Frank D.
Yelp
We were at Harbes today and wanted to stop for a quick bite to eat before heading home. I was dying for a smash burger but Lake Grove was too far, so we found Barrow Food House because they have what they call a 'Smash Burger' on the menu.
First thing is first. The staff is so rude. We walked in and were told they can't accommodate more than four and we had to sit outside. We even asked them if we could just sit at separate tables seeing as we were two separate families, they would not even allow us to do that. I don't know, that's odd. Had two groups of four walked in, they would have been seated, what's the difference? We did not ask them to combine tables. It was fifty degrees out, but I get it, we went outside.
The 'rude' comes from the gentleman at the window taking the order. My wife went up to order and while she was ordering the 'Smash Burger', which has six things on it by default, she started to tell him 'no pickles, no lettuce', and before the word lettuce came out of her mouth, he literally jumped down her throat and said 'why don't you just tell me what you want on it, instead of what you don't want on it'. Listen, we both have thick skin, but come on, the same amount of words are going to come out of her mouth either way, lighten up a bit. If there's six things on the burger by default and you don't want three of them, well, 'no lettuce, no pickles, no onions' compared to 'with cheese, with bacon, with house sauce' works out to be the same thing.
As far as the food, I ordered the 'Smash Burger', which is NOT a smashed burger. It was round and thick, not even close to a 'Smash Burger'. Picture attached for reference. Putting that aside, the burger was decent, it was just a burger, nothing to write home about. Not sure if I loved the crumbled bacon on it, it kind of reminded me of those soft bacon bits, not real bacon. The fries were decent.
I don't really like to comment on food I didn't eat, so I'll leave my wife, and kids out of the review. In short, they were fine with their chicken.
We had another family with us, she experienced the same rude gentleman when she ordered. I don't know specifics, but she had just said he was very rude.
If it wasn't for the rudeness, I'd likely go three star, because my 'Smash Burger' was not a smashed burger. But, considering him, I have to go two star.
When you go to McDonald's, maybe even a diner, and you spend ~$40, I guess rude and/or terse staff is somewhat expected. But, when you're spending ~$120 for a family of four for a burger, and chicken, freezing your butt off outside, I don't know, expectations are a bit higher.
Keep in mind, I am the odd-ball here, this spot is loaded with five star reviews, I am simply sharing my personal experience.