So four of us including a teen were hungry from shopping around Gurney one day and decided to try out The Barn.

Though it was a weekend night, the pub wasn't as crowded as expected. Live music🎙🎹🎶 was playing when we started ordering, overall a boisterous yet relaxing atmosphere.

The food turned out to be pleasantly tasty, especially the smoked duck , which was so tender and juicy. The spaghetto aglio oglio with crispy pork belly was rather spicy🌶 but nonetheless proved to be an intriguing fusion.

Upon someone's insistence, we went back to the restaurant for lunch. This time we went for the fettuccine carbonara: creamy, filling and satisfying😋. The Angus burger was absolutely dreamy😍; however, the portion was a bit challenging for me.

There were just a few minor downsides that occurred during lunch. For instances, warm water was ordered but cold ones came and a dish was missing from our order. The biggest disappointment was that the Bora Bora we ordered during lunch was clearly different from the one we ordered the first time (pictures were taken of the drink last time). It was when we asked that they explained that one of the main ingredients had run out. To be honest, we would have preferred that we be informed and given the chances to switch to another drink. 😑 Other than that, we have enjoyed our meals there.

Atmosphere: Dim lights and soft murmuring of guests welcomed us as we were being directed to our table. The sense of privacy was ruined a little when music started playing at an distracting volume .

Service: Lovely service. The friendly head waiter was quick to accommodate us when we needed seating rearrangement. Furthermore, he acted swiftly when some dust was found in one of our sake by apologizing and treating us to one glass on the house (that one didn't taste as good, but I sure appreciate the professionalism ).

Food: The best dishes, in my opinion, would be the sashimi. Both the Toro and Salmon bellies were fresh and scrumptious (I really like their Wasabi, too). I don't often eat tuna but I enjoyed this one.

Unfortunately, the tempura and deep fried whitebait were rather disappointing. Both were lacking the crispy texture that one would expect, especially the whitebait, which didn't turn out to be such a suitable appetizer to my sake. In addition, the strong air conditioner 🥶 could have caused both hot dishes to lose heat and firmness at a faster pace.

Lastly, the PORTION. Most of the dishes came in these surprisingly small portions. The dicecut steak were just tidbits, yet they were delicious. We were told that the Sukiyaki was a two-person portion, but it might have been just an appetizer for a growing teenager. Again we come back to the deep fried whitebait. Unlike the one shown on the menu, those little fish were just a small mere amount, just scattered flatly on the dish. If they had had used a smaller plate or stacked the fish higher, I wouldn't have noticed the difference 🤣).

Overall: I think this will be a pleasant place for first dates and anniversary dinners for couples or even those who seek for a quiet evening alone. The portions are just right for elderly couples or ones who like to try various dishes. Lastly, I sincerely hope they work on the appetizers to go with sake 😅.