Northside’s Barrio Tequileria changes owners, updates menu

Northside’s Barrio Tequileria opened in spring 2013 but closed after just a few months in business. Chuck Eberle and Thomas Placke recently reopened the restaurant and have updated the menu to include Tex-Mex favorites.
 
“Over the last 12 years, we’ve formed a bond over our love of food and drink and the different cultures they’re associated with,” Placke says. He and Eberle own 3TC Entertainment Group, Barrio’s parent company.
 
The pair revamped the menu to feature Tex-Mex dishes that combine items from the past owner’s menu with Texas-style favorites. Menu highlights include a build-your-own Barrio — a half-pound burger, grilled chicken breast or black bean veggie burger with a variety of toppings — as well as pulled pork and smoked beef brisket sandwiches, with the option of adding the smoked meat to tacos, nachos, quesadillas and burritos.
 
Barrio still has a wide variety of tequila and specialty cocktails, but Eberle and Placke also added local and national craft beers in cans, bottles and drafts, which will rotate often. 
 
Barrio will also feature local artists and bands on the weekends as well as weekly open mic jazz night on Tuesday, trivia on Wednesday and karaoke on Thursday. Brunch will soon be served on Saturday and Sunday, featuring bloody Mary/Maria, margarita, mimosa and belini specials, plus an add-your-own-garnish bar. The patio is dog-friendly and has giant Jenga, Connect 4 and cornhole. There’s also a roast your own s’mores dessert menu and dog-bone shaped treat menu for the pups.
 
“The excitement in Northside’s South Block area is growing tremendously, with the grand reopening of Barrio along with The Littlefield and soon-to-be Arcade Legacy and Tajine sandwich shop,” Placke says of the neighborhood’s stretch of Spring Grove Avenue. “We hope to continue to add to this excitement.”