Sox Shuffle Continues
Friday Afternoon Diversion
Jay-Z Announces 2010 Tour Dates. Chicago Not On List.
I Fight Dragon$
"Batman" Headline Is a Stretch, But Prison Escape Story Could Be Its Own Movie
Chicagoist has shit luck when it comes to discovering things just as we're moving. Like years ago when we did a short stint in California and discovered the best burrito house on the beach just a week before we were to move across the country. So it was no surprise, given that we'll be moving out of the East Village in a couple weeks, that we just now discovered how fabulous El Barco Mariscos is.
The name of the restaurant translates to "the seafood boat" so you can guess that this place specializes in Mexican and seafood. There's outside seating at El Barco, but since we wanted to really experience the bright, festive atmosphere, we sat inside. Also, it was like 100 degrees the day we went.
El Barco's menu is physically the biggest menu we've ever seen. Our 2 menus were bigger than our table. THE thing to get is the red snapper, which is prepared about 10 different ways and is served whole and standing up, not laid flat on your plate. Our date got that, and it was moist and tender and delicious (our mouth just watered a little thinking about it!). We opted for the mahi tacos, which were also very good. When we were at El Barco it was lunch time, and the atmosphere was peppy, but low-key at the same time. Also, we'd be remiss not to mention that in the corners of the dining room there were TVs that played popular Spanish videos. Our date enjoyed Shakira just a little too much. There were many people, but not all of the tables were taken, and it wasn't too crowded. We heard this is not the case if you go on a popular night.
All in all we loved El Barco. It was lively and tasty, the service was good, and best of all, it was affordable. We're glad that after this discovery we're only moving across town and not across the country!
El Barco Mariscos is at 1035 N. Ashland Ave, just south of the Ashland/Milwaukee/Division intersection.
add to stumble upon
add to reddit
tweet this
post to facebook
Don't move!! Your pictures of the neighborhood are my favorites.
How much did your meal cost?
I've been there 3 or 4 times in the past couple months -- saw it on Check Please. The episode was awesome, because there was some Trixie on the panel who was terrified/repulsed by the way the snapper that she was recommended was served, and as a result ripped the place to shreds. But you could tell it was totally her, not the place, that was the problem. The other two loved it! And I definitely agreed with their reviews...
totally my bad, but i cant remember what our total bill came to.. maybe because i didnt pay? :) but it was nothing shocking. i'm thinking like $10 entrees? benjy, does that sound about right?
I don't remember exactly, either, but prices were pretty reasonable for fresh seafood. I think most entrees were in the $12-$18 range.
I have a hunch that the whole fried red snapper is about $14. Which is a pretty low price for the entire fish.
$12-18 is ballpark for El Barco. They and Las Islas Marias cost about the same, and their menus are extremely similar.
Did you or your date have a michelada with dinner?
no, but we saw several people who did have the michelada. i couldnt remember what it was called but i just kept thinking "chuck knows what that is.. and wrote about it for the site" i need to have a portable chuck to take with me and have handy whenever i have a question about booze.
Since uhm, i paid for "Chicagoist". The snapper was $15. and you can get it like 10 different way, half of which are fried, the other was steamed. The waitress recommended the way in the pic, which was fried with Chipotle sauce. And i did see that check please! episode with that LP trixie on there. The look on her face screamed "i didnt know fish came with a head!"
Once, some grease from one of the hot plates- I think it was from seared scallops and squid- shot in my eye. While it was painfull, I soon forgot after the waitress brought me two free turbo strong maragreetas to make up for it. Yea one of my favories, havent been in a while, but now I'm starving for it
Their mango margaritas are divine, especially on a hot summer day.