Barley – An American Brasserie In Downtown Dadeland, Miami

Barley is a restaurant that has been on my radar for a while. The reason it took so long to visit is that it is open mainly for dinner, at 5:00 pm, and I am primarily a lunch person. With the time change, came the light, so why not have an early dinner?

The inside of the restaurant had an undeniable modern feel – warm and snazzy at the same time. We sat outside, on the sidewalk, eating, sipping water and people-watching. It was just the three of us – the little chicken, Miss G. and myself.

We started with the Applewood Smoked Pork Belly, Tamal En Cazuela + Piña Colada Au Jus. You could smell the smoked pork belly way before it arrived at the table, a deep-bacon aroma. It was ultra-tasty- smoky, so soft, succulent and extra-fatty. It was crispy and crunchy on the outside and gooey and melty on the inside, exploding with flavor, dissolving on your tongue with each bite. The pork belly was topped with a refreshing bouquet of arugula which added a touch of brightness.

This dish is not something you should eat every day, it was so fatty that you could moisturize your whole body with it, but it was pure joy.

The U8 Prawns were topped with a Salsa Verde and complemented with a Tajin Spice and Herb Aïoli. It was the first time that I have had prawns like this, also the first time I was brave enough to taste the super-buttery head juice. The flavor was insane, the prawn itself, muscular yet tender, full of personality after absorbing the flavors of the salsa verde like a sponge.

The Roasted ½ Chicken was the main dish. It was served with roasted yams, chimichurri gravy, and arugula salad. It was delicious, just wish the serving was a little bigger as it was a “large” plate. I was hungry for more.

For dessert, we had the Chocolate Chip Bourbon Bread Pudding Topped With Dulce De Leche Ice Cream. As I am not a dessert person, I did not taste the ice cream. The bread pudding though was rich and flavourful. Miss G. and the little chicken made sure it disappeared from the plate.

Barley, An American Brasserie is quite a little gem in Downtown Dadeland. Excellent service and a varied and delicious menu make this place a culinary destination worth visiting.