Review: Zocalo

I finally went to Zocalo on Commonwealth Avenue in Brighton. They serve Mexican food. I can't attest to its authenticness, but it is probably more authentic than chains like Anna's and Qdoba. Due to the closeness of the tables and the general cheery din of the waiters, upbeat music, and other patrons' conversations, it would be better for a dinner with friends than a romantic date. The candles on the table are nice though. If you can, get a seat near the floor to ceiling window that faces Commonwealth. It's great for people watching and makes you feel a bit more private.

The food was a bit pricey for what is was (it cost $6.50 for chips and guacamole!), but the service was quick and non-intrusive. Although the restaurant was busy, everything came out promptly. The waiters didn't ignore you, and they also didn't constantly ask you how you were doing. Instead, they seemed to know exactly when you were finished and promptly took the plates away without a long wait.

I got the carnitas. The meat was a bit dry, but it was still tasty. The portions here are not the oversized as they are in many places. If I liked black beans, it would have been the perfect size to eat all of it and not feel hungry or overfull. For dessert, I tried flan. Since I've never had it before, I can't say whether or not it was done well. It was, however, sweet and satisfying. I'm not sure if I'll get it again because the texture made me think of eating a vanilla flavored omelet, but I think that is a quality of flan in general and not this particular flan. Jason got the chocolate souffle, which I recommend if you like very rich and dense chocolaty flavor. My favorite aspect of the meal was the Mango Sangria. It was sweet, not too potent, and came with a delightful cinnamon stick stirrer. You couldn't taste the cinnamon, but it made the sangria smell great.

If you have some extra money, it's worth a visit. The service outshines the food, but the atmosphere is fun and the many flavors of sangria are worth sampling.