arts & life

eats

El Barzón

The best of both worlds.

Allie Jacobs | Contributing Writer

I

t can be a struggle
cilantro and cucumber
El Barzón
to choose a dining
Reservations accepted via margarita and the peach
destination, especially
sangria the top favorites of
phone or OpenTable
when traveling in a large
the evening.
3710 Junction St., Detroit
group. But at El Barzón in
Along with numerous
(313) 894-2070
Southwest Detroit, din-
rounds of chips and salsa,
ers can indulge in both
the chiles rellenos stuffed
Mexican and Italian cuisine, easily pleasing with cheese was my favorite starter. The
a multitude of palates.
cheese is creamy and mild, and the red
El Barzón is run by chef and restaurateur sauce is well-balanced with both sweet and
Norberto Garita, who has been in the food
spicy notes.
business for years. His love of fresh ingre-
For those craving Italian-style soup,
dients and his extensive experience as a
ordering the zuppita di scampi e spinaci
multifaceted chef have led to great success, may result in scraping the bottom of the
especially here in Detroit.
bowl in search of every last bite. The broth
With the opening of El Barzón, Garita
is bursting with flavor from the ripe toma-
is able to share his love for Italian cook-
toes, hints of garlic and plump shrimp, and
ing while also inviting diners to indulge in
the homemade croutons add a nice crunch.
authentic cuisine from his home country.
Sharing and sampling dishes from both
Upon entering the vast dining space,
countries is recommended, especially the
I immediately noticed the finely dressed
famous oven-baked goat barbacoa. The
waitstaff along with white tablecloths and
goat was fall-off-the-bone-tender and
roses delicately placed in the center of
served with a generous portion of flour tor-
each table. Holiday lights adorn the ceil-
tillas and rice and beans.
ing, along with touches of Mexican decor
On the Italian side of the menu, the
accenting the walls.
pastas are handmade with care and served
This is indeed fine dining, yet with rea-
with a bounty of fresh ingredients.
sonable prices and hefty portions. Minutes
One of the lighter pasta variations, the
after being seated, I was dipping into some spaghetti scampi Barzón, is a true winner.
of the finest salsa verde and red tomato
This flavorful dish features plump shrimp,
salsa I’ve ever devoured. The tomato varia- fresh tomato, basil, garlic, fresh mozzarella
tion had a definitive kick, which was bal-
cheese and arugula.
anced out perfectly by the warm and salty
It is no surprise that El Barzón is a hit in
tortilla chips.
Southwest Detroit, attracting food-loving
The cocktails were spot on, with the
crowds year-round.

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1300610

44 December 22 • 2016