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    El Centro

    3.3 (1.4k reviews)
    Updated over 3 months ago

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    EL CENTRO ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Moderate noise
    Casual
    Good for dancing
    Good for kids

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    Recommended Reviews - El Centro

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    Bottomless Brunch Plates
    Britney B.

    Decided to visit El Centro for their bottomless brunch to celebrate a friend's birthday. I'm not much of a drinker, but my friends fully embraced the endless mimosas--cheers to them! The menu is all served tapas-style (small plates), which I absolutely loved because it meant trying a bit of everything. Our server took the lead and started ordering straight off the menu for us, which was fun... until I realized they skipped a few dishes I had my eye on, like the chilaquiles and enchiladas. Major bummer! We did ask for the chilaquiles specifically, but instead, dessert showed up. Oh well, next time, I guess! The restaurant also has a rooftop, which is a great touch, so there's plenty of seating. That said, if you're walking in for brunch on a weekend, prepare for a wait--reservations are a lifesaver. While the food itself was just okay, the lively vibe and cool ambiance totally made up for it. Great spot for a fun outing, even if a few menu items slipped through the cracks!

    Skull painting at el Centro
    Sehar M.

    I have been to el Centro before and loved it. Most recent, I went there for a skull painting event in celebration of dia de los muertos and loved it. They had these acrylic paints and ceramic skulls to paint that we could take home afterwards. The service was wonderful and they readily offered us basics like chips beyond the buffer they provided to us. With the ticket, they also had free food, which was wonderful and always available. I can't wait to come back to this event hopefully next year!

    Strawberry margarita
    Mydalya C.

    Popped in on a Sunday and not quite hungry enough for a bottomless brunch, but sat at the bar for a drink and tacos. My strawberry marg left much to be desired and I had to keep stirring it to keep it from separating. I did not finish the drink, but a friendly bar neighbor ordered me a new grilled pineapple marg and it did not disappoint! The shrimp tacos were absolutely delish! No complaints there. I did not have the guacamole but did notice that it looked fresh and made in house! It's very lively atmosphere and they have a rooftop patio and bar option as well. I'll definitely come back to try out other dishes and drinks.

    Mexican Rice (comes with Pork Shank Carnitas)
    Kristen H.

    El Centro is a lively, multi-floor Mexican eatery known for its buzzy ambiance, attentive staff, and fun Tex-Mex menu. Located in a busy part of town, it's no surprise that even by 6:45pm on a Saturday night, the place was starting to fill up quickly. If you're dining solo, you can easily grab a spot at one of their bars or sit outside, though for groups, reserving a table is definitely recommended. I visited El Centro to order takeout using the Nosh'd app, which offers great discounts for college students with an .edu email (I scored $16 off on my $16+ purchase). The process couldn't have been smoother--I ordered my meal through the app, added a tip, and my discounts applied automatically. In under 10 minutes, my food was ready, which was especially impressive given how busy the place was. The menu at El Centro has a little something for everyone: salads, tacos, fajitas, and a variety of appetizers/dips like Pork Belly Guacamole, which I'll definitely try on my next visit. For this meal, I went with the Pork Shank Carnitas ($24), which came with a "salsa trio, refried beans, Mexican rice, and corn tortillas." I was pleasantly surprised by the generous portion sizes--especially the chips and salsa they included, enough for 3-4 people! The chips were crispy and light, not too oily, and the smoky salsa was delicious and refreshing. As for the main course, the pork shank was a showstopper. It was rich, fatty, and so tender that parts of it practically fell off the bone. The corn tortillas it came with were a beautiful bluish-purple color with nice char marks, but they were a bit dry and tended to fall apart when I tried to make tacos. The refried beans were well-seasoned and hearty, topped with pickled vegetables that added a great crunch and acidity. The Mexican rice on the side was classic and enjoyable, though I know not everyone will appreciate the vegetable garnish. The salsa trio added a fun element to the meal--each one was unique and flavorful. The salsa verde was bright and refreshing, the orange salsa had a subtle red-pepper kick, and the thick, creamy salsa (with little black dots) was unlike anything I've tried before. Overall, this was a filling, hearty meal that I couldn't even finish, and at $24, it was an excellent value for the portion size and quality. El Centro impressed me with its efficient takeout service and great food, and I'm definitely planning to return for an in-person dining experience to sample their drinks and appetizers. Whether you're grabbing a quick bite at the bar or settling in for a night with friends, this place offers a solid meal and a fun atmosphere--well worth checking out!

    Nessa R.

    Brunch Tapas style! It's a win in my book! Food was so good! Almost forgot to review this place! Ambiance is everything! Small but quaint! Service was excellent! Food is really amazing! Def recommend! Definitely cheaper to pay the one price to eat everything!!!!! So YUMMY

    Angelina R.

    Best guacamole I have had in a long time!! A lot of places do not put enough salt or lime... some not enough of either. This place made it spot on! They make it fresh so I was able to get it without onions and they offer mild medium or spicy. We ordered medium and it came out perfectly. Very fresh!! The chicken enchiladas were really good! I liked the yellow rice and beans. Everything had good flavor and the portions were good. Service was excellent! Place is really nice! Decor felt so nice. It's looking a bit like fall in there, pretty. My friend got the taco mix and he liked them. His favorite was the shrimp taco. They do not have coconut mojitos but worked with me and maybe the traditional mojito with Malibu rum so I had some coconut flavor in there. It was very delicious!! Fair prices and clean bathrooms! Oh and their salsa verde is delicious! U ordered a side for my enchiladas.

    Carne Asada, black beans and cheese enchilada.
    Jerry D.

    First time in DC... ended up in Georgetown and saw this place. Walked in right before the rain... they took us right in and they were busy! Sat down and was greeted by the nicest waitress's. They were both very nice. Now the for the food, we ordered the carne asada plate, one of the best I have ever tasted. I was looking forward to eating my ladies left overs... but nope, she ate it all! She never does that! If you're in the area, stop on by... very good food and great staff!

    Omg this may have been one of the best bottomless brunches I have been to. We went for a friends birthday and it was so much fun ! The service was great very nice and friendly waiter. The resturant was packed but you weren't super close to other parties which was great honestly. Bottomless drinks from mimosas to margaritas to spiked agua Fresca and they were all soooooo good omg. The food I would just recommend getting everything I don't like waffles but the best waffles I've ever had!!! This says a lot they were so perfect with a nice bite size chicken nugget perfection ! All the tacos were great ! The ceviche was different I love the raw fish version and this was a sweet shrimp one still good though ! I can't remember the name but they're similar to nachos and they were a fan favorite with everyone

    Chipotle Chicken Waffle**
    Lindsey M.

    Do not recommend for Sunday brunch. Do not recommend the bottomless brunch option. Do not recommend the chicken and waffles. Chicken was over cooked and hard. Only item I recommend is traditional guacamole. Staff was friendly and courteous. But they are short handed and we had to wait in water refills and other items from our waiter. Other members in our group; Staff mentioned you receive 4 tacos and you only get 3 tacos. We do not recommend the tacos'. Do not eat rice and beans. It is nice to be able to eat outside on the Patio, they have a beautiful outdoor seating. Only order the traditional guacamole.

    Al pastor taco (bottom left), crispy shrimp taco (bottom right), crispy fish taco (top)
    Tara B.

    I was excited to try this spot because I always passed it walking in georgetown and it had such a cute interior. The inside of the restaurant gives bar vibes, similar to a night club however their food was more elevated than the environment. Service was quick and friendly. The shank was soooo good and probably my favorite. The fried were also one of my fav sides. Crispy fish taco - you need it.

    Birria Arepa**
    Jessica D.

    Good food and nice location. We sat outside and tried the margs - they were deceivingly strong! Our server was nice but the hostesses weren't so much. I tried the birria arepa - I thought it was delicious. Would come back to try some more items.

    Julie S.

    Arrived here after seeing the flowers outside to enjoy a yummy brunch. Bottomless mimosas were flowing and the food was also good. I sat upstairs at the bar and the servers were busy on a Summer Sunday afternoon, but attentive to me. While it was loud, it was crowded so it didn't surprise me. Definitely recommend when in Georgetown.

    Strawberry Margarita
    Rebecca P.

    Got the huevos rancheros and frozen strawberry marg and both were so yummy! The tables were a little wobbly but the decor was so cute! And our waitress Nicole was so nice!

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    1 year ago

    Extraordinarily tasty, high quaintly ingredients and friendly, down to earth service! We will be back for sure. Loved it.

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    Page 2 of 35

    El Centro Reviews in Other Languages

    Ask the Community - El Centro

    If you go to brunch with a group of people, can 1 person order the bottomless brunch for $35 and everyone at the table can get bottomless food and drinks?

    LOL. No.

    How long is their kitchen open on late nights?

    I believe they are open until 3 am today. Usually depend how busy they are. Call them and they can tell you if 3 will be the time to close today for example.

    View All 4 Questions

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    The Crown & Crow

    4.5(182 reviews)
    1.7 miLogan Circle, Downtown
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    Deliciousness - 3/5 Happiness -5/5…read more This place is for drinkers as it has no food, so if you want to lift an ale (and go out for dinner before or after, or bring food in with you), this is the place to be. They have a large beer, wine, and liquor list (although not nearly as many English beers as I expected from a place called Crown & Crow). I won't deny that I wasn't a fan of either of the mixed cocktails I had, with both (including strangely a smoky drink) being too sweet. But the beer was expertly poured and the wine was a very generous serving. The prices are also more than reasonable, which is great for a DC bar. But what really elevates this place is the service. By late night, the place was jam packed. But each and every bartender was extremely friendly and they expertly worked the crowd, getting drinks served quickly (which too few places manage to do) and swiftly clearing off tables of dirty glasses. I also greatly appreciated the free goldfish that they happily dole out to the patrons. The staff made this a really good time.

    We came in on a busy Saturday early-evening for drinks before dinner. The back room was…read more"reserved", but we were told to sit back there, given the size of our group and we sat nowhere near the party that was in there. The bartender in that area was friendly, but unhelpful, directing us to use the front room's bartender, even though she wasn't busy when we approached and asked for a couple of drinks. The bartender in the main room was great, he was very friendly and once he started a tab for me he said I could use the other bar too, I guess he wasn't aware the bartender at that other bar already told me she wouldn't help me. Regardless, the drinks we had were decent. For small bites, they only had gold fish crackers, I wish they would have had more to nosh on while drinking. Overall, not a bad visit.

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    Bar Betsie - Back area

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    4.3(67 reviews)
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    A trendy, NYC like vibe this spot was a lot smaller than I expected so I see why they often have a…read morewait. On a nice day, they do have a small outdoor patio as well. I think they take reservations but we were able to grab a bar spot. Are drinks pricey? What do you think? It's a cocktail bar in DC. The drinks we tried were pretty tasty, even the mezcal one which I thought was a refreshing take. The wall shows some of the drinks on the menu and the ingredients/glass it comes in which I thought was a nice touch. Bartenders were friendly but not too chatty as they were super busy but you never waited long for a drink. The bourbon drink with the whipped honey was our favorite but the gin drink that was pink was also fantastic. For food I did try the buffalo chicken dip, pretty large and tasty (not too spicy) and loved the super crisp celery and the fritos. Clean, trendy bathrooms, nice vibes throughout the whole spot for pictures, great for a night cap or pre-dinner drink.

    What a fun cocktail bar. My friend and I popped in for happy hour and it was a cool vibe from the…read morestart. I encourage you to get there early if you plan to go after work. They don't take revelations and the place fills up fast. It's a very cute spot and feels so comfortable and fun. Our bartender was Gaylan and he was great--had great reccs, laughed with us a bit, all around great guy. The 'let me just say this' was so soo good! It tasted like a rainbow--just bright and with a really delicious after taste. I should have stopped at the rose but after my trying my friend's, i had to have one! We initially came for happy hour, but moved to the cocktail menu. The hh was a bit limited, but the drinks were priced overall pretty reasonably for the area. My one complaint is the wine glasses were so teeny. Overall though, I would recommend this bar. Bonus: cheese balls when you sit down! I believe there is also a limited food menu (think nachos) for the after work or late night crowd.

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    Press Club Bar Of Record - Nights over Egypt

    Press Club Bar Of Record

    4.7(48 reviews)
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    One of the best new spots I've tried this year. On weekends, a reservation will be a must, as they…read moreare small and get packed, but for good reason. It's a sexy basement vinyl den with additional outdoor seating, 10/10 unique cocktails, and incredible Japanese inspired small plates. Between two visits, we have tried 6 different drinks. They are named after songs and listed on the back of a fake vinyl cover. Each costs around $20, but with the mandatory tip and tax, it comes to around $26-28 per drink. The since I left you, though, is worth every penny. It is similar to an old fashioned but a little sweeter, with bourbon (makers mark), and while the menu says it also has miso, blackberry, cardamom, and cacao, I wouldn't say those flavors come through. But it is one of the best cocktails being served in DC right now. It is so good. They serve it with a cardamom tuile that is delicious as well. There is a lot of variety on here, but my number 2 is the Roses, a bright red gin based drink with a hint of fruitiness and a spicy kick in the back end. If you want something a little sweeter, the Takeover is a cognac based drink with coffee notes served with a mini donut. The food is exceptionally well seasoned and so flavorful. The fried chicken cannot be missed, and I love that you can get it in half or full size portions. The shrimp tempura might be even better. You get four large pieces that are super crisp and have a little orange sauce on them. Amazing. Our second visit we tried their chips and dip, and these potato chips alone are worth a visit. Large, crunchy, and served with a tasty ranch dip. I think 2 dishes is good for two people to fill you up, but add a third if hungry. The place is quite expensive, but they are worth it. For a date night, they are a great choice. Four drinks and three dishes shared between two people came to around $195, but as of this review, they are offering a $30 off deal if you pay through the app In Kind. Bonus points because the first time we came, they seated us maybe 5 minutes after our reservation time, and they gave us a free glass of cava. Top notch customer service right there

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