Funky Red Barn - Bethel

I've been going to Bethel for a long time now, and I'd always stuck with the same restaurants. This most recent time, my girlfriend and I decided to try something new, and based on the positive Yelp reviews, we thought we'd check out the Funky Red Barn. The ambiance is definitely more bar-like than restaurant like. There are a few tables scattered in the corner, but the interior is mostly empty space for people to stand in. There is a pool table and a few dart boards, as well as one very large TV (which was playing the Red Sox) and a few smaller TVs (one of which was inexplicably playing the Lord of the Rings with no sound). We started out with the Prime Rib Bites. Looking back I don't know exactly what I was expecting, and I can't really imagine any way these could have been good, but suffice it to say they were not. They were coated in what I imagine would be fairly decent onion ring batter, and looked appetizing enough. However, they tasted like dry bland beef jerky and old fry oil. The horseradish dip was actually tasty, but it was also the only way to work up enough lubrication to actually swallow the tough little nuggets. My girlfriend ordered the sheperd's pie. It came out absolutely scorching hot, and continued to steam for the 15 or so minutes that she picked at it. To me, this is a sign that it was very obviously precooked and microwaved to order. The taste was not off-putting, but it was miles away from good. It would be easy enough to keep the ingredients for this separated and assemble/bake to order. It makes me uneasy to know my food is being microwaved. When was it cooked initially? Should I really be eating this? I ordered the Funky Chicken Sandwich. It came out on an english muffin, which was surprising but not inherently bad. The chicken itself, though, was quite bad. The shape of the chicken breast was too regular to have been fresh chicken. The grill marks on it were highly suspect, and the fact that there was no grilled flavor makes me think that they were artificial. The taste was bland, and the meat was tough and spongy. Another apparent microwave job. The peach barbecue tasted like store bought barbecue sauce and peach salsa mixed together. Not bad, but not nearly good enough to make up for the nasty chicken. The beer list was also lacking, particularly given some of the solid tap lists in the area. Overall, I imagine this place has a nice vibe for an apres ski bar in the winter. In the summer, or if you're looking for a good meal, Sud's Pub or the Sunday River Brewpub are much better options.

Love this place! It really, to me, is the best food around with a good atmosphere, especially early on Prime Rib special night. I had the halibut the first time we came, with come with baked potato and veggies. Cooked perfectly and a nice portion. I loved it so much I ordered it again the 2nd time we went. They had a great kids menu, too. All the kids were happy. Good prices. Good beer selection. Will come back whenever we are in town.

This is my first and last time going to the Funky Red Barn. It is a Thursday night in January so it can be busy or very slow but either way. The reasturant should be ready for busy. We had a faily large group so we called ahaed to see what time would be best. They told us to come at 7:30. Now their website says the kitchen closes at 8 but thay usually means last orders. So we show up to be told they are sold out of food and all they could provide was burgers and chicken pot pies. They had no onion rings, fries, or potatoes to go with our food. But okay we were all hungry. So all the orders go in before 7:55 and we wait, wait, wait some more, and wait even longer finally after more than an hour our food starts to arrive. My burger came out with 3 fries on the plate. That just nlew my mind as we were told on fries. The burger was tasty and the fries had been cooked for twice as long as they should have. They were burnt To top it all off we had to pay full price for partial meals. I am guessing that is why they put a couple overcooked fries on my plate so yhey could say it was a full meal, not that on any other day someone would get only 3 fries. So if you do go hete for dinner go early or there may be no food or a 90% reduction in the menu to eat.

What a fun place. They've got it all. Some of the best wait staff I've experienced and good music. Prime rib night is a really good time. The rib meat that I had was very tender and cooked to my preference. I had it a couple of weeks in a row and it was really nice with a nice vegetable accompinant. I'll return there every time I'm in town.

Fun Fun Funky.. Go see Deb and Barry.. they will not let you down.. If your ever up at Sunday River i suggest that you stop in, you will not be disappointed!