Even though I am a couponer, I love to go out to eat. It’s actually one of my favorite things to do. I don’t have to cook? Someone actually takes care of preparing what I’m going to eat? Yes please!
Last weekend I went out to the new Chicago restaurant Barn & Company with my husband and another couple – something we rarely do anymore! Barn & Company is a restaurant located in Lincoln Park (a neighborhood in Chicago for those of you unfamiliar with the area), just off the major intersection of Lincoln & Sheffield. They have an inviting sign and patio, which we would have sat at, but it was in the 90’s and we thought air conditioning would be a better choice.
Upon entering the restaurant we were met by two greeters who happened to be carding the people in front of us (they were headed to the bar). I am always a little impressed with people who card since I served tables in college and know that carding not the easiest thing to do. The greeters invited us in, asked whether we’d like to sit inside or outside and one escorted us to our table. The one thing I noticed about the patio – other than it’s openness and color – was that there was an EL track just above it. That means that every time a train drove over, it was LOUD. I’m sure there’s not a lot that the restaurant could do about that, so they added TVs and umbrellas to help drown out the noise and create a welcoming environment.
The table we sat at had a television on the table. It took me a second to realize that EVERY table actually had a television on it! You could navigate the channels yourself (a great option if you’re bringing tired children or you JUST want to check the score on various sports events) and if you don’t want it on at all, you could let your server know.
The menu is a good rundown of what most barbecue restaurants serve, so everyone was able to find something. The only issue that you might face with the menu is the lack of vegetarian options. Granted, at a barbecue restaurant, you expect meat. However, a vegetarian would pretty much have to choose between a salad and macaroni & cheese (which was AMAZING by the way). If you do visit Barn & Company, you may also want to ask your server if they offer vegetarian options that are not on the menu.
What to order?? Well, we came up with a nice spread. Prices are reasonable, but we had one more thing going for us. We had a $50 Restaurant.com gift certificate! The fine print stated that we had to order at least $75 (but alcohol did apply toward the purchase) and there would be an 18% gratuity added. All of that was perfectly fine by me. I mentioned the gift certificate to my server at the beginning of our meal, she happily accepted it and had the manager approve it while we were eating.
My favorite items ordered were by far our appetizers. Our meals were very tasty as well (we would all happily order them again), but the appetizers were truly outstanding. I tried Fried Pickles for the first time a few months ago when I went to Charlotte, NC and have been raving about them to my husband ever since. What do I see on the menu at Barn & Company? Fried Pickles! We ordered those and the wings (which were chili rubbed and delicious) and as much as I didn’t want to share (I’m sure you can understand!), I did and we polished that plates off very quickly. As you can see from the photo, we were served a healthy portion of each.
When it came time to pay for our meal, our server brought our bill with the $50 Restaurant.com gift certificate already deducted. The manager came over to chat with us for a bit (he was hilarious) and let us know that kids eat free on Tuesday and Wednesday nights when accompanied by an adult! What an amazing deal! Not only can you use a Restaurant.com gift card, but now your children can eat free?? Sold!
The 18% Gratuity was not added to our bill, so I left her $19. That is about what 20% of our bill would have looked like before the discount was applied. I was a server for years and know what a tough job it is. Please take care of your servers!
All in all, I would highly recommend visiting Barn & Company. Try it out on a Tuesday or Wednesday when your children can eat for free and treat yourself to an extra appetizer while using a Restaurant.com gift certificate. I know I’ll be going back!
*This post is written as part of the Restaurant.com Dining Destinations program.
Alli is a Chicago based wife and mother of two children. She has turned money-saving into a game and enjoys searching out the best deals to help you save money! Alli shares her insight, tips and up-to-the-minute deals for local and national retailers and brands. Her hope is that you will play the game and learn to save money at the same time!