By Karen Talbot
Sep. 23, 2020: El Barrio means “Neighborhood,” and that is exactly how to describe this new Mexican restaurant, situated on a hill in Scarsdale, not far from the Bronx River Parkway.
El Barrio states on its website that it encompasses “Mexican Street Food.” Yes, it does, and this food is totally authentic and so creative with lots of Gluten-Free choices.
Sal Cucullo, the owner and chef, has a real winner here with Alejandro, his Manager, who he has known for twenty years. Sal also has owned 808 Bistro in Scarsdale for the past ten years.
The inside of El Barrio is designed like a Mexican Cantina with colorfully painted walls and lots of sombrero ceiling hat lamps. Lively Mexican music plays, and there are many TV screens scattered around the room that is complete with a bar.
The restaurant adheres to “Social distancing,” and the tables are spaced six feet apart, against a backdrop of red leather banquettes. There is outdoor seating, and the tables go slightly downhill, but that makes for its casual and fun atmosphere.
We started our Mexican culinary experience with a weekend special, under Small Plates, of creamy burrata in a flavorful mole sauce, served with crispy tortilla chips.
We followed this with “Street Corn off the Cob” with chipotle aioli, cilantro & cotija cheese. The sweet and salty flavor was unique, and like nothing I have ever tasted before. Next came a Wood-Fired Open-Faced Quesadilla (looks like a small pizza) topped with Asadero cheese, jalapeno & crema. We agreed that this was the very best item of the dinner.
We finished up with three soft corn Tacos: Carne Asada with pickled radish, onion, and cilantro; General Tso’s Cauliflower and scallion and Traditional Pastor with pork and pineapple salsa, all at $5.00 apiece. We decided that we had to try the El Barrio Burger, consisting of fig jam & Oaxacan cheese, wrapped in their signature flour tortilla, served with what else, great tasting French fries.
For Dessert, we opted for both a Rainbow Tri-Color cookie Empanada and a Nutella cheesecake Empanada. With dinner, you can enjoy a $12.00 Margarita with fresh squeezed lime juice or a glass of white or red wine for only $10.00. There are ten beers to choose from, along with many choices of Tequila & Mezcal. Anthony, our server, could not have been more attentive and accommodating.
I can’t wait to go back and try so many other dishes and three different offerings of Guacamole, traditional, chorizo, and lobster.
Photo courtesy El Barrio
Nutmeg
Nutmeg, readily convenient on Main Street in Tuckahoe, serves delicious scones, muffins, tea and short breads, pies, cakes, cookies and a host of savory items. Come into their cheery store, grab a goodie and enjoy a cup of really good coffee or tea. Nutmeg also provides their food items to local caterers and restaurants
64 Main Street. Tuckahoe
914-779-1328
Bxv Food Fine Catering
Bxv Food Fine Catering caters for sit-down dinners, luncheons, cocktail parties or buffets. bxvFood can provide unique food, excellent service and inviting ambiance, attending to all of the details, leaving you free to enjoy your guests. bxvFood serves Southern Westchester, Southwestern Conn. and New York city with 80% of his catering done right here in Bronxville's square mile. Two to three weeks advance notice is preferred for booking a date. Their specialty and most rewarding meal is a seven-course, seasonal sit-down dinner served in your home for 6-12 guests.
Corner Stone Caterers of Rye
544 Milton Road
Rye, New York
www.cornerstonecaterers.com
914-967-0035
Eastchester Fish Gourmet Catering To Go
Glorious Food of New York
504 East 74th Street
New York, New York
www.gloriousfood.com
212-628-2320
Le Moulin Event Planning & Catering, Ltd.
Le Moulin caters the "Simplest To The Most Elegant Affair," and brings comprehensive event planning experience and attention to every detail which includes Events, Weddings, Corporate Events, Special Affairs and Event Venues. The food is always of high quality, colorful and artistically presented. Corporate clients include leaders in a variety of industries, political associations, the arts and a host of other business and private patrons
Libby Coverly Cooke Catering And Event Planning
49 Brownhouse Road
Stamford, CT 06902
www.libbycookecatering.com
203-406-9664
Two Carrot Catering is a full-service caterer providing creative cuisine combined with personalized service. From an elaborate wedding to an intimate dinner party or casual buffet luncheon, we can attend to every detail of your affair. For many years, Two Carrot Catering has formed trusting relationships with their clients, both corporate and private.
Ladle of Love
Ladle of Love dishes out delicious soups, sandwiches, salads, wraps, hand crafted meals and rotating daily specials. They also have a Meal Plan Program that is personalized for individuals or families, offering daily or weekly meals which can be customized to dietary preferences and needs.
18 Palmer Avenue, Bronxville
914.346-8883 This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Dobbs & Bishop Fine Cheese
Owned by Bronxville's own Ruth Walter and Kevin McNeill, Dobbs & Bishop Fine Cheese carries traditional varieties of cheese such as manchego, camembert and Irish Cheddar as well as other varieties from a half dozen countries. They also sell specialty breads, baguettes, scones, croissants, olive rye batard and other varieties provided by French baker, Balthazar. Gift baskets and party platters are available to order. It is also a go to destination for lunch for the school children offering the mac and cheese, grilled cheese sandwiches on white or multi-grain bread and yummy lemonade.
107 Pondfield Road
Bronxville, New York 10708
914-361-1770
Blue Hill at Stone Barns
American
630 Bedford Road
Pocantico Hills, New York
914-366-9600
www.bluehillfarm.com
Dolphin
Dolphin Restaurant, Bar and Lounge has maximum waterfront dining on the Hudson River. They have a delicious summer menu and speciality drinks. Their more casual sister restaurant, Hudson Cafe, is also next door.
American
1 van Der Donck Street
Yonkers, New York
914-751-8170
www.dolphinrbl.com
Eastchester Fish Gourmet
Eastchester Fish Gourmet is an acclaimed restaurant and fish market located in Scarsdale, New York. Founded by Rick Ross in 1981, Eastchester Fish is a Scarsdale landmark, having served the community for over 30 years.
American
837 White Plains Road
Scarsdale, New York 10583
914-725-3450
www.eastchesterfish.com
Pete's Park Place Tavern
This comfy veteran tavern has been serving beers, burgers & other pub fare since 1937.
18-20 Park Pl, Bronxville, NY 10708
(914) 337-9887
Rebeccas
American
265 Glenville Road
Greenwich, CT
203-532-9270
The Melting Pot
American
30 Mamaroneck Avenue (Next to CVS)
White Plains, NY 10601
www.meltingpot.com
Underhill’s Crossing
Underhills Crossing Restaurant is a great place to meet family or friends for a lite bite, an incredible raw bar & shellfish tower assortment, or a full meal offering seasonal farm fresh ingredients. The Chef's 3-course prix-fixe tasting menu offers new choices each Thursday. Fine wines, craft beers and a specially created cocktail menu compliment the menu chef's grill selection, pasta, meat and market-fresh fish dishes.
Underhills Crossing Restaurant is also happy to cater your special event in our house or yours.
American
Menus: www.underhillscrossing.com/menu/
74 ½ Pondfield Road
Bronxville, New York 10708
914-337-1200
www.underhillscrossing.com
Asiana Café
Pan Asian
140 East Putnam Avenue
Greenwich, Connecticut
203-622-6833
Haiku
Pan Asian
56 Pondfield Road
Bronxville, New York 10708
914-337-5601
Wild Ginger
Pan Asian
10 Park Place
Bronxville, New York 10708
Lange's of Bronxville
Lange's of Bronxville is a homestyle delicatessen nestled in Bronxville. For over 3 decades, Lange's has proudly offered an authentic deli and catering experience, serving freshly prepared breakfast, lunch and dinner favorites that keep our customers coming back for more.
La Pantiere
French
530 Milton Road
Rye, New York
914-967-8140
Pascal’s
French
141 Chatsworth Avenue
Larchmont, New York
914-834-6685
Opa Opa Fresh Greek.
New casual and friendly Greek restaurant serving fresh homemade specialties in a light and airy setting. Order for Take-Out…call 914-600-8129 for delivery on Uber Eats or Door Dash.
GREEK
116 Pondfield Road
Bronxville, NY 10708
914-600-8129
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Ciao
Italian
5-7 Albanese Place
Eastchester, NY
914-779-4646
Harvest on Hudson
Harvest on Hudson's menu is based on the traditional cuisine of Italy. Chef David Amorelli incorporates the freshest ingredients from the Hudson Valley with our very own vegetable and herb garden into contemporary and creative Italian dishes.
1 River Street • Hastings, NY 10706
(914) 478-2800
Il Bacio Trattoria
Pizzas, pastas & homemade gelato draw crowds to this no-frills, family-friendly Italian eatery.
Italian
1 Park Place, Bronxville, NY 10708
914-337-4100
Lusardi
Italian
Menu : www.lusardis.com
1885 Palmer Avenue
Larchmont, New York
914-834-5555
www.lusardis.com
Rosie’s Bistro Italiano
Italian
10 Palmer Avenue
Bronxville, New York
914-793-2000
Sapori of Scarsdale
A handsome new restaurant serving unique and interesting authentic flavors of Italy, with a new lunch, bar and children’s menu that has both indoor and outdoor café dining.
Mediterranean
2 Chase Road
Scarsdale, New York 10583
914-874-5316
www.saporiofscarsdale.com
Scalini Osteria
Scalini's mission is "to serve delicious, regionally-inspired Italian food that highlights both the simplicity and new age complexity of the country."
Italian
Menu: http://www.scaliniosteria.com/menu/
65 Pondfield Road
Bronxville, New York
914-337-4935
www.scaliniosteria.com
Terra Ristorante Italiano
Italian
156 Greenwich Avenue
203-628-5222
http://www.zhospitalitygroup.com/terra/
Tredici Social
Italian
Tredici Social serves contemporary Italian food with a modern flair
Menu: https://tredicisocial.com/#menu
104 Kraft Avenue
Bronxville, New York
914-793-1313
www.tredicisocial.com
Blue Moon Mexican Cafe
@BlueMoonMexCafe
914-356-8226
Vega
97 Lake Avenue, Tuckahoe
914-779-7944
5 John R. Albanese Place, Eastchester
914-779-4646
131 Parkway Road, Bronxville
914-337-1901
1 Park Place, Bronxville
914-337-4100
50 Pondfield Rd W, Bronxville
914-961-7460
102 Fisher Avenue, Eastchester
914-961-0061
29 Columbus Avenue, Tuckahoe
914-961-3175