the QCA and you can tell. Everything was insanely fresh, so much so that you almost think it's not normal when you taste it. We sampled many appetizers and our large group all ordered different entrees. Everyone was pleased with their food. I ordered the lobster ravioli and it was really good. The fried brussel sprout salad was unlike anything I've ever had before and it was surprisingly fantastic. The pork belly was wonderful. Even the cheeses were obviously not processed foods. If this is what real food is supposed to taste like, we're all getting rooked by the mass-production food companies... My only reason for not giving five stars is the noise level. The sound level makes talking to anyone not immediately adjacent to you impossible.
(4)Chris L.
Went here for my daughter's 26th birthday. I ordered the Salmon and the potato special. The salmon BBQ seasoning was excellent along with the potatoes. The restaurant had a Chicago style feel to it where my daughter lives. The queso fundido appetizer was great for our group. The chef came out and spoke with us and asked our opinions of our entrees which was a nice touch at a new place. It's definitely an adult restaurant - not much for the kids. My mother ordered the lamb appetizer as her main entree and was very pleased with her meal as well. It was well priced and we'll definitely be back!
(5)Adam S.
Highly recommend! Great spot for a date or night out. Best food in the Quad Cities, bar none. The calamari is superb, as is the pork belly appetizer. The smoked buffalo meatloaf, while barely meeting the definition of "meatloaf" was delicious and satisfying. The drink list is impressive: multiple pages of quality whiskies of every variety, plus craft beers and mixed drinks. Service was friendly and accomodating. Stylish but casual atmosphere. The food took a little bit longer than usual, but was worth waiting for.
(5)Lianne N.
The food was very good. But, I won't leave it at that, since nothing is that simple. We got an appetizer... it was dates wrapped in bacon and chorizo with bleu cheese. I don't remember what it was called officially. It was tasty. For $6, you get three wrapped dates. If I had to make a statement, however, my most pertinent judgment would be that presentation may be everything, but you might consider ditching the "fancy" plank that is under the wrapped dates. The first thing I noticed was some hairs sticking out from underneath my dates. I was perturbed... upon further investigation, I think the darkwood planks have some sort of hair in their structures... the hairs that appeared to have accidentally hitched a ride onto my apppetizers seemed to actually be part of the planks. Hmmm.... and when I moved the plank aside after we'd consumed our three wrapped dates, I noticed there were some dark splintered pieces on the table. Style and presentation is everything, but honestly, this appetizer couldve looked equally as stylistic and NOT brought along random hairs and splinters if they had put them onto a white plate with decorations rather than onto a dark wood plank with some random cheftastic flare. The food was good. The ambiance was nice. The help was extra attentive. The ambiance was also very pretentious. I may return, but I must say... they seemed like they were trying harder than necessary. I shouldnt have to decide that the hairs in my food were from an unnecessary plank of wood under my fancily-presented food. Ditch the pretentiousness and the rating might actually go up...
(4)T H.
Had dinner here last night and I was impressed. I travel and eat out all the time so I feel justified in my opinion ;-) I started with Cajun ahi tuna, in the mouth it simply melted and left a lovely bit of spice lingering. My associate had the Devil on Horseback starter which was a date wrapped in bacon with chorizo and bit of blue cheese...wicked good. Each had a filet which was done perfectly and on its own had lots of flavor. Ambience is nice; lighter woods which is unusual and nice to see for a change. Only thing to cause me to yank back a star was the service...20 to 25 mins for our drinks to get there. They didn't have ginger ale for my buddies rye and ginger so instead of asking if he'd like an alternative, they fussed about and made their own ginger ale from scratch. Now that's pretty cool if it didn't take nearly half an hour. Anyway, food is so good we had lunch there today and were impressed again by the food yet disappointed again by the service. Our waitress yacked it up with another patron while our food sat on the ready counter for over 5 mins. Another server saw me looking and brought it over. Totally worth going all the same. Cheers!
(4)Rick J.
Finally a restaurant in the QCA that "gets it"! Great atmopshere.....relaxed, casual, hip, not a bar. Menu is varied and interesting. Food very well prepared. Flavors are right on.....restrained, not overboard. Had the rib eye.....great taste, fresh flesh. Wife had the lamb gnocchi....awesome! Great service, very attentive while not overboard. Well priced. Overall, best dining experience in the QCA mainly due to the fact it is the only place that supports local farmers, keeps its menu fresh and seasonal, and demonstrates a real due care for its product.
(4)B I.
first of all, if you have a half hour lunch break, you cannot go here. the lunch items apparently take 25 minutes or more to make. i had the cheeseburger wednesday special, after 25-30 minutes it came out & although i had ordered it medium-rare, the majority of it was well-done. it still tasted good although extremely messy. the fries are also good & the homemade ketchup is really good. however i wouldnt expect at a restaurant in this price range and with their goal of quality food to overcook a hamburger from med-rare to well-done. 25-30 minutes is too long for any lunch item. at dinner i guess that is acceptable, but i dunno how much longer a dinner would take there. i cant understand how a cheeseburger & fries would take nearly a half hour to get out. i get that everything is homemade, but that doesnt mean every single part of an item should be made only when something is ordered. i assume most things would be made ahead of time and then assembled onto a hamburger. maybe their methods need to be changed, because you can have the greatest food in the world, but if people get tired of waiting an inordinate amount of time for it, the restaurant is not going to succeed. after having an incorrectly prepared burger, the waitress made no mention of rectifying it with either a replacement or comp. only after i inquired a couple times about it was it taken care of. the waitress also virtually never came over to our table except to bring out our food. in summary, its probably one of the best restaurants in this area, definitely among the slowest, so it depends if you want to spend this kind of time and it is not cheap either. i guess get an appetizer and or drinks to pass the time.
(3)Yoyo A.
The food dances with flavor on your tongue and their bartenders make the best Manhattans you will find downtown. A mural shows the rich history of Rock Island County and the ambiance is on point! Can't wait to eat there again!!! Nom nom nom
(5)Jeffrey S.
Love the concept of farm to table. It is nice to find a restaurant in the QC that is not part of a chain. Great atmosphere. I was there on a cold Saturday afternoon and there were few people there. Our waitress was very attentive. We started with the bacon rapped dates. Good, but they should have left the sauce off. We had the brussel sprout salad and ahi tuna wrap. While both were good, the dressing in both was way to much. The flavor of the sauces on both were so overwhelming it was about all you tasted.
(4)Matt B.
Made a reservation for a birthday celebration. Showed up 30 minutes early and was seated without delay. My expectation is that you street park in this area of Moline and this is the case.. Only 3 spaces in the lot for B&R.. Come on people practice your rarely needed parallel parking in the QC. I had added a note about the celebration while checking in on-line. We never mentioned it, but sure enough Thomas our server was prepared and knew it. No silly birthday song but a nice mention of the occasion. Great Server While I'd have loved to taste a flight of bourbon, as this heaven for bourbon drinkers I has a Hopilcious (i think) from Madison WI. Something new. We settled on an appetizer of queso.. served with rye bread.. not what I expected.. something new. Gnocchi for me and scallops for her... Gnocchi, not what i expected. something new.. Scallops, greatness... something new for QC. Chef Jared is out and the entrepreneurial spirit of a small business owner is great. Nice to talk with him. Don't recall anywhere else in the QC the chef serves the apps! If your looking for "something new" and "not what I expected" in a good way, Come here you won't be disappointed. If you want the same old same old then go somewhere else.
(5)Leslie M.
Flavorless AND Clueless!!! - First Visit! Last Visit! I'd give negative stars if I could!!!!! I was utterly bummed at the lunch I had today at Barley Rye Bistro. Pork Belly BLT sound yummy right? YIKES! OVER HALF OF THE PIECE OF MEAT WAS PURE FAT! The sandwich was dripping in fat/oil, I could lightly push my finger into the top of the bread and a pool of fat/oil emerged. Just disgusting. I pulled it apart and tasted the meat, and other ingredients, etc., etc. No flavor whatsoever. Dull as cardboard. The server encouraged an appetizer, and being as this was our first visit we took the server's suggestion of Queso Fundido....which, yikes, looks like what you would find in a baby diaper. Equally oily and lacking flavor. My guest had the Brisket Tacos, which were described as "sweet tangy"....they too were oily with no flavor.....NO FLAVOR!!! The chef obviously did not taste his own food before sending it out, and the plating and oil excess tells me that they did not care one bit! So on to the clueless part. The server obviously saw that we didn't eat our food (with the exception of the french fries - they were edible) and asked if everything was okay....we sadly....were afraid to say no so we said.....uhhhhh....for a really long time. Any experienced server would have gotten the hint, but in this case, I ended up with a miserable experience, no lunch, and a $45 dollar bill. I can't shout my displeasure high enough. Never again.
(1)LP F.
This is the place you want to dine when you're in Moline. A creative, delicious menu and EXCELLENT service. Farm to table is only the beginning!
(5)Alma D.
Love the food! as an out of towner it's great to have food from a local place and from locally produced ingredients, highly recommended; wasn't sure about eating bison meatloaf but my daughter and I shared her bison meatloaf and my salmon and we both loved it! Good eats!
(5)Jennifer S.
By far my favorite restaurant in the QC. The food was so fresh, creative, and scrumptious! I loved that the food was all local as well. Great drink menu. Favorite dishes were the Cajun chicken gnocchi and the filet with wasabi sauce. We were so full by the end we couldn't even manage the dessert. I would recommend for groups and date night. Great vibe for one of the best meals I've had! Must try!!!
(5)Robert S.
Excellent farm fresh bistro in Moline. Party of three had the brisket, stroganoff and red snapper. All were delicious. The waiter was very accommodating and offered several good suggestions. An excellent dinner choice.
(5)Sinan G.
Barley & Rye always impresses. The food is some of the finest in the QC and knowing it's all locally sourced is an added bonus!
(5)Jesse G.
I went there for lunch a couple times. The food hit the spot for a lunch, it was tasty and filling. The service was excellent, the people there are quite friendly.
(5)April B.
Wow. Wow!!! This place is amazing for fresh and local food. The appetizer I had was superb, and the draft craft beer selection is great. I men, I had an Enjoy By!!!! *highly recommend
(5)Gayle L.
Was here last night with a group of friends and most of what I was served was very poor. My lettuce in the lettuce salad had brown edges and brown spots. Now this is totally inexcusable! You can see the lettuce isn't good. I had lobster tail with roasted yukon gold potatoes, and pea pods. I did eat the lobster, but it was nothing special. The potatoes - 2/3's were raw inside and a couple of the cooked ones tasted just nasty, too much of the pepper and spices were on one hunk of potato. I finally ate those that were done when I poked them. The pea pods were not "unstringed". The two I ate were tough, almost inedible, very unpleasant. There were also beet slices on the plate. They were again undercooked - that might have been intentional, but they had obviously been "heated". I like al dente, but these were not that, they were heated raw to semi-raw to some cooked some not. Finally, I did order a desert, figuring it would be edible. I ordered the cheese cake ice cream. They brought out cheese cake instead and I had to correct that. This ice cream was grainy. I think it wasa fine cheesecake "curds", but it was strange. This was just one of the worst meals I have had in a very long time and I paid $59 for it (includes tip). The servver, Travis, was very good. One of our friends canceled out when she found out where we were going, saying they had been here and it was not good. But I wanted to see my friends. The sad part is that these problems are easily correctable. I have to think that this chef just isn't taking enough care. Who doesn't de-string the peas? One look at that lettuce should have told them to toss it.
(1)Andi C.
This place is disgusting. I would say about 1/2 cup of garic on the quail and waffles. Every waffle square was filled with garlic and some very weird clove seasoning. Yuck! Made me think if Chef Ramsay came to review this restaurant. Nice ambiance and good beer is apparently a good enough smoke screen for the quad city folks. Reviewers that gave this restaurant 2 or more stars, focus on what you are putting in your mouth. Don't let the quirky uniqueness of the place fool your taste buds.
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