La Barrita — Restaurant in Baltimore

Good decor, great bartenders and generally wonderful staff, so why am I only giving La Barrita 1 star?

Let me first say that I would give this place 4 or 5 stars if it was a dive bar serving up only cheap beer and fries with some Chimichurri sauce on the side and charging $7 per person. But this place doesn’t charge $7 per person, it charges closer to $70 per person, and when an establishment is charging prices so exorbitant, it simply cannot be serving up such bland, boring, and uninspired food!

South American cuisine should be brimming with flavor in every bite, it shouldn't be the dry, sterile and lifeless mess my group encountered at La Barrita. Take, for example, the empanadas - traditional (cough, REAL) empanadas are made from dough that is packed with flavor and fat (traditional recipes often call for lard to achieve the desired effect). However, at La Barrita, despite the presentable exterior of its empanadas, upon closer inspection, it is clear that the owners (likely in a cost saving measure) are using store bought pastry dough. The result? a bland, dry and pasty exterior that encases what can only be described as sterilized chicken or beef, completely devoid of the spices and strong flavors that define Argentinian, South American or Portuguese cuisine.... Excuse the hyperbole for a moment, but La Barrita's empanadas would best suit the flavor palette of someone whose favorite restaurant is Taco Bell and favorite home cooked meal involves a tray of frozen TV dinner.

Unfortunately, the steak was even worse. I didn't know there was a part of the cow with meat as tough and dry as the rubbery clumps of protein rolling around on my plate, slathered with Chimichurri sauce, so as to distract from the flavor and texture of the meat itself, which was clearly not of Prime or even Choice quality (I will say however that the Chimichurri sauce was well done). Before ordering steak here, make sure that you ask about the cut and grade of the meat that they are serving. I was absolutely baffled by the texture of the meat presented before me, note to the chef: you don’t get Michelin stars by serving up pieces of Michelin tires! I wish I could've reached into the nearest TV screen and magically dragged Gordon Ramsey out into the restaurant to have him scream at the Chef for the atrocity of a steak that I was trying to chew through.

The scent and taste of a well-prepared meal can transport us to the Sampietrini roads in Rome, the white sandy beaches of Playa Del Carmen or Ko Phangan, the bustling streets of Tokyo, Shanghai or New York, etc., the list goes on and on and on. I came to La Barrita expecting to be transported to Argentina, I sure as heck paid enough money to be transported somewhere, but alas, the food didn’t take me anywhere, or maybe it got me to Aeropuerto Internacional and left me in the dingy baggage area.

Now, some might say that I simply expected too much! But I wonder, how much should one expect from a restaurant that is charging nearly $100 per person during the COVID-19 pandemic when many people are...

Nestled between residential row homes sits one of the best restaurants in Baltimore. This place is the true definition of a hidden gem. With dim and sexy lighting, the ambience and decor transports you to a cozy and romantic small-town restaurant— a nice escape from the bustling city. Upon entering, you are immediately greeted by the cordial staff and the sounds of laughter and happiness of other contented patrons.

Onto the food! This restaurant honestly makes me believe in magic because I am convinced that it defies the laws of nature to create food this good. We always start with the Provoleta. The cheese is melted to perfection leaving a mild yet smoky flavor on the tongue. So delicious! Pairing that with the crostini is a texture experience for the books— warm, gooey cheese atop a crunchy buttery bread. After the appetizer, we usually split the Fettuccine del Bosque and the Risotto con Tuco. The Fettuccine is cooked to the perfect al dente, and the creamy mushroom sauce lightly covers the noodles like a blanket. It is mild yet bursting with flavor. The star of the show is always the Risotto con Tuco. Words cannot do this dish justice. The tender meat is fused into the creamy red sauce of the risotto in such a perfect way. This is a MUST TRY here! Lastly, we also tried the Bife De Chorizo because we heard this place has one of the best steaks in the city, and all I can say is that the rumors were true! The flavorful and juicy medium-rare steak sat on a bed of crispy and salty fries— so yummy! Overall, this meal was six stars, and whenever I get to eat here is such a treat.

Two important things to consider when trying this place are the prices and the reservations. I will say that the prices are a little higher than you might be used to, but it is more than worth it considering the fresh ingredients, the quality food made with care, and the exceptional customer service. All of this considered, it actually is an amazing deal! In regard to reservations, make sure you have one during peak dinner hours. The place is small, so to ensure that you can have an exceptional dining experience, be sure to call ahead to...

August 2024 - This is one of the best restaurants in Baltimore and definitely the best Argentinian restaurant in the DMV area. Actually, we recently ate at one in New Jersey and La Barrita blew it away. The presentation and flavor of the food is phenomenal but the service here is what also sets it apart from other restaurants because it is exceptional. Claudio our server was absolutely awesome, he even remembered our family from our last visit over two months ago. Even the owner took time to visit with us and chat during our meal to make sure everything was going well, he even introduced his wife to our family. This is so much more than a business to him and his staff because they truly care about their guests and treat you as if you are part of their family coming over for dinner. We are so happy we chose La Barrita to celebrate a special birthday!!!

June 2024 - La Barrita is a hidden gem! If you haven’t been here yet, do not hesitate, it’s fantastic!!! Authentic Argentinean cuisine that reminds me of my mother’s cooking. The service was very high quality, Claudio our server was exceptional and even though this restaurant is casual, he provided a level of service that made my family and I feel like we were at a fine dining establishment. Now, the food, WOW, the empanadas were scrumptious, the spinach, chicken and beef are all amazing so I would go with the Trio option and see if you end up with a favorite but trust me it will be a difficult decision. The steaks were cooked to perfection and Oh My God, the Chimichurri is in incredible, so authentic. I could drink that stuff! We had the parrillada x2, the Filet and the Vacio…all of it was incredibly delicious!!! And the murcilla was amazing as well. Don’t forget about their desserts, you can’t go wrong with any of them. Go to dinner here, you will not regret it. The owner, Sebastian, stopped by and chatted with us, joked around with our family and was an absolute pleasure. You can tell this is more than a restaurant to him and his employees, it’s an experience. River Plate or Boca Juniors, it doesn’t matter, if you want authentic Argentina in the heart of...