Add this to your list of places to eat in Colorado (they have one of the best Bloody Mary's)... Let me introduce you to Centro Mexican Kitchen in Boulder, Colorado. This fun & lively restaurant on Pearl Street creates fresh and festive Mexican cuisine for brunch, lunch, happy hour, & dinner. Centro serves Brunch & Brunch Happy Hour on Saturday & Sunday from 10am to 12pm. We arrived at Centro and were seated on their outdoor patio - it was lovely with plenty of shade. The staff were attentive and radiated positivity. General Manager, Melena and Server, Molly ensured we had everything we needed while we dined. New Brunch Happy Hour menu items include things like the 'Over the Top Bloody' (serves 1-2 people) for $30. This was hands down the biggest Bloody Mary I have ever seen, and it tasted as good as it looked. It was garnished to the hilt - I'm talking grilled shrimp topped with edible gold, several strips of bacon, vegetables, & flowers. The Bloody Mary was tangy, spicy, and satisfying, making it a brunch favorite. The Horchata Toast Crunch was made with Breckenridge Vodka, horchata, chai liqueur, whipped cream, & cinnamon crunch. We loved the creativity on this brunch cocktail and who doesn't like cinnamon toast crunch? The Tomato Gazpacho was made with cucumber, red pepper, fresno chile, green onion, olive oil, & sourdough croutons. The Centro Caesar Salad was made with romaine, heirloom cherry tomatoes, grana padano cheese, popped lentils, toasted pepitas, & crispy chickpeas. We loved this Caesar Salad - there was great texture variation and a good ratio of Caesar dressing to ingredients. The Skirt Steak Taco Board was served with fresh corn tortillas, green rice, cabbage pico slaw, Mexican street corn, & spicy macha salsa. The skirt steak was juicy, meaty and went well with the warm tortillas and cool slaw. The Mexican street corn was seasoned perfectly and I loved the cotija cheese & spices on it. The Queso Benedict was made with two poached eggs, tavern ham, sourdough toast, smothered with queso. The Chilaquiles - $14 on Brunch Happy Hour - were made with tortilla chips, suiza sauce, refried beans, cotija cheese, & fried sunny side up egg. The French Toast Flight - $9 on Brunch Happy Hour - was made with strawberry, horchata, and cinnamon apple French toast. We then had the option to 'Make it toasty!' for an additional $20 which paired matching shots with each of the French toast flavors. read more

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Great service and Excellent food and Margaritas. Nice ambiance. They have a great Happy Hour and great prices.

They messed up my order I told them I had a sesame allergy and then they brought out my food with sesame visibly on it. My server then didn't check back in for 30 minutes. When he finally came back, he tried to remove the sesame sauce instead of giving me new food. I will never be coming back here. They are trying to do some silly Asian Mexican fusion instead of making soulful Mexican food. Don't go here if you have allergies or like traditional Mexican. read more

Best steak I've had at a Mexican restaurant. Excellent sauce, fun presentation, and huge portions. The Mezcal Margarita, had a balanced smoky flavor, not overpowering complimented by a bit of grapefruit. We'll executed and balanced. The steak and shrimp enchiladas were good, but my friend envied my steak. For American style Mexican food in a mid-tier budget range, this is hard to beat. From a value perspective, the steak was an excellent value, but the enchiladas, which were the same price, were overpriced. read more

Centro Mexican Kitchen - Mezcal margarita - Mexican Near Me - Boulder, Colorado

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Made a reservation (for an additional 2.9% charge), rudely seated by the host because we wanted a table and not the 40 person high top. Then served appetizers followed by entrees within 30 seconds, obviously rushing us in/out. Who cares about the food when you're treated like we were. Forget this place and a big F@&" Y)@ to the host.... @pearlstreetscam read more

Wow what a great experience today. We went to centro for the first time and I was happy to say I was not disappointed. The horchata was great and almost chocolate taste to it. The Baja fish tacos were amazing as well. Well seasoned but the rice was terrible it was very bland and I'm not sure what the flavoring was. The salsa trio was by far my favorite part. I really enjoyed the apricot salsa the most. 5/5 will be back read more

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I rarely write reviews, but my experience at Centro was frustrating enough that I felt compelled to say something. The food was honestly underwhelming--bland, overpriced, and nowhere near what you'd expect from a restaurant that markets itself as a vibrant take on Mexican cuisine. Everything tasted like it had been sitting under a heat lamp, and even the chips and salsa felt stale and thrown together. What really pushed this from disappointing to unacceptable, though, was the management. The service was chaotic, and when we politely brought up issues (wrong order, long wait times, cold food), the manager was dismissive and borderline rude. It felt like they didn't care at all about customer experience--just wanted to turn over tables. There are so many great places to eat in Boulder--this is not one of them. Sloppy execution, poor leadership, and food that doesn't live up to the hype. Skip it. read more

Pros: Great server, nice ambience Cons: They were out of nonalcoholic beer, chips were inedibly salty and there was no toilet paper in the ladies bathroom stall. Entrees were mediocre at best. $120 with tip. Would not recommend. read more

went with a group of friends 4 of us, the drinks were okay nothing special the house margarita was not the best. Food was tasty we did order from happy hours menu so it was more snacks than a full meal. Service was not the best. Food came out before drinks, we did order everything together. there was a few mixes a bit of confusión as well. getting another round of drinks took a while. it was an okay place. read more

Overrated and overpriced. You can do better for your money elsewhere. The location can't be beat, but I feel it caters to tourists.

Wouldn't let me in the restaurant with my service animal because a lady in from of me complained. they said I was only allowed outside

YUM. I got the soup and a side of rice and beans and was STUFFED. The chips and salsa at the beginning were so good I almost ruined my appetite. I highly suggest the food and sitting in the outdoor area. read more

Centro Mexican Kitchen - Gazpacho - Mexican Near Me - Boulder, Colorado

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Main motivation was a good margarita... lol but since it was also lunch time , we ordered lunch too. Chips and salsa were good and ate the whole basket. Started off with a peach margarita and at the recommendation of the server, a tamarind margarita. Both were delicious. Ordered the chicken enchilada and the salmon chop salad. Salad was crips and fresh and the sauce on the enchilada was excellent. Had an additional margarita with the mezcal and subbed the grapefruit for peach. Was good and smokey.... Have to like mezcal to enjoy this one. Fun place with family of friends. Nice covered and heated outdoor area was nice too read more

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The food was pretty ok, and the service was fine. The place is nice and lively, and the margaritas were pretty good! My problem is that everything was SOO expensive and the portions were a bit small :/ so if you are a large person like me, maybe this won't be your favorite place. But this place is always packed and lively so it's quite fun to go with friends! read more

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After a quick hike near Boulder we opted to stop in downtown Boulder for brunch. Due to UC parents weekend the town was packed. But Centro had plenty of seating when we arrived so, we opted to try it. No regrets!!! I had the breakfast enchiladas with green chilies and chorizo (which had a little kick). The enchiladas just the right amount and spice. Being that it was brunch, it was nice to have a few greens served on the side. My husband got the breakfast tacos that came out as a build your own board, which we were both surprised to find. He said they were pretty good (not the best he has had) but the potatoes were Unbelievable!!! Order a side of potatoes that were cooked to perfects with a crispy outside and soft inside. They were cooked with onions and peppers in oil or butter which gave them a flavor that needed to condiments to help the taste like standard breakfast potatoes. read more

Centro Mexican Kitchen - Enchiladas with green chilies - Mexican Near Me - Boulder, Colorado

Centro serves brunch until 2:30 on weekends which I wasn't expecting but was excited to find out. I got there right around 2:25 but my server was nice enough to give us the option for breakfast or lunch. They had some vegetarian options and are happy to make some modifications. I had the el admiral, which is kind of the basic breakfast: toast, potatoes, eggs, meat. I got avocado instead of meat and was surprised by how exotic it was! There was salsa, fingerling potatoes with some. Chilis and great overall flavor and quality of the food. We also got chips and salsa to start and the chips were amazing! The portion of salsa was a bit small though. Great Mexican breakfast! read more

Centro Mexican Kitchen - El Admiral breakfast - Mexican Near Me - Boulder, Colorado

Centro was good. You know in Boulder you're not going to get those dive Mexican joints that are great. Centro goes the complete opposite way and strives for a fancy upscale type of Mexican. The queso was okay, the Chicken Enchiladas were really tasty, the green rice was interesting and something different. Overall the food was good and I'd come back if I'm in the mood for fancy Mexican. I loved the outdoor sitting area as well. Overall a nice little Boulder spot for lunch/dinner! read more

Centro Mexican Kitchen - Chicken Enchiladas De Zolo - Mexican Near Me - Boulder, Colorado

Stumbled in from Pearl Street with no expectations and it was awesome!! Staff were wonderful, vibe was classy and laid back, food was EXCELLENT. Tried three of the taco dishes and they were all superb. Definitely coming back next time I'm in Boulder. read more

Went as a small group for dinner. Good, safe bet. Everyone had a good meal. Couple of clunkers, but nothing too bad. Got the Mango Habernero Shrimp tacos. Festival Corn side was great. Tacos were good, but should have asked for flour tortillas. The corn ones were out of a bag, and no great shakes. Drink selection, not so much joy here. The hibiscus cider came in a can and tasted of it. They comp'd me and gave me a pinot nior on the house. (-hard pass on the cider btw) read more

Centro Mexican Kitchen - Street lights are so cool. - Mexican Near Me - Boulder, Colorado

I really enjoyed my night at Centro! We enjoyed the salsa taster/trio and nachos as an appetizer. The salsas were all tasty and the portion of nachos was large enough to split between 4-5 people. As an entree, I liked the steak tacos. Everything was flavorful and fresh. Service was also great! A food runner spilled some sauce on our table but it was dealt with very professionally, and they were super apologetic. Our server was also kind and had great recommendations for us. Bonus tip: sit outside for the best vibes! read more

Went here while town with some colleagues. We tried to go here the previous night but they had a private party. The evening was a bit rainy, so no outdoor seating, which was a bummer. Inside atmosphere was fun and nicely decorated. I had a blood orange margarita and the fish tacos. I can never pass those up. Margarita was fantastic. Colleagues both got Mexican beer, which they said was good. Fish tacos came on a giant board and was entirely too much food. They were delicious and I highly recommend them. read more

Good food but absolute inability to pace. App and dinner came out at once. Empty plates sat in front of the entire meal. Very disappointing experience. Zero QC. read more

The food was bland and not well prepared. It was expensive for the limited amount of food and simple ingredients. I would not recommend.

We had a frustrating lunch. Not the first. Order came wrong and the waiter argued twice that it wasn't wrong. In the end he agreed that one was and another was missing an ingredient and took one off the bill. Not enough for the hassle. The food we received wasn't very good. Would not recommend. read more

Paid 72 dollars for 2 people, was not very good. Got birria tacos and the meat was dry and on the side. You can't order guacamole just as a side, you have to buy the entire salsa and guacamole platter. And even when you do, it comes in a very very small portion. read more

Centro never disappoints, delivering solid cocktails, great food with a friendly service in a pleasant atmosphere whether on the patio or inside. The coin margarita is not sweet, which I like, but my favorite is the passion marg just a little spicy with the right balance of sweetness (the jalapeno basil one is also very good). I highly recommend the salsa sampler with homemade chips and I especially love the apricot habanero, could eat it with a spoon! The Carne Asada is very good with big pieces of meat and to end the meal, the Tres Leches is spectacular! read more

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This may be one of the worst places we have ever eaten. We have been sicks for 2 days. My son had a hamburger that smelled fishy. He's been violently ill for 24 hrs. The guacamole was easily the worst I have ever had. Throwing a random chickpea on top doesn't make it fancy. The Queso was flavorless and was almost all cornstarch and grainy. We will never be back. read more

Centro Mexican Kitchen - Mexican Near Me - Boulder, Colorado

The good: the food is fabulous. I had the Burria burrito. The meat inside is cooked perfectly, so soft and flavorful. The vegetables were crisp and had a delightful touch of citrus. It comes with stopping of consommé that is inspired. The rice was great too. My husband liked his salmon salad, and the salsa is fresh and crisp. However, the service was painfully slow. I ordered a side of street corn I never received, and I couldn't ask because the server never came back. We didn't get drink refills either. It took forever to get the check and we had to wander around the restaurant to track him down to pay. Good as the food is, we won't be back. read more

Centro Mexican Kitchen - Delicious burrito - Mexican Near Me - Boulder, Colorado

Centro is a clear case of focusing on presentation over good preparation. The food looks good, but tastes terrible. Every dish served to our party was nothing better than edible. The service was not much better and at the price Centro is charging you might as well find a decent restaurant that is worth paying the inflated Boulder prices. I had a country fried steak with chorizo country gravy and the "steak" was fried to the tenderness of a hockey puck and had about as much flavor as boiled shoe leather. The eggs were so heavily salted they were nearly inedible. I was served a coke that was so light it looked like dirty water, and when I brought it to the bartender's attention the only option I was given was to order a bottle of Mexican coke at an added cost to me. (Because changing the syrup bag would have been too hard with the sparsely filled restaurant clearly taking little of his time. TL:DR - Don't bother with Centro, expensive, bad food read more

Jaken really took care of us when we visited for the first time! He gave my husband and I excellent recommendations and service. Not only was his service excellent as a manager but the food was divine. Really an upscale Mexican cuisine and drinks with fresh Ingredients that you can taste. You can tell they take pride in making their plates and drinks for their customers. From presentation to taste it was delicious, also the ambience of the atmosphere was unique! We will be regulars, thank you!! read more

Such a good spot for food and drinks! Fresh apps and even better tacos. Love this spot for summer dinner -- staff was super friendly too! read more

Centro Mexican Kitchen - Ceviche - Mexican Near Me - Boulder, Colorado

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New menu items : Absolutely will be back for the Macha blackened shrimp and not pictured the Spring vegetable Mole 10/10 experience and flavor of food is immaculate . The shrimp meal is so wholesome and comforting with the potatoes and beans and chorizo like wow chefs kiss. Recommend 100% service is great and on top of it! As well the new Ranch Water is yummy and refreshing . read more

Centro Mexican Kitchen - Mexican Near Me - Boulder, Colorado

Came here late on a Saturday for just margaritas and dessert. I must say, I am fairly disappointed in the "Tres Leches Cafe". It's definitely not the traditional tres leches cake. The fillings itself were somewhat dry and difficult to eat. The crust is definitely very dry and requires some force to get through it with a fork. read more

Centro Mexican Kitchen - TRES LECHES cake - Mexican Near Me - Boulder, Colorado

Great margarita options, great salsa selections, great, cool ambiance . The apricot habanero salsa is unlike any salsa I've had before. The margarita flight is a must. Happy hour 3-5 read more

Centro Mexican Kitchen - Mexican Near Me - Boulder, Colorado

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Centro Mexican Kitchen is one of my favorite places to eat in Boulder County, as it is a terrific mix of quality menu items, a unique food experience, great location, and exceptional customer service. It all starts with General Manager Bobby Mitchell, who could not be a more positive and pleasant representative of the restaurant. Kind, caring, and professional, this place reflects his high standards. I love their indoor/outdoor options, and consider them for lunch with their fun items served in a lunchbox. Their salsas and guacamole are incredible. This place really is darn good. read more

We went for drinks and apps and had a great time. One recommendation - don't bring food before drinks - you will sell MORE DRINKS this way. I work in hospitality and saw the flaw - your bar was working too slow and you could have sold us double drinks if you had gotten drinks out before the apps... I usually will NOT order food w drinks but we were really hungry. Tell your servers and bar tenders 1- don't put on food orders till drinks are on the table 2 -bar tenders and managers - get drinks on the table so people order more drinks! read more

So good ate the skirt steak tacos and I loved it. Num num num this app makes me add 85 characters smh read more

Centro Mexican Kitchen - Me eating the Skirt Steak Tacos - Mexican Near Me - Boulder, Colorado

Weak. Boulder's "Mexican " food scene is not good. This spot makes it worse. Way over priced for the quality, surprisingly this place has been here for years. read more

Loved this place. Seems that their beer supplier is behind but the food and service were top shelf. My family has dietary restrictions and they were more than happy to accommodate. We ordered a salad and three taco boards. All the taco choices were delicious. The fish tacos were my favorite- very light and flakey. Great place and I would dine again next time I'm in Boulder read more

This place has excellent food and prepared very uniquely. We ordered The vegetarian tostados and battered Cod fish tacos. Mind blowing good. Presentation and taste. Nice indoor and great outdoor seating patio Social distancing is strictly enforced. Face mask are to be worn all times other than when at your table drinking. Staff wears face mask and gloves all the time. Sanitizing tables in between customers. Customers are seated at every other table. read more

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