Funky Red Barn - Bethel

We started with an appetizer of deep-fried mozzarella cheese sticks, which were fresh and hot, but tasted similar to what you'd find in a frozen bag from the grocery store. Once the appetizers arrived, we finally received our water and soda, along with an apology from the staff for the delayed service—they mentioned getting slammed just before we arrived. For my main course, I had the Prime Rib, their specialty, and I was not disappointed; it was absolutely delicious and exceeded my expectations. The coleslaw that accompanied the meal was also very tasty (and I consider myself a coleslaw snob!). My wife ordered the BBQ ribs, which were flavorful and incredibly tender. Throughout our visit, the staff apologized three times for the service, which indicated to me that our experience wasn’t typical, and I appreciated their acknowledgment. I would definitely return for the Prime Rib anytime!

This restaurant is a fantastic dining spot! Their Prime Rib Dinner Special on Thursday evenings is not to be missed. Make sure to arrive early, as dinner service begins at 5:00 p.m. and the place fills up quickly. The food is excellent, and you won’t be disappointed.

Now, here’s the kicker: it’s ski season, which is typically a busy time for restaurants, yet the kitchen closes at 9 PM. I wasn’t expecting a full menu, but I thought they would at least offer some light bites. If you plan on drinking, you might want to be cautious, as you could be out of luck if you get hungry later. It seems they don’t take the DUI issue very seriously.

I've been going to Bethel for a long time now, and I'd always stuck with the same restaurants. This most recent time, my girlfriend and I decided to try something new, and based on the positive Yelp reviews, we thought we'd check out the Funky Red Barn. The ambiance is definitely more bar-like than restaurant like. There are a few tables scattered in the corner, but the interior is mostly empty space for people to stand in. There is a pool table and a few dart boards, as well as one very large TV (which was playing the Red Sox) and a few smaller TVs (one of which was inexplicably playing the Lord of the Rings with no sound). We started out with the Prime Rib Bites. Looking back I don't know exactly what I was expecting, and I can't really imagine any way these could have been good, but suffice it to say they were not. They were coated in what I imagine would be fairly decent onion ring batter, and looked appetizing enough. However, they tasted like dry bland beef jerky and old fry oil. The horseradish dip was actually tasty, but it was also the only way to work up enough lubrication to actually swallow the tough little nuggets. My girlfriend ordered the sheperd's pie. It came out absolutely scorching hot, and continued to steam for the 15 or so minutes that she picked at it. To me, this is a sign that it was very obviously precooked and microwaved to order. The taste was not off-putting, but it was miles away from good. It would be easy enough to keep the ingredients for this separated and assemble/bake to order. It makes me uneasy to know my food is being microwaved. When was it cooked initially? Should I really be eating this? I ordered the Funky Chicken Sandwich. It came out on an english muffin, which was surprising but not inherently bad. The chicken itself, though, was quite bad. The shape of the chicken breast was too regular to have been fresh chicken. The grill marks on it were highly suspect, and the fact that there was no grilled flavor makes me think that they were artificial. The taste was bland, and the meat was tough and spongy. Another apparent microwave job. The peach barbecue tasted like store bought barbecue sauce and peach salsa mixed together. Not bad, but not nearly good enough to make up for the nasty chicken. The beer list was also lacking, particularly given some of the solid tap lists in the area. Overall, I imagine this place has a nice vibe for an apres ski bar in the winter. In the summer, or if you're looking for a good meal, Sud's Pub or the Sunday River Brewpub are much better options.

Love this place! It really, to me, is the best food around with a good atmosphere, especially early on Prime Rib special night. I had the halibut the first time we came, with come with baked potato and veggies. Cooked perfectly and a nice portion. I loved it so much I ordered it again the 2nd time we went. They had a great kids menu, too. All the kids were happy. Good prices. Good beer selection. Will come back whenever we are in town.