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April 15, 2008
StreetLevel: Park Slope, Welcome to el Barrio
What's a highly successful restaurateur do upon moving from Manhattan to Park Slope? In the case of Spencer Rothschild—one of the owners of the Upper West Side's Calle Ocho, Gramercy's BLT Prime, and Midtown's Django—he opens Barrio, possibly the most highly anticipated new restaurant on 7th Avenue in forever. Rothschild moved to the Slope with his wife, Julie, last fall, and the pair set about finding a suitable location for a restaurant. They ended up taking the space on the corner of 3rd Street and 7th Ave. formerly occupied by Tempo Presto. Julie is a photographer and designed the space's interior, which is notable for its pink color scheme, exposed ceiling rafters, and wall art that includes a large mural. It's the pair's first time opening a restaurant together, and Rothschild said they "wanted to do it right." Rothschild notes that "New York has a mostly well-deserved bad reputation for Mexican food" and his menu will involve "staying authentic" (in other words, no Tex-Mex). Barrio's executive chef and other partner is Adrian Leon, who has overseen kitchens at Rosa Mexicano and Zona Rosa. Leon's menu at Barrio will include dishes like Puebla pork tenderloin with a peanut mole sauce (tentatively priced at $16.75), market fish tacos ($9.75), and an open-face chicken enchilada ($14.25). The restaurant will have a full liquor license and offer specialty cocktails like mojitos and caiperinas. Barrio is set to open this coming Monday, the 21st, and it's looking like it might be the shot in the arm that 7th Avenue's restaurant scene—so often a bridesmaid to the one on 5th nowadays—desperately needs. GMAP
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Comments
Should have opened on 5th!
Posted by: guest at April 15, 2008 2:45 PM
Let 7th get a new restaurant for a change. Plenty more new stuff is coming to 5th.
Posted by: guest at April 15, 2008 3:14 PM
I'm so excited, I love calle ocho - they have an all you can drink sangria brunch...I love the fun interior - what a treat in the winter...
Posted by: guest at April 15, 2008 3:21 PM
All you can drink Sangria?! IM SO THERE!
Posted by: guest at April 15, 2008 3:26 PM
3:14 - Whats in the pipeline for 5th?
Posted by: guest at April 15, 2008 3:28 PM
3:14 - Whats in the works for 5th??
Posted by: guest at April 15, 2008 3:31 PM
How is someone named Spencer "staying authentic" by opening a Mexican restaurant? Authentic to what? How would he be less authentic opening a Tex-Mex place?
Posted by: guest at April 15, 2008 3:53 PM
Babosos pendejos. Staying authentic? Pardon me for not believing yet another white dude with no clue as to what authentic Mexican food is supposed to taste like. Mojitos are Cuban and peanut mole sauce is just plain wrong, especially at that price. Caiparinias are Brazilian. I hate all of you.
Posted by: guest at April 15, 2008 3:58 PM
wonder if the fish tacos will be any contest to San Diego's or LA's. Probably not.
Posted by: guest at April 15, 2008 4:07 PM
wonder if the fish tacos will be any contest to San Diego's or LA's. Probably not.
Posted by: guest at April 15, 2008 4:09 PM
Looking forward to it and hope it succeeds but Zona Rosa and Rosa Mexicana are not what come to mind when thinking authentic Mexican. Zarelas, La Palapa are good examples in this class. Of course, plenty of quality and authenticity in Sunset Park.
Posted by: guest at April 15, 2008 4:12 PM
I wonder how the authentic Mexican will go over with what may be a big part of their lunch rush - the restaurant is in the "zone" within which the 4th and 5th graders at PS 321 are allowed to go for lunch.
Even though Barrio sounds more on the fancy side, I do hope they find a way to take advantage - I grew up on Mexican food and I think it would be a much healthier alternative for the kids than the usual pizza/starbucks options.
Posted by: petunia at April 15, 2008 4:27 PM
If the seasonings and ingredients in the dishes are right, what's on the drinks list is irrelevant. It'd be dumb for any bar-restaurant, no matter the cuisine, not to offer a decent mojito or caperinia.
Posted by: guest at April 15, 2008 4:30 PM
That place is pretty tacky looking. Hopefully the food is better than the design and color scheme. It looks like the same designer of that shitty salon that's opening across the street. Sorry for the negativity.
Posted by: guest at April 15, 2008 4:34 PM
That place is pretty tacky looking. Hopefully the food is better than the design and color scheme. It looks like the same designer of that shitty salon that's opening across the street. Sorry for the negativity.
Posted by: guest at April 15, 2008 4:36 PM
That place is pretty tacky looking. Hopefully the food is better than the design and color scheme. It looks like the same designer of that shitty salon that's opening across the street. Sorry for the negativity.
Posted by: guest at April 15, 2008 4:37 PM
If you all have been to Calle Ocho and trhat is any indication, you will know that this place will be great.
Seriously. Calle Ocho is AMAZING!!
I'm thinking this place is going to be a major hit.
Posted by: guest at April 15, 2008 4:40 PM
My only exposure to authentic Mexican food was a deliciously greasy taco I bought from an old lady across the street from the bus station in Ensenada. The trick with authentic Mexican food is to get Montezuma's revenge the first day of your trip and suffer the runs for a day or two until your system adjusts. Then eat whatever you want.
We like Zona Rosa, and we'll certainly try this new place. They can call it authentic if they want. It is what it is.
Posted by: Hal at April 15, 2008 4:41 PM
What the hell.
As long as the food is good, they deliver and the staff is OK with ICE [and I don't mean in their drinks] everything will be muy bueno.
Posted by: guest at April 15, 2008 4:49 PM
go back to manhattan!!
Posted by: guest at April 15, 2008 4:50 PM
Sounds like it will be nice. Pretty swanky though, and bright!
Posted by: guest at April 15, 2008 4:50 PM
Sounds like it will be nice. Pretty swanky though, and bright!
Posted by: guest at April 15, 2008 4:51 PM
God bless you 3:58!!
Posted by: guest at April 15, 2008 4:57 PM
Tough crowd.
And you wonder why so many people hate Park Slope?
Posted by: guest at April 15, 2008 5:10 PM
A mojito is a specialty drink?
Posted by: guest at April 15, 2008 5:16 PM
Are any of the complainers here actually from Park Slope?
Didn't think so.
Posted by: guest at April 15, 2008 5:19 PM
I hate to say it but the scene at Calle Ocho is the epitome of why I am glad to not live on the upper west side. It is terribly annoying and loud and super 90s (in a bad way), not to mention overpriced. Authenticity aside, I do recall their breads being amazing. Mmm, breads.
Posted by: guest at April 15, 2008 6:07 PM
5:10 how do we know it's not you posting or somebosy from another area. That's the problem with anonynimity, nothing is what it seems.
Posted by: guest at April 15, 2008 6:26 PM
5:10 how do we know it's not you posting or somebody from another area. That's the problem with anonynimity, nothing is what it seems.
Posted by: guest at April 15, 2008 6:26 PM
looks like a dunkin donuts!
Posted by: guest at April 15, 2008 7:52 PM
dunkin' donuts on peyote. dunkin' buttons?
Posted by: guest at April 15, 2008 8:00 PM
that location has seen sequential failures or at least sequential mediocrity, for some reason.
Posted by: guest at April 15, 2008 9:23 PM
It's the bad mojo emanating from the rotting hulk next door on 3rd street.
Posted by: guest at April 16, 2008 12:17 AM
I don't get why this blog and so many others seem so excited about this place -- and want to give it so much free advertising. It's great to have community spirit and all, but I wonder if you all will be getting free drinks and meals in return for all your postings. It's just a new restaurant, people. There's a line between just mentioning the place and looking like you're working for the owners. And you crossed it.
Posted by: guest at April 16, 2008 8:40 AM
Highly anticipated? It seems as if the only one high in anticipation of the opening of Barrio is OTBKB's Louise, who has been stalking workers there for weeks. In her recent post, she vowed that Barrio "better be good" in view of all the energy she's devoted to the place.
I suppose if Barrio fails her esteemed palate test, they are doomed to the Wrath of Smartmom.
Posted by: guest at April 16, 2008 10:11 AM
I agree with 12:17. Why hasn't that building been demolished already? It's on a prime block? Instead it's kryptonite to every business on that corner. Anyone know anything about this building?
Posted by: guest at April 16, 2008 11:46 AM
Why "Barrio"? What's next, "Shtetl"? And it's ugly from the outside at least. Not what I'd call a neighborhood enhancement. (And I don't usually do whiny posts.)
Posted by: guest at April 16, 2008 12:12 PM
yes, "tex-mexican" in nyc is not authentic anything. it is an abomination. if you see a combination chinese takeout/tex-mexican place, steer clear. obviously the person who wrote this has never been to texas and tried the real thing. wish i could find the real thing here. lobo in ps is ok, but still subpar. granted, real tex-mex started out as an abomination itself, but "authentic tex-mex" is no longer an oxymoron. it's just that new yorkers are seriously deprived...
Posted by: guest at April 16, 2008 1:33 PM
I'm pretty sure there's a place called "Barrio Chino" in the Lower East side, which uses the same font in their logo - seems like a direct copy to me - very unoriginal; lame.
Posted by: guest at April 16, 2008 6:01 PM
My tastebuds tell me Mexican food authentic, tex-mex or whatever is nothing to get excited about. But a lively space is better than an empty space.
Posted by: guest at April 18, 2008 12:12 PM
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