Once again Barrio delivers a great experience. Finally managed to find a time when I could get to the new Barrio and actually get inside. Since Barrio opened at the top of Cedar Hill it has been incredibly busy with big crowds; there were times I couldn't even find a parking spot. On a Monday at about 4:30pm made it in for Happy Hour and while not full, they already had a pretty big crowd.
The decor is similar to the other locations with the Day of The Dead motif mostly in black, grey and white; here it seems a little less organic and more like part of a chain. The Lakewood location feels more like a dive bar and Tremont feels like a cool hangout, here we have a really nice and interesting execution of a theme. Look up at the skeletons on the bikes and the cool stained glass and other lighting pieces. The layout is a high ceiling room with a central bar and a bunch of dining areas at different levels and in different nooks. A large staff is hustling hard to make sure that everyone is taken care of.
Barrio Cleveland Heights brings the same great food and drinks to the East Side, the tacos are great, although I noticed that while the protein in the tacos seemed to be the same, it seemed as if they were putting a little less other items in, the result is a slightly less messy taco, yet the flavors are still great. Chips and an excellent salsa are great and just add to the value.
It will be interesting to see how the crowds hold up, right now it would be best to try to find the off times to try and get in. When the good weather comes and they will open up the front windows and the back patio and it will be huge crowds once again. Truly a great addition to the East Side and if it continues the way it is going, they will have to look for another East Side location.