Hannah Bartels

   Barrio is an up-and-coming restaurant chain with several local Ohio locations. These locations include a few in Cleveland, one in Strongsville, one in Kent and many other areas. 

     With Barrio being as successful and popular as it is, the chain owners are hoping to eventually create more business in other states. Barrio’s popularity is quite obvious to anyone, and its reasons why are well known by everyone. 

     Unlike most chain restaurants, Barrio offers a unique take on the ordering process. Rather than reading a traditional menu and ordering through a waiter or waitress, customers are provided with small notepads that follow a bubble-in format.

     This format allows the customers to freely express their creativity by filling in bubbles to create a unique and personal taco. This is a nice option because there is a very large variety of choices.

     Customers may choose different meats, fish, different sauces, salsas, cheeses, lettuce and much more. None of the toppings are very traditional, which is why Barrio is so different from other taco restaurants like Taco Bell. 

     The topping options and bubble-in menus are nice, however, it is not very realistic for the typical customer. The large variety in toppings makes it difficult to find items that coordinate. Barrio is incredibly unique and requires the customers to have an expanded palette and open mind to trying new combos.

     For people with more limited taste palettes, the restaurant offers a smaller menu with pre-made tacos. This is not a typical order though, because most people want to experiment with their own combos.

     Before the meal, unlimited chips and salsa are also brought out to satisfy the customers. The appetizer is nothing special but still a delicious snack.

     For some people, it is not the food that draws them to Barrio. It is the atmosphere. 

     From down the block, I could see a line coming outside of the restaurant, and it peaked my interest. There is also a very interestingly detailed mural of skeletons that plaster the walls. Interesting light fixtures hang from the ceilings. 

     In addition, the atmosphere is very lively and noisy. There are lots of happy people there and many different groups of people come. Barrio attracts families, couples, friends, and many college students.

     Barrio is a very rapidly growing restaurant and has something special to offer all customers. I would not recommend this restaurant to people who prefer simple foods, but I would recommend that everyone tries it, because it offers qualities other than tacos that people may love.