Tracy Celine

At the end of the day, it all comes down to good food, good vibes and good company. At the newly reopened Country Barn in USJ Sentral, that’s exactly what you get. USJ locals might remember a bustling neighbourhood pub in USJ 11 that opened in 1996, operated for almost 20 years and unfortunately had to shut. However, after a couple of years and much thought, the husband and wife duo of Jeffrey and Paulin – themselves loyal customers of the old Country Barn – decided to take the reins and reopen the brand in a new location and with a new menu. This new space has different seating sections – there are high bar stools and tables with a snooker table, and the more casual dining lounge area complete with a couple of sofas. There’s also a small but functional stage that sees local musicians and artists playing every Friday and Saturday night, covering all genres and moods (no, it’s not just country music here). Country Barn is all about hearty comfort food and family values that the owners instill in this little happy place. It truly is a family-run establishment – Jeffrey mans the kitchen, whipping up good food simply cooked right; Paulin takes care of the PR aspects and manages the floor, chatting with regulars and welcoming newcomers; their niece helps out with ushering people to their seats and serving food and drinks; even the recipes are named after family members (but we’ll get to that later). As you browse through the menu, you’ll find a good variety of dishes from Western