(between 19th and 20th
Streets)
www.barnjoo.com
Korean food meets gastropub!
Decor
GORGEOUS interiors. Spacious, yet warm and welcoming.
Beautiful herb garden facing front of the street.
“Scrolls” were also on the walls with proverbs and sayings.
There is also a spin-the-wheel game near the bar that you
can spin to win a free glass of wine, fries, or chicken wings. Though I think
you have to have made your reservation through a specific site in order to
play.
The showstopper though was a four-paneled painting that
reflected the four seasons. The figures in the panels actually moved and the
painting changed to reflect each season. There were even sound effects of a
bird chirping and a rainstorm. Fascinating to watch while waiting to be seated.
Staff was warm and friendly, or at least our server was. She
was exceedingly sweet and helpful. I had shown up a bit early for my lunch
reservation, so early in fact that they were still getting ready to open up.
Instead of telling me to come back in a few minutes (as many other restaurants
would and have done in the past), she kindly set up a place-setting for me
while I went to freshen up in the ladies’ room. That alone, deserves a gold
star for service.
Food
Decent-sized lunch specials.
I ordered the Flatiron
Special of Spicy Pork Sliders with Gochujang-marinated sliced pork butt and
scallion salad. A pickle came wrapped on the plate.
Sliders were flavorful and full of spicy goodness. But not
too spicy. Would order again and
again!
It was accompanied with Barn Joo hand-cut fresh potato
fries. The fries had this amazing chili taste, may have been flavored with the
Gochujang. My friend and I could not stop eating it. Dip it into the mustard
sauce that came on the side!
The special also came with a Barn Joo handmade soda. Lots of
interesting choices from hibiscus and yuzu flavors, but I chose the Raspberry
Lemonade. Loved the citrus taste and the fact that you can taste the
fresh-mulled fruit. Perfect with the pork sliders.
All for $10! Not a bad deal at all!
My friend ordered the Tofu & Mushroom Bibimbap with cremini,
shitake mushrooms and aromatic root vegetables, along with a small plate of
banchan.
I had a taste and what made this bibimbap special was that
it was made with vegetables freshly purchased from the Farmer’s Market (which
was conveniently located a few blocks away at Union Square).
It also came with a soy bean paste soup.
I swear that my friend’s soup had many more mushrooms than
mine, but the server had graciously given me a bowl as well (as my lunch did
not come with a soup). I had to take a picture simply for the metal bowl that
the soup arrived in.
For dessert we shared an order of the Gray & Soy
Handmade Green Tea Mousse. It was refreshing, but I particularly liked the cookie crumbles.
As we exited the restaurant, we noticed a fan-like basket of
goodies. In it were mints and Valentine’s Day chocolate hearts.
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