Mariscos El Barbas — Restaurant in Jefferson Township

I recently visited a seafood place with high hopes of enjoying a delightful culinary experience, but unfortunately, it turned out to be an incredibly disappointing affair.

First and foremost, let's address the garlic bread. Oh, the garlic bread! It was a sad, soggy mess that left us longing for the crisp, buttery delight that it should have been. The lack of texture and flavor was a profound disappointment, setting the stage for what was to come.

Speaking of what was to come, let's dive into the main courses. The seafood dishes we ordered tasted as if they had been frozen for far too long and then hastily microwaved before being served to us. The lack of freshness was evident in every bite, leaving a distinct flavor of freezer burn lingering in our mouths. It was truly a disheartening experience, as we had hoped for a taste of the ocean's bounty.

To add insult to injury, we decided to try a steak, requesting it to be cooked medium. However, what we received was a sad excuse for a steak that had been mercilessly overcooked to a well-done state. The once juicy and tender meat was transformed into a dry, flavorless disappointment.

But the horrors didn't end there. As we sipped on our drinks, we discovered a hair floating in our piña colada. It was an unsightly sight that instantly killed any remaining appetite we had. It is utterly unacceptable for a reputable establishment to serve a drink contaminated in such a repulsive manner.

Adding insult to injury, they also managed to forget one of our orders entirely.

Overall, I cannot in good conscience recommend this seafood place to anyone seeking a satisfying dining experience. From the soggy garlic bread to the frozen, microwaved dishes, the overcooked steak, the hair in the drink, and the forgotten order, it was a series of disappointments that left us feeling disheartened and frustrated. Save your time, money, and taste buds by steering clear of this...

DECEPTION OF PLACE !! It is said to be a restaurant with the "best taste of Mexican food" in Chicago but it is not true. Today I went with my family for the first time. The service is excellent and very friendly. The food has no seasoning / flavor. The 7 seas broth was literally boiled water. We let the waitress know and she went to ask the kitchen if she could remove the plate from our table. Later she returned for the broth to remove it from our table and she did not ask if we wanted to order something different. She took the broth to the kitchen and we assumed that until they verified that the broth had no flavor then they gave the authorization so that we could order something else and take that plate off our ticket. They do not have habanero sauce, the lemonade is not natural. This restaurant has nothing you would expect in a seafood restaurant. The only thing you will find is the high prices but not the quality of the food. There is a 4% charge for paying by card. The sign that lets you know about this 4% charge is under the register where it is not visible. (I only know because I question why they didn't let people know about it from the get go.) If you love Seafood like me this is not the right...

First time coming to this venue and I just must say I will return. I’m super picky with langostinos. I was so not expecting for them to have such good flavor that it’s going to make me drive all the way up north from the south side lol. We ordered empanadas de camarón also great. My ostiones 🦪 we’re clean a bit on the smaller side but hey for the price you can’t beat it, I’m not complaining at all. BYOB was amazing plus we did order a Michelada for the hangover and it hit that spot. Fresco!!! They had live music in the patio area, Im Mexican so yes I’m living for it. I did notice the inside a better option for those who don’t want the live music which is accommodating. The patio was busy but our waitress was the best. Overall my experience was good. If you want a 5 star restaurant this is not it. This is a restaurant that does great pricing with good eats. A small business that caters to their customers. A highly recommend you order them...