Been here twice now. Both experiences were very good experiences. Here is what i liked about Barrel on High. Clean. Nice lighting. Great music played both times at appropriate volumes. Sports screens in there but you only notice them if you are looking for sports. They are not focal points in the restaurant. Nothing pretentious about the place. Staff is real people. What i mean by that is they aren't all bitter and pissed they have to memorize stupid ass corporate greeting and wear silly uniforms. They like where they work and they are people people. They want you to like their food. You can tell the staff takes pride in their jobs. Kitchen is open till midnight. So 1st time i went i went alone. Had the italian burger which i think was the special. Just a really good burger. Fries were good. Second time I went I got the crab cake. That was delish also. I remember when I lived in new york city there were a lot of lil spots like this around. I wish columbus had more spots like this. Instead of apple bees and corporate strip mall crap. Club 185 is a nice place to eat too. What i am saying is every time i eat at places like this it reenforces my belief in doing away with the corporations. Classy spot. Can't wait to eat there again.
(4)
Sarah G.
Edited my review: I'm disappointed they got rid of my 2 favorite burgers, and all the selection, the 44 Burger ( probably due to the name change, see below for description) and the Roadhouse Burger [ fried onions, chipotle sauce and jalepenos] and replaced with a not too yummy sweet and sour like burger and the bacon Bleu. :-( I'm super sad. I hope they bring it back. I still love the rest of the menu and the service is good and new management is cool too, so maybe they'll being me my burgers. .... ;-) Old review: the best burger in town, no bones about it! I Love the Barrel 44 Burger with melted swiss, sauteed portobellos and a cherry demi glace, my bf gets down with the bacon bleu burger. Add a great selection of whisky and its a win ! This place is an old stand by for us.
(4)
Broseph W.
This place has become a sad disappointment of its former self "barrel 44" ...for being a whiskey bar their selection of whiskey/whisky is ok. However their cocktail menu is a joke and very amateurish. For one, there's no such thing as a "manhattan" made with dolin blanc. Secondly, who the fuck calls themselves a respectable bar without carpano antica or dolin rouge!? On top of that, I was further annoyed by the fact that the manager/ owner told an employee in front of me about how they had to pay for a guest's bill who walked out and stiffed them which is illegal.
(1)
Whitney S.
So bummed to write this. Barrel used to be a favorite, and now I will never be back. For years I consistently got the 44 Salad with blackened chicken once a week. So my mom's in town and I decided to get a couple salads and sandwiches to go, knowing she would love it. When we got all the way home we opened the boxes only to realize there was NOTHING inside except chicken and lettuce-no blackening, no hearts of palm, cherries, candied walnuts, goat cheese, beets or dressing. Not only have portions been cut in half and prices doubled, the service and quality are now piss poor. Chalk up another loss for the Short North.
(1)
August B.
Awesome happy hour! The small plates are half off and can easily be constructed into a cheap meal (remember to tip on the full price!). The Tuna Cups are splendid! I've also never had a flatbread I didn't like. Their burgers are passable--but not their comparative advantage. The fries are flavorful, but not at all crisp. I've spent many a delightful hour exploring their whiskey collection (pro tip: your life is just fine without Magic Cat).
(5)
Bridget D.
I would go here weekly if I could, just for the small plates! (weeknights before 7ish??) Get the crab cake.
(5)
Emerin H.
EXCELLENT service! All of the waitstaff are super friendly and helpful. Though a whiskey bar, our waiter was able to help us pick out just the right beer. Super chill atmosphere. Can't wait to come back to try food, it looked delish!
(5)
Michael M.
Sorry for the confusion about this place. I used to go when it was Barrel 44 and was confused by the name change (new ownership?) We came here towards the end of a night out on high street. Every single bar was packed and honestly kind of gross. We thought since Ohio State was on spring break we would have the street to ourselves. Nope... So we wound up here. People were there, but there is TONS of seating (which is what we wanted). It was dark and a much more intimate and quiet atmosphere than some of the more raucous bars just down the street. I love whiskey. If you don't love whiskey, you can still get beers here. But I would recommend this place for people who 1. Want whiskey 2. Want a whiskey cocktail 3. Want to be in an environment where they can talk with their bar-goers and not shout over music or push their way to the bar. Their whiskey menu is probably the largest I've seen in Columbus (at least for regular, reasonably priced bars). They also have organized by type and location making it easy to try new things. The only food we tried was fried ravioli. No reason to review it because have you ever had fried ravioli? No? I thought so. Anyways, great place to enjoy good whiskey with good company.
(4)
Paul C.
Great cocktails. Menu for food looks great - will report back. Looks like it's had a bit of a change. Service still great. The hot martinis are incredible. Not too expensive - a nice spot for drinks (can't comment on food). Great selection of whiskies and beers.
(4)
Katie H.
Great spot in the Short North. The Kentucky Mule was very tasty. Also tried the fried ravioli. Super yummy! would definitely come back again and try dinner with drinks. Happy hour specials looked interesting. On my list for future happy hours. Sleek decor with multiple TVs. Perfect for watching March Madness.
(4)
Jocelyn T.
I had been to this place a couple years before I started writing reviews, and I loved it then, but was waiting for another opportunity to eat there. The boyfriend's birthday seemed like a great opportunity, because if it was anything like the first time I went there, he'd love it too. We both loved it! The service is great, and the whole staff gets involved. We were on a date, so we took a table in the dining room (empty when we arrived), and one server walked in and dimmed the lights. Someone else brought us water and menus. Our server made great drink recommendations (even an experienced whiskey drinker might be overwhelmed by their extensive menu), and our food came out quickly. We ordered the Bruschetta as an appetizer (tons of flavor, a little messy, and absolutely delicious), the boyfriend ordered the flat-iron steak (it was fantastic, I tried a bite), and I ordered the catfish (and having eaten half an appetizer, I still cleaned my plate and took home no leftovers, it was THAT good). Oh, and as they were bringing our entrees, another server darted in and placed a candle on the table - a nice touch of romantic lighting for our date. We stayed for a while, had second drinks, and had an overall fantastic experience. The bar area and front half of the dining room is a bit louder, but the wall to the smaller dining area tones down the sound enough that you can have a conversation
(5)
Matt S.
Great food, and a neat little place to hang out. New ownership seems to be experimenting with the menu , and I'm looking forward to some of the recent "specials" becoming permanent additions. Plan on being back soon.
Takes Reservations : No Delivery : No Take-out : No Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Bike Parking : Yes Good for Kids : No Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Ambience : Casual Noise Level : Average Music : Background Good For Dancing : No Alcohol : Full Bar Happy Hour : Yes Outdoor Seating : No Has TV : Yes Waiter Service : Yes
Brian A.
Been here twice now. Both experiences were very good experiences. Here is what i liked about Barrel on High. Clean. Nice lighting. Great music played both times at appropriate volumes. Sports screens in there but you only notice them if you are looking for sports. They are not focal points in the restaurant. Nothing pretentious about the place. Staff is real people. What i mean by that is they aren't all bitter and pissed they have to memorize stupid ass corporate greeting and wear silly uniforms. They like where they work and they are people people. They want you to like their food. You can tell the staff takes pride in their jobs. Kitchen is open till midnight. So 1st time i went i went alone. Had the italian burger which i think was the special. Just a really good burger. Fries were good. Second time I went I got the crab cake. That was delish also. I remember when I lived in new york city there were a lot of lil spots like this around. I wish columbus had more spots like this. Instead of apple bees and corporate strip mall crap. Club 185 is a nice place to eat too. What i am saying is every time i eat at places like this it reenforces my belief in doing away with the corporations. Classy spot. Can't wait to eat there again.
(4)Sarah G.
Edited my review: I'm disappointed they got rid of my 2 favorite burgers, and all the selection, the 44 Burger ( probably due to the name change, see below for description) and the Roadhouse Burger [ fried onions, chipotle sauce and jalepenos] and replaced with a not too yummy sweet and sour like burger and the bacon Bleu. :-( I'm super sad. I hope they bring it back. I still love the rest of the menu and the service is good and new management is cool too, so maybe they'll being me my burgers. .... ;-) Old review: the best burger in town, no bones about it! I Love the Barrel 44 Burger with melted swiss, sauteed portobellos and a cherry demi glace, my bf gets down with the bacon bleu burger. Add a great selection of whisky and its a win ! This place is an old stand by for us.
(4)Broseph W.
This place has become a sad disappointment of its former self "barrel 44" ...for being a whiskey bar their selection of whiskey/whisky is ok. However their cocktail menu is a joke and very amateurish. For one, there's no such thing as a "manhattan" made with dolin blanc. Secondly, who the fuck calls themselves a respectable bar without carpano antica or dolin rouge!? On top of that, I was further annoyed by the fact that the manager/ owner told an employee in front of me about how they had to pay for a guest's bill who walked out and stiffed them which is illegal.
(1)Whitney S.
So bummed to write this. Barrel used to be a favorite, and now I will never be back. For years I consistently got the 44 Salad with blackened chicken once a week. So my mom's in town and I decided to get a couple salads and sandwiches to go, knowing she would love it. When we got all the way home we opened the boxes only to realize there was NOTHING inside except chicken and lettuce-no blackening, no hearts of palm, cherries, candied walnuts, goat cheese, beets or dressing. Not only have portions been cut in half and prices doubled, the service and quality are now piss poor. Chalk up another loss for the Short North.
(1)August B.
Awesome happy hour! The small plates are half off and can easily be constructed into a cheap meal (remember to tip on the full price!). The Tuna Cups are splendid! I've also never had a flatbread I didn't like. Their burgers are passable--but not their comparative advantage. The fries are flavorful, but not at all crisp. I've spent many a delightful hour exploring their whiskey collection (pro tip: your life is just fine without Magic Cat).
(5)Bridget D.
I would go here weekly if I could, just for the small plates! (weeknights before 7ish??) Get the crab cake.
(5)Emerin H.
EXCELLENT service! All of the waitstaff are super friendly and helpful. Though a whiskey bar, our waiter was able to help us pick out just the right beer. Super chill atmosphere. Can't wait to come back to try food, it looked delish!
(5)Michael M.
Sorry for the confusion about this place. I used to go when it was Barrel 44 and was confused by the name change (new ownership?) We came here towards the end of a night out on high street. Every single bar was packed and honestly kind of gross. We thought since Ohio State was on spring break we would have the street to ourselves. Nope... So we wound up here. People were there, but there is TONS of seating (which is what we wanted). It was dark and a much more intimate and quiet atmosphere than some of the more raucous bars just down the street. I love whiskey. If you don't love whiskey, you can still get beers here. But I would recommend this place for people who 1. Want whiskey 2. Want a whiskey cocktail 3. Want to be in an environment where they can talk with their bar-goers and not shout over music or push their way to the bar. Their whiskey menu is probably the largest I've seen in Columbus (at least for regular, reasonably priced bars). They also have organized by type and location making it easy to try new things. The only food we tried was fried ravioli. No reason to review it because have you ever had fried ravioli? No? I thought so. Anyways, great place to enjoy good whiskey with good company.
(4)Paul C.
Great cocktails. Menu for food looks great - will report back. Looks like it's had a bit of a change. Service still great. The hot martinis are incredible. Not too expensive - a nice spot for drinks (can't comment on food). Great selection of whiskies and beers.
(4)Katie H.
Great spot in the Short North. The Kentucky Mule was very tasty. Also tried the fried ravioli. Super yummy! would definitely come back again and try dinner with drinks. Happy hour specials looked interesting. On my list for future happy hours. Sleek decor with multiple TVs. Perfect for watching March Madness.
(4)Jocelyn T.
I had been to this place a couple years before I started writing reviews, and I loved it then, but was waiting for another opportunity to eat there. The boyfriend's birthday seemed like a great opportunity, because if it was anything like the first time I went there, he'd love it too. We both loved it! The service is great, and the whole staff gets involved. We were on a date, so we took a table in the dining room (empty when we arrived), and one server walked in and dimmed the lights. Someone else brought us water and menus. Our server made great drink recommendations (even an experienced whiskey drinker might be overwhelmed by their extensive menu), and our food came out quickly. We ordered the Bruschetta as an appetizer (tons of flavor, a little messy, and absolutely delicious), the boyfriend ordered the flat-iron steak (it was fantastic, I tried a bite), and I ordered the catfish (and having eaten half an appetizer, I still cleaned my plate and took home no leftovers, it was THAT good). Oh, and as they were bringing our entrees, another server darted in and placed a candle on the table - a nice touch of romantic lighting for our date. We stayed for a while, had second drinks, and had an overall fantastic experience. The bar area and front half of the dining room is a bit louder, but the wall to the smaller dining area tones down the sound enough that you can have a conversation
(5)Matt S.
Great food, and a neat little place to hang out. New ownership seems to be experimenting with the menu , and I'm looking forward to some of the recent "specials" becoming permanent additions. Plan on being back soon.
(4)