Note: Previous posts about Barrel & Roost have appeared on the Nicholas Restaurant thread. I started this thread because I felt B&R deserved its own thread.
We have been going to Nicholas since right after it first opened in December 1999. Our first visit was for Michael’s birthday on January 26, 2000. At that time, you had the table for the evening. From the start, we liked everything about it and over the years, had dinner there many times and not just for special occasions. In addition to the superb cuisine, service was always pleasant and attentive. We never found the dining room “stuffy.” The restaurant was, in all respects, much like many of the upscale restaurants we’ve frequented in NYC though not as expensive. After the bar opened, we at there quite a few times. It was fine, but we preferred the dining room. The last time we ate there was several years ago.
It was on this board that I heard about the change to Barrel & Roost. We didn’t try it immediately because we were not, and still are not, doing any indoor restaurant dining. While mentioned was made here about there being something outdoors, I had the impression that it was for drinks and snacks which didn’t interest us. However, a couple of weeks ago, when we stopped into the Creamery in Atlantic Highlands to get ice cream (after eating at Kunya Siam, which I should talk about on the appropriate thread), the young ladies assured me that there were outside tables at Barrel & Roost where one could have a meal. When I looked at the B&R website, I saw that they take reservations for outdoor dining. Yesterday, the weather being pleasantly warm, we made a spur-of-the-moment decision to have lunch there. No problm reserving a table at 2:45 p.m. In fact, when we arrived, there was only one other table occupied (by a group women). (And, by the way, no problem parking ourselves right in front. If there is valet parking, I guess it’s in the evenings or on weekends.)
When they rebuilt, they installed doors in the bar are that opened to the out-of-doors and built the outdoor dining area in front of it and to the side. Plants and shrubbery provide shields from the bustle of Route 35.
We have been going to Nicholas since right after it first opened in December 1999. Our first visit was for Michael’s birthday on January 26, 2000. At that time, you had the table for the evening. From the start, we liked everything about it and over the years, had dinner there many times and not just for special occasions. In addition to the superb cuisine, service was always pleasant and attentive. We never found the dining room “stuffy.” The restaurant was, in all respects, much like many of the upscale restaurants we’ve frequented in NYC though not as expensive. After the bar opened, we at there quite a few times. It was fine, but we preferred the dining room. The last time we ate there was several years ago.
It was on this board that I heard about the change to Barrel & Roost. We didn’t try it immediately because we were not, and still are not, doing any indoor restaurant dining. While mentioned was made here about there being something outdoors, I had the impression that it was for drinks and snacks which didn’t interest us. However, a couple of weeks ago, when we stopped into the Creamery in Atlantic Highlands to get ice cream (after eating at Kunya Siam, which I should talk about on the appropriate thread), the young ladies assured me that there were outside tables at Barrel & Roost where one could have a meal. When I looked at the B&R website, I saw that they take reservations for outdoor dining. Yesterday, the weather being pleasantly warm, we made a spur-of-the-moment decision to have lunch there. No problm reserving a table at 2:45 p.m. In fact, when we arrived, there was only one other table occupied (by a group women). (And, by the way, no problem parking ourselves right in front. If there is valet parking, I guess it’s in the evenings or on weekends.)
When they rebuilt, they installed doors in the bar are that opened to the out-of-doors and built the outdoor dining area in front of it and to the side. Plants and shrubbery provide shields from the bustle of Route 35.
On to the food. Michael started with French Onion Soup which I dipped into several times. And excellemt version.
We then shared the “Nicholas Burger.” Prepared precisely to our medium rare specification, it was delicious. One of the best burgers we’ve had. A surprise was that the “chips” were not French fries but rather house made potato chips. Very tasty and a pleasant change.
For desseert, we chose the Giant Chocolate Chip Cookie with the Creamery’s Barrel Aged Coffee Ice Cream. Frankly, calling it a “cookie” seems to me a misnomer as it’s more like a chocolate chip pie. Very rich and way to big for us to finish. We managed to eat half – along with the ice cream, of course – and took the other half home.
Our server was friendly and attentive. Overall, an extremely pleasing experience. If the weather cooperates, we’re planning to go back for dinner one day next week.
The album for this meal, including more photos of the exterior, can be viewed on my Flickr Nicholas Barrel & Roost | Flickr.
