Lovepreet Aujla

Review of Barcocina

After walking by Barcocina time and time again, I ...

After walking by Barcocina time and time again, I finally pulled the trigger and checked it out once I started working in Harbor Point. Walking in at 5:30 reveals a bar rushed by happy hour goers and an overall pleasant atmosphere. During the warmer weather, the outdoor and patio seating is really nice-- the waterfront views are impeccable.

My biggest qualm with Barcocina was that it was difficult to get attention from a server or bartender-- the bar seemed awfully understaffed and placing an order took more time than it should have. Still, the bartenders were perfectly pleasant and made great drinks.

Overall, the food was good but it wasn't extraordinary-- you can find better tacos in Baltimore and drinks as well. A major gripe I had was a strange piece of plastic I discovered upon biting into one of my tacos. At first I thought it was a stray bone from the meat; however, there was a long piece of clear plastic in my taco (it looked like a prong from a clear, plastic fork). This should not have made its way into my food in any way. Still, I understand that mishaps occur and let it go.

Things I Liked:
Blackberry Sangria - This is absolutely amazing. It's a light, refreshing drink that goes down easily (it's a sangria, after all).

Kung Pao Chicken Tacos - These were really good - the chicken was cooked well and had tons of flavor, the peanuts really came through. However, the red pepper and citrus teriyaki really struggled to provide any flavor. Again, there was a hard piece of plastic in my tacos which was extremely deterring.

Salsas- The salsas are great and I definitely recommend trying them out. (go for a spicier one).

Guacamole - The guacamole is refreshingly simple and creamy.

Things I Disliked:
Buffalo Chicken Flautas- These just tasted off. The consistency was way off and the cheese simply didn't vibe with the buffalo flavor. I wasn't able to finish this dish.

Overall, Barcocina is a trendy Mex spot set by the beautiful waterfront. It's got a happening happy hour and decent service paired with great drinks. Ultimately though the food still needs polish and simply doesn't match up to the price you pay.