Dinner at Barka? Phenomenal. I had dinner reservations for my party of 4 at 6pm on a Thursday. We got there a couple minutes late and were seated right away. Barka is an upscale Mediterranean restaurant serving classic and sophisticated seafood dishes.
While we waited to order, our waiter provided us some complementary bread, hummus, and olives. I really enjoyed the hummus although I wish the bread was warm. I started off with the Lychee Ginger Martini (~$13). It's made with Belvedere Vodka, Lychee Liquor, Domaine de Canton, Ginger Liquor, and a splash of sour mix. What caught my eye was the lychee, so I figured I'd give it a try. If you like martinis, then this is a good drink for you to try. I prefer drinks a bit sweeter (like cocktails), so although it was a good try, I would probably go off of their cocktail menu if I come back here.
For appetizers, we shared the Crab Cakes (~$19), Grilled Baby Artichokes (~$16), Veggie Chips (~$16), and Fried Calamari (~$16). The Crab Cakes were some of the best I've had. They were served with a Meyer Thyme Aioli which was super light and citrusy. The crab cake was fresh and tender on the inside and crispy on the outside. The Fried Calamari was battered lightly and was also beyond fresh! It was served with that same Meyer Thyme Aioli which I pretty much inhaled and tomato sauce which I didn't care for. The Veggie Chips include zucchini and eggplant and were served with tzatziki sauce. They were fried to perfection and the tzatziki sauce was great for dipping. The Grilled Baby Artichokes were coated with garlic and oil, and although it was my least favorite, it was still a good try! All the portions for the appetizers are fair compared to the price and great for sharing!
Now onto the main course! I ordered the Chilean Sea Bass (~$42). This entree comes with butternut squash risotto cooked in a lemon white wine with grilled asparagus on the side. The menu doesn't say it comes with asparagus and it just so happens to be my least favorite vegetable. I took a few bites just to try it but ended up not touching the rest. The Chilean Sea Bass was out of this world. Being a thick piece of fish, it was still cooked uniformly throughout. It was buttery and rich in flavor. The butternut squash risotto was addicting. I could not stop eating it. Aside from the asparagus, my plate was wiped clean! If you visit Barka, I recommend trying the sea bass here because you will not be disappointed.
Last but certainly not least, dessert! I ordered the Creme Brûlée (~$15). It's caramelized beautifully and topped with a few strawberry slices. The creme was light and sweet with bits of actual vanilla in each bite. At this point, I was stuffed but it was a great way to end a delicious meal.
All in all, Barka is the perfect place to dine for a date, business meeting, or to just enjoy some fresh seafood! I highly recommend giving them a try if you're in the area. read more