Popular near-Wichita restaurant accidentally misses a huge chicken fried steak milestone
Back in February 2017, we reported the story of a restaurant in Burrton called The Barn and how it had somehow managed to sell 10,000 chicken fried steaks in its first 10 months in business — despite the fact that it operates in a town with a population of just 900 people.
Fast forward to 2020. The restaurant, a popular dining destination for Wichitans willing to make the 40-mile drive, was closing in on another feat, noticed owner Lesley Matlack’s husband, Karl. It was very close to selling its 100,000th chicken fried steak.
The staff started talking about a way to celebrate the milestone. They planned a big to-do, maybe a prize for the person who ordered it.
Then, everything came to a halt. A member of the kitchen staff tested positive for COVID-19, and on July 3, the Matlacks decided to be cautious and to close the restaurant while everyone was tested.
The big chicken fried steak moment got lost in the shuffle.
“We had been trying to keep track of it,” Lesley said.
Now, the restaurant is back open. No other staff members tested positive, and The Barn was closed for only seven days. Somewhere along the way, the 100,000th chicken fried steak was sold.
Now, the owners are hoping to make up for the missed moment with a special. Anyone who visits the restaurant from Monday through Thursday of next week (Aug. 3-6) and buys one chicken fried steak or chicken fried chicken entree can get a second for half price.
The pandemic has been tough on the restaurant even before the voluntary closure, Lesley said. When it first started and owners had to cut back on staff, they stopped serving breakfast, which was popular with the locals.
And business has been slower. Lesley says that she thinks people are just sticking closer to home and many of her customers were people who would drive from Wichita and other nearby cities and towns.
She plans to add breakfast back in a couple of weeks, and throughout August, she’s planning a series of themed lunch specials that offer flavors from other countries.
The restaurant will start closing on Sundays, though, she said.
Lesley said The Barn is set up to encourage social distancing and they’ve turned their big banquet room into a seating area to spread people out even more. They’ve also installed dividers between the booths.
Despite all the difficulties, though, that chicken fried steak has remained a big draw, Lesley said, and it’s still the restaurant’s top seller.
She’s proud of the 100,000 milestone, even if she missed it.
“It’s a testament to all the people who are still being supportive of us,” she said.
The Barn is at 307 W. Dean in Burrton.
This story was originally published July 30, 2020 at 2:31 PM.
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