In Defense of the “Mini-Chain”

Before you guffaw at the concept of there being a decent mini-chain restaurant (gasp!  The horror!  Oh, the humanity of it all!) and close this browser, hear me out.  I, too, have shared similar assumptions.  Normally, I stay as far away from chain restaurants as possible.  In my opinion, they just can’t seem to bake the same love into their dishes as independently owned restaurants.  However, I feel like Barney’s Beanery deserves a chance from all of us.  Yes, really!

Is it the world’s best food?  No; but I’ll get into that more a little later. Will you have some sort of existential, transcendental experience? Not likely; although anything is possible. You will find, however, that it’s just a fun place to hang out and enjoy yourself, especially after a hard days’ work.

The decor is playful, with multi-colored booths, pool tables, a number of  televisions tuned to sports, and tables with a thick layer of celebrity photos. To put it simply: the interior is definitely a conversation piece.

I like the beer selection a lot and often opt for the Arrogant Bastard Ale.  Their food menu is extensive, which is good because people tend to be a little indecisive when drinking; I know I am, at least.  If you’re in the mood for a greasy treat, I recommend the potato skins, or cheese fries.  Both offer just the right amount of ooey-gooey-cheesy-deliciousness required to be considered comfort food.

For my meals, I tend to stick to the sandwich selections.  The food is not the most amazing I’ve ever had, but their selection is still good in that bar-food need-to-eat-after-drinking kind of way and is quite tasty.  Tonight, I had the tuna salad and was pleasantly surprised; not as salty as most places (hooray!) but flavorful and filling.  I always leave Barney’s Beanery full and in a good mood.

The atmosphere of Barney’s is laid-back and friendly.  Don’t be afraid to sneak into your neighbor’s conversation and make some new friends.  Sometimes, it can get a little loud so it’s probably not the best choice of venue for that romantic night out you’ve been looking forward to.  The service is very non-chain-like, which is awesome.  The servers are accommodating and will do what they can to make sure you have a good experience, even if they have to go a little out of their way to do so.

Certainly, I can understand that everyone has a favorite bar or two that they are loyal to and I’m not saying you should consider changing   that.  But, take a chance one night and head over to Barney’s Beanery.  I think you’ll be pleasantly surprised.

Barney’s Beanery

8447 Santa Monica Blvd., West Hollywood, CA 90069

(323) 654-2287