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She Said
It is the age of quality American comfort food and classic cocktails. Specialty eateries and taverns are popping up in hot spots around the valley. One that I feel is overlooked is Barrelhouse American Kitchen and Cocktails in Chandler. I discovered this cozy restaurant on a trip to a hardware store! Yup… it’s located between a hardware store and a video store (these apparently still exist). This place has a lot of heart and soul poured into it. The décor inside is simple but warm, with white-washed panels, dim lights, and scattered artwork on the walls. To my surprise, the owner turned out to be a mixologist I knew from months ago in the Scottsdale area. There is a happy hour from 4-6pm where the cocktails are $3 off, though I would pay full price and more for one of these works of alcoholic art. I had the Good Goddess and a taste of the Bijoux Mexicaine and my taste buds were blown away. The first was light and fluffy (egg white froth) and had a well-balanced taste of anise and black pepper. The second was bitter but complex. They have a couple drinks made with their house-aged liquor. For an appetizer, I tried the short rib with a coffee barbeque sauce over a polenta pancake. This could be an entrée if you want a small portion with heavy flavors. I was completely impressed with my main dish- the Hard Cider Pot Roast. It’s no exaggeration when I say this is one of the BEST and most exciting pot roast I have ever eaten. No need for a knife since the meat falls apart “like buttah!” In addition to the fresh green beans and the flavorful butternut squash and white cheddar casserole, the gravy was front and center. The hard cider had permeated the meat very well and the consistency of it was silky. In addition to the great meal, the staff was friendly and very attentive. My recommendation would be to go during happy hour to get an early start at tasting all they have to offer! (Also, check out their new impressive summer cocktail menu!). |
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