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Categories: Pubs, American (Traditional)
3688 Bohemian HwyCome on down for hot wings, cold beer, and good times. Casual and fun.
Announced 4 days agoMon. 4:00 p.m. - 11:30 p.m.
Tue. 4:00 p.m. - 11:30 a.m.
Wed. 4:00 p.m. - 11:30 p.m.
Thu. 4:00 p.m. - 12:00 a.m.
Fri. 4:00 p.m. - 12:30 a.m.
Sat-Sun. 11:00 a.m. - 11:00 p.m.
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This place is great. I have only been here once but will give it 5 stars just based off that one experience. Death and Taxes and Summer Solstice Cerveza Crema on tap! How awesome is that? Homemade garlic fries and spicy yet flavorful wings! The beer selection is second to none in Northern California and features a plethora of NorCal and Belgian beers.
The beer is great, the food is tasty and the service is excellent. Definitely a must stop if you appreciate good local brew, homemade pub grub and a good relaxing vibe.
I decided to give this place another try because the owner of the restaurant commented on my previous 3-star review. I'll document every step of my second visit, and show you why this place deserves 4 stars.
You walk in, and you're at a strange crossroads; the bar area is to the right, there is a staircase right ahead of you, and a few different dining rooms are off to the left. I don't think it's a very good entrance to the restaurant; I wasn't sure where to stand to wait to be seated (like the sign instructed me to do), and as I stood there waiting to be seated, I was hit by the swinging door behind me. Not only is there not a good place to stand when you first come in, but the bartender walked by our party of four and didn't even acknowledge us. Not the best way to start the meal.
The best way to start a meal is actually with a 22oz bottle of local IPA. I went with the Hop Rod Rye from Healdsburg, CA. Very strong IPA, clocking in at around 9%. 6 bucks for a 22oz bottle isn't bad at all, especially when it's an ale that you're gonna be feeling for a couple hours after you finish it (for example, me right now).
Started with the caprese salad: heirloom tomatoes, fresh mozzarella, basil, and balsamic vinegar. The tomatoes were tasty...not the best I've ever had (that title belongs to those at the W in Los Angeles), but definitely a good organic heirloom. The fresh mozzarella was just okay...pretty much the kind I could find at Trader Joe's, which was a bit disappointing. The basil was my favorite ingredient; I wouldn't doubt that it's grown in the back and hand-picked that day, there was so much flavor. Overall, a fundamentally sound caprese salad, and surprisingly good for a pub.
Since I was updating my review, I made sure to taste as many different dishes as possible. I ordered the Ed Gleaner (barbecue chicken sandwich), but got to taste the mac 'n cheese, the fish 'n chips, and the dish I got last time, the mushroom swiss burger.
My sandwich was very good. The piece of chicken was tender and juicy all the way through, the cheese was melted perfectly, the caramelized onions were bursting with flavor, and the herbed-onion bun was the perfect home. The fries were very good as well, definitely made from high-quality potato. The Asian slaw I remember has since been replaced by a normal cole slaw, which was a perfectly-chilly side dish.
The fish 'n chips are very good. Good quality red snapper. I'm not sure I'd call these 'lightly battered' because there's definitely a thick breading, but it's offset by the good amount of fish meat. It was at this point in the meal where I stopped analyzing so much, and just enjoyed my beer and my smorgasbord of gourmet pub food. In other words...get the fish and chips!
I then returned to my old friend, the Shroomer, which is the mushroom swiss burger. The herbed-onion bun has been toned a bit down since I came last, because last time, I couldn't taste the 100% Angus beef over the crazy mixture of herbs on the bun. This time, it was perfect. I could taste the quality of the beef and the other toppings while still getting the herbs from the bun. And again, the Asian slaw was replaced with cole slaw, which was definitely an upgrade.
I tasted the mac 'n cheese as well. I was very much looking forward to this, but I didn't think it was anything special. The flavor wasn't great, the texture wasn't great...it's not bad, I was just a little let down, as I love gourmet mac 'n cheese.
All in all, great food for a great value. Noah, you rock, and I hope I get to meet you sometime.
I'd recommend this place for some beers and some appetizers, but we went for dinner and the food was… Read more »
Looks like you get in trouble if you give them a bad review, so...Barley & Hops is really good. I had no expectations when I first tried this place because there hadn't been a decent restaurant here since the Bohemian closed. I actually really didn't want to go, but I'm glad my husband convinced me.
Yes there are lots of great beers to choose from, but the food is really good too it turns out. The burgers beat the Union hands down, and the onion rings and fish and chips are amazing. If you just want a snack with your beer the Bavarian pretzel is fresh and delicious. They only have beer (with the exception of a lemon drop which I think is a special right now), no cocktails or hard liquor. They had a killer bread pudding a few weeks ago I wish they would bring back (desserts are always changing specials).
Sometimes the crowd gets a bit rowdy after dark. People sit outside often, the porch being the only outdoor seating. Sometimes the music (live or DJ) is a bit loud and the bar has a TV that's always on some sports station.
Both the waitresses and the owner are very nice and attentive. Don't be afraid to sit in the dining room- it's quieter. This is a good place for a date.
my sister and her bf took me there for dinner and dinner we ate were so good! everything are fresh, homemade and make same day we ate for dinner. i really love hamburgs my sister and i ordered. i love their bread! it is best bread i ever eat in my life!
Really great place. I saw a band (the Easy Leaves) play while sitting at the bar, then could hear them during dinner. Fun. The bartender was very friendly and helpful and so was the waitstaff. Food was really tasty.
From the front, you just know this place is going to be a cozy spot. We walked in and were immediately greeted by the bartender, who told us we could sit anywhere. When I asked about watching a baseball game, he told me that they were getting ready to show hockey instead, but that he'd be happy to give me score updates! :)
So, B & H has an impressive beer selection, both bottled and on tap - if you like good beer, you will have no problem finding plenty of options!
OMG their onion rings are the best I've ever tasted - totally worth the 'splurge.' Even if you don't like onion rings, I promise you will LOVE these.
I had the ratatouille (delish + vegan!) and my boyfriend had the meatball sandwich. We were both very happy with our choices, too!
Our server, Kim, was very sweet and attentive - she took great care of us the entire time we were there. It was a great, casual dinner in a wonderful atmosphere. I'm excited to go back again very soon!
A-MAZING place. Great beer selection, including some very rare and unusual local brews. I highly recommend you have the soba salad, with fish on top if you're feeling hungry (still a lot of food without). This salad has everything: lettuce, beets, cherry tomatoes, roasted garlic, snow peas, tofu, carrots, grapes, beans, peppers, mushrooms, raisins, pickled apricots, etc, etc, etc, plus soba noodles, seaweed and dipping sauce. I can't remember it all, but I was blown away by the mix of textures and flavors.
Cozy pub atmosphere, great wait staff. Dessert was very tasty too. If you enjoy good beer and/or good food and you're in the neighborhood, do not miss this wonderful gastro-pub! I've got a reason to come back to Occidental now, too bad it's not closer to the city!
Food was simply not good. I ordered the burger and a dinner salad. The burger was dry. Complaints all around the table of the medicore food. It was busy the night we went and only one server working the whole room, she was great, but service was obvioulsy on the slow side.
Loud music in the bar area, really loud music. Atmosphere leaves something to be desired as well. I liked the feel of the last restaurant in this place better when you could see into the kitchen, now that is boarded up with wood painted black.
Either way, if you want good food in Occidental go to the Bistro, or Union Hotel. If you want a large beer selection come here. If you want wine...go elsewhere.
Occidental really needed this place. The Burgers are great but just about everything on the menu pleases and the beer selection is impressive and he's always adding new beers to try. The couple who run the place are very kind.
We'll keep coming back.
Score updated to 4 stars after (and I must be honest) being convinced that my decision not to give 4 stars because it's not an innovative avant-garde nouveau foodie place is not the right reason to hold back on a great pub. It really is a great pub.
I give B&H 3.5 stars. The food is definitely the best pub fare I've tried in West County. My… Read more »
I spent 20 years of my life living in Occidental. After moving to San Francisco I thought the only reason I would return would be to visit family. I was wrong.
Barely and Hops is just what Occidental has been lacking; a place with good food, good beer, and a good heart. My boyfriend and I stopped in one evening and taking a seat at the small but welcoming bar we took our time going through their extensive beer list. The beers are an eclectic assortment from local loves, to one named "Toast" which is served from a tap that looks like a burnt piece of toast. Most importantly these beers were selected by hand and for good reason. Noah, the man responsible for my beer bliss, is passionate about beer. We found him behind the bar that night, and all the other night we have visited, happily keeping our glasses full and chatting with us about our favorite microbrews.
And the food, again it is all about passion. Mirjam has mastered the art of good pub food. Everything is good, everything. I have eaten there four times since the beginning of the year and have yet to be disappointed. The Mac and Cheese, the burgers, even the salads are different from anywhere else in the area, they are stupidly good.
These days we see too many people getting ahead who shouldn't, the passionate honest people being lost in the wake. Do your part to make sure that doesn't happen here. Go to Barley and Hops. You'll be a better person for it, well at least you will feel like, it especially after you have had a few Rat Bastards.
I highly recommed the pretzle chicken... Yum! The atmosphere is nice too... really casual and fun...
B&H is a welcomed addition to the Occidental experience...great beer and the food is much more/better than the traditional pub grub.
Beers are esoteric and thoughtful - both bottle and tap offerings are a pleasure to explore. Hey, anyone who has Death & Taxes is a-ok in my book.
The menu has something for everyone...pretzel chicken salad is gut...seriously, try it.
Oktoberfest was a blast and there's always something going on whenever we pop by. Owners are super-nice, welcoming.
Check it out if you haven't yet!
All right, I'm going with 5 stars, but for now, just for the pub because I haven't tried enough of the eats to make post educated review. But how hard is it to review a pub for its 'pubness'? This is really my kind of place. Small and homey (not like, "Yo, homey!", but more along the lines of "Hey baby, can I get you a beer, rub your back, make a sandwich...? Oh, wait, that's right; we're at a BAR!" homey). The staff has been extremely friendly and comfortable to talk to (and banter with) and the place wreaks of charm, from the victorian home in which it resides to the porch where the band often sets up so that they can play to the patrons and the rest of the town (Occidental is small!)
But the best part is the beer! They have a great selection of beers on tap, mostly local brews (Pliny, Death & Taxes, Racer, etc) and a massive amount of bottled beers also. Something for everyone. Wines too. Haven't checked the selection yet. But if they pay as much attention to their wines as they do beer, they'll be able to hook you up. I hate telling people about these places because, next thing you know, you can't get in. But these folks deserve the business. I can say that the Fish & Chips smelled awesome, they make their own pickles (MOST of their stuff is homemade, I'm told) and they're open to substitutions. My Israeli friend doesn't eat red meat, but wanted the "Tri-Dip", a tri-tip sandwich au jus, but wanted chicken ("no problem!), the salad, but without the sweet vinaigrette ("sure, I can put a malt vinaigrette on it, that way it won't be sweet at all") and there was only a quick mention of the possibility of the kitchen staff going haywire with all the changes, with the assurance that it would be OK. (I think that was just to keep him from getting really off the wall...)
Wonderful place! Going to make it out for either a full lunch or dinner ASAP so I can fill out the review, but for a pub, it's great!
awesome! I need to hold back the 5 red stars until I go at least one more time, but this is a little gem with great beer and a cozy vibe. There was an awesome roots-reggae-hip-hop DJ spinning by the bar when we arrived - so cool. Another score for the west county!
Awesome selection of beers and wines, funky DJ sometimes, nice tv for the game, nice bartenders. Haven't tried the food yet, but for a beer its tops.
They have chocolate mousse. I love them for that~
I don't drink, but made my way in so that my guy could test their fish and chips and drink lots of interesting beers. We sat up at the bar and got a full meal. Onion Rings with lots of flavor that were cooked just right started us off, he got the fish and chips and was very impressed and I got the mac and cheese and was pretty darn happy. However for me the 'Guinness chocolate mousse' was the best part. mmm chocolate.
Owner/bartender was great, fun to talk to and banter around various bits of randomness with. The other owner (its run by a husband and wife team) was in the kitchen that night to great effect.
The place also just has a nice feel to it, lots of wood paneling and such, feels like a pub ought to.
I didn't have any food here but the draft beer was really good- they have a huge selection of bottled beer too.
Comfy seating and nice bartenders. I'll be back.
Excellent place to hang out! Good beer and wine. Jazz music on Saturdays eve, and food menu is great. Burgers, awesome fish & chips, pot pies and many more. Can't go wrong with your money.
http://www.barleynhops.../
Went here for the first time after the farmers market on Friday.
Wow real pub food. The fish and chips looked soooooooooooooo good and so did the Shepperd's pie.
Really good beer selection by the bottle. Pretty good draft selection also. I think in general Occidental has good energy and it follows that the energy from the patrons was good. Good place to drink a beer
A heaping helping of warmth and welcome. What a great pub, in the truest sense of the word. Dazzling selection of beers, extra friendly service and great pub food.
I went last night with friends and we sat at the bar. What a great pub! Awesome selection of beers on tap and in bottles. Things like Death and Taxes, Delerium Tremens, PLINY, etc... The food was also great. But probably the best thing was the owner/bartender Noah, who was recommending great beers and serving them up to a very large crowd with a quickness.
Great beer. Great food. Great atmosphere!!! I hear the hand twisted pretzels are to die for. The atmosphere is super cozy, the bartender/owner warm, friendly, and quick to make a perfect beer recommendation to go along with your hearty meal. This place is a great stop while in Russian River Valley, check it out next time you are up there! Note they are closed on Tuesdays.
A solid place, good food, great beer selection that changes, and a friendly staff, cute occidental feel too. I love this place. Bike in from Sebastopol for a beer! They have a guiness mousse that is amazing!
Wonderful pub food. I have had almost everything on the menu at this point and it is excellent. Probably my favorite is the noodles with tri tip. The pub fries are great too. Almost everything is homemade (salad dressings included), and the fries are hand cut. mmm
Great selection of beers from all over. This place is one of the only local places with Death and Taxes on Tap. If you like mellow amber, non hoppy beers, the Farmhouse is my favorite, and they also have a double chocolate stout that is fantastic, plus tons of bottled beers.
Save room for the "Guiness" Mousse (no Guiness included)
There is a dining area and a pretty small bar, but the atmosphere is nice and mellow.
What a find, what a score!
Looking for delicious and yummy organic food, look no further. Not your typical pub menu and plenty of vegetarian food. Check out their home-made veggie burger and don't miss some of the best french fries you'll ever have-crispy, cooked in peanut oil and very addictive. Huge beer list to choose from. Highly recommended.
Just popped in for a quick beer and really liked the selection, I will definitely be back to give a proper review but for now I got to give props to squeaky clean beer lines. Don't go here and order wine. Whatruamoron?
This is a "starter rating" of 4 - at first I gave it a 5, but in all fairness I've only been here once. Will update when I'm able to get back.
Mr. B. and I stopped here on the way home from our anniversary weekend at Timber Cove. In the course of the weekend we had eaten at Bistro des Copains, Cape Fear Cafe, and Alexander's at the hotel, but this was by far the best meal of the weekend. I'd Yelped pubs in the area, hoping to find one that would broadcast the Confederations Cup final for us, and Tish, the barkeep here, very graciously did so. (game review: 5 stars first half, 2 stars for the second)
As I am currently grounded from alcohol by my neurosurgeon, I could only admire the selection of brews from afar, but it was impressive - looked like ~15 on tap, and I think she said 50 bottled varieties.
The selection of nonalcoholic beverages was excellent, too - Mr. B. enjoyed a "craft" root beer (who know there was such a thing?) and I had a cranberry Italian soda.
The highlight of the visit, however, was the food. No scrungy kidney pie or Kirkland Signature chicken strips here - oh no, this was all tasty, simple fare with a California twist. I ordered the strawberry & spinach salad as a nutritional counterbalance to our order of garlic/parmesan fries, and both were excellent. The salad comes with a tangy raspberry vinaigrette and a wedge of panko-crusted melting brie - delicious combination of crispy, buttery, tangy, and earthy. The garlic fries were not greasy - a rare treat - and were sprinkled with a smooth parmesan to complement the garlic. We ordered the "Sausages? Sausages!" appetizer and both found the sausage and sauce sort of bland, but the bed of blaukraut beneath was delicious. Mr. B. said the barbecue sauce on his wings was good, and he must have enjoyed the Guiness chocolate mousse because he ordered a second just for himself after we had shared one.
The atmosphere is just right - the pub is in an old house so the bar is in one room and two other rooms are standard dining areas. I've been in American pubs that are cloying in their efforts to appear European, but Barley and Hops is nothing like that - the atmosphere is straightforward pub, warm and friendly.
Wish we had something like B&H down here in Almaden...
Really good food, we had the chicken w/mustard sauce and tri-dip and I discovered the "Death & Taxes" beer. It can be loud, but you could still hear the woman signing in the corner and the GM was fun to talk with. Hope the owner gets well soon. For a kick, you have to read his 'blog' on the website.
Excellent food and huge beer selection!
Occidental, CA
Category: Italian
Occidental, CA
Category: Wineries
Occidental, CA
Category: French
Occidental, CA
Category: Hotels
Occidental, CA
Category: Restaurants
