Tucked into the heart of downtown Statesboro, Bull & Barrel Steakhouse has built a reputation around what it calls "everyday elegance," a blend of elevated dining, handcrafted cocktails and hospitality that keeps guests returning again and again. This year, local readers recognized the restaurant with Readers’ Choice Awards for Best Brunch and Best Bartender, honoring longtime bartender Dale Fagan.
For Dale, the win was unexpected.
"It feels humbling, and I’m thankful for the recognition from the people of Statesboro," he said.
Dale has spent more than two decades in the service industry, following a path shaped in part by his parents’ own careers in the industry.
Although he had previously bartended in Statesboro, much of his work experience was in restaurant management — until an opportunity at Bull & Barrel shifted his direction. Encouraged by a mutual friend, Dale met with owner John Long for an interview, one he still remembers nearly six years later.
"Bull was looking for a bartender, and I really enjoyed sitting down with John," Dale said. "The interview went well."
Since joining the restaurant just after its opening, Dale has become one of the familiar faces behind the bar, known as much for his hospitality and easy conversation as the cocktails he serves. That guest-first mentality has helped him build lasting relationships with regulars over the years — connections that now extend well beyond the restaurant walls.
"I’ve been invited to weddings and other personal events," he said. "I have made a lot of friends from being in this industry."
Dale describes his bartending style as approachable and conversational, mixing humor with hospitality throughout any given night.
"My personality is always putting the guest’s needs first," he said. "Also, I love engaging in meaningful conversations (and) cracking jokes.
"We like to make people feel at home," he continued. "That’s why we have guests, not customers."
While patrons often rave about his Old Fashioned, Dale says the care and precision poured into every cocktail they serve is one of the biggest reasons Bull & Barrel’s bar stands out.
"Consistency is key for any restaurant, and we honestly have it," he said.
The restaurant’s expansive drink menu blends classic cocktail inspiration with elevated ingredients. Offerings include the Cranberry Aperol Spritz featuring a house-made cranberry reduction, the "75 Millimeter" crafted with Empress 1908 gin and champagne, and the Pistachio Martini with house-made pistachio cream.
While Bull & Barrel’s bar program has helped define its identity, the restaurant’s brunch service has become just as central to its success, also earning top honors in this year’s Reader’s Choice Awards.
John Adam, chef partner and general manager at Bull & Barrel, said the recognition reflects the restaurant’s continued focus on quality ingredients and scratch-made preparations.
Served Saturdays and Sundays, brunch at Bull & Barrel blends upscale comfort food with classic brunch cocktails. John says the menu — featuring favorites like Chicken & Waffles, Shrimp and Grits and cinnamon rolls alongside mimosas, iced Dalgona coffee and Bloody Marys served with a bacon salt rim — was thoughtfully designed to offer something for everyone.
As Bull & Barrel has grown, so has brunch, evolving from what began as a limited offering into what is now a full weekend service, introduced about four years ago. John said it’s just one of the many ways in which the restaurant has expanded and adapted since its inception — made possible by a team built with employees like Dale.
"Our dedicated staff has been instrumental in our growth," John said. "We’ve worked hard to create an environment where guest experience and customer service remain our primary focus."
And that momentum isn’t slowing down.
Guests can expect new developments on the horizon, including the launch of lunch service later this summer, with an entirely new menu. The team is also preparing to expand beyond Statesboro, with a second Bull & Barrel location slated to open in Savannah next year.
