Aj G.
Yelp
Last week was my first time there since August 2020 in the midst of the pandemic. The Yard was open, a band was playing so there was some normalcy to an otherwise wasted year. Barge 295 was closed for 30 days for having too many people in their place. Whatever. Fast forward to last week when my friend Kellie & I checked it out rather than deal with the BS traffic to Kemah; her suggestion & a damn good one! We sat outside to enjoy the great breeze & great drinks even though the foam cups are too small for a good strong drink. Anyway, it's the revamped menus & food that are the stars of the Turtle Club avatar. WOW! What a difference- a major difference- a year makes! So much more has been added to The Yard to make it enjoyable experience. Really looking first rate!
Anyway, I had Boudin Balls for an appetizer with a side of Ranch. Service was quick even with a steady & busy crowd. Four piping hot golf ball sized golden-fried BBs were placed in front of me. Maybe a bit bigger than golf balls but my goodness they looked delicious & they tasted better than they looked. Crispy on the outside & moist & tender inside! I don't recall what Kellie ordered. Didn't matter. I was into my Balls. Ok, uh, that sounds a bit self-pleasuring but I am talking about food. Focus!
Not to be outdone, a friend, Jackie, met me at the Barge today since she had never been here or knew what in the hell was a Boudin Ball. She was in for some great tasting Balls. Uhh, yes, I get the double entendre but, once again, I'm talking about food. Focus! Besides, she has a boyfriend. As soon as we sat down (she had her 10yr old son Connor in tow) we were greeted by Kailyn. Good gosh, she is a strikingly beautiful woman! Good heavens, if her service is as good as she looks we'll never have problem. Guess what? We never had a problem! Duh! When I asked about the "1948" tattoo on her forearm, she gave an intimate story about her grandfather. The date was his birth year. Making a connection with people. It's the little things, man. Those are the things that will keep me coming back. She makes you feel more than a customer; she makes you feel special. Kailyn f***ing ROCKS!
We started with my new "Go To" appetizer, Boudin Balls. Remnants of last week when they arrived at our table. Huge, golden-fried pieces of Cajun goodness. Jackie & I split the four. Even Connor liked them & he's super picky! On to the entrees! We all selected the Barge Burger, a simple no nonsense fare without the ridiculous additions of the overrated Gastropub variety. Geez, the KISS method actually works for food - Keep It Simple, Stupid! Barge295 hits a home run with their burger! It was juicy, perfectly grilled, and served open-faced with the basics -pickles, onions, lettuce, and tomatoes. Simple without the trendy mess and it makes all the difference! The rich flavor of the meat isn't masked by unnecessary items. And that's what will keep me coming back. My only criticism is the bun. Options should be provided rather than serving it on the sweet Hawaiian bun that's all the rage in most places. For me, it was too much bread & I wasn't wild about the taste of it. In my opinion, it took away from the flavor. I actually ditched one bun then used a knife to cut the other in half. When Kailyn stopped by to check on us she noticed my 'burger manicuring' then said, "Man, you got a lot going on there"! I was a man on a mission. I even mentioned to her about bread options in the future. Look, the burger was great. I just think such options are better for everyone.
I'd have been happy with 2 slices of toasted Mrs. Baird's bread, not the bun! You know what I mean, right, like a "welfare burger"? I was raised on them. Remember, it's the KISS method.
Since it's in Seabrook, there's lots of eye candy in & out of the place. Man, the place is on the water. Tons of people in swimsuits, shorts, etc. what do you expect? Since you can't nibble on any of it, scan the QVC code on the table or just ask for a menu. I'm telling y'all, Barge295 has upped their game with damn good food. Five stars from me, baby! No doubt about it!