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"Tequila" and "bar" are two words that we love at Metromix, and putting them together to make "tequila bar" just makes our hearts flutter that much faster.
Throw in the fact that Barrio, the newest marriage of drinks and dining on Nicollet Avenue, is from the owners of local superstar dining spot La Belle Vie, and we're moving into heart attack territory.
With all this excitement, how does really Barrio rate? Quite well, actually. There's a good selection of Latin food, an extensive selection of tequilas and several unique drinks on the menu.
We started with "The Good, the Bad and the Ugly", a mix of rum, coca cola, tamarind and cinnamon, and it turned out to be the highlight of our drinks. We then followed up the spicy drink with the sweet house sangria, and we appreciated that the drink doesn't skimp on the liquor (or the fruit, for that matter).
Next, we went on to the pisco sour, which was rich and frothy, but not overly impressive compared with the other two drinks. At that point we thought about a shot of top shelf tequila, which they have on hand at Barrio. But be careful—you get what you pay for with fancy liquor, and at Barrio you can end up paying quite a bit. So we sipped one of the mid-priced tequilas and to a look at the other items available at Barrio.
The food, like the tequila, has high expectations. The menu is basically grouped into three categories: cheap and small, medium and tasty and large and very delicious. We tried the chorizo and potato taco, which came in a hardshell with nice amount of meat and diced avocado on the top, and the shrimp taco, which came in a soft shell and wasn't as flavorful or filling as the pork.
Next we sampled the mussels ceviche, which was topped with the same diced avocado and a variety of fresh fruit, and was simply delectible. Last, we orded the chicken enchilada, hoping to round out a meal of small plates, but despite the quality of the taste, we should've just gone with one of the larger plates. (All the food at Barrio is either good or great, but if you're hungry, go big or continue to go hungry.)
Perhaps the best feature of the new Barrio is the interior. Although slim (and potentially short on space for a big crowd when the patio isn't open), Barrio brings a lot of character to Nicollet Mall, which you couldn't say about the previous resident Dunn Brothers. The balcony, dark wood, candles and hanging lights make a mood that matches the menu—and makes for a great tequila bar.
