El Centro

The one in the South End is so much better. Sad that's it's the same chain. The chips were stale, asked for a replacement and they were still stale. The beans are too watery, the mole is weird. Do not recommend this location.

Friendly staff serving good drinks and simple but delicious food. I scraped every last bit of the black bean sauce off my plate. I have no idea how it tasted so good. Also, they were totally cool about leaving me alone to read and nurse a margarita for an hour while I waited for my dinner companion to arrive.

This is the second time I go to this restaurant. Went once to the one in Belmont, saw 2 cockroaches on our table and never went back. This one though, I went for taco Tuesday about 8 months ago. The meat on the tacos was seriously bad; not much meat actually, but fat and hard little pieces of whatever. The mango margarita was quite good though. It was like a smoothie with a soft taste of tequila and creamy mango texture. I took a friend there today for a couple of Margaritas. Probably the worst Margaritas I have ever had. A long glass filled with ice, some really cheap tequila and drops of artificially flavored mango juice; a drink worth not even a dollar. Our stomach was messed up after drinking it. Honestly, just thinking about your health, do not go to this place.

I just moved to the neighborhood and have been there a couple of times. I liked the tacos, but the place smelled so strongly of some cheap disinfectant, that it was difficult to enjoy the food. I had planned on having flan for dessert, but couldn't. I had to leave. I thought it was a fluke the first time I went, so I gave them another chance the following week. It was the same. Smell and taste are so tightly linked. If there is a strong smell in the air, it affects the flavor and enjoyment of the food.

Authentic Mexican cuisine and delicious. Lived in California so I have had my share of good Mexican food and most places that call themselves Mexican restaurants really are not much better than Taco Bell. This place is the real deal. The guacamole is delicious, the meals are fantastic. Highly recommended

I ordered the vegetarian burrito for $9. It was filled with small bits of veggies, rice and sauce. Great quality and portion. I assumed beans would be added in but it wasn't so I had some of our friends refried black beans. This was heaven. Next time I'll add that in. You can also order rice and beans on the side. The beans are spicy which I didn't mind. I thought the burrito had too much sauce so if you don't like a lot of sauce, you may want to ask for that on the side. The decor and art work inside, especially the bathroom toilet, I really enjoyed.

I had a really memorable meal in the South End one a few years back, so I decided to stop into this one with my husband for brunch when we were passing by, and it didn't match up. Most disappointing were the chips (dry, flavorless) and the beans that they served on the side of the dishes we ordered (which themselves were adequate) - they were just... wet. No seasoning, no flavor, kind of cold, floating in liquid... they didn't go with the rest of the dish.

Had a very enjoyable meal at El Centro. My wife agreed, it was really good and worth a re-visit. The store is smallish, with a warm, inviting atmosphere. There's a small full bar in the back. On a cold March night, the curtain in front of the door helped keep the dining room warm when people would enter or leave. We were promptly greeted & seated upon entry. The initial order taking was a bit slow -- odd that they didn't ask for a drink appetizer order. They were happy to accommodate a special request/off menu quesadilla from my daughter. The server did a good job explaining the differences between several of the sauces. Throughout the visit the waitstaff was available and all interactions were quite pleasant and friendly. All three servers working the floor helped us. Good to see that kind of teamwork in a store. The margaritas were really good and arrived in a reasonable interval. The complimentary chips and dip were good. We waited a little longer than I would deem reasonable for our appetizers, but they were really good when they did arrive (guacamole, queso fundido, and a plain tamale). My only complaint is that our entrees arrived at the table hard on the heels of our appetizers. The queso was great. It had a nice salty flavor with an excellent carmelized layer at the bottom from roasting in its pan. It arrived at the table literally sizzling. The tamale was a bit dry, but it tasted really good -- surprisingly like a corn bread almost. The entrees, a vegetable enchilada with a poblano sauce, a kid's cheese quesadilla, and enfrijoladas oaxaquenas, were very good. The enchilada in the poblano sauce was the standout. The sauce had a wonderful smoky chocolaty cinnamon taste. The quesadilla that arrived first had meat in it. This was quickly replaced with a plain cheese one and the server apologized appropriately. Throughout the meal the servers cleared dishes when appropriate, were available, but otherwise did not rush us. We were not offered dessert or coffee, though we were far too full for another course. ;-) As noted in other reviews, the bathroom is pretty. Overall, I loved the atmosphere of the store. Very cozy. With several steps at the entrance it is most definitely not wheelchair accessible. Parking in Brookline Village is an issue if you choose to drive. Good restaurant. Attentive service. Nice to have in the neighborhood.