Review of the Iron Barley Eating Establishment in St. Louis, Missouri

The Iron Barley sits unobtrusively at the intersection of Bates and Virginia in the Dutchtown neighborhood of St. Louis. It's received a lot of fanfare in the last few years, thanks to appearances on a few major "foodie" shows and servers who will become visibly agitated if you try to use the word "foodie."

To be frank, the Iron Barley's isn't in the expensive part of town (although it's certainly safe and parking is ample). It's where food fans go to "slum it up." There's a certain enchantment to the idea of eating in a dive, and the Iron Barley manages to cater to the dive-bar crowd while still staying clean and professional.

The Iron Barley is divided into two sections, an upstairs and a more low-key downstairs. The downstairs is known as "Fred's Six Feet Under" and is run by local music legend and radio DJ Fred Friction, who can be found there on nights through the latter part of the week. A master of atmosphere, Fred keeps the downstairs looking like a basement that was quickly converted into a bar-which it is-and runs the bar while patrons eat food and watch some of the best acoustic performers in St. Louis. He's one of the main reasons that people stop into the Iron Barley in the first place, or at least one of the major reasons that they keep coming back.

Whether you sit upstairs or downstairs, the food at the Iron Barley is some formidable stuff. An array of sandwiches, meats, and even seafood dishes are available, including a magnificent seafood risotto. Portions are hearty, and dishes like the Del Monico prime rib show that the Iron Barley staff is capable of delivering a quality steak as well as any gourmet restaurant.

What really sets the Iron Barley apart is the inventiveness of their menu. If you've only got $7 in your pocket, for instance, you can get the Monte Cristo, a pair of hot dogs with mozzarella cheese and strawberry jam. It really doesn't seem like it should taste good, but it does. The duck salad is a better choice for health-minded eaters, as it's light and impeccably cooked. Nothing on the menu is a miss, even the seasonal experimental dishes. It's all fresh and worth every dollar that you put in.

The Iron Barley staff are friendly, quick, and all-around great people, and the food is some of the best in St. Louis. A lot of work probably goes into the whole "slumming it" attitude that gets people in the door, but once you're inside, you can't deny that there's a much bigger emphasis on quality food and a great atmosphere.

Whether you stop in for a drink to listen to great bands (or the famous Chippewa Chapel open mic night on Thursdays) or a gourmet meal with a few like-minded friends, the Iron Barley Eating Establishment is not to be missed. It's one of the best spots in St. Louis thanks to a fantastic staff and an unbelievable menu.

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