Barker's Bar and Grill Thrives on Hospitality and Local Support

For 22 years in downtown Hudson has been the place to go for consistent bar foods. Owner Pete Foster likes it that way.

“Chicken wings and burgers are why people come to Barker’s,” he said. “We serve American style upscale bar and grill food. It’s burgers, chops, steaks and salads.”

Though burgers may be Foster’s meal ticket, he said the best dish on the menu is the yellow fin tuna melt.

“I have not seen that on a menu anywhere else,” he said. “It’s sushi, high-grade tuna and very unique.”

The creation came from the one of the restaurant’s specials a few years ago.

“It was really popular so we decided to work it into the menu,” he said.

Giving people what they want is the name of the game over on the Second Street bar.

“We put lots and lots and lots of energy into working and training our staff to be accommodating to all our guests and want them to feel like they’re walking into their living room when they come here,” Foster said.

Knowing the clientele comes from a 10-mile radius one thing to help them feel at home is ingredients they might find in their own kitchen – Foster said the kitchen staff uses local ingredients as often as possible. Poultry comes from Wisconsin and Minnesota farms, the bison comes from Baldwin, cheese curds from Ellsworth, bread from River Falls’ Greatful Bread bakery and area farmer’s market veggies and other products when possible.

“I’m a firm believer in keeping it local and supporting local farms and businesses,” Foster said. “What comes around goes around. I can only hope by supporting their businesses that support will trickle down and hopefully come back to us.

“By focusing on being the spot that locals can call their own we’ve been able to succeed,” he said.

Much like they’d watch the cook in their kitchen at home, the Barker’s kitchen staff can be seen from the dining room and communicate with each other.

A remodel and renovation is likely within the next year but Foster said one thing will stay the same.

“We’ll continue to focus on quality of food and beverages because that’s what we’re about,” he said. “And our staff will be the friendly, hospitable staff they are.”