The Gnarly Barley

The Snack Attack

Suds and spuds

The Belle Isle area is no bastion of elegant eats, but it is full of places to get your grub on. A roadhouse that happens to serve great food, the Gnarly Barley features 10 beers on tap, including more elusive options like Boulder Beer's Hoopla Pale Ale, a light, refreshing brew with a clean finish that will cool down these last few weeks of humid summer.

Not only is Gnarly Barley a cool spot for brew lovers, the menu is full of hearty hangover preventers and cures like the "Johnnie Mac 'n Cheese" sandwich ($8), a bombshell take on the French dip, filled with roast beef, grilled onions, and macaroni & cheese, au jus on the side for dipping. Brisket tacos ($3 each) are another crowd favorite, filled with tender chipotle brisket, fresh pico de gallo and shredded pepper jack cheese. The "Snack Attack," a dive-bar version of nachos, consists of a pile of fresh kettle chips practically hidden by mounds of shredded chicken, bleu cheese and pico de gallo ($6). It's a perfect messy dish to share with friends over a couple of cold ones.

The loyal, local following at the Gnarly Barley fills up the place for lunch and dinner on weekends, but it's worth making your way up to the bar to experience this local joint displaying some serious food love.