pickle barrel

the servers here are never friendly, but today it was horrendous! the server came over and was very rude and acted like she did not want us there. she took our drinkorderand brought us our drinks but did not ask if we ready to order. she went and sat at a booth rolling silverware and waited on her customers that were done eating. we waited atleast ten mins waiting for her to come back to our table which she never did. so we got up to leave and i told the manager and he did not care at all. he just said oh no well are you sure you want to leave and i said yes and he said well come back. fat chance! never again! we left and went to braiz’n and they are super nice!

awesome burgers. i've eaten here quite a few times and have never been disappointed. i've gotten the zydeco and blue cheese burgers and they are absolutely delicious. if youordera sandwich, i strongly suggest the jalepeno bun. they also have 2 for 1 burgers and draft beer on tuesdays, which is a clear winner. i haven't really been during the bar hours, as i don't know the crowd, but they offer a large beer selection and live music on the weekends.

terrible customer service. i have eaten at the pickle barrel before the new ownership, and i really liked the food. when i found out that it was under new ownership and would be revamped, i was excited! it was around 8:30pm on a friday night, and six of my friends and i decided to go check it out. when we walked in, no one greeted us and we sat ourselves. we sat there for about 10 minutes and only got strange looks. no one even attempted to take ourorderor anything. the staff even joined in at the gawking. i had friends from out of town with me, and it was a huge embarrassment. after about 15 very awkward minutes, we decided to leave. we were even planning on staying for the live music and bar afterwards. never have i, or my friends, been treated so poorly in a restaurant. it's a shame, because i really liked the food and atmosphere there. i will never go there again, and i definitely will not recommend this place to anyone.

good comeback. after in fort worth for six years, we recently moved back home and naturally returned to some of the establishments we've called home since i was young. the pickle barrel was one of those. i always seem toorderthe same thing (zydeco chicken) but my wife ordered their daily lunch special (meatloaf & mashed potatoes) and i ate as much of it as she did. it was great ! they have expanded the menu since i was here last so i can't wait to come back. i read some of the previous reviews here but saw no signs of an 'old man' and service was impressive. good job !

vegetarian/vegan friendly!. one of the few restaurants in the twin cities that even considered vegetarians when creating their menu.

it's hidden on the menu (on the back waaaaaay at the bottom with the sandwiches) but they serve bocca burgers!

i alwaysordermine as is, except with a jalapeno bun, but the staff is always so friendly and helpful that they would probably let youorderany of the normal burgers with a bocca patty instead of meat. (i do plan to ask next time i go)

the service is always great and i love reading all the signs and newspaper articles on the walls.

an update. so i wanted to update the review i wrote a couple months ago or so. pb seems so read these reviews or had enough complaints but they have stopped skimping on the lettuce in their salads. i am very happy to say that i look forward to my pb wednesdays again and am appreciative that they are not cutting corners where it does not make sense to.

this is a good eatery and the wait staff is, overall, very hospitable.


-----11 apr, 2011-----

declining in quality?. so here's the thing....we eat at pickle barrel once a week and i have looked forward to my pickle barrel wednesdays until now. in the past 3-4 weeks their quality (and quantity) has declined. i usuallyordereither the zydeco burger or the fried chicken salad. on the salad they had decreased the amount of lettuce they include as a cost saving measure. really - lettuce as cost saving?? i mean come on - iorderit without croutons - throw on a little more lettuce please. the last time i got that salad the fried chicken was stale - it tasted like re-heated leftover fried chicken from the night before. if you have ever had reheated fried chicken ... it is just not worth it. last time they were out of the fried chicken so i had the blackened and that was much better but the salad was still lacking in lettuce. if you go to sports city grill (owned by the same man) andorderthe same salad you get much more for you money so i am not sure what is up at pb.
anyway - the zydeco burger is still good but the fries (quality and amount) are hit or miss.
i would still recommend this place but i hope the owner learns to cut corners in a way that makes more sense.

love the food, hate the old guy who wanders around to each table. the last time i was there he loudly proclaimed that he doesn't like kids that someone else should help them (i'm not even sure if he works there, he once told me he helps them and they pay him a beer a day). i used to skip eating there and just call myorderin and eat in the car. seriously...what is up with that guy? he keeps people away!

always good.... if you're looking for something "light" and filling that won't let you down, it's always the pickle barrel! you may want to call in anorderif you're under a pressed time frame, but the food is always great- and the menu is a hoot! i love the ike and tina tuna; the torn between two chickens; the annette tomatocello, and the "old standby" - chicken salad on a croissant. this place is always on my weekly rounds! :)