My fiance and I recently tried out this Loop Mexican restaurant with a group of friends because it is very close to our apartment. We visited Cocina Barro on a Saturday night and were surprised as... More

My fiance and I recently tried out this Loop Mexican restaurant with a group of friends because it is very close to our apartment. We visited Cocina Barro on a Saturday night and were surprised as to how empty it was. The prices looked very affordable and the food looked good so we went in. First, the food was beyond AWFUL and tasteless. We all ordered fried plantains but basically got served cold banana chips. My empanadas were cold in the middle so I asked to have them reheated and NEVER got them back!! We then asked to talk to a manager and were told that the manager wasn't working. Our waiter also was obviously avoiding our table and only came back once after bring the food (this is when I gave him my empanandas and never saw them again). All in all I have never had a restaurant experience as bad as this. We try new places at least once a week, if not 2 or 3, and have never had a problem even similar to this in the great city of Chicago. Do yourself a favor and do NOT eat here. Pros: price Cons: horrible food, wait staff, drinks, and cleanliness
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Barro (aka Salvador's) was recommended to me by my wife's co-workers. The key benefits to of this place is the extreme value - we ate & drank our fill for under $20. We popped in for a late... More

Barro (aka Salvador's) was recommended to me by my wife's co-workers. The key benefits to of this place is the extreme value - we ate & drank our fill for under $20. We popped in for a late lunch on a Saturday afternoon. Aside from a few other patrons, we had the run of the place and sat up at the bar. The barman poured my wife a red sangria while I drank a soda water. We ordered fresh guacamole and nachos. The barman was attentive, but didn't hover. The location (at the corner of Lake St and Michigan Ave) makes Barro an ideal stop for some quick, cheap eats while you explore Millennium Park and work your way up the Magnificent Mile.
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I always wondered why this place was so empty most evenings. Now I know! Chips and salsa should have warned us. Overbaked chips and runny salsa. Ordered dinner anyway. Enchiladas were not good at... More

I always wondered why this place was so empty most evenings. Now I know! Chips and salsa should have warned us. Overbaked chips and runny salsa. Ordered dinner anyway. Enchiladas were not good at all. The fajita's tasted good, and the beans and rice were pretty bland, but OK. The stomach ache that followed the meal kept me in my room the rest of the night. No complaint about service or anything else, just the food. Pros: Service & no waiting Cons: Bad food, certainly nothing like real mexican food.
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Enjoyed a nice dinner on a saturday evening. Ambience was good. However, it did get crowded and then service did slow down. Reasonably priced 10$/ entree, 6$ drinks... Overall I recommend it for... More

Enjoyed a nice dinner on a saturday evening. Ambience was good. However, it did get crowded and then service did slow down. Reasonably priced 10$/ entree, 6$ drinks... Overall I recommend it for a relaxing evening Pros: :) Cons: parking- take the train
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Great place for lunch or dinner, very cozy and kinda romantic. Great for a lunch or dinner date, for family or friends. Very good gourmet mexican food. Great mix bar...good variety of drinks. ... More

Great place for lunch or dinner, very cozy and kinda romantic. Great for a lunch or dinner date, for family or friends. Very good gourmet mexican food. Great mix bar...good variety of drinks. Really attentive and nice service. One of the many downtown hidden jems. Pros: GOURMET MEXICAN FOOD, PRICES, SERVICE Cons: PARKING
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