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A taqueria opening soon near Boston University has ties to two successful Cambridge and Somerville restaurants. Bergamot and Bisq co-owner Servio Garcia and Bisq’s chef Alex Saenz will soon unveil Taqueria el Barrio in the former UBurger space at 1022 Commonwealth Ave., near the border of Brookline and Boston, where the team will focus on tacos in the style of Northwest Mexico, according to Garcia.
“We’ll be offering different style tacos, quesadillas, tortas, plates, and we will be running some specials during the weekend, which is something that is traditional in that part of Mexico,” Garcia told Eater.
Flour and corn tortillas at Taqueria el Barrio will be made in-house, and the restaurant will operate seven days a week from 11 a.m. until 12 a.m. initially, though Garcia said they may adjust the hours depending on the level of business early on.
Garcia, who is originally from Puebla, Mexico, has been in the hospitality business for years, and while he has built his career in the Boston area with Bergamot and Bisq, he told Eater he has always had a desire to open a Mexican restaurant and has been working towards this goal for the last four to five years, searching for the right team and the right location.
“I tried to integrate my roots into the restaurant — not only the food but also the decor,” Garcia said. Colorful talavera tiles adorn the counters and tables, and a live-edge wood counter lines one of the walls inside.
Construction is well underway at Taqueria el Barrio, which has been documenting progress on social media, and Garcia said if all goes well the restaurant could open towards the end of May. (Also opening this spring: Time Out Market in Fenway, which will include a Bisq outpost serving charcuterie, cheese boards, and sandwiches by Saenz.)
“It has been a challenge in terms of the time I have to dedicate to this,” Garcia said. “The purpose of doing all this is to, down the road, have more time with my family, which is the most important thing.”
