The acclaimed Barrio Latino restaurant in Aventura, which has been extremely successful for almost a decade, recently opened a second location on Sunset Drive in Coral Gables — Barrio Latino SoMi.
The family-friendly, upscale casual — yet affordable — eatery offers delicious Latin fare incorporating savory traditional Cuban, Argentinean and Peruvian influences, as well as unique Latin Fusion sushi rolls.
The new restaurant is located at 1559 Sunset Dr., Coral Gables, 33143 (one block east of Red Road) in the former Beverly Hills Café location.
Barrio Latino SoMi, part of the family of restaurants including the renowned Havana’s Cuban Cuisine in Davie/Cooper City, offers lunch, dinner, take-out, delivery and catering. Customers also can enjoy the full liquor bar plus flavored mojitos, a wide selection of wines from Argentina, Chile, Spain and California; Cuba Libres, beers, champagnes and both white and red housemade Sangrias prepared tableside.
The 4,600-square-foot Barrio Latino SoMi, with a seating capacity of 201, features a fashionable recycled glass-type eat-in bar/counter, comfortable main dining area, and two outdoor terraces. For VIP parties, the restaurant offers a private area seating up to 40, which can be extended onto an outdoor terrace to accommodate additional guests.
Other unique features adding to the casually upscale ambience include a saltwater aquarium, and contemporary wood paneled walls. To complement the dining and/or bar experience, guests can catch sporting events on nine unobtrusive state-of-the-art HDTVs.
Customers can order a quick bite to take out from Barrio Latino SoMi’s special walk-up window, open from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. each day, which serves all types of coffees.
Barrio Latino SoMi’s menu, based on the wildly successful menu at Barrio Latino Aventura, offers appetizers ranging from $4 to $14, ceviches and tiraditos from $9 to $14, specialty sushi rolls from $8 to $15, soups and salads from $4 to $14, and entrees from $11 to $38. The restaurant features sashimi at $2 per piece.
Argentine Grill items, such as the Argentine Churrasco (skirt steak), range from $16 to $21. Other menu highlights are traditional Cuban cuisine such as Ropa Vieja, Bistec de Palomilla, black beans and rice, as well as Mexican quesadillas.
A new, unique aspect of Barrio Latino SoMi’s menu is the Latin Fusion selection — ceviche and sushi rolls. Sushi Chef Anderson Osorio — previously of Nobu in New York City and local hot spots Sugarcane, SushiSamba and Ceviche 105 — created the special menu items, which are a spin on Latin food, but placed in sushi rolls. The Latin-style rolls are ideal for those who want the experience of sushi but don’t eat raw foods.
Some favorites on the Specialty Rolls menu are the Barrio Roll, including lobster, crab, avocado, cucumber, sembei, topped sliced tuna, and acevichado sauce, and the Croqueta Roll, including ham croquette, avocado, crab and topped with avocado sauce.
Lunch specials, served until 3 p.m. Monday-Friday, include mouthwatering beef, chicken, pork and seafood dishes ranging from $7 to $13, and sandwiches priced at $6 or $7.
House specialties include Masas de Cerdo, tender pork chunks on a bed of avocado/guacamole sauce for $12; a variety of grilled Argentine meats, and housemade desserts, including proprietor Edwin Sheer’s grandmother’s 80-year-old flan recipe.
Barrio Latino SoMi hosts Ladies Night on Thursdays from 9 to 11 p.m., with complimentary martinis and champagne. Grand Opening Happy Hour is Monday-Thursday from 11:30 a.m. to 7 p.m., and features 2-4-1 well and calls.
“After enjoying a decade of success at Barrio Latino Aventura, I’m very excited to introduce Coral Gables to Barrio Latino,” Scheer said. “Along with my co-owner Roberto Martinez, I look forward to bringing our wide variety of delicious Latin dishes, casually upscale atmosphere and good value to residents and visitors in the Coral Gables and South Miami areas.”
Barrio Latino SoMi is open Sunday-Tuesday, 11:30 a.m.-10 p.m.; Wednesday and Thursday, 11:30 a.m.-11 p.m., and Friday and Saturday, 11:30 a.m.-midnight. The bar is open from 11:30 a.m. to closing each day; the walk-up window is open from 7 a.m.-6 p.m. each day.
Barrio Latino accepts reservations, although they are not required. Visa, Mastercard, Discover and American Express are accepted credit cards.
For more information, call the Aventura location at 305-692-4455, the SoMi location at 305-669-4447, or visit online at www.barriolatinorestaurant.com.
