RESTAURANT REVIEW:

When a couple of painters I had working on the inside of my new home were about to take a break for lunch they asked where they should go for some Mexican food. I am about six blocks away from Main Street in Huntington Beach so I gave them a couple of suggestions.

Off they went, and about 90 minutes later they came back with cups from Subway. I asked what happened. They said they didn’t like cantinas and were looking for something a little more authentic.

I had broken a cardinal rule when it comes to restaurant recommendations and was stunned at my rookie mistake. Always know your audience. I told them I felt horrible they had to go to Subway, especially since there was some dirt and weeds outside that would have been much more palatable.

“Tomorrow,” I said, “lunch is on me.”

Blue-collar guys want food that is plentiful and simple, and I had sent them to places that were more fanciful and lacking in authenticity.

The other direction from my house and a little closer than downtown Huntington Beach is Las Barcas, and I could have kicked myself for not telling them about the place the day before.

I made up for my faux pas by hosting their lunch, and they were extremely grateful.

Las Barcas has been family owned since it opened in 1987. Alberto and Carmen Denenberg moved from Buenos Aires to Huntington Beach and opened the restaurant using a style of cuisine called gourmet Mexican.

The children, Steve, Jacqui and Antonio, worked with their parents, and Antonio is still very active in running the restaurant.

Though it is billed as gourmet, it is no frills. You order at the counter and sit in a small section that has a couple of booths and some simple tables and chairs.

My painters looked at the menu and were immediately satisfied to see there was carne asada on the menu. They both ordered a platter of the meat that came with guacamole, pico de gallo and three flour or corn tortillas. It was also nice that the man at the counter spoke both English and Spanish. It made my guys at ease, and they were able to order a special chile to go along side of the dish.

The carne asada is seasoned well and of very good quality. The meat is tender, and with rice and beans it is great in a tortilla for a little mini burrito.

Of course if you want a burrito, order one of the one-pound burritos the restaurant serves. There are 15 selections, and they range from the traditional chicken and beef, to the exotic and unusual.

The fajita burrito looked intriguing, as did the veggie burrito, which is stuffed with beans, guacamole, cheese, sour cream, lettuce and tomatoes. The healthy fitness burrito has chunks of chicken breast and egg whites.

Whichever one you get, plan on taking half of it home. They are huge and so filled with beans and rice and cheese that they will fill you up in no time.

While I liked the shrimp burrito I got, which had fresh guacamole that tasted like it had been made that morning, I am partial to the dinners they serve.

The two tamale dinner is my favorite. The beef or pork tamales are smothered with sauce and melted cheese. They are made on site daily and definitely taste like it. They didn’t balk when I asked for one of each.

The combinations were a bit disappointing. There were only four of them, so the selection was not great. It would be nice to see more possibilities, especially since the menu has so many items on it.

But my guys were happy, and so was I. The food is good, and there is a lot of it. Exactly what a blue-collar place should emphasize.

LAS BARCAS

ADDRESS: 21032 Beach Blvd., Huntington Beach

PHONE: (714) 536-2616

CUISINE: Mexican

SPECIALTY DISH: Carnitas or carne asada

ALCOHOL SERVED: beer and wine

ENTRÉE PRICE RANGE: $3.95 to $8.95

FAMILY FRIENDLY: Yes

CREDIT CARDS ACCEPTED: Cash only

RATING: *** out of 4

JOHN REGER reviews restaurants for the Independent.