I greatly enjoyed my dinner here this past weekend! We originally tried calling ahead to make a reservation on a Saturday, but found out they do not do reservations for parties less than 10. This was perfectly fine with us, we just got to the restaurant earlier than originally planned since dinner wait times for a Saturday here can range from 20-45 minutes. Do not let this deter you though, the food is worth it. Luckily for us, we only waited about 15 minutes for a table for 4. Once seated, our waitress soon followed with menus and a pitcher of water. She was quite lovely and attentive. To start, we ordered their chips and salsa (although I do highly recommend the street corn if you are feeling something different). The salsa is great and tasted fresh! The chips had a nice texture, but definitely needed the salt we added to the bowl. It did not take long for any of our meals to come out once we ordered. I personally got the carnitas tostadas, which were amazing. I could only eat one cause they were piled high with toppings (and I ate too many chips before). The pork had great flavor and paired well with the other toppings. Warning though, the black beans here are great, but on the spicier side! This caught one of us by surprise at the table. Overall it was a great evening, and we were in and out quickly from the meal. Just be prepared to wait a little for dinner, and plan ahead for parking! And watch out for those beans! read more

Central Mesa - Carnitas Tostadas with mixed veggies - American Near Me - Tuscaloosa, Alabama

On a Friday night when parents are moving their kids back into school, it's usually a long wait for dinner in Downtown Tuscaloosa. After another place said the wait was 2.5 hours, we checked into Central Mesa where the wait time was shorter. They have a really nice bar so we got drinks and waited there. Our server was very friendly and helpful. My Blackberry Mint Margarita was excellent! When we got our table we started off with guacamole, salsa, and chips. The salsa had a great spice! Our entrees ranged from a Chimichanga, to Enchiladas, to bowls. We all thought the food was very good. I liked the Enchiladas with Spanish Rice. If you're looking for some good Mexican food in Tuscaloosa, check out Central Mesa! read more

Central Mesa - American Near Me - Tuscaloosa, Alabama

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The atmosphere and staff at Central Mesa are excellent. We had no problem getting a table, and the service was fast. It was Tuesday, so I thought I would try their taco special. They had one vegetarian option. I will say these are the smallest tacos you have ever seen. The flavor was fine, but nothing outstanding. The chips and salsa were above average. This is a great place to hang out with friends, very comfortable. I am not sure I would go out of my way for the tacos. read more

Service was great. Beef is more like roast meat and not steak. Chips and salsa were good too! read more

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Service was great, made their presence known. Price a little steep but it has cool vibes. Nice for a night out. read more

Central Mesa - Santa Fe with steak. Would have been nice to know it's pulled. The Smokey mayo dressing was an amazing combo with the steak. - American Near Me - Tuscaloosa, Alabama

Great atmosphere & vibes and decor. Service was fast and efficient. I was in town for a college tour for my son so we stopped in. read more

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Street tacos worst ever! Pork belly was super dry and overcooked. Size is smaller than every other street tacos I've ever had. Cilantro and red onions?? Where, cause they were non existent on the four we received. The chicken was also not good. Salsa verde was terrible. They don't even give you chips and salsa w/o charging $4 for it. Salsa was just ok. Very disappointing. read more

Mexican food in Tuscaloosa Alabama can be a tough call. But no worries, there is Central mesa. Head & shoulders above "Taco Mama", Central Mesa Takes a lot of pride in what they serve from the food to the beverages and it shows. Got a small plate of Elote, their interpretation of the Mexican street corn dish. It hit all the right notes, but was served as a dip, which seemed odd to me. The corn chips were usual 4-cut hydro type fried fresh in house. My son had steak tacos which he loves. i had their carnitas which were not as crispy as I would have liked. More like braised pork. but tasty none the less. If you are craving Mexican food in Tuscaloosa this place is your go to. Margaritas were tasty and strong, they have a great tequila assortment and a creative mindset behind the bar using fresh seasonal produce to add value to the overall experience. Service was outstanding, and the place had kind of a Mexican Tavern kinda ambiance that was comforting and welcoming, like you You come to expect from an authentic restaurant owned by a mexican family. (not sure if this is the case or not) I'd come back here next time im in Tuscaloosa. read more

Central Mesa - American Near Me - Tuscaloosa, Alabama

Central Mesa is located near the University of Alabama which creates a lively atmosphere in the restaurant. The staff are friendly and got my order correct. I started with the elote en vaso which was a decent amount for a side dish. It was mildly spicy and tasty. The carnitas tostadas were soft and quite frankly perfect. I could taste all the flavorful ingredients. The sauce only emphasized the party happening in my mouth. For dessert I ordered a churro and was delighted to receive 10 mini churros with a dipping sauce that was not sugary. I was not left hungry yet didn't feel stuffed after eating here. read more

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2nd time coming here and I'm not impressed. 1st time we came they were out of queso and tortillas therefore the options were very limited. We tried giving it a second chance and were not told they were out of slaw until our hot chicken tacos showed up without it. It was just chicken, sauce and pickles. Lastly, we were not told there was a credit card fee (3%) until after they ran the card. I understand many places have fees but this should be disclosed prior to payment. read more

Great cocktails and margaritas and a great happy hour. Bartender was super nice and friendly. Guacamole was fresh made that day. Great little Mexican place. If you are hungry try the Scotty Too Hotty burrito if you dare read more

Birria steak quesadilla. Great service and atmosphere. Food came out hot and pretty quickly. read more

Central Mesa - American Near Me - Tuscaloosa, Alabama

excellent tacos and guacamole and salsa And chips! Cole-great service! I definitely will be back for more! read more

This is a good spot with a really good atmosphere. The hour chicken tacos were good but the slaw was overpowering and it took away from the hot chicken taste. They were a bit pricey at $17 for two. read more

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Holy nuggs. This place . Do yourself a favor and get here now. Happy hour is great with the trio dip and discounted marg, but the actual food is also as great. Everything here is awesome. The chips are seasoned so well. They are able to adjust most items to be gluten free too! The chicken enchiladas on corn tortillas are phenomenal. read more

Yummy late lunch after touring campus. I had the Mahi bowl. I would recommend it. Steven was a great server, friendly and attentive. read more

This place is a gem. The menu is different from most Mexican restaurants, but food is delicious and service phenomenal. Matthew served us and went above and beyond to accompany our party of seven, which included four children. He was very thoughtful and paid special attention to food allergies. The mahi tacos were so good. The nachos were a huge portion. The black beans were incredibly spicy, so keep that in mind. The chips and queso were delicious and we received a special order without the chorizo. Great location and vibe! read more

Central Mesa - Mahi tacos with rice and beans - American Near Me - Tuscaloosa, Alabama

Service was great stopped in for drinks. COLE our server was attentive and great he made sure our drinks were ready and never empty

Very tasty meal at restaurant week--our 17-month-old inhaled everything, too. Cole was a great server! Not too loud, could easily hear conversation, but not too quiet either. read more

Well worthy of the five stars given for this place. The food came out super fast, piping hot and full of flavor. If you enjoy Latin inspired food, this place will not disappoint. The atmosphere is cool and would be great for a date night or even a business lunch or dinner. This place is a must if you are craving Latin/Mexican food. read more

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Food was delicious! We ordered the Cuban sandwich and chimichanga as well as the street corn and chips and salsa. Everything was great! The service was excellent as well as the drinks. We will definitely back! Fun vibes all around and good eats. read more

Central Mesa - Strawberry Habanero Margarita - American Near Me - Tuscaloosa, Alabama

Not too impressed, unfortunately. We came here to celebrate the end of the semester after reading all the good reviews and were rather disappointed. The restaurant is snazzy and attractive, nice decorations, with a very modern and clean feel. We had no trouble getting a seat at around 7 PM on Sunday. The service was adequate -- awkward and very quiet, but not in an unfriendly way. Our food and drinks came out pretty quickly. Their menu and specials seem to change really often. For example, the drink menu in some Yelp pictures indicated 5 dollar sangrias on Sunday. That was a price I was willing to pay; shortly after ordering it, I saw the drink menu at the corner of the table and saw that they were actually now 7 dollars. It's my fault for not double checking, so I'm not really mad -- this is just a warning to others to double check first. Another similar thing: the Mesa fries on one of the menus they GAVE us said they came with tinga chicken; the other said it didn't. It's not a big deal either way for us, but it is confusing. At any rate -- my white sangria was alright. Pleasantly floral and the bit of added champagne made it pretty boozy. We did wind up ordering the Mesa fries as an appetizer (and they do currently come with tinga chicken). They were probably the best part of the meal. The queso was nice and gooey, the jalapeños weren't too spicy, the fries were mostly crispy, and the chicken was fairly plentiful. Unfortunately, the dish was on the too salty side, which wound up being a theme throughout the night. I can count on one hand the number of times dishes have been too salty for me, but unfortunately our meal added another finger to my count. My boyfriend got the Nashville hot chicken tacos, and I had the chicken enchiladas. His hot chicken tacos were the better of the two dishes, but overall it was just okay. The poblano slaw was the best part of the dish, but again, the tacos were too salty. The fries he ordered came with a too-sweet, almost sriracha tasting dipping sauce; he asked for the chipotle ranch he'd seen advertised in Yelp pictures and was told they only had a cilantro buttermilk dip. We tried it, but neither of us are huge cilantro fans, so it wasn't surprising when we didn't like it very much. My enchiladas were...really weak. The tortilla texture was really gummy and too soft. The chicken inside was also mushy and tasted of basically nothing except salt. I never tasted the jack cheese; when I didn't taste salt, I tasted the overpowering rosemary cream sauce. The rice was, honestly, terrible -- overwhelming lime flavor, and cooked to mush. Perhaps we came on a really, really bad night, but we were not taken with this place at all. read more

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Very mediocre Mexican food alittle over priced and have to pay separate for salsa like the other review said "good enough". Slow service.

Great spot for dinner. The happy hour is a good time to try the frozen avocado margarita!! I've never heard of such a thing. They might have started it here. It is so good!!! It's like an avocado smoothie. Would be healthy, but there's the tequila.... Every now & then. Treat yourself! It's the only place that has it. Aside from the avocado in my margarita, the shrimp tacos are really good!! For dessert I had a tres leche cake so yummy. Good vibes, chill & relaxing atmosphere. Great service. Our favorite spot for tacos, burritos, etc... when in T-town. read more

Cole did a great job. Food was excellent. He was very attentive. Will be back Thanks read more

Excellent meal at the bar with Cole. Can't wait to go back. Pro tip:Try the Blackberry Mint Margarita.

The waiters and waitresses were extremely rude to our entire table. the one guy who was bartending and running food, ran right into a friend of mine when she had gotten up from her chair. he did not say sorry and just ran off. The hospitality in this place was awful and for a first time customer, I will not be returning. read more

Great Service! Good food! Highly recommended! Great atmosphere! Pineapple Margaritas are fantastic!

Not for us. If you like American food, this isn't the place for you. Also, don't order the mojito, unless you just like the taste of lime.. super bummed out about this one. What a shame. read more

Central Mesa - Cuban sandwich, burnt chips (that's not meat chunks) and a summer salad. - American Near Me - Tuscaloosa, Alabama

Cole Rocks and so does the food! Love the Margaritas and the guacamole! Go Cole! COLE! COLE! COLE! Cole Rocks and so does the food! Love the Margaritas and the guacamole! Go Cole! COLE! COLE! COLE! read more

Cole was an excellent server. He was personable and attentive. The food was really good. We had the guac and chips for a starter. Everyone liked there meals. We had no complaints. read more

Central Mesa - Chips salsa and guacamole - American Near Me - Tuscaloosa, Alabama

Great food and service. Cole did great. We Highly recommend this restaurant. Have been several times.

Central Mesa has always been a favorite of mine for so many reasons! Not only is their service great, but their food and drinks are phenomenal as well! I have high standards for Mexican food, and Central Mesa hits it out of the park every single time. The Mesa Margaritas are always so fresh, 100% without that tangy margarita mix flavor. The Paloma is also great. It's evident that they are both made with fresh ingredients only. I usually prefer cheese dip over any other appetizer, but not here! I always opt for the street corn, since it's hard to find anything like it at other restaurants. Although there is a fee for chips and salsa (with free refills), it's so worth it, because the salsa is so fresh (a lot like El Barrio in Birmingham). The chips remind me of Chuy's chips, light and crispy with plenty of salt. Their menu is bigger than it used to be which is nice, but I still get my favorite, the chicken enchiladas. Although they give you the option for corn or flour, flour works much better for an enchilada, even though I usually prefer corn tortillas for tacos, etc. They're topped with red enchilada sauce and a cream sauce, but I always ask for an extra side of the cream sauce because it's so good, I want to pour it on everything! Next time I'm in Tuscaloosa, I'll definitely be back! read more

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The best Mexican in ttown. The flavors are really authentic tasting... hats off to the chef!!! Very creative with their drink menu, ask about their infused vodkas and house made sangria. Excellent for date night or even just poo in to watch the tide roll. Wonderful atmosphere. read more

Central Mesa - Bean burrito - American Near Me - Tuscaloosa, Alabama

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Kay- I know people say don't judge a book by its cover, but if you do not judge a book by its cover, how else will a person be intrigued to pick it up and read it. I walked in to Central Mesa, and immediately I knew something was off because the main dining area was empty. One kind thing i can say is that the water was good and my food was okay. But the amount of money I paid for it, I was expecting better considering actual mexican food is way cheaper and imo better. However, I liked my chicken quesadilla. It had a nice bbq spin on it that i appreciated. Overall this restaurant is okay, but with the pricing I spent on it($23). I wish i enjoyed it a little more. Finally, I conclude this review as 3/5. Cha- I got the tinga chicken chimichanga and the chorizo queso with the chips. The food was barely edible and not at all worth the price we were charged, considering the chicken was over cooked. We went there with great expectations since it has such good reviews, However we were greatly disappointed. The restaurant was completely empty and that should have been the first sign. However, in great contrast, the staff and waiters were incredibly nice and welcoming. 2/5 read more

Central Mesa - American Near Me - Tuscaloosa, Alabama

Central Mesa definitely deserves the high rating they've earned on Yelp. Tuscaloosa has tons of dining options, and after researching about 15 local restaurants in the downtown square I stopped by for a quick dinner. Part of the reason I chose Central Mesa was because of the easygoing vibe. I sat at the bar, and was very happy I did. The young bartender Hank carried on easy conversation the whole evening and provided great service. The food was a home run. I started with the street corn and homemade chips with cotija cheese - delicious!! Next came the pork belly rice bowl. This had huge flavors!! Lots of pieces of pork belly on a bed of rice with peppers, pickled onions, avocado, sriracha sauce.....excellent dish!! I wish I was in town for more than one evening- I'd love to try some of the other dishes on the menu!! read more

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Unfortunately Central Mesa has changed ownership and it is no longer the gem that it used to be. Instead of a classy, creative foodie experience they were known for, they've transformed the restaurant into an overly trendy, run of the mill Mexican place with slightly elevated decor. It might work for the college crowd but it wasn't enough to convince us to go back when we visited recently. read more

Great food and nice atmosphere. The service was quick and very good. I got the street tacos, and they were pretty tasty, especially the pork belly ones. read more

I am going to keep this short and sweet. Central Mesa is the place to go!!!! The food was amazing, like I still dream about the churros with the icing and don't get me started with the service. We had a girl named Lucy and she was ABSOULUTELY amazing!!!! Go in and ask for her!!! She has a smile of an angel and a heart of gold, she deserves a raise!!!! read more

This hidden gem in Tuscaloosa has the best salad and delicious guac!!! The margaritas are also very good! Love Central Mesa!