Barrio
Tuesday, May 6, 2008
I had been keeping an eye on the development as Barrio was preparing to open, and when I heard about the the 15% opening week discount, I decided it was time to get down there. I wasn't alone, even on a Tuesday night, and the place was pleasantly full of diners.
The atmosphere was great, casually lit with brightly colored paint and murals. The tables were packed tightly together (what restaurant in NYC doesn't?) but they had these nifty tile coasters built in to the table top. The wait staff was friendly and responsive, and even though they had just opened I didn't notice any problems.
The menu was a step in a different direction compared to most Mexican restaurants. I wouldn't call it a "Fusion" menu, but it combines Mexican ingredients and flavors in a way I haven't seen before. My girlfriend and I split the guacamole for an appetizer, and while she tried the steak tacos I opted for the Yucatan Shrimp.
When it comes to taste, the guacamole was good but not anything special. My sticking point with it was that the size of the serving did not reflect the price. While $5.95 buys a table's worth at La Taqueria, $7.50 at Barrio gets you a serving half the size. I didn't go into the restaurant looking for a bargain, but this one still came as a surprise.
The tacos were good, but the temperature difference between the warm and cold ingredients was too severe, and the result was a luke-warm dish. The saving grace of the night: the shrimp was amazing. It was zesty, light, and just plain delicious.
My conclusion: it's an innovative restaurant off to a good start but it probably won't be a part of my regular rotation.
Labels: restarant review
5/06/2008 09:26:00 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)