We were looking for a place to eat after a fun ride on the Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad and the Oak Barrel is just a few minutes from the Independence stop. The atmosphere is nice, and the double-sided fireplace in the middle of the restaurant was a welcome addition on a chilly Saturday.
The menu has a good, well-priced selection of apps, pizzas, burgers, sandwiches and entrees. I had the Croque Monsier pizza and it was delicious! And huge! I could have easily split the pizza with someone else -- but then I wouldn't have had the leftovers I enjoyed the next day!. My friend ordered the pulled pork sandwich and said it was very tasty.
The service was good, but a little intrusive. The server first asked us for our order about two minuets after we sat down and then again about a minute after that. It was early (around 4:30 pm) so maybe she didn't have enough tables to keep her busy. But that's a minor complaint and I'm sure we'll be back if we find ourselves in Valley View again.