"If you are a real Mexican food lover (not southwest, not Tex-Mex, not Fast-Food), looking for an upscale and demanding rendering of Mexican cuisine that has been merged from all over Mexico, need a place to extra-city... then here is the place you need to be! If you are looking for chips and salsa, you will find somewhere else. Taste, authenticity, service and enjoyment can be found here! From the establishment, made of sweat and tears, the decor and the settings, the fabulous Tequila selection and the passion placed in this work of love, is indescribable, but shows itself in the meal you will enjoy here. Barrio was born by the amazing, renowned and award-winning chef Silvana Salcido Esparza, who walked alone through Mexico and brought this knowledge to Phoenix and opened Barrio Café with business partner Wendy Gruber in 2002. “...I wanted to introduce people to the food I eat through Mexico,” she said. The creation of Chef Esparza is now the epitome of “Modern Mexican Cuisine” in Phoenix! In our numerous visits to Barrio, I can only say that we never tired of the incredible food. Whether breakfast, lunch, happy hour or dinner, you can't go wrong. In our visits we enjoyed drinks such as Jamaica Margarita; Dos XX Amber beer; Bohemia beer; and a fantastic Sergio el Suave Milagro Añejo Tequila with pineapple, and fresh lime juices, Agaven Nektar, Zilantro and candied Jalapeño. Our dinners and lunches are included but not limited to: table side Guacamole del Barrio, served and prepared table side during your meal; a delectable Cochinita Pibil, which they marinate with Achiote, sour orange, wrap in banana leaves covered in red onion and pico de gallo; their posole Verde is the best I ever had and is jam packed with pork, hominy, In the Desert Narena, one of our fantastic Tries was Pastel Oaxaca; and to pack it all to have Chiapas I couldn't run away during our first visit without buying her sympos “Comida Chingona” t-shirt – a homage to Esparza’s “Bad-Ass Food”! I go to Barrio whenever I can, because her consistency never leaves us satisfied. If you really want a great meal that is like being in someone Mexican home, this is as close as it comes. Cudes to the boss, the staff and the chefs! Bon appétit!” or you could say “Buen Provecho”!"
