Lakewood-based George Group opens new Barley House
By Cynthia Schuster-Eakin
Insights
Published April 15, 2009

A restaurant does not have to be high-end, with white tablecloths and multi course offerings, to attract customers these days.

Most restaurant patrons are looking for a quality product, good value and superior service when it comes to spending their dining dollars.

The George Group, headquartered in Lakewood, has initiated enough dining and entertainment ventures over the years, including Cleveland’s Harry Buffalo restaurants, to know what will draw a crowd.

About a month ago, the George Group brought the Barley House, 1261 W. 6th Street, to Cleveland’s Warehouse District.

The Barley House occupies the address that once housed the Spy Bar. But, the space has been completely gutted and remodeled. The original, massive dark oak bar has been retained, but the rest of the main room has been opened up. Decorated in warm tones with Irish quotes as part of the décor, the restaurant offers seating at oak wine barrel tables and high-tops. The front doors open to the street, and an outdoor patio for 150 will open later this month. A night club is planned downstairs.

The Barley House tagline is, “Sit long, talk much, laugh often.” Prior to opening the Cleveland location, the George Group ran the Barley House in Akron. “This place has the same good vibe,” General Manager Corey May pointed out. “Everybody is welcome here, including families with children.” The restaurant even features some kids’ games and trivia to be played on its numerous flat-screen TVs.

The menu offers Irish American cuisine, with some traditional Irish entrees, sandwiches and deep-dish pizzas.

Appetizers include items like Irish pita nachos, or fried pita wedges topped with cream cheese sauce, corned beef, shredded potatoes, four cheeses and fresh chives ($9.99), and hand-crafted crab cakes with Dijon wasabi sauce ($9.99). Bruschetta is crusty bread topped with garlic and pesto, tomatoes and parmesan cheese and baked until bubbly ($5.99). The Barley Platter combines Reuben egg rolls, chicken tenders, Buffalo wings, bruschetta and cheddar-filled pretzel wedges on a bed of sweet potato and waffle fries ($14.99).

Slider melts, served on Italian sesame bread with waffle fries, include cheddar bacon chicken sliders, mushroom bacon cheddar beef sliders and turkey and homemade stuffing sliders ($8.99).

Salads include tropical chicken with almonds, gorgonzola cheese, pineapple, strawberries and Granny Smith apples, and an Irish cobb salad with chicken, bacon, three cheeses and buttermilk ranch dressing ($6.99 regular, or $8.99 large). The regular-sized Southwest steak salad was a large bowl heaped with romaine lettuce, shaved sirloin, red and green sliced peppers, jalapeno pepper rings and onions straws, with Southwest ranch dressing ($7.99).

The Irish pie, a twist on traditional pizza, was a deep-dish crust topped with snappy horseradish sauce, shaved corned beef, shredded potatoes, and mozzarella, Provolone and Swiss cheese ($8.99). Other specialty pizzas include the mac ‘n cheese and chicken pizza, Ivory pizza with garlic sauce, mushrooms, onions and feta, and the chicken bacon ranch pizza.

Corned beef is a house specialty, and you can enjoy it in a corned beef sandwich, Reuben or Barley Reuben melt. The turkey stuffing melt is sliced turkey, homemade dressing, cranberries and Havarti cheese topped with gravy on Italian bread ($8.99). The Top O’ the Morning melt is chicken, turkey, an over-easy egg and cheddar finished with tangerine sauce ($8.99).

Entrees include a corned beef boiled dinner ($10.99), fried fish and chips ($8.99), shepherd’s pie ($11.99) and gourmet macaroni and cheese made with bleu and goat cheese ($9.99). Stuffed cabbage is topped with tomato sauce and parmesan cheese ($11.99). Baked Panga is a light, white fish marinated in lemon and garlic butter and baked ($10.99).

Mini desserts ($2.50) include pineapple upside down cake, mini caramel cheesecake or chocolate ganache cake, or a combination of all three for the table to share ($6.50).

The bar offers a wide variety of beers, including 20 draft selections, house wines and specialty drinks.

The Barley House is open from 11 a.m. to midnight seven days a week for kitchen service, and until 2:30 a.m. for bar service. Customers can order ahead online for a quick lunch or dinner. Party delivery is available downtown. Happy hour is 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Friday. Credit cards are accepted. Phone (216) 623-1700 or visit www.barleyhousecleveland.com.