Recently Wellington Live enjoyed a warm night at El Barrio for Eat drink play festival.

We started with tasty fresh calamari dish with what tasted like home made sauces. It certainly didnt have that bulk taste to it.

My lovely dining partner had the tacos and said they were fresh, full of fresh incredients and super flavorsome. That was good enough for me.I enjoyed the beef vegetable Soup. Not at all what i expected for a basic dish.It had complex and unique flavours, which were presented simply with a heap of cheese melted on top. Quite dangerous all that cheese.

This venue is Intimate, really calming, with neat little booths for date night privacy.

The front of house staff welcomed us to our table in a glass conservatory with crispness and professionalism, which made us feel great, welcome and at home. This place has a dimly lit coolness and calming feel about it. We found the staff to be well informed on all aspects of the menu, which really added to the experience. The new chef there was learning English and we had a wee laugh about words she can’t pronounce.

We were particularly impressed with the sharp and knowledgeable cocktail waiter who looked after our table. He passed the Bloxi test with flying colours. After ten years of Corporate MasterChef judging experience, our reviewer, Blox, has acquired a refined and extremely comprehensive taste palette, which he wanted to put to the test at El Barrio.

The waiter’s knowledge on the cocktail origin, ingredients, and mixology processes was so extensive Bloxham had to get a second opinion,  I did have some pretty high expectations for the FOH staff, but what happened next was extremely impressive,” he says. “The waiter said come over and I’ll make it for you live” that confirmed every one of the waiter’s comments, telling us the information was spot on.

Every feature of the beef soup dish was delicately balanced, using locally sourced ingredients.

When combining these elements you get an atmosphere that sits at the very top of the quality casual dining spectrum.

Review by: Wellington LIVE publisher /CEO, Graham Bloxham.