Zocalo

Big ceilings, great service, good food. The building was a car dealership in the '20's. Kind of a classy place in Midtown (the best neighborhood in Sac), I went here on a first date of sorts and it was a nice choice.

This restaurant is nice. they are in a great location. walking distance to alot of places/stores/shops in the downtown area

A group of 11 of us made reservations for a Thursday night at Zocalo's and I was looking forward to going since I heard great things about this place! Well right when we get there they said they gave our table away to another party. So we had to wait about 30 minutes for another table. Everyone on our table ordered something different and all the food looked really strange and most of us either didn't eat our food or got a to-go-box. My friend got carnitas and it consisted of a mound of meat and a mound of onions- it looked pretty bad! I orded tostadas and they were really small and just not very good! I left Zocals still hungry and really dissapointed in the place. I recomend going to Chipotle down the street because it will be fast and your food will be much better tasting at a much cheaper price!

Ate here on a recent trip to Sacramento. The day was raining and cold, but the restaurant was warm and inviting. We received prompt service and the staff was friendly. The food was very good. We even got a bonus at the end of the meal when one of the staff wanted us to try something he was making for a bigger party. It was very good and free. The decor was nice and interesting. Don't see many stone tables in restaurant's. I would definately make this a return if I find myself in Sacramento again.

Zocalo is a perfect lunch, dinner or happy hour spot. The menu is varied with excellent interpretations of Mexican favorites and some inter...

My friends and I all visited Zocalo's for dinner recently and were stunned by the incredibly SLOW service. We waited nearly two hours for our food. Granted it was a busy night, however, when you see tables that arrived after you being served first it is quite irritating. After such a long wait we were hoping to be wowed by the food quality and that just wasn't the case. The food was very mediocre and the portions were very small for the price. The drinks were way overpriced as well...which I suppose is to be expected but when coupled with the poor service and overpriced/mediocre food it makes for a very negative dining experience. This place just isn't worth the visit.

We were invited to this restaurant by friends that have been there several times through out the opening... WE looked on line for reviews... and saw a lot of whiney customers.... OK so the girls like to chat w/ bartenders and sometimes they take longer... however IT's A PARTY BAR!... and if you go on the weekends expect to wait or make a reservation!. THE food we ordered was outstanding, fresh and HOT! OUR server was a man! and the side show of the women coming and going was the best part of the evening! IF you want a quite relaxing atmosphere ... find another place. We would go back in a minute. And I happen to be a real picky person when it comes to service... BUT the food makes up for the wait. IT's a hot spot and they line up to come inside! IF I was 25 again... I would be there on the weekend regularly.... SIT outside if you can ... it's a free show!

this is a nice place for mexican food located downtown. they give you different dipping sauces for the chips which is really good and the e...

I've been to Zocalo at least 15 times...and I want to love it. I really really want to, but the fact is that the food is terrible and the service is worse. During my last experience there, we were a group of 6 and all of our food came out except for one person's...who ordered a quesadilla. We were all done with our food before we could even get the server's attention again, and he apologized for not having the quesadilla out. Another 15 minutes went by with no quesadilla, and one of us got up from our table to go ask for a manager. They didn't even send the manager over! They sent back the waiter instead! We insisted on seeing a manager, who finally came over and was VERY unsympathetic. 5 minutes later they tried to serve the quesadilla and we turned it down and asked for our bill instead. Now get this....20 MINUTES LATER...we still didn't have a bill and had to go ask for it again! It was truly unbelievable, and they didn't comp one thing on the bill. This last experience w... Read more

This is a very nice restaurant. Has nice ambiance inside and nice outside seating. The food was served promptly and nicely presented on the plate. It was difficult however after I received my bill to get our waiters attention because they'd made a mistake, instead of a $3 soup I was charged $30 for the soup. After trying to flag down our waitress we had to walk inside to their station and they had to hunt down our waitress. Once that was done our bill was corrected quickly and she apologized. I'd still go back, just haven't had the time.

The one good thing about this place is the atmosphere. However, the food is expensive and the portions are so tiny that I always leave hungry and wishing I never went there. The food is not that good.

I've been here before and the food was far below average; Over-priced, luke-warm, no flavor, slow, lack-luster service. Well, I was forced to go back for a friends birthday, even though I highly recommened against it, and nothing has changed. The mgmt think just because of their location and decor, that they can churn out this barely edible food. Do yourself a favor, if you have any taste for good food at all, go somewhere else, ANYWHERE else, than this travesty of so-called "Authentic Mexican cuisine".

One thing I love is a good dinner. I don't get out that much to often because I work a lot. So I went to Zocalo for some food and drinks to unwind. It's consistent on two services. Stellar mexican food and waitresses that feel sorry for themselves and don't want to work. So tired of it. The last one we had named Maria liked talking to the bartender more than taking care of her 3 tables. It sounds petty, but when a 45 minute meal turns into an hour and half on slow night is ridiculous.

Zocalo is one of my favorite places for lunch and one of my favorite for drinks! The blackberry margaritas are awesome. Last time I was there we had a group of 8 and the server was very attentive. And the owners are always there to ensure service and food quality are the best. I can't wait until spring so we can sit outside again and watch people walk by. Overall, I rate Zoc a 10.

My wife and I had heard how great the food and atmosphere was at Zocalos. When we were seated the booth was very small and the server seemed like she would rather be somewhere else. The atmosphere was stuffy at best. The food was poor, I just do not understand why restaurants want to take a classic like tacos and try to make a designer food out of them. The prices would have been ok if the food was better. I will not go back.

I had lunch with a friend here back in the summer. We loved the outdoor dining area, and also huge open windows (so if you did sit inside, you could feel like you were outside). The food is definitely mexican, but not the usual greasy, cheesy, mass-produced fare you find at Chevy's or El Torito. Ingredients are fresh and healthful. The menu is HUGE. You are sure to find something you'll like. I think it's a bit overpriced, but it's partly the style of the place and partly its location that contributes to the cost. I loved the three salsa/dip options that accompanied the chips with the meal. They were all unique and delicious and fresh.

I've been here numerous times, hoping the food will improve but am constantly disappointed. Food is over-priced, lacks originality, and is luke-warm with lazy service. If you are hungry, don't come here but if you want to people watch and get drinks at a cool bar in a nice area, this is your place.

Dinner is good- better than most mexican restaurants in the area - but not "great." The brunch menu lacks diversity and is in many ways a toned-down version of the dinner menu, except with eggs. The restaurant is a haven for Sacramento's faux-hipsters and folks just old enough to order/afford drinks at the bar without really knowing what a good drink is. Unfortunately, the place is transformed into a total meat market during rush hour. If you're there for the food, avoid the place during the rush from Thursday to Saturday. Brunch is also pretty forgettable.

Authentic Mexican cuisine is served at the restaurant that offers wine tastings, outdoor dining , brunch and cocktails.

I've been to this spot quite a few times and not once have enjoyed what I've ordered. I always try something new in hopes that it will be good. Their chips and salsa aren't bad and drinks are good anywhere. The atmosphere is what makes the place but the food is below average. The ONLY reason I go back is because whoever I'm out with really wants to go there (not sure why), so I go hoping it will be a better experience. I have come to the conclusion that the only 'highly recommended" ratings were only there for the atmosphere and bar... not for the dish. It's definately a hip place if you're not eating.

Waited for over two hours . . .. poor customer service as far as management and greeters. We were told our wait would be an hour. Bartenders were great! Definately overpriced. Only recomend small parties!!!!!

omg, eating at this place is like being kicked in the nuts by a battletoad, it's seriously that bitchin'. When my buddy Tad told me that we were going to Zocalo, i was like, "ALRIGHT, what's going on here?", you know?!!? Then i got there (after driving, like, 10 minutes in the car) and i was so goshdarn impressed with all the parking out front that i was like, "this is probably gonna be a pretty sweet place to park in about 1 second, Tad." Sure enough, IT WAS!! We found parking 1 second after i said that and i parked with ease. I walked into Zocalo and ate my food and then left. Guess what? NOBODY HAD PARKED NEXT TO MY CAR - AWESOME. This place is probably the coolest place in the city. i saw lots there.

We had received a gift certificate for Zocalo. Based on its location and the graphics on our gift certificate were expecting a trendy restaurant with high prices and so-so food. We are distinctly untrendy people, dont like noisy restaurants, and did not have high hopes. We were there for a late lunch, so the restaurant was probably at low ebb in terms of noise. While it was far from quiet, noise was not a problem. I imagine that the place can be loud and boisterous on a busy bar night. Service was quick and attentive, the menu varied and interesting, presentation attractive and imaginative. Best of all, and most surprising, was the food. The enchiladas poblana was the best Ive ever tasted, served family style with side dishes of two kinds of beans and cilantro rice that was absolutely fantastic. Their prices were also surprising. A wonderful lunch for two people cost less than twenty dollars.

I love Zocalo's, whenever out of towners visit, we bring them here and they agree. For me, the true test of a mexican restaurant are the margaritas, chips and salsa. The margaritas are the best! And the chips are served with three types of delicous salsa. Don't forget to order guacamole. On a hot summer night margaritas and guacamole are all I need for dinner. There is plenty of outdoor seating and this place is a great meeting spot on the weekends.

I heard from numerous friends how great Zocalo's food/ambience is but was highly disappointed when I experienced it myself! I went to Zocala's for the first (and last) time with a group of girlfriends for a birthday celebration! Our waitress was inattentive and pre-occupied with other bar patrons, we actually had to get our own water! The food was grossly overpriced for lukewarm cheese enchiladas ($17.00) and although the atmosphere was upbeat and fun, the food was nothing to write home about and the service lacked in every way!

my friends were really telling me about this place, since i moved out of sac and to the SF, i have been into checking out new restaurants in SF and Sacramento. I love the fact that there are more different kinds of restaurant in sac. This place was over rated by friends, the service was bad! the place looks nice, but to me its like its either a night club or a place to eat. the music was way to loud i think if the bar was just away from the tables would have been a little better. I would recommend if you want to go meet people, while you are eating and drinking. Its not a place for just some food.

Zocalos is really cool! The atmosphere is great and the food is good too! It is awesome for big parties if you can get into the back room!

I have been waiting for a cool mexican restaraunt to open up because i love mexican food, but i want to be able to dress up when i go out. This place is definetly the place to be thursday - saturday, the bar scene is great! it's a little akward because it is in the middle of the restaraunt, so everyone can hear the noise, but who wants a hip and trendy retaurant to be quiet on the weekend?! The decor is fabulous and the food is great! The portions of food are way more than i could ever eat so i would say the value is on target and the margaritas are probably one of the best i've ever had! All in all, i think everyone should go and experience it for themselves! It was fantastic for me!

It is clear that a lot of money was pumped into this place. The interior is fabulous. Unfortunately, this is overshadowed by the loud, boisterous bar scene, overpriced (but good) food, lackluster service, and apathetic management. What could be a classy and elegant dining establishment is, sadly, more like a nightclub. Our server was extremely busy flirting with bar patrons. The bartenders were openly drinking on the job. When our order was mishandled, no manager could seem to find the time to come to our table. We left highly disappointed and unlikely to return. This restaurant could be so much more than it has become.

centro cocina used to be the spot now this place is far better, better service, drinks and food thier cesar salad is so good and try the red dress drink it is so good too