Centro

Great food, margaritas and service! We even got chosen randomly a free pitcher on cinco de mayo weekend, so they took it off our tab at the end. Has the burrito, enchiladas, queso and classic margarita. Everything was great!

Met several friends for dinner here. Cute spot downtown -- we were at a cozy table under the stairs beside the bar. Didn't order a cocktail but they looked amazing. We ordered chips, salsa and queso for the table. All were delicious. I ordered the centro bowl with chicken for my entree. It was the perfect amount of each ingredient in the bowl. I'm not normally a guacamole fan but it just with with the bowl and was quite tasty. Waitress was attentive without being overbearing. I look forward to returning and trying some cocktails and a different entree.

My wife and I came here on a Friday night. I'd made a reservation for us the day before since I wasn't sure how busy they'd be--there were a few open tables when we arrived (7:45PM), but it definitely seemed like it would fill up quickly so I recommend making a reservation if you plan to visit on a weekend!The service was wonderful--our waitress was attentive and kind.The decor and the smell of all the delicious food truly makes you feel like you're in an abuela's home!What really sold me here was that they give back to the community--$2 of the cost of the Veronica drink are donated to the Carolina abortion fund, and $2 of the Pride Jarritos drink are donated to the LGBT center of Raleigh.And the FOOD--my goodness, everything was delicious. We had the chips and queso, the enchilada plate, the ignacios (nachos), and the tres leches cake. The queso was perfectly flavored (nothing like bland store-bought queso), and the nachos had a great ratio of toppings to chips. The only thing I would change about them is to ask for additional black beans on top--it says they come with "beans" on the menu, but really it's just a very thin layer of bean paste on the bottom. As a vegetarian, I was hoping for a little more protein. On that note, if you are vegetarian do note that this place has a limited number of options per the menu. I was happy with the nachos as it was though! And it could be that they're amenable to making a dish vegetarian, but I didn't ask.It is a bit pricey here--the enchilada plate was $17, the nachos were $12, chips and queso were $9, and our drinks were $12-15 each. However, I'm happy to pay that in order to support a small local business delivering such fresh, delicious food.

I have visited Gallo Pelon that is located above Centro (it is a must visit) so I was excited to check out Centro on this most recent visit. We started off with cocktails, it was one of the drink specials for my husband and the aniversario followed by the picosita (with half of the heat) for me. The picosita was so good. For food we started with the chips & guacamole then it was the Enchiladas de la Familia for my husband and the Mole Poblano for me. I knew I had to save room for dessert because Tres Leches was on the menu. The food and service were both good.

Oh, Centro. We had such a good thing going. Once upon a time, you were Raleigh's crown jewel - the owner often present, dishes so fresh they might've just been picked from a garden. But lately? My enchiladas felt more like a microwave's handiwork than a chef's. For seventeen bucks, I was hoping for more than a lukewarm and crunchy enchilada. I get it, times are tough, and online ordering might save on staffing costs. But the service? Friendly, yet it's like watching paint dry. And about that tipping - starting at 20% on the tax-included total and reaching for the 30% stars? It's ambitious, to put it nicely.I'll always have a soft spot for our good old days, Centro. But I've sidestepped into a new dining dance partner who's got the rhythm just right. Keep that chin up and the recipes fresher!

So glad Centro is back for inside dining. I usually get tacos but went for chilaquiles this time. Sooo good on a chilly day! The green tomatillo sauce mixed with the creamy cheese making a delicious casserole with the corn tortillas and fried egg. I added chicken but didn't even need it because it was so hardy. My husband always gets the enchiladas de familia and he loves them- steak, chicken, & bean. I also have a love affair with their perfectly fried tortilla chips and the best salsa in downtown Raleigh. Beware that it is super cold inside the restaurant right now. No idea why but I had to dine with my winter coat on.

Went to Centro Saturday for lunch. And of course in Raleigh, concept of Sunday Brunch is lost on the restaurants here. Why not just leave it to Sunday. It makes it more special. Back to review.It seems they have come up with a touch-less ordering system. The app had many many glitches and QR code is hit or miss in terms of readability. Service was poor and person available said if it doesn't work, go to the bar and order... rather carelessly. She couldn't care less. Bar was 5 orders deep and required waiting their. And since one of our guests didn't show yet, we couldn't just order appetizers. One person at table got menu up and it is a limited brunch menu - Of Course! And we came for Mexican food. The whole experience was a nightmare!!!! Please don't bother going for a sit down meal... or fire the person who developed their app. And redo it. In meantime... We figured out if we order all the courses including dessert all at once like you do at a fast food chain, it can actually work. "You want fries with that?". BTW... I am a deeply tech person and have been using Every app available at restaurants for a decade or more. Never have I experience this. I am not even expressing the frustration well enough. And with the flippant nature of the woman working the floor..... Wasn't willing to take an order. App wasnt working still... orders were submitted and sauce selections etc were glitchy and get kicking us out. We finally ordered at Bar... it took three separate attempts to go to the bar because we had to wait for someone to acknowledge our presence. Because... as a bar, your priority is to serve drinks which are a quadruple margin business compared to food for any restaurant. Food orders were lower priority. It took three tries of going to the bar to get their attention to order. The hostess at podium out front intervened to take our order finally. Thank god.For the food... it was actually delicious. Hence two stars. Thought of giving 3 stars BUT... it was a nightmare and who wants that on their Saturday? It's my fun day! We ordered tacos and enchiladas. They were delicious. Guac and chips... ordered but guac was so-so. I have made tons better. it was light on lime, Jalapeño, and salt, and missing garlic or onion flavoring. Bland and gringo style but with fresh avocado. Would I go there again? Never for a sit down. It in my book is a take-away or uber eats only kind of place. Better places to repeat if you want Mexican... GO TO VIRGIL's INSTEAD!!!! Please!!!!! Service with a smile, huge variety and tasty street tacos and more, bar is awesome with drinks, and service is excellent and person... they also have online ordering, take away and more.Centro all-in-all sucks in experience. It was utter chaos and disaster. If you want to add stress to your life, by all means go... sit down and eat there and you will get a rather nice but ADHD server and no food or drink for 30 mins... other than water for the table. With patience and many attempts, you might get your food. Good luck Centro... the cloud/app based touch-less worls is NOT for you. Either go back to a human interface service or close down. Not repeating this one!!!!

Such good food, I just wish I was actually waited on. I get the arguments for QR code restaurants, but that doesn't mean I like it!

Yesssss!! Love it! I ordered the lunch special chorizo tacos, IT WAS SO GOOD!! I loved the meat, pickled onions, and the jalapeno sauce! The place was so cool, very different from what other stores are like. The decor is very reminiscent and authentic. The ordering system was so cool. Overall, I loved it! Would definitely recommend and come back!

If you dine at the restaurant downstairs, get the enchilada plate! Best enchilada experience in all of Raleigh. The upstairs mezcal bar is so fun and the bartenders are adorable.