Barra
Restaurant · Somerville
23a Bow St, Somerville, MA 02143
Highlights
Mexican eatery with extensive mezcal, craft cocktails & unique eats
Mexican eatery with extensive mezcal, craft cocktails & unique eats
"Barra packs a big, refined punch into its small digs that pay homage to bustling Mexico City. On the menu, diners find tetelas, triangle-shaped corn pockets filled with refried beans and Oaxaca cheese alongside aguachile and mini empanadas. Cochinita pibil in banana leaves tastes like the Yucatan; spicy grilled octopus meets black aioli on a crunchy tostada; and a martini can (and should) be made with raicilla. Plus, a divine selection of mezcal and tequila helped earn this bar Eater Boston’s award for best new bar in 2021." - Erika Adams
"This intimate Mexico City-inspired bar is the type of place that connoisseurs of Latin American liquors can squeeze in shoulder-to-shoulder and have a stellar night making new friends while tasting sotol and bacanora. Those who are seeking a little more space can try out the festive sidewalk patio in warmer months; it’s the ideal spot to snack on tetelas and cactus salad with grasshoppers while drinking mezcal-based variations on classic cocktails. A bar tip: Order Barra’s take on a martini and switch out the smoky mezcal for racillia, a specific type of mezcal less commonly seen in Boston that has a sweeter, more floral taste profile." - Erika Adams
"Pitchers of margaritas and palomas are just the tip of the iceberg at Barra, a hip bar channeling Mexico City. The sipping menu showcases an extensive selection of agave spirits like mezcal and sotol, as well as rarities such as Abasolo whiskey made with nixtamalized heirloom corn. The food menu goes deep, too, from tetelas stuffed with beans, cheese, and topped with cactus salad, molcajete salsa, and optional grasshoppers to tamales featuring corn with a morita-mayonnaise, Tajín, and queso fresco. The indoor space is narrow and boisterous, while the outdoor space, including a hidden back patio, is a bit roomier for small parties and sit-down dinners." - Nathan Tavares
"You don’t need to afford airfare to take your honey on a trip to Mexico City. Barra, a cozy, intimate spot in Union Square, dishes out tasty Mexican fare alongside an expansive mezcal collection. Share the tuna tostaditas or a selection of tacos." - Celina Colby
"Barra stands out in Union Square’s exceptional food and drink scene with its contemporary, Mexico City-inspired fare and libations. The tequila and mezcal offerings are some of the best in Boston, and the cocktail list includes an unforgettable mezcal martini. It is presented in a lovely etched glass coupe, and features mezcal or raicilla — another agave-based spirit — dry vermouth, elderflower liqueur, and cured cactus." - Anna Darrow
