Service: very attentive waiter Food: delicious! We started with the mixed calamari, shrimp, zucchini and peppers appetizer which was AMAZING. I had the halibut special which was soooo good. The fish was cooked perfect, broccollini was nice and crisp, plus the scallops potatoes were buttery delicious. I had a taste of the Kiss and the Vodka Pasta which were very good. Drinks were also on point. Ambiance: ok, so neighborhood seems a bit sketch but they had a semi private lot in the back which was totally safe. The interior was dark and a bit dated. Gave me the grotto vibes. But the food was a good selection of Mexican and Italian. I went in thinking I was going to go Mexican but ended up with an Italian dish. Go figure.

The Gnocchi Alla Bava and Kiss Pasta are must trys! I'm not sure what magic they use to make these dishes, but on the first tries for both, our entire table erupted in, "ooohs" and "omg this is so good"! We had reservations around 8pm for a table of 12 people and were seated immediately. While their sister restaurant was packed, El Barzon had more openings and we enjoyed the quiet setting. Our table also got their steak special, and the meat was extremely soft and juicy. After everyone got a hefty share, there was still a decent amount left, so they definitely don't skimp on portion sizes! I didn't get a picture of all of the apps, but the calamari was yummy, broccolini had a nice snap to it, and the Italian sausage with peppers were also a crowd favorite. Highly recommend!

This place was recommended to me, and at first I was a bit hesitant to try it, but oh my god I am so glad I did, because every dish I have had from here has been phenomenal! It's a gorgeous restaurant inside and out, with excellent service and the chef? Incredible! I'm not sure they can make a less than stellar meal here. I'm not sure if I can make a recommendation, because there are too many excellent options!

El Barzon is both an Italian and Mexican restaurant. The service has always been exceptional in the 10+ years I've been dining here. Meals begin with complimentary chips and salsa, while bread and butter is served with appetizers. The salsas are better than the average Mexican restaurant's, and chip baskets get replenished free of charge. If you plan on drinking, I recommend reviewing the margarita menu. As for appetizers, both the insalata caesar (caesar salad) and calamari La Noria are worth getting. I could distinctively taste the anchovy in the caesar salad, but it wasn't overbearing by any means. The croutons tasted fresh and weren't overly dry or crunchy. I initially questioned why arugula was a part of the calamari La Noria, but it ended up being a nice touch. The pennette (penne) alla vodka is the best I've been able to find locally. The kiss pasta is also incredible, but is quite pricey ($33) for a pasta dish. I didn't dislike the scaloppine (veal) alla Frances, but it's my least favorite dish I've had here. The costolette di vitello (veal chop) alla Milanese is the better veal dish between the two, but is more than double the price. My most recent experience at El Barzon was in celebration of my wife and I's anniversary. The staff was kind enough to surprise us with a complimentary "happy anniversary" dessert. The dessert was flan, and it was delightful. However, it was the staff going the extra mile for us I appreciated more than anything. El Barzon successfully pulls off the combination of Italian and Mexican cuisines, and offers a worthwhile dining experience.

From outside the front you would never expect what a hidden gem this place is. In the front, it looks like every other older spot in Mexican Town Detroit. However, when you enter the giant decorative metal gate in the back, it is beautiful. This place was packed with people enjoying the outdoor dining space. El Barzon is a Mexican and Italian restaurant with options for everyone. This is not an American style Mexican, it is incredibly authentic. I ordered the Mole Enchiladas with chicken. My wife got a Margarita pizza from their wood fire oven (only available on weekends). Our table had some calamari, courtesy of the owner. The Enchiladas de pollo Mole were incredible. The mole takes them days to make and it is so deep with flavor. It is sweet, tangy, and spicy. The chicken just fell apart and it was a perfect portion. I couldn't get enough of the sauce. My wife's margarita pizza was also amazing. It was perfectly crispy, but still floppy where it needed. The wood fire oven sets it on top. Would definitely recommend trying it on a weekend. This place is a hidden, but not so hidden gem. From the service, to the food, to the beautiful patio, this place delivers. Next time you are downtown, check it out.

6 of us had dinner at El Barzon on Mother's Day evening. The place was absolutely packed. We ate inside the restaurant, but they have a covered outdoor section that was very nice. Our waiter, Cesar, stopped by and immediately apologized (even though we had only sat down 3 minutes prior) and took our drink orders. My wife and others were very impressed with the Italian Margarita and the Strawberry Jalapeño Margarita. He quickly brought chips and salsa (really good) and Italian bread and butter. For our meals, I had the Saltimbocca Alla Romana and was blown away. Absolutely amazing flavor! 2 people got the enchilada - both said it was the best they had ever had Honey Mustard Salmon - Loved it / extremely good Scaloppine Alla Toscana - Incredibly good A pasta dish that I don't remember the name, but it was very flavorful! The portions of veal were fairly small, but potatoes and spinach came with our meals so it was enough. A big thank you to Cesar. He was an amazing waiter and truly busted his butt that evening. A definitely favorite of ours. Definitely an odd combination (Italian and Mexican), but I highly recommend it! There is a small parking lot behind the restaurant as well.