After just about a year of serving up re-imagined Native American cuisine in downtown Tucson, it looks like Barrio Cuisine’s run on the corner of Fifth Avenue and Broadway Boulevard has come to an end. Signs posted around the building serve as a notice that Barrio’s landlord has “terminated [the restaurant’s] right to possess and occupy the premises” due to “yet unpaid, rent.”
While open, Barrio blended Tohono O’odham and Pascua Yaqui traditions, serving upscale takes on fry bread, prickly pear glazed spare ribs and Native American-style tapas Barrio also offered live music and dancing to utilize the restaurant’s expansive layout.
No further information on Barrio or what will fill the restaurant space at 199 E. Broadway Blvd. is currently available.
This article appears in Oct 1-7, 2015.
This sucks. Hopefully they can re-open in a smaller and less expensive space.
Most places that close so soon after opening the reason(s) are obvious. Barrio’s food was generally pretty good, the wait staff and management relations with customers was good, even better than average, and the space was inviting and pleasant. Noise levels acceptable. All that said, whenever I ate there (maybe 10 times or thereabout) I left with a feeling that something was amiss. Maybe it was location, just far enough away from Congress to make it terra incognita to all but those of us who walked past it regularly, or maybe it was the cost (just a little on the high-side), or the perception that Native American cuisine and higher-end dining didn’t equate (some dishes were refined and interesting, others, while fresh and well prepared, were not. I guess its all part of the natural selection of downtown revitalization. Better luck next time!
Another success story for the mayor and city council.
Ok I’ll bite… How are the mayor and council responsible for this place’s failure, Jim Kelly?
Hahaha this happened because the owners didn’t know what they were doing. They had no management or restaurant experience whatsoever and refused advice or help from people with knowledge that worked for them. it happened without notice and at least 15 people are suddenly jobless. Oh and they are refusing to pay final weeks checks to all of them. Cowards. They are Kelly Gomez, Mario Gomez, and Shanti Gomez is the names of the owners.
Did Heather Hoch review the place for the Gomez gang?