Food was really good and the service was even better. It was my wife's birthday and she enjoyed the place a lot... I forgot the name of our server, he was so nice and helpful. my wife loved all the cocktails . The bartender saw her id and gave her a cocktail on the house as a birthday special. He is probably one of the best cocktail bartenders in triangle ... read more

A wonderful, authentic and beautifully decorated Mexican restaurant in Downtown Raleigh! This was my 3rd visit and once again I left satisfied with a full belly! Being vegetarian there were lesser options, but I guess this made it a bit easier to choose from? First off, the Margaritas and Tequilas are all fantastic and are the real deal. However I made sure not to load up too much on Chips, Salsa and Guac, tasty as they were. For the main plate I got the Frijoladas which is this gravy of various cooked beans and lentils poured over some cilantro rice (which by itself was delicious) but the whole dish was ridiculously good and flavorful. I had popped in with some friends and we all did keep room for dessert! We got 3 of them. The Tres Leches (duh!), the chile brownies (yum but didn't get much heat) and the capirotada (Mexican bread pudding with ice cream). Needless to say all plates, bowls and spoons were wiped and licked clean! If there was a negative, I would say the quantity of the Tres Leches could have been a bit bigger and topped with less whipped cream! But overall a great place for a great meal! Thank you Centro team! read more

Great place! Wonderful service and fun Mexican vibe inside in the colorful decor. Their full menu, served downstairs, has a lot of options but not too many to overwhelm you. They're very accommodating to vegetarians too - if you want to make something on the menu veg just ask them. I had the enchiladas and subbed out the meat for one with mushrooms and spinach, a second with a vegetable medley and kept the third black bean as is. Had the chips, guac and salsa to start for the table and added queso, and had their spicy/smoky margarita, which was delicious. read more

Centro - Enchiladas, $15. Substituted the 2 of 3 meat ones for veggies. - Mexican Near Me - Raleigh, North Carolina

This spot is a little pricey for what it offers and I'm never very impressed by the quality. There's a lot of hype and yet everything is terribly under-seasoned. The salsa is grand, though! But I had one overwhelmingly poor experience and likely won't return. Buckle up for a fun story, kids! Follow me back a few months ago... I went to lunch with a couple colleagues. We were seated at the four-top just beside the door. This wasn't ideal as we were often barricaded by waiting patrons. Further, we were right beside a service station. Viewing out to the street was nice, but otherwise, it was a less than ideal location. To the left of the front door as you walk in, against the wall, once hung a very large painting, several feet tall and a few feet wide, painted on plywood. Without much room for patrons to wait, nearly every group wound up leaning against this painting. Staff advised folks to back away from the decor every so often, and soon enough, we found out why. Following a brief respite from the hungry masses flooding in, the painting fell off the wall in this triumphant arc, pivoted off the service station (knocking a pitcher of water over in the process) and landed squarely on my coworker's head. Staff rushed over and the manager immediately asked us "What happened?" Like... a wood painting fell off the wall. Is that somehow unclear? Seriously. It's like you knew it wasn't securely fastened to the wall when you advised folks to back away from it. Has this happened before? I worry, man. My poor colleague was soaked, along with our table. He assured us that he was okay, and we kept an eye on him to make sure he really was, in fact, okay. After a while, the manager circled back and offered my colleague a drink. As we awkwardly wrapped up our meal, they informed us that our meals were on the house. They definitely tried to remedy the situation, but... your painting fell down during the lunch rush and bopped a patron on the head. I feel like that merits more, like a formal, overdone, excessive apology or something. Literally, anything more than the obvious "We'll cover your meals." Right? I dunno. This just seemed like a big deal (again, this painting is on wood, my friends) and I felt like they treated this as any respectable restaurant would respond to the average customer complaints. Fear not, though. Last time I passed by, the painting was resting squarely on the floor, right where they left it after pulling it off my colleague. I'm not saying this is a standard scenario by any means... but, it's definitely colored my view of Centro henceforth. The food isn't impressive. The drinks are meh. I'd likely go back if not for this weird circumstance. But even now, months later, I feel super weird about the immediate response we got. I just can't shake it. TL;DR: Not great, but if you have to go, bring a helmet. Just in case. read more

We love this place. Never had a bad meal or drink here. It is usually crowded but they have a nice bar area you can eat at. Today we had Brunch Tortas which I highly recommend... read more

Centro - Brunch Torta - Mexican Near Me - Raleigh, North Carolina

Great food, fun atmosphere, friendly staff. I've been to Centro several times and have had food from the restaurant at events around the triangle. The flavors are thoroughly thought through using fresh ingredients. The flavors are on point with enough spice to taste while preserving the fresh flavors of the ingredients. This isn't a 'cheap' mexican place - it's not even close to what you typically expect from a restaurant bearing the 'mexican' tag. Sure - the flavors are from south of the border, but you're not left feeling gross after eating here. The enchiladas are great and the brunch is incredible. I've never been even slightly disappointed with anything I've eaten here. Good portions and always a nice helping of fresh cilantro and/or lime with most dishes to provide a fresh pop to the flavors of the food. I recently ate a corn dish in a broth at an event that was incredible. I'm not sure if this dish is on the menu but it should be. The number charity events I've attended in the Triangle that have featured donations from Centro (food/drink/live chefs) is impressive and I feel that the owners of Centro seem to have huge hearts and a desire to share comfort through their food. When I see a restaurant support local causes, it makes me want to support the restaurant more. Corporately owned restaurants can't compare to the kindness of local gems like this. I will definitely be back and look forward to my next trip to Centro. read more

Excellent Mexican lunch at Centro! The salad with steak was delicious, the dressing sublime! One could taste the fact this place uses the best local organic ingredients. The guacamole was amazing and the service brilliant. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED. read more

Centro - Mexican Near Me - Raleigh, North Carolina

I went for a friend's birthday yesterday. The food was really good. I had the veggie tacos (I do eat meat, but the veggie taco fillings looked so good I couldn't resist) and they were so good. The flavor was amazing and although I love my meat I totally forgot there was no meat. Although it comes with refried black beans I was able to substitute for whole black beans. I do wish the bean and rice portions were a little bigger, but the portions were probably what they should be I'm just greedy. PAY ATTENTION TO THE MENU. Chips and salsa are not free like at most Mexican restaurants, but the salsa is so good and flavorable and our server split the cost among the whole party, but don't be surprised when you see you are charged. Overall great experience and I will be back. read more

As my 3rd trip here the policy is to return your cash payment without your coins. ;(

Where are you?? I miss you!!! This is my favorite lunch spot in Raleigh. Perfect amount of food and the quality is so consistent. The weekend brunch is delicious too. Delicious food, nice staff. Please come back! I almost always order the enchiladas-one steak, one chicken with black beans. The guac is divine. Corn pancakes are to die for. Just come back. I love you. read more

My husband and I went to Centro for our anniversary. We loved the music, atmosphere and most of all the drinks and food. To give you a complete review, let me tell you what we ordered. Spicy Margarita (don't remember the name) - FABULOUS. So delicious and flavorful. Could taste the Alcohol but not overwhelming. Amazing. CHIPS Y SALSA CON GUACAMOLE - This was one of 2 set backs of the night. Earning the place 4 stars and not 5. The guac was pretty bland, literally tasted like bag guac. I had to ask for salt, pepper and lemon to make it palatable. What the server should have done was take it off the ticket as we had tried to eat only 1/3 before we requested the above items. ENCHILADAS DE LA FAMILIA - YUMMMMMM! only comment from hubby was that there was a lot of cream on these. But they were wonderful. TORTAS DE PAPA & CALABAZA - seriously food of the gods. LOVED this dish. Absolutely delicious. I really loved the sauce and the portion size. Perfect. TACOS de PESCADO - This was delicious... BUT SUPER SPICY. This should have a warning. I'm not a sensitive person to spice, but this was ridiculously spicy. I tasted the flavors but was overwhelmed by the way my mouth was on fire. Definitely recommend a visit! read more

Ouch! Don't believe the two $$ at the top of this page - that's wrong. Went last week for a few drinks before a concert. I was excited to try Centro in Raleigh but I was stupid, I just didn't look at the prices. It's almost funny, we got six cocktails and a couple beers, maybe two chips/salsa (aren't those usually free?!?) and one lackluster "Tacos del Sur" dish for my gf who had not eaten. The bill was north of ONE HUNDRED AND FIFTY DOLLARS after tip (I don't penalize the waitstaff for crazy prices). The food was ok but I'll never go back, I feel taken advantage of. read more

Centro - Centro - yikes! - Mexican Near Me - Raleigh, North Carolina

Food, service, and ambiance were impeccable. Food had nice sized portions and very reasonably priced. Chilaquiles and stuffed poblano peppers (our brunch choices) were delicious and the perfect spice level. As an out-of-towner, my only regret is now I will dream of eating here again and be faced with an eight hour drive. read more

Centro - Mexican Near Me - Raleigh, North Carolina

Obsessed with this place- one of the best brunch spots in Raleigh! Mezcal and margs here are delicious and there are a lot of traditional dishes that are yummm. Get here a little early before the dinner rush! read more

Centro brunch! Just do it! Reminder they are closed Sunday though so come here for your Saturday brunch plans. My husband and I started with a passionfruit mimosa and a bloody Maria. I really enjoyed the passionfruit it was a nice break from orange. The bloody Maria was made with tequila instead of vodka, which my husband loves, but he said he would stick with a traditional Bloody Mary next time. We shared 3 meals. First up was the pankecas de maiz. This was probably our least favorite only because it was not that exciting but the flavors were still good. I think a kid would like it. I think I also need to accept I just want a deep fried corn fritter whenever I read something like this, which is more batter based. The El Zarape with bacon was our second shared plate. This had great flavor. I am not always the biggest fan of omelets but this one impressed me. And it comes with their delicious side salad - which I also do not typically eat but the dressing is out of this world. Lastly, my favorite dish. I have been here once before with girlfriends and this is what I got. The Frieda y Diego. Sweet potato arepas topped with eggs and 2 different hot salsas, plus that side salad. Heaven! If you like spicy, do yourself a favor and order the Frieda y Diego, it's my favorite item on the menu! read more

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I just have to say up front that this is one of my favorite restaurants and we have been here umpteen times. Yep, that is a real number. My favorite things at Dos Taquitos are the Mojitos and the Chilaquiles. The other drinks are great too, but I dream of these Mojitos. I think the Chilquiles are only available on Saturdays when they offer the brunch menu. I've been pleased with everything I have eaten at Dos Taquitos. This isn't your run of the mill Mexican, so if you are craving a something covered in cheese with a side of tan beans and orange rice, this ain't your place. I love the decor - a visit to the Ladies room is definitely fun and I can't say that about most restaurant bathrooms. The atmosphere is festive and the staff generally hustles to get us seated and fed. This a real Raleigh gem! read more

I'm from a land of overpriced but delicious faux-Mexican food, so perhaps that colors my opinion of Dos Taquitos. The decor seeks to evoke a colorful Kohlo or Rivera and that makes for a pretty cool atmosphere. And then the tables actually have paintings from Frida and Diego on them....A classy tribute. I should have turned around and left when I saw that hipsters were going to be taking my order. I should have requested that we go to the place unabashedly waving a Mexican flag around the corner. But I didn't. And I ordered the Dos Tacos Tacos and an horchata. I was shocked to find myself PAYING for chips and Salsa (where am I? who pays for chips and salsa?) and choosing between rice and beans to have with my tacos. Somehow lunch in Raleigh was $12. For two tacos. Dos tacos, even. Seriously? The food was mediocre to say the least. I will cop to the fact that I'm a vegetarian, so I can't speak to how awesome their minced cow or whatever is. But still, there are valuable lessons to be learned from how they treat the least of their customers. The tacos were filled with carrots, eggplant, and peppers. How about, for $7, giving me some F-ing mushrooms? And why aren't beans included in the taco? The tacos were pretty flavorless. I would recommend that the chefs consider purchasing those 79 cent taco seasoning packets from Food Lion. It would improve your tacos a great deal. I did appreciate the avocados. And my $3 horchata was the worst horchata I've ever had (and I've had quite a few). It was too sweet and too chalky - none of the subtle flavors or refreshing-ness that an horchata ought to be. Not a good sign that it was brown. Should have aborted that plan when the hipster pulled the pitcher from under the counter. Tried a bite of the boyfriend's Torta. It was delicious because of the spicy slaw. They could package that shiz and sell it. They should perhaps turn to that business model and abandon the restaurant. read more

One of the best new brunches I've had! The Pankecas de Maiz are listed as a twist on a Colombian fave. To me, it was a delicious marriage of Mexican food and traditional brunch: corn cakes that are sweet, sprinkled with cheese, perfectly sized, and don't have the side effect of immediate-expansion-within-the-stomach that I feel normal pancakes often cause. The serving of spicy sausage drizzled in maple syrup paired perfectly. Also, michelada. Try it. I got an intro to this drink in Texas -- but, frankly, I feel like NC did it better! Kicks like a Bloody Mary, but has some cerveza. Few better ways to spend a Saturday morning... read more

This is an amazing little restaurant. Absolutely great service from Christina tonight and from another server the last time that I came there. Either way the service is always great from the hostess to the servers to the kitchen who works fast and brings out the food quickly. The food is very good. I always start with chips and cheese and pico. The chips are always warm and I love a good cheese dip. I then ordered the salmon verde which is delicious as well. It comes with zucchini and mash potatoes and a cilantro based topping that is a very much comfort food for me. I would recommend this place to anyone who likes a good meal in a comfortable little spot to eat in downtown Raleigh. I can't believe It. I came in and the menu was a little different but even better! The salmon with Mediterranean tomato based sauce was maybe the best I have ever had! Will definitely be back read more

I hate green peppers. Completely hate them. I hate the way they smell, I hate the way they taste, and when I see them in stores or on food, I immediately get angry and want them to go away. Hate hate hate. Such a strong word. Why am I telling you this? Why do you care? I'll tell you why, my friend. I came to Dos Taquitos Centro a curious young woman. I ordered the vegetarian burrito, which sounded super yums. I did not realize there were green peppers on it, because I skimmed the ingredients and hadn't eaten all day. BUT! It was freakin' delicious. I don't know how they did it, but I didn't (well really couldn't since there was cheese involved and I didn't want to lose my precious cheese) care to pick them off because I finally realized that, when cooked right, green peppers can add to a wonderful mixture of flavors. What's funny is, when I went to the Dos Taquitos off Creedmoor a few years ago, I was less than impressed (with the food. The decor is amazing and I want them to redo my basement). My fateful afternoon spent at Dos Taquitos Centro has left me wondering when I will have the chance to go back. Also, the black beans on the side in a tortilla cup? IT IS THE GREATEST INVENTION OF ALL TIME. read more

Business meeting in Raleigh, NC. I wanted to take the team out to dinner spend a little quality time together, being that we work so hard all week. Michelle recommended Centro. I'm glad she did! The place is quaint, authentic latin cuisine,. Salsa, Guacamole and chips we couldn't get enough. The tamale appetizer was the lightest non greasy tamale I've ever eaten. I'd rate the red sangria as one of the more memorable sangria's. I make sangria at home, this definitely piqued my interest . You must get the Lamb dish, Amazing! fell right off the bone into an amazing sause ladled over fresh corn tortillas. The owner is in the restaurant supervising everything and came buy the table a number of times to check on us. She even gave us an after dinner aperitif , on the house! Michelle-you should be a yelper, you know how to pick a restaurant! Thanks! read more

This is a really good place to go to. Went here on a Saturday night, it was great. You can't go wrong with any of their food with them having a variety to choose from makes it all the more better. Service was great, ambiance of the place was perfect with candles and beautiful decor. Highly recommend especially for a date night. read more

From outside the restaurant looks like a typical sidewalk cafe kind of thing. Bright colors, tables out front, some decor in the windows, etc. It's not until you walk in the front door when you get the full effect. There are incredible paintings and pieces of art all over. Super colorful but far from overwhelming. There's a lot going on in the decor but it's interesting and not annoying. We arrived right as they opened (11:00AM) and got a little table in the back middle. Had a great view of the majority of the dining area and all of the designs, paintings, etc. We were attended to immediately. Were walked to our table and our server was there with water & menus in less than 30 seconds. Started off with a passion fruit Mimosa and a Palomito (which both looked as good as they tasted) with chips and salsa on the side. The salsa was just the way I like it. Spicy hot but not so much that it ruins the taste of the other ingredients and not super chunky either. My husband agreed and said it's exactly the way he likes his salsa too! For our main meal, he had the Calentado which was just the comfort food he had been craving. I had the Chilaquiles con Huevos Ahogados with steak & it was out of this world!! Such a large portion too. They definitely don't skimp you on food. They want you to leave full & happy. The steak was cooked perfectly and the tomatillo salsa verde was fantastic!! During the entire course of the meal, employees kept stopping to check on us & make sure everything was going ok. I believe (not 100%) that the owner even checked on us. Such personal service! Everyone was so nice! I especially loved when the gentleman stopped to compliment me on how I cut my poached eggs before taking a photo. Things like that make me feel at home and comfortable in a restaurant. Our server (I'm so sorry I forgot your name but we were your first table on 5/4) was so genuinely nice, polite, efficient, and down to earth. She knew about the menu items and drinks and was able to answer any questions we had. She was extremely attentive but didn't hover about all creepy style. Wow, this review turned out to be a lot longer than I expected. In summation, definitely go to Centro for brunch on Saturdays, have some cocktails, and prepare to take your taste buds on a wild ride!!! read more

I'll be brief so you'll have more time to decide where else to go for Mexican. Our visit to Dos Taquitos Centro was disappointing at best. Let me explain. My husband and I had been to the original Dos Taquitos on Creedmoor Road, Raleigh a couple of times and loved the food, the atmosphere and the full dining experience. We expected the same here, and in fact had read rave reviews about the new Dos Taquitos downtown. We lined up a babysitter (not an easy task) and called ahead to reserve a table (they have call ahead seating) to minimize our wait time. We got to the restaurant, checked in with the hostess, and she said that there would still be a wait. She pointed in the general direction of the back of the restaurant and said we could get drinks at the bar. There was not one square inch of space at the bar to sit, stand or even order a drink, in addition to being right next to the kitchen where waitstaff were coming in and out. So we headed outside to the sidewalk to wait (we discovered as we were leaving the restaurant after our meal that we could have ordered drinks and brought them outside to drink while we waited for a table, but the hostess did not inform us of this, so we waited for 30 minutes without much to do except get in the way of the diners eating on the "patio"). The location of our table was the first of many issues that we can safely say contributed to the worst dining experience we have ever had. It was a small, narrow table for 2 positioned in the middle of 2 rows of tables and booths to our right and left, which meant that there were paths to both our right and left where patrons, kids, waitstaff, hostesses and busboys walked, ran, skipped and brushed by us incessantly, bumping our elbows, leaning over us to get by and otherwise invading our space from the beginning of our meal to the end. It was like a sitcom - incredulous that the restaurant would attempt to have tables in a space that needed to be reserved for foot traffic. Wow, I said I would make this short. Sorry. But there's more. The waitress - cool. Not in the "hip, happenin' and accommodating" way, but just aloof. Neglected to bring us chips and salsa. Brought us our drinks at least 10 minutes after we ordered them. Took our order and got it right, but once food was delivered, she disappeared. Didn't fill our water glasses. Where oh where had our waitress gone? It was frustrating, especially while waiting for our drinks and meals, because we were supposed to get chips/salsa and couldn't hunt her down to request that she bring them. Our meals. Hmmm. The whole experience was so unpleasant that I don't remember what I ordered. Oh yes, that's right - steak tacos. They were delicious!!!! But I was so disappointed and angry about the experience thus far that I could not WAIT to get out of there and go home. In a way, I wish that the food had been terrible, so that I would be justified in deciding never to go back. But that is the clincher (and why I graced the review with 2 stars). The food was excellent. Makes it hard to say that I will not return, because I am a sucker for good food. But considering everything about the experience, It is not worth another try for me. Side note: we voiced our concerns about our experience (especially the positioning of the table as inappropriate for dining) to the manager. She listened, said that there was nothing they could do, and that was it. There are so many great Mexican restaurants in Raleigh. We have lots of others to choose from, so all is well. read more

This restaurant is unlike any other Hispanic restaurant I have ever been to. When I opened the menu I was nervous that I didn't find some of my favorite classics on the menu, but there were a lot of great options. I went for the steak tacos, and with my first bite I knew I made the right decision. Centro didn't give me an outlandish portion (which I missed), and didn't slather the plate with a bean and rice mixture. They gave an elegant, top-notch taco duo. These tacos were some of the best I've ever had. The service was very quick and responsive, and the restaurant had empty seats the whole time we were there even though it was a Friday night. Whenever I go back to Raleigh, I make it a priority to stop by! read more

DTC is one of my favorite restaurants in Raleigh. They serve interesting, delicious takes on traditional Mexican/Latin American dishes, combined with a wink and a nod to the American South. See, for example, the chili sureno, a poblano pepper stuffed with grits and topped with shrimp. The obligatory chips and salsa are made to order. The guacamole is always fresh and delicious - I love the slivers of radish it comes with. And if you like heat, be sure to ask your server for some of the habanero salsa - hot like fiya! And of course, wash it all down with one of their amazing margaritas or other specialty cocktails. I'm a fan of the caipirinha. DTC uses a lot of locally-sourced ingredients, and the staff is great, though the service can be a bit slow. I wish they would accept reservations, because it can be really hard to get in on a weekend night. But for food this good, it's always worth the wait. read more

Great place ! Great service ! Great food! I ORDERED FRIDA AND DIEGO AND ITS DELICIOUS. The guy that was serving us was awesome. It's a delicious authentic Mexican taste. read more

Centro - Great food! FRIDA AND DIEGO - Mexican Near Me - Raleigh, North Carolina

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Based on my one-time dining experience, I can't quite see the high reviews for Centro. Basically I thought it was ok, and just ok. I have been to Dos Taquitos in N. Raleigh and was really impressed so had very high standards for the downtown location. It's a little small and cramped, but I could look past that if the food was super delish. I ordered the steak tacos. I prefer the corn tortillas, but these were flour. The tacos didn't have a tremendous amount of flavor in my opinion. I thought they were pretty bland. They needed some hot sauce or salsa to go with them. Some shredded lettuce would have been nice too. The beans and rice were pretty tasty. The sides probably actually out-shone the tacos in fact. Centro is pretty pricey for Mexican. I know it is more gourmet than your typical Mexican place, but still, I am used to getting more bang for your buck for Mexican. Despite my tepid review of Centro, I would give them another try. Service was very good and friendly, and it is an electric interesting décor as with the N. Raleigh location. read more

The best Mexican food you can find in Raleigh! This is a small place, but boasts a BIG personality, both in the atmosphere/decor and from the kitchen. When I walk in, I feel like I am eating in an outdoor alley, with all of the crazy, over the top and colorful decor. At the same time, the dimly lit room is perfect for a date night dinner. We ordered a Mojito (for me) and flight of Tequila (for the hubs) to go with our Guacamole and Tamales starters. The chips are clearly homemade and served warm, which I love. The salsa is just spicy enough and the Guac, although a small portion is delicious and plenty. For our entrees, I ordered the Steak Tacos. They come with fresh Pico de Gallo and Avocado, which coupled with the spicy flavorings in the steak, is a perfect match. This dish is served with Cilantro Lime rice and refried black beans...yum! Matt ordered the Chilaquiles Verdes con Borrego en Barbacoa (yeah, try to pronounce that one, correctly). It's stewed lamb (leg) over a creamy sauce and chilaquiles with roasted red peppers. It was out of this world! I seriously have never had tastier lamb anywhere! We finished the meal off with the Churros, Mexican doughnuts with sugar and cinnamon. The whole meal was perfect. read more

I don't like Raleigh, but I do like this restaurant. It was a highlight of a work trip last week. My only complaint is that it serves soda in cans, rather than fountain style, and the glasses could have been cleaner. The food and people, however, are wonderful. As is the colorful and artsy decor. I have no clue what truly authentic Mexican food is like, but my guess is that this place has it. Whether that's correct or not, I was highly impressed. I wouldn't go if I was expecting typical American Mexican food, but as an experience of really thoughtful, unique Mexican, this is great. read more

Everything was absolutely delicious! I'm not a good judge of what's authentic when it comes to Mexican cuisine so I won't have much to say in that regard. I had the Queso Fundido (yummy! I shared... a little :P) and the Enchiladas de Puebla (very good) although I wasn't able to finish much of my entree as I... had not shared my appetizer because it was that good. The enchiladas were still great the next day though, haha. Somehow I was able to finish the flan though. AND IT WAS WELL WORTH IT. :D (Also, their mojitos are crazy delish; the best I've ever had) The decor was interesting and went well with the ambiance. There's something a little homey but classy, colorful and fun about the place. * They also make a point to use local and organic ingredients whenever possible so that's a huge plus in my eyes. /update 6/17: dropped a star due to some bland dishes and unfortunate service. read more

Love the outdoor patio. We went for dinner and shared a bunch of things on the menu. Everything was amazing. The drinks were really different and tasted amazing. Going to try for brunch next time. read more

We arrived at 6:30pm on a Friday Night. Even though we were one of the first parties to arrive, we were told to stand the very small, tight bar area for a few minutes until the table got ready, which was a little awkward. Apparently this is because the place is so small they have to carefully plan the table configurations as people arrive. By 7:00 the place was PACKED!! Packed as in people bumping into you while you sit at your table. Packed as in keep your feet under your table and arms at your sides at all times. And LOUD... Loud as in just give up talking to the person across and over one chair from you. Either save your comment til after dinner or yell to get your voice across the table. Oh, and bring your Readers. The Menu type is SO SMALL and the place is SO DARK that reading the menu is challenging. Amongst all this claustrophobic-ness, the waiter spilled my BF's Corona into his lap by tipping it over on the table when the food was brought out. He apologized, but no kind offer was given to bring a fresh beer or a check adjustment. Not necessary of course, but would have been nice. Since the wait-staff was just a hair shy of being in complete chaos, any special attention would have been a surprise. Now, some folks may thrive on this type of hustle and bustle and fast, busy downtown nightlife. But I'm so glad I didn't bring my folks here as they would have been miserable. I did bring my 19 & 21 year old "kids" and as much as we love great Mexican food, the overall experience for all of us was very uncomfortable, and overshadowed the very good food. read more

¡Gracias a Dios! Real Tacos in Raleigh! Stay away, this place is mine. Cripes, there were literally 15 people in line ( I counted) waiting to be seated/ order at lunchtime but the food passing me on its way to its rightful owner while I waited in line looked and smelled so amazing that I patiently and obediently waited. This place is cute as hell, well-run and doing some amazing things with quickie Mexican. I ordered the fresh grouper tacos for my compadre, and got the Wheat Up (Veggie Burrito) for myself. Both were great, but I watched enviously as a woman at the table next to me bit into her gordita- I'll be trying that next time. Full bar and they have a great dinner menu too. I'd give 4.5 stars if rigid old Yelp would let me. read more

Well, this place has some of the best chips and salsa with guac I've probably ever had. The tacos were fantastic as well. I ordered the halibut fish tacos (It's based off of the catch of the day) and I was thoroughly satisfied with my order, even if it was a bit too spicy for my taste. Now as great as the food was, it does have some downsides. The restaurant was empty when a friend and I came by to visit after artsplosure. There were plenty of empty tables nearby but for whatever reason they placed a random couple right next to us. It was strange but we quickly forgot they were there until the manager comes by and asks if they were being annoyed by my friend and I talking so much. He tried to say it in a low voice so I wouldn't hear him but he wasn't all that great at whispering. I normally don't care about stuff like that, but we were sitting there first? Why would you make it seem like WE were ruining their dining experience with our talking? Why not just sit them at a different table further away from us? That part didn't make much sense and it's the reason why I give them 3/5 stars instead of 5. The people sitting next to us were great and didn't have a problem with it, but the management was slightly offensive. Regardless, the food here is definitely tasty and worth checking out. read more

I haven't been back to eat since the pandemic. Last Friday, my husband and I went back and ordered our favorite - the enchiladas! If you've never been and/or gotten their enchiladas .. you are missing out!!! They are DELICIOUS! They tasted as good as we remembered them before Covid. Ugh! Just typing this up is making me hungry for more! You will be addicted! Also, their queso dip is soooooooo good. Get you some with their chips. You can thank me later. read more

I haven't actually come for a real meal here yet but from what I have experienced it's good. I come on Wednesday evenings for their margarita run club. It starts at 6 and afterwards they have a $5 taco bar and $5 margaritas as well as $3 beer. The run goes through the old Oakwood neighborhood which provides a lot of cool houses to look at. Everyone at the run is very nice! The taco bar is yummy. Chips, salsa, fresh tortillas, and nicely seasoned chicken. There is also a salad with spinach and avocado which is delicious. My only complaint is the plates are to small. I haven't tried the margaritas but they are freshly made and look good. I have heard they are as well. If this is any indication of the rest of their food then I would highly suggest it. This is a great run with super friendly people and good food! read more

This is my kinda place. Went for lunch with a friend and sat at the bar. Had a chance to chat with the owner who is very friendly and lively. I like that the lunch menu is set-up for speedy service (you can even order on-line from their website), though still taking great pride in using local & organic ingredients. Counter service is offered at lunch and being kind of quirky they give you a stuffed toy to place on your table so they know where to bring your food. We had a Smurf =). I love Smurfs! My friend has been several times for lunch and dinner and recommended the Sopa De Pollo: Chicken broth with diced white meat, yellow rice, pico de gallo, avocados and fresh cilantro. The broth was perfectly flavored and with everything in it could have been a meal in itself. I also tried the Tacos: Two grilled flour tortillas, stuffed with Chihuahua cheese, pico de gallo, avocado and your choice of steak, chicken or veggies. Served with rice, beans, or spicy slaw. Based on the recommendation of the owner I had one chicken, one with steak and the spicy slaw. I find it hard to review tacos as there are just so many amazing places to get them. These were not the best i've had but were still very good. My friend ordered the Tortas of which I had a bite, very good. He also ordered the Horchata: Chufas, rice water, cinnamon and sugar - a delicious and popular Mexican drink, it was so tasty and very refreshing, I wish I had ordered one to go but I was too full. I will definitely have this place on my radar for my next dinner out in Raleigh and will absolutely be back for more soup and slaw. I loved the decor, lot's of Mexican pottery and art and pictures of patrons on the wall having a swell time. It's very fun and festive. read more

Geez, 17 yrs in Raleigh and I FINALLY made it over to Dos Taquitos Centro (ok, they haven't been open for that long, but they have been on my bucket list for FAR too long)! This place has ambience coming out of the woodwork! LOVE the quirky design and the food wasn't half bad either. I will say it's a little pricey for mexican, but hey, when in Rome (I mean downtown Raleigh). We had the Steak Tacos and the Enchiladas. Both quite good. The star of the show is the cilantro rice! OMG, I want in buckets and to take home! Seriously, sooo good. I'm not a huge black/refried bean fan, but there's were yummy yum yum. My only tinsy complaint was that $6 guacamole was too small for the money. I was expecting Jibarra quantity. But, it was tastey enough. Oh, and during the winter it is freaking cold if you sit near the door. I'll be back. I promise. Ok, eventually. read more

I went on a Taste Carolina Food Tour and we stopped by this restaurant. They served us chilaquiles rancheros, which was excellente! Basically what it was is a tortilla with steak on top, sour cream and some sort of pepper making it a lingering heat on your tongue. I LOVED IT. We also had a hibiscus drink, which was tart--reminded me of cranberry juice but not quite that tart. I would definitely go back to this place for this dish again. I also liked the decor. read more