I enjoyed the most wonderful meal last night at Henry’s at the Barn in Avon. As Henry’s website explains: “Located in Avon’s Olde Avon Village, Henry’s is constructed from an 1830’s stone-and-wood barn that was moved to the site last spring. The eminently comfortable restaurant features a cozy barroom with fireplace, a 60-seat dining room that shares the same see-through fireplace, and a cocktail lounge tucked into an upstairs loft.”
Henry’s features Southern, specifically Carolina Low Country, cuisine. It was an enjoyable evening from start to finish. I had made a reservation for 18. Unfortunately only 11 people showed up, but the restaurant could not have been more gracious. They also had no problems giving us separate checks, which is always appreciated. There is nothing worse than fighting over what everyone owes at the end of a lovely evening.
The dining room and patio are both very inviting. We congregated at the bar until our table was ready. The bar features knotty driftwood and rough-hewn beams. It was extremely cozy. Henry’s serves pimiento cheese and crackers instead of the usual bar snacks.
We shared two tables in the dining room since it was a little too cold to sit on the patio. Two brave souls did sit on the patio, and the staff lit the fire pit for them. I look forward to going back soon this summer and enjoying drinks on that patio. The dining room features wood beams with Spanish moss, flowers and twinkle lights. It was extremely cozy and romantic. I can imagine the fireplace roaring in the winter.
Our dinners were impeccably seasoned – from start to finish. The horseradish sauce for the peel and eat shrimp had quite the kick. One of my fellow diners enjoyed the sauce with his fried oysters as well.
Henry’s is known for its she-crab soup, which was perfectly seasoned, and its South Carolina shrimp with stone ground grits, Andouille sausage and peppers and onions in cream.
I could still taste the bacon on my bacon-wrapped walleye this morning. The walleye was served with corn and tomato, a savory sweet potato bread pudding, and barbecue sauce. My fellow diners all raved about their meals – from the NY strip with butter garlic mushrooms, smoked bleu cheese, melted leek and sweet & Yukon potato gratin (which I was told melted in your mouth), the buttermilk fried chicken with collards, black eye peas and corn & hot pepper hushpuppies to the Frogmore stew (clams, mussels, oysters, shrimp, sausage, sweet & hot peppers, Vidalia onions, potatoes, corn and spiced broth). One of my friends remarked that the scallops and tiramisu were the best she had ever eaten – and she had eaten them a lot.
Henry’s offered three different desserts, which we all tasted: flourless chocolate cake, pineapple upside down cake, and the aforementioned tiramisu. I’m not normally a fan of tiramisu, but this one has definitely won me over. As my friend commented, it was “Not too sweet, not too creamy, not too rummy. Just a perfect balance.”
Henry’s was pricey, but worth every dollar. It is the perfect place for celebrating a special occasion or getting together with some girlfriends for a bottle of wine. It was truly a magical night. I can’t wait to go back – and it’s a 45 minute drive for me.
Contact info:
Henry’s at the Barn
36840 Detroit Rd
Avon, OH 44011-1570
(440) 934-6636
Cleveland Rocks, Cleveland Eats 