Amazing food, staff, and vibe. I haven't stopped thinking about the crème brûlée since I got it so that is a must get! If you like fruity drinks like me, Eternal Denial is your dream and it's available as a mocktail! The chips and salsa were a great app and we were impressed that the chips were so fresh! Staff were super attentive and nice. Special shoutout to our bartender, Malcom for the great service! read more

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Love the chicken enchiladas here. Ordered Enchiladas de la familia in chicken only (they come in chicken, steak and/or bean) with tomatillo and chipotle (you could also get crema). You seat yourself and then order and pay using a QR code. The ambiance is old, authentic Mexican. This is not a modernized spot and for me that was refreshing. No frills but the food is good and I enjoyed the vibe. read more

Had a really interesting drink here with cilantro juice and it was unique-- something I've never tried before and I enjoyed it! The chips and guacamole are good, salsa was pretty standard. We shared enchiladas with flavorful sauces on them. The vegetarian tacos were good but could have used a little more flavor though the tortillas were incredible. We got two desserts which I highly recommend the bread pudding and tres leches. The service was fast, and the space is really cute. I would come here again for a nice upscale Mexican meal. read more

Centro - Bread pudding - Mexican Near Me - Raleigh, North Carolina

The ambiance here is great! An old authentic mexican with good air conditioning is something I was looking for. The employees are very kind and service is great! read more

We had a great time at Centro. From the beginning the atmosphere was very cozy and welcoming. Our server was very friendly and personable. I had the tacos (Chicano, fish, and Del Sur), and they were all so tasty and fresh. Definitely will be back to support this business. read more

Centro - Tacos - Mexican Near Me - Raleigh, North Carolina

Really enjoyed my time at Centro this past weekend. We were seated on the patio which was a very cool indoor/outdoor space. Had a delicious margarita with a very salty rim which is my go-to. I do wish the bartender used a coarse salt instead of a table salt but I enjoyed it nonetheless. I also had the chicken tamales without the plantains which were very good. I definitely recommend Centro if you're looking for good Mexican food in the Triangle! read more

Steps away from our science museum and capital visit, we went there for lunch. The ambiance was nice, very vibrant inside. They have outdoor seating. The app for ordering is very convenient. Everyone can order for one or order as a group. The portions are not big. The portion size is just enough. The food is good. I love the veggie bowl. We had a fun drink and it was just perfect for this weather! Washrooms are clean and elaborately decorated. They even have mouthwash provided just in case! Will definitely recommend this place especially for vegetarians or vegans. read more

We ordered 3 tacos, 2 carnitas and one of something else. I also ordered an Eternal (something drink) that was lovely...except the Himalayan salt on the rim must have gotten some jalapeño mixed with it because it was HOT! My date spent several years living and working in Mexico so he knows the food. He agreed that it was good. I met the owner many years ago and have always been pleased with the food, service, and ambiance. read more

Left this place leaving hungry and dissatisfied. Ordered the "enchiladas" which were overpriced and essentially taquitos with sauce poured over them. They were tiny! They must have been taquitos because they were crunchy - even though I'm using the term jokingly, they most certainly do taste and have the same texture as it. The drinks were pretty good and service was nice. Food was not the best read more

Centro - Enchiladas de la Familia - Mexican Near Me - Raleigh, North Carolina

Met several friends for dinner here. Cute spot downtown -- we were at a cozy table under the stairs beside the bar. Didn't order a cocktail but they looked amazing. We ordered chips, salsa and queso for the table. All were delicious. I ordered the centro bowl with chicken for my entree. It was the perfect amount of each ingredient in the bowl. I'm not normally a guacamole fan but it just with with the bowl and was quite tasty. Waitress was attentive without being overbearing. I look forward to returning and trying some cocktails and a different entree. read more

Centro - Centro Chicken Bowl - Mexican Near Me - Raleigh, North Carolina

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Ambience is super cool & food is delicious & reasonably priced! Super friendly staff too

I have visited Gallo Pelon that is located above Centro (it is a must visit) so I was excited to check out Centro on this most recent visit. We started off with cocktails, it was one of the drink specials for my husband and the aniversario followed by the picosita (with half of the heat) for me. The picosita was so good. For food we started with the chips & guacamole then it was the Enchiladas de la Familia for my husband and the Mole Poblano for me. I knew I had to save room for dessert because Tres Leches was on the menu. The food and service were both good. read more

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Service and food good! Prices reasonable! Can be busy especially around lunch! Reservations recommended..

So glad Centro is back for inside dining. I usually get tacos but went for chilaquiles this time. Sooo good on a chilly day! The green tomatillo sauce mixed with the creamy cheese making a delicious casserole with the corn tortillas and fried egg. I added chicken but didn't even need it because it was so hardy. My husband always gets the enchiladas de familia and he loves them- steak, chicken, & bean. I also have a love affair with their perfectly fried tortilla chips and the best salsa in downtown Raleigh. Beware that it is super cold inside the restaurant right now. No idea why but I had to dine with my winter coat on. read more

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The minute I walked through the door I could tell the food was going to be great. The server came right away and took our orders. The vibe of the whole place was extremely positive and the servers were very kind when serving us. The environment was very friendly and I heard laughter everywhere. The server gave great recommendations and the food was the best authentic Mexican food I have had in a while. Next time I maybe would have ordered more because I couldn't get enough of the tacos. I definitely recommend Centro for a top notch Mexican restaurant. read more

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Went to Centro Saturday for lunch. And of course in Raleigh, concept of Sunday Brunch is lost on the restaurants here. Why not just leave it to Sunday. It makes it more special. Back to review. It seems they have come up with a touch-less ordering system. The app had many many glitches and QR code is hit or miss in terms of readability. Service was poor and person available said if it doesn't work, go to the bar and order... rather carelessly. She couldn't care less. Bar was 5 orders deep and required waiting their. And since one of our guests didn't show yet, we couldn't just order appetizers. One person at table got menu up and it is a limited brunch menu - Of Course! And we came for Mexican food. The whole experience was a nightmare!!!! Please don't bother going for a sit down meal... or fire the person who developed their app. And redo it. In meantime... We figured out if we order all the courses including dessert all at once like you do at a fast food chain, it can actually work. "You want fries with that?". BTW... I am a deeply tech person and have been using Every app available at restaurants for a decade or more. Never have I experience this. I am not even expressing the frustration well enough. And with the flippant nature of the woman working the floor..... Wasn't willing to take an order. App wasnt working still... orders were submitted and sauce selections etc were glitchy and get kicking us out. We finally ordered at Bar... it took three separate attempts to go to the bar because we had to wait for someone to acknowledge our presence. Because... as a bar, your priority is to serve drinks which are a quadruple margin business compared to food for any restaurant. Food orders were lower priority. It took three tries of going to the bar to get their attention to order. The hostess at podium out front intervened to take our order finally. Thank god. For the food... it was actually delicious. Hence two stars. Thought of giving 3 stars BUT... it was a nightmare and who wants that on their Saturday? It's my fun day! We ordered tacos and enchiladas. They were delicious. Guac and chips... ordered but guac was so-so. I have made tons better. it was light on lime, Jalapeño, and salt, and missing garlic or onion flavoring. Bland and gringo style but with fresh avocado. Would I go there again? Never for a sit down. It in my book is a take-away or uber eats only kind of place. Better places to repeat if you want Mexican... GO TO VIRGIL's INSTEAD!!!! Please!!!!! Service with a smile, huge variety and tasty street tacos and more, bar is awesome with drinks, and service is excellent and person... they also have online ordering, take away and more. Centro all-in-all sucks in experience. It was utter chaos and disaster. If you want to add stress to your life, by all means go... sit down and eat there and you will get a rather nice but ADHD server and no food or drink for 30 mins... other than water for the table. With patience and many attempts, you might get your food. Good luck Centro... the cloud/app based touch-less worls is NOT for you. Either go back to a human interface service or close down. Not repeating this one!!!! read more

Had a great meal. My whole family enjoyed their food here. I just wish they open earlier but, the wait is worth it.

My wife and I came here on a Friday night. I'd made a reservation for us the day before since I wasn't sure how busy they'd be--there were a few open tables when we arrived (7:45PM), but it definitely seemed like it would fill up quickly so I recommend making a reservation if you plan to visit on a weekend! The service was wonderful--our waitress was attentive and kind. The decor and the smell of all the delicious food truly makes you feel like you're in an abuela's home! What really sold me here was that they give back to the community--$2 of the cost of the Veronica drink are donated to the Carolina abortion fund, and $2 of the Pride Jarritos drink are donated to the LGBT center of Raleigh. And the FOOD--my goodness, everything was delicious. We had the chips and queso, the enchilada plate, the ignacios (nachos), and the tres leches cake. The queso was perfectly flavored (nothing like bland store-bought queso), and the nachos had a great ratio of toppings to chips. The only thing I would change about them is to ask for additional black beans on top--it says they come with "beans" on the menu, but really it's just a very thin layer of bean paste on the bottom. As a vegetarian, I was hoping for a little more protein. On that note, if you are vegetarian do note that this place has a limited number of options per the menu. I was happy with the nachos as it was though! And it could be that they're amenable to making a dish vegetarian, but I didn't ask. It is a bit pricey here--the enchilada plate was $17, the nachos were $12, chips and queso were $9, and our drinks were $12-15 each. However, I'm happy to pay that in order to support a small local business delivering such fresh, delicious food. read more

Drinks- our waitress suggested the margaritas and she was not wrong! There are four special ones and we tried the spicy and the chambord one - both were awesome. Mole chicken and southern chicken tacos were awesome!! The cilantro rice seemed like it was freshly prepared not a mass produced side dish, Tres leches cake for dessert!!! So good but not overwhelming! Many thanks to the bartender at a neighboring restaurant who sent us here!! read more

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I walk by often and decided to check this place out. There were people waiting for the doors to open for dinner. We sat at the bar, ordered Antiguo & Fabuloso Margarita's and both were quite strong. Ordered gorditas de frijol which I was so excited to try but not what I was expecting. I was hoping for authentic gorditas but overall nice bar. I really enjoyed the guacamole. I enjoyed the freshness and flavors. read more

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First time here and what a gem this restaurant is. First impressions: there's so much attention to detail in all the decor. There's 2 areas in this restaurant: 1. The Mezcalaria- a rooftop bar and deck for nibbles and a huge catalog of mezcal. 2. Centro- the full service menu restaurant. The owner Angela is the most welcoming and warm person. You can tell she has beyond a passion for hospitality. All the staff is attentive and joyous to work there. The murals all over the stairwell are incredible. Make sure to peek upstairs at the rooftop deck mural. It's incredible. Now, the food. There are many Mexican style restaurants in town. Centro has a Colombian flair and unique set of flavor combinations that set this place apart. We started with chips, salsa and various dips (Guacamole, queso, and this incredible corn dip!) I ordered the 20+ ingredient mole with chicken. This was the most delicious mole I've had and wanted to eat it with a spoon. My hubby got the enchiladas- and the cream sauce was divine! So, if you want a great meal with phenomenal service, run, don't walk to Centro! Oh and Saturday there's a brunch. Can't wait to try it! I'm hungry thinking about this food now! read more

Centro - Chicken mole - Mexican Near Me - Raleigh, North Carolina

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Centro had some pretty good white queso which went great with the complimentary chips that were immediately placed on the table for us right when we sat down. Salsa was average. For brunch, I ordered the Gorditas de Emilia (two corn masa pockets stuffed with scrambled eggs, sausage, mushrooms, peppers, cream, cheese). Was decent, but I will say that most of the stuffing was the scrambled eggs. You don't get much of everything else. I found that just one of those stuffed corn pockets was enough to fill me up (or maybe I had too many chips with queso for my appetizer!). The meal also came with sides of cilantro rice and black beans. The cilantro rice was delicious! Wish there were a bigger portion of it. I came with a few friends and everyone enjoyed their meal. Taste | 4 Atmosphere | 4 Presentation | 3.5 Service | 3.5 OVERALL | 4 read more

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Centro was amazing! I came here last weekend for dinner and it was definitely a hit. I had the Los Carlos and it was delicious! They are steak tacos with cheese, avocado, and pico de gallo. It is also served with a side of cilantro rice, which was super flavorful and good, despite cilantro not being my favorite! Chips and queso, also wonderful! I had a glass of Sauvignon Blanc which was a nice addition, and tried a rum cocktail which I forgot the name of but it was delicious as well. Service was stellar & the atmosphere was super hip and fun. I will definitely be back! read more

Yesssss!! Love it! I ordered the lunch special chorizo tacos, IT WAS SO GOOD!! I loved the meat, pickled onions, and the jalapeno sauce! The place was so cool, very different from what other stores are like. The decor is very reminiscent and authentic. The ordering system was so cool. Overall, I loved it! Would definitely recommend and come back! read more

If you dine at the restaurant downstairs, get the enchilada plate! Best enchilada experience in all of Raleigh. The upstairs mezcal bar is so fun and the bartenders are adorable. read more

Used to be good but has gone downhill and they are one of those penny pinching restaurants. We sat at the bar last night so I unfortunately had to watch the bartender make drinks while we were there. She was under pouring the $15 margaritas then stuffing the glass with ice. They don't even put a one ounce pour of tequila in the drinks which means they are ripping people off. Also what kind of Mexican restaurant offers chips and salsa at the bar then charges you for them? The food is okay but service and drinks have made it so we won't go back. $120 wasted read more

I love candlelight on date night and Centro does it right. Cozy, romantic, playful ambiance and super tasty Mexi eats! Heather B and Brittany S have also turned me on to the Wednesday Margarita Run mentioned in their reviews so that's definitely going on my list of fun runs. Tacos and a margarita after a sweaty 5 mile run? I'm all over that like a cat on a mouse. Mrowr! The corn something with lime amuse-bouche was very tasty, the Mahi Mahi tacos were delicious, the service was fantastic even though it was Friday night and they were very busy, and parking wasn't a problem. The only drawback was the noise level...it's loud. I've been here during lunch and the noise level hasn't been bad at all. But, on a Friday night during dinner, plan on some loud conversation. I will say that the background music is very good although not super loud. It's mostly just people socializing and if you can deal with the noise level, you'll probably enjoy it. Overall, I love this place. Kudos Centro! read more

Centro - Quirky items like this add oodles of charm to the decor. - Mexican Near Me - Raleigh, North Carolina

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Such good food, I just wish I was actually waited on. I get the arguments for QR code restaurants, but that doesn't mean I like it!

I have been meaning to try Centro for so long and finally made it happen! I recommend making a reservation for weekend dining, we went on a Friday night and without a reservation the wait was an hour and a half! Service was a little slow, but we weren't in a rush and our waitress was very friendly! We started with the chips and queso and it was freaking delicious! I am such a sucker for queso and Centro's did not disappoint. I shared tacos with my friend we so could get two different kinds. We got the chicken and chorizo and their steak taco. They were both good, but the steak taco was really good! When I'd go back I'd get the steak tacos again. My husband got the seafood dish and it was good, was a bit more like a stew than he expected. I tasked the sauce and it was really flavorful and delicious. The margaritas were also on point (no surprise). A great spot downtown, I'll be back! read more

Great food, margaritas and service! We even got chosen randomly a free pitcher on cinco de mayo weekend, so they took it off our tab at the end. Has the burrito, enchiladas, queso and classic margarita. Everything was great! read more

Centro is delicious! This was my first time and I wish I had tried it earlier. I went with two friends on Saturday night around 8:30pm and there was no wait. The food, service, and atmosphere were all great so I'll definitely be back soon! Chips + Salsa + Guac 4/5 - Wish chips and salsa weren't extra but it was yummy and worth it. The portion of guac was small but it didn't cost much so I can't complain. Chicken Tinga Tacos 4/5 - I really like how the tacos have double tortillas. The chicken tinga was yummy but I don't think I'll get it again. I really liked the rice and refried beans! I'm not usually a fan of refried beans but I ate them all. Wish I was able to mix and match tacos though Atmosphere 5/5 - Really fun atmosphere! The decorations are great. Service 5/5 - Service was great! read more

Centro - Mexican Near Me - Raleigh, North Carolina

People have been telling me to try Centro for awhile and I finally got to try it out on Monday. Our server and the bartender, Roberto, was amazing! His suggestions were exactly what we needed. First starters, they had the freshest salsa I've ever had at a restaurant and their queso was perfect from flavor to texture. For drinks, I ordered the margarita del Gallo. It has mezcal with a spicy smoky but citrusy flavor. I loved it! Such a unique yet delicious combination. You HAVE to try the mole poblano. The flavor is like nothing else I've eaten and the fried sweet plantains were a perfect compliment. Without hesitation, my significant other ordered the tres leches and he said it was the best he has had and he ate the whole thing before I could get one bite in . Try Centro, you won't be disappointed. read more

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I come here as soon as they open because it gets crowded for lunch. The decor is thought out, the tables are unique, and just the feel of the place feels comfortable. We came here for lunch and we ordered the chicken enchiladas with refried black beans on the side and also ordered the special that they had which was chilaquiles with carne asada. They were both amazing and took the rest home. We also ordered the chips, salsa, and queso. Delicious flavor all around. Favorite place to come in Raleigh. They have great Latin food and I stop by when I can. Highly recommended for a date night or if you just want a great meal in Raleigh. read more

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It can be crowded because there's not a ton of seating, but the food is always amazing! If you have to wait for a seat, they do have some space around the bar to get a drink while you wait. Last time I went I got the "antigua margarita" described as being "booze forward". It was very nice and drinkable and not overly sweet (which can sometimes be a problem with margaritas). My friend and I split some guacamole which was fantastic. For dinner I had the enchiladas trio--cheese, chicken, and steak. The enchiladas were perfect! I think the chicken was my favorite but they were all 3 very good. It made for a very satisfying dinner. read more

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When I moved here 2 years ago my nephew came to visit and we were blown away by the food. This year the first place he wanted to return to was Centro. This place is rock solid! Sent friends there as well and they were equally impressed! Great energy, food/drinks and service make for a happy belly!!! read more

I went here on Halloween with my girlfriend, we had seen this place from the street a few weeks before and were immediately drawn in, the decorations and ambiance look so inviting. And so we decided we'd have dinner there, which we did. The ambiance was nice! The waiter seemed liked her mind was elsewhere. I usually enjoy recommendations as she notice we were struggling with our orders since it was our first time. It really sets a place apart when the staff is inviting, but rather I left feeling a bit like I was intruding on the premises. The food was great though! I got the carnitas tacos. Highly recommend that! I went upstairs to check out the bar and immediately was greeting by the bartender who was more than eager to make me comfortable and help me out. A total 180 from what was happening downstairs. read more

I first went here with a co-worker and HAD to come back with my partner so I could have the brisket Tostadas again - they're that good! That dish alone is worth the visit. The service is also exceptional and some of the other dishes are delicious as well. We enjoyed the margarita, plantains and cameron a la Veracruzana. The only downsides: I didn't enjoy the guacemole or los Carlos tacos as much as I'd hoped. read more

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Someone's abuela is in the back making homemade tortillas in this restaurant! I have never had Mexican food this good. Ever! Everything here is fresh and homemade. It's not like those chain run of the mill Mexican restaurants you are used to. Five stars are not a fair reflection of the quality of this restaurant. They deserve 10. The staff is super friendly. The food is out of this world. It's just like authentic. The Mojito was incredible! Everything is so fresh. I feel like I need to say the word fresh repeatedly. Fresh. Fresh. Just incredible, delicious food. I wish I could eat there every day. Dear owner/manager if you are reading this, my birthday is coming up soon. read more

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A funky little place with a laid back vibe in downtown Raleigh. This was my 2nd visit, and is obviously very popular. 1st visit, no reservations, had to wait a while. 2nd visit, made reservations, got there a bit early, so we had to wait(understandably, and not complaining!) We went upstairs to the bar and went for the pitcher of margaritas! Good idea on this sultry Sat. Eve...refreshingly clean and cooling. The guava was a nice touch that cuts the tequila bite a bit. We were seated at a booth in this cute little nook. Promptly ordered the salsa and guac. Sadly, the guac was no more. I guess that's what we get for a later dinner res. So, we had to settle for the salsa and queso. The salsa is bursting with a palate of flavors, queso was yummy(how can cheese not be!) and the chips are fresh and come to you warm. The menu has a great variety to choose, which can make it very difficult to pick just one. And they do switch it up which is both wonderful and sad. I was expecting to find something from my first visit, but it wasn't there...BUT...Everything we had was outstanding! So, good luck Our table had the fish tacos, brisket tostada and a Mexican version of shrimp and grits with poblano(don't remember the name and the website isn't up to date that I could find) Tacos, filled with fresh fish and piled with tasty cabbage, pick de Gallo and the most delicious cilantro mayo! And yes, it IS spicy and spectacular. I stole some for my brisket. The tostadas were stacked with a generous brisket serving and stacked with fresh kale and avocado (I would have liked more). The retried black beans were a nice change from the traditional. Fresh fried tostadas supported the whole Shabang....well, I truth be told, I used my fork. The shrimp dish would have been outstanding with fresher shrimp. It was stated that said plate would have been licked clean if certain others were not around. (Everything surrounding the shrimp- 5 star, shrimp- 3 star) The staff has been super awesome both times. Price point is right there. I would highly recommend Centro when you crave some not so pedestrian Mexican. read more

Stopped by here for lunch with a friend and was extremely satisfied. Their lunch menu is vast and has plenty of items under $10. I went with the chicken torta ($12) which was MASSIVE and delicious. It was served with rice and a salad. There was enough for me to take home. read more

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