La Barbirria: Recent Tacos and Hand-Pressed Corn Tortillas

“The queso fundido and ceviche are nice, however they don’t have a liquor license but,” an area Beacon resident tells guests whereas passing by the brand new Mexican restaurant La Barbirria, succinctly summing up the state of affairs.

Barbirria proprietor Patricio Patino opened the brand new spot in June, selecting to give attention to the meals program whereas awaiting the license. However the drinks will begin to move by Friday, July 14. Cocktails will heart on unique habanero and jalapeño margaritas, he says, together with Mexican beers like Victoria, the nation’s oldest beer model. Strong, weighty margarita glasses add a splash of colour behind the bar.

Patino, who hails from Ecuador, additionally owns Soltano, a northern Mediterranean restaurant in Fishkill that opened in 2018. He just lately turned enamored with Mexican cooking and made two analysis journeys south of the border.

The time period “birria,” embedded within the restaurant’s identify, refers to a way of braising rooster, pork, lamb, beef, and even mushrooms for a number of hours. Two signature entrees showcase the tactic. La Barbirria parillada mixes grilled skirt steak, rooster breast, pork adobado, and chorizo in a single platter ($36). And Patino says that he’s by no means seen La Barbirria molcajete ($36) outdoors of Mexico. The dish, served in a heated stone mortar, options skirt steak, rooster breast, shrimp and chorizo.Seafood specialties embrace pescado marinado ($28), a sea bass dish with cumin; and camarones al chile de arbol ($24), a shrimp dish that features a wholesome dose of garlic.

“True Mexican delicacies is about mixing flavors, like Indian meals,” he says. “You’re combining a variety of spices collectively to make issues style good.”

Quesadillas and burritos are absent from the ingenious menu, which is split into 4 groupings: entrees, appetizers, avenue tacos, and soups and salads. Fajitas and the “genuine” tacos mirror Patino’s dedication to freshness. “Actual avenue tacos are made by folks with spices and different issues they develop or domesticate,” he says. “They don’t purchase it, they simply make it. Nothing is processed. That’s how it’s right here: now we have no microwave and solely a small freezer for the ice cream. Every part is recent. We don’t even serve floor meats.”Patino additionally hires somebody to hand-press corn tortillas all day lengthy. No single-serving taco prices greater than $5, and so they come flat on the plate with the substances piled on prime.

Intriguing combos embrace pescado (blackened salmon, pico de gallo, avocado, chipotle sauce, $5); al pastor (marinated pork and pineapple, $4); and camaron enchilado (shrimp and chile de arbol drizzled with melted cheese, $5).

A few taco objects include three servings: tacos dorados ($12) showcase the marinated rooster and birria taco dish ($16-$18) features a alternative of protein, queso mixto and consommé—like a French dip.Additionally uncommon within the space is aguachile, says Patino, who has labored as a chef for 34 years. Akin to ceviche, La Barbirria’s aguachile affords a alternative of shrimp ($16) or scallops ($21) marinated in a lime, cucumber, jalapeno and cilantro broth.

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Dessert choices embrace the requisite flan and tres leches truffles (each $8), in addition to churros with chocolate sauce ($8), and a chocolate lava cake with vanilla ice cream ($12) and a deep-fried, cookie-coated ice cream ball, dusted with cinnamon sugar, and topped with strawberries, and chocolate sauce ($8).

To compensate for the alcohol license lag, the mushy beverage choice is strong. Agua fresca choices ($5) embrace a cucumber and lime taste together with agua de jamaica, a blood purple concoction made by soaking dried hibiscus flowers in water and including some sugar to melt the tart tang. Pours are served in tumblers as hefty and shiny because the margarita glasses.

Additionally obtainable: Jarritos soda ($4), Mexican Coke ($4) and Horchata ($5), a creamy rice water flavored with cinnamon. One other drink of observe is cafe de olla ($4), consisting of espresso, cinnamon, Oaxaca chocolate, and uncooked brown sugar served in clay cups. “If you happen to style one, you’ll need it on a regular basis,” Patino says.

The uncluttered brown and beige decor, together with the folksy music pumping by the audio system, is secondary to the delicacies. Massive entrance home windows let gentle into the oblong inside, which is adorned with wall artwork and pretend vegetation. Colourful rebozo shawls cowl picket beams alongside the partitions and brightly hued flags dangle from the rafters. The lengthy granite bar, resting atop a strong brick base, seats a dozen.

Patino plans to supply a Sunday brunch menu and to maintain experimenting within the kitchen and behind the bar.

“I do that out of affection, not for the cash,” says Patino. “I inform everybody that my spouse is my second spouse, not as a result of I used to be ever married earlier than, however the eating places are actually my first spouse.”

Sunday to Thursday: 11:30am-9pm; Friday and Saturday: 11:30am-10pm