CAMBRIDGE, Ill. — El Barril Mexican Restaurant Two, a downtown Cambridge eatery that opened with a ribbon cutting in June 2025, will close its doors at the end of January after eight months in business.
The owner of the restaurant, located at 105 N. Prospect St., announced the decision this week, citing low sales and staffing challenges that made it impossible to continue operating.
“It is with much sadness that we are closing our doors at the end of January,” the owner wrote in a public statement on Facebook. “We held on as long as we could, but between not having enough business to pay our bills, let alone keep staff, we just can’t go on.”
The owner said the restaurant will shift to takeout-only service for the remainder of the month, noting that running the dining room alone is no longer feasible.
“I am only one man, and I can’t take on a large crowd alone,” the statement said. “We appreciate all of the support over these last eight months, and we will miss you all.”
El Barril’s closure marks the loss of one of Cambridge’s newest dining options, which had been welcomed by the community during its opening last summer. The owner did not indicate whether future plans are in place but expressed gratitude to customers who supported the business during its brief run.
The restaurant will continue offering to-go orders with limited dining in hours until its final day of operation.
