We had a party of 4 for Christmas Eve. The food was excellent! Service was excellent! We started off with the calamari guacamole and vongole and clams. Yum! I had the lasagna hubby had the Chiles en Nogada. Dad has veal and artichoke dish. Mom had the shrimp and pasta dish. All of it was delicious. Been going here since they opened in 2007. read more

We here for restaurant week. What a great find. Had the egg plant appetizer, several pastas and the flan and tiramisu desserts. The wine list was reasonable and well paired. The back area was welcoming and comfortable. Service was excellent. read more

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Great food. Had the single best corn taco I've had with the best corn tortilla I've had and goat meat. Simple and well done Italian pastas are great as well. Service is consistently good with very friendly wait staff. read more

How the mighty has fallen! El Barzon used to be one of my favorite "special event" restaurants. So, when my son came home from college - it's a place I wanted to share with him. We drove from Ann Arbor for a 7pm reservation. We arrived on time and were told by the manager to have a seat. We were brought water, and then were not seen by anyone for 1/2 an hour. When we flagged a waiter he said the manager had not indicated that he had seated us at the table, so no waiter had been assigned. We asked for chips - which used to be free but was not a charge. We said we'd pay for them, and also ordered the calamari and zucchini. It arrived cold. My husband and I each ordered a drink - my son ordered an Arnold Palmer. When it arrived he tasted it and then said - mom, taste this! It tasted like bitter coffee. We told our waiter who said he'd get another. When he returned he said he had tasted the tea and we were right, it had tasted like coffee. The 2nd Arnold Palmer was better, but still not good. My son opted for a coke. I ordered the medallion di Vitelli al carciofi. The description sounds fantastic. The execution was not. The veal "medallions" were gray and felt boiled. The artichokes, sun dried tomatoes, olives and capers felt overcooked. Their colors were dull and they were mushy and bland. Our waiter, Alex had a personality that made him a bright spot but in the end - our meal was 2+ hours, expensive ($192 before tip) and not at all what I had hoped for. read more

Hidden gem for Mexican and Italian food! This is a great spot for a date night or GNO. My friends and I came here for a nice dinner out. The service started out slow, but got better throughout the night. The drinks were delicious and the food was great- the portions are enough for one meal so don't expect to take leftovers every time. Will definitely be back! read more

El Barzon - Sangria - Italian Near Me - Detroit, Michigan

Okay I don't know what they did but wow they are back on their game! Love all my food and service ! !

Amazing food! Great service and cool place, definitely a hidden gem in Detroit. Can't wait to go back read more

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We have always had great food there! We have never been disappointed! Great wait staff as well!

Food was better than Mexican town or Xochimilco's. . I had the italian lobster ravioli which was very good but way over priced. Lots on unique mexican and italian dishes. They should pick one country or the other. Went there at 4:00pm but they don't open until 5:00pm now. Good well lighted off street parking. We will go back when prices go down.... read more

We used to go here for their Chili En Negada (when my wife would let me). Their moles are wonderful. A mix of up-scale Mexican and Italian cuisine. If you can't find a dish you like, here, you are truly lost! Staff is tremendous, a great dining experience! read more

Excellent food, attentive and knowledgeable waitstaff. The cactus soup was outstanding.

Best time. Best steak I've had by far. Went to celebrate father in law birthday they made it special for no extra cost gave us some complimentary Flan Mexican egg custard dessert and it had blended graham crackers makes it all that more smooth secret receipt. read more

I have herd so, so, so many good things about this place, I'm a bit bummed it didn't live up to the hype! First off, the drinks... sangria is always a solid, safe choice, right?... WRONG! I'm not sure what was wrong with it but it was not good at all. Next up, the watermelon appetizer, as it was a seasonal special, our server said it had basil, however it was arugula, and failed to mention any BLUE CHEESE!!! My hopes for basil and feta were crushed! Finally, dinner, I had my whole heart set on the ravioli with shrimp and crab inside! It was SO lack luster, dry and boring. My husband got the lasagna which was crazy good, however he was shocked and displeased that the meat was ham chunks. The lasagna was the only dish on the table that was hot, my ravioli was actually very cool by the time I dug into it, sadly, so were several other dishes at our table! I feel like the only thing that would bring me back here is the fabulous patio, it was SO nice!!!! I am just not sure what I would order next time! read more

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Liked the variety of both Mexican and Italian. Cactus soup was different and delicious. Side pasta with mushroom sauce was good. Goat was tender. Limoncello cake was delicious. Will come back read more

Might be my new favorite local restaurant. The food was absolutely fantastic and the service was exceptional. I had chicken parmigiana and we shared a chorizo and queso appetizer. Excellent. Can't wait to go back when I can sit outside. read more

The restaurant was recommended to my husband for Valentine's Day. From the moment we walked in the door, the disappointments began. We had a reservation however when we went to the check-in desk, there was only one person "checking" people in and he was taking people aa they came through the door. When I asked if they were going by reservation he said "just as people come in." Once seated, our tableware was hurriedly dropped on the table and we waited for our server. Eventually she came, we placed food and drink orders. I ordered the Oaxaca Old Fashioned...it tasted like cough syrup. Sent it back and got a margarita...it was tolerable but not great. The food was probably the worst I've had in the city of Detroit. All of the sauces were out of a can/jar. The chicken was old and dry. The mole was ok-ish but it would never pass the abuela test. The only plus was the charm of the decor. It was pretty inside, as a whole. This place clearly has been around a long time and used to be a gem. They have, unfortunately, lost whatever spark they used to have. Though it was a busy day, an established restaurant with good food will still shine on a night like Valentine's Day. We will not return. read more

El Barzon is AMAZING!!!!!!! A Mexican-Italian Fusion restaurant, who could ask for a better combination. First of all the food is fantastic! You can't go wrong with either cuisine. I've been here several times over the years and have also enjoyed the sister restaurant next door. My favorite is always the pasta, but they do a great job on everything. They have a combo pasta dish that is out of this world. I'm always torn between the variety of sauces offered so it's great when you're able to try a few. Don't forget to try one of their delicious desserts to complete your experience. read more

El Barzon - Motown Margarita - Italian Near Me - Detroit, Michigan

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Just had another incredible meal here. Edgar was our waiter and he was fantastic. It was very slow for a Tuesday night with only three tables filled when we arrived. But they still took phenomenal care of us and the food was delicious as always. My family was very impressed and they are from California and are food snobs, so I was very happy they enjoyed it so much as I knew they would. The Pulpo (Octopus) appetizer is out of this world. I added that at the last minute and it was probably some of the best octopus I have ever had. We were saying we wished they had an entire entree of just the octopus. The Bronzino was excellent as well and my brother really enjoyed his squid ink pasta. Just love this place and wish I lived closer so I could try more of the menu! read more

El Barzon - Mussels, fish ravioli, fried calamari with cherry peppers and zucchini, pulpo, grilled eggplant - Italian Near Me - Detroit, Michigan

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Detroit's hidden gem! 5/5 restaurant with amazingly fresh food, kind/warm service, and delicious drinks! It's absolutely beautiful to sit outside with their waterfall and flowers! You can tell the authenticity and freshness of the food and ingredients! You MUST try if you haven't! read more

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First time there on a Sunday evening. Not very busy. Cocktails were tasty as well as Taquito appetizer. We had Halibut, Ravioli, Veal Picatta, All terrific. Alex our server did a great job was very friendly and helpful with Menu. I thanked Alex afterwards for a great meal , and a great time. He then invited us next door to visit the Mexican side of the restaurant. We met the owner, and chatted as he gave us his story of starting the business. First class all the way. We will be coming back, Thank you, El Barzon read more

Came to celebrate a friends birthday, had a reservation, we were a party of 10. Issues with service, the waiter was overwhelmed and really needed a second server to help. There were people available to help, they just didnt. Birthday girl food issue and owner and owners son refused to take it off the bill initially. Almost everyone in our party had a complaint mostly food temperature and undercooked. Would not recommend this place to anyone. Owner and son were downright rude. Horrible customer service. read more

We were in Detroit for a short stopover before a flight out the following day. We aren't familiar with the area but El Barzon came up on reviews with positive feedback. We were hoping it was going to deliver and boy did it deliver and then some! We had an outstanding evening that far exceeded our expectations! First off the Italian cuisine was absolutely authentic with ingredients and preparation. The menu was off the charts! There were so many great offerings that we ended up ordering three entrees because we couldn't decide. We are risotto snobs I would say and so many restaurants take shortcuts in the prep because it does take a long time and has to be constantly attended to so very labor intensive. They did it right, absolutely delicious! And to further add to our enjoyment they used fresh porcini mushrooms! I can't recall the last time we had fresh, normally they aren't porcini at all or they are dried. What a difference fresh makes! We also ordered the veal scallopini francese which again was outstanding and not often found on menus. There were approximately a dozen veal scallopini options many of which were very appealing but we opted for the francese since it had been such a long time since we have had it. We also ordered the veal and mushroom ravioli which included both dry and fresh porcini. Totally homemade as were many of the pasta dishes. They have a pasta section for fresh and for dried. Caesar salad and octopus were our starters. The octopus was sautéed. I would say I prefer a seared octopus although it was super tender. The ambiance is upscale casual and very warm and appealing. They have a strong wine program as well including solid choices by the glass as well as bottle including some more difficult Italian wines to locate. And the service...wow! Dawn was absolutely amazing! She totally enhanced our evening. She was very knowledgeable, frank, engaging and fun! She wasn't hesitant on recommending dishes and has a deep knowledge of wine as she trained under a Master Somm. I wished we lived closer because we would be dining at El Barzon regularly! I can't recommend highly enough. Go if you enjoy authentic Italian that hasn't been watered down for mass appeal. read more

Haven't been to El Barzon in some time. Everything was excellent. Food was amazing, but the highlight was Alex, our waiter. Fun, full of personality and made the experience super happy! Highly recommend! read more

Wonderful staff and beautiful ambiance. We've been twice and have loved our meals both times. The goat barbacoa is amazing. The mole sauce is rich and has a depth of flavor. Always as excellent choice with El Barzon read more

El Barzon es Loco, yo. The waiter gave the wrong order, the waiter gave slop on a plate and called it "Mystery carne surprise"

It's been a decade since the last visit to this Mexican / Italian restaurant of goodness, and overall we were impressed positively! Though located on Junction Street the restaurant is accessed in the back (take the driveway north of it), and park free and easy. It's been beautifully updated with seasonal (and covered) open are dining, as well as comfortable seating sitting. Lovely decor too. My companion enjoyed the Top Self Margarita. I chose well-balanced, Piedmont red wines. Wish they were served at more red appropriate (and cooler) than (a warm) room temp. Chips and hot house-made tomato salsa as well as a nice verde are complimentary. The extra guacamole appetizer ordered was fresh, but blander than expected. Folks have complained of the wait, and we too waited long for drinks. Everything else appeared in a timely fashion on this otherwise slow weekday evening. High recommendations for the excellent Bid Pasta appetizer! The included Strozapretti Norcina was most flavorful and mushroom-forward! I thoroughly enjoyed my calamari La Noria appetizer as well: crispy but not overly so. I regret that the long wait negated our ability to try after dinner beverages and dessert. Perhaps another time. read more

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Great service and the mole chicken was very tasty. Our server answered lots of questions and even brought us samples so we could choose our entrees well. We will be back. read more

Food was delicious especially the cactus soup and the chiles poblanos en nogada. Friendly service. Lovely atmosphere.

Went here to celebrate my brothers birthday and had a great time. This is a great place for a large group because of their incredibly extensive menu that everyone can find something they want and large space to account for everyone. The service was great too as they offered favorite menu items and surprised my brother with a song and birthday treat. The one thing is their cocktail menu could use some work. This place is unique in that they serve both Mexican and Italian cuisines, but their cocktail menu really only had Mexican cocktails. Also we ordered a variety of old fashioned cocktails and none of them were very strong read more

El Barzon - Strozzapreti alla Norcina - Italian Near Me - Detroit, Michigan

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We told them that it was our 39th anniversary, not just our anniversary. After dinner they brought in a very large plate with flan with the writing happy 39th anniversary. I truly loved that they listened that it was 39 years. Very special touch. Our waitress was absolutely wonderful. Sooo sweet. She made it special. I just absolutely love the ambience and the Mexican music in the background. My mother was Mexican, and I really regret so badly that I never got a chance to bring her here! She would have absolutely loved it. Mucho gusto! My wife had the gnocchi and said it was one of the best that she's ever had. I had the chicken El Barzon. It was OK. It wasn't hot but rather warm, clearly had been made earlier in the day, and my potatoes were again warm, not hot. I would have like a little bit more flavor frankly. It seemed bland. And I hate even saying this because I love the place so much, so I will go back again and try other dishes. As I walked out through the patio I saw people having so many dishes that I would have loved to have had the chance to try. But I started from the top! Ha ha ha. I cannot wait to go back. This is such a special place in my heart because I see so many young Latino men and women clearly starting their careers and they were so polite and were working hard to do everything just right. They succeeded read more

El Barzon - Awesome touch!! We didn't even know that they remembered - Italian Near Me - Detroit, Michigan

Everything was delicious. The service was fantastic and attentive. Great place to spend an evening.

So, we had a party of 7. My salad appetizer had a hair in it. Our RSVP was 7:30PM. Our dinner order wasn't taken until 9PM. The bill wasn't accurate and had "equivalent dishes" added to it. My order was wrong and came out cold. I'm not lying. Two years ago this review would've been so deferent. read more

Lol what a scam! Let me tell you about the specials but not tell you the price. Than let me put an "open food" charge for 3 times the price of everything on their menu. The food is sub par at best on top of it read more

The food is so fresh and delicious with an awesome patio atmosphere! The gnocchi is usually what I get and it's very yummy!

Maybe my favorite restaurant. Definitely a unique experience. You won't see another restaurant like that in the United States. It's very difficult for a restaurant to do anything well and they are able to do two very different ethnic cuisines amazingly. read more

The server was really nice and attentive. The food was enjoyable. They gave you amazing portions.

A wonderful evening. Food was delicious. Service was great. Atmosphere was lovely. 10/10 read more

This restaurant has been open since 2006. Our waiter, Alex has worked here since 2007. He was an awesome waiter. It is an interesting restaurant. It is definitely a Mexican restaurant, but there is an Italian influence. There is pasta and lasagna on the menu as well as classics such as enchiladas. We started with the mango margaritas which were very good. They coated the mango that was floating in the top of the drink with a little bit of chili powder. I don't like things super spicy but this was just right. They brought chips and a mild and a spicy salsa. One person at our table ordered goat tacos, another ordered a veal chop and I had to go to Barbacoa. My dish came with beans and rice. I wasn't crazy about the beans, but the rest of the meal was excellent. It also came with flour tortillas. The veal chop came with multiple options, my friend got the spinach and the potatoes. The potatoes were amazing. I didn't get to taste the goat tacos, but my friend said they were good. There was tiramisu and Spanish coffee for our dessert. read more

The hostess was very rude. I would not return. Food was not great. The setting is lovely.

Waiter was Alucius (Alex) best ever can't get enough of this place, have had many people go there..