John Adam is the man behind the mouth-watering food guests enjoy when dining at Bull and Barrel Steakhouse. He has called Statesboro home since 2018 after moving from Denver, CO. In Denver, he was an executive chef/food & beverage director for the Marriott Hotel Group. It is with this experience and background he was asked by co-owner Jim Peery if he would help start Bull and Barrel. John was all in, left his corporate job and moved to Statesboro to make this a reality along with co-owners Jason Franklin and Jim Peery.
John had never been to Statesboro prior to getting involved with Bull & Barrel. He jokingly says that friends of his laughed at him when he first moved down here. He states,” why are you moving to Statesboro, there’s nothing there, why open a restaurant there.” Today, Bull & Barrel is a staple in Downtown Statesboro with a growing customer base. This all is a part of John’s culinary passion and mission to make Statesboro known for its up and coming food scene.
From the beginning John, Jim & Jason made sure that the food and service Bull & Barrel offers is of the highest quality. This can be seen from the high-end decor inside the restaurant, the many delicious entrees/appetizers/desserts, and beverage menu. Some of those items include their popular pork belly entree, bread pudding, and smoked prime rib. John states that what makes Bull and Barrel unique from other restaurants in the area is “our committed and embodied staff, the quality shines through completely.” The staff is what makes the Bull & Barrel experience special for all guests.
Any guest will tell right from the start when they take their first bite the time John and his staff take to find the freshest ingredients. Before opening, Jim and Jason traveled all over the country to source the best beef; to food shows, cattle ranches, packing plants, and other restaurants nationwide to find the right ingredients. These culinary trips have taken him to places like Chile and Mexico, among others. He admits it was not an easy process and one that is extremely time consuming but worth it in the end, hands down.
“If you haven’t dined at Bull & Barrel please make the effort to do so” says Adams. This is an experience you can’t get anywhere else in Statesboro. They located at 30 West Main Street in downtown Statesboro and are open Wednesday-Thursday 5:30-9 p.m., Friday 5:30-10p.m., Brunch from 10-2 on the weekends then open for dinner 5-10 p.m. on Saturdays. For more information on Bull & Barrel visit their website and if you see John don’t be shy to say hello. Also, don’t forget to check out their food truck, Cosmic Cowboy Barbecue at 24087 Northside Drive (former Applebee’s parking lot).
Main Street Statesboro and the Downtown Statesboro Development Authority are committed to the economic development, historic preservation and beautification of Statesboro’s downtown area. Our purpose is to revitalize downtown economically and socially within the context of historic preservation by increasing financial viability and ensuring the success of businesses.