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…
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
Thought about eating there but the menu is way overpriced. And, yes, it’s damn tacky looking.
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.
To 3:58
Stop the hatin’ afterall we let you live here.
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.
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…
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.)
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?
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.
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.