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Zocalo Cocina Mexicana
Category: Restaurants Mexican Mexican [Edit]
203A BroadwayArlington, MA 02474
Neighborhood: East Arlington
(781) 643-2299
- Nearest Transit:
-
Broadway @ Tufts St (87)
Broadway @ Tufts St (87)
Broadway @ Allen St (87)
- Good for Groups:
- No
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Attire:
- Casual
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Delivery:
- No
- Take-out:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Wi-Fi:
- No
- Good For:
- Dinner
- Alcohol:
- Beer & Wine Only
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Ambience:
- Casual
- Has TV:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
107 reviews for Zocalo Cocina Mexicana
Review Highlights
"I HIGHLY recommend the guacamole."
(in 41 reviews)
"We had the Lemon Sangria which was delicious."
(in 42 reviews)
"Second, you will want to order the Pollo con Mole."
(in 3 reviews)
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107 reviews in English
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Review from Tamarleigh G.
Belmont, MA
1/15/2012
I love their sangria, but being denied a margarita is frustrating. Other than that, they are one of the best around. Bearing in mind that this is New England, and the Mexican food here is generally disappointing, the food at Zocalo is way above average. The prices are very reasonable, and the service is also good.
We tried a different place down the street (Acitron http://www.yelp.com/bi...), lured by the margarita selection, but ended up bailing and heading to Zocalo instead, where we had a fine meal.
No matter how much you may miss the margarita, Zocalo is well worth it. If you're a fan of nachos, I particularly recommend the Nachos Supremo, I used to eat that for lunch from Andale, their sister restaurant in the financial district. It makes for quite the decadent lunch, at a reasonable price. -
Review from Sarah Z.
Somerville, MA
10/28/2011
Zocalo is convenient, parking is easy on the street in Arlington. It's on Broadway not Mass Ave which is a huge plus as far as getting there. The food is good, the chips and salsa are adequate, and the Sangria is tasty and easy to drink.
The ambiance is cute and colorful. It can be a little Screaming-kids ish depending on when you go.
The black beans are delish and the rice is good albeit a bit plain. My Fiance loves the food but I'm so-so. There is no beef on the menu. Strange for a Mexican place. I'm a carnivorous Texas and when I go out to dinner, I want beef. It took me a while to figure out why exactly I was never excited about the food but it's the lack of a good shreaded beef ..anything on the menu.
I'm sure we'll be back. It's convenient, relatively inexpensive, and the food is good. -
Review from Andrea B.
10/20/2011 1 Check-in Here
This place really does have great food (4 star worthy, I'd say), so it's a shame I most likely won't be back. It's even more of a shame because it's so close to where I live.
Why? The service is horrendous. I came here by myself at around 5 on a Thursday afternoon. The host mumbled a greeting and seated me. The waiter was no better. When he came over to my table, he barely spoke and stood about 5 feet away, which was awkward. When I asked him if I could get sour cream with one of the meals that didn't come with any, he told me flat out "No. If you want sour cream, you have to get something else."
Wow. Okay. I would've paid extra for that sour cream, it really wouldn't have been a big deal. But the way he said it, I just had issues with.
I almost wanted to leave, but I was hungry so I stayed. They brought out free nacho chips and salsa as I was seated. The chips were like cardboard but the salsa was spicy enough to make up for it at least somewhat. For an appetizer, I ordered the Queso Fundido, which was cheese fondue. You could choose to have it with portobello mushrooms, chiles, or sausage. I chose the mushrooms and was absolutely in love with it. I am a huge cheese person, so as soon as I saw cheese fondue on the menu, I was like, "Yes please!!"
For my meal, I got the Quesadilla Ole (imagine a little accent mark over the "e" in "Ole," because I don't know how to type one). I ordered this instead of Ricardo's Quesadilla, because I guess it's just not allowed to get sour cream with it (I'm a sour cream nut if you haven't figured that out). The Quesadilla Ole did come with sour cream , but the guacamole was the star of the meal. It was probably the creamiest and tastiest I've ever had. They don't give you much, though. If by some chance I do come back here, I'll definitely be ordering the guacamole appetizer.
My appetizer and entree left me satisfied, but I skipped out on dessert. Despite still being a little bit hungry, my waiter's rudeness had left me in a bit of a grumpy mood.
So what did I do instead? Went to BerryLine for some fro-yo. That cheered me right up.Listed in: The Best and Worst of…
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Review from Veronica F.
Medford, MA
2/2/2012
I got burritos for to go. It was very quick and that was nice. The restaurant seemed quiet and nice. Parking was easy. Burritos were big size and ingredients were fresh.
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Review from P S.
Arlington, MA
1/15/2012
One of the best restaurants in Arlington. Delicious, authentic food. It's a cozy spot with not too long of waits since it's off the main strip. Service is very quick, which took a bit of getting used to. But I now realize that's just how they are. So, don't feel rushed! The owner is lovely and I kid you not I've been here at least 20 times in the last year and have had one of the same 3 waitstaff every single time, so the restaurant must be doing something right.
Already planning my next visit. Favorite dishes: chicken mole enchiladas and cochinita pibil. Yum. -
Review from Skye G.
9/30/2011 1 Check-in Here
Went for a birthday party and had a fun time.
The chorizo tacos were really good. We got the fish tacos too but the chorizo wins.
I tried the sampler sangria and really enjoyed all three flavors of red, mango and pear.
The bread pudding was more like a choc mmm not sure. I ate it and it was ok but not what I would call bread pudding.
I'd go back for the tacos. -
Review from Eric R.
Somerville, MA
10/14/2011
Reasonably tasty, decently priced, reasonable service. Burrito was heavier on the cilantro than I like, though that may be more indicative of my tastes than their food prep.
Not a place I'd mind eating again, but not one I'm really hankering to get back to, either. -
Review from Nick A.
Somerville, MA
5/27/2011
This is easily the best place for mexican food in the city. The prices are low and the food has always tasted great. The Arlington location isn't great for large groups. I would suggest a max of 4 people, unless you want to wait to get a table. Also the tables are placed really close together at the Arlington one, which makes it a little awkward if you want to have a private conversation.
It's totally worth it though for the quality of food and the cheap prices! This is one of my favorites. -
Review from Damien S.
3/30/2011 3 Check-ins Here
Somebody spank me for not having reviewed Zocalo.
I don't want to start arguments over whether or not the dishes served at this family-owned beacon of light along a desolate strip of Broadway are truly authentic Mexican dishes. Yes, Tu y Yo has grasshopper empanadas and roasted corn fungus. But to be honest, I couldn't give a flip over "authenticity" playing a factor here.
What I will argue is that their rich, complex mole is among the best, and a sauce I'd slather over anything and everything. The free housemade chips they provide on being seated? Oh please. The slap-my-hands-for-being-boring chicken mole enchiladas ($10.25) I inevitably order every single time? Yes, I know it comes with the nectar but I'mma add a lil' mo. A pitcher of sangria? Just a dollop. Hell, it's red anyway.
The staff are sweet as molasses and while they don't readily acknowledge, you can tell through coy smiles and rosy cheeks they know their regulars and appreciate their business.
Small dining room for cozy dinners and tamed conversations. Feeling like you're eating in a friend's home, you tend to be polite anyway.
Ok, Zocalo reviewed. You can still spank me though.Listed in: And the Yelpy Goes To..., Burritos are for Lovers, Arlington!
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Review from G P.
Winchester, MA
5/2/2011
My boyfriend and I were trying to think of somewhere to go this past Friday night and couldn't come up with much. We both love Mexican food but find a serious lack of good options in our area. After a little bit of thinking he suggested Zocalo and I'm glad he did!
We got there about 8:00 and were told a 15 minute wait which ended up being about 10. We were seated at a four person table which was nice because this place really is teeny tiny and it was a squeeze just to walk past the other tables.
We were greeted by our server who seemed really really rushed. I ordered a glass of red wine and my boyfriend a beer. Within minutes we were given the correct beer and glass of white wine. I pointed this out to the server who quickly corrected the mistake. We then decided to order an appetizer of queso with portobello mushrooms which was served with three small warm corn tortillas which I would bet my life were homemade. Everything about this appetizer was absolutely delicious.
Our food came out very quickly afterwards. My boyfriend ordered the fried peppers stuffed with sausage (I can't remember the proper name of the dish). It was crunchy on the outside, not too breaded at all and the filling was plentiful and so tasty. I ordered the fish tacos which were covered with fresh radishes, red cabbage and an excellent tangy sauce. The server did forget the side of rice and beans my order came with. When I pointed this out to him he pointed to the radishes on my plate and said "there". I said "where?" he said "there". I said "I don't see rice or beans anywhere" he said "oh" walked away and came back with a side of rice or beans. It was an awkward exchange but regardless, both of our dishes were very authentic and delicious.
We passed on dessert because we were stuffed but we left wanting to come back again. We would totally go back to try more dishes and I am so pleased that I actually found a decent, real Mexican restaurant in the area. The reason for the lack of a star was the service. I might go back on a weeknight, the servers definitely seemed rushed and a bit unfriendly and I'm hoping it was just because it was a weekend night.... -
Review from Annmarie L.
Arlington, MA
2/17/2011
There should be a warning sign on the door - No Margaritas, and We Don't Make The Guacamole Tableside...ok, they could probably come up with something a bit more succinct, but still, the message is the same; this ain't your South Boston Zocalo.
Bearing this in mind, there is no reason to dismiss East Arlington's Zocalo altogether. The food is fresh and authentic, the sangria is fantastic, and its a nice little (emphasis on little) place to escape the winter doldrums. If only they would serve drinks or snacks to those who were waiting in the lobby (you cannot be sat without your full party, and they do not take reservations on Friday or Saturday), the small size wouldn't matter, and the fourth star would be theirs!
All in all, good for an occasional trip, but not much to write home about. -
Review from Stacy A.
Somerville, MA
1/16/2011
This does not qualify as a well rounded review food-wise, considering I only get one thing when I go to Zocalo these days: the fish taco special. I feel kinda guilty not trying other things on the menu, but if it ain't broke, then why try to fix it? The fish tacos are so tasty: lighty breaded and fried fish with shredded cabbage, radishes, and sauce. They make me seriously happy.
What makes me unhappy about this place? The service. Sure, it's quick and that's a good thing. But, how about a smile? Turn that frown upside down Senor Zocalo. -
Review from Domenic L.
Cambridge, MA
5/13/2011
ATMOSPHERE - 4
SERVICE - 4
FOOD - 5
VALUE - 4
Great Mexican food, cozy little spot, good service...overall well done. Had the guacamole to start, and is was spot-on. Chicken mole enchiladas for dinner, mole sauce was tasty and not a ton of cheese smothered all over it - actually could taste the flavors.
Definitely in the rotation now. -
Review from Steven P.
Arlington, MA
7/20/2011 1 Check-in Here
Visiting this particular restaurant was nothing more than an utterly offensive experience. Given Arlington's reputation of being such a friendly community, the experience I had in this restaurant was shocking, to say the least. I encountered a sense of discrimination and mockery, which I felt was completely unnecessary and rude. I will explain further details below.
Before you continue reading about my experience in Zocalo, I want you, the reader, to be aware of the fact that this is coming from a Hispanic person's perspective.
During my last visit to Zocalo, I sat down next to the window display and was facing the counter you first encounter when you walk in the restaurant. On the other end of the counter, in the kitchen, was one particular employee of Hispanic descent who, I believe, was the cashier. She is Hispanic, but has Southeastern Asian features. The reason as to why this employee's ethnic background is relevant to my experience is because I felt as though because I am of Hispanic descent, which was clearly obvious as I was speaking fluent Spanish, this employee felt as though she had the absolute right to be rude to me and get away with it, assuming that I wouldn't report her because I am Hispanic. Had I been Caucasian or of another race/nationality, this experience would never have happened. I've dealt with similar experiences, in the past, within the Hispanic community.
As far as what I've actually experienced, I noticed that this particular employee was staring me down in such an obnoxious and rude way most of the time I spent in Zocalo to see what I was doing at my table, thus violating my privacy. When my waiter, who was a very respectable person, approached my table and asked me what I wanted from the menu, the same employee and another chef, from the kitchen, stared at me to see what I was going to say. Since I am a stutterer, it was clear to me that they wanted to listen to my speech for the sake of laughter. That experience alone made me furious. To simply put the icing on the cake, while I was eating tortilla chips and having a conversation with a friend of mine, I looked up at the employee and noticed that she was mocking the way I ate in such an offensive, obnoxious and exaggerating way in the kitchen with the same chef. What kind of a person would do such a thing? How disrespectful and immature. Out of everyone who has eaten at Zocalo, why would this particular employee put down one of her own? I do not understand this sort of mentality and behavior, but as a paying customer, I expect a much friendlier, welcoming environment where I do not feel discriminated against due to my ethnic background. What I encountered at Zocalo was a form of envy as well as self-hatred.
If you, the reader, are Hispanic, you have been warned, and that, in my honest opinion, is not only ironic, but also very upsetting and disappointing. You can guarantee that I will no longer be eating at this restaurant. -
Review from Matt S.
Arlington, MA
Updated - 11/28/2011
Been back several times. The waiter's been pretty cool since. Must've had a bad night on our first night, lol.
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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10/23/2011
Best guac ever. That ain't no lie. Also amazing pork soup and red wine sangria (though I don't… Read more »
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Review from A D.
Boston, MA
10/7/2011
Got home from work today and the fiance and I were both exhausted. We recently moved to Arlington and Zocalo is less than a 5 minute walk from our place, so we decided to give it a try. I'm a big fan of Mexican and would love to have a go- to place just down the street!
We walked in around 6 and the place was pretty much empty. We were quickly seated in front. As others have said the place is pretty cramped, but since it was so early we really didn't have a problem.
APPS/ DRINKS: When seated we were presented with chips and house salsa. The chips were very mediocre (pretty sure they are from a bag...), but the salsa was very good. We also ordered guac which was also pretty tasty... but for $8.50 it better be!
DINNER: I ordered the chile rellenos stuffed with cheese and pork. The finance ordered chicken mole enchiladas. I'd say the chile rellenos were 2 stars. They came out on a cold plate and the batter wasn't very crisp. Once I cut into it, the pork tasted great but the rest of the flavors were kind of lost. My fiance's enchiladas were absolutely 4 stars. Great enchiladas with an awesome mole sauce!
SERVICE: I really don't know what to say about this. The service was by no means bad, but I wouldn't rave about it. Our drinks and food came out quickly, but I kind of felt like we our waiter didn't really care if we were there or not....
Overall a good dinner. Given that it's so close by, we will be back. With that said, if it was across town I wouldn't be rushing back. -
Review from Tanvi D.
Cambridge, MA
3/8/2011 1 Check-in Here
We love this place. I've been going here for the past 10 years or so. As of recently it seems like the quality of food has definitely gotten better. We usually end up getting their Enchilada Ole which are wonderfully stuffed with potatoes and peppers. They have the perfect amount of sauce and cheese on them and are served with rice, beans, salsa and sour cream.. yumm!
The salsa that they serve with chips and salsa is very mild and could use a little heat. Fresh guacamole is really nice too.
Will definitely keep going back.. -
Review from TheHungryCouple X.
Boston, MA
4/15/2011
HIM: As a Mexican food lover and a past visitor to Old town Sandiego, this place really hit the spot! I like places that you can walk into and for a split second forget where you are.
I think the only thing from keeping it 5 stars is the parking, no full bar,and seating availability on a busy night due to it being a smaller place. Every thing seems really Authentic. We usually start off with a picture of Red Sangria, served with fresh fruit and Cinnamon sticks. I'll be honest, a little disappointed that a Margarita is not an option here, I'm sure they would do it up right.
I recommend the guacamole, its chunky with pieces of avocado, red onion and a hint of lime, it was some of the best I had.
I've been to several Mexican restaurants, and for some reason this one just stood out as more enjoyable experience. Eating Mexican food should not only taste good it should be fun. On the weekends, If there was a little more room or space set aside, a little 2 or 3 man Mexican live music would top it all off. -
Review from allie a.
Arlington, MA
7/17/2011
How come I don't like this place? It seems that I should because it has all the makings of a great restaurant--outdoor seating, real Mexican cuisine, and a lively atmosphere. I've gone a few times, just to be sure to give it another chance. But it just disappoints time and time again when it comes to the food. It really is just so-so.
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Review from Andrew N.
Arlington, MA
11/9/2010
Meh, I'm not excited.
The service is good, the atmosphere is nice, prices are reasonable and there are Mexican beers and drinks to choose from and those are the only things keeping this a 3 star.
As previous reviewers have said before me, the guacamole is a popular thing to get but its just not up to par with me, its very creamy and I prefer chunky guacamole.
During my first visit, I had the Carnitas Verdes Enchilada, they use a lot of seasoning on this dish so you taste a lot of different flavors. The second visit, a burrito which was not has heavily seasoned. Side dishes like beans are forgettable. The food here is average, not anything to remember but better than a kick in the teeth. I just don't see what people are raving about. See for yourself. -
Review from Jen W.
Arlington, MA
12/15/2010
I love Zocalo. I am vegetarian, so I usually end up with a veggie and cheese dish...man the cheese they use is soooo good. I love Mexican food, their rice is pretty great, and their sangria is always amazing. They have several kinds always with different fruit and I love it! They're walking distance for me as well and that makes it even better.
We've even gotten take out from them, and the food is always amazing. Thanks Zocalo! -
Review from Melissa M.
Medford, MA
5/5/2010
My love for Zocalo is undeniable. I've been to their Brighton location more times I can count and recently moved to Medford and was beyond thrilled to find out there is another Zocalo right down the street from me.
First of all, you are going to want to order a mango sangria and an order of guacamole. You will thank me later.
Second, you will want to order the Pollo con Mole. The chocolate chile mole sauce is so freaking delicious. The chicken is always perfectly cooked and the amount of rice and black beans they give you are always just enough.
I'm not sure if they have plantains here (they do in Brighton) and I plan on becoming a regular and will go back next week to find out.
The service was great and the price is nice.
I can't wait to come back and hope they never leave the area. -
Review from Erik S.
Cambridge, MA
9/26/2010
I'd like to start off by saying that the service at Zocalo is excellent. The food, unfortunately, is not.
The host and our waiter were both very accommodating and competent. We were seated right away and the waiter gave us the perfect amount of time to order. Seeing that we didn't know what we were going to order for dinner, he aptly took requests for our drinks and appetizer and came back a few minutes later to take our entree order.
The guacamole bowl with chips was big, but the chips were purchased and the guac was bland. The iced-t that my wife and I ordered came in a can. The carnitas enchilada I ordered was bland and uninspired. The black beans were quite tasty though. I was expecting a lot from this establishment and unfortunately, they didn't quite deliver. -
Review from Audrey K.
5/21/2010
This place is pretty good, from atmosphere, food to value. The restaurant itself is quite roomy and has a nice, dark mood about it. I actually went here after all the hype about their sangria, which was deeeelish. It was strong and held a whole cinnamon stick in each glass.
The food was good too, I remember the plantains distinctly - so good. As for the rest of the dish, I am actually drawing quite a blank. The rice was shape in a pyramid, which weirds me out a bit and on a big square dish, there was very little food to eat, in various shapes/designs. But I'm thinking maybe I mis-ordered because that picture of the enchilada's looks just amazing.
Definitely worth going for the cold pitcher of sangria, yum. -
Review from Casey D.
Medford, MA
1/8/2011
Thumbs down!!
Ate less than half my food, and I was pregnant AND dying for Mexican.
Dry, crappy rice. Fake guac in my crappy enchilada (which did not have enchilada sauce). Why??
Husband's food was equally crappy.
Ordered the Tostada de Nopales app. Meh.
Supermarket chips??? Not homemade like every other Mexican place around?? Almost a deal-breaker right there!
Service was fine. Restaurant was clean enough. Food was an enormous disappointment. I can't for the life of me imagine what these good reviews are for.
Only gets a second star because I didn't hurl after eating it. -
Review from Ben G.
9/9/2009 ROTD 7/26/2010
In my eyes, Zocalo has the BIG 3 when it comes to great Mexican food. The first being they're guacamole. As I'm sure you've read below this place has amazing gauc assembled table side for your dining pleasure. You want it spicy, say so. You want it with extra cilantro ( i def do ) then speak up. Maybe your not on a date and you want extra garlic. The world is your oyster, when it comes to the gauc at Zocalo.
Next they have delicious adult beverages, we're talking many different varieties of sangria along with margaritas, mojitos and all the super light Mexican beer you can dream up. But what really sends me over the edge of pleasure-town, is the fish tacos.
I've tried a few other dishes here but when it comes down to it, on my last 5 visits, i have gone exclusively fish tacos. In fact, I'd say that Zocalo gives la verdad a run for they're money when it comes down to the fish tacos.
All in All, this is great spot. The price is right, the gauc is great and the fish tacos, well those are beyond words my friends.Listed in: The first date list...
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Review from Stacy B.
Brighton, MA
10/22/2009
I moved to the Boston area 6 years ago, and I moved from Reno, NV, a land with abundant Mexican Cuisine.
What the hell, Boston? I feel like you exile Mexican Cuisine, just as much as you do Walmart.
Then, after 6 years, I finally stumbled across this little gem. Seriously, keep your eyes open or you'll miss it.
'Cause it's Schminger Lickin' Good!
In addition to an at-your-table guacamole service, they have an entire menu dedicated to the art of stuffing a chili pepper. And they are all good.
It's small... no large groups please. Everyone else will hate you. Good for date nights though, although, I think my boyfriend is about to ban the search for Mexican Restaurants.
I guess if I had to say something bad, it would be the fact that they do not serve margaritas. They do have some pretty fantastic sangria though.
Zocalo: A Mexican Restaurant that deserves a tongue roll.Listed in: The 3rd Place(s)
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Review from Bob S.
Harvard, MA
5/29/2011 1 Check-in Here
Great Mexican. Authentic!
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Review from Lindsay R.
Medford, MA
8/2/2009
You can't call yourself a true Mexican restaurant if you don't make your own chips. I was instantly put off when these were put on our table.
Also the $15 pitcher of Sangria was pathetic. Chilled red wine and diced green apple just doesn't cut it for me. Service was mediocre at best. My Enchiladas Carnitas however were pretty tasty. Overall there are many Mexican restaurants in my book I would choose over this. To be quite honest Chipotle might have been more satisfying. -
Review from Beth M.
4/16/2008
I really love enchiladas. They are my favorite mexican fare, because what could be better than warm lovely tortillas stuffed with goodness and smothered in melted cheese and savory sauces?
I think that's why I enjoy Zocalo so very much-- the enchiladas are amazing. They have this house special orange/tomato sauce that is so fresh and yummy...the chicken is super tender...paired with a side of guac and a sprinkle of cheese on top...delicious. My husband also enjoys their mole, which I've sampled and though it's not as good as the orange or verde sauce, it's still pretty tasty.
The sangria here is really great too, as well as the guac made table side and the chips and salsa (although I agree that the salsa is sometimes a bit watery). The space is tiny, a bit cramped, but still cozy and inviting. The wait can get overwhelming on weekends, but if you go on the late side, after 9 or so, it clears out. The service is friendly and quick, but they don't rush you the way you might expect for such a busy place.
Zocalo is a great place to come with friends for a few drinks and a yummy, laid back meal. I shall definitely return when the enchilada craving descends yet again, as it so often does. -
Review from andrea a.
Adamsville, RI
6/3/2009
I had really high hopes for this place. Zagat Boston rated it the best Mexican restaurant in Boston, I had to see what went on in this little hideaway in the side streets of Arlington. The waiter seemed nice, a little distant but not rude. For starters we ordered tostadas. They had a quaint homey freshness to them, but nothing incredibly impressive. I ordered my favorite mexican dish, Mole enchiladas, my (now) ex ordered this grilled citrus chicken dish.
I won't say I hated it. I wont even say I didn't like it. We left fairly disappointed but again, not because of the lack of service, or lack of taste, or even bad taste... just for the over amped reviews from zagat... which I no longer trust (FOREVER YELP! YAY!). My enchiladas were a little on the warm side, which I don't mind for takeout, but it says a lot about the restaurant when done in the dining room. The filling was okay, I wish they had more smokiness, the flavor of the chicken contradicted that of the mole. As for the actual mole, I've tasted better but I've tasted worse, again just coasting by. My ex's chicken was a little on the dry and bland side. The accompanying dishes were better than the main focus: the chicken. The pico I must say was very good, very fresh, cilantroey and tangy, I wish it was a teeny bit spicier but what can you do?
So did I hate this place? No. Did I like this place? No. For what the food was I would have rather gone to Taqueria Mexico in Waltham, which for the price I could have eaten just as much and filled my gas tank. Seriously Zocalo, sixty-five dollars!? And you Zagat, shame on you! Eager diners look to you for guidance, advice, and legitimate reviews! The best Mexican restaurant in Boston!? surely you jest! -
Review from Susan D.
Burlington, MA
12/21/2006
I dined here Wednesday evening around 5:30ish. I will start with the pros. I enjoyed the red sangria with a long cinnamon stick to stir and sniff. The ~$9 guacamole was presented very well in a huge black rock pedestal bowl. Very fresh tasting as it was made on the spot by the side of the restaurant. It could have been spicier and have more cilantro, but I am normally out-numbered when determining how spicy things should be. I enjoy that punch.
On to the cons, my entree of fried fish tacos on corn tortilla with radishes and cabbage was mediocre at best. Sort of bland tasting, soggy tortilla. Again had to ask for extra hot sauce on the side for any flavor. I have had much much better fish tacos at Rudy's Cafe (~$10) down the street from Davis Square & anywhere in San Diego (Mexican food was a dream there).
The fish taco portion was small (3 small (2.5 oz) fried fish pieces inside 3 small corn tortillas) for ~$13. I had trouble finding the fish sometimes.I thought it would have made a good appetizer. They included a side plate of fillers - brown beans that you can get from a can and reddish rice with absolutely no flavor. I hoped for more, but was unfortunately disappointed. Why was this Mexican restaurant afraid of spices, garlic, and onions?? And going under various names - Zagat referred vs storefront was confusing to us passer-byers.
Only redeeming quality was the attentive waitstaff and sangria. Red is best. -
Review from Gretchen M.
Lexington, MA
7/10/2010
Holy awesomeness. GO HERE.
I said to my husband that this place is fancy and has beautiful decor but is at the same time very down to business - fast service, efficient, however you don't feel rushed. A nice dinner but you don't have to wait around and wonder where your food is.
Right away they serve you tortillas and amazing salsa at your table free of charge. We also got the guacamole appetizer which I think is DELICIOUS but a little steep at 8.50 just for a bowl of guac but hey, this business deserves to be kept in business so I don't mind paying a bit more.
We had the fish tacos and pollo enchilada as entrees - both really good. The fish tacos were to die for in my opinion. Not very fishy tasting for those who are a bit timid. Very uniquely put together.
Total bill was 38.00 for two people for an appetizer and two entrees. Not bad I say!
We'll be back. I want to sit outside for lunch sometime soon and then take a siesta from 2 - 5 pm just like the restaurant does...(that is something to be aware of...make sure you don't go during those hours)
Ole! -
Review from Tanya V.
5/1/2011
Good mexican dishes and interesting drinks. One of the best items we had was an appetizer with cactus and other spicy bits. Really creative and fresh. Expect a short wait on a weekend evening, and a tight small space for your table.
-
Review from Shane F.
Cambridge, MA
3/2/2007
Let's start by taking off a star for being in Arlington and therefor suffering from those things that afflict all Arlington restaurants, (like not serving liquor and being smack dab in the middle of nowhere).
I won't let this effect my rating but I went with a group of nine and our waiter wasn't quite up to the challenge. Our water glasses were never refilled. It is a small restaurant and really not prepared for large groups so I would not go again with more than four people.
Now I'll add five stars because somebody in the kitchen clearly knows how to handle poblano peppers like nobodies business. The sweet tangy flavor of the pepper is brought out without suffering from any greasiness or soggy pepper texture. I absolutely love everything they do with peppers here.
The chocolate bread pudding was yummy but I am not going to rate a Mexican restaurant on its deserts. -
Review from J B.
Washington, DC
7/4/2011
I decided to try this place after seeing great reviews on here...and I was unfortunately quite disappointed in many aspects. There were only two people waiting tables in the entire place, so they gave no attention to us. We waited 15 minutes for our drinks to be served. The appetizer and our dinner came together. I'd ordered a burrito, which came out cold and tasted pretty awful...it was pretty dry and plain tasting.
Positives - good atmosphere, chips and salsa were decent. Loved the cozy feeling of the place. I just wish my food had been better, and that we had been better served. -
Review from Christopher S.
Newton, MA
5/21/2010
Thanks to UYE's from fellow Yelpers I got exposed to Zocalo in Brighton. It's a really great place for upscale(ish) Mexican food. However, one of my dislikes about the Brighton location is getting there by car and finding parking. So, last week my girlfriend and I were in the mood for Zocalo but didn't want to fuss with circling the block numerous times to park the car. Then I had the idea to visit Zocalo's other location in Arlington and see what it had to offer.
A short drive later we arrived at the restaurant and parked the car a few feet away from the entrance. First impression: this place is small. I'd say the sitting area is no bigger than a few walk-in closets fused together. There is not a lot of walking room and even with some space you still have to squeeze between dining room chairs and tables to get around. But really, I don't think you'll be moving around a lot while eating.
So when we were greeted by the hostess I expected we would be shown to the dining room...nope. Instead we sat in the entryway were a few tables are set just on the other side of the take-out counter which was a little odd. But we didn't let that spoil our evening. Knowing in advance what we wanted for dinner we ordered the Guacamole as an appetizer which was "made-to-order." Here is an interesting fact: Cilantro, to a few including my girlfriend, can taste like soap. Yes, soap! Needless to say, she cannot eat Cilantro. Thankfully Zocalo was happy to serve us Cilantro-free Guacamole! (Chorus of Angels)
As we were finishing our tasty tortilla chips covered in Guacamole our dinner arrived. Two heaping plates of Enchiladas Chicken Mole & Enchilada Ole! These two plates filled with large wrapped flour tortillas, mexican rice and a pool of black beans. As we cut into each Tortilla juicy tender meat was exposed bathed in a savory sauce. Each bite was full of flavor and mixed very well with the rice or beans. What I especially like was that the portions were well balanced: not too much or too little.
The food here is very good and if you don't want to deal with large crowds and tough parking then this is a great alternative. The staff is equally friend and helpful as the Brighton location. -
Review from Ger T.
Arlington, MA
7/8/2008
I was blown away by the food here. Growing up in Texas, I've tried all kinds of Tex-Mex and "Mexican" and entered Zocalo expecting more of the same - huge portions with lots of cheese and sauces and meat. Was I ever surprised to open the menu and find instead a selection that was actually NOT covered with cheese and actually seemed authentically Mexican! I've only ever had "real" Mexican food about twice in my life (both times in Mexico) so I can't say I'm an expert, but the freshness and the quality of Zocalo's cuisine really can't be beat. You almost forget you're in Massachusetts.
I HIGHLY recommend the guacamole...yes, it seems a bit pricey, but it is entirely worth it to see the giant stone bowl being brought out to your table in its cilantro and limey glory. Their sauces are very clean tasting, and I detected very little grease overall in their cooking, which is always a plus. Service was quick, and the decor was very bright and cheery, with a southwest/Latin casual fusion flair that I liked a lot. The only thing I'd caution is that the restaurant is tiny, so don't expect to be seated comfortably if you bring big groups. There's outdoor seating, but it's right on Broadway so I can't say much for the ambience.
A very upbeat place with great food that's good to chill out after a long day. Dress up or down, it doesn't really matter! -
Review from Kelly A.
1/31/2010
We found ourselves in the Cambridge area with some time to burn, and we were looking for a place where we could grab some dinner. The catch? It had to be SPICY. Maybe it's a wives' tale, but spicy food is supposed to send pregnant ladies into labor, and that's what I'm in the market for right now - labor-inducing spice.
We got to Zocalo around 6:45 and we had to wait maybe 10 minutes for a table. Unfortunately there is nowhere comfortable to wait, and we were constantly moving to get out of people's ways. We ended up getting a table in the front part of the restaurant, and that didn't help. 1) It was cold, 2) It was really cramped, and 3) we could hear every single thing that the couples on either side of us were talking about, as I'm sure they could hear all of our conversation. The tables were remarkably close together.
It took a while for anyone to come over to our table to take our drink order, and when the guy came, I was terribly disappointed to find out that they didn't have iced tea. I don't think I have ever been to a Mexican restaurant that didn't have freshly-brewed iced tea. Even chains like the Border Cafe and Margaritas have good iced tea. But Zocalo had none. So I asked for a big glass of ice water with lemon. Well they didn't have any "big glasses" (only the small glasses that they put on every table), they didn't have any lemon, and they didn't give me any ice, even though I asked multiple times for ice. ARGH.
We were happy to see that all the vegetarian options were noted with a little green pepper. That makes the choices easy. I decided to order the vegetarian enchilada, which I requested be made extra spicy. The mister ordered a vegetarian burrito.
While we waited for our food to arrive, we munched on the chips and salsa and a little side of guacamole that we ordered. The chips weren't hot or well-salted, but the salsa was really tomatoey and good. The guac was ok.
When our food arrived, it looked good. The enchiladas had black beans and rice alongside them, and they weren't covered in too much cheese. They were fairly spicy, but but not spicy enough to send me into labor unfortunately. They tasted pretty good. It doesn't take anything gourmet to impress the mister, but he wasn't impressed with his burrito. When I asked him how it was, his response was: "It's food." Wow. Not a good sign.
So the food had its ups and downs, but the service was just horrible from top to bottom. Ugh.
We won't be returning to Zocalo. -
Review from annie k.
Los Angeles, CA
10/25/2006
Disappointing. The place has a homey Mexican feel, but I don't think it's any more authentic than Border Cafe in Harvard Square. Frankly, I think Border Cafe is better than Zocalo.
The chips were mediocre--no better than those in the supermarket aisle. Salsa was watery and flavorless--the water kept running off the chip. The enchiladas ole were tangy and sweet rather than spicy and earthy. There was no flavor whatsoever in the awful black beans. The rice was only slightly better. Best was the chicken tamale, which was easily worse than those at Tacos Lupita, Taqueria Mexicana, and Boca Grande.
I felt this restaurant was a real-Mexican poseur, with flavors like those you'd find in a bottle of Pace picante sauce. Two stars may be appropriate for the food, but I'll drop a star because my waiter never refilled my water glass.
My opinion is obviously an outlier, because the place was doing good business. Nevertheless, I implore people to go instead to Tu y Yo, a mile or so down Broadway.
