El Barco Mariscos

The El Barco website is never updated for days and times. Went a few days in the same week and it was closed for different reasons. 1st time it was some undisclosed event that occurred and they closed right before we arrived around 5pm. The next few days it was closed due to kitchen repairs with only a sign posted on the door. Then when we finally got to go and the Red Snapper was over cooked, ugh! The drinks are amazing however. The food is delicious as long as instructions are provided so your food turns out right. The salas served with the chips are tasty too. Great place if you can catch them when they are actually open.

Maria was our waitress, she was extremely attentive and professional. The food was exactly what we expected. Service was great and efficient.

Nothing like a pitcher of margaritas on a hot summer down for a nice cool down. The steak and shrimp fajitas were fantastic, and we loved all the veggies that came with. I've never had shrimp quesadillas before but I'll be back for more of these!

I recently dined at El Barco on Ashland, and I have to admit, the food was quite delicious! The red snapper I ordered was particularly outstanding—fresh, flavorful, and cooked to perfection. The other dishes we tried, including the steak, shrimp, and tacos, were also very good. However, I did notice that the restaurant could use some improvement in the cleanliness department. The place seemed a bit overdue for a thorough cleaning, which detracted from the overall experience. That said, the food was definitely worth the visit, and I would consider returning, especially if they address the cleanliness issue.

Came here with my family and had an enjoyable experience with not only the food but the staff as well. They do tend to get a little crowded, especially since the area isn't very big, to begin with. We ordered camarones a la diabla, ceviche de camaron, empanadas de camaron tacos de Carne asada, enchiladas de Pollo, and langostinos a la diabla. All of the portions I'd say were pretty average sized for an American at lunch time, but most if not all plates come with a side of rice, beans, or vegetables if not a side of each. You can opt to have fries instead of the vegetable side as well. Anyways, let's start with the appetizers we ordered. Each empanada is ~$4.50, and that's PER empanada, obviously when we're on this side of town we do notice a price increase, but for $8 we could get 4 empanadas at another mariscos restaurant. Now onto the taste itself, it is served with a cream chipotle sauce on the side that you can use to dip, and honestly this was the best chipotle sauce I've ever had at a Mexican seafood restaurant. The empanadas themselves had a very crispy and flaky outer layer when most other places serve them soft. This was definitely a great decision, I have never had empanadas with this much flavor before even dipping them into a sauce. These get a 8/10. The shrimp ceviche was a little sour, but to each their own. It's served on a tostada with a pretty hefty amount on top, and when the table is sat they start with complimentary tostadas and salsas, so I can easily imagine just one order of the shrimp ceviche, making about 2 or even 3 more tostadas given that you've saved the other ones. The main courses were then served not too long after. Overall I will say they have an excellent array of sauces and spices in their food which makes for more savory than spicy food. I personally had the langostinos a la diabla, which are prawns served in a spicy sauce. They were perfectly cooked to my liking, but the sauce was a little hard to enjoy with them without making a mess. I think if you're trying to avoid a mess you'd be better off going with the shrimp instead which allows for a more enjoyable experience with the sauce. The rice wasn't really my cup of tea as it was a little hard but I'm also just very picky with rice. The fries which I got on the side were alright as well, they were crinkle cut, but to be honest for ~$30 a plate, these look like they were microwaved from a frozen bag. I noticed a lot of the food looked a little overcooked or just a little dry, but again I think it might be to make up for sauces and the addition of wet ingredients, so if you're someone who doesn't like spices or flavor please stay away! I can imagine this is heaven as well for people who actively like to drink or try different types of alcohol, as they have a HUGE display case of alcohol lining the entire wall. I'm also positive these are all just a selection of mainly Mexican tequilas and liquors that would obviously go phenomenally with the seafood. They have a bar, and a long cocktails menu, so for those brunch girlies, this one's for you. Would 100% recommend this place to the people in and out of the area.

Before I begin, I want to be candid that I do not eat Mexican cuisine regularly, that being said I have eaten at various Mexican restaurants across the USA and Europe. I have not had the pleasure of eating authentic cuisine in Mexico but it's on my bucket list. The reason I started with that is to give perspective because when I say this establishment is top notch and the best bang for your buck - I mean it! Great atmosphere, a friendly bi-lingual staff and the food you get will literally blow your mind. Excellent location for a date or after a night on the town to chat and chill. It's family oriented too, there were 2 families of 4 dining when I visited. Finally, the decor features wood grain tables & chairs and they have indoor & outdoor dining. Parking is conveniently located directly across from the restaurant and street parking is available as well. A top notch experience that is sure to delight you and your crew or significant other.