Herb W.
Yelp
I know Mexican food. Zona Rosa really nails it.
Tortilla chips were fresh and really good. I love a chunky red salsa, but the red sauce they brought with them was nice, spicy enough to be interesting without overdoing it.
Queso Fundido: if you don't know what it is, stop whatever you're doing right now and go there for some. It's a fondue (fundido), melted cheese with chorizo. If you don't know what chorizo is...well you get the idea. Delicious, a little spicy, pork sausage. It's as wonderful as bacon but in a different way. The appetizer was enough for 2. They were not stingy with the tortillas. Came in a cast iron skillet which is not only traditional, but very practical: it keeps the cheese melty.
I got the tacos carnitas: slow roasted marinated pork. It melted in my mouth. Nice fresh toppings, and came with 3 salsas: mild, medium and habanero. The mild was nice. I don't love salsa verde so I skipped the medium. The habanero: they shouldn't call it hot, they should call it Huatchalez. (Means what it sounds like. Watch-ah-lay. Watch out, with emphasis. Like, watch out, that dog is about to rip your leg off. Huatchalez.) Even if you really really love it spicy, this stuff will burn you. They delivered it by mistake to the Thai restaurant down the street and they sent it back because it was too hot. Claro? It's muy picante. The serving was not too big, not too small. (The tacos, not the habanero salsa. Careful around that stuff.)
The people at the next table had enchiladas in mole sauce. They cleaned their plates muy rapido. I'll get that next time.
Tres Leches for dessert -- Oralez! (That's like Holy Smokes, but it sounds much cooler in Tex-Mex). Big flavor but light.
Nothing says Party like Mexican drinks, right? Margaritas move there. I didn't have one but plenty of people did and they all looked very happy.
The place has a fun vibe. There was an Airstream trailer on the lot when they bought it; they converted it to a kitchen and built the rest of the place around it. I was in the rooftop section. It's closed in now for the winter but it looks like it would be great fun in summer.
Service was quick and attentive. The staff were all just as nice as pie. Or tres leches.
Prices are reasonable. For me, that meant $45 bucks for an appetizer, entree, dessert and 2 bottles of seltzer. For the quality of the food and the experience, a fair price.
Mexican food is fun. Mexican restaurants are fun. Zona Rosa's is a very fun place.
The only thing that would have made dinner better is having 5 or 10 of my friends with me. Bring yours with you, and you'll say what I said: I'm coming back here.