Whether it’s called Barley and Swine, Barley and Wich, or just Barley, this place just keeps getting better.
Located in Kendall, Barley can probably be best described as new style of modern American-Spanish fusion cuisine.
It’s a little hidden spot with dark interiors and a rustic feel. No cocktails here, just wine and craft beers.
There’s quite a bit of interesting things about this place. One, is their mac and cheese schedule.
I need to come back on a Wednesday to try their goat cheese, fig and pecan version of their mac and cheese. However, their mac and cheese of the day when I went was prepared with lobster and mascarpone cheese. It was pretty decent, not bad at all, but the lobster was a little overpowering.
The other cool thing about this place is their Thursday night brunch. Yes, Thursday nights are now brunch time! Brunch at anytime is a good time.
Oh, here’s one solid piece of advice: Don’t let the word “snacks” or “plates” fool you, and just because they serve food in “tapas-style” does not necessarily mean it’s the traditional tiny portion.
Their dishes are moderately portioned and we ended up with more plates than our stomachs can cash. Not that too much food is ever a bad thing…
I’m going to be straightforward and say the real star here is their Serrano ham and manchego cheese croquettes with guava sauce. They lasted about a grand total of a second so naturally we ordered another. These are my favorite croquettes in all of Miami– delicious bites of Serrano ham and creamy manchego cheese dipped in guava sauce. It’s the perfect balance of salty, savory and sweet. Trust me, you’ll thank me later.
The crispy pig tails are crunchy and tasty. I honestly didn’t touch the marmalade, these didn’t last very long.
Another dish I absolutely loved is their fish taco board. I’ve never had great ahi tuna tacos and these were cooked to perfection and just oh so delicious. The guacamole was really simple and fresh.
I’m obsessed with their Wagyu Hanger Steak. We ordered it rare and the flavor was perfect. It’s one of the best steaks I’ve ever had, paired with a nice potato salad and a watercress vinaigrette salad.
The portions here are pretty big, especially when compared to most ‘tapas’ dishes. So keep that in mind before you order and make the same mistake I did.
Until next bite!
FOODNOIZE 