El Barrio

• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• What are these?

• Average price 2 courses:
   £13 (lunch)
   £13 (evening meal)
• House wine: £11 per bottle

• High point: Bustling Latin vibe and friendly staff
• Low point: Minimal vegetarian options
• Food served: Mon–Sun 11am–3am
• Open since: 2006

This review appears in the The List's Eating & Drinking Guide 2008
– in the shops now or buy online.

While the attendance of a bouncer on the door may hint at the party going on downstairs, a relatively modest exterior gives little suggestion of the fiery Latin spirit waiting inside. With a well-stocked bar – complete with exotic beers, rums, tequilas and Brazilian cachaca – and layout that's conducive to socialising, El Barrio more than compensates for a fairly uneventful, if tasty, menu. All the Mexican staples are here: thick chilli con carne, moist enchiladas and chicken burritos appear alongside smaller dishes, such as mozzarella melts served with salsa picante and stuffed jalapeño peppers with cream cheese and sour cream. With maximum attention given to good service and making the most of its basics, more demanding dishes, such as the seafood paella, taste fairly forgettable in comparison with one of Barrio's deliciously simple bowls of steaming hot cheese nachos. With the focus now largely on a growing array of nightly dance classes, and in-house DJs transforming the restaurant from 9pm into a dance floor complete with 3am license, Barrio's boundless scope for 24/7 Latin spirit is to be commended. But this is certainly one for those looking for the full Latin experience without the high end culinary experience.