By Tiffany Williams –
Some restaurants stand out because of their food. Others leave an impression because of their atmosphere. Beef Barn, located at 200 Industrial Drive in North Smithfield, Rhode Island, offers a little of both. With its rustic barn-style setting, affordable prices, and friendly staff, it’s easy to see why this local favorite stays busy. During our visit, the dining room was packed, the outdoor patio was full, and there was a steady stream of customers picking up takeout orders.
One of the first things we noticed was how clean the restaurant was. The barn-themed dining room gives you the feeling that you’re eating inside a renovated barn, adding plenty of character to the experience. Our waitress, Hellen, was friendly, attentive, and helped make our visit enjoyable.
We sampled a variety of menu items.
The Pastrami Sandwich was served on a bun with lettuce, tomato, and onion. The pastrami itself was tender and flavorful, but we felt it would have been much better served hot instead of warm. It also seemed like the sandwich was missing something to really bring all of the flavors together.
Pastrami Sandwich: 6/10
The Roast Beef Sandwich featured good-quality roast beef, but the assembly hurt the overall experience. With the lettuce, tomato, and onion on the bottom beneath the meat and cheese, the bottom bun became soggy. We also had to send back our first sandwich after finding a black hair on it before a replacement was brought out.
Roast Beef Sandwich: 5/10
The Cheeseburger with Pastrami was a combination we had never seen before. Served on a toasted bun, it was a creative twist that worked surprisingly well. However, the burger was slightly dry, and both the burger and pastrami were served warm rather than hot.
Cheeseburger with Pastrami: 6.5/10
The BLT was one of the pleasant surprises of the meal. A BLT is a classic that’s hard to get wrong, and Beef Barn delivered. The toasted bread, crispy bacon, fresh lettuce, and tomato came together for a simple but satisfying sandwich.
BLT: 9/10
The Corn Chowder arrived steaming hot. It was creamy with a nice chowder consistency, but the flavor was fairly bland and could have benefited from additional seasoning.
Corn Chowder: 6.5/10
The Pasta Salad tasted very similar to something you would purchase from a grocery store deli and was even served in a similar plastic deli container.
Pasta Salad: 5/10
The French fries were the standout side of the meal. They were served hot, crispy on the outside, fluffy on the inside, and cooked just right.
French Fries: 8.5/10
To finish, we ordered strawberry milkshakes, which were thick, cold, and refreshing.
Strawberry Milkshakes: 8/10
Beef Barn earns high marks for its affordable prices, welcoming atmosphere, cleanliness, and excellent customer service. While several menu items would have been stronger if served hotter and a few dishes missed the mark, the unique barn setting and friendly staff make it an enjoyable place to visit.
Our Ratings
- Pastrami Sandwich: 6/10
- Roast Beef Sandwich: 5/10
- Cheeseburger with Pastrami: 6.5/10
- BLT: 9/10
- Corn Chowder: 6.5/10
- Pasta Salad: 5/10
- French Fries: 8.5/10
- Strawberry Milkshake: 8/10
Overall Rating: 7/10
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Laura Soukkavong contributed to this story.