Zocalo on a Thursday was a bit quiet, but the service was good. We've been here a lot over the years and the place once was very popular. The food is consistent which is why we like to return. They have had the same core dishes for a while. There was a seasonal special as well as large cocktail and drink menu. We got the chicken, pork tenderloin, and some sides. Get the cheese fritters which are a classic. The chicken was great and on the spicy side (however, everything is a too spicy and overshadowing the foods flavor). The drinks were good however the crushed ice was odd. The restaurant did not have regular ice. Honestly just turning up the lights a little would help this place. read more

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Chef Wilfredo. Sorry bud you suck as a business person. We are so upset. Drove an hour an a half from Fredericksburg, va to zocalo. Called on our way and made reservations for two at 6:00 pm. Upon arrival they could not find us on the reservations and told us that we needed to sit for an hour an a half while waiting for an available seat. The owner chef Wilfredo can stay behind the kitchen because he has no place managing a restaurant. There was not a floor manager or anyone to help make a common sense decision. Ended going across the street for a burger. read more

Came here on a perfect night while visiting Charlottesville from up north. The atmosphere outside was perfect. Great to have drinks and such a beautiful tree strung with lights that give a nice ambience. Went with a mezcal margarita which was just the right amount of smokiness. Picked polenta fries as our appetizer and they were the perfect little bite before our meal. Great to share. Both my husband and I got the special which was a red snapper with pineapple and asparagus. I dream of this meal. Seriously! So great. Wish we didn't have to drive 5 hours to come back! read more

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The zocalo margarita has different flavors and was super tasty and sweet!! This place is definitely overpriced. The chocolate cake had a really weird aftertaste. Service was quick ambiance is very nice. read more

Zocalo - Mango Zocalo Margarita - New American Near Me - Charlottesville, Virginia

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We enjoyed a meal from the tapas menu as well as the regular dinner menu tonight, with mojitos that reflected the charming Latin atmosphere of the restaurant. The pulpo and the pumpkin soup, tuna tostadas and shrimp dishes were all excellently prepared and beautifully presented. Highly recommend! read more

Outstanding, locally owned, Charlottesville staple! I've had dinner here twice while working in town and it is absolutely top notch! Food is thoughtful executed by a team of talented folks. Bartender makes exquisite cocktails and they feature a great wine selection. If you are in the area for a special occasion or just a fabulous evening out...don't walk, run to this excellently run establishment! read more

probé al menos 3 diferentes tipos de comida y todo estaba delicioso al igual que las bebidas, tienen un buen servicio y el ambiente es muy acogedor. definitivamente regresare. tienen que probarlo! read more

The scallops themselves were cooked to perfection and tasted fantastic, but the vanilla sauce on the dish was too sweet and didn't match the chili dusted scallop flavor. The plaintains were also a little heavy. If I were to go back I would want to try the duck, but it's not at the top of my list. Mojito flight was tasty and unique though! read more

Came here on restaurant week in January. Food was delicious. Had the salmon crunchy flautas and the flank steak. Both were delicious. Had the the churros for dessert and they were okay. Passion fruit mojito was delicious as well. Value wise for restaurant week, I thought it was a bit pricey, specially if you compare it to other restaurants participating in restaurant week. There are other restaurants that are a better deal for restaurant week but I would come back because the food and service speak for themselves read more

Zocalo - Salmon crunchy flautas - New American Near Me - Charlottesville, Virginia

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Food was excellent. Server was professional and friendly but did not understand why the request to have a quieter corner was refused. The rest of the restaurant had many empty tables with tea lights and no customers. Thankfully the tables around cleared after mid- meal. read more

The salmon was amazing. It was one of the best fish dishes I have had. The chicken was good, but I wasn't the biggest fan of the avocado salad. The farro + kale salad was perfect for my vegetarian friend. We really enjoyed this meal!! read more

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Zocalo is an absolute must go when in Charlottesville. We have celebrated birthdays and other special occasions over the last year there and the food and service are always just perfect. We are just so excited for brunch on the patio with warmer weather here as its one of my family's favorite things to do on the weekend. read more

I just moved to Charlottesville and was out for a stroll on Saturday when I saw Zocalo offered brunch. I stopped in knowing nothing about the restaurant and was highly impressed. It was beautiful and clean. I was sat immediately close to the fireplace, had excellent service, and a wonderful meal. I will be back for sure! read more

5 stars for fantastic service. Team was so willing to make sure we stayed warm in their outdoor atrium and was so sweet to check on us throughout our meal. Our group tried the: Scallops, seared duck, and mahi mahi special, butternut squash soup, cheese fritters, and hot apple cider & rum drink. Scallops were my order, was a tad salty as they cooled down, but otherwise the plantains and inner salad were so good read more

Zocalo - Chili Dusted Sea Scallops - New American Near Me - Charlottesville, Virginia

The outdoor patio has a great atmosphere, so when my bestie and I had a girls night, we sat outside! To start, we split a bottle of wine and the cheese fritters- which were just ok. I then had the bone-in pork chop special which was delicious, and the potatoes on the side were nice and crispy. My friend had the duck, but before ordering she said she is normally very picky when it comes to duck and has only been happy with her duck once (don't ask me why she decided to order duck after all these experiences!). But this time was different! It was one of the best ducks she's had. I liked it, too, especially the compote with it. read more

This is the first dance "club" bar I've found in Cville with a DJ and sadly the DJ was so bad. read more

Zocalo - a group of people dancing at a party - New American Near Me - Charlottesville, Virginia

Zocalo blew me away! I'm so happy I got to try this restaurant. I came here with a few friends for dinner and we all enjoyed our dishes. I got the Drunken New York Steak which came with herb polenta fries and grilled asparagus with a chipotle demi-glace. The steak was perfectly seasoned and cooked well. It had a nice flavorful crust on the outside and the meat was juicy on the inside. The polenta fries were really good! They're crispy and crunchy- they complement the steak. In addition, I tried my date's duck and it was also very delicious. I usually don't like duck but this duck dish was super tender and well seasoned. I also got to try some of my friends' margarita and mojito flights. Get the mojitos! So refreshing and sweet. If you want something with more alcohol then definitely get the margaritas. Overall, this place is perfect for a classy dinner night out! It is no doubt expensive but really worth it. read more

Zocalo - Seared Duck Breast - New American Near Me - Charlottesville, Virginia

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I was taken out to dinner by seven friends while visiting the university. Our group of eight had an excellent time at an indoor table near the front of the house. (It was wet outside, so we needed to be indoors.) I liked the menu and definitely appreciated the eclectic wine list, which had bottles from Spain, Latin America, California and Oregon. We ordered a verdejo and a rioja, both of which were delicious. I started with a lump crab salad that was one of the daily specials. It was served with thin rice chips and proved to be a big winner. My main dish was the duck breast, which I liked well enough. (It's one of the standard items from the regular menu and presumably has been described by other Yelpers.) I was so happy with dinner that I even went for dessert -- very unusual for me. I got the trio of sorbets and loved all three of the scoops. read more

Went here for a friend's birthday and the ambient was nice. Our waitress was friendly and attentive and let us know about her recommendations and answered any questions we had. I had the seasonal pork chop special and enjoyed it; however, I would say that it was seasoned on the more saltier side. I really enjoyed the sides paired with the pork chop special. I heard from my friend that her salad was also on the saltier side but heard that the duck breast was seasoned perfectly and the skin had a nice crunch while the meat was still juicy. read more

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The. Salmon. Everyone talks about how amazing their salmon dish is so I finally tried it and now I crave it all the time. Zocalo is a cute spot on the downtown mall with an amazing menu and good service. It's one of my favorite spots for a girls night. A must try!! read more

This spot had all the right feels and all the right tastes. The atmosphere is trendy but cozy, the service is attentive, the beverages are tasty and the food is delicious! We came here as a group of 4 and were seated immediately. We got the raw tuna and corn fritter apps which were super tasty. Bevies were on point. My margarita was well balanced and my mezcal cocktail to follow was pure perfection. Entrees at the table were solid. Chile relleno is a massive feast and the duck was lick yo plate good. My bf got the lamb shank and there was no lamb left by end of the night. Overall just a really great spot for an excellent dining experience. Will surely be back soon! read more

Zocalo - duck breast - New American Near Me - Charlottesville, Virginia

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On a freezing winter evening, my husband and I scored the perfect seats beside the fireplace where we warmed up with spicy mezcal cocktails. Both of our entrees were innovative and absolutely delicious. And the espresso martinis we had for dessert provided both the perfect ending to dinner and just enough illusionary warmth to make our walk next door to the Paramount Theater at least bearable, maybe even pleasant. This was our first trip to Zocalo, but it definitely won't be our last! read more

The food is amazing, the restaurant has a good vibe and all of the staff are super friendly.

The recent changes at Zocalo are phenomenal! I popped in to try the new tapas menu and we tried many of the delicious items. The food was out of this world and the bartender made perfect drinks. Service was top notch and I can't wait to go back! A solid 12 /10 for food, drinks, and service read more

My parents wanted to take my s/o parents out to dinner while they were visiting. I chose Zocalo because I wanted delicious food, great drinks, and a quieter setting, so we could hear each other at dinner. I made an early reservation (5:30pm on a Saturday). My parents arrived early, so they had a drink at the bar. Their bar tab was easily transferred over to the table. The staff was friendly and very attentive. We had a nice table towards the back. The lighting was great (my parents probably would have complained if the lighting was too dim to see the menu). Zocalo has a standard menu with dishes that they have mastered, but I also I liked that they offered a seasonal menu with specials. Our drinks and appetizers came quickly. I made sure to get the cheese balls because those are a staple! The waiter was attentive and our waters were always full. My partner and dad got the duck. They were both very impressed with how perfectly it was cooked and how the sides complimented the dish. I ordered the octopus from the seasonal menu. It was delicious and the chef came out to ask for my honest feedback on the dish as it was new. The drunken steak and roasted chicken were also ordered and delicious. We had a wonderful night and it was so special to get both of the families together for a meal. As my parents get older, I find myself valuing a restaurant that is easily accessible for them, has good lighting, and is not too loud. Charlottesville has so many incredible restaurants but I feel like sometimes Zocalo gets forgotten about or overlooked. Zocalo is a delicious Charlottesville staple. Great food, great drinks, great service!! read more

One of the best meals I've had in a long time. Hubs and I rolled up sans reservation and the staff were very accommodating finding us seating. We ended up in the outdoor foyer which was a-ok. To eat, we ordered the spicy tuna tartar. This was excellent! The only minor ding is that the chips it comes with seemed a tad stale, but we liked the tuna so much we didn't really care. For my main, I got the dry rubbed scallops. UGH. These were SO GOOD. Perfectly seared. They sit on top of plantains which come in a zippy sauce that has a bed of spinach and tortilla crisps in the center. The best way to eat this, is to taste the perfect scallop on it's own, then get the plantain to soak up the sauce for the follow up bite. My hubs got the drunken steak. His steak was perfectly cooked medium rare + as requested. The sauce in this case neither one of us liked very much. It kind of took away from the perfectly cooked steak. Come get these scallops people! read more

We were looking for a late-night snack after a show at the Paramount and the Zocalo was the perfect spot. We shared three platitos that were really great: the smoked tomato grits were spectacular, the manchego bread pudding was incredible, the black beans and rice were a bit salty but otherwise very flavorful. We had a mojito and a Zocalo Burro, both were very good. We really liked the atmosphere and modern design. The servers were pleasant and attentive. We congratulated ourselves for finding the perfect place and would definitely go back for dinner. read more

Ate supper on July 27,2021. Had keyline chicken with avocado salad. The chicken was hot and good. The avocado salad was a tateeless substance that appeared to be guacamole and it was plopped on top of a room temperature mixture of beans and rice. Could not eat it. Had caesar salad that consisted of a small portion of butt pieces of pale, tired romaine some shaved parmesan and was covered with mayonnaise like dressing. I sent it back and and was still charged for it. Had their signature margarita and and asked for on the rocks. It tasted exactly like orange juice on an excessive amount of crushed ice, not on the rocks. Could not detect any tequila. Drank half before giving up. Good meal for weight control! Ranks among the worst meals I've had in Charlottesville over the last 38 years. read more

Food was excellent!!! Perfect experience on our Anniversary!! Must go! You will not be disappointed!!

Disappointing experience. The food was alright I guess but the service leaves something to be desired. We had a big group, but needed the check split and they got very difficult about it. It wasn't an experience I'd like to repeat. Many other places on the downtown strip will split checks for larger groups so you're better off just going to one of those. read more

After looking at many restaurants for our weekend escape from DC, I chose Zocalo for our first night The reviews looked incredible and we were thrilled with everything. -Peter is a great bartender- very engaging and knows how make great cocktails. Whipped up a Casa Noble Reposado margarita with blood orange. Fiance had a perfectly made Ketel One up with olives. -Julia was our server and she recommended the Brussels Special and the Cheese Fritters. She knew what to suggest. Clean plate club. -Salmon and Chile Relleno for our main courses. That Relleno...could only finish half - so perfectly made and flavorful. Wish i could have force fed myself more. -Place was very crowded; easy to see why they do so well. -Excellent price points: drinks, salad, main course, side for $103 before tax & tip. We will definitely return. read more

Zocalo - Signature item: Chile Relleno - must order! - New American Near Me - Charlottesville, Virginia

Amazing food beautiful atmosphere. Had the sea scallops and plantain dish as well as their special yellow tomato guspacho. The meal was beautiful a true work of art. read more

Got last minute reservations for the weekend before Valentine's day when someone cancelled. I was so happy! I don't typically like mussels, but the mussels in a type of garlic chili broth are amazing!!! They're savory and aren't gritty/sandy! Pretty big portion to share between two people... although you'll be left still be wanting more of these tasty shellfishies because they're just that darn good. My bf had the salmon and I had the duck. We disagreed on who's dish was better, but at least we both loved it! I typically don't like spinach either (yes, picky eater here) but the spinach that came with the duck was very palatable. Duck was cooked perfectly, not too fatty, and tasted of perfection! It definitely fits the bill (pun intended) Zocalo is fine dining with a casual atmosphere. So really, it's whatever you want it to be! They're very accommodating anyways with great recommendations. I want to come back soon! read more

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So happy to be able to make a same day reservation online. Great meal! So much delicious flavor and beautifully presented. I had a taste of the yellow gazpacho, a Caesar salad, and the key lime chicken. The chicken was really tasty. Also loved the avocado salad on the side, and the sauce was so good. Our server (Nahida) was very sweet, enthusiastic, and attentive. read more

I enjoy the atmosphere and service here. It gives me city vibes. The drinks are a hit or miss --specifically the mixed drinks like the mojitos, but the food is solid! I specifically love the chili dusted sea scallops. It's a very unique dish given it's scallops sitting on top of plantains! I've been here a few times, and definitely recommend at least trying this place out for a nice dinner. read more

Zocalo - Chili Dusted Sea Scallops - New American Near Me - Charlottesville, Virginia

Came to zocalo for a formal on a Friday night. Despite a tornado warning zocalo was packed! Luckily we had a reservation(which we had to make a week in advanced) for 14 people. The location is in the heart of the downtown mall, which makes it perfect for some dessert and a nice walk after. Upon walking in we were immediately escorted to our table(in a private backroom). The food it self was amazing. My duck was well cooked and filled with flavor. I ended up trying to salmon as well which was perfectly tasted. It almost had a hint of Masala in the sauce. The real takeaway from this experience was the dessert. I'd highly recommend trying the Mexican chocolate cake. Overall I'll definitely be coming back in the near future. I'd recommend this as a good date spot or just a semi formal dinner occasion. read more

Zocalo - Duck - New American Near Me - Charlottesville, Virginia

My wife ordered a dinner salad with chicken added, but it came to the table without the chicken. The waiter apologized and ordered the chicken for the salad, plus she offered a dessert, which was declined. After a lengthy wait a chicken dinner arrived and we were billed for the chicken dinner. My wife just wanted the chicken for her salad. My Caesar salad seemed salty and spicy. When I tried to go inside to use the restroom I was told it was only for customers. We won't be back anytime soon. The extra chicken dinner was removed from our bill. read more

What a great surprise! The food here is amazing. Everything our party of four all had different dishes and each one was excellent. Service was also friendly and prompt. We will be back next time we visit Charlottesville. read more

So this just seems like your run-in-the-mill restaurant. That is until you taste their Tuna Tartare, for which they get 5 stars!. Unfortunately the 3 stars for the service I got earned them an overall 4 star. Will I come back? Yes. Will I recommend?, yes. Do I want the same server?, definitely not. Authenticity: N/A Ambiance: 8/10 Flavor: 9/10 Taste: 7/10 Noise level: 3/10. (Zero being absolute silence, and 10 being jet engine level decibels). read more

New chef. Zocalo has its mojo back! Awesome meal. Superb staff. Highly recommend the kale salad and the key lime chicken, my go-to dishes here, with a glass of Albariño. Grab a spot on the patio and enjoy! read more