Q: negative

A: It's been said that "It's the little things that count." While true, it neglects to mention how important the big things are. Barrio Cafe is a perfect example of the limitations of this maxim. You see, Barrio Cafe nails the little things: great art, horchata served in empty Mexican coke bottles, banana leafs on plates, a fantastic mural, pomegranate seeds in the guacamole, a very enjoyable adobo flavored ketchup, a hip ambience, a smartly dressed wait staff - all very well done and deserving of stars. Where the house of cards crumbles is when the food hits the mouth. My cochinita pibil sandwich, recommended by the waiter and a signature dish, could only be described as bland. Served atop two plodding pieces of thick French bread - it made me long for the powerfully flavorful and soft bites at Tortas El Guero down the street. BC has been out for a while and has a reputation in the area as a winner - maybe their food quality has slipped with a change of chef. Until the eats get better, barrio cafe will remain, to me, just a place that gets the little things right. Two little stars

Q: negative

A: Most the reviews on this place are spot on. I used to go here frequently because, though dirty, it had a nice atmosphere, especially in the winter with the fireplace and Sinatra music. I always got the same thing because I really liked it, Margarita Pizza, but the service is about the worst ever. Now I have had some nice ones, but it is usually that older lady with bleached out hair. Man is she miserable, almost makes you feel like you have to be the super polite one or she will punish you even further and make you wait longer. And yes the wait is a bit ridiculous! I had an hour for lunch there is no reason it should take 45 minutes to make a personal pizza. To top it off I asked for a knife when I got a side salad to which she told me, you don't need a knife, and I said are you serious? She said you don't need a knife and I am not bringing you one. The pizza, the fireplace, and Sinatra is why this place got 2 stars, otherwise it would be a negative one! Takeout maybe a better option...

Q: negative

A: We decided to sit at the bar and have our dinner there so we could listen to the piano player. We waited a very long time to place a drink order, while watching the bartender stand and converse with other patrons. Then, it was an even longer wait to order dinner. (empty tables all over, so it wasn't due to being busy) We weren't sure who was supposed to be taking care of us, the bartender or a waitress. The bartender took our drink order after a long wait, and then after that, finally a waitress came by as asked, "I guess you want to hear our specials?" She took our order and we never saw her again. Water came half way through our meal from the bartender. Our empty plates sat on our table for 25 minutes. We felt very unattended to and almost a bother to the staff. The food is excellent, however, and that just makes it tolerable to go there. It is not an inexpensive place to eat, and it feels like a place where you should have excellent service. I got tired of trying to flag someone down all evening.

Q: positive

A:
When you're deciding on what to order at Cabo, stick with what they do best - fish tacos. I've had fish tacos from all across the country from North Carolina to California and I can safely say these are some of the best I've ever had. Always fresh, always delicious. The taste and consistency is on point. The chips and corn salsa are delicious as well, although sometimes the chips are a little on the cold side. The atmosphere is great! It has a very trendy and hip vibe right in the heart of NoDa. I usually try and visit earlier in the afternoon for dinner as it gets pretty busy later at night and there's usually a long wait. It's also extremely loud when you visit during the peak hours.