Barrio

I have no clue what other Unilocalers are talking about, maybe good food isn’t your forte. Maybe you expect amazing food when your order unlimited tacos or quesedillas, no se!
I went here last year with my boyfriend. We took a three hour run and decided to eat at this quaint looking place. Even 20 min before closing, the staff told us we could sit and eat. We ordered quickly, received some flavourful chunky salsa, and chips. I got a vegetarian burrito. No qualms there! I asked them to make it spicy, they did. The heat was there and the flavour. My bf got a pork dish.
We are two discriminating foodies and loved the food.
We had a desert martini, which was the epitome of great Mexican chocolate. Max Brenner eat your heart out.
We left satisfied, full and happy; always wanted to make it back, but we eat everywhere.
I’m sorry Barrio you closed down! Come back.

Just really not a good place. Poor service, bland food, small portions. Because it’s two blocks from home, we gave it one more chance for brunch today. Queso fundido: FAIL. Just stretchy lukewarm cheese not even suitable for speading or dipping. We sent it back, and our server didn’t take it off the check. «But… you ordered it!» she protested. Yes, and it was terrible, so we returned it. I had to go talk to the manager to get it taken care of. Sorry, Barrio, you have failed us for the last time.

It’s definitely not four star quality food, but cmon, unlimited quesadillas and sangria for $ 16.95? I can get 4 stars worth of value out of that no problem.
If you want to go for this quantity-​over-​quality schtick, and I think you do, then go on Wednesday. The quesadillas are okay. You can choose from 5 or 6 options including chicken, shrimp, cheese, veggie, chorizo, and mushroom. They’re ok, but not great. Chicken is the best. The sangria is somewhat better, but again it’s really the quantity that is impressive rather than the quality. We spent several hours here and though we were clearly outstaying our welcome, the waiters were nice about it and kept on refilling.
There’s also a similar unlimited taco night on Monday which I haven’t tried.

I get the distinct feeling that this is one of those places you really want to like, but somehow it just comes up short.
I was here a few weeks ago and ordered the chicken enchilada which tasted like lasagna. My friend had the quesadillas which were tiny by any standard let alone for what they charge. But really my major issue was the mouse that joined our meal. We sat in the outdoor area which is nice for the most part. But towards the end of our meal I saw a large brown dot out of the corner of my eye, a few minutes later it returned and I confirmed that it was a mouse. I know this is an outdoor place, but its not a dirty neighborhood and mice should just not take part in a meal. If you are going to have outdoor seating in an urban area you have to do something to account for that potential issue. If that is what you do see, imagine what you don’t.
I know posting something like this has its consequences, and I feel bad about that but for the price and lack of delicious food I just have to say it. The area is packed with nice restaurants with better prices, go to one that doesn’t have a rodent problem.

I went again and the food was still SLAMMIN’!!!
Good work Chef!!! Are you married?

So on the website, the Thursday special is unlimited tequila and torta for $ 15. We were all excited for this deal. When we got there on a Thursday night, they said there is no special. Bummer!
I had their vegetable enchilada with a tiny side portion of rice. The rice was good. It came in a square plate the size of my palm. The vegetable enchilada drenched in green sauce was alright, nothing special or memorable. The menu was 2 pages and not very extensive.
I ordered another side of corn pudding. I was so looking forward to this. But it was so salty when I tried it. Anyhow it is sad that the restaurant does not honor the daily special listed on their own website.

I wanted to like this place more. I really did. I guess that I should’ve known that liking this place was going to be a problem when the waitress put down this humongous steak knife and told me that I’d need it for the pork chop I’d ordered. And you know what? I did. It wasn’t tough, but it wasn’t easy to cut either.
My wife’s salmon was tasty but nothing to write home about.
I’d have ordered a second beer or maybe a margarita if only the waitress had asked. But she didn’t.
Outdoors eating at this time of year is nice but if that’s the only draw I’ll go elsewhere.
I really wanted to like this place, but.

Nope, nope, nope. It’s NY, I don’t care if it’s Brooklyn, and this is one of those places that doesn’t deserve to be open, but likely stays that way only because it’s there and enough people think, «sure, why not» often enough that they’re busy.
The service is poor, the food is fairly terrible, the drinks aren’t made well, and really, it’s just to be avoided entirely.
I can usually have something positive to say, but in this case there was nothing. Even the outdoor space that looked so inviting under the big tent smelled of warm plastic and rather baked us while we sat underneath.

Here’s a message I received right after reviewing Barrio from an angry Unilocaler that happened to Unilocal all other Mexican restaurants extremely poorly, except for the restaurants in the Barrio group (until his profile was shut down). Based on other Unilocal reviews, this is not the first time someone at Barrio was insulted enough by a review to send a threatening message:
«you need to stop fucking with ppl bussines, for real, you dont know what ppl might do to protect they famillies and income, so waht out, we know you are by court st so what out next time
now we know ur dog!!!»
Right. That’s the way to make up for a poor dining experience to your clientele.

I visited Barrio for dinner this past Saturday night and what a mistake!
Our group of 4 sat down for dinner in the outdoor area and the place was pretty full. Some of the group had been there before for brunch and enjoyed it so I was looking forward to a good meal.
We ordered 2 different taquitos as appetizers — the braised short rib and the carnitas. At the same time I ordered the crab enchiladas as my main course. This is where it all began to fall apart.
The first issue was that they brought out the appetizers at the same time as our main courses. I’m having a hard time remembering another restaurant that has done this and its annoying but hey its something you can let slide and assume its just a once in a while type of error.
The taquitos were good, nothing special. Then I began to eat the crab enchiladas and right away I knew something was wrong. The crab smelled ridiculously fishy and the dish tasted terrible. This was not fresh!
The service was also awful. We ordered a pitcher of margarita when we first sat down and it was 10 – 15 minutes before it came to the table. I don’t know what was going on with our waitress but after the food was put down we did not see her again until we physically had to get up and ask for a check. Then we were brought the wrong check. Then there was a long wait to have our credit card run.
Bottom Line:
Food was terrible. Service was equally horrible.
Stay away

NOTE: THIS IS ABOUT BRUNCH ONLY.
I was sad about my experience at Barrio. This was our post-​NYE brunch (yeah, the review is late… sorry) and about half of us were uh… ‘under the weather’ and half of us were just fine and we went to have a nice lazy brunch.
We were seated right away (yay), outside in the covered patio (double-​yay in the winter) but wait… we found that we were being scorched by the sun and there isn’t much in the way of shade, the tables were all wobbly and every time someone moved you felt like your drinks would go falling over, and at the end, the food portions are just SMALL. And not seasoned enough.
I’ve been to mexican/​latin american restaurants that were far more satisfying for this price-​range and better to boot. It wouldn’t be a go to choice for me and sadly, my experience left me unmotivated to go again for a non-​brunch meal.

I had a great experience at Barrio. I love the outdoor seating area with the lights… It’s just really cute and pretty. I went on Monday: unlimited taco and sangria night. The place was pretty full. My date and I weren’t in a hurry, but I could see how the service could be construed as slow if I hadn’t been enjoying the company so much. They were very friendly though, and I can’t complain!
I thought the tacos were very delicious. I tried the chorizo, grilled chicken, shrimp, and the Dos Equis chicken. They were tiny, in groups of three, but hit the spot. The sangria was okay. I’d definitely go again on a nice summer night.

Dined there with my girlfriend on Saturday night. Service was warm and friendly, and I loved the heated sidewalk tent they have to accommodate winter «al fresco» dining. The free chips and salsa are delicious (salsa verde rocks!), and my girlfriend’s shrimp and coconut rice entrée was pretty solid. They fell short on the appetizer and my entrée, though. We had the lobster soup and while the flavor did wear on you a bit, it was pretty obvious that they had simply taken some heavy cream and reduced it with fish stock and added 3 small bits of lobster meat to it. It was a salty, poorly executed bowl of slop and I’m ashamed that we ate it in its entirety while trying to track down our waiter for some black pepper to balance out the saltiness.
As for my entrée, I was dreaming about their adobo pork chop all afternoon. I had gotten it for take out when we first moved to the Slope two years ago, and it was fantastic. Unfortunately this night’s rendition was nothing short of awful. The chop was completely unseasoned save for the sauce that it was drenched in. Instead of searing the chop, it appeared to be steamed or boiled. That’s how chewy it was. The quality of the pork was also highly suspect.
I’m an idiot for not sending it back, but I was starving and just kept convincing myself that it would get better after each bite.
This is a great corner location that is unfortunately occupied by a restaurant with dated cuisine and lazy cooks. Barrio needs to reinvent itself, and I think the 20 available tables on a Saturday night says the same.

I came here a few weeks ago for brunch around 11:30 AM on a Saturday. We were actually the only people in the place until right before we left when another couple came in. Interesting.
Regardless, the food was awesome. I had been craving chilaquiles and Barrio hit the spot. The chips and salsa they brought out before were also incredible. I probably could have eaten about five bowls of them, but I’m pretty gluttonous in the morning.
I ordered the unlimited sangria, which I was slightly disappointed by. The first glass took about 15 minutes to come out after the waiter told me they had to make the mix for it. We were the first ones there, understandable. But then when it came out, it still wasn’t complete. After 15 minutes. He said they didn’t have the mix finished and hadn’t cut up any fruit. So I basically got a glass of red wine. My second glass was much better, but they were so slow with the whole thing that there is no way I could have taken advantage of the «unlimited» unless I wanted to sit there all day. Price wise, I still got a deal, I think, because one glass is $ 7.95 and I paid $ 9.95 for two. But one sucked. I DON’T KNOW.
I’d give it another shot or come back just for the chilaquiles.

Pretty good Mexican restaurant with a nice corner outdoor seating area. Very attentive servers, almost to the point of too much.
White sangria was delicious and just the right amount of sweetness. The little tacos are tasty. We had vegetables, which were my favorite, the fish of the day Talapia and chorizo with a side of black beans.
Reasonably priced.
Beware many Park Slope douche bags.

Personally, I never understood the whole «let’s have brunch» thing, but people in NYC are very, ahhh, «brunchy.» When I get up on the weekends, well, I either, a.) get up super early and run, or b.) sleep in. By the time I’m hungry for breakfast I’m semi cranky, even after a cup or two of coffee. So, if someone wants/​expects me to actually get dressed, get on a train and be somewhere at a specific time, well… that’s a lot of effort (I think) on an empty stomach.
Cue this morning at 10 am.
I’ve had coffee and Molly IM’s me, «let’s get unlimited sangria and food!» I step out of my normal routine and reply…“okay…sure.“
Here’s the deal: unlimited sangria with the purchase of an entrée for $ 15.95.
Stop the presses.
Did you say «unlimited»?
I’m skeptical.
:sips white sangria, sips some more:
(not too sweet and a decent white wine)
I’m a convert.
The free salsa is a tomatillo base with cilantro and a bit of jalapeño. The chips are lightly salted and not greasy or overly-​filling. The guacamole can be made to order – mild, medium or hot (we had medium) and comes in a molcajete… and is very good* – chunky, spicy, not too much cilantro or lime juice. Of special note, the guac also comes with 8 – 10 3″ diameter warm corn tortillas (yum!).
We both had Huevos Rancheros which was just enough food. M. commented that she liked the fact that Barrio plates were not overdone or gigantic portions, to which I wholeheartedly agreed.**
We arrived around 11:30a on Saturday and had no wait… no one was there, I’m assuming because it’s Labor Day weekend (?).The service is friendly and quite attentive, but not over-​bearing.
I will most certainly be back… because sometimes it’s a good thing to get out of the house and have someone else make you breakfast. And, well, if alcohol is involved, then all the better.
With six or seven (or was it eight?) glasses of sangria between us and smiley faces, we left… with content bellies and wandered around an empty Park Slope on a holiday weekend.
*I’m sort of a guacamole «snob.» I make pretty damn fine guac if I do say so myself, and I have had guacamole that runs the spectrum at restaurants— some really crappy guacamole (who the hell adds sour cream to guacamole?!?) and some just heavenly.
**I was initially going to order the Vegetarian Baked Enchilada (cactus, black beans, poblanos, jalapenos and cheese), sans cheese, but was told that the enchiladas are pre made and cannot be ordered w/​out cheese. (Boo! Oh well…)

I came here with five people and everyone thought it was among their worst dinner experiences ever. These are not negative or overly critical people, I swear. My friends all got margaritas – everyone said the drinks were horrible. I got the «black bean soup», which was not a soup, it was like a big pureed bean dip. Two friends got the chicken enchiladas and said they were terrible.
I hate to be so negative, but it just wasn’t good. If only I’d disliked it, I would have given it a two star review, or not reviewed it in the first place. But five people all together disliking it – that merits a one-​star review, I think.
In Barrio’s defense, I will note that our waitress was nice, and the guacamole was good and fresh.

I never really used to understand the concept of brunch. To me, Saturdays were for sleeping late, going to the gym, running errands and saving my shenanigans until the evening-​time.
Shopsin’s is great, but I have to take a nap when I’m done. I don’t really drink mimosas. And I don’t want to have to get on a train to get to my first meal of the day.
So when the first nice day of the year came around a few weeks ago, Abigail M. convinced me that we needed to try this new place out that does unlimited sangria brunch (in addition to mimosas). I like to give a place a chance, and it was a beautiful day, so why not?*
I roll up, running, because I was running late and plop myself down to a glass of some of the best red sangria I’ve ever had.** There are chips, there is bright sunshine and there is guacamole.
You see where this story is going, don’t you?
Finally, after five years of living in New York, thanks to Barrio, I understand the concept of brunch. There’s good food (highly suggest the chilaquiles and then tortilla pie, as well as the guacamole) and great drinks, all for only $ 15 + tax/​tip.
Make sure to reserve a seat outside, as that’s half the reason to go in the first place. They take reservations, but for the most part you can get there on a Saturday and not worry about too much of a line.
The only downside that I can think of is the manager on duty when you get there. After two hours of sangria and mimosa drinking for our table of six, they told us there was a cutoff at 3 p.m. for the brunch. Turns out, they actually cut us off because they feared for our livers, or their bottom line. One or the other. I mean, I understand and all; we had been drinking solidly for two hours and though weren’t rowdy or anything we probably crossed the profit line for this particular endeavor.***
But the first time we went, we told the waitress we’d give her a really big tip**** which basically meant she kept feeding us drinks all afternoon. Which means, apparently, tip generously and you shall be rewarded.*****
* — Why not? ‘Cause the clowns’ll git ya.
** — Possibly only the second time in my life I’d ever had red sangria, but that’s beside the point.
*** — I’ll do my best to rotate my brunch spots so as not to ruin it for everyone else.
**** — Cash money. Get your minds out of the gutter.
***** — This one you can take however you prefer.

We were need of respite from the summer heat and in search of some frozen drinks. Frozen drinks we did not find at Barrio but they did have refreshing cocktails. Unfortunately my watermelon margarita on the rocks tasted like straight tequila with a light pink hue. Thumbs up for the stiff drink, thumbs down for failure to execute on the muddled watermelon.
The green salsa is excellent and we kept those coming. We also split a queso al fundido — it was a swiss cheese fondue with shiitake mushrooms and served with warm tortillas. It was kind of like a make-​your-​own mini quesadilla.
The gold chocolate coins that come with the check are a nice touch especially since the chocolate was so good. The space itself is super cute with bright pink walls and a nice size outdoor patio. Service was unremarkable but sufficient.

I have to admit that my first intentions of eating here had nothing to do with the hype but with my deep desire to complain about Lily H. and her «review» of this place. WTF are you thinking, Lily? It’s a running joke now between my girlfriend and me about how we are going to review places we see from the street but don’t actually go in to. We have no idea what she sounds like, but we imagine that every sentence ends like she is asking a question. «Um, I don’t actually eat food? because I get distracted by all the bright pretty lights?
So my review of Barrio:
«Um, this place has mexican food?» (just kidding)
To start I have to say that the people here are extremely kind and polite. We went in on Friday evening for dinner, got a table within 2 minutes and were immediately greeted with chips and salsa and water. I have to say I was deathly afraid of the salsa. It looked like the watery disaster that is served at Rocking Horse café. Luckily, it does not taste anything like it. In fact, its some of the best stuff I’ve ever had. The tomatillo sauce also had some great heat and tasted wonderful. The guacamole was good but overly salted.
I love the décor of the place, low intimate lighting, beautiful bar and built in coasters on the tables. Their salsa bowls are also quite cute.
The food was also excellent. The lady had vegetarian enchilada’s (unfortunately their only vegetarian option) and my Yucatan Shrimp was grilled perfectly. The rice with calamari was also very tasty — a fancier version of the rice that my grandmother would make me as a kid. They get four stars for great service and excellent food. 1 more star for having one of my favorite salsa’s and providing a Barrio stamped chocolate at the end of the meal.
Oh and just to bitch a little more about Lily H, here is my favorite review:
Barnes and Noble: «This place is closed»
Lily, dear. If you want to be an «attempted writer» you might want to consider attempting to write more than just a sentence or two.