- Restaurants |
- Nightlife |
- Shopping |
- Movies |
- All
The Barkley Restaurant & Bar
Rating Details »
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Private Lot
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Take-out:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Good for:
- Lunch, Dinner
- Music:
- Live
- Best Nights:
- Wed, Fri, Sat
- Happy Hour:
- Yes
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Smoking:
- Outdoor Area/ Patio Only
- Coat Check:
- No
16 reviews for The Barkley Restaurant & Bar
Well, it could have just been an off night the last time I was there.
We went in for the Prime Rib and everything was great. The baked potato, salad and especially the prime rib were done perfect.
It's hard to think that salad could be perfect. But their salad is so fresh and crisp with just the right amount of everything. I always like italian with blue cheese crumble. Love it..
The dinner rolls are like no other place. You'll want to take some home.
I definitely reccomend this place for that "old school" steak house experience. Plus, if steak isn't your thing, they have something for you..
2 Previous Reviews: Show all »
-
9/16/2009
Just went there recently and the Prime Rib was not good at all. Which was a huge dissappointment… Read more »
This place is so much fun. I've been here twice & all I want to do is shake my ass on the dance floor with everybody else. The crowd is a bit older but I don't care. I think they're young at heart and full of fun. Good band playing on Saturday night . They even played some cumbias that took me back to when I was a little girl and my mother played it over and over again.
Service 5 stars
Food 2 stars
Fun 5 freaking stars!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I'll be back with my dancing shoes on!!
Did I just step into a postmodern-critical theory novel? A film Noir? The past? How does this place stay open? By merit of its utter strangeness? There's obviously a secret that I've not been let in on. Perhaps I will experience an epiphany through this narrative.
The Scene:
Border of South Pasadena and Dirty Ol' LA. Wood panelled/cinder block/wall paper, semi circle bar, black buttoned Booths. Capacity 47
The Characters:
The Bartender: Blond, broken fortysomthin femme fatal in black dress.
The Waitress: Tired, irritable thirtysomthin dishwater blond who hates her job, her boss, most of all, the bartender.
The Boss: Greasy, balding, emitting pompous sleaziness with every swaggering waddle. You can imagine him abusing The Bartender.
The Busboy:
Cheerful Latino fiftysomthin, who has no idea he's in a film noir.
The Players:
A Trio of Locals at the bar.
A Random, Severely Inebriated Lone Drinker
The Saviour Prince: Strapping fortysomethin with a fu manchu mustache who exchanges tender flirtations with the bartender, evoking memories from the Little shop of Horrors romance between Seymour and Audrey.
Brando Le Strange: The Couple's Cat.
The Couple:
Girlfirend: Adventurous, curious,whiskey-guzzling, tactless red head in polka dots.
The Boyfriend:
Chronically nervous GQ businessman pocho, who leaves "remorse tips" when the redhead shows her tactlessness.
The Couple arrives at The Scene. The Boyfriend notices expensive cars in the parking lot and becomes nervous. The Girlfriend does not notice, leads the way through the sultry evening, eager for AC and JD.
The Couple enter furtively through the back, surprising The Bartender who does not recognize them. The Boyfriend and The Bartender glance around nervously. The Girlfriend stares at the back bar.
The Bartender agrees to serve appetizers at the bar alongside the Saphire tonics that are promptly placed. The Couple is happy. The appetizers look like deep fried poo on the page, and The Boyfriend announces he will have the Halibut.
The Girlfriend studies the strange menu, hears Dean Martin and Mariachi alternating, and watches Hannity frown from 2 TVs.
The Girlfriend suggests a move to a booth to accommodate the flailing elbows involved in consuming a full meal. She really can't stand a bartender with no personality. The boyfriend grimaces, discomfort and nervousness run laps around his thighs.
The Bartender agrees. Asks The Couple if she should close the tab. She doesn't know what to do: She has never had a customer move from the bar to a table.
A small scene ensues. The Bartender Suggests the couple "sit there" until she sees her remorse tip. Changes it to "over there". The Saviour Prince looks on. The Boss stalks from the office off the bar. Stalks back. The door says "Private."
The Bartender asks The Waitress to take The Couple to a 'nice quiet table'. They stare at each other with intense hatred. The Girlfriend looks around the small room wondering where the piano player is and seats herself while the adversaries stare. The Boyfriend follows. His sensitive gut is telling him that nothing good can come of this.
The Waitress offers the specials, smiles, turns, brings back rolls.
The Random, Severely Inebriated Lone Drinker, who entered stealthily, tumbles off his stool, and exits like a circus clown, limping on a bastard leg, loudly slurring, "I'm stho drungk, tshankyoo."
The Girlfriend is exceedingly amused. The Bartender looks startled. One of the Local Trio follows him out. The Saviour Prince chuckles, his broad shoulders shake and the fu manchu pulls back in a joker-like grimace.
The Waitress brings The Girlfriend an "antipasto salad" - A nightmarish medley of shredded iceberg with 4 olives, 3 peppercinis, diced Oscar Meyer Wieners and Kraft Singles.
The Girlfriend stares in horror but eats out of awkwardness and the lack of a fresh cocktail.
The Boyfriend receives a $26 slab of dry fish, a few stalks of steamed broccoli, and last night's half cold baked potato.
The Boyfriend inhales his food to avoid speaking. The Girlfriend feels odd chemical sensations in her mouth and pushes the plate away, and soon after, confesses to The Waitress that it was the worst thing she had ever eaten. The Boyfriend dies of embarrassment. The Saviour Prince and The Bartender stare longingly at each other. The Local Trio Leave. The Boss Swagger-waddles through the room. The Couple sit in utter discomfort. The Waitress smiles and collects the bill,lets her face turn into a hateful scowl before her profile has turned.
The couple escape into the wretched heat of the Los Angeles night. It slaps them in the face when they reach the apartment where Brando Le Strange is sprawled on the wood floor, suffering, suffering.
The girlfriend leaves her high heels on. Lifts her skirt to the fan.
The Boyfriend says "You want some wine or some gin or somethin?" The Couple Have Mojitos at Home
People thought this was:
- Useful (2)
- Funny (2)
- Cool (2)
This was our second stop in search of a new dive bar i the San Gabriel Valley. The place has the dark wooden panels and booths where people can dance in the middle of the room. On a Friday night at around 9PM, it was mostly couples in their 50s onward having dinner and and dancing in the center of the room. I think it would be a cute local area to go to when I am older. But this place wouldn't fit my definition of a dive bar. The beer was $6 and the mixed drinks were $8 so a bit more pricey to other places I've been.
Before the new (and current) owners of Gus's came along, all the Gus's regulars would start at Gus's and eventually go to Barkley, because it opened later than Gus's.
I had always wanted to go in there, but didn't make it there until the original Gus's closed.
I loved it - I went during happy hour, and they had free appetizers, and had the same feeling as the old gus's. I've wanted to go back - but I've run into a problem: no ride.
Since it's all the way down on Huntington, it takes about 30 minutes to walk there, which I normally don't mind, but South Pas police aren't all that friendly to people walking on Fair Oaks at 2:30 AM that are not white, even though I've lived there for years.
I've very careful about drinking and driving (or walking in SP) so the likelihood of me going back are slim, but I did enjoy it.
I really like this place. I like the bread they give you. I really like their grey goose martini. It's definitely THE place for the older crowd (I'm talking seniors, here). And the older crowd KNOWS how they want a grey goose martini.
I've had a pasta dish there. I've had a sandwich plate there. I can't remember what else I've had, but I know a friend of mine got their prime rib when it was being offered one night, and I could NOT stop myself from eating some of it off her plate! It was SO good!!!!
The service is iffy at best, but only because I'm not a regular. They seem to really favor their regulars a lot more than those that aren't. We had a blonde woman that looked like a slightly squidgier and older J.K.Rowling, and she wasn't the most pleasant person in the world.
I always thought this was a bakery. The darkest and strangest bakery because it was windowless. Now how the heck were they supposed to entice others to buy their baked goods if you didn't flash the sweet sugary suckers. Haha...my friend actually went in there once and asked about their cakes XD
Anyways, best darned prime rib I've ever had! It was so flavorful and...just so good! My friend doesn't make it a habit to eat red slabs of meat couldn't stop herself from taking pieces off my plate *GASP* JENNY DOESN'T SHARE CATE MONSTER!!! =_= The french onion soup was okay. I didn't like their complimentary bread but my friend did. Their chocolate mouse cake was very good.
I didn't like the service though. I thought that our server, a woman in her late 30s...ish, was very cold to us younguns. She was very pleasant and even joked around with the older crowd. To us, it was all business. Not even a smile =(
Had the mai tai, it tasted funny. Had the grey goose martini. Isn't that just straight vodka? Well, I wouldn't know if that was good or not. Haha...I'm a mixed drinks kind of girl =P
People thought this was:
- Useful (1)
- Funny (1)
- Cool (1)
This is as good as it gets when it comes to the old school San Gabriel Valley steak house joints. Ask anyone who used to live around here in the 50-60's and they'll tell you all about those glory days. There were tons of them around town, each one had their own special attribute along with their signature steaks and matchbooks. Today, all but a few survive and the Barkleys is one of those last greats that have survived the test of time, and perhaps for good reason. I'm not old enough to remember but i was told that in the 50's (known as the crossbow) this place wasn't just famous for its steaks but also for its guest crooners. Towards the mid-90's they even had lingerie shows (sadly missed those) up until the new owners and Roger Barkley's re-christianed it with its current nom de plume. I heard they used to serve drinks in mason jars but sadly I did not see any. I came back recently and had dinner after a very strong black label on the rocks woo hoo (gotta love strong drinks) Had an interesting conversation with a couple of folks that seem to be fixtures there and they convinced me that the full cut prime rib can rival greats such as Laury's. I'm still up in the air about that but they seem pretty close. All in all, great experience for out of towners and in towners as well. If you haven't tried the seafood bisque on Fridays, you have no idea what your missing.
People thought this was:
- Useful (2)
- Funny (1)
- Cool (2)
If you are looking for dinner and live music on a Friday, this is the spot to go. Not for us in our late twentys, but if you are open minded, it will do. Great place for steak, a little on the high end, but worth it. Good service, and a great place to just sit and listen to music of the 70's 80's and 90's.
I like this place mainly because my great aunt, who is kind of ridiculous in her tastes, really loves it. Actually, that's not the reason I like it. I like it because the entrance is in the back and it feels strange walking down into a cave-like restaurant. So like most places whose food I'm not crazy about, I'm giving this place a good rating mostly because I would have liked it when I was a kid.
The food is OK. They have live music sometimes, which I've never witnessed and hopefully never will. Mostly, though, I just like the old-people factor.
This place reminds me so much of so many restaurants I used to go to with my family in NE Ohio. It's so old school, and if you're under 60, you will be the youngest person in the restaurant. It's bizarre.
The food is pretty good - I haven't been disappointed. They have a huge menu with something for everyone.
You really need to go here at least once, just to experience it. The waiters are also old school, wearing white shirt and black pants, all middle aged or older. The bartender has probably been there for the last century.
Good service, and good bread. Good times!
People thought this was:
- Funny (1)
- Cool (1)
This place is best for a dinner date. It is one of those old-timey places that have a dimly lit interior, with wood and brass. You can't go wrong with their prime rib, and even though they have a fully stocked bar do order a Martin. A couple of these will be enough.
This place is a TRIP. It's classic LA (in South Pas). Old people waltzing to a crooning singer (live band!) dim lighting, full bar.. this place is a must see. Definitely stop by on your way home from Pasadena.
What a weird place....it's just a little different...but they have good food and good service...live entertainment on Friday nights...I think it's a piano player who sings??? They have a huge bar, too! I didn't order a drink...just pork chops and apple sauce... pork chops were very savory and juicy and just the right size.....The baked potato was divine...D I V I N E! They also have a huge ass menu. Crazy interior decorating....try to check this place out if you are ever in the SP...
I love this place the food is great the bar is excellent but most of all the staff is very attentive never a empty glass here.. the place is mostly senior citizens but its a hiden jewel when you just want to get away and have a good meal and a very cold beer!!
People thought this was:
- Useful (1)
The Barkley is one of the old school restaurants with a 10 page menu serving up anything you can think of. They also make a damn good martini! I don't even usually drink martinis, but I do when I go to the Barkley. The drinks are strong, the service is great, and there's even live music. Like I said, this is an old school joint, so you will be surrounded by a bunch of white hairs, but they're all pounding martinis... Yum!
