Fourth time here- gets better every time. Service a bit too edgy but still attentive... and great, fresh tasting food!! Scallops cooked perfectly with delicious tostones and great balance of spice and flavor (vanilla sounds too sweet but is actually amazing). Great, refreshing gazpacho too. Restaurant has huge outdoor space which was really beautiful!! read more

I read many reviews on Yelp before deciding to make a reservation here. I am so happy we decided to give this place a try. We enjoyed a delicious dinner at Zocalo. I was a little concerned if they could accommodate food allergies. I asked the manager Katie and she was sure that the chef would be able to do so. We met Chef/owner Ivan. We discussed what we wanted to order from the menu and he made it happen! He is aware of food allergies and was very accommodating. It was a pleasure to meet him . It was a beautiful evening so we decided to eat on the outdoor patio. I did go to the bathroom and after seeing the inside of the restaurant I wanted to eat inside as I liked the beautiful ambiance and the great Latin music which was playing. The family decided to eat outdoors. I thought to myself if the food is good we will return when it gets cooler outdoors to experience indoor dining. :) We ordered the trio of artisanal cheeses for appetizer which had manchego slices, triple cream brie slices and drunken goat cheese. The cheeses were fresh. The manchego has quince preserve on it which had a interesting taste. We ordered two of the roasted corn soup which was topped with crab salad and had a drizzle of cilantro oil. The presentation was beautiful . The soup was delicious and loved the warm spices in it! For the entrees we had two orders of the chili dusted sea scallops . The scallops were fresh and the plating was pretty. We ordered the ancho braised lamb shank which was very delicious. The lamb was cooked perfectly. The lamb was tender and it came right off the bone. The lamb was perfectly seasoned! It was a large portion . Our server Riley helped us make decisions on what to order as we wanted to try so many things from the menu. She was very attentive and friendly. We also enjoyed a relaxing meal and did not feel rushed at all. It was hard to resist ordering dessert. We ordered a Creme brûlée which was topped with blueberries. We also ordered a chocolate bread pudding which was a little dry but still good. We would definitely go back to try some of the other entrees! The whole experience with the staff was amazing! The owner Ivan, the manager Katie and server Riley helped make our dining experience A+! We will go back as Ivan told us we were welcome to come back anytime. read more

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Truly amazing! We stopped by for drinks on our anniversary and sat at the bar. John was our bartender and he was amazing! Great suggestions and knew what he was talking about. We tried the Spicy raspberry frozen margarita and it was incredible. Perfect balance of flavors. We also shared the mojito flight which was fun and delicious. I cannot wait to go back and try their food! Thanks John (and Zocalo) for being the best stop on our restaurant hopping tour read more

This restaurant is in a wonderful area of downtown Charlottesville. We had the opportunity to sit outside on a really beautiful night. We started the meal with the tuna tartare, the watermelon salad and the mussels. Really all three were excellent although if i had to choose I would have given the highest rating to the tuna tartare. For the entree my wife and daughter had the salmon and I chose the pork tenderloin, which was served over grits and a chorizo base. Really really excellent, the pork was seared to exactly the right texture and the flavor was very very good. I would say the service was good, not great. I would highly recommend this place. read more

Fantastic restaurant. We sat on the patio with beautiful weather. Tables were nicely spaced apart. Service was very friendly and professional, with the server being very informative and accommodating. My wife and I got the cheese fritters and mussels to share. Both were excellent and very flavorful. I had the salmon as my main, and the presentation was outstanding. Wife had the scallops, and they were also great with a really tasty sauce. My pomegranate mojito was really delicious. Lots of places that have mojitos will make them too sweet/watery, but this one was perfectly balanced and refreshing. Overall we found the food to be really unique and delicious. Great service, great food, and a beautiful space on the Mall. 10/10 read more

My group and I had dinner here before seeing a show at the Paramount. It was just fine. I was dining with some older companions and the lighting where we were sitting was so low that we all had to use our phone flashlights to see the menu. The server said this is a consistent complaint so.... if you know the problem exists why wouldn't you take steps to address it? The service was great, however, but the food was kind of meh. I had the Drunken New York Strip, which was way too over-salted. Like it could have been a salt lick. I love steak and normally wouldn't give even a bite of a beautiful piece of beef away but I had to give some of it to a co-diner because it was so much salt. The grilled asparagus was lovely though and the herb polenta fries were decent too. I got the chipotle sauce on the side, which was more of a BBQ glaze. It wasn't my favorite so I was happy to have gotten it on the side. I also tried the special, which was a soft-shelled crab tempura dish. The avocado sauce was amazing but otherwise, it was also kind of meh. It was served cold which no one really liked, especially one of my co-diners who was a soft shell crab connoisseur. The mojitos were fab! I'd probably go back for drinks and appetizers or a happy hour special but I don't think I'd have a full dinner there again. read more

Zocalo - The Drunken New York Strip. WAY too salty. - New American Near Me - Charlottesville, Virginia

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Would not recommend. Had a terrible experience with service, professionalism, and communication. We were told there would be a 30 minute wait for a table, which we were happily willing to do. After 45 minutes, we asked about timeline and were told it may be another 15 minutes. 2 HOURS later, we still did not have a table and received no communication or explanation even after they closed. We completely understand if they were fully booked, but why we weren't told that frustrates me. read more

Best margarita I've ever had. My husband's cocktail was outstanding as well. The staff couldn't have been nicer or more accommodating. The hostess, Miranda, even chased me down the block to give me a list that I'd forgotten at my table after we left. Now that's the kind of customer service that I thought was long gone these days. read more

It was an awful experience because of the very rude, unprofessional and disrespectful server. The guy didn't know even the basics about customer service...we left before ordering food and will not come back to this place again! read more

Food and location are great! Full bar and there are typically bar seating open so it's perfect for a last minute dinner plan! The Fried cheese balls and brussels sprouts are a must have. read more

In my opinion, Zocalo is an underrated star of Charlottesville! Classy restaurant by day, dance party club by night. I've been here for New Year's Eve, business dinners, and girls nights out - and it has never disappointed. With Zocalo, it's in the details. The tangy house marg with crushed ice, the perfectly paired sides to their entrees, the delicate lighting to add just the right ambience. I could go on. My biggest recommendations for food would be the salmon entree and a side of herb polenta fries, and for drinks you must try the margarita flight! Zocalo = zo delicious. read more

Great service and great food. Had diner inside, the NY strip was excellent and the duck was amazing!

Okay, this was a first for me in a longggg time. I walked into a restaurant without first consulting Yelp. It was before a concert and we were walking around Charlottesville looking for some dinner. Over the past several years, the few times I've taken changes like this, they've been about 50/50 success, but this visit was outstanding! Afterwards, I was pleased to see that the Yelp community agreed with my dinner success. This is a nice restaurant with a Latin American influence done well. Their menu crosses the gamut of foods and flavors and I'd wager that it's all delicious. I ordered the seared duck breast, which was perfectly cooked and had a nice outer crisp to it. The accompanying items matched the flavors well and it made for a beautiful presentation and meal. My dining partner ordered the Key Lime chicken and said it was possibly the best chicken she's ever eaten. That's a testimony! The service was very friendly and attentive but not overly so. Whether it was intentional or not, I appreciated that they didn't rush to clear away my plate while we were talking and while she was still eating. I also enjoyed that they didn't rush to drop the check but left the timing to us. To me, this shows a staff who wants the diners to enjoy the experience and not just eat-and-go. Well done! read more

Zocalo - The seared duck breast was flavorful, perfectly prepared and a creative blend of delicious flavors. - New American Near Me - Charlottesville, Virginia

A birthday dinner... on a snowy Friday night. Seated by the fire with delicious butternut squash soup starters. The seared duck breast was delightful, as was the steak. Artfully prepared, the right serving size and served cheerfully. Topped the meal with lemon/ginger/blue berry creme brulee and chocolate cake/ice cream (tasted more brownie-like). 2 glasses of a temperanilla (generous pours) and a hot apple cider / spiced rum / whipped cream came out to a very reasonable price considering the quality and amount of food. Our waitress was quite friendly and in tune with the kitchen tempo. I will definitely put this on my list of 'must return to...' restaurants in Charlottesville. read more

I've always wanted to try this restaurant and wasn't disappointed! Although the menu is limited, the chicken and salmon dishes we ordered were excellent. Chicken was cooked well and flavorful but the salmon dish stole the night. It was juicy and had the perfect amount of flavoring and was bedded on top of couscous tossed in a light creamy sauce... Delicious! The food is on the pricier side for the quantity but this is a great place to try at least once if in cville. read more

Zocalo - Chicken with black bean and rice with guacamole on the side. - New American Near Me - Charlottesville, Virginia

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***4.5 Stars For starters, the spicy tuna tartar was fantastic! To pair with a cylindrical cutout of tuna tartar were some delicate easter-red chips made for hands-on scooping. The combination of crispiness and sashimi tuna with spiced garnishes allowed for a development of flavors. With each bite, it just got better. For entrées, I chose the Seared Duck Breast, while my date leaned towards the Drunken New York Strip. I was so amazed at how all the food groups came in sync with each other. Though cooked to a perfect medium, the duck was not easily sliced. It required quite a chew on my part, but this didn't affect the quality of the dish itself, given that the caramelized onion bread pudding, braised chard, and the chipotle port compote were magnifico! read more

Me: Excuse me. This martini has a hair coming out of the olive. Bartender: (After third excuse me). Looking up from iPhone: what? Me: repeat about hair in martini Bartender: I don't see it but I will give you a new drink Waiter: I can tell you this it is not the bartender's hair! Cause that is what matters. Could you do a worse job on service. Maybe this is common enough there they are nonchalant.., Stay away! read more

For a small town, Charlottesville has a lot of good restaurants. Zocalo (from what I have heard) is considered one of the better ones. It certainly has the right location (outdoor seating on the downtown mall). Things started out great - spicy tuna tartar (rocked) and a cheese plate (I'm a sucker for cheeses). My main dish failed me though. I asked for the waiter's advice and he said "the Drunken NY Strip Steak made him stop being a vegetarian." How could I argue with that??? The meat was juicy and tender but the sauce was so strong that it didn't really matter. I tend to like sauces but I also think they should complement the underlying food... in this case it dominated it. I know it's a "drunken steak" but that shouldn't mean I need to be drunk to like it. I sampled some of the other dishes: Black Bean and Corn Relleno and the Key Lime Free Range Chicken. They were better but not outstanding. Loved the atmosphere and liked the service and hopefully next time I'll dig the entrees more. read more

YUM! Hubs and I joined some of our friends for a double date here last weekend. We had an early reservation, and so were seated immediately. The menu itself was brief, but intriguing. We decided to all get a fun drink + share a cheese platter to start off with (very good!) I cannot recall the names of everything people ordered, but between the 4 of us, there were the following entrees: flounder, scallops, duck, and my entree: the black bean and corn relleno. YUM! All the entrees were plated beautifully and had wonderful flavors. The prices were a little high, but to be expected for the atmosphere and location. read more

First of all, I am a vegetarian, so if you're looking for a meat-review, go away. If you're looking for a good review, period, welcome. I have eaten here maybe 25 or 30 times in groups of three to 10. It's so dang cozy in there, I prefer it, even when the weather is nice enough to eat outside. The service isn't slow IMHO, despite what other reviewers might have experienced. It's busy-a lot- and on the weekends? It's hoppin.' I am willing to wait a few extra minutes, knowing I am in a place that keeps 'em coming. The bar is fab; it looks like something in midtown, not Charlottesville, despite how 'foody' we think we are. The whole area is packed a lot. Check the schedule at the Paramount next door...if there is an event going on that evening, it'll be packed two hours before whatever is going on there starts, so plan accordingly. The best thing here to eat? Vegetarian or not, it's the Vella Jack Cheese Fritters. Don't order them and expect to split them. It's a mistake. You'll just be angry at the other person for getting your half. Really. The sauce that comes with them...I want it on everything. The Arugula Salad and Cheese Plate are good, too, but please...how can you mess those up? While the Black Bean and Corn Relleno is the only veg plate option (come on...it's either lasagna, some stupid portabello-mushroom thingy or a pasta dish 90% of the time for vegetarians, isn't it?), it's delicious and enjoyed by all. I have had it every time I have been there...and I still like it. It's super-spicy (if you're a, 'it's too spicy,' eater, go somewhere else) and if you're in the south, you know about grits. If you're not from here, this is a good intro. If you park in the lot closest to the restaurant and you're not a local, here's a tip: they tow; no grace period. Pay the damn fee, put the ticket on your dashboard and be done with it. Or park 5 blocks away. Take your pick. This place is great. Stable, solid service, great food that knows where it belongs and doesn't portend to be anything it isn't. A great on-the-mall or pre-Paramount choice. read more

My coworkers and I were looking for a place to get dinner together on Friday night, during prime dining hours. After being told an hour wait time at some places on the mall, we came to Zocalo. Zocalo is an industrial looking space, which makes me a lot of noise. We couldn't hear each other at all, and I had a huge headache by the end of my dinner. Luckily the food was delicious. I got the sear duck breast (manchego & caramelized onion bread pudding, bacon braised swiss chard, chipotle port compote), which was incredible. The duck was a little tough to cut through, but every part of this dish worked. It was one of the most delicious things I've eaten in a very long time. Despite the noise levels, Zocalo serves great food. Everyone in my party was raving about their dishes. I will definitely be back! read more

Wow...what is it about the attitude at these upscale restaurants in this mall? After a day of traveling and walking we showed up at opening, 5:30. Said we wanted drinks and apps. They wouldn't give us a table 'because those are for dining patrons'. Placed us at a reserved table with the understanding we would have to leave when those patrons arrived. I have a photo showing the empty place and the service ignoring us and waiting for us to down our drinks and leave. Up the mall further to find 2 more places who happily welcomed us and we spent a great deal of money on food, drinks and the staff who know how to treat travelers. read more

Zocalo - sat us at a reserved table, staff waiting for us to leave....we left - New American Near Me - Charlottesville, Virginia

It was difficult to eat here without breaking the bank, but we managed to do it. We ordered a salad and an entree to share, and a glass of wine each. The full bottles of wine were a little outside of our price range. We weren't too hungry, so the small salad and entree were enough for both of us, but on a normal day, I would have been a bit disappointed in the size of my salad. The arugula salad was your typical arugula salad with beets and cheese that is popping up on menus everywhere. The black bean and corn relleno was a really good entree that I had never had before, and it was quite interesting. I would definitely try it whether or not you are specifically looking for something vegetarian. Service was a little slow, especially for a Sunday night with few people sitting inside (most were outside). We didn't get our bread until after our entrees arrived, which was a bit strange, although we didn't have to wait too long for our dinner to begin with. Our server didn't seem too happy that we didn't order a full three course meal for each of us and multiple drinks, but otherwise, we had a pretty nice time. read more

Last night was my third time at Zocalo and I went this time with my parents (this was in small part due to Tavola not taking reservations and having an hour long wait). Zocalo is a little pricey, but their food is pretty consistently good. I've had the misfortune of being at Zocalo on a Friday one time previously (or maybe it was like Valentine's Day or something), and when there are a lot of people, Zocalo can get REALLY loud inside. Yesterday there were a moderate number of people and the ambience was nice and relaxed. This place does certain things pretty damned well. I generally don't like to go to a restaurant and order the same thing every time I go, but often times when I find something I like to eat, subsequent visits end up with me ordering something else to try new things, and I tend not like them as much. Three visits, and I've ordered the Spicy Tuna Tartare every time. The portion is really not worth the price, but I think it tastes so damn good. Duck breast - I can't remember (previous visit), but I remember enjoying my meal. Scallops - Three visits, ordered three times Drunken NY strip - portion was a little small, but was very good (especially polenta) Pork shank - braised perfectly, meat was so tender Key lime chicken - cooked extremely well, but just tasted like marinated chicken to me. So there you have it, the things I've tried. Yesterday I ordered the Key Lime Chicken, and frankly, I was a little disappointed. The only reason I ordered it was because I had tried everything else except for the fish dishes (I try not to order fish at restaurants because I eat it all the time at home), and honestly, it just tasted like citrus marinated chicken over a bed of rice and beans. Good, but not for 20 bucks. Everyone else ordered other things and thoroughly enjoyed their meals. I picked off of their plates on occasion to try things here and there, and I've come to the conclusion that regardless of my taste for certain dishes here, the food is cooked really well, and I mean consistently really well. Scallops are always crusted just enough on the outside and buttery on the inside, the chicken was slice-once-soft, the braised pork slid right off the bone, and the NY strip had a perfect cool red/pink center. read more

Drove straight from DC to C-ville and walked in on a Friday night bracing myself for a long wait, if not because this place looked adorable, because it was a big UVA weekend (Foxfields). Amazingly, there was no wait and we were seated immediately at a lounge table, which is essentially a two-top on a raised stage facing the bar. Given that we were reservation-less on a Friday, I'm ok with that. It was our server's first day and she was an all-star. Very sweet and knew a great deal about the menu- per usual, I asked a lot of questions and changed my order 2 minutes after making it. I know, I know- I am a true test for any server, let alone a newbie. My tuna tartare was good (not that spicy, as advertised, to my surprise), but the star starter was the mussels. My Caesar salad with polenta croutons was delish and the NY drunke strip was also a hit. Mojitos here are a go, the greyhound was too sweet. Service with a smile, upscale atmosphere without the 'tude, I'm a fan and would definitely go back the next time I'm in town. read more

I just finished a meal here, and I was not impressed. The service was very slow. I only wanted a glass of water to drink and the water didn't come until 15 minutes later when my meal arrived. I ordered the seared duck and the meal was slightly warm at most. The sides were tasty, but the duck was kind of rubbery and I was disappointed at how raw it was on the inside. There's slightly pink and then there is pink, and I think of duck like chicken, where pink is just wrong. The bread rolls and oil came after the meal was delivered, which I thought was weird. I love bread and would have enjoyed that as I waited on my food (and water). My waiter took forever to check on me and my water glass wasn't refilled until I was eating my dessert, despite being empty for a long time. I ordered the sorbet for dessert. It was a mix of interesting flavors, but some of it was half melted by the time it arrived. This place seemed like it could be so much more, but unfortunately, they are lacking in many areas. I won't be returning. read more

We went here for our wedding anniversary dinner. The wait staff were very friendly and we were greeted with a Happy Anniversary! Good job Zocalo. Beer and drinks were good. I had a local craft brew and the Mrs. had a mojito. All was going well. Ordered 2 apps, the mussels and tuna tartare. Both very good although the mussels were the smallest I have ever seen. Then dinner came.... We share most meals so we split the scallop dinner and the New York strip steak. The scallops were a nice size but over cooked. The steak was the worst of all. It had some kind of oily pesto all over it. I had to try and scrape that all off. I ordered it rare and got it closer to medium-well. The cut was poor as it had lots of vein and gristle. Plus they cut it up into pieces for me. What and I 4 years old?! In a nut shell wayyyy overpriced for what you get and I still left hungry. Taco Bell drive thru it is... It just stinks because of all the restaurants in Charlottesville we chose this one, drop $128, and left unsatisfied and hungry. That is the main reason for this review. There are better options I'm sure for the same price or less. read more

Another Charlottesville institution that's way overrated (and overpriced). A little bit of food (that's just average in taste) for a whole lot of money and pretentious service. read more

I went to Zocalo for dinner with a group of seven picky eaters & we were all VERY pleased with our meals. The Roasted Butternut Squash Soup was delicious as was the Vella Jack Cheese Fritters, and the Drunken NY Strip. The fritters came with this amazing sauce- equally sweet & spicy- YUMMY. We ordered a Spanish bottle of wine that was very tasty, but my favorite drink was a strawberry mojito; it was perfectly made & lacked the overwhelming mint taste that usually accompanies most mojitos. Just a touch of mint :) This restaurant is a bit expensive if you go for apps, entrees, & drinks- but hey, you get what you pay for! read more

The tuna tartare is so so good! Great atmosphere, really tasty and nicely presented food, and good service. It is a little pricey, but in my opinion it is the best meal you will get in C'ville for the price. That is just the way prices for good food work here. read more

I was lucky to get a $100 gift certificate to Zocalo, so I took my boyfriend out for a fancy meal. We did the whole nine yards: wine, appetizers, entrees, and dessert. It was a really nice experience. The décor was chic and the atmosphere was more than casual, but not pretentious. For two people who rarely go out on fancy dates, we still felt comfortable at Zocalo. We both started with the butternut squash soup, which was silky and perfectly spiced. We both enjoyed our chili-dusted scallops (me) and drunken NY strip steak (him). The plates were pretty but also generously portioned, although we were still left with room for some yummy passion fruit semifrio dessert. The two of us spent just about exactly $100, maybe a bit more, so it's definitely not cheap. But it's an excellent choice for a special occasion, and make sure to get a reservation because it took us a few tries before we finally got a table! read more

Have a good Valentine's Day experience. The food was really great and our waiter was really sweet. read more

Zocalo - New American Near Me - Charlottesville, Virginia

There's stiff competition, but only a few restaurants beat Zocalo on the downtown mall. Food is very high quality, hence Zocalo and its owners reputation of excellence. Fantastic place for a quiet date, dinner with friends, and they've even accommodated large group tables when we've walked in without notice as well. read more

O M G. By far the best dining experience I've had in 2012. Made particularly excellent by the superlative service! Came here with a birthday party of 12 and boy were they ready. Our server was phenomenal. She knew the menu forwards, backwards, and inside out, made awesome suggestions, and made sure every guest was satisfied. She even split checks. For a party of 12. FROM MEMORY. The awesomeness glinting off of her blonde messy bun is blinding. I love establishments that feature local artists as the decor. I'm not sure if the pieces were for sale, but the interior is very inviting; great for pictures and first dates. The food. I tried a couple different things, and overall had a great experience. Surprisingly good mussels this far south (with an amazing broth we sopped up with the delicious warm dinner rolls). I also had the manchego bread pudding. That is death row last meal level eating. If I knew I was never going to eat another thing I would DEFINITELY request it. I also had scallops that had some sort of chili powder seasoning thing happening. Yes, yes, and yes. I ate well past fullness just because the flavors were so worth it. Drinks, also amazing. Literally everything off of the cocktail menu I ordered and tried (about 3 or 4 things) was delicious. The party shared two desserts, one in some sort of amazing Bailey's sauce that I would've enjoyed much more if I hadn't already been so full. I have already suggested to several people that are going to Charlottesville, thinking of going to Charlottesville, wanting to go to Charlottesville, that they stop by this place. It alone is worth the trip from DC. read more

Visited this place twice - once on a double date and another time for a girls' night during Restaurant Week. Both visits had it's pluses and minuses. This review is based on my most recent visit during RW for the $36-prefixed menu. App: *Roasted Carrot Soup - My fav part of the whole meal because it was so concentrated with flavor and very fresh. Entree: *Yellow Tomato Cioppino - Very light broth and didn't taste as much of the salsa verde but the seafood was a good portion. Dessert: *Coconut Flan - Disappointing as I've made flan with my family growing up (Filipino version). This was cloyingly sweet and didn't have the hit of spice I craved from the menu description of "chili coconut flakes" that would have balanced it. Besides the lack of spice/flavor on some dishes (something I wouldn't expect in Latin food), I'm also docking stars because a) I distinctly remember that the restaurant ran out of basic ingredients (like bread) the first time I visited. b) Service took too long (granted it was a weekend during RW) but we felt a bit ignored when we tried to get lemon or straws for our waters, or the bill at the end. read more

The hubby and I had a great dinner. This is a super late review because we actually were there last Sept when the weather was warmer. We had our dinner on the patio where we enjoyed the view of people walking along the mall. The good and mixed drinks were great! The most memorable thing was my scallops. They were huge, soft, and sweet. I will definitely return again for future date nights. read more

Overall, I was a big fan of Zocalo. The atmosphere is fun and lively, if a bit on the loud side. Service was excellent; our waitress was friendly and helpful without over-exerting herself into our evening. The timing of the meal was great and she was also on hand filling up water glasses and clearing empty plates and utensils. I had a Loose Goose martini; it was sweet yet tangy from fresh lemon juice; it was shaken just right. I had the Vella Jack Cheese Fritters as an appetizer; the crunch outside from being fried was great and the sauce was nice... but overall, they were just OK. I didn't bother to finish them and would not order again. As an entree, I had a pork porterhouse with pineapple jalapeno gastrique; it was served with chorizo braised collards and mashed sweet potatoes, but I asked for the smoked tomato grits instead. YUM! The pork was cooked expertly and was perfectly seasoned. The gastrique added some sweetness as well as spice and acidity; it was really excellent. The smoked tomato grits were awesome; creamy and course and the smoked tomato flavor added some real interest. The collards were wonderful, but I didn't get a lot of chorizo flavor. Overall, it all worked really well together and I thoroughly enjoyed my meal. We ordered a Mexican chocolate bread pudding and a lemon creme brulee for the table. The creme brulee was good but the bread pudding was really excellent! Moist and rich, but not overpowering. DEFINITELY would order again. read more

A perfect late evening out on the beautiful patio. We had the chocolate bread pudding with some perky spiced caramel ice cream and the lemon creek brûlée. Soooo very goooood. read more

I've been here twice--something I normally don't do for such a pricey restaurant. However, it does deserve a good review and I'm here to write one for it, especially since it was great both times. I've tried both the mussels and the tartare for an appetizer, and both are amazing (especially the tartare, though I must say the presentation is kind of odd in my opinion). I've had the salmon and the duck for entrees, both cooked very well and intriguingly enough, very well accompanied with interesting sides. I must say the flavors presented here are definitely one of a kind, and it most certainly works. The desserts might be the weakest part of the menu, but with that said they weren't horrible. They were interesting twists on common dessert items, such as a lemon creme brulee or fruit sorbet with interesting toppings, but the flavors themselves didn't quite compel me like the entrees or appetizers did. And of course, the service was both friendly and welcoming both times. I highly recommend this restaurant--arguably the best in the Downtown Mall. read more

This place is GREAT!! My Brother and Sister in law got married on Thanksgiving weekend and held their reception dinner here. The Food was amazing, the atmosphere perfect- a privet space in the back on a stage. Our waitress Beth was Awesome -supper attentive and on spot all night catering 16 of us and our orders perfectly and timely!! Could not have asked for a better waitress - Thanks Beth! Beth performance was do in part by the supper helpfull and freidly/ acomidating Bar Manager Amanda -who made sure our party wanted for nothing and our drinks were in our hands and never empty!! Thanks Amanda! Now onto the food.... all I can say is WOW!! The chief was on his game!! The food form appetizers and topas, to the main entrees were absolutely mouth watering and amazing!! The food and the staff here truely made the evening magical and we highly recommend,Zocalo for your events or just dinner!! Great place with great food- and an amazing staff!! read more

Zocalo - New American Near Me - Charlottesville, Virginia

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