Zocalo Colorado — Restaurant in Colorado Springs

TLDR: We enjoy Mexican food for bold, fresh flavors and a lot of the food seemed high quality but bland. There are a number of places in the area where we can get the same or better food for much cheaper. Also, wife was shorted guac that we paid for. We asked multiple staff members and we never got it.

We're always excited to try new restaurants so we ran to Zocalo shortly after hearing about it in late December of 2022. We went at about 5 PM on a Friday. There was a long line at the door but since Zocalo is a very new restaurant that has received a boost from local news that was expected, no big deal. Wife and 2 of my 3 daughters grabbed a seat and I waited in line and ordered. There's no dedicated kids menu, but it was very easy for them to work out a kids cheese quesadilla for my youngest who's very picky so that was a win. We decided to get fountain drinks for all, and order chips and salsa for the group as well. Total bill was $90 plus a tip for the 4 of us, which seemed kind of steep but as long as the food was good I'm fine. Chips and salsa come out first after about 15-20 minutes. The chips have a very homemade quality to them in a very good way, but the salsa just wasn't in line with our preferences. Wife and I both love Mexican food for bold, strong, spicy and fresh flavors. Our preferred salsa has chunks of of fresh pepper, onion, tomato, etc. This salsa was entirely liquid, and was very mild though it was seasoned well. Middle daughter hates spicy food so she loved the salsa. Youngest daughter's food (cheese quesadilla) came out at about the 25 minute mark, and it was delicious. It was only a cheese quesadilla, so not a culinary marvel or anything, but the cheese was perfect and the tortilla was good. She loved it, and demolished the plate so that was another win. Middle daughter's food (Shrimp Tacos) comes out at about the 30 minute mark. She loved it, but wife and I were not impressed. Corn tortillas were fantastic and the ingredients were fresh but the flavoring was from the seasoning on the shrimp and from a small drizzle of sauce. It lacked punch in our opinion, but like I said she hates spicy food and the ingredients are quality so daughter was very happy. My food (chicken burrito) came out at around the 45-50 minute mark, so about 15-20 minutes after our kids got their food. They were all completely done eating and we had been waiting for some time after that. The burrito was decent. The chicken had a good smoky flavor and the beans/other ingredients were quality. I'm not normally one to complain about seasoning, I have a pretty refined palate and I'm usually pretty easy going. The burrito lacked punch in my opinion. I'd normally be happy to ask for a side of salsa or a hot sauce or whatever, but given the price and the wait I was disappointed. Wife's food (pork chimichanga) came out about 5 minutes after mine, but it was missing the guacamole that we added ($2.50). We asked 2 different servers, and were immediately assured that they would return promptly with the guac but we immediately saw them get distracted with other tasks. I finally just gave my wife the remainder of my guac. She was insistent on the guac because the Chimichanga was lacking in flavor. It was smothered, but the sauce was very mild and didn't add much to the dish. The pork mostly just tasted salty (kind of like a ham actually). We were there for 1:45, which is fine if you're waiting for a seat/eating at a sit down restaurant but is a bit much for a restaurant with counter service. Secondly, we frequent a number of Mexican restaurants in the area with better prices and way better flavors. Finally, I think it would probably be better for the wait staff if there were assigned seating areas. Since we were there quite a long time we saw staff wandering all over the restaurant trying to deliver meals, as there are some corners that impact visibility and the numbers seem difficult to read from a distance. I think it might be more efficient for the service staff and limit the chaos as a sit...

I was very disappointed from my experience. I have thought about my review for two months.

The initial complication started with the order to order a taco. I had questions. She didn't understand my simple questions about the ingredients of the specific tacos I was inquiring about (the vegetarian options). Ultimately, I wanted to know what the ingredients were and if it was free of animal products. My friend and I were able to decipher that she didn't know. When she came back to bring my friend's queso, and to take her order, I had a couple more questions about customizing my order. The server just couldn't comprehend. I tried four times to ask my questions. To restate my questions. Rephrase my questions and then I thought maybe I am not speaking well enough. So, my friend, who's a very articulate and great at projecting rephrased and reframe exactly what I was asking. No, there was not a a language barrier.

The request was to remove one ingredient from a taco. Or option 2, was was to apply the Portabella mushroom mushroom to a different taco as the protein. It blew her mind. Following the conversation about customizing the taco I just gave up. She went to go ask somebody in the kitchen. I don't even think she knew what she was asking. Even if she asked. While she was away, I asked my friend if I was not speaking clearly, or how I could've worded that more clearly and more understandable. She said, I think you were very clear.

The server returned. I wanted to make this a simple for everybody. I will order the portobello taco with no cheese or creama. When the food arrived. Of course, there was creama on the taco. Yet the cheese was not present. Close, but still deadly. They remade the taco.

My incomprehensible request was the CAMOTE AL PASTOR taco with the Portabella mushroom added as a protein. That's all.

I ended up with the PANELA MUSHROOM, no cheese and creama.

While are they prepared our tacos, I noticed the water glass had red lipstick on it. As a result, I took a closer look. It was unwashed. Completely. Fingerprints and all. At this point I drank almost half of the water. Note, the server was very gracious, embarrassed and apologetic. They replaced my right away. Yes this can happen. It's disgusting. I'm not sure how it happened. At this point, I was really hopeful that the food redeem this place. Because the ambience was great, aside from the loud music.

When the mushroom taco arrived, it was simply a mushroom, with sauce, arugula on a tortilla. I asked for a side of avocado slices. She brings me smashed avocado, which they call guacamole. Which is OK. I just needed something to add flavor and a little more value to my taco. The flavor didn't change much. And I love avocado.

They did not charge me for the Avocado/guacamole due to the dirty water glass. That's very much appreciated. And I want to acknowledge that.

What's a taco good? No. Was it filling? No. It was lacking density and flavor. Also substance. I would love to have ordered more, but I was not going to even try based on the in accuracy and the lack of flavor or taste. I just left hungry.

My friend did enjoy her chips and queso. Her toco was "okay" as it lacked flavor. I don't recall which taco she ordered but it was an animal protein taco.

That taco isn't worth of five dollars. That taco isn't worth $1.50.

You will leave smelling like tacos. My coworkers new I had tacos for lunch. From two offices from away, he smelled me and my clothes. It's not a bad smell, but in a modern restaurant I don't think I should smell like a taco shop..

I do not recommend this place. I have no plans of going back. Many other people have had a very different experiences than I.

I don't understand, due to the computer in her hand, and from her knowledge, she could not request that the Portabella mushroom be added to a taco. Perhaps the training gap. But also, you can add a note that says side of Portabella mushroom. Or place Portabella mushroom on this...

My dearest Foodie Friends, Ah, Zocalo! I must say, the very name has a certain joie de vivre to it, doesn't it? A place where one can imagine a bustling square, filled with laughter and the tantalizing aroma of sizzling meats. My visit to the Zocalo in Colorado was, I must admit, a bit of a delightful surprise, much like finding an extra pat of butter just when you thought you'd run out! Upon entering, the ambiance immediately captured my heart. It's a lively, bustling place, not unlike a well-oiled French kitchen on a Saturday night. The décor, a vibrant tapestry of colors and textures, transports you straight to the heart of Mexico. It's lively without being overwhelming, a perfect backdrop for a good meal and even better conversation. Now, let's talk about the star of the show: the tacos! Oh, my, those tacos! I had the pleasure of sampling a few, and they were, as you say, "tasty." But my dear friends, that's like calling a perfect soufflé "fluffy"! These were more than just tasty; they were a revelation. Each one was a little parcel of perfection, a symphony of flavors that danced on the palate. The meats were tender and flavorful, the toppings crisp and fresh, and the tortillas... ah, the tortillas! Warm, soft, and with just the right amount of chew. A simple thing, perhaps, but a testament to a kitchen that truly cares. And what's a good meal without a proper beverage? I indulged in a cocktail they call the "El Clásico." Now, I'm not one to shy away from a good drink, and this one, my dears, was a work of art! It was a very tasty concoction indeed, a masterful balance of sweet, sour, and spirited. It was the perfect companion to the tacos, cutting through the richness with a refreshing zip. The journey began, as all good journeys should, with a basket of chips and a bowl of salsa. The salsa was fresh and vibrant, a zesty wake-up call for the taste buds. And the chips? Crispy, salty, and so utterly dippable. But then came the bacon queso. Now, this, my friends, is a dish with personality! The queso itself was rich and creamy, but the bacon... oh, the bacon! It was a powerful, assertive presence. A bit strong, perhaps, for the faint of heart, but for those who appreciate a bold flavor, it was a decadent and satisfying indulgence. The service, I must add, was as charming as a Parisian waiter on a sunny afternoon. Attentive without being intrusive, and quick with a smile and a good recommendation. It's a joy to be served by people who seem to genuinely love what they do. All in all, Zocalo is a little slice of culinary heaven. A place where you can go for a simple, satisfying meal and leave feeling as though you've been on a grand adventure. The flavors are honest, the atmosphere is joyful, and the experience is, without a doubt, a...