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Burg & Barrel: Bringing Gourmet Fare to a Family Facility

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As fall unfolds, the temperature drops, kids’ extracurricular activities are back in full swing and families’ schedules are hectic as ever. But open houses, homecomings and football games aren’t reasons to rush dinner at a drive-through; they’re reasons to make a little extra time to satisfy your kids and cravings with gourmet burgers at Burg & Barrel. 

Located on West 76th Street in Overland Park, Burg & Barrel is nestled in a quiet neighborhood. A green street sign diagonal to the venue says “Friends and Neighbors,” setting the tone for the area. A quaint patio surrounds the white stone building and the moment I walked through the door, a waitress seated me with a smile. 

Burg & Barrel opened in February 2013. Beer handles line the ceiling while whiskey barrel tops dot the walls. The interior exudes homey, with rich wood tables scattered around and a red brick bar at the heart of the restaurant. 

You can tell that this place is well loved and well taken care of. Jake and Amanda Chappelow greeted me with warm handshakes as they gave me a tour of the space they’re so proud of. “Jake and I have always been in the service industry,” Amanda explained. “We have almost 40 years of experience combined, and we just decided to open a restaurant of our own.” She said her husband came up with the burger/beer concept and they just ran with it.

“But she picked the name,” Jake interjected. In a city so obsessed with barbeque, why burgers? “Burgers are America’s food. We stuck with what we know. Even though it’s a hamburger, you can still make it a gourmet plate.”

The food menu features a variety of starters and salads, wraps, specialty sandwiches and 11 signature burgers. The drink menu, endless craft beer options and cocktails. “Every dish really holds its own. Nothing doesn’t sell and that’s just a sign of a good variety,” Jake said. The fan favorite is undoubtedly the PB&E burger, created with pepper jack, peanut butter, sriracha and an egg over easy. “Everyone thought we came up with it while I was pregnant,” Amanda laughed.

Quality ingredients are the canvas for each gourmet dish. “We serve top-grade certified Angus beef and only use the top products,” Jake said. I was a firm believer once I took a single bite of fan favorite contender, the Spicy Avocado burger. As a self-proclaimed foodie, I’ve tasted a ton of ground beef combos. This was the first time I bit into a burger that overwhelmed my expectations. The hot, juicy patty enveloped in cheddar and chipotle cilantro mayo hit a high note. The spice factor was neutralized by a creamy complement of avocado. The applewood smoked bacon, crisp lettuce and tomato perfected the overall entrée and, in that moment, I knew—never again could I settle for another fast food façade. An added bonus: each burger brings fresh, hand-cut fries to the block party. As a palette refresher, I decided to dig into the Glazed Salmon salad. A perfectly cooked salmon filet accented by sun-dried tomato and whipped goat cheese will make your mouth water for days to follow. 

The fare was as delicious as it was photogenic; another trait the Chappelows put a lot of pride in is attention to detail. “Every aspect from plating to presentation to the way we make our cocktails. We care a lot about that,” Jake said. 

Add “fantastic service” to the list of accolades for this restaurant. Amanda explained the strong emphasis they put on their staff’s skills, admitting that they’ve lost employees simply because their standards are so high. “Our servers and bartenders should all know your name. The managers should be stopping by. We want our customers to know that we’re grateful for everyone who comes in.” An insider tip for an excellent experience: ask for employee of the year, server Charlie. Charlie will be their lead server out at the brand new Leawood location opening this fall.

A diverse crowd frequents Burg & Barrel for the trifecta of quality food, service and beer. Boredom is not an option, as a single craft beer stays on the menu and every other flavor is rotating constantly. “You can come in on Monday then come back Thursday and we’ll have an entire new draft list lined up,” Jake said. 

Amanda enjoys doing research on new brands and flavors so that Burg & Barrel can offer a wide variety to their patrons. “It’s important to carry a large selection,” she said. “We can cater to a much bigger crowd. Come here instead of endless bar hopping to find your favorite stout.” 

It’s no wonder neighbors, locals, burger and beer fanatics are drawn to this establishment. “We welcome you with open arms,” Jake assured. “Bring your friends, bring your kids’ baseball team! We’re one with the neighborhood.” Trivia nights, service industry nights (when bar prices are slashed for industry employees), a beer-based March Madness bracket and themed “Hoppy Hour” add to the excitement. 

“You can come have great beer and great food. You don’t have to go far to the more luxurious areas in town; you can have it right in your backyard,” Jake said. With a full belly, an empty glass, new friends and a new favorite go-to burger joint, I couldn’t agree more.

Stop by this season for a large variety of fall flavors or visit Burg and Barrel’s sister bar, Stagecoach Tavern, at 9617 W 87th St, Overland Park, KS.