El Barco Bar and Grill

We went here after a hard day of working around the house, and I just wanted a relaxed dining experience with a great atmosphere. We'd never been here before (and hadn't explored Lake City very much), but remembered having seen this place on a previous visit just a couple of weeks prior.

The atmosphere was great, and it was exactly what we were hoping for. It's stereotypically Mexican with the elements you'd expect: arched doorways, vibrant colors, murals that call back to Mexico. But it also has some paintings that call back to Lake City's history, and that was a flourish we weren't expecting.

The service was outstanding and the gentleman working that day had a terrific, warm, and welcoming demeanor; made you feel like you'd wandered into a friend's house who's oddly prepared for many guests.

The menu wasn't overly large or complicated, as so many Mexican restaurants' menus are. It's about four pages total (two front-and-back, essentially) and it's clearly focused on doing a carefully curated selection of dishes very well. There's still something here for everyone, but there aren't the endless variations on each type of dish (burritos in 15 styles, etc) that most Mexican places put on their menus. After a long day of working around the house, I really appreciated the simplicity and not being overwhelmed by the available choices.

I ordered the Steak Vaquero, which was a ribeye steak and six shrimp topped with mushrooms, cheese, a delicious sauce, and vegetables served fajita-style, and a Pina Colada. Both the food and drink were delicious, and well worth the money.

My wife ordered a chimichanga and stuck with water for a beverage. She loved the chimi and said it was the best she's had in recent memory.

There's no place of this quality in Red Wing, proper. We're looking forward to returning!

Great place for some authentic Mexican food cooked in a real kitchen. The owner is super friendly, and the service is great. Prices are super reasonable, which is a huge plus if you're dining out. Great menu and food. Was busy when I was there both times so far, but enough seating in a large dining area. So, no wait. I'm so glad there is a new option here in Lake City! WELCOME!

The food at this place is done well, the ingredients seemed very fresh and the portions were generous. All I've ordered is seafood, and it was great each time. Our servers were polite and overall the lunch experience is wonderful.

We have been there twice and both times were perfect experiences. The food was fresh and non greasy and did not leave you feeling heavy. The serving sizes were generous with some dishes providing two meals worth. The prices were very reasonable. The restaurant was clean and the servers were timely and friendly. We had excellent experiences on both visits and plan to return.