Barrel House

Perhaps we were just completely out of synch with the universe but nothing went right with our quest for a restaurant for dinner this evening. We ended up at the Barrel House in Yakima based on the 4 out of 5 average on 29 reviews on Yelp. Mediocre at best. Our waitress, while being friendly enough didn't have a clue. You could tell that for her it was just a job. No passion for food, wine, customer service...just a job. I had a very mediocre Barrel Burger and my wife had a very mediocre Cobb salad. Preparation was ok. Flavor was ok. Service was ok. Price, too high for the overall "ok" dining experience.

The bar is set very low in Yakima. In fact, if I were reviewing Yakima, it would get two stars max!

After reading the reviews from others, I was prepared to be disappointed. My only surprise was that for a Saturday night the place was mostly empty. My wife and I both had the sirloin steak and salmon, and both came out perfectly cooked...X 2. The sides offered were limited, but what they served, again, was fresh and tasty. Good food, good value, well done Barrel House.

When I was a kid, I used to be stuck eating whatever my parents put in front of me.  One of the best benefits of being an adult is that I can eat whatever I want.  I am particular because I can be.  I am am choosy because that is my right.  I like a particular cut of steak (filet), and I like it cooked medium-well.  I don't care what you supposed "steak lovers" say about cooking a steak too much.  If it's a good piece of meat, it will still be tender!!
I ordered the filet cooked to my usual medium-well.  I just like to have the thing cooked.  You don't see steak lovers ordering hamburger rare, do you?  I got my steak and it wasn't very close to medium-well, but more closer to medium-rare.  I decided that I would eat it anyway, because if it was a good cut of filet it will taste good although undercooked to my preference.  Well, I don't know how this was called a filet...  It was rather tough.  The knife would not cut through it with minimal effort as with a good cut of filet.  And it also had a good deal of fat throughout the cut.  Some is good for other steak cuts, but that is not a characteristic of filet.  Especially one that costs $33.
A couple nights later, I went to Outback Steakhouse and ordered the Victoria filet.  It was cheaper, it was much better, and they actually cooked it the way I ordered it.
I will say the service was very pleasant.  I would go back for beers if they had more than 4 or so beers on tap.