Denton is all grown up. Well, at least when itbrcomes to food. Barley & Board, the city’s firstbrbrewpub restaurant, caters to grown-up tastes.brIf you thought the college town just 25 milesbrnorth of Southlake only served dollar beers andbrgreasy bar food, give it a second look.br
Menu selections at Barley & Board range frombreclectic (Bacon Wrapped Medjool Dates and
Parisian Gnocchi, for example) to classic (Turkey Melt and Mom’s Meatball Sub). Classified asbrNew American cuisine, we just call it good.br
Chef Chad Kelley, who heads up the kitchenbras Executive Chef, says the restaurant is all aboutbrfun plating and clean, honest food at a decentbrprice. “For an all-scratch kitchen, we have a lotbrof labor-intensive items on the menu at a goodbrprice point,” he says.br
To wash down all the affordable gourmetbrfare, Barley & Board offers 36 craft beers onbrtap, which are made in 20-gallon batches.
For those who would rather sip on something other than beer, there are plenty of craftbrcocktails to pick from, including many withbrunique ingredients such as strawberry-sagebrsyrup, bacon-infused rye and honey-lavenderbrsyrup.br
As for the menu, it’s gourmet but not fancy.brAnything too fussy wouldn’t fit in with the area,brand Barley & Board is assuredly right at homebrin Denton’s historic downtown square. There’sbreven an interesting history to the restaurant’sbrlocation. It’s situated in the Lacy Hotel, an establishment built in 1884 that, according tobrreputation, served some of the best meals around.brMore than 120 years later, the site is still a place tobrenjoy good, authentic food.
br br brBarley & Board stays true to its historical rootsbrwhile incorporating modern elements such as dis-brtressed wood and metal. The outer walls reveal thebrhotel’s original brick, while the inside overflowsbrwith rustic charm. No detail was overlooked, frombrthe giant light-bulb fixtures suspended from thebrceiling to the old-fashioned pull-flush toilets.br
If you visit during the day, the main dining hallbris sunny and bright, flooded with natural lightbrfrom windows all around. A smaller space upstairsbris suited for more intimate dining. Contemporarybrrock filters through the restaurant by day, withbrmusic transitioning to jazz for evening diners.br
The hip atmosphere wouldn’t mean much if thebrfood wasn’t any good. But thankfully, it’s deliciousbrand well worth the trip. The menu offers an appetizing selection of soups, salads, sandwiches andbrflatbreads, as well as larger plates such as HangerbrSteak, Brazen Two-Faced Quail and Slow RoastedbrPork Tenderloin.br
brWith so many creative bites on the menu, it’sbractually something simple that stands out: thebrB&B Burger. “It was unintentional, but our burgerbrhas been a huge success. We tested all differentbrkinds of things: little gourmet burgers with roast-bred mushrooms and smoked cheeses. We tried getting really fancy with it,” Chef Kelley says. “But atbrthe end of the day, it wasn’t a burger I wanted to eatbrall the time.”
br br brWhat ended up working best is a mouthwatering combination of double meat, double slices ofbrAmerican cheese, Thousand Island dressing andbrhouse-made pickles. It’s sheer burger euphoriabrthat’s put over the top when served alongside thin,brcrunchy French fries.br
“I don’t often use American cheese,” says ChefbrKelley, “but sometimes it has its place. Certainbrthings like that just make [the burger]. And I lovebrthe matchstick fries. Each one is crispy.”br
There are also plenty of classic pub items thatbrare perfect for pairing with a cold beer – snacksbrsuch as German Rye Soft Pretzels and Blue CheesebrPotato Chips. We enjoyed the Oliversity Board, abrcreative plate featuring a half-dozen olive variet-bries including the soft Gaeta and the vibrant-greenbrCastelvetrano.br
brIf Denton wasn’t on your radar as a culinarybrdestination, it should be. Barley & Board bringsbrsophisticated flavors and homemade brews to thebrheart of the college town that’s just a short tripbraway. Perhaps it’s time to visit a different square, ifbronly for a meal and a cold one.
br br brBARLEY & BOARD
100 W. Oak St.brDentonbr940.566.3900 BarleyAndBoard.com
