672 Bleecker St.


Average Overall Rating:

(4 out of 5)

Average Coffee Refill Rating:

(4 out of 5)

(2 out of 5)

Review by: terryhallinan on 3/10/2007

Overall Rating:

Coffee Refill Rating:

Expense Rating:

How can a gringo possibly do justice to rating a restaurant that offers breakfast dishes like plantain con los tres golpes? Or a spanish omelette, whatever they called it, that was more like a western omelette served with a heaping helping of that same mashed green plantain?

El Barajo advertises itself as "American and Spanish Food" on the outside but there seems not to be an overabundance of either inside. The breakfast menu is rather limited though the lunch and dinner entrees are extensive. You can order bacon and eggs if there is no adventure in your soul or even something that seems to be a little more than toast and coffee.

"Los tres golpes" was translated as "3 hits." Not terribly helpful. A rather disinterested waiter was a little more helpful but not much. Maybe that's because he probably wasn't a waiter. Perhaps he was a relative there to kinda help out on a Saturday morning in case some strays actually showed up. It turned out that the three los golpes were an egg over easy (kinda), a square cake-like something and what I can only describe as meat, salami-like.

Breakfast is not El Barajo's specialty but it is for sure interesting. Coffee was strong with a cinnamon-like flavoring. (Everything was - different. Whatever spice was used was not just cinnamon, if cinnamon at all. My wife mentioned maybe allspice.) We thought it quite good.

I am fairly sure El Barajo is not Mexican but perhaps Dominican or Guatemalan - whatever. The manager(?) who showed up later served us more coffee and was extremely accommodating.

Those looking for something off the beaten track would have to be pleased by El Barajo I think. Quantities were massive. Green plantain - as opposed to the sweet plantain most Americans are familiar with - is not to our taste normally but it seemed to fit in well with the breakfast food.

Best, Terry

Review #9837


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Reviews submitted here are meant to pertain to breakfast only. While Mr Breakfast cannot vouch for the validity of each restaurant review, he feels pretty good vouching for the excellent character of the residents of Utica, New York - who are primarily responsible for the review(s) you see above for El Barajo.