Gallo Pelón Mezcaleria

I almost don't want to review Gallo Pelon because it's such a hidden gem that I want to keep secret. Upstairs from a different Mexican restaurant (same owners? Shared kitchen? No idea!). - Great ambience, bar, table seating, and this adorable courtyard with string lights. Would be a dope first date spot.- food is delish! Small menu but plenty of options for vegetarians too!- drinks are on point. If you love Mezcal, this is your place - so many options and cocktails. If you don't love Mezcal but love tequila - this is still your place!- service is good, the food comes up from downstairs in a little foot elevator in the wall behind the bar

I waited outside in a light sprinkle to check out Gallo Pelón. I was the first one through the door, and I was welcome by so many colorful faces of Frida Kalo, skeletons, and flowers. There was so much beauty in this restaurant. I took a seat at the bar as it had a plug and checked out their menu. You have to scan a QR code to access it, and it gives you a list of their drinks and food. Their food menu is not super extensive but has a focus on a few tacos, appetizers, and entrees. I couldn't decide between the guacamole and salsa with chips, but I was told by the waitress to go with the guacamole. It comes with a mix of three flavors of mango, cojita, and pepita (pumpkin seed). The manho was the best of the three. However, the quality was okay--it was a little runny for me, and there was nothing special about it. It was basic guacamole.I also got their chicken taco that was grilled to perfection and had a nice crunch to it as well. It could've used some salsa or creama. Looking back, I should've just gone with just the tacos.Minus a couple of stars for the weird atmosphere vibes and stares. The lady who served me did not seem happy that I was only drinking water despite ordering food. I wasn't drinking alcohol that evening, and I felt that force from the waiter as she asked me again and again about a drink.I think that this is a good place for just their drinks. I think the food is secondary to this and the taste and quality shows.

Wow, what a great bar! Loved it! The bartender Daniel was amazing at recommending Mezcals. I observed him with a number of customers and having them try samples to find the right Mezcal for them. He did that for me as well and I appreciated his knowledge even as someone who knows something about Mezcal already. I have a long way to go. I even followed him home and he just spoke to everyone he encountered about Mezcal. The stray cat was even more curious about Mezcal after his encounter.Back to the bar, and I'd go back to this bar in a Cicada second. The atmosphere is a bit dark and mysterious, with lots of little knick knacks around the bar and seating area.They had a decent food menu but the special when I was there was chori-pollo nachos. I'm a huge fan of chorizo and queso so this was a no brainer for me. So good with just the right amount of spice! Yum!The cocktail I ordered was elegant, refreshing and balanced with just the right amount of tequila and mezcal, freshness and smoking garnish that smelled amazing. Others at the bar commented on how good my drink smelled which I THINK is a first for me. Delicious concoction. I first went in to the bar downstairs, which turned out to be the Centro bar, so if you're looking for this place, go upstairs when you walk in. The stairwell is cool too. The folks at Centro were friendly and helpful as well, but I was in a Mezcal mood!I found out about it by looking at the list of top 25 mezcal bars on Yelp! Check out the list from US and Canada:https://blog.yelp.com/community/top-25-mezcal-bars-in-the-us-canada/They were closed on Mon/Tue and I was in town Mon-Thu, so I could only go one night. I would have ended every night here if they were open. Excellent Establishment. Loved it! Thank you for existing!TDLR - Go Here! Drink! Thank me!

A great place to frequent when you are craving for some Mexican food. They run weekly specials. On Wednesday's, it's usually choripollo nachos. Chicken, chorizo, queso, beans, guacamole, tomatoes, jalapeño creme and chips. The bartender is very knowledgeable of the drinks and even suggested something because I wasn't sure what I liked. Elotes fritos is much like the Mexican corn but in a deep fried ball. Delicious. The drink posted is a spicy margarita. It had just the right amount of spice and sour. I like that it wasn't too sweet.

I only ordered the tres Leche cake and I loved it. Great texture. Perfect moisture with the milks. A great combination of flavors with the raspberry syrup drizzle. I only came for dessert.

This was my second time dining at Gallo Pelón and it was just as good as the first! The guacamole could have used a little more flavor, but it was good. The tacos were AMAZING! My friend's first reaction to the Torta Corona was "this is the best sandwich I've ever had in my life". The service was amazing. The waiters, waitresses and bartenders were very kind and helpful. The ambiance was impeccable! Beautiful aesthetic and a great place for a night of drinks with friends or a date out on the rooftop!

Really nice tequila bar, very fancy mezcals you can order by a flight. The food is good too, I liked the torta but it's much better at El Toro, I think the bread they made the torta on was a little different than what I'm used to. I enjoyed the salad very much and the yucca fries were good too. Would come back to try their other foods and tequilas.

If you are in the area this is a must stop. Entrance is located upstairs of Centro. Small, intimate but very cool spot. Love their outside seating option.Lots of mezcal options, never had mezcal but the bartender helped me select my drink. I enjoy fruity drinks and he recommend Pearl River Plunge. The drink looked like a snow cone and tasted great. I love cucumber juice, I tried the Oaxacan Mule and hands down delicious!The taquitos were delicious- probably the best taquitos I've had in Raleigh. Perfectly seasoned, crunchy and VERY flavorful.Overall awesome experience- can't wait to be back and try other drink options.

Think speakeasy meets rooftop bar.... and then you arrive at Gallo Pelon! It's a cozy spot nestled above Centro restaurant in downtown Raleigh. Park in the nearby Wilmington St deck, walk up to Centro, and take the steps up. This little hidden gem serves up tasty cocktails & zesty bar snacks... yum!I love how dark it is - such a speakeasy feel! The rooftop patio is totally enclosed & has cool string lights above it, and it probably has 6-8 four-top tables on it. The bar seats 6 or so, and there are 3-4 tables inside too. There are bathrooms up there, and a dumbwaiter to bring food upstairs!The cocktails are on point, and the food is too. The spicy mezcal margarita called the Smokestack Lightning is great! For food, check out the guac & queso app, or for a bit more filling dish, grab the tinga tostones! The chicken is a little spicy & the tostones are cooked so perfectly. They have a Mexican take on poutine with yuca fries, but they're not mi favorito. Cocktails are $10-12, and food is between $8-15.All in all, Gallo Pelon should be on your list to check out in downtown Raleigh.... it's unique, quaint, and freakin tasty!

This place never dissapoints! Wish portions were a bit larger though or that it comes with a side at least. The drinks are amazing, the food is delicious and the dessert is spectacular!