Zapata Grill — Restaurant in California

I really want to like this place, as their staff seem very nice, it’s very close to my house, and the seating area/ambiance is great.

But I keep being underwhelmed by the actual food. The prices are also fine, I understand what it takes to survive in a roadside spot during a pandemic. But I haven’t found the food to be particularly spicy, and I keep trying different items on the menu and I just can’t seem to find anything that… well, justifies going back. The food is not bad, or undercooked or overcooked, it’s just that it doesn’t seem to be what I’m actually ordering. Today was kinda the last shot, as I ordered a super quesadilla and a side of large “guacamole”. I said guacamole, the nice woman who took my order said guacamole, the polite man who made my food said guacamole, but, and I’m only speaking from having been born and raised in California, I wasn’t given guacamole. You can see the picture for this review. I actually went back after taking it home because I thought they forgot it, and then I was told “no that’s our guacamole, it’s actually pico de gallo” … with chunks of avocado in it. I just think that when someone orders “guacamole” and you say “yes, guacamole”, you should clarify that it’s actually pico de gallo with avocado chunks, because thats not the same thing. And certainly at $6 for the large guacamole, it seems misleading.

Update: well, after having a bite of everything I ordered, I will say the fish tacos are worth going back for.

Update 2: the pico de gallo is actually pretty good. But, and I can’t stress this enough, it’s...

We stopped here on the way to a wedding to grab a quick lunch and even though this is essentially a food truck with a nice patio, I’d say it’s better than most full restaurants. I got a fish taco and my girls got something I didn’t really notice since I was quietly sharing my lunch with my dog sitting next to the table. The service was great and quick and the entire location felt new and was exceptionally clean. I have no idea what is happening in back with the skeleton in a chair so I took a photo of him for good measure. I would have stopped here again after the wedding but it was too late and they had closed for the...

When I first tried this place last year the food quality was pretty good. The past three times I’ve stopped for lunch to grab a burrito, the meat was dry and chewy no matter which kind I choose. Today I tried one last time and ordered one with Avocado and paid extra for it. Got back home and not only no Avocado, the meat was dry and full of fatty pieces. Better to keep driving and getting...