It’s amazing to me how some places can be so close to us but still fly under the radar. We’re not sure how many times we’ve driven by El Barco Mexican Restaurant in Northland, but we’re glad we’ve finally be able to stop in and visit!
El Barco sits in a prominent spot on Route 161, with big neon signs out front. The interior is bright and colorful, playing on the nautical theme (“barco” means “ship,” after all) throughout the space.
There’s also plenty of room for big groups, plus a small stage for karaoke.
Shortly after we were seated, they dished out chips and an excellent house-made salsa.
El Barco features a full bar, and we sampled a lovely paloma and house margarita.
The owner told us they feature a lot of dishes from southern Mexico, which means a heavier emphasis on coastal fare. Throughout the menu you’ll see everything from mussels to prawns, crab legs to octopus, tilapia to red snapper.
An easy starting point is their tostadas. We sampled one piled high with fish (pescado)…
…and one with shrimp (camaron). Both were loaded with seafood and wonderfully seasoned.
If you’re up for a veritable feast, try the filetes de pescado, or fish fillets. I ordered the relleño version, which is a fillet stuffed with a mix of seafood, peppers, and mushrooms, covered in cheese and one of their house special sauces.
You’re guaranteed to have leftovers, especially when the seafood mix comes with sides of rice, fries, and bread.
Same with the piña relleña, which takes a half pineapple and fills it with a similar mix of seafood, plus rice, fries, and bread. We easily got two meals out of these!
And if seafood isn’t your think, no worries: El Barco features a full menu of tortas, burritos, tacos, enchiladas, and much more.
Our boys ordered a pair of burritos – one with steak and one with chicken – and loved them both.
El Barco is a great option for a quick lunch or a fun night out with the whole family or good friends over drinks. The whole staff is warm and welcoming, the food is delicious and generously portioned. We can’t wait to get back and explore more of the menu!
El Barco is open Sunday from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m., Monday-Thursday from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m., and Friday-Saturday from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m.
(P.S. They also have a west side location at 4626 W. Broad St. and one in Cincinnati!)
El Barco Mexican Restaurant
1930 E. Dublin Granville Rd.
Columbus, OH 43229
(614) 392-0011
Web: elbarcomexicanrestauranoh.com
FB: El Barco Mexican Restaurant
IG: @elbarcocolumbus