Silvana Salcido Esparza’s acclaimed Mexican cusine is coming to historical downtown Gilbert after all.
The multiple James Beard Award nominee for Best Chef Southwest originally planned to open a spinoff of her popular Barrio Cafe in the long-jinxed GrainBelt GrillHouse building on the northwest corner of Gilbert and Page a couple years ago.
The large building, which housed five concepts in six years, had been divided into two spaces. Postino Winecafe opened in the south space, and the abbeviated Barrio was to open in the north space.
However, Esparza and the landlord hit an impasse, and the chef-owner instead opened Barrio Queen in Scottsdale in 2012. The same year, she also opened Barrio Cafe Airport at Phoenix Sky Harbor. (Joyride Taco House eventually opened in the space next to Postino.)
Now, Esparza has turned her sights back to Gilbert, announcing she’s signed up to launch another Barrio Queen in Heritage Marketplace on the northwest corner of Gilbert and Vaughn, just north of Oregano’s.
The Heritage Marketplace also will house Lo-Lo’s Chicken & Waffles and Sam’s Fox’s Zinburger, which are expected to open by fall.
Barrio Queen is expected to open before the end of the year.
