The Barn

This is the first time I’ve ever felt the need to write a review. This was the best experience I could ask for in a restaurant. The Barn has a small, homey atmosphere to it that reminds me of old-school diners. The food was amazing and super super cheap compared to most places. Servers were top notch and catered very well for my group size.

Absolutely LOVE this place! great staff, amazing food, and such a cozy atmosphere. Most definitely my new favorite breakfast place. Highly recommend to anyone wanting good diner food. Tami is super amazing and Caleb does a great job on the grill, and My server was super sweet, the rest of the staff was wonderful and helped me decide on what pie to get. A must try!!

1st timer coming to this business!!! This Old school small town diner with great service and food! But be aware they only take cash! I missed on my points :) Will return

This was amazing. The restaurant is cute and small. They have booths that can fit up to four people. The loose meat burgers are outstanding, and their breakfast looks really good too. I have to stop here again because it was so good.

The Barn is a gem! This mom-and-pop shop has a cozy, welcoming atmosphere that makes you feel right at home. The service is friendly and attentive, and the food is simply outstanding. You can tell that everything is made with love and care. From the hearty breakfasts to the comforting dinners, every dish is packed with flavor and feels like a warm hug. Definitely a must-visit for anyone looking for a genuine, home-cooked meal experience!

Very small restaurant. Would have been unpleasant with young children. Food was OK and lackluster. Ordered a farmers omelet and pancake on the side. Servings size were OK. Pancake was small and thin. The farmers omelet comes with sausage gravy, which I luckily was ordered on the side. Gravy was very gelatinous so the texture was off putting. Gravy tasted was just ok. Also tried the pie ( strawberry-rhubarb) filling was good, but there was way more crust than filling. Service was above average and friendly.

Being Labor Day everywhere was super busy, but even for being busy they were so nice and the food was very fast! I wish I had pictures but we ate it fast cause it was so good. Having a toddler with was no problem, and the staff were so sweet with him! I’d definitely go again. Felt like a hometown breakfast.

Very small but a big gem! Delicious food! Big portions! Service was outstanding also! They make homemade pies, but was too full to try any!

This one breaks my heart to write. I have put it off but feel the need to post. This is the second time we have ate here since the new owners. The first time we gave them a break since it was a new thing for them. Swedish meatballs had large chunks of onions not my favorite way would have rather had small pieces throughout. The gravy was beyond salty and out of a can. It completely ruined the dish. The roast beef dinner was the best thing we had. Beef was tender and delicious. But they completely ruined it with the overly salty gravy. The person that ordered this meal likes things salty and even said it was too much. The Barnwhich sundae the meat tasted funny. It tasted like an Italian sausage not hamburger. We were completely devastated. It was cold we got the servers attention. She apologized and said sorry I will go microwave it more. All of our food was heated in the microwave according to the server. Excuse me what..... We were all so devastated when we left. I think we all realized that was probably the last time we will be eating at the barn. We shared how upset we were with a local and they informed us that the owners didn't pay to keep the made-rite franchise. That's why it's called the barnwhich. The maid-rite is why we loved the barn. Also the pie but they no longer make the turtle pie either. Sad to see they have ruined the barn.

It's surprising, but I feel the made rite destiny is slowly coming to a close. Since the changes and other sad things that has happened. The incredible old loose meat sandwiches are ending. That taste is not there anymore. For me, 40 years, the made rites had an credible taste. However, not anymore. Everything else tasted good. Had lemon pie delicious. However, my made rite loose meat sandwich. It tasted interesting, and my wife and I came to a concussion. Like everything older, changes happen for the bad. So is the Barn. The taste is no more. I probably will not be back.

Nice people good prices great food. Friendly atmosphere convient location Great pies too!! Fast service cozy homestyle place! Downtown Brainerd

Tiny little old-time diner with the best pie I've ever eaten. Great service. All day breakfast and lunch options.

My husband and I are new to Brainerd and decided to try the Barn for dinner...wow! We were pleasantly surprised at how great the service and the food are! I love the original diner feel and the food was just fantastic! My husband had breakfast dinner and I had the roast beef and mashed potatoes dinner...nothing has tasted like my mom's cooking since she has been gone, but this dinner did. Brought back lots of good feelings and the new owners are lovely and not interested in changing the good things about the Barn. I like that they will be open a few nights for dinner! Thank you Ashley for greeting us with a big smile and great service. We will definitely be going back! Great meeting you Tammy and Ben!

The menu features a variety of comfort food options, and I decided to try the fried chicken. It was crispy on the outside and juicy on the inside, served with a side of creamy mashed potatoes that were simply divine. My dining companion ordered the mac and cheese, which was rich and cheesy--definitely a must-try!

We have always gone to The Barn every time we go up to our cabin.. the food is so good and service is awesome. And the smell of the food cooking and pies..

Small diner, filled with locals, cash only, not open all hours or on Tuesdays, no filet mignon on the menu. Yes-true. But you really wouldn't want to miss this classic historic piece of food history (or the delicious food & PIE!). We came for lunch, parking in the back of "The Barn". We had quick, efficient service and Maid-Rite Beef Sandwiches! Wow! I can see why this loose meat sandwich was/is so popular! And don't forget to save room for pie! I had a cream pie that I can only confess was the best old fashioned pie ever!

Not sure what to expect at this small diner but we were definitely impressed. The loose meat sandwiches, the soup, and the pie were all excellent.

Stopped in on our way to cabin. We are from out of town so we never heard of the "Maid-rite sandwich". I ordered the maid rite sandwich and it's fantastic. Loose seasoned ground beef with onions and mustard and a fresh soft bun. Fantastic. The rest of my party had breakfast which was also excellent. Small diner so you might have to wait a bit but worth it.

Loved everything about this spot - the service was friendly and welcoming - thank you, Charlotte! As out of towners we had no idea about the Maid Rites but Charlotte let us know the Barn is the only spot left in Minnesota still making them. SOLD! Chopped ground beef mixed with special seasoning blend, diced onion, pickles and mustard on a bun. It was terrific. Super soft bun, perfect amount of yellow mustard - salty pickles with the meat. Yum! Onion rings to go with were on point. And do NOT forget about the pie. This spot should definitely be featured in diners, drive-ins and dives!

Minnesota friendly . Beef sandwich was delicious. Clean. Reasonable priced. Fresh home baked pies offered

driving through brainerd and stopped for lunch excellent food and service. Nice little restaurant.

While running errands in Brainerd, my husband and I stopped by The Barn for brunch. The original chain of "Maid Right" restaurants opened in the 1920s, and The Barn definitely feels like a trip back in time. It's run-down but clean. Pros: 1. Experience a "maid rite" burger, which is tasty and unique 2. Lots of brunchy options, and eggs and tater tots made to perfection 3. The friendliest wait staff imaginable. Spirits were high and Sherri rocks! Cons: 1. Cash only. I know it's a retro restaurant, but I like to pay like it's 2021 2. Lackluster home fries; they dialed that one in

This is one of the only places left around that you can get a made right. and it's made right.... Mustard pickles and onions are standard on this meat sandwich. For eight dollars make it a basket and get a heaping order of hot french fries to go along side. Don't forget to choose your slice of homemade pie and get there early in the week if you wanna have the kind you really want.

I have heard a lot of good things about this place but I wasn't personally blown away by my omelet. I will definitely be giving it another visit.

Tons of options on the menu! Incredible food made fresh and fast! Great service and a nice atmosphere!

Excellent! This restaurant is iconic in Brainerd! Five generations of my family have enjoyed Breakfast at The barn!

For what it is, you need to try this spot for breakfast! Don't expect anything fancy, but do expect amazing breakfast food. Their cinnamon rolls are AMAZING and have peanut butter in the caramel which is freaking amazing but deadly to my son so we only go here on date days. I suppose that says a lot though that we would choose this as our morning date spot! Oh, and the pie. What can we say about the pie except YUM. Take it to go. You will not regret it.

Yum! Yum! And Yum! Their pies, breakfast, daily specials and the Maidrites are delicious! I get mine with cheese, ketchup, onions and extra pickles, so good! The staff is always friendly and the atmosphere makes you feel a little nostalgic. I love this place! You definitely want to try this place! It's a Brainerd classic!

Everything is delicious and everything is homemade. You just can't go wrong with the place. Seating with some cushions would be nice but other than that the place is 10 out of 10.

Loved our lunch today! Stopped in with our friends on our way through town. We really loved their famous Maid Rite sandwiches! OMG they were delicious. And our friends loved their burger and hot beef sandwich. We had seen the rating on yelp and pulled into the parking lot and I thought this could be sketchy. But walked inside and were warmly greeted by our lovely server and made to feel so welcome. The other diners were also super friendly. We got the history of the Maid Rite from another diner. The chef even came out to greet us. Very cool home town experience. Wish I'd had room for the pie!! Next time.

A delightful find! We were craving a greasy spoon type breakfast and the barn hit the spot. Classic mom and pop diner feel, a central bar with pie warmer feature, 4 ladies running the whole place. The food was tasty (the whole menu served all day), we especially enjoyed the county fried steak, biscuits and gravy and pancakes. You also can't miss a piece of pie to go. It's cash only, but there's an ATM inside. You also may have to side side saddle on the toilet in the very small bathroom, but I thought it added to the character and made me love it even more. 10/10 would dine again. Loved Loretta and all the gals.

You know it's going to be good when full of locals and cash only! This place is small with tight booths, but the service is friendly and the prices are very reasonable. The food is made from scratch; not prefabricated like so many places today. I had the breakfast sandwich, French toast and a cinnamon roll to go. All were great!

Best food ever! The Maidrites are delicious and the hamburgers are definitely my all time favorite.

Wow! We were just a couple of out of towners that stumbled upon this place with the help of other yelpers. We tried a Maid Rite and Homemade Soup and Pie. All were delicious! My boyfriend had the Biscuits and Gravy and a pancake and he loved them. The food was Amazing but our favorite part of our trip to The Barn was the wonderful gal who waited on us. Loretta, we wish you were our forever waitress! What a gem of a human. There is nothing about this place that I wouldn't recommend.

Can you spell "greasy spoon"? It's a tiny little diner that looks like it's been here since the town started. Our waitress made the world go round. She literally ran the place, could keep a conversation going with everyone in the room, and set the tone of the place. It was like watch a skilled conductor in front of an orchestra. And she calls everyone "hon" and made you feel like a part of "Cheers." We got the maid-rite "sundae" which was basically beef casserole served in a bowl. Oh my goodness just like Grandma ordered. If you're from the midwest, this is home cookin' at its finest. It's stick to your guts goodness. Period. We'll for sure be back.

My parents both grew up in Brainerd. We were up north visiting some of our relatives and my parents suggested grabbing lunch at The Barn. In my twenty something years going to Brainerd we had never stopped by, so I had no idea what to expect. First off, this place is a REAL locals joint. It is this tiny diner with a small bar in the middle. The interior feels up northy with wood walls and everything is jam packed into a tiny building. All of the severs are SO nice and call you darlin, or sweetie. They are known for their fresh pies and their Maid-Rite sandwich, which if you are a millennial, you might not have any idea what a Maid-Rite is.. I sure didn't or maybe it is not a Midwest thing?! I have no idea. Anyways, with a little encouragement from my parents and my grandma, I ordered a Maid-Rite and a side of fries. Loose beef sandwich didn't sound to appetizing to me but I did it anyways and I was so happy I did. The meat was so juicy and seasoned perfectly. I had it served with all of the toppings. Just thinking about it is making my mouth water. It was so beyond anything I've ever had, yet so simple, I highly recommend getting one! Of course our meal wasn't finished with an order of a slice of pie, or two. We had the blueberry and cherry pie that was freshly made that day. Nothing beats a homemade tart cherry pie and the sweetness of a blueberry pie. I wish my parents would have introduced me to this place SOONER! We will definitely be back. On our way out we met the owner. She was such a sweetie and thanked us a million times for coming in and supporting her business. She is so passionate about what she does and I'm happy to see that the seats are always packed. Reminders: Make sure you bring Cash or Check! They do have an ATM located inside.

First off this is a small place and you can expect a wait since it is popular with the locals. The building is rather unassuming and showing it's age, it's shouts greasy spoon. Once in the building there is that unmistakable fragrance of old diner. We had to wait a while and there isn't anywhere to wait except standing in the doorway or the aisle. It's seat yourself so you have to eyeball every diner and anticipate their departure. I hate grabbing a booth or table before they have a chance to clean it but if you don't the others waiting ask you if you're taking that table as though it will become fair game if you don't pounce. Once seated the waitress was at our table quickly with a smile and ready to offer us what we need to know. I came for the Maid -Rite sandwich since that and made from scratch home made pies are their claim to fame. The waitress was very friendly and had obviously dealt with us out of town folk many times before. The Maid - Rite sandwich I ordered is essentially what was referred to on Roseanne Barr's ill fated TV sitcom as a loose meat sandwich. A nice fresh bun heaped with loose cooked seasoned ground beef, mustard and sliced onion . That's it nothing fancy but it was oh so good, imagine a sloppy Joe without the sloppy. My friend ordered the hot roast beef sandwich and she said it was delicious. A generous portion of sliced roast beef topped with real mashed potatoes and real gravy. I was offered a taste but I had to save room for the pie. They have a vast variety of pies to choose from on a get it while you can basis, they tell you how many pieces are left of each pie. I ordered the apple pie and it was so good, crumbly pie crust with just the right amount of seasoning. The service was spot on and the food was good. If I am ever up Brainerd way again I will stop in for a Maid - Rite sandwich x 2 with a piece of pie.

We were looking for a great breakfast and The Barn was the answer. The food was topped by the amazing service. Everything was good, we left with full bellies, and don't forget the pie! We will be back!

I was visiting Brainerd hoping something would be open. my friend and I were convinced that no one would be open on a Saturday early morning amidst covid. We called at 7:45am and a sweet woman picked up the phone and took our call. We show up a bit past 8am and see the sign on the door for 10am open. I was nervous, but saw the light on inside. I pushed the door and saw my order ready. The woman was so kind, she took the call because she was already up and running. This is true Minnesota kindness and she made sure I had everything I needed for my breakfast takeout. If you're in Brainerd, this is the place to go for a classic American breakfast and true Minnesotan hospitality.

We went searching for a great breakfast during our yearly vacation when our typical breakfast fell through. We went to the barn based on reviews and it didn't disappoint. It's a little place, and walking in you would definitely describe it as a dive, but the food and service are absolutely fantastic. Between the 5 of us we had an assortment of pancakes, eggs, sausage, bacon, hash brown and cinnamon rolls and EVERY SINGLE THING WAS AMAZING. The pancakes are huge and fluffy and perfectly cooked. Then after we were completely stuffed, we couldn't leave without take a full pie...though picking which kind was almost impossible. We settled for a peach and devoured it after our dinner that night. My kids were picking at the crust and eating it before I could even take a picture! My kids are now begging to go back there again before we head home and are willing to sit in the car the extra hour it would take! We will return.

I stopped for breakfast here when visiting family in the area. Great food and service and I will definitely return the next time I am in Brainerd.

Traditional diner fare, but with Maid-Rite (loose meat) burgers. Staff is always pleasant and even fun. Cash only, but ATM on site. I try to eat there at least once a month.

Super tasty food... my son had the country fried chicken and he gave it a 5/5 rating. My beef hash was fantastic too but it had a little extra salt. My daughter thought the hash browns were one of the best. The pancake was good, but was expecting even better. This is a solid 4.5 star. We are staying at the Grand View Lodge and glad we checked out this unique spot in Brainerd.

This is a very nice spot to eat made-from-scratch food. I had the hot beef sandwich which of course is an open faced sandwich, with very flavorful sliced beef, beef gravy on bread with a side of homemade mashed potatoes which were excellent (as was the hot beef sandwich). Finished off with a slice of their blueberry pie with a scoop of vanilla ice cream. The pie was very good, with large blueberries in the midst of a flaky but firm crust. Everything was great. We will be back!!

Stopped on our way at through town based on the yelp reviews and weren't disappointed. The country fried steak was the best we've had in MN, and I had to try the Maid Rite because I've never had one. It was amazing. Cottage fries were great, hash browns were crispy. Service was very fast and very friendly. We had to try a piece of pie (mixed berry, heated up, add whip cream). Everything was great. Knocked off a star because we found a hair in the pie. All that and a pop for $19.75.

You know those places that probably exist just to heighten your immune system? This is one of those. Don't question the sanitation of pies sitting out in the open air, the lack of hand washing, the questionable meat dispensed out of the center island. This is a classic downhome greasy spoon, take it for what it is. We stopped in for breakfast and were pleased with the friendly service, good food and chatty locals. I wasn't brave enough to try the Mystery Meat, but the mister did (I think it's formal name is a Maid Rite sandwich: white hamburger bun, mustard painted on, 4 pickles and hearty onion portion with the sloppy joe-esque meat). His review: "it's effing delicious"

The only thing better than the classic diner decor is the maid-rite sundaes... The only thing better than the maid-rites is the classic breakfast options... The only thing better than the breakfast is the amazing fresh pie... The only thing better than the pie is the wonderful staff who will go out of their way to make your day!

The Barn is the perfect place to go if you love small town cafes and home cooked meals! We have yet to try the made rite sandwiches, but we have heard that they are amazing, so I would give those a shot! You will not be disappointed with anything on the menu. I would highly recommend the pie! Later that day, my fiancé went back to buy a whole pie- it's that good.

Home cooked food in a relaxed atmosphere. Good prices and tasty pie. Will definitely come back next time we're in town.

Such good food and such GREAT prices!! Everything is always perfectly done. Friendly owners and sweet staff!! Definitely recommend. So tiny but SO good and cute!

Great local establishment that's always crowded and serves breakfast specials all day. I visited with my sister and we each had a "Maid-Rite" which is basically a sloppy joe with onions, pickles, and mustard. Not being a mustard fan, I opted for adding my own ketchup. We had great, cheap, and fast service right around the lunch rush. The Barn is a local favorite, has adorably quaint country decorations, and is usually full of friendly farm folk wearing coveralls and/or John Deer hats. "It's so country here, I love it" says my sister. I agree... A perfect window into small town Brainerd, MN. On the way out we were happily accosted to select one of about a dozen pie varieties. Sister picked a slice of the Dutch apple pie (with a crumbly top) and I picked a slice of rhubarb custard to take home with us.

Amazing place. Amazing food. Amazing people. They've adapted well to the new COVID-19 rules and could use your support. Currently only open for pick up and delivery. Expect to see them have seating when the state allows it. Love this place. Keep up the amazing job you've been doing and don't give into the pressure of the people defying state rules.

We went to the barn for pie as I heard if in the area to go here. Completely satisfied! We had the lemon meringue pie. We will for sure come back for more!

Best service and waitresses are top of the line . Excellent prices and hometown feel!

So good! The loaded hash browns were cooked perfectly, the French toast was delicious, and the pie was amazing. I wish we weren't just passing through because I would love to eat here more.

Loved the small town diner feel. The staff was so friendly and you can tell they knew the regular's names, orders, and schedules. I really enjoyed our server, she was very funny and attentive. I ordered an Omelet with toast and hashbrowns while my boyfriend ordered french toast and eggs. We shared a slice of Rhubarb pie. All the food was delicious, however I will need to remember to ask for no butter on my toast next time, as it was drenched in butter! Icky. We will definitely be back for more!

We have been going here since we were kids. Best chicken sandwich and onion rings in town! Even after the owner died we felt as if they welcome us like family. It's a wonderful little place to eat if you catch the right time. Since it's limited seating, and parking, you have to make sure you hit it up when it isn't so busy. Great place!