"Barrio Café was founded by the renowned and award-winning chef Silvana Salcido Esparza, who journeyed throughout Mexico to bring her culinary knowledge to Phoenix, teaming up with business partner Wendy Gruber to open the café in 2002. "I wanted to introduce people to the food I eat throughout Mexico," she remarked. Chef Esparza's creation has become the pinnacle of "Modern Mexican Cuisine" in Phoenix!
In our many visits to Barrio, we’ve never grown tired of the exceptional food. Whether it’s breakfast, lunch, happy hour, or dinner, you can't go wrong. We’ve enjoyed drinks like the Jamaica Margarita, Dos XX Amber beer, Bohemia beer, and an impressive Sergio el Suave Milagro Añejo Tequila paired with pineapple, fresh lime juices, agave nectar, cilantro, and candied jalapeño. Our meals have included, but are not limited to, the tableside Guacamole del Barrio, which is prepared right at your table; a delightful Cochinita Pibil marinated in achiote and sour orange, wrapped in banana leaves, and garnished with red onion and pico de gallo; and the best posole verde I've ever tasted, bursting with pork and hominy. One of our favorite desserts was the Pastel Oaxaca, and I simply couldn’t leave my first visit without purchasing the "Comida Chingona" t-shirt—a tribute to Esparza’s "Bad-Ass Food"!
I visit Barrio whenever possible because their consistency never fails to impress us. If you're looking for a meal that feels like dining in a Mexican home, this is as close as it gets. Hats off to the owner, the staff, and the chefs! Bon appétit, or as you might say, “¡Buen Provecho!”"
