Barrio Antwerp: where the season and your taste determine the menu
Treat yourself to a surprise at Barrio, where Patrice cooks in tune with the seasons and your taste. We joined them for a cosy evening of shared dining in a homely atmosphere, with original combinations and delicious game dishes.
Sometimes the best evenings out at a restaurant are the ones where you simply leave the choice for someone else. That’s exactly what we did recently at Barrio. After a chat with Patrice, we let her take complete control. From crispy calamari and Thai vongole to red-legged partridge, saddle of hare and a sweet finale: it was a dinner to die for. Curious about our experience? Discover the highlights of our evening!
A Warm, Homely Atmosphere
The brick walls, warm lighting and wooden bar set the tone straight away. Add to that the cosy bench with cushions, the flowers and the beautifully laid tables, and you’ll understand why we felt so at home here so quickly. Barrio has a homely feel, with enough character to let you take your time looking around whilst enjoying an aperitif.
The welcome is also perfectly in keeping with that atmosphere. Patrice comes round to every table in person to find out what her guests would like to eat. What are you in the mood for? What would you rather not eat? She makes suggestions, listens and thinks along with you. That conversation forms the starting point for your dinner. An approach that immediately appealed to us: personal, relaxed and tailored to your preferences.
Culinary Creativity
You won’t find a set menu at Barrio. Patrice loves to improvise and draws inspiration from the seasons, top-quality ingredients and her guests’ preferences. She enjoys cooking with fish and Mediterranean flavours but takes just as much pleasure in exploring other cuisines. With game season now in full swing, the rich flavours of autumn take centre stage.
You choose how you’d like to dine: either a separate dish for each person or a selection of dishes to share. Naturally, we opted for the latter: shared dining, our favourite way to dine. We left it entirely up to Patrice to decide exactly what would be served.
Let’s Have a Drink First
A cosy evening naturally begins with a good aperitif. The friendly barman, who also served us, was happy to give us some recommendations for what to drink. We chose the Tuscan white and red house wines, both of which we found particularly delicious.
The cocktails were also excellent. We tried the non-alcoholic Cosmopolitan, a lovely combination of sweet and bitter notes, and the 007, the house vodka martini. With a delicious aperitif in hand, we looked forward to the first course.
>From Mediterranean Influences to Thai Flavours
Everything was prepared fresh and à la minute. The dishes were therefore served one by one, with a little time in between each one. For us, this was ideal: a chance to catch up, let the food settle and look forward to the next course.
The first dish was an immediate invitation to tuck in: crispy calamari in a paneer coating, served with aioli and lemon. Perfect for sharing and a brilliant start to our dinner. Next came the Thai-style vongole, in a flavourful sauce with coconut, garlic and coriander. A completely different direction, and that’s exactly what made it so enjoyable. Patrice clearly refuses to be pigeonholed.
The next dish really caught our attention: a combination of black pudding and ricotta, served with horseradish, radishes, figs and beetroot, and finished with flaked almonds. Colourful, surprising and original!
Autumn Game
Next came the game dishes. First up was the red-legged partridge in a rich, smoky sauce with crispy chicory and bacon. A dish with bold flavours, perfectly suited to a cosy autumn evening. The hare saddle with game sauce was also a huge hit. It was served on a bed of mashed potato, accompanied by winter vegetables, Brussels sprouts and red cabbage.
The quality of the ingredients really shone through in every dish we tasted. For game lovers, this is the perfect season to pop into Barrio.
A Sweet Finale
Although we’d already had a hearty meal, we couldn’t resist Patrice’s delicious dessert. We were served the classic crêpe Suzette, this time with our own individual portions. The orange sauce and Grand Marnier made for a sweet yet zesty finish. A delightful end to a thoroughly successful evening!
Fancy a Meal at Barrio Yourself?
Barrio is the place to enjoy a leisurely meal, sample new flavour combinations and be surprised by what the season has to offer. We certainly walked out feeling thoroughly satisfied. Curious to see what Patrice has in store for your table? Then book your table now!
