Barbacoa: worth the trip

All About Food | November 19th, 2015

photo by Chiharu Sato Bobby Tucked just off 42nd Street and 32nd Avenue in south Fargo, Barbacoa is poised to become Fargo’s newest destination for diners seeking sophisticated flavors in an unpretentious atmosphere. Whether you’re an adventurous foodie like myself, or a picky 5-year-old, Barbacoa has something for everyone.

The first thing I noticed upon entering Barbacoa was the exotic feel of the décor. Keeping with its Southwestern theme, vibrant colors and artful lighting create an elegantly festive ambiance that flows throughout the restaurant. The bar is a stunning work of art itself -- the bar top is covered in pesos in a resin sealant, and the base is lit from within.

Barbacoa has a menu that covers all the bases, from brunch to dinner. There are plenty of gluten-free options and many items that can be made gluten-free upon request.

We ordered two appetizers: make your own guacamole, and the trio of deviled eggs. The guacamole was delicious, but the deviled eggs were the standout. They are served with smoked oyster, house-smoked bacon, and dill. Deviled eggs are pretty commonplace in this area, so you may think you can pass over them, but I’m advising you not to. My guest and I almost had to fight over the last one because they were so tasty. It’s hard to believe something as simple as deviled eggs can be turned into something so exquisite, but Barbacoa did it!

For dinner, we ordered the taco trio and the house meat trio. The tacos were excellent -- an impeccable mix of savory, sweet and spicy flavors. The house meat trio was the showstopper. It consists of green chili pork, beef brisket, pulled chicken, peppers, onions and flour tortillas or johnny cakes. Holy cow -- the brisket! It was amazing! Not to detract from the pork or pulled chicken, they were fantastic also, but the brisket was exceptional. You can tell a lot of love went into making it. By the time we were done with dinner, we were in a full-on food coma, so we had to skip dessert. On my next visit, I’ll save room for the dulce de leche flan.

Barbacoa has a unique drink menu and wine list. The wine list is unlike any in the area; it is comprised of South American, Spanish, Portuguese and Mexican wines.

We ordered a bottle of Carmenere with dinner. Its depth and complexity were a great pairing with the flavors in our entrees. I’m excited to return and make my way through some of the other exotic wines on their list.

Our server was knowledgeable and patient. I had my 5-year-old with, and our server was very sweet to her, even when she started to get fidgety. Barbacoa does have a kids menu, so if you have a child that is a picky eater like mine, there will be something for them too.

Barbacoa is a welcome addition to Fargo. It adds some much needed color and spice to our local dining scene. If you don’t live in south Fargo, don’t let the location deter you -- it’s definitely worth the trip from wherever you may be!

IF YOU GO:

Barbacoa

3241 42nd St. S, Fargo

701-499-5204

http://www.barbacoafargo.com/

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