Barrio

Barrio was the only place that was able to accommodate my family of 5 during a busy Saturday evening during prime time dinner hours. The food was absolaitely delicious. We would describe it as upscale Mexican/Hispanic food. Everything we ordered was phenomenal but what blew me away were the beans! I don't usually eat beans but the ones they offer were beyond my expectations. Oh, and the view of the Bay was beautiful. We also had the pleasure of having Ricardo as our bartender/server and he made the best drinks and his service was exceptional. He made our visit even better.

I was walking around the Ghirardelli square looking for a lively spot and did a full loop to come back around to Barrio!
Our server was such a great vibe, I so wish I could remember her name. But I do remember she wore fun sunglasses with blue rhinestones. The margaritas hit the spot after walking around the city.
I recommend grabbing a plate of tacos - they are super filling and the beans and rice add that extra yum.

Great location and good drinks

Before I go on I must disclose that this review is not complete because in two visits to Barrio we have not had any food, just drinks.

Barrio's Ghirardelli Square location is one of the best in the neighborhood! It is in one of the more popular locations in the very popular Fisherman's Wharf and the dinning area faces the Bay so the visitors have a grand view of San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park. There is also a beautiful outside seating area with the same beautiful view.

In our two visits we found the Barrio team to be on top of their game! They were very welcoming and quick. On both occasions we ordered pitchers of Barrio Margarita and beer. On our second visit the margarita was a bit on the weak side, but it was perfect on our first visit. We had a great time and will definitely go back to try the food.

The high rating is actually shocking. We came here because we were searching for a taco/marg spot..and almost everything in the surrounding area was closed. The place itself was nice, outdoor dining area had plenty of heaters and a nice view. But seeing the menu was a letdown. Limited options, $20+ for two little tacos, $30 for a carne asada plate...c'mon.

We got two margaritas and a plate of nachos to start. After seeing the portion size, and having quite a few complaints (to ourselves) about them we decided to just cut bait after. Small portion for the price, the chicken tasted and looked like it was canned, and with all the toppings still managed to be bland. The margs were alright but had almost no flavor to them (supposed to be fresh pineapple). Overall, would not come back here. Food was eh, service and atmosphere were nice, but the prices were excessive.

The food was decent but there was nothing that blew us away. The vegetarian enchiladas were really good compared to other vegetarian enchiladas in the Bay Area but are only available when there are minimal customers at the restaurant. The guacamole and chips were a great starter but the chips were quite salty. The vegan chorizo nachos were super filling but it was hard to eat a lot because of the heaviness of the chips. The plating choice was also really compact so it made consumption hard. The chicken burrito felt a little bit dry and monotonous- the meat felt unseasoned and lacked flavor. The beef burrito and vegan burrito were satisfactory. The restaurant should have been more accommodating to use different utensils for cooking the vegetarian dishes without having to have a back and forth argument with the waitress.

I've been to this location and the one at Ghirardelli square. The food is great at both, but I recommend going to the Ghirardelli square location since the service is much better.

We got chips and guac and the beef tacos which were 10/10.

There are many gluten free options as well.

We were staying down the street at a hotel and Barrio was recommended by the concierge. I liked it enough that we would come back but we've definitely had better Mexican food in LA, lol. Our waitress (a Hispanic woman whose name starts with a C was incredible and deserves 5 stars for her service). I'm vegetarian so appreciated the many vegetarian options on the menu.

The red enchiladas with vegan chorizo were great but too spicy - immediately upon bringing them to our table, they told us that we could brush off the chopped jalapenos on top of the enchiladas, but I wish they had just asked us when we ordered if we wanted the jalapenos on top or for a spice level preference. The jalapenos ended up being super spicy so it was hard to fully enjoy the enchiladas.

The queso was fine but nothing I would order again - the texture was strange. The nachos were fine too but without the incredible pickled onions, I would not order them again.

The drinks were awesome. I had a margarita (pineapple/strawberry mixed) and could taste the freshness which I appreciated very much!

The ambiance is great if you can dine in the room with the bar and windows overlooking the water. We arguably had the best seat in the house - thankfully our kids were able to sit on the barstools without issue (they are 4 and 6 years old). Very lively and fun and we'd come back but probably just for a drink!

Variety of vegetarian options on the menu: 4/5
Cleanliness and social distancing practices: 5/5

Barrio doesn't have the most extensive menu to begin with, but I think I liked that about them! Of course we're big fans of anyone who makes a vegan chorizo, while some people I know didn't like it, I thought it tasted really authentic (some of the spices such as cinnamon really came through). The Burrito was great, and the Ensalada was really big and a good, healthy option and we also liked that you could add a protein to it. Good outdoor seating, but only about 4 tables, so try and get there early.

San Francisco is Covid empty!! Took BART into the city-empty, walked in China town-fairly empty streets, ended up walking past Barrio during our trek and stopped in to eat. Such a treat!! Outdoor seating, order at the bar, they bring food out to you. We ordered both specials, esquites and shrimp empanadas. Esquites were okay. Loved the shrimp empanadas! They used blue corn tortillas and a delicious BBQ chipotle sauce on the side. The nachos were huge, we got Birria as the protein. Also ordered two burritos. We split everything and were happy and full. They had delicious IPAs on tap and pineapple Jarritos soda, plus I think a full bar. I'd come here again!

Is it a bar? Is it a Mexican restaurant? It's both! And it's in North Beach no less! Check out the menu, place your order at the bar, find a table, then wait for your food to arrive. A nice surprise was the cochinita pibil. My bfast burrito was hearty, tasty, and very filling. Definitely change it up a bit by trying all four of the available sauces: crema, chipotle, tomatillo, and Death! And oh, order the Yuca Frita appetizer. The sauce that accompanies it is delicious!

Don't eat meat? They have options for you! Note that their vegan chorizo is spicy which is not mentioned in every dish that contains it.