E
stablished in 1987, Barzola promises “100% Ecuadorian food,” and it definitely delivers.

Barzola’s corner location accommodates a wall of windows that permits you to glance in at some very satisfied customers. I had never eaten Ecuadorian food before, so stopping here for lunch was a no-brainer.

Inside, below Ecuadorian flags of all sizes that are liberally hung throughout the restaurant, I took a seat under the large screen with high-quality videos of slow-moving humpback and blue whales, sea turtles, and clown fish. If you need something more stimulating, sit at the bar, where another screen plays videos by Madonna and Destiny’s Child. Or you could listen to the 1980s soundtrack (e.g., Tears for Fears, Toto, Billy Joel) and, almost inexplicably, Pink Floyd’s Dark Side of the Moon.

After I placed my order with the Ecuadorian waiter who was learning Italian and eagerly explained some of the house’s specialties, I picked up on the blues of the national flag in the seatbacks and the lights lining the bar shelves, anticipating my upcoming feast.

Try This: Start with a batido, an exotic fruit shake with milk; I chose the naranjilla (or lulo), which lends itself to an interesting flavor, its citrusy and tangy flavors blending with the sweetness and creaminess of the milk. For an appetizer, select the humitas, a simple, fresh homemade moist corn cake wrapped in a corn leaf that you can tailor toward salty or sweet. Then tuck into the generous serving of llapingacho—crispy chunks of pork still on the bone, chorizo sausage, and two poached eggs served atop two velvety sweet potato patties, all accompanied by a side of peanut sauce along with lettuce, avocado, and yellow rice.

I’d Love to Hear From You!

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