Geneva's Barrel + Rye draws crowds with whiskey, tasty fare
Since opening in November, Geneva's Barrel + Rye has been packing its small space with diners enjoying contemporary American fare with classic whiskey-focused cocktails. While owners are still working on establishing themselves, they already have big plans for expanding their appeal by adding tastings, flights and a monthly supper club.
Motif: A large wooden bar curves around the space with tables on the sides. The walls are a mix of wood planks and dark blue and white wallpaper, set with shelves decorated with books and knickknacks. Exposed bulbs hang from the ceiling and stained glass lamps provide additional illumination. TVs behind the bar are tuned to sports and a chalkboard shows off the current draft list.
Food: Barrel + Rye's menu offers plenty of great picks whether you're looking for a full meal or just something to snack on with your cocktail. The appetizer selection includes gooey balls of breaded Brie served with a sweet and spicy apricot pepper sauce, and fried slices of okra and pickles with a creamy aioli for dipping. The Southern sandwich is one of the most popular dishes, reminiscent of chicken and waffles with its spicy fried chicken, smoked Gouda, fried egg and maple syrup on a fluffy bun. The steak chimichurri sandwich was also great, topped with arugula, crumbled feta and grilled onions. The big sandwiches also come with a side; options include sweet roasted Brussels sprouts with bacon and onions and twisty mac and cheese topped with crispy bread crumbs.
Liquid consumption: The drink menu focuses on classic whiskey cocktails such as the Sazerac and Old Fashioned. There's also a massive menu of whiskeys you can try straight. If you're not a whiskey drinker, opt for the super gingery and potent 5 Spice Moscow Mule or the Bubbles and Bramble, a mix of vodka, Chambord, blackberry, lemon juice and prosecco that's the bar's most popular drink with women. The draft list focuses on local breweries including Warrenville's Two Brothers Brewing Company, Geneva's Penrose Brewing Company and Lake Barrington's Wild Onion Brewery.
Crowd: Barrel + Rye seats only 55 people and doesn't take reservations, so you'll want to call ahead if you've got your heart set on a table. The wait was 90 minutes for two when we went on a Saturday night. The crowd is mostly in their late 20s and older and nicely dressed, with the space drawing in plenty of couples and small groups.
Service: We were greeted by a very friendly hostess who kept us updated on her attempts to contact a group that had put their names down and left and pointed out some space at the bar that would be vacated by the next party in line if they didn't show up. As a result we got a seat in less than 10 minutes despite the packed crowd. It proved a bit hard to get a bartender's attention, but he proved helpful with drink suggestions. The kitchen seems more than capable of handling the space's capacity, with food coming out quickly.
Parking: There's a small free lot that provides parking for Barrel + Rye and the other businesses in the shopping complex where it's located.
Overall: While it's a haven for whiskey lovers, anyone can enjoy a night out at Barrel + Rye.
Barrel + Rye
577 S. 3rd St., Geneva, (630) 402-0627, <a href="http://barrelandrye.com">barrelandrye.com</a>
<b>Hours:</b> 11 a.m. to midnight Monday through Thursday, 11 a.m. to 2 a.m. Friday and Saturday, noon to 11 p.m. Sunday