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Name: Centro Latin Kitchen
Address: 950 Pearl St, Boulder, CO, 80302
Telephone: (303) 442-7771
Price range: Under $11
Rating: 3.78

Centro Latin Kitchen

950 Pearl St, Boulder, CO, 80302

(303) 442-7771
Store is closed

Centro Latin Kitchen Menu

Salads

caesar

Casa

Grilled Shrimp

Mexican Nicoise

Fried Chicken Taco Salad

caesar

Casa

Grilled Shrimp

Mexican Nicoise

Fried Chicken Taco Salad
Soup

Tortilla

Roasted tomato

Tortilla

Roasted tomato
Share

Salsa And Chips

Salsa Flight

Avocado Salsa

Saffron Rice Fritters

Salsa And Chips

Salsa Flight

Avocado Salsa

Saffron Rice Fritters
Tacos - Perrones

Short Rib Barbacoa

Chorizo And Sweet Potato

Chile Braised Chicken

Grilled Panela Cheese

Short Rib Barbacoa

Chorizo And Sweet Potato

Chile Braised Chicken

Grilled Panela Cheese
Tacos - Baja Style

Crispy Mahi

Hazel Dell Mushroom

Shrimp A La Plancha

Roasted Pork Shoulder

Crispy Mahi

Hazel Dell Mushroom

Shrimp A La Plancha

Roasted Pork Shoulder
Huevos Rancheros

Huevos Rancheros

Huevos Rancheros
Tortas

Baja Fish

Fried Avocado

Pepita Crusted Tuna

Milanesa

Barbacoa "Dip"

Baja Fish

Fried Avocado

Pepita Crusted Tuna

Milanesa

Barbacoa "Dip"
Sides

Centro Fries

Green Chile Cheese Fries

Rice And Beans

Chickpea Salad

Sofrito-Coconut Seared Greens

Centro Fries

Green Chile Cheese Fries

Rice And Beans

Chickpea Salad

Sofrito-Coconut Seared Greens
Nachos

Nachos

Nachos

Healthy Meal suggestions for Centro Latin Kitchen

Salads

caesar [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Casa [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Grilled Shrimp [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Mexican Nicoise [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Fried Chicken Taco Salad [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

caesar [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Casa [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Grilled Shrimp [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Mexican Nicoise [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Fried Chicken Taco Salad [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]
Soup

Tortilla [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Roasted tomato [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Tortilla [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Roasted tomato [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]
Share

Salsa And Chips [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Salsa Flight [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Avocado Salsa [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Saffron Rice Fritters [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Salsa And Chips [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Salsa Flight [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Avocado Salsa [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Saffron Rice Fritters [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]
Tacos - Perrones

Short Rib Barbacoa [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Chorizo And Sweet Potato [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Chile Braised Chicken [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Grilled Panela Cheese [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Short Rib Barbacoa [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Chorizo And Sweet Potato [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Chile Braised Chicken [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Grilled Panela Cheese [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]
Tacos - Baja Style

Crispy Mahi [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Hazel Dell Mushroom [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Shrimp A La Plancha [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Roasted Pork Shoulder [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Crispy Mahi [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Hazel Dell Mushroom [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Shrimp A La Plancha [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Roasted Pork Shoulder [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]
Huevos Rancheros

Huevos Rancheros [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Huevos Rancheros [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]
Tortas

Baja Fish [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Fried Avocado [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Pepita Crusted Tuna [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Milanesa [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Barbacoa "Dip" [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Baja Fish [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Fried Avocado [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Pepita Crusted Tuna [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Milanesa [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Barbacoa "Dip" [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]
Sides

Centro Fries [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Green Chile Cheese Fries [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Rice And Beans [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Chickpea Salad [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Sofrito-Coconut Seared Greens [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Centro Fries [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Green Chile Cheese Fries [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Rice And Beans [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Chickpea Salad [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Sofrito-Coconut Seared Greens [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]
Nachos

Nachos [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Nachos [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Visit below restaurant in Boulder for healthy meals suggestion.

Boulder Cafe ( 1247 Pearl St )

Sorry, We are updating this restaurant cholesterol menu details.

Write An Anonymous Review

William C.

the place has a nice design, but sorta typical of most spots designed to be a chain (i guess that's their eventual goal). their drink selection was pretty good, so cant complain there. i did enjoy my food very much, but wouldnt go so far as to call this a LATIN KITCHEN (more like an americanized one). my only problem with the joint was that it took forever for someone to help me. hostess was on point, but when i sat at the bar, it took long for everything.
(3)
Jason L.

I came here for an unusual reason -- I was in Boulder for work, and I wanted a place with both tequila and wifi. So, welcome to Centro! Wandered in around 9pm last Wednesday and ended up taking over a section with my laptop and paperwork. I had some ceviche and a couple of drinks and left a completely happy guy. Good ambiance, decent food, great drinks, and friendly and charming service (no joke: my server made what was otherwise a pretty rough night of work and travel). Absolutely recommend, even if you don't develop a juvenile crush on your waitress ; )
(4)
Terry B.

What do you do when your friends and you are perhaps slightly (to majorly) hungover, walking through Boulder, wondering about brunchy brunch? I'm going to recommend a stop at Centro. First of all, happy hour prices for food are very good! We basically ordered everything on the menu while a friend ordered an actual plate. The sauteed greens were good, I thought. Noone else liked them, but great sauteed kale, sauteed in olive oil and garlic. I swear I detected some nice acidity there too. The breakfast tostadas were awesome. The egg taco, a bit strange as it came with what appeared to be a salsa verde, but it was sweet! The hash browns with green chile were delicious as well as the pancake. All items were $2 - $3 if I remember corectly. My friend really enjoyed his enchiladas as well. Drinks...they have horchata, with booze! Combine my two favorite things and I'm so in love with you! The drink was really good. Friends ordered grapefruit margs I believe which weren't that good at all. They can also make a proper caipirinha, so overall they made up for the grapefruit drinks. Finally, they do have a nice sized patio for beautiful sunny days, so give this place a shot if you're down at the end of Pearl.
(4)
Kirsten R.

I'm a fan. Went here for a late lunch on a Thursday, and found the service to be great: really personable and on top of things. Beer was great, avocado goat cheese salsa was terrific (highly recommend that). Patrons at other tables were relaxed and having a good time. Solid 4 stars, and would recommend.
(4)
Zulay V.

Had some really great food here! Buuut... watch out... if its busy, it will take a while for your food to come out. So have a snack first or order an app. We had the special app... Poblano Pepper Tater Tots... very good! Chips & sauce trio was yummy, some very spicy sauces so be ready. Entrees were also very good... I had the shrimp and fish plate which came with REALLY yummy soft tortillas... use them to wipe up the broth on the plate... probably my favorite part of the meal.
(4)
Nicole W.

Monday happy hour all day! (that is what the 3rd star is for). $2 cuba libre, Joined some friend here for the happy hour monday! We had one of every taco including the special Chili Relleno taco. The shrimp and special were by far the winners! The pork was boring and not very tasty, the duck tasted like fish and the flavor was just soso, and the veggie on was not bad. The fries were ok, very garlicy but not spread out very much. The nachos were bland and had potatoes... weird. And the enchilada was ok. Awesome patio - which btw is open seating so skip the hostess! I'd go back and enjoy happy hour again, not sure i'd pay full price.
(3)
Selah D.

We love this place! We live in Parker {but wish we lived in Boulder} and travel to Boulder every chance we get. Centro's Happy Hour is a staple on our visits. The food is always great and the margaritas are dangerous! I especially love that we can bring our kids and this place does not have the "too cool for school" attitude. We will be back again very soon!
(5)
Paul P.

It was Sunday morning. My wife and I needed some food. Centro was around the corner from the Hotel. Yelp said it was closed. I called and they assured me it was not. Although I didn't really want to order a drink, the Bloody Marys looked so good I went ahead and ordered one. I was not disappointed. These are great. I ordered the brunch special. It had sausage, peppers, sweet potatoes, onions and other pieces of goodness. This is the food I needed. My wife ordered several items from the brunch special menu. Good size portions and very tasty as well. Thank you Centro for curing what the night before had done to me.
(4)
Bill B.

Has a good location, lots of indoor seating, nice outdoor seating area, but not big enough, and an OK menu. We came for dinner. The drink choices were many but the dinner menu choices were actually a bit limited. Good atmosphere, good for a first date or place to bring a small group for a fun night out.
(3)
Jennifer M.

Yum! I'm definitely a fan of this place now. My husband and I spent about 20 minutes walking up and down Pearl St before deciding on giving Centro a try and I'm glad we did. Everything about this place was great. The drinks were a little expensive, but the quality matched the price so no complaints. The food was creative and tasty and the service was great. Our server was actually knowledgeable about the menu and what the bar had to offer, which is a rarity sometimes. I forget her name now, but yeah, go server lady! Can't wait to come back to Centro again.
(5)
Lauren T.

Centro is authentic Latin American food at its best. They update classics and plate dishes beautifully. (No sloppy plates full of rice and beans here) I had high expectations knowing the owner was the same as Jax and it lived up to my hopes. They really have opened my mind. I grew up on Tex Mex thinking of mexican food as chicken or beef. and the only thing differentiating one restaurants from the next, was whether the tortillas were homemade. This is SO MUCH MORE. I will be back soon!
(4)
Michael S.

Not only did this place nab the best location on the Pearl St mall for daytime sunshine exposure (the old Bagel bakery spot), but they made this place a first class restaurant. The tapas-like Latin brunch Happy Hour is genius. The Huevos and every thing else from the Black Tuna and Guac tacos to the Coconut Fried Bananas all knocked my socks off. The physical layout is excellent the way it integrates the outdoors and indoors. You can see it's flow in the background to the picture we had taken of three old pals having a great time together. Prices: very reasonable. Staff: AWESOME. They honored my reservation promptly even during a busy brunch, got us a table outdoors, and despite the crowds, teh food came prompty. After a hike up Boulder Canyon we came back for beer, and were greeted like regulars. Loved it.
(5)
Kevin D.

My only regret is that we didn't share the Barbacoa Pork Shoulder special with two sides that I ordered... because three grown men could live off this delicious platter of Mexican bbq and tamales for 3 days. The "Santa Fe Lemonade"- lemonade with chilies in it- is the best mocktail I have had all year. Service was the extremely kind and professional- i could tell our waitress was slammed but she still managed to take great care of us.
(4)
Renee B.

Exotic flavors emerge as blended herbs and spices fill your senses. Fresh fish, meats and vegetables thoughtfully prepared are offered as you casually enjoy the quality, fresh ingredients. This is not "Mexican" food - this is beautifully made Latin American food. If you are looking for chips and salsa - go somewhere else - if you want substance and style - this place is it! Another plus - good beer on tap!
(3)
Sarah P.

I don't know why I didn't visit Centro sooner - I already can't wait to return. We thoroughly enjoyed ceviche and tacos, along with their delicious coin margaritas. Service is excellent, and the atmosphere is just the right kind of loud/fun/casual while being a nice place.
(4)
Jonathan M.

I have to say, I am in love with this restaurant and consider it one of the better restaurants on Pearl street. While quite a few reviews I've seen mention complaints with food quality, I've experienced nothing but delicious food. The Sopa Azteca is one of the best soups I've ever eaten (although I'm sad to see they've discontinued it). The drinks (margaritas, mojitos and dark and stormys) were excellent as well. The outdoor patio is awesome if you'd like to eat/drink outside. People complaining about the heat need to realize they're eating in Colorado, in the first place. While it can be a little loud, that's what you're asking for when you request an OUTDOOR BAR seat. You can't complain about being allergic to fish if you order a salmon.
(4)
shelly p.

Went to Centro for a late, late dinner on Fat Tuesday. Bar was busy as was the restaurant. I have to say the aroma when I walked in was amazing. The inferno cocktail...outstanding. You really can taste the pineapple but not sweet at all. (I am not a fan of sweet drinks) You MUST order the tortilla soup. The presentation of the dish is truly unique and the flavor...is so...so...the best! and for $4/cup and $7/bowl by far the best deal. I wish I would have ordered the bowl...next time I know! As for the main entree, I ordered the Mezcal Chicken with Tamale and Coleslaw...not a fan. The chicken was good, tamale good and the slaw...eh. My companian ordered the Vera Cruz as the Wahoo fish was sold out. Now the Verz Cruz was very impressive. Lots of flavor and different ingredients that I would never have thought to put together. Definately order that again. Our server, Kat was on top of everything. Service was great, ambience was great and food was great...(minus the smoked chicken..now I know). I would definately come back to Centro. Enjoy!
(4)
L J.

Weak drinks and small portions all of which are too expensive...
(1)
David S.

Don't come here for the food! I think I would rather eat a $20 bill. There was nothing redeemable about this place. The food was bland or salty in all the wrong places, and the beer was warm.
(1)
Hannah E.

I liked the sound of the breakfast Latin Kitchen Hash when I heard it in passing one day long long ago (despite not having any idea what it actually was) so I'd been meaning to try it for breakfast. And I finally did. Ordered it blind, without looking at the ingredients. Luckily for my tastebuds, it consisted of mostly sweet potatoes, blackened shrimp, fried banana, AND (note that the menu omits this info) tons of spicy-ass peppers. The peppers were very valuable - they kept the meal from being too sweet. I'm not a sweet-breakfast person and I needed the kick of serrano to cancel out the sweet potato. The bananas were fantastic as well, and I'd recommend enjoying them as a side dish rather than mixing them in and making everything even sweeter. Shrimp wasn't blackened - at all - and I could have stood more of it - but it was quality shrimp. $12 for a breakfast dish is kinda insane, but I was able to get about a meal and a half out of it. Once you get a drink you're looking at $20+ per person before it's even noon, which makes me uncomfortable, but if you're okay with that... just expect it. I'm going to mostly stay with happy hour (or dinner, on special occasions) when it comes to Centro from now on, but if you're sick of the benedicts, omelettes, scrambles, and skillets that the remainder of Boulder breakfast joints serve up, (and you don't want to wait in line at Lucile's for 7 hours) let Centro break the pattern for you. You may be quite a bit poorer when you walk out, but your tastebuds will get their thrill.
(4)
Peter C.

I've been here a bunch of times and have almost always had a good experience. Lately I've been for dinner where I had a pork chop, and for breakfast, where I had the huevos rancheros. The pork chop came with a sweet potato hash, which appeared to be just thrown together and didn't really complement the pork that well. However, the pork itself was cooked perfectly, slightly pink, a surprise given that I EXPECTED it to be overcooked and dry - the standard at many places. Furthermore, it was a really good quality piece of pork. Recently I had the huevos, and they were delicious though slightly non-traditional. They were served with 2 corn tortillas sandwiches together by cheese and roasted poblanos. The eggs were over easy, cooked nicely and fresh. The black bean refritos were seasoned really well and fantastic, guac was fine, and it came with what appeared to be a citrusy reduction (they called it bbq sauce). All in all a lighter, more vibrant take on the classic. Oh by the way I also had the coconut fried bananas, heavenly!
(4)
Griffin T.

Definitely get at this place for happy hour, knocking down all the prices a few bucks was a huge help. My coin marg was good, although not that different from the house in terms of flavor (for about half the quantity wtf). Food is off the charts though, definitely go for the half hot half mild salsa. Portions were microscopic so guys if you're going for the tacos don't be afraid to order a few extras.
(4)
Robin C.

After having such an amazing dining experience at Centro, it is hard to imagine anyone giving them less than 5 stars. Given the option, I would award more. The food is simply art on a plate, and it tastes every bit as good as it looks. My butternut squash soup with mole and tomatilla salsa was so extraordinary, everyone at the table had to have some. The guacamole was hyper fresh and consisted of huge, luscious chunks of avocado. My sister-in-law's carne asada was packed with flavor, my brother's spare ribs were tender and juicy, and my seared wahoo made me yahoo(!). The grilled pineapple and candied yams on my plate would've been satisfying on their own, they were so delicious. We had planned to have dessert elsewhere, but after such a fabulous meal and such outstanding service, we elected to stay at Centro. We had the fried bananas with rum and coke ice cream--delicious and light, and the molten chocolate cake with homemade graham cracker and toasted marshmallow. OMG. To die for. This meal was such a culinary treat, it shocked me out of my year-ish absence from writing Yelp reviews. It was THAT good.
(5)
julie n.

Attended a private holiday party on the patio. It was a tight squeeze but cozy. Bartender were nice and prompt. We had shrimp tacos which were very good. The "hot" salsa was not hot at all and very mango'y sweet. The medium was better but needed more spice.
(4)
Chris B.

I'm not entirely sure what to think about this place, even though I've been several times, albeit only for happy hour. The atmosphere: Every time I've gone, our group has sat on the patio. Its shaded and comfortable. The dining room has simple, elegant decor. The service: No complaints. Friendly staff, quick service. The food: Confusing(to me). So far I have only ordered from the happy hour menu, and I give a big thumbs up to everything on that. I usually order the tacos, the chicken and the pork are the best in my opinion, and the happy hour price is not too bad ($3 each). The pork green chili nachos are fantastic. I am torn on their chips and salsa, as the medium salsa I ordered had the consistancy of baby food, and was bright green. It was very sweet, with a hint of heat. Side note, their $5 gold coin margarita is wonderful, and even the $4 'casa' marg is good, large, and quite strong. As much as I want to go for dinner at some point, I can't bring myself to do it. Boulder seems to be teeming with restaurants that pride themselves on menus packed with unusual combinations of ingredients, that sometimes borderline what I would call experimental. Centro's menu is no exception, and I cringe at the thought of ordering a $20 entree that I won't like *Pernilasado - slow roasted pork shoulder / arroz con gandules / sour orange chile mojo / sweet plantains / black pepper crema
(3)
Max R.

With a great outdoor patio area and nice weather, I was looking forward to lunch. Ordered 4 tacos .. carnitas, shrimp, asada & chicken barbacoa. The portion sizes were happy-hour sized .. more like tapas then regular tacos. With the exception of the shrimp, the tacos lacked flavor and taste. The asada portion was almost non-existent and the chicken barbacoa did not taste like it had been in any marinade for very long. The carnitas were also bland. The shrimp was so much better is most of been ordered out from another restaurant. bored waiter rounded out the boring food and small portions. no interest in going back
(2)
R J.

The ambience is somewhat trendy and very noisy (not ideal for a first date/conversation). Yet, our family didn't feel out of place even with an infant. The service was prompt and the food was excellent. To some the small portions for the price turn some people . I prefer good food in small portions rather than mediocre food in large portions. I had the empanadas (small plate), ceviche (small plate) and carnitas taco. My wife had the parrillada (i.e. flat iron steak). All were excellent. Skip the mixed alcoholic drinks. I don't think they are worth the price. Perhaps the reason I gave this place 5 stars is for the desserts. My wife had the Tres Leches (very good according to her) and I had the churros with chocolate (perfect according to me). Not since Hugo's (Houston, TX) have I eaten this fried perfection. Not to be missed.
(5)
Andy S.

I don't believe that college kids can afford to hang out here, but it seems like they do. The bartender's aren't that great. The guy didn't clear our empty plates for like half an hour. You're better off at Lola in Denver.
(3)
Penni R.

Definitely my favorite place to dine in Boulder. Love the unique flavors especially the Tuna Crudo. @chefpenni
(5)
Veggie Q.

I love love Centro, as long as we're talking drinks. Their cocktails are to die for! Their bartenders have mastered a huge number of cocktails, and the restraunt's own drinks are creative and very well done. The menu is also super fun and creative. The food, however, is not by any means worth the price. I expected so, so much more from this chain (they also own Jax and Zolo), but they couldn't deliver. First, there is not much to choose from as the menu is very small. The ceviche was in a tomatoe base (ew) and didn't seem very fresh. Our entrees were small and the flavor just wasn't there. Beware of the heated patio in the winter- you just may find yourself roasting under the heating elements. It is also a VERY loud place, which is fine if you're sticking to drinks, but can be very frustrating if you're trying to have a nice dinner.
(3)
Holly G.

I have wanted to try Centro for a while now, passing it while visiting some shops in Boulder. I experienced it recently with my boyfriend, mid-week. The patio was closed due to rain the night we went it, which I was sad about because their patio looked quite inviting from outside. But we got a cozy table inside nonetheless. I was aware of the Lola, West End, Zolo, Jax connection to this restauraunt, so I expected the atmosphere to be about the same as those places and it did feel that way. I was also expecting the food to be about the same flavors and ideas as Lola, and about the same price. I guessed correctly. We order the house margs at $6 each. Then some chips and salsa, also $6. Things add up quick! Then dinner, tacos $12, and enchiladas $14. Both had good sized portions but I don't see the reason for the high price tags really. I could see more like $10 for each. But then again, look where we were. Dining establishments always seem a bit more pricey in Boulder than Denver for some reason, and it bothers me. The food was good and well presented though. I just feel like it was really spicy! I like spicy, don't get me wrong but it seemed to be spicy out of nowhere and it was kind of shocking. I really liked the chips and salsa though, and the margs were pretty good. I gave it a try and it was worth a try, but I won't be going out of my way to come here anytime soon probably.
(3)
Kate G.

This is the one place in Boulder that really makes me wish I lived there. I wish they would trade Lola for Centro! The menu is so much more awesome, and even cheaper I think especially at happy hour. Their $2 shrimp tacos are full of big juicy shrimp. So full I had to eat half the toppings with a fork before I even picked it up. Probably twice the size of the $3 chicken taco at Lola. The $4 cast iron pan full of thick-cut seasoned french fries topped with melted manchego and chimichurri verde sauce = unique, heavenly, amazing, garlicky, I love you, marry me. The pulled pork nachos, also $4 and piled high in that same cast iron dish, are topped with melty white cheese, black beans and guacamole. Yum! Perfectly salty chips with tangy green salsa, I devoured you along with my $2 Modelo cans served with lime. Please, Centro and your friendly bartenders, make your way to Denver!
(5)
Lisa O.

Perhaps this was not the best choice for dinner with my grandparents. But I liked it. Centro's trendy, loud, and fun. We were seated in a corner booth, tucked a bit away from everyone else. This was probably a good choice on the hostess's part. The music was a little loud in the beginning, but the manager was very accommodating and turned down the speaker in our little corner. The cocktails and the food were delicious, but the service was pretty slow. We got there at a quarter to six, and left a little after 7:30. That's a long time for a one-drink dinner. The quality of service was fantastic though, and I tend not to mind the slow service when I'm with people I care about. I think I'll be back to Centro, but I'll probably leave the g'rents at home next time.
(4)
Cynthia N.

Last night my boyfriend and I decided to come here for no reason other than I was craving fish and we agreed sushi wasn't quite what we wanted. I searched yelp and saw someone's review of the seared wahoo with grilled pineapple: SOLD! I love grilling pineapple, and wahoo is my favorite fish. The chimichurri fries were a perfect app. They were just spicy enough and very garlicky. I worried about that for about two seconds and then I realized at least we'll both have garlic breath... And yummy fries in our bellies! I loved my main meal. My fish was served on a mountain of soft red bell peppers and crispy pineapple then topped with guacamole. The wahoo itself was JUST seared with the mauve insides still fresh and barely warm. The yams were super soft and served with an ancho chile barbecue sauce from heaven (or maybe from hell cuz it was kind of Hot and you know someone there is buying their way to the devil's top box!) Everything came together with a just-right hint of sweetness atop tangy flavors and the deep taste of the fish. I wished I could tip the chef. My boyfriend got the flank steak with eggs and skillet cornbread. While it was a little more rare than straight up medium, we loved how tender it was, so neither of us had reason to complain. He loved the cumin crust and the sauce on top. The cornbread, however, was probably my favorite part. It was filled with fresh bursts of sweet corn and the bread itself was smooth and not coarse like southern-style cornbread. It threw us off at first, but the unexpected textures are great. The dish was also served with a heaping pile of garlicky kale. I have tried so many times to cook kale just like this and I always either burn the garlic or undercook the greens. It was so nice to finally see how it is done. We happened to be there during Monday happy hour so we decided to try a the margaritas, but they were just ok and their regular prices for cocktails are too rich for my blood. I guess they are about average for the area and type of establishment though. The only downside is that our waiter was kind of terse and disdainful. I know everyone has down nights (I've worked in food service as have my sister and niece) but I felt put off by him all night. At least he stayed away for the most part and since we didn't need anything else with the food that was just fine by me. Either way, this will not be the last time we come back! I am eyeing many things on this varied menu, and I hope the bad service was a fluke.
(4)
J. T.

Since the Nuggets/Lakers game made finding a quick bite in Boulder more difficult than anticipated, we found ourselves at Centro - Latin Kitchen & Refreshment Palace. This place turned out to be fantastic, not only for food (fresh avocado salsa, a stuffed red pepper, and chicken enchiladas!), but for service. James and his trainee (we didn't catch his name, but it was only his first day on the job) ended up playing dual roles - our waiters, as well as our own personal concierge. They helped us locate a butcher (to stock up for camping) and offered all sorts of other advice about Boulder. We sat outside (Memorial day weekend) and it was a little cold - they don't have outdoor heaters (which is fine with me since think those are a huge waste of fuel)). The dinner was a little pricier than we had anticipated spending that evening, but well worth it in my opinion. All of the food we ordered was well prepared and the margaritas were both delicious and not outrageously expensive. I can't imagine there being a better place for Mexican in the area.
(4)
Michele S.

Although I'm not a huge fan of this type of food, everything I've had at Centro was very good, well presented, and interesting Great Happy Hour. AMAZING Mojitos. Nice patio.
(4)
Jenna A.

Welp, the next time I was in Boulder I picked Centro for my boyfriend and I's sexy date night. Yes...sexy date night. They don't take reservations but you can put your name on a list..sorta the same thing but whatever. We went on a Saturday night and called prior to arriving. Wait was 30 minutes so we searched for a spot to park, walked a few blocks and made our way in. Perfect timing, we were seated immediately. We both started off with a drink. Sangria for my man, a margarita for me and an appetizer of their chunky avocado salsa with a side of their warm tortilla chips. I remembered correctly, it's delicious and juicy. Our drinks were great and I was super tipsy after just one, so I ordered another to keep the night going. Boyfriend was driving so I was free! Our meals arrived. I ordered the shrimp tacos and my manfriend ordered the lobster bisque soup. My food was great. I got the smaller order. They reminded me of street tacos with double tortillas so it felt like I had a lot more than I did. I loved the cabbage and radishes that were in the mix. I topped off the tacos with a little avocado salsa and sour cream, so yummy. Boyfriend's soup was BIG and he almost licked the bowl. It had the coconut taste to it that he loves and he was also very happy with his choice. We wanted dessert but we weren't so excited about any of the options and our tummies were satisfied, so we continued sexy date night with a walk on Pearl Street and a little bit of shopping. Dinner was prepared ridiculously fast and the service was fantastic. Can't wait to be in Boulder for happy hour in the near future!
(4)
Tara S.

My husband and I had a nice lunch at Centro in Boulder, CO, en route to a wedding in Estes Park. We started with a nice bottle of Albarino. The cocktail menu sounded really fun, but since we had a bit more driving to do I figured wine was safer (we shopped for awhile on Pearl St. after lunch, so the wine wore off). The wine was great, but what made it really great was the setting. We were on a cute little patio in a courtyard, and the people-watching on Pearl St. was awesome. For an appetizer, we tried the "avocado salsa". Basically, this is guacamole, but rough chopped instead of mashed. Whatever, it's really, really good. Giant hunks of fresh avocado, the flavors were perfect. For my lunch, I had the mojo-marinated shrimp tacos, which were recommended by my server. The menu lists fried shrimp, but she suggested I get the grilled shrimp instead, and I am so glad I did. I loved them. The shrimp had wonderful flavor, but the jalapeno cilantro aioli served on them was what really set them off. They were awesome. My husband had the grilled hangar steak with fries and chimichurri. The steak was tender and cooked exactly to my husband's specifications (perfect medium rare) but the FRIES! The fries were incredible. So well seasoned, occasionally you would get a really spicy one. They were pretty salty, but that is how I think good fries should be, and I couldn't stay out of them. They were the standout of his meal, which is saying a lot considering they accompanied a pretty great steak! Our server was a bit aloof, but she recommended a great dish for me and was fairly prompt with service, so it's hard to say that we didn't have good service. The outdoor seating and delicious food made this a spot that I would recommend to anyone in Boulder.
(4)
Kendra L.

It seems to me, judging by my life experience so far, that the best experiences are those that come unexpectedly with the natural flow of things. Mum is in town from Maine, so of course, Boulder was placed on our list of "Colorado Things To Do". Mum and I began at East End of Pearl Street and sauntered down to muse at the entertainment acts (whether there to purposely entertain or not). West End was getting closer and my hunger was growing bigger. We passed a few restaurants that didn't have what it takes to draw me in. What does it take? Well. Centro is a good example. Even the door and its frame were art - with metal flowers and a cool handle. I glanced at the menu, saw that pumpkin and jicama were included in the ingredients of the vegetarian soft tacos and led Mum through the door. A nice host sat us at a booth by the window and our good-looking, dark rimmed glasses wearing server soon greeted us and explained several menu items to the wide eyes of the out of towner sitting at the table (Mum). So, at this point, it's all been about the aesthetics of the menu, the server, the decor inside and out... and does it get better? Sure does! Hello Happy Hour! The prices were amazing and the serving size, while slightly smaller than a meal, was perfect. I enjoyed a "funny tasting" margarita (originally Mum's, but it didn't taste like the kind she's used to... this is not a bad thing, friends). Yum. I don't know if they pre-make the mix or not, but if they do, it sure doesn't taste like it. As for the food: delicious! My vegetarian corn tortilla soft taco was everything I wanted it to be (and, yes, more). I'd love to check out another meal at this place, as so many menu items had my taste buds excited.
(4)
Hank H.

I don't have a lot to say about Centro except that if you haven't ever been there, you have to check it out for: -Happy Hour (great drinks and unbeatable food deals) -Ambience (great outdoor patio in the summer, which is covered and heated in the winter) -Consistently friendly service -Saturday & Sunday brunch (try the fried banana & the burnt grapefruit) -Interesting (but always satisfying) food pairings -An excellent (albeit pricey) drink menu -Weekly events like the smoke out, date night, and family night
(5)
Lars W.

Great food and drinks on monday. Only complaint is that they CHARGE as much as $6 FOR chips. That is somewhat sac religious. They should start charging people for using the rest room or using the lights in there while they are at it.
(4)
Jake B.

Took way too long to get a table. The hostess "forgot" we were there. Over the hill crowd playing cougar-ville around the bar. Food was good.
(3)
Doug R.

Walked in mid-day for a bite, and ended up eating a fantastic meal. Try the avocado salsa & chips. Also the mushroom soft tacos were awesome...served with extremely fresh, flavorful slaw, very good black beans and rice, and the mushrooms were cooked perfectly! Did I mention fresh? Great bar menu, too...looking forward to putting it to the test another day.
(4)
Abby S.

Terrific happy hour. Super-yum.
(4)
Brittany C.

It amazes me that I am still discovering places to eat on Pearl Street, even though Centro seems to be no secret in Boulder. Now that my roommate works there, I have been twice! And I plan to keep going. The first time, I went just for drinks, and the wine I ordered was delicious. I really like the indoor/outdoor bar setup as well. It was such a nice summer evening, so sitting out on the patio with a glass of wine was perfect. Last time, I actually ordered food. I ordered the pork tacos (which are admittedly not that adventurous, but I was feeling tradition Latin food!) and man, oh man, were they glorious. I was informed by my roommate that the pork takes three days to marinate and cook, so when it arrives at your table, it almost literally melts like butter. So incredibly delicious. Although both times I went it was relatively slow, I hear the wait to get into Centro can be pretty crazy, so I would say that is a bit of a drawback. The location is on Pearl St Mall, so (especially during the school year) may have your fair share of college frat kid festivities later in the evening, but it's also far enough West on the mall that it isn't in the epicenter of party central. Next time: date night paella and wine!
(5)
Lesley H.

the food here pretty mediocre in my book. I got the pork tacos which were pretty bland. i had to load it up with sour cream to give it some flavor. i went with two of my friends and they got the masa cakes and the huevos rancheros. i didnt try their but they both said they really liked it and polished off their plates so maybe i just made a bad choice in an entree. i also think that all latin or mexican restaurants should serve free chips and salsa. i hate it when they make you pay for it.... and that was the case here. the only reason i gave this place 3 stars is bc they have an awesome happy hour. you can get modelo especial or a cube libre for $2. a house marg for like $3 and some other specialty drinks for $5. It was the cheapest happy hour that i saw my whole time in boulder.
(3)
Laurie G.

It had been a while that I had enjoyed a good margarita at a restaurant, and Centro came through for me. Their house margarita is fresh, tasty and packs quite a punch. We coupled our margs with Centro's avocado salsa - large chunks of avocado with diced fresh tomatoes and onion, some lime wedges, and crispy, light tortilla chips. We also tried their pork tacos, a chicken enchilada and the green chile. Everything was fresh and full of flavor. The environment is different, but the food reminds me a lot of El Camino in Denver - although a bit pricer. Nice atmosphere, great bartenders, and great food.
(4)
Alex N.

Was here on a Friday get together as was in town for a wedding. Had about 15 people in the group for their happy hour and it didnt really phase the place. During this happy hour, $2 tacos (shrimp, chicken, or pork) and big bowls of salsa and chips are their feature (3 types of salsa I believe, ranging is spiciness). $1.50 rum and cokes and $1.50 Modelo are whats on the menu alcohol wise. Service was somewhere in the pleasant to annoyingly pleasant category. If I lived in boulder, I'd probably try to this this place up once every 2 weeks to twice every 2 weeks. Was also here when it was called "Rhumba" and the happy hour drink menu seemed more diverse.
(4)
Dulcie F.

When I first read that Centro was opening, I remember that the owner said the food would be very reasonably priced with nothing over $14. Well, I've been a couple of times for dinner and almost everything is over $14! Last time my husband got a 16 dollar burrito! It was a fancy burrito, but it was still just a burrito. I don't even think it came with a side. The entrees are good, but we haven't found anything spectacular. I like the taco platters (these are in fact a mere $12) and have gotten the garlicky shrimp and the chicken. The reason I give 4 stars is that I love the happy hour. $2 tacos (now we're talking) and $1.50 modelo especials. It has a great atmosphere, a nice patio, and the drinks are yummy. Just wish the happy hour was longer! It is from 3:30 to 5:30 everyday. Also recommended, the (outrageously priced) Centro avocado salsa ($8). Have a couple of Dark & Stormy's and you'll forget you paid close to a tenner for some really delicious Guac.
(4)
Elaine S.

My rating would Centro would ideally be 3 1/2 stars. Any time I've gone for dinner, I've left saying "Nothing special". The dinner is disappointing. The tacos (any of them!) are unimpressive and over-priced (lack of texture and flavor).However the drinks and brunch are absolutely fabulous!! All I have to say is: Coconut Fried Bananas! Usually when you go out to brunch in Boulder, you expect at least a 30 minute wait. Last weekend when we brunched at Centro, we were seated right away and it happened to be Brunch Happy Hour. Everything was supremely well priced and delicious! The basic coffee was also great. I ordered the Biscuits and Gravy (which weren't like "normal" biscuits and gravy, but totally satisfying!) and my friend got the Sweet Potato-Chorizo Hash. We both left happy and full at a cheaper price than when we go to Southside or Walnut. Cheerful, laid-back service. :) So either go on a Monday when it's Happy Hour all day, or for Saturday/Sunday brunch.
(4)
Lauren C.

Ah, Centro..I wanted to like this place. As a big fan of good wine and Latin food, I was expecting a lot...and was let down a little. I do think the food is good, but not quite worth the price and a bit cumbersome. I ordered ceviche that was more avocado than seafood, and my friend ordered the chicken that was more bones than meat. The drinks are good, and unique at that, so I'd recommend this place for happy hour if anything...drink (maybe eat) cheaply in a a good atmosphere.
(3)
Bryant N.

Love this place! This is the type of place you can go to for any occasion, whether your taking someone here on a date or just having a nice day drinking session. Located in the heart of Pearl St. in downtown Boulder, this place has a great atmosphere with cool staff, and has an awesome patio for those Sunny days in Boulder. The food isn't uber authentic but it is still very tasty. Highly recommend! Only downside is the prices, definitely overpriced but not atypical for the Pearl Street area.
(5)
Maria A.

excellent service, excellent food, loved this place. great drinks too.
(5)
Caroline S.

Came to Centro on a Monday after a hike at Chatuqua. Great location right on Pearl street. Exposed brick, heated patio and low key come in your hiking clothes and cozy up in a big booth. So on Mondays they have drink and food specials. Everything was 2-5 dollars....ummmm yes please after a long cold hike in the mountains. First of we ordered the pork and green chile nachos which came with fresh guacamole, cheese, pico, and sour cream. So not good for you but you only live once. Same thing goes for the chimichurri fries....loaded with herbs, garlic, and red chili pepper flakes. We also got a brisket taco ( kind of a bbq direction with queso fresco) and a shrimp one ( spicy...perfectly cooked with jalapeno aiolli, queso fresco, and thinly sliced radish) both served on corn tortillas...as they should be. :) We all loved it. Walk over on a Monday afternoon, avoid the higher prices, sample several different items of the menu for a couple of bucks and leave happy and full.
(4)
Ken K.

Good cocktails. Good food. Bad management. Several of us arrived as a group and waited a few minutes for a perfect table on the patio. Having ordered a round of drinks and two appetizers, we were discussing entrÃ©e options when the hostess came over and asked if we were going to order dinner. We thought she was going to take our order. Before any of us could begin, she said, "Because we need to keep the patio tables clear for people ordering dinner. If you're not ordering dinner, we need you to move." Totally unprofessional, rude, and flabbergasting behavior. The last time someone in a restaurant pushed me to order food while I was enjoying a drink was in Utah. We were already digging into our appetizers and with the second round of cocktails on the way, we were closing in on a $100 bill for a small table. When our server did take our orders and the food came, it was good and cocktails we ordered were delicious, but it was hard to enjoy my two tacos after the bad taste Centro's awful manager left in my mouth. I'm giving Centro a generous 2 stars simply because my $18 two taco entrÃ©e was actually pretty tasty. But I recommend taking Centro's own advice and dining elsewhere.
(2)
Nathan B.

The new menu is awful. That about sums it up. I don't know what happened (new owner? new management?), but it's not as good as it used to be. Too bad. And honestly, "refreshment palace"?
(2)
Greg S.

We frequent this place. It is typically pretty good and I would recommend stopping by if you are visiting Boulder (or live in Boulder and haven't been here yet!). The best time to go is happy hour. Try the avocado salsa, it is usually pretty good. I would recommend that Centro get this more consistent. We have had it some times where it is mostly avocado or mostly tomato. The best times are when it is that perfect blend of avocado, tomato, red onion, cilantro, and peppers. The chips are always great.
(4)
Erika G.

Loved this place. Only had a glass of delicious wine here, but I loved the vibe, the outdoor bar and the friendly bartenders. The food smelled delicious. If I'm lucky, I'll be back.
(4)
Amir R.

Stopped in for Bunch and had the Biscuits and Gravy. The biscuits were made with green chili and cheddar, the gravy with chorizo. I asked the waiter about the dish and he told me that I was lucky that they hadn't run out yet - it's that good. He was right, it was that good. The food is good and the outdoor area is lively and comfortable. This is a great little place at the west-end of the Pearl Street Mall.
(4)
Brad F.

We ate at Centro last night to take advantage of First Bite Boulder which provided diners with a three-course meal for $26. This is a great bargain and a great way to taste some different items. I started with the Queso and Chorizo appetizer. This appetizer was amazing. Way to big for one person, but I managed to get it all down using the two homemade, warm tortillas. It had some pickled veggies on top that really made this dish a potpourri of flavor. The spicy Chorizo and the pickled veggies melded together nicely. Seemed like the veggies had a bit of spice to them too. This dish was great. My main course was the chicken thigh enchiladas. These too were unbelievable. Unfortunately, I was full from the appetizer so I could only eat one of them, but I took the remaining one home. The smoked red pepper cream sauce over these enchiladas was very good. Not your typical enchilada sauce. For dessert I have a few bites of the Pumpkin, Piloncillo ice cream with sugar cookies. Both the ice cream and the cookies were very tasty. By this time I was incredibly full, but the ice cream was a nice after dinner dish. This is not the first time we've eaten here, and won't be the last!
(4)
Curtis B.

I only drank there. Good: The drinks! I had a pisco sour and some house concoction that is similar to a French 75. Both were quite good. Not drop dead amazing (I thought the pisco too sweet), but good. The bar is a nice place to hang out...it's double sided indoor and out. The interior is sort of a weird mix of Mexican wrestling posters and "higher" art. Bar staff knows their stuff and is friendly. Bad: I don't really like paying $10 for a cocktail, but maybe that's market rate (I'm new to town). I wasn't impressed with the bottled beer menu. I understand that it might be more visually pleasing to have only a couple of prices with a bunch of stuff listed under it, but who the hell wants to pay $4/bottle for Corona?
(4)
Steve D.

Happy hour was good. Sundays have live music. Loud, but good. Can't do much talking, but good ambiance. Plenty of HH food options with a fair range of prices.
(4)
Lis R.

This review is for Monday All Day Happy Hour. Yes, you read that right, ALL DAY HAPPY HOUR. Translation: go here to brighten your Monday. Go on an evening when you can enjoy Centro's awesome patio space - people watch the passerbys on Pearl Street as you sip (or chug, depending on your day) your gold coin margarita (it's HH, so you can order another, or five. Enjoy!). The Happy hour is more than enough to fill you up for a meal. I went with a friend - and our total bill was under $25. And we were stuffed. We each had a drink, chips and salsa, I went for the goat cheese chicken enchilada and a shrimp taco. She did a shrimp taco and pulled pork taco. We were both happy. And it was perfect for introducing her to Boulder's Pearl Street on a Monday on a beautiful evening :)
(4)
Melissa H.

I haven't given Centro a fair chance since it changed names a few years back. I was a big fan of Rhumba's food and their mojitos and Dark & Stormys. Since it became Centro we've been a couple of times for drinks... and each time it's been disappointing. The mojitos and other mixed drinks seem to be smaller in size and don't seem to have the liquor ratio right. On Friday we decided to give it another try, this time for dinner. Surprisingly while the rest of Boulder was absolutely packed, there was only a 10 minute wait at Centro. We ordered drinks at the bar and waited for the hostess to seat us. The dinner entrees ranged from $12 to around $20. The menu wasn't gigantic but there was a decent variety of items. I ordered the achiote fish tacos and the man ordered a chorizo and egg tostada. He also had a couple of mixed drinks... both were disappointing. Word of advice... stick to wine. The fish tacos came out 3 on a plate on small corn tortillas. They were piled high with the fish, sliced cabbage, raddish, and queso fresco/goat cheese or something similar. The achiote seasoning on the fish was really good. 3 tacos was a bit much for me so I wasn't able to finish them... if you aren't that hungry I'd suggest asking if you can just order one or two. The chorizo and egg tostada was not anything you would be picking up to eat. It was piled high with egg, potatoes, cheese, and lettuce with the chorizo mixed in. It was good... but pretty large. All in all, the food was good ... their patio and bar area is fantastic as well but with so many other restaurants in Boulder with both delicious food & delicious drinks, I don't know how often I'll be back.
(3)
Harry S.

Their patio is nice and the drinks were OK. I had dinner here and the value at dinnertime is highly questionable. $11 ceviche is laughably small and not that great. I would not be at all surprised if the squid and shrimp were frozen. The pork entree was also pretty stingy on quantity. I might go back for happy hour sometime as the prices are much lower.
(3)
Prianka N.

We visited Centro on our last night in the Denver/Boulder area. After a long weekend of great meals, Centro was still a standout experience. I started out with the slightly dirty-sounding Hot Rosser cocktail...unique and delicious...may I have another? You'd better believe I did! That habanero-grape fantasy sauce is aptly named...I am now obsessed with it and actively fantasizing. The service was great and everything we ate (salad, salsas, guac, masa cakes, steak, pork, and dessert) was awesome! This was one of the most expensive meals we had in the Denver area, but it was still reasonably priced and well worth the money - I've spent twice as much in Miami and had less than half the dining experience, so congrats to Centro on getting it right!
(5)
Alise R.

I've been to Centro a handful of times and each time it is as delicious and amazing as the next. They have a wonderful selection of what I think of as "upscale mexican" dishes. The portions are a good size and the price is right. Although I usually have my parents take me here when they come up to visit : ) I can't recommend just one thing on their menu. TRY IT ALL!!!
(4)
Juile S.

I've had several truly OUTSTANDING meals at Centro over the past few years, so I was extremely disappointed when I went there with my family and a guest last week and found that the menu has been completely changed (I had a hard time finding something that sounded interesting). The food and the service were both mediocre, at best. Very sad -- this used to be a really terrific place. I would give it the benefit of the doubt since it was just one bad visit, but the new offerings just don't sound very enticing...and there are so many other terrific restaurants within a 5-minute walk.
(3)
Naji S.

Found this place on my annual vacation to Colorado - thanks to having a GLUTEN-FREE menu - we were all over it's creativity! Awesome ambiance, open space, great inside/outside bar, amazing food menu and creative drinks. We were very pleased!
(4)
Sani G.

This place gets 4 stars for the margs, although I think the food is slightly over priced. However, I would highly recommend their all night HH on Monday!
(4)
Morgan W.

Finally finally finally. A Latin American restaurant that is worth a return trip. My husband and I went here after having the place recommended several times. We went at 5:00 on a Friday evening and the dining room was blissfully quiet save for a couple of tables. We were seated quickly in a booth near the back. Our waiter was efficient, friendly, and very attentive despite the fact that some servers might have overlooked us as we were tucked away in the back corner. I love the lighting in this place. In general the restaurant has a terrific ambiance. And the funky bathroom sinks are really worth the trip alone. We managed to make happy hour and quickly ordered drinks (mojito for me; house marg for him) and the yam and chorizo hash. This is the only chorizo I can profess to loving. The flavors were wonderful and the yam was chopped larger than the chorizo so the texture wasn't too soft compared to the firm ground meat. My mojito was excellent, not too sweet and a bit on the dry side. My only criticism is that it could have been a touch stronger on the alcohol. For entrees I got the beef tip enchiladas and my husband ordered the habaÃ±ero pulled pork tacos. My dish was lovely, served in a small cast iron skillet and sizzling away. The beef tips were juicy, seared on the outside and tender on the inside, topped with tortillas and cheese and surrounded with rice and beans. Quite a delicious undertaking to navigate. I tried a bite of my husband's pork tacos and was surprised that the habaÃ±ero spice wasn't overpowering. This will be the next thing I try when we return. My husband also ordered a burrito with mahi mahi and devoured that as well. Centro is the kind of place where if you come hungry, expect to spend some money. Their portions are a reasonable size but not the overly huge helpings we are accustomed to in society today. Still, it was fun to try several dishes and we were not disappointed by anything. I look forward to returning and trying everything on the menu.
(4)
Kat S.

This is one of my absolute favorite places in Boulder. I no longer live there so it's a treat whenever I return. I should probably get something other than the chips and guac and shrimp tacos, as that is all I can recommend. What can I say, I'm a creature of habit! But they are so amazing. The tacos are super super garlicky, so if you don't enjoy garlic, stay away. I love them for this very reason. Plus, they have a great low-cal, natural margarita that always hits the spot. Not to menion, the crowd here is young, but not too college-aged, which is such a nice reprieve in a college town. Whether you're in for just a drink, or food and apps too, I highly recommend Centro!
(4)
David L.

This is my first Boulder review, yet I've been here for a bit. The culinary arts of this town have left me largely disappointed after leaving my fair city of Portland, OR and those random bohemian buttered masterpieces. Centro lends a glimmer of hope. Honestly I'm biased, most of my experiences there are breakfast oriented, but what a breakfast! On the occasion that I make it there before breakfast happy hour ends, which is a great concept, there unique $2 dishes are ample enough to fill nigh any hangover for $6-8. Coconut cream fried bananas, yes, they are as good as they sound. Breakfast tacos, burnt grapefruit, really, some novel dishes. They also typically have a special dish not on the menu that is almost always worth trying, from pork belly to a camarone fritata. Since I rarely make it before 11, I generally have to be satisfied with their $2 Mimosas and Bloody Marys. The bloody marys leave a bit wanting on the tongue and the liver. They're more bloody than mary. Throw a bit more booze in there, some veggies, and some spice, and I'll pray at your altar. Their mimosas are amply generous though, and you'll find me sipping pinky out any Sunday I can. The occasions I've been there for dinner have been good, something about bbq lamb tickled my tastebuds. Baaaah. Not so pricey for Boulder, and the staff are nice enough. On the whole, 4 stars is a stretch for me, but I'm hoping other Boulder restaurants follow suit, drop a bit of the haute, and focus more on the cuisine.
(4)
Margaret A.

I was pleasantly surprised with the locale and food at this restaurant. My boyfriend and I were passing by Pearl St., and we were drawn to the "Happy Hour All Day" on Mondays board outside. The space is large with a bar, and we were seated on the side which allowed for privacy even though there were other people there. The Happy Hour dishes were affordable and the servings were large considering it was discounted for Happy Hour. They had $2 Cuba Libres which were strong yet well balanced. The Butternut Squash Soup was delicious, and I also would recommend the Manchego fries. To top it off we had the Hush puppies with a tomatillo sauce which was perfect if you like sweet and salty combinations like me! I was pleasantly surprised and would definitely recommend this place for anyone looking for a upscale Happy Hour for an affordable price.
(4)
Michael K.

Really, really liked this restaurant for a few reasons. Locations is right on Pearl Street, and a good happy hour. Additionally, came here for a late night dinner, and the kitchen being open late was a welcome relief. The bar area was full (both during happy hour and during the later part of the evening), and the scene was very relaxed. Even more of a pleasant surprise was the quality of the food... the menu is truly fusion...definitely a mix of latin flavors with local focus on fresh ingredients. The white bass & prawn veracruz was good, and the chicken thigh enchiladas was excellent. The sauce was similar to a good mole...but with a lighter cream. The portions were large and filling, while our server was friendly (if a bit absent-minded). Food came out timely. But without a doubt, the dish of the night was the sopa azteca...the chicken, tortilla strips, avocado (in healthy portion), and radish in the serving dish...then the broth poured over the ingredients. Absolutely fantastic! Don't miss this dish...really a big fan of this restaurant.
(4)
David N.

This is definitely one of my favorite places in Boulder. I was a little saddened when I had heard that they changed their menu. I was sad to see some of their choices go, but some of their new items are definitely a crowd pleaser. If you go here, you would be missing out if you didnt try their nachos. It is something out of this world. Get it with the chicken and you will be in paradise. The chicken is fill of flavor and still has the juices locked in. It's not the dry kind that you might get elsewhere. Last time I was here I ordered the steak and shrimp burrito and it was a compliment of flavors I won't soon forget.
(5)
Tyler M.

The restaurant with no identity. Every time I come to centro the staff and the menu changes. I have been coming here since it was Rumba and it is the only big red f restaurant that can't keep good employees. The sad thing is that none of the changes are for the better. I just ordered a happy hour drink I have had many times over the years and the bartender just started making what she though I should have and then charged me accordingly. I have no problem paying full price for a drink, but not at centro. I would gladly pay it at zolo where the service is impeccable and the bartenders stick around. I'm not sure what the problem is with this place but 3+ bar managers in a year along with many uniform changes doesn't make for a better restaurant. Maybe shut down for dinner too until the new building next door is finished. Maybe reopen with professionals. The only saving grace of this sad sad restaurant is Jessie. She is kind, attentive, and is leaps and bounds above anyone else that works there. RIP Devlin, Brad, Peaches, Jackie, Mike, and so on
(2)
A Marie J.

Sat out on the patio on a beautiful day. Had the happy hour menu and they had lots of great choices. Their drinks are on point and they have a great tequila menu. When I have been here in the past I ordered off of the dinner menu and have always been pleased.
(5)
Gerardo D.

Centro is towards the end of the busy part of Pearl St. Finding parking was not a problem. The restaurant is beautiful and the patio is great. Service is quick and helpful. I tried a Mojito, and it was VERY good. Probably the best I have tried in Colorado. However, I found the menu to be somewhat limited. I tried four of the Perrones tacos, and all of them were good but a little on the bland side, but that may be OK for people that unlike me did not grow up in Mexico eating super hot salsa. I was not blows away by either one of the tacos and was disappointed by the restaurant offering a bottled Tapatio salsa instead of their own hot,m or mildly hot salsa. I might have to come back to try the enchiladas....oh, and to get another mojito or three
(3)
Ariele L.

We came in on a slow Monday. The food wasn't that great I thought that it would have more flavor and the service would be better considering how empty it was. We tried the tacos, salsa, and green chile pork soup. I wouldn't really return or come back it wasn't anything spectacular or much of a memorable experience.
(2)
Claire C.

Absolutely loved this refreshment palace from food, dÃ©cor to drinks in downtown Boulder! We stumbled upon this gem while strolling around downtown and came here twice for happy hour. Needless to say that we were impressed both times and it has become our go-to spot for happy hour and dinner whenever we're in the area! Happy Hour: it gets crowded pretty fast after 5 pm but we were able to snatch a spot right at the bar outside on the patio. The bartenders were very attentive and fun. The vibe was cool and relaxed. You could tell that people were having a good time! Food: chips and salsa sampler were pretty good but the nachos hit a sweet spot. It's an explosion of great flavors from the cheese, guac, pico and pickled onion! I ordered the eggplant taco since I'm a vegetarian and it was delish! The chicken taco was really good too. There was a lot of food for the price you pay for happy hour. Drinks: mint rum fizz and marg were extremely tasty and you can't beat the happy hour price! Centro definitely set the bar high for Mexican food!
(5)
Ally S.

Centro is absolutely amazing! The tacos to the drinks are 100% perfect!!! If your in the mood for the best avocado salsa in the world go there!
(5)
Amanda F.

Came in for lunch. Was seated inside and then nothing. No greeter, no service.... Not even water!!
(1)
Kellie F.

Mexican food with a twist! Loved their tequila menu...lots of choices! My husband ordered the steak and shrimp burrito and he claims it's the best he's ever eaten! I ordered a mixture of tacos...pork, shrimp and steak. They were excellent! The only complaint was our waiter...he was nice but not attentive. Our bottomless chips never got refilled and he never came back to refill water glasses or get us another drink. However, the food was so good along with the charming patio seating that I still gave it 4 stars.
(4)
Ali L.

Checked out Centro with a group of friends after running the BolderBoulder, and boy were we starving! We got there right as it opened, and it's a good thing we did because shortly after we were seated, it was packed! Because of the crowds I was expecting lackluster service, but we were so well-attended by server all servers and never had an empty glass! We were seated on the patio (which is one of the cutest patios I've ever seen!) and started with drinks and apps. We ordered the chips&salsa and the avocado salsa, and I ordered the drug mule (Moscow mule but with tequila). The mule was okay, but the avocado salsa was delicious! Essentially guac, but with the avocado in chunks instead, and the seasonings were perfect and heavy on the lime juice which I am a huge fan of! For lunch I ordered the taco salad with shrimp. The shrimp was perfectly grilled and garlicky, and the salad was a bed of very crisp greens, cotija, crema, pico, and more of that amazing avocado salsa. If you're looking for a great patio in Boulder, this is the place to be!
(5)
Amber A.

Great Mexican restaurant w a great patio/outdoor bar! Stopped in for a couple margaritas - my fave was the blackberry margarita. We got a couple tacos. Everything, including service, was spot on!
(5)
Carolyn K.

Lively and fun atmosphere with delicious modern Mexican and awesome Happy hours. Avocado salsa appetizer was so yum.
(4)
Lauren D.

I like Centro. I like the covered outdoor patio and the fact that the bar faces both the inside and the outside. I like that they have a very solid Happy Hour menu and I like that both the food and the drink delivers. I'm not sure I liked how long our server would take between check-ins but I forgive him because he was a delight when he did finally show up. I'm not in Boulder often, but when I am, I would absolutely be willing to go back to Centro.
(4)
Judy T.

We've come here a few times and highly recommend for very tasty mexican food. However, we specifically came about 2 weeks ago so my husband could get Paella which was listed on their Website. BUT, server then said management had just changed and no paella. My husband was disappointed but we still enjoyed our dinner. We usually get the chips and salsa (which isn't too spicy for our girls), and I've ordered various taco's while my husband has gotten burritos. Just very tasty sauces/spice combinations. Also, the kids meals are quite generous. The chicken w/rice is my daughter's favorite and I think they also offer quesadilla.
(4)
Kenny N.

Lots of seating on an early Sunday afternoon, so you'll probably score a seat like us. Unfortunately, we barely missed happy brunch (drat!). I tucked in a very large breakfast burrito chock full of eggs, skin-on potatoes, and chorizo. It was a really good choice and a winner post-hike. My only wish? Spicier salsa.
(4)
Chris M.

Great food and moderately priced. Brunch special for drinks is only from 9:30-11:30 am. It should be extended especially being that mimosas start at $5.
(3)
Ken B.

I showed up on time for my 7pm reservation and was promptly seated. It was a Monday night and the place was full. I thought the menu would be a bit more extensive, but it is limited to pretty much finger foods. There are a few larger entrees. I had a selection of their tacos and a empanada. All were delicious. The chorizo was one of my favorites which is unusual for me. Chorizo is usually too salty for me, but this was very good.
(4)
Valery L.

I've visited this location multiple times, and WOW do we love their margaritas & salsas. My fiance pretty much HAS to come here if we are anywhere near Boulder. The first time we came they had plenty of vegetarian items on their happy hour menu, but a few weeks ago there were none. A little disappointed, but will definitely still keep coming. Their patio is great!
(3)
Inayah V.

I have to admit I was really worried when I walked in and saw the live band. I know some people love it, I just think live bands in restaurants are way too loud, to the point of making conversation and any enjoyment of the food or experience impossible. Luckily, the hostess sat us on the patio, around the bar from the stage. It was slightly rainy outside, so the the sides of the patio were covered and the heat was on full blast. I was so grateful that our server immediately turned it down, seeming relieved herself that we requested it. I couldn't help but think how nice this patio could be were it not enclosed, then again I realize I'm somewhat unique in my love of overcast weather. Now, on to the food. I ordered a glass of pinot grigio, while my friends ordered mojitos. I didn't try their drinks, but they said the mojitos were way too sweet. We had the chips, salsa, and avocado salsa. I highly recommend the avocado salsa (kind of like a guacamole cruda if you will) the salsa was too mild. I also ordered the ahi tostada as an entree. It was delicious! My husband tells me the tacos are awesome as well. i absolutely love Boulder, and am super excited to ad Centro to our list favorites.
(4)
Brandon Y.

Eh, I really wanted to like Centro, but I just didn't. I work on Pearl and walk by it all the time, and the location is convenient, and the outdoor seating is great. But the food was just disappointing... We started with the "Queso" Fundido, which I was excited to see as a menu item. But what they brought was really just some melted cheese, no chorizo, pumpkin seeds in the cheese, and almost pieces of pita to dip it in. Queso Fundido, while can be different from place to place, is typically served in a baking-safe dish or platter and is melted in a fried or baked manner, served with corn tortillas, and has chorizo in it. The cheese they brought wasn't bad, but it wasn't Queso Fundido. I have a hard time resisting foods served in giant taco shells, so I went with the taco salad. Waaaay too overseasoned on the bowl, the salad itself was salty, too much dressing removed any crispness from the lettuce (which much seemed wilted and bad), and the carnitas was a bit overcooked and dry. So yeah. I don't think I'll go back. Maybe it was just an off day, but it wasn't good at all. I have pretty high standards for Mexican food, as my wife's first language is Spanish and I'm used to much more authentic foods, so that doesn't help. But the minute they brought out a thing of queso and pita instead of Fundido, I was pretty much checked out.
(2)
Kevin S.

Our first stop in Boulder with our three boys 15, 13 and 10. We arrived around 5 without reservations and we were seated immediately and the server was very informative and friendly. It was still happy hour so the band was playing loudly, the patio was busy and the bar was hopping. We were seated in the back of the restaurant which was fine. Drinks were great--the kids loved the limonatas and strawberry lemonade and I went with the mojito which was well made and a nice fresh mint sprig on top. The food was outstanding! They were very attentive to my wife who doesn't eat meat (even mentioning that the beans in the nachos used lard so they would replace them with black vegetarian beans). Speaking of the nachos, probably top 3 nachos ever (my wife said best ever)! The black beans and pickled red onion, delicious queso, along with the superior chips made these worth coming to eat here alone. I think we could have licked the plate if given the chance. My wife had the vegetarian burrito which was huge and she loved it (mole and verde sauce came on it), I had the summer vegetable enchiladas with chicken and the kids all had tacos. My 10 year old said the steak was "spicy" but the older kids didn't mind at all. The food was nicely presented, service was great and attentive but the food really took the cake. A great, fun Boulder stop for the family! 5 stars all the way!
(5)
Darren C.

I got to hit up almost every Mexican restaurant in Boulder while I was in town for about a week and this place definitely stands out as the best. For starters, the vibe, layout and dÃ©cor of the space is open, casual and cool. The service was always very friendly (although extremely frustratingly slow almost every time at the bar) and the food was overall pretty good. Of all that I ordered, the Mexican Street Corn and the Spicy Eggplant Taco were the best. The Veggie Enchiladas were good, but I didn't like the fact that the enchiladas were served atop the rice and beans. The rice and beans were actually great, but when mixed with the enchiladas, it just turns into some kind of casserole. Either way, it was okay, but the enchiladas didn't seem to have enough flavor or substance to stand on their own. I also had the Pork Green Chile, which was decent as well, though it did seem a little too watery and not quite spicy enough for a green chile. The biggest item I'm a fan of at Centro though, was their Sophia Bonita Margarita. It's a blackberry & vanilla infused tequila with limejuice, agave syrup and a jalapeno slice. The one awesome bartender (blonde girl) suggested I have it made a little spicier by adding some jalapeno infused tequila, which really made the marg much, much better. Because of that, I ended up having several and ended up meeting the cute girls sitting next to me drinking the same exact thing. Ironically, the super cute one was also named Sophia and I suddenly found myself between a pair of really Bonita Sophia's. Lucky man indeed, and long story short, I've met up with her a couple times since and am meeting her again tomorrow night. This place is cool, with good vibes, and decent food. It deserves 4 and a half stars and if I end up dating Sophia a few more times, I'll come back and readjust my rating to 5 stars for the hook up.
(4)
trolley S.

Love the happy hour here. For a party of 3 we can usually walk out under $50 (with drinks for 2 bc the 3rd person is 6 yrs old!) feeling beyond stuffed. And even leftovers too! Basic gringo mexican food with nice ingredients. Love the carnitas with a pineapple salsa. 5 out of 6 times, you'll have really great service. Then on that 6th try, you'll just get a server that is just out to lunch with no concept of time or service. But for the most part, it'll be just fine.
(4)
Alanna M.

I like coming here for happy hour. The menu is great and the drinks are well-priced. $3 for drafts and $5 for their margarita. The vegetarian nachos are my favorite item during happy hour and enough for 2 people. The chicken enchilada is good but a bit spicy for my taste. All the tacos are good. Their hot toddy is my favorite thing on a cold snowy day. It's a definite thing to order!
(4)
Caitlin F.

Centro is the place. Margaritas in yo face. Nachos are legit Salsa is a hit. Service is so quick. Tacos, take your pick. Patio's pretty sweet. An awesome place to meet.
(4)
Val En Tina B.

Went to dinner here during happy hour. Margaritas were OK for $5 but the chicken tacos (happy hour special) were absolutely disgusting. The chicken was chewy and the three of us who got them could not eat them. The chips and salsa quickly became dinner.
(3)
Isaac S.

This place is okay for drinks. Their bottled Mexican beer selection is good, and the margaritas are standard. However, the food was disappointing. Only the enchiladas I had were okay for a typical Boulder-Mex style. The salsa is TERRIBLE. It tastes like it came from a jar at Pasta Jay's across the street. There is no noticeable spice at all. I guess my aunt from middle-Pennsylvania would like it, but she thinks yellow mustard is too spicy. The ceviche is something you might expect from Bob's Mexican place in Laramie Wyoming rather than a foodie town like Boulder. In fact: don't get the ceviche unless you come from Laramie, in which case you may actually like it. It was mostly liquid, and the portion was not generous. Pros: good location and nice patio Cons: slow service on Saturday night, food didn't meet expectations.
(2)
Andrea K.

What a fantastic happy hour! Hubs and I have been here a couple times whilst exploring Boulder and it is one of our favorites. The mojitos are rockin'. If you are deciding between the marg and the mojito during hh, I'd go with the mojito. One of the best I've ever had. The nachos are a STEAL at happy hour. We got them with green chile and I only wish there had been more of that because it was go-oo-od. I also highly recommend the avocado salsa. At first I thought it sounded kind of lame- I mean, $6 for salsa? But it's fantastic and worth it. The goat cheese queso was a bit of a let down. It sounds so much better on paper. The pesto was delicious but practically non-existent and there were just two tiny slices of the smoked jalapenos. Minus those items, the queso itself was pretty bland. But I can forgive one miss at such an awesome happy hour spot. Sit on the patio and relax!
(4)
Justin S.

Great place to grab brunch on pearl. Very accommodating when it started to rain outside, moving us inside. The avocado salsa was awesome and the tortilla chips were very light and crispy, some of the best I have had. I enjoyed everything I got to try: fried bananas, huevos rancheros, breakfast burrito, and shrimp salad. I would definitely come back to this place again.
(5)
Steph G.

Such a fun place to have dinner! I've been here for drinks once but never ate a meal here. Colorful, energetic, and upbeat is the vibe here. Come hungry and ready for a good night out. The food is tasty and good value for the price. I got "el burro" con chorizo and shrimp. It was so FILLING. It could have been 2-3 meals for me, honestly. And it was only $15. Delish. The margarita was actually a bit disappointing. I ordered that first thinking it would be awesome, but the mojito was actually much better (drink 2). Both had a good kicking' also, so don't worry you get your money's worth in alcohol. :) And if you're like me, more than your fill for the night! Our server was great and friendly. There were a couple times when we asked for things and there seemed to be a lag, but the server was kind enough to update us on why or what was taking so long. All in all, solid on food, service, and ambience!
(4)
Emily S.

I think their food and drinks are very good - love the fried avocado and eggplant tacos. This is our go to place when we have visitors who want to get Mexican food.
(5)
Braxton T.

What a great place!! Great food, drinks, service and we lucked on to the happy hour!! What a deal great energy and atmosphere!!
(5)
Steve V.

This place is a light and bright bar that was fairly crowded the night I was there. The best part is, because there is plenty of space, you aren't constantly bumping into people. This is also a restaurant and since I was here well after dining hours, the space was utilized in that capacity. The line for drinks at the bar was minimal as they keep things running smoothly. The bouncer is friendly and not as "meat-headish" as other places in town. I would recommend this place for large groups as the vibe is cool, and there is space for all. THIS REVIEW IS NOT FOR THE FOOD HERE, JUST DRINKS!!!
(4)
Stephanie S.

If I could give no stars, I would. So first, let's talk about the food it's self. The food was exceptionally good. I had the Carnitas Benny which was wonderful. However, the manager, who is a heavier set woman, came to our table and checked our ID's. After noticing that we were from out of town, (we're from Florida), she asked which part. When my partner answered her, the manager's response was "oh, you live in the ghetto". I WAS IN SHOCK. I could not believe those words had come out of her mouth. Thanks to this incredibly rude woman, I will never come back to this place.
(1)
Liz S.

My oh my, how Centro as changed over the years - for the better! Centro is a Boulder hotspot, what with their amazing happy hour and outdoor patio overlook Pearl Street but just a few years ago it was just that - a place you went to drink, not eat. After visiting last night, I was very pleasantly surprised at the quality of everything. We started off with the avocado salsa sampler, one had lump crab nestled on top, one guacamole had goat cheese and chipotle peppers mixed in and one was just your traditional guacamole. DELICIOUS! Wow! How have more restaurants not thought to do this? The crab avocado salsa was by far my favorite, packed with flavor but the creaminess from crab made it absolutely incredible. We also had the mixed pepper and acorn squash salad which is hardly a salad but a whole lot of yummyness. Roasted squash slices topped with spicy peppers from shishito to chipotle, this is definitely an interesting take but I would consider it more of an appetizer than a salad. For my main I got the street tacos and while they were pretty to look at that didn't translate to taste. The fish was dry and way way over-fried, the garlic shrimp was tasteless and the mushroom was just fine. After such a strong start to the meal, I was disappointed in the tacos. After eyeing the dishes that sat at tables around me, I would have gone with the El Burro or even the butternut squash soup had I known. Now, the cocktails were absolutely impeccable. Each one was fabulous and it was very clear that whoever running the bar program knows that they are doing. I had the seasonal daiquiri and I can't remember if I have ever ordered a daiquiri before in my life but boy, was I glad I did. All in all, the experience was made by the cocktails and the extremely friendly staff. I will definitely go back and while it has moved up in my mind as just a happy hour spot, I still need to be sold on the entree game.
(4)
Jason O.

Highly recommended! It's got a lively atmosphere, but it's not too loud for conversation. The patio is great, the space heater was a little overpowering but the server took care of that right away. We got chips and salsa, along with an order of avocado salsa. The avocado salsa is far superior to whatever their "bottomless" salsa is, so go with that. I ordered a grilled steak taco and a chorizo taco (they're a little bigger than street tacos, so 2 or 3 is about right). Both of them were incredible! Hope to go back next time I'm in Boulder.
(4)
Cristina C.

Centro is on my Usual Suspects list (no, that does not mean that Keyser Soze will be breaking bread with me), but instead means that it is a total no-brainer for brunch/lunch or dinner and requires no special occasion, reason or thought. It's fresh, good and consistent and relies on producing dishes with real flavor...not faked with gobs of butter and fat. I laugh out loud as I segue from that last statement into mac and cheese...but if you had kids in tow, the kids Mac n Cheese is a HUGE hit - but you have to know to ask as they just recently took it off the menu. Don't feel guilty as you sneak a bite or two off their plates. My favs are their street tacos - the mushroom one is super yummy - their chicken enchiladas and their pazole. The grilled, caramelized grapefruit is very nice (Borat agrees). The outdoor-ish patio is fabulous and the location at the Top of Pearl (ironically acronyms to TOP) is ideal. Great prices.
(4)
Abby M.

Centro seems to have changed the past few years. I remember it having a bigger menu, and not being so loud. It seems like a good place to go for drinks and happy hour (which most people seemed to be there for), but that wasn't what I had expected based on a previous visit about 3 years ago. The food was still good, but the selection small. The service was painfully slow.
(3)
Kali M.

The queso is the best here. It comes with pita bread and is also on the happy hour menu! I would also recommend getting a mojito! Prices are pretty good and the atmosphere is fun! The patio is covered and connected to the indoor bar. They have brunch on the weekends.
(5)
Conrad S.

The food is good no doubt about it. The chops however are quite feeble. But $9 for most drinks is definitely a bummer when you have to wait longer for those than the appetizers. In fact I'm still waiting for my drink right now. So it's been about 15 minutes. Update: so I finally for my cucumber mojito (I ordered a double) and it is fucking delicious. Too bad it took so long.
(3)
Dan S.

Another special evening at my favorite Latin kitchen in boulder. Flying solo with no schedule but my own, I could sit and savor the best enchiladas in town. I've been here a lot and had the same thing over and over. So how is it that what I am so comfortable with, almost habituated to, can still stop me in mid bite, stop my time space continuum, and bring a singular focus to the flavors I am so fortunate to enjoy? It's because the kitchen staff rocks. It's Friday, and the place is jamming, but the service was silky. Couple my enchiladas with margaritas made with the personality of each bartender, and I was transported to a warm beach vacation. Which in my world is what Friday night is! Since I'm a sugar junky, I'm thrilled that bite size sopapillas are on the menu, with an amazing fig jam, but get the Tahitian vanilla ice cream as well!!! Go all the way on these babies! This is a place you come to be happy, pure and simple. The food is unique, delightful and totally approachable. Whatever end of the spice spectrum you live on its Here. it's a casual atmosphere, cool music and it's what Boulder is known for. I wish I could rate it 4 1/2 stars only because I don't believe anything is perfect. Hey yelp! Give us half stars!
(4)
Kameron C.

I have been back here 3 times now for brunch. The food is great and very affordable!
(5)
Casey H.

Loved the snapper and margarita but the ceviche made me sad. I really love the atmosphere and happy hour is wonderful ! The staff is really friendly and accommodating... Just kinda sad about a very tomato juice tasting ceviche. Great music and location!
(3)
MaryBeth R.

I admit it. I sometimes get stuck in a rut when it comes to eating out. Not always a bad thing, but sometimes you crave something different. Centro really satisfies that itch to eat something other than wood fired pizza or other "American Bistro" fare. And with Centro's "Monday's all day Happy Hour" you can try a little bit of this (avocado salsa!), a little bit of that (special tacos! calamari!) and wash it all down with a little something special (mojito! coin margarita!). Seriously....the tapas are not expensive, so giving 5 or 6 a try each visit is certainly within reach of most! The staff is also really quite skilled and accommodating, not the norm at trendy Boulder restaurants. I actually grabbed a card for the manager so I could give him a personal "shout out", but I must have had one too many something specials for it is lost forever.... So, if you are in the mood for a bit of authentic Mexican cuisine at a very reasonable (Boulder) price, I highly recommend a visit to Centro!
(4)
William K.

Price is good, especially during happy hour 9:30-11:30am. I had the breakfast, gluten free Pancakes and deep fried coconut bananas. The bananas are fantastic, as is the sauce you dip it in. But it's really rich, I suggest sharing it. The pancakes on the other hand taste like a wet dog and have the texture of a fine sand. Oh, Service was great! Would be 4 star but the pancakes move it back to average
(3)
Allan P.

Centro Latin Kitchen & Refreshment Palace @ 950 Pearl, Boulder/ dateline May 5, 2015/ about Happy Hour: Pearl Street pedestrians gawk at the columns of blue, twisting smoke streaming from the patio. The smell is familiar, pungent and inescapable; you recognize equal parts back yard barbecue and pancake breakfast when suddenly your stomach moans like a creaky old house. Hunger, oh man! You just walked up to Centro, and it's Cinco de Mayo. How did this happen? You've heard about Dave Query's Big Red F Restaurant Group, right? It includes Jax Fish House, Zolo Grill, West End Tavern, and Lola...but where does Centro fit in Query's quiver? Well, it's located in what was formerly home to the Boulder Bagel Bakery and Abo's Pizza in the 90's, so it has a food-related foundation. By the early 2000's it had been converted to a lively bar--Rhumba--which, by-the-way, had an eclectic, Caribbean menu rich in plantains, rice, and jerk flavored dishes, leavened by potent mojitos made fresh. Honestly, neither my friends nor I ate there much, preferring to focus on the people-meeting aspect of the sweet, open-air environment instead. Frankly, we treated it as a tequila soaked petting zoo, with nocturnal visiting hours. Fast-forward to 2015 and Centro carries on the tradition of a friendly bar, but now the food is creating the major buzz. With that in mind, this writer went with a small band of chums to actually sit inside and eat. Here's how it went: We licked our salted hands, tilted our heads back and opened our throats like baby birds, and afterwards limes were sucked. Sure we were there for the food, and the El Tesora Tequila Anejo probably should have been sipped not shot, but some traditions die slowly. With a tequila so smooth, the crying, punched in the face reaction you often see following a shooter is rare, and any tears are shed only from joy. The Tesora stoked our now ravenous appetites: it was Cinco de Mayo, Centro was en fuego, and the fiesta was on! It felt like Pamplona, minus the bulls and the horrible, bloody goring. But let's not get off on the wrong hoof. Centro's head chef, Dakota Coburn, is truly enjoying his turn at the grill, not at all quavering in the shadow of famous Red F alum, Hosea Rosenburg. Though it was Cinco de Mayo (celebrating the 1862 victory of the underdog Mexican army over French forces in the Battle of Puebla) and Coburn was cranking out some special Cinco Pig Roast dishes--including pork tamales, poblano enchiladas and spicy pork tacos with tomatillo salsa for the occasion--we also feasted on fare available year round. We tore into the previously mentioned platter of tamales, tacos and enchiladas, but also pickled ramps (from the pepper family), classic huevos rancheros from the brunch menu, a zingy guac with avocado chunks the size of a baby's fist, a bowl of mussels and clams in a bitingly spicy chorizo beer broth (too lethal for 3 out of 4 of us), a cluster of brown chicharrones snapping and crackling from the fryer, and more, but our favorites were oddly idiosyncratic and simple: the 'street corn' which was a perfectly grilled cobb slathered with an intoxicating aioli and crumbly Mexican queso; the simply named Avocado and Radish Salad, whose watermelon radishes were as beautiful on the plate as they were tasty in the food hatch; and, finally, the Tres Leches cake, which combines fresh berries (straw, in our case) with butter, whipped cream and something called rum brittle. Four spoons, four seconds and...gone; vamanos! If we hadn't been so abarrotados with carne de cerdo, chips, margaritas and whatnot, we would have ordered another round of the wondrous cake. Bottom line with the food was that it was mostly amazing, largely local, variable in spice content and infused with mucho amor. Although the fine folks at Centro invited me knowing that I write reviews, we saw identical looking dishes arrive at other tables, and we heard the same satisfied groans and frenzied chomping all around us. In other words, we ate what everyone else was eating. Sure, we were met by the gracious, fedora-wearing manager, Jessy Casado, who was charming and eager to please, and it's true that we had tableside visits from Mr. Coburn to explain the food, as these were perks orchestrated by Big Red F, which surely knows how to schmooze a food blogger. However, the truth is, these guys have something to brag about. They put tons of thought into every decision, from sourcing their meats to greeting their customers. They are ruthless at improving their brand and their product, muchacho, which makes it better for all of us...the ripe, crispy-skinned hogs among us notwithstanding. So, can you still meet a lovely at the all-season bar? Can you drink more than you or a small army of Irish longshoremen should? Yes, of course, but now you can have an intelligent conversation over some of the finest Mexican cuisine in Boulder, and live to both remember AND tell the tale
(5)
Meredith L.

Go here for brunch and find some fantastic deals for their happy hour specials for food which run in the morning, not in the evening time like most happy hours. The dishes were fairly simple upon their description but they were perfectly executed and well thought out. I got the centro cazuela that had sweet potato, eggs, spinach, green chilis, and cheese. It was incredibly flavorful, delicious, and healthy. I was impressed with the addition of fresh spinach instead of cooked spinach which I abhor. This was the best meal I had while I was in Boulder recently. Yum yum.
(5)
Julie R.

Centro is so fun! I have never had a bad meal here and their drinks are always on par as well as their service. The patio is amazing, even when it's cold out. Centro has an awesome happy hour. Fries with either pork or vegetarian green chili, tacos, chips and salsa and the AMAZING goat cheese queso dip! Drinks include margs, mojitos and beer of course. Definitely a fun place regardless of if you're going just for a quick drink or to sit down and have a whole meal.
(4)
Matt R.

Great appetizers the drinks were really good as well Me and my wife offered to move our table due to a big party leaving next to us.... Manager bought our next round of drinks. We will be back
(5)
Lee B.

Great happy hour! Great drinks
(4)
RJ D.

Nothing like inattentive service to ruin a meal. We came here for Brunch Happy Hour today and almost walked out after waiting 10 minutes just to get our water and put in drink orders. Another 10 minutes later, the waitress returned with only 1 of our drinks and apologized that it would take time to muddle the strawberries for my strawberry lemonade. After putting in our meal order and 2/3 of the way through our meal, she finally returned to check in on us, and apologize about the drink (that NEVER showed), blaming the problem on the kitchen, and remarking that it made HER look bad. When we received our bill, it turned out she also failed to give us the Happy Hour price for one of our meals. Very unimpressed. Boulder has too many good restaurants to waste time at a place that leaves you with a bad taste in your mouth.
(1)
Hannah M.

Had dinner here with my mom and step-dad the other night, and while the food was good, the most memorable thing would be the excellent waitstaff. Everyone was so kind and helpful and really made you feel like they wanted you to have the best dining experience possible. We started off with chips, salsa and guacamole. Yum. I ordered ceviche which was tasty but not spectacular. My moms enchiladas came out cold and they immediately replaced them with warm ones when she complained. They were very nice about it and even took the the entree off our bill. Definitely would go again, the service was just outstanding.
(4)
Sara F.

Stopped in for brunch with a crowd of rowdy six.. Great service from beginning to end.. No reservations.. the place was empty around 11am, and we were sat right away. The brunch menu had options of smaller plates or full on breakfast plates... I had the benedict and I can't quite remember what all else everyone had.. because the bloody mary was deleecious and Picoso!! Ay Ay AY!! The benedict was perfect, the portion was not huge and just satisfied my apetite. Everyone at the table was quite happy with thier food.. and the waiter and hostess were so friendly and professional, it felt like a five star experience! Can't wait to visit again!
(5)
Mark J.

Loud and lively on a Friday night, but food was very flavorful. Had the street tacos, choice of 3, all were great. The salsa sampler was great as well. Our service was a bit slow as they seemed understaffed for the busy time, but we still enjoyed the meal and will return.
(4)
Colan S.

Went there before a recent CU football game for brunch, and we were very impressed by the food! Good portion size, not enough to get us overstuffed, and the bloody mary I had was pretty good. The ambience was good, and the server was very intelligent and delightful, engaging us in conversation, which was welcome. They have a patio that we enjoyed for a second after our meal, before heading up to Folsom Field for the game. This review would be 5 stars, but the food and drink was a bit pricey. My only complaint.
(4)
Ben F.

Great place! I hope you are Lucky enough to catch Kyle the Best Bartender on the Planet! It's a Great Place for Food, Fun and Drinks! If you like spicy try the Shrimp Diablo! It's not often you find staff that makes your experience a dream to remember! We stumbled onto Centro the first time.... We went straight to it a few nights later! Another Great Time! Thanks Centro for Fun in Boulder!
(5)
Linda G.

Love this place! Go see peter the bartender, he makes a kickass margarita and the chili reanos to DIE for!! Yum!!
(5)
Libby L.

This place is the absolute best!! Definitely one of the best Happy Hours in Boulder any day of the week, and they even have Happy Hour all night Monday! Every single item on the food and drink menu is above and beyond excellent and I cannot praise the exceptional staff enough!! The bartender Jackie is always welcoming, sincere, and accommodating and the Manager Garrett always walks around to say hello and check in on everything. I definitely recommend the happy hour tacos and queso fundito and the happy hour mojitos and margaritas, it doesn't get much better than this :)
(5)
Megan C.

Great (but small) margaritas; yummy tacos and great gauc. However the place was SO LOUD I could not hear at all during dinner.
(3)
Judy K.

First time to try this place. I am loving this atmosphere. Enjoying some casual faire on the covered patio. There is a loud buzz of happy people, a sign of good food, good service, good fun. Our server, Ariel, has been attentive to my lactose intolerance. She suggested and brought me extra goat cheese for our fabulous nachos. Thanks, Ariel! We will be back...with friends.
(5)
Matt S.

Fantastic food and service. Carne Asada, washed down with a couple of coronas and then rounded out with a yummy chocolate taco desert.
(4)
J P.

Centro seems to have fallen to a new low. My mojito tasted like canned limeade and when I mentioned this to the server he noted that 'it couldn't be mixed poorly because it comes from a tap.' Well then. Tacos were the best part of our meal. Chile relleno was heavy and chicken enchilada was not very flavorful. Won't be returning anytime soon.
(2)
Christie V.

Man, this place gets busy at happy hour, but it's worth it - the Mojitos were great, the service was friendly without being over-bearing, the outdoor seating was refreshing and simple, and we got some appetizers that hit the spot. Best of all, although it's a nicer place, it's Boulder friendly - we went after a hike and fit in just fine!
(4)
Monica C.

Great brunch here! And it seems like there is never a wait so you can get a table easily. The service has always been good as well, and the wait staff provides great drink recommendations (or they can happily help you find a non-alcoholic but delicious concoction). The ambience is really cool too, and they have a nice patio looking out onto Pearl that is great in the summer. The food is unique and tasty. Be sure to check out the gluten free pancakes! I have not yet visited for dinner.
(4)
Tay G.

This place is so fun. I go here a lot- mostly when nothing else sounds good enough. Centro is a cool environment. I like sitting outside personally . It's a little more expensive than a lot of places but it never disappoints . Their drinks are good too.
(5)
Ken C.

I'm a vegetarian who loves amazing food. I make it point to have Sunday brunch here whenever I'm in town. I food is creative, with allot of thought and love. The Chef works magic with Latin Cuisine. A must go restaurant.
(5)
Andrea R.

I really liked coming here when I used to live in Colorado. The food was always super good and I also enjoyed going there for happy hour.
(4)
William C.

A seemingly very popular place by the crowd, but upon deciding to give Centro a try on a Saturday night our expectations were dashed by the poor service we experienced. Food however was very good and reasonably priced and the atmosphere was pleasant. Be advised if you want to carry on a conversation with anyone in your party you better bring a "Bull Horn"...........
(2)
Michael H.

Of all of the times that I have been here, the food has been absolutely amazing. The avocado Deb is amazing, and the Mexican corn is to die for.
(5)
Sara R.

Centro is my favorite place to go in Boulder! I've been there 3 times. It is a bit pricey, but great for a special occasion or just drinks. They have amazing tacos, tequila, and avocado salsa. Creative and fresh take on Latin food! Definitely worth the money.
(5)
Stephen B.

Don't go here for lunch. I'm not even finished eating yet and I feel the need to light them up on Yelp. I had a Caesar salad and the only good thing I can say about it is that the dressing was zesty. Otherwise, it was basically a bland pile of romaine for $8. My two coworkers were both disappointed as well. They're already talking about the need for a second lunch. One had the field greens salad ($8) with chicken ($5). The other had the ahi. I can't attest to the quality or flavor but the portions for the price are a joke. Either the meals should be more substantial or the cost lower. I've heard the Centro has a good happy hour and my coworker has enjoyed dinner there. But based on our experience today at lunch I wouldn't recommend it. Worst meal I've had in my two months in Boulder. The bartender was nice and the beer on tap tasty.
(1)
Dan B.

After getting a break from work in south Denver, I visited my friends K and M up in Boulder again. They wanted to get breakfast, and my only criteria was that the place have huevos rancheros. K's eyes lit up and he said "We should go to Centro!" The thing is, I never did get the huevos. There were so many other wonderful options, I couldn't decide. The blackened trout version of a Spanish style eggs benedict? (M got that). Biscuits and gravy with green-chile smoked cheddar biscuits? Yam and chorizo hash? Gluten-free pancakes? It was an extremely difficult decision, but I went with the chicken and roasted sqaush chilaquilles. I had chosen wisely. They were the best chilaquilles I've ever had. Had to get a side dish of sweet and smoky green chile pork, just to ensure that I had the full food coma later on. Everyone LOVED their meals. Excellent coffee was refilled frequently. The bloody mary was very spicy but good. No pain, no gain. Best brunch I've had in many years. I may dream about it.
(5)
byron d.

Best tacos I have had in awhile. The service is welcoming and the atmosphere lively. There was a small mishap with the order and they were all over it. They even comped our entire meal, which was entirely unexpected and not asked for. Would visit again.
(4)
Andrea D.

Great Happy Hour for both evening and brunch! We did the brunch HH and delicious! The fried bananas and chorizo taco were amazing! Service is always great and never felt like I had to as for anything. Definitely recommend this place! Can't wait to go back again!
(4)
Nory B.

Our waiter Alex was very friendly and attentive. Only the brunch menu was available since we came on Saturday around 2; it was a lot more limited than the regular one, but we found things we liked. The avocado salsa with lobster was amazing--great flavor! The shrimp taco was really good; the chile fries were just new potatoes in a spicy sauce. I didn't like them but my son did. Good place for a quick light lunch.
(4)
Mary P.

I love Centro's happy hour. I could probably eat it every day. Their gold coin marg is on point; I love that it's not pumped full of sugar but still goes down smooth and delicious. I love sitting out of the patio in the warm weather. It's an ideal spot for people watching. I just wished the opened before 4pm!
(4)
Chrissy S.

After the TWO hour wait for the table and the very long wait for the food, I had high expectations. I ordered the special which was scallops and a salad. The scallops were a joke - the tiniest 4 scallops I've ever seen and they were cold. The salad had so much pepper in the dressing I could barely eat it. By that point, I was starving so I choked down the $15 meal (an outrageous price for the quality) and went to another restaurant for some real food. I won't be going back.
(1)
Loralynn A.

Very slow service from bar and kitchen. But, everything we ordered was very good. Tacos, avocado salsa & margaritas.
(4)
Jeff C.

I seem to go to Centro once a year. The more I go, the more I wonder why it's not more. This place is great. We went on a Saturday and made reservations which I was surprised we could do. We requested the outside patio for the reservation and when we arrived we were surprised to have to wait up to 30 minutes for the patio. They said they didn't take reservations for the patio which was definitely strange to me. After some back and forth and with my fiance pushing for a break, the wait staff "pushed us up the list." Strange, but awesome in the end. We ordered some coin margs and started with the salsa sampler, duck empanadas (great) and the goat cheese fundido (amazing). The fundido was so cheesy and delicious we asked for more tortillas. We anticipated with this being a start, but really we were good with it all. Full-ish and I think we planned on sharing the street tacos but decided against it. We were impressed- yet again by the food and the solid service. A strange start, but all the service seemed very helpful and delightfully so. Well done Centro. We will be back soon.
(5)
Marisa K.

Being both a trained chef and from San Francisco, I have used yelp for years and years and yet I have rarely contributed to the pool of opinions. I have finally decided in all fairness this should changed so here goes my yelping... My visits to Centro have always been for happy hour, brunch, or cocktails so I cannot comment on the quality of their dinner dishes but I'd say its safe to assume they are scrumptious. While I am a big fan of their regular happy hour and cocktails- both are excellent, I am most fond of their Sunday brunch. While you may not know it, Centro is one of the best spots in Boulder for Brunch. In addition, the happy hour specials between 9:30-11:30 are soo cheap you will walk out of their feeling like you took advantage of your server and the chef. Just make sure you at least leave your server a bit more than usual for bringing you insanely good food for dirt cheap prices. The Brunch HH consists of several small plate options..I've yet to have one I did not love. Burnt grapefruit, plantains, breakfast taco, home fries and green chili, wilted greens. are my favorite...all $3 or less. I prefer to order a bunch to share as well as one larger dish from the main menu. Last weekend i had the huevos rancheros with poached eggs.. another fabulous one is the biscuits and gravy with cheddar, green chili, and chorizo. yum! Their $3 bloodys and mimosa are solid as well. However, the bloody Mary's could really use a garnish besides a lemon and lime wedge. Even an olive would have done it for me. One drawback, usually the hostesses are on the bitchy side. Working in this business for so many years it always amazes me how often you come across bitchy and unwelcoming hostesses...especially given that warm first impressions are their primary objective. My last trip wasn't bad and in fact I really liked our server who's name I cannot remember. We got there late and she suggested we order a second round of bloodys at hh price before it ended and when we were ready to drink them she would add the ice. She also asked how I wanted the eggs on my huevos cooked and they came out perfectly poached. I will be back very soon to try the new items I missed!
(4)
Tyler G.

I've have been here many times. The place is not comfortable and almost always drafty, service is OK at best, and absolutely nothing has ever wowed me here. I just recently went there for brunch and had the biscuits and gravy. The biscuits were good but the gravy was lack-luster and made the entire dish bland and mushy. We had a vegan friend with us and the waitress didn't know what that meant. . . . I guess I understand, but if you are working in Boulder you best be pretty aware of different diets. Drinks were just ok too. I really don't get why I see this place packed all the time. I promised myself after the last time I will never return to Centro.
(2)
Walter L.

Wait for a while until the host knledge that l was waiting. Ask for autside l sit a a bar no one came to take any orther since that bar is not by the bartender. Then one came and told me that l have to order to the bartender. Bad communication.
(1)
Jenn T.

Cam here for some happy hour action! Just decided to hit this place up because yelp had some great reviews. It was pretty crowded here but luckily we were able to score a seat outside in the nice weather. They have $3 tacos and various other things on the happy hour menu. I got the griddled shrimp taco and the barbacoa taco, both were really tasty and had great flavor. I added some hot sauce and boy was that sucker hot!! We also got the nachos, which were delicious as well. They came with guacamole, salsa, meat, black beans and onions. SO much food that we couldn't finish it all. The only thing thats not so good about this place during happy hour is the selection of beer, they only had one on happy hour and a 2-3 other drinks on happy hour (margaritas and such). Cheap, but not the most extensive list. Overall the staff and wait service was on par and polite.
(4)
Mike T.

Came here for the Sunday Brunch HH. First, surprisingly, there was no wait. My party of 8 arrived around 10:30 and we were seated immediately. And there were plenty of other tables open. The HH pricing is awesome. $3 for most of the items. (Bloody, Mimosa, Plantains, Banana Pancake, Hash Browns with Green Chili, etc). Unfortunately the HH brunch menu doesn't include any protein, but the regular Brunch menu does not disappoint. Everyone in the group enjoyed the meal, and our server was friendly and attentive. Would definitely come back!
(4)
Laura M.

AWESOME happy hour which is all day Mondays too! Drinks and food for happy hour were great! Great patio and decent service. Haven't tried the dinner yet but can't wait to go back!
(4)
Alex H.

I came here as per a friend's recommendation, and I was very impressed. The host and my server were very polite and offered a lot of great advice for my visit to Boulder. I ordered the enchiladas and a salsa sampler....both were outstanding.
(5)
Kent K.

Great appetizers: avocado salsa, soft tacos, and calamari are terrific. The mojitos are outstanding.
(4)
Jessica F.

My sister is obsessed with mojitos right now and I don't blame her. Give me a mojito over a margarita any day. On a wonderfully sunny Colorado afternoon, we decided to wander around Pearl Street Mall for a stroll down memory lane. I always loved this street in college and there have definitely been some added improvements. They may have always been there, just like the guy who shoves himself into a box, but my memory is fuzzy and my restaurant experience on the mall was limited to Old Chicago back in the day. A stop at Centro was a nice way to end our walk around Pearl Street and satisfied the craving. Centro came up on the old Yelp app as tops for the mojitos so we came here for the happy hour. Sadly, mojitos are not included in the happy hour menu but we got one anyway. We both tried the crushed strawberry mojitos and they were delicious. My sister also ordered a side of the tortilla chips and salsa. The chips were very tasty and seem to have a bit of garlic in them as we were both searching for gum later.
(4)
John W.

Got the three taco plate. Wife the same. I got one fish, one chicken & one pork. Wife - two chicken. & one fish. They were good. Not out standing. Served with black beans & rice. If they hadn't had jalapeÃ±os on them, they'd be bland.
(3)
Amber M.

This restaurant group is doing something right. I've already raved about The Bitter Bar, and now I'm going to do the same for Centro. The ambiance is lively, upbeat, and welcoming. We showed up on a Friday night at 7:30 and we only had to wait about 5 minutes for a table. My husband and I tried Southern American wines- he had a Cab (I think it was Chilean) and I have a wine I've never heard of from Argentina (similar to a Oregon Pinot Noir, very earthy, and very delicious). Hands down, the goat cheese avocado salsa is a must. I would get the chiles on the side next time- they were super spicy, but I was able to push them to the side and thoroughly enjoy the big chunks of avocado. Who knew that it would take so good with goat cheese! The chips were warm and had plenty of salt! My husband had the pumpkin soup- I don't care for the flavor profile- but he pretty much licked the bowl. The Carne Asada was NOM NOM! We both ordered it for dinner and I can't stop thinking about it. The sauce it's served in reminds me of a mole- so many flavors, each bite brought out a new flavor profile. The onions and green peppers were perfectly grilled. I can't say enough about this dish, it was excellent. Our service was okay, not great, not bad. Seems to be a trend in Boulder, but honestly, I'll take average service and exceptional food any day over the reverse. I look forward to reviewing their cocktails in the future!
(5)
Kayla C.

The hostess forgot to write our names down to be seated so we waited a long time to find we didn't have seats. The (expensive) drinks and food were unforgettable and not worth the cost. The waitress was pleasant and gave great service. I would never recommend this place.
(1)
Mat B.

A nice restaurant on Pearl, in a good location. It is likely important to order the right things, and stay away from some of their more experimental dishes. The service was attentive and catered to an allergy of one of the members in our party extremely carefully. Their coin margaritas are fantastic. During the summer it is nice to sit out on the patio, especially during happy hour when things start to cool off a bit. It would be more convenient if they took reservations, but they have a call-ahead list that will allow you to put your name on the waiting list for a table a bit before you arrive to shorten your wait time. The lack of reservations keeps me from eating here more often.
(4)
Rebeca R.

This place is hella awesome! I only had drinks, but damn did I also have a good time. Their lovely patio has seating at the bar and a great indoor/outdoor vibe. We perched on a Sunday and watched the ladies behind the bar with hypnotic fascination. The drink menu is severe, so many great options! They had a drink special on Sunday morning that I couldn't pass up - I enjoyed a pomegranate mimosa and it was fabulous! When the statement 'full bar' is used, it would only be accurate if used at this venue. They have everything, including a variety of bitters! The bartendresses were busy making crazy drink after crazy drink the entire time we were there. Plus, they were super cool, I also really enjoyed the naked lady wood carving. This is a great spot to chill and is nice and open and filled with good energy.
(4)
Mike F.

Had a fabulous Mother's Day brunch here, the food was outstanding and the service was top notch. Will definitely be returning here soon!
(5)
R H.

This place is not worth it. I have been here multiple times, and have left unhappy every time. The food is average at best, the service has always been terrible. Tonight we were there with a table of 8 (I would have chosen somewhere else).. We could not get our server to bring drinks, and he acted like he was doing us some big favor to actually show up at our table. All 8 of us sat there for over 30 minutes with empty glasses after we were done eating. We were there to celebrate and wanted more drinks... I'm talking about beer glasses, wine glasses, margarita glasses, and even water glasses. ALL of them empty for over 30 minutes!! We could not get any drinks!!! What a joke. We all left and went somewhere else to spend our money. The management at this place is a total joke. The manager actually came to our table and we loaded him up with all the plates the the terrible server had not bothered to collect... We had been done with them for a very long time.. but instead of realizing that his server was worthless, he seemed bothered that he had to carry our plates. You would think he would have gotten a hint, but nope.. He seemed oblivious...Many better options in Boulder. I cannot figure out how this place stays open. Terrible customer service!! Unless friends drag me there again I will never step foot in this place again... even thought my office is a few doors away.
(1)
Michael A.

My cousin and I dined here on my recent visit and shared a number of dishes. I wanted to like this place especially for its hip vibe and nice outdoor seating, and the drink menu is great. But it all comes down to the food. I'm a huge fan of gazpacho, and their version of this classic soup was off and very disappointing. It had a weird aftertaste that simply did not belong in this refreshing soup. The "farm greens" salad was decent but rather bland, although it was the best dish we had. The waitress highly recommended two dishes: the pork shoulder and the agave glazed ahi tuna. We ordered both, and both dishes were way overcooked and totally dry. They pretty much ruined the ahi tuna which is generally supposed to be seared, and my pork was just so dry it was hardly edible even though the plate included some of their sauce. Very disappointing. There are tons of great places on Pearl Street, and the poor quality of the food certainly doesn't warrant a return visit, especially for the price paid at Centro. I would give it a one star, but again the vibe is good and so are the drinks.
(2)
Cindy M.

The best place in Boulder CO for happy hour, dinner or brunch. I love their margaritas, avocado salsa and pork french fries. YUM! YUM! The wait staff and management are always super friendly and the service is just incredible.
(5)
Jeff F.

Quick rundown: - solid atmosphere - griddled shrimp tacos were a great call - apps were great: both ceviches and the Ahi Crudo - great spot to come for dinner, drinks, apps, date, biz dinner or bender
(4)
Michele B.

We have been going to Centro for drinks with small plates and the occasional dinner since 2008 or so. While it is still a good place to sit outside and have drinks and small plates on a sunny afternoon, the menu offerings have shrank considerably over the past few years. Gone are the bit more sophisticated menu options and what remains is a quite spartan dinner menu that just isn't very interesting. The salsa sampler is much smaller than it used to be and the delicious lobster guacamole is gone. With that, the tasty goat cheese guacamole is consistently deficient with goat cheese. Last evening was particularly disappointing with the ahi tuna special drenched in the very same green sauce as the avocado radish salad...ugh! It was a one note overload. The good is that the atmosphere is upbeat; service is friendly; the cocktails are generally well done; and it's always nice to sit outside. Bottom line, it's a worthwhile place to go for drinks and small plates with friends, but keep your food expectations low and do not expect anything too special.
(3)
Kyle M.

I am a picky restaurant goer because i work in the industry. Maybe i always go here when its slow, or maybe they know me now, or maybe they are just great. I dont know but i always get great freaking service here and the food is delicious. happy hour is awesome. basically i love this place. if i've ever had a bad experience i cant remember it. big red F scores again.
(5)
Liz W.

After speaking with the General Manager, my boyfriend and I decided to give this place one more shot. I am glad we did. We ordered the tuna crudo, which was fresh and delicious with just the right amount of heat from the fresno chilies. We also ordered the vegetarian version of the avocado salsa, it was well seasoned and had a good balance of tomato and avocado...and of course we had to order a special salsa, I believe they call it the 'fantasy' salsa, it is a combo of their hot and mild flavors, soo good. For our entrees, I tried the sea bass and my boyfriend tried the special which was a braised short rib. We were both impressed with how well the dishes were cooked, and enjoyed the sweet mashed potatoes and regular mashed potatoes. I was also thrilled to see that the shrimp tacos are back on the menu, that was a wise decision on their part. My only complaint in the end was that our service was spot on until we asked for our check, we then did not see our server again for another twenty minutes at which point the hostess stepped in to help. Overall, this was a positive experience and I would recommend giving the place a shot - particularly on a week night when the place isn't as loud and busy.
(4)
Dylan L.

I came into Centro with a date after hearing it nice atmosphere for the occasion, and i have to say, I was definitely impressed. It was a Saturday night, but we were seated right away. We were lucky enough to be seated on a covered/heated patio that feels enough like you're outside and away from the big restaurant crowd, and just toasty enough. We went for some beers and their chips/salsa sampler only, but really liked both. The sampler goes with 3 salsas, mild to hot, and all are very fresh tasting and a nice mix. Our server was super friendly and attentive. Centro offers some good food in a great atmosphere, and it's well worth a stop in.
(4)
Colie J.

I usually stick to brunch so I can't comment on the dinner food. I used to love their pancakes but I see now the flavor has changed. They used to have this amazing skillet and then when I went back for it again 3 weeks later it was gone! I can't wait to try their french toast!
(4)
JP S.

Due to the pervasive garbage smell, I lost my appetite before the food even came. When it did come (30 mins later), it was awful: mushy bruised bits in the lettuce, gristly carne asada, and what seemed to be flavorless butter-soaked rice. This visit confirmed my understanding that I don't need to ever return to Centro.
(1)
Greg D.

They need to get their kitchen exhaust hoods cleaned. The place smells like a deep fryer. And so did I after dining there. I don't understand why this place is so popular. The only reason I returned was because an old friend wanted to meet there for lunch. Big Red F makes good bars that serve food, but I wouldn't call them restaurants. That goes double for Centro. The avocado salsa we ordered was large chunks of avocado and a few smaller chunks of tomato. No seasoning. Very bland. I had ordered the Farm Greens salad also. Visually very unappetizing. Soggy tortilla strips. The aroma was amazing though, but the actual flavor was lacking.
(2)
Charlene K.

Bah, humbug. I really wanted to like this place, but I didn't. The patio area was crowded and hot, I had to push around several rude patrons on stools. It's so loud I couldn't hear myself mutter. The waitress was constantly harried and always seemed like we were bothering her. I ordered food off the happy hour menu. DO NOT DO THAT! It was awful. The shrimp in the taco wasn't de-veined. Gross!! The chicken was so dry it was sawdust in my mouth. The vanilla bourbon drink was so watered down it had only a mild sweet flavor. My friend ordered the special scallops off the dinner menu and she let me try some, they were amazing!! I really should have ordered "real" food, not the slop they serve to the drunkies. Boo, hiss!
(2)
Joyce K.

I came here for a company dinner and at first, thought it was like a Mi Cocina with the typical menu items of fajitas and enchiladas. I was pleasantly surprised! Does pecan tequila ice cream sound like something you've seen before? Their menu items are unique and well prepared. I had a beef tenderloin with sweet potato fritters and fried kale. It came with a generous chunk of beef and very well prepared. Dessert was a pumpkin donut with the pecan tequila ice cream. I recommend this place, it's nice and quaint
(4)
Tonya D.

In my opinion I would of gave no stars but I had to give at least one. Horrible service waited so long to order my ice melted in my glass and the water was luke warm by the time I recieved my straw to drink it. The food was sloppy and not very tasty. The customer service was slow and not interested in servicing as a functioning restaurant business. I will not be coming to this restaurant ever again. When I brought it to my waiters attention he did not respond in any suitable manner to resolve any issues. Two thumbs down for service and the food.
(1)
Pam L.

Had brunch here on 9/27 and really loved it. Don't remember the name of the dish I had but it was a skillet dish with sweet potatoes, tomatoes, spinach, egg, chorizo...tasted great and was very filling. The grapefruit marg was pricey but outstanding (had 2!) and we loved the fried coconut bananas. Would go back.
(5)
Jason S.

Update: They've upped their game on the service side. Nice fluidity now with both pros and trainees. In addition to the below.....I must also add that the plantains are #nomilicious. _________ Most recently attended for brunch on their lovely patio. Not as full throttle as during some of their evenings but a good crowd regardless. I think our server was either new or terribly incompetent - but, either way, seemingly overwhelmed. I watched and listened (to my stomach growl) as other diners arrived after me, ordered and got their courses before me. If I wasn't really hungry I think I would have been fine but I was about to Hulk-out. The grapefruit is unique and a definite must-order. Hopefully you'll get yours before the rest of your order (unlike me) so that you can appropriately appreciate it. The tacos are Boss Hogg. Go for the 3 taco plate because some of the tacos really benefit from that little bit of guac love.
(5)
Diane K.

I came for their happy hour brunch (very creative!) and really enjoyed my experience. The menu is diverse with both sweet and savory items. I ordered the hash browns with green chili and pork, the breakfast tostada with eggs and chorizo, the fried coconut banana, and the cinnamon, sugar and honey sopaipilla. My favorite were the former two. I liked the friend banana, but could have shared with a friend, and thought the sopaipillas were overdone. I was hoping for a softer shell. My partner had the breakfast sandwich and said it was really tasty, so next time I would order that. The best part of this brunch is that you get to try so many different flavors for a great price. My total was $11. I came to Centro when they first opened and didn't really care for the ambiance or food, but their brunch has won me over.
(4)
Bruce F.

Brunch: sweet plantains=amazing, cream cheese pancakes= yummy uniqueness, breakfast taco=soggy and bland. Service is usually above adequate. All in all this is my favorite genre of food and Centro is an excellent value. I continue to go back. Like most restaurants some things are just better than others.
(4)
Mike H.

I've never gone out of my way to find Central American food nor did I know how to define it. I came here to Centro to meet a friend for apps and happy hour not realizing that this isn't a typical Mexican restaurant, which becomes clear once you start looking at the menu. Our server who was very helpful and identified that we were new here, was very excited about their new menu that the chef rolled out recently. Our "just here for apps" very quickly turned into a four course meal with awesome cocktails paired up to each dish. The chef even stopped by our table to ask our thoughts and he too was very kind and welcoming. What I thought was going to be a quick catchup with an old friend after work turned into a dining experience like none other I have experienced.
(5)
Therese P.

Facebook has like, shouldn't yelp have love? And love we did! Had my hard to please hubby, two cu sons/students and a nine year old to please...success! The mahi mahi ceviche was creative and delicious, the happy hour had some thing for everyone (even a vegetarian like me) , yum! The cocktails were presented fun in the menu and even funner ( ya, I know all you English teachers, it's Tuesday, let it go) to drink. Regretted not having booked a hotel so stopped at one fun, top shelf cheap drink...next time I will indulge and walk to a hotel room! We are going back for dinner soon, we were so satiated by apps we didn't order dinner. When seeing entrees make their way past us we all decided - we are going back for dinner!
(5)
Randy D.

I just came in to say that the carnitas at Centro have been blowing my mind lately. so tasty. Perfectly crisped and not dry. Fantastic. Probably the best mojitos in town too. Centro never dissapoints.
(4)
Scott L.

Seriously fantastic! The pork carnitas tacos are awesome! Love this place, and their margaritas aren't bad either.
(4)
Teresa P.

I had my birthday celebration here. We had a fantastic experience and our waitress Brittney made the experience even better! The food and atmosphere were both fantastic. I definitely know we will be returning here for dinner again! Thanks Centro for making my birthday one I will never forget!
(5)
Jelena S.

It was a lazy Sunday afternoon and we just wanted to stop somewhere for drinks and apps to plan a future trip we're taking. Centro looked great so we decided to stop in. The restaurant was clean and looked great in terms of decor but it was so loud! We heard every silverware *clink* from people sitting across the room. That wasn't such a huge issue though and we decided to go with a margarita and two of the shrimp tacos from the happy hour menu. The tacos were great! Definitely not "Latin" style, more Americanized but tasty, nonetheless. Everything tasted good but the service was horrible! The hostess and servers seemed pleasant but they were never available or even around our table. Mind you there were about 10 people at the bar and only 2 or 3 tables inside and our server not once stopped by to see if we needed anything (and we did, multiple times). We saw other servers chatting, wrapping silverware, etc. but we were not once approached to see if we needed anything. The first time we needed a server we tried to catch the attention of a young lady wrapping silverware but she seemed like she was on a different planet. The second time we just got up and found someone to order more food. The last time we got up and found our server for the check. She brought us the check and then gave us a dessert menu. The desserts looked great but why would you bring out a dessert menu AFTER you just gave us the final check?! This was a fun place to stop and grab a quick bite but we won't make a special trip back for it.
(3)
Fair W.

Best mojitos -- with big bunches of mint. Guacamole with big chunks of avocado and just the right piquant with fresh tomato cubes. All day Happy Hour Mondays. I'm looking forward to their brunch some fine day.
(5)
Kristen F.

We always, always make a stop at Centro's happy hour after an afternoon of hiking Chautauqua / Flagstaff. They have awesome chicken tacos (traditional size) and kick-ass margaritas. OlÃ©!
(5)
Alice C.

Got a message from the manager who kindly offer another dinning oppotunities for two on the house. Good to know the restaurant listens to their customers and seek improvements.
(3)
Marcy M.

By far the best margarita in Boulder - coin style. They have a great happy hour as well and the people who work there are always friendly and happy.
(5)
Alice K.

Short & sweet: Service: 3.5 Food: 3.5 Wait time: 5 Price: 4 Cleanliness of bathroom: 5 I like breakfast. A lot. However, I happen to like sleeping even more, and therefore, when I have the opportunity to eat a decent breakfast, I choose to sleep in instead. So, I've decided to like brunch even more: I can usually convince myself to get out of bed for a 11:00ish meal. It was no surprise when my sister and I skirted into the doors of Centro and breathlessly asked if brunch happy hour would apply. "Um. It's 11:20 and happy hour ends at 11:30 so. Yeah.. I guess," was the snarky response we received, but hey, whatever. Between us, we tried the breakfast tacos, the burnt grapefruit, coconut-fried bananas with a vanilla anglaise (mostly because I wanted to say anglaise over and over again), the fried eggs with medium salsa (because we enjoy salsa), and the hash browns... pretty much everything on the brunch happy hour menu. The tacos were nothing special. Likewise, the eggs and hash browns were good, but a little disappointing. I'm not sure what I was expecting, but probably something a little tastier. The items weren't expensive by any means, but once again, I thought, 'I could've made myself some eggs at home...' - never a good thought when eating out. However, the burnt grapefruit and the coconut-fried bananas (with the vanilla anglaise!) were quite fabulous. I'd eat brunch elsewhere and come by for a mimosa and the coconut-fried bananas as a nice finish.
(3)
Christopher C.

I had a very good experience here, we went for a friends birthday. It was Monday so happy hour is all day, great drinks and food. The coin margs were awesome, and we just some kind of nacho plate with pork that was very good. I will be going back to here, the outside bar area was nice and the wait staff did a great job.
(4)
Kat C.

I really love the happy hours at Centro. On Monday's it's all day and the drinks are strong, reasonably priced, the tacos and other food delicious. If you plan on ordering the stewed meat prepare to wait and make sure you bring at least 3 other people. The portion was HUGE but it was insanely delicious. The waitstaff is nice and the atmosphere buzzing. What's not to like?
(4)
Michelle P.

I just don't understand what the hype is about this place. No way is it even close to Mexican food. Their food is bland, no seasoning or taste and for the price you pay, its a ripoff. I ordered some pork tacos and I honestly thought they were made by a newbie chef trying to make tacos. If people go to Centro for the atmosphere, then I recommend they cross the street to Tahona's for music and drinks. Centro is super overrated and overpriced! Go somewhere else....
(1)
Ben W.

Great lunch spot on West Pearl. Food is always solid and they try creative dishes. I almost always go for the special as it never disappoints. Chicken enchiladas are always good too.
(4)
Eric S.

Damn fine meal... We started off with a drink in the bar -- the cuba libre was better than I expected, and the bartender even said that for their signature drink, they had a rum-off contest to determine the best... and it was. Chips and salsa are available (at a price, which seems weird), but they have mild, medium, and hot. The medium was great and left a nice little jalapeno aftertaste. From there, it was the pork tacos. The tacos were really good, with a nice flavor and a bite. The happy hour menu was solid, with $2 cuba libre's and $2 modelos. Would definitely go back. The decor was decidedly non-franchise like and the bar lively. Good times.
(4)
Drew F.

I don't even know where to begin. Centro is one of, if not the best restaurant in Boulder. If you've ever had the pleasure of dining at a Big Red F Restaurant, you know that they spend a lot of energy making your experience the very best it can be. To be honest, I go to Centro 2x a week. Usually for brunch during the weekend and their 'ALL DAY' Happy Hour. If you haven't been and find yourself there during a H.H. I'd recommend the habanero pork tacos, manchego-chimichurri verde fries, or the pork green chili nachos.
(5)
Zachary E.

I've been to Centro many times over the years, with both family, friends, and clients. We love the shady patio on the east side, especially in the afternoon in the summertime. One of the coolest spots to hang out and relax after a hike or bike ride. One of my favorite beverages is their Dark n Stormy. The menu is always exciting and a treat that can't be found anywhere else in town quite like it. I only wish that it weren't so loud sometimes when sitting inside, the noise factor is a bit of a negative, but the staff's professionalism makes us keep coming back, and I continue to bring clients to Centro as one of the choice spots to eat when introducing them to Boulder restaurants I love. If you go on a nice day, definitely sit outside!
(4)
Jane P.

Stopped in for a late night dinner while in town. The food was actually better than we expected - it was really good, innovative latin cuisine - when I was expecting more of a generic taco-y place. The soup was awesome, the nachos were generous and tasty, and the cocktails were killer. Also a great bonus: they had a good selection of interesting virgin (alcohol-free) drinks, which is unusual for a bar / restaurant.
(5)
David C.

My food was delivered by a woman in a dirty chef coat, the salsa that was billed as med was less than mild in fact it was sweet and full of inedible pepper skins. Go to tahona and save ur money
(1)
Leah C.

eh food but the "all day monday" happy hour can't be beat... $2 shrimp, fish, pork or mushroom/zucchini tacos are a bargain. the taste won't knock your socks off but they'll fill your belly. the $4 tecates or house wine are decent enough to satiate your palate but not leave a dent in your wallet. the one dish i did enjoy were the "greens" - which is bok choy lightly stir-fried with soy sauce and spices. not very latin but good! also, their vegetarian black beans (that i ordered to go with the NON-complimentary chips) were spicy and not greasy -- very good! my husband who hates beans even thought they were "decent" probably because the "medium" salsa was so watered down...
(3)
jessy t.

This is a nice little interior restaurant. There is at least one vegetarian option on each section of the menu. The tacos were served with some creative dressings (radishes and cabbage), which I thought was great. The plantain fritter was a little heavy on the oil, but the tacos, cocktails, and desserts were creative and great. They have peanut butter ice cream, additionally, which was great. Salty and sweet.
(4)
Jessica H.

One of our favorites when visiting Boulder. Stopped in for happy hour while shopping this week and tried the Manchego-Chimichurri Verde Fries for the first time. They were outstanding. The portion was so large I brought half of the order home for my husband. He loved them and then wanted to go back for more! We stopped by a couple of days later but were dissapointed when we found out we missed the happy hour menu. The hostess checked with the cook to see if we could special order the fries, which we were able to do which was great! We also had the Arugula & Avocado Salad which had a great mix of sour, hot and cool flavors. We also tried the Carna Asada, Chicken Enchiladas and Spicy Fried Chicken. I've had both happy hour and dinner here. Both are good but the prices for happy our are great. The drink menu is extensive - I've stuck with the house margarita which is very good and the sangria's which are outstanding.
(5)
Shannon R.

Our group was beyond impressed with Centro. The food is a savory approach to Latin food with just the right amount of heat. The service, including management, went above and beyond to deliver an exceptional dining experience and the environment, both indoors and outdoors is warm and inviting.
(5)
Danielle B.

Service was great and the waitress was really helpful in guiding us through the menu. Chupacabra (muddled watermelon, poblano chili, basil with gin and lemonade) was amazing! Unusual entree's and standard mexican dishes but all six of us (including two kids) loved it!
(5)
Scott H.

Amazing happy hour drink specials and the taco for 2 was sooo good!
(5)
Royah M.

After reading my review, the manager got in touch with me to request I give their cocktails another try. Hats off to a business that listens to its customers and tries to make things right.
(5)
Mercedes P.

My partner is a big lover of gourmet mexican food. I'm always a bit reluctant to spend $15 on tacos, but he was dying to give Centro a try. After my experience with Happy Noodle House's fortune cookie a few weeks back I wasn't that eager to throw this restaurant owner more money, but I acquiesced. First, I wasn't impressed with the menu here and ended up ordering a special. The menu selection was small and all of it a little boring-enchiladas, dark meat chicken, tacos-all of it over $15. ehh. My partner ordered scallops and rice. I ordered steak. We shared a salsa appetizer. The salsa appetizer wasn't impressive. The first round of chips were stale and greasy and the salsas-three small dishes-weren't special. One tasted like ketchup. The hottest one didn't taste hot at all. Chips and salsa were $7-not cheap for what most restaurants serve for free or charge something nominal like a $1 for-especially when the salsas were unimpressive. The steak special was ***I am not joking*** the best steak I've had in my life. Melt in your mouth. Seriously, a steak like butter. Served with a squash sauce and peppers. It was $25, but I'm willing to spend $25 for the best more than I'm willing to spend $15 for a taco dish that is served everywhere. My partners scallops on top of rice were good, but it was only three scallops. He was still hungry. He wished he ordered the steak. If you're lucky enough to get seating in one of the front booths, I think you might experience some good ambience here. We didn't get a good table. Good service, personable waiter. Like Happy Noodle House, I get the feeling that this place will just end up being a hit for Happy Hour. The rave reviews here are for happy hour and brunch where the low price does a lot to offset any negative experience-expectations are lower. The dining room, not coincidentally, was empty and the bar was packed.
(4)
Jim H.

A boring menu with about the same amount of taste. They try too hard to be different and it just takes away from the food
(2)
Charlie Bolognese Z.

Strange place. The "avocado salsa" is not, as you might think, guacamole. It's a small plate of avocado chunks. We improved ours immensely by mashing it and adding salt. The "hush puppies" were not really hush puppies, but more like donuts. The quality of the ingredients in the entrees wasn't the best. The chilaquiles advertise kale, but come with about a tablespoon of it. Of the three of us, none of us were happy with our entrees. The drinks were good though.
(2)
James Bruce B.

We came for lunch on a whim while visiting Boulder and were very pleasantly surprised by the service and the food. The food was amazing! To be fair, this is not authentic mexican dining, but that aint the point. The creations are thoroughly inspired by mexican cuisine and are indeed mouth-watering. The garlic shrimp soft tacos with lemon aioli were rock and roll! Inspired also were the house cocktails - I recommend the Oscar. I have have never savoured agave nectar in such style. The decor was excellent too - unpretentious but elegant and reminscant of modern mexican culture. Im coming back!
(5)
Karen B.

On the recommendation of relatives, my husband and I went to Centro to celebrate our anniversary. We weren't expecting anything fancy, we just wanted to experience something different outside of our regular restaurant routine. We knew the place was popular, so we went on a Tuesday evening to try to avoid a weekend night. When we arrived a little after 7:00 p.m., there was no available patio seating, but seating inside was nearly empty. We took a booth by a window and proceeded to wait, and wait for a server to appear. After about 10 minutes of waiting, a server finally showed briefly, but promised to be back later. Several more minutes, and the server again appeared and offered to take our drink order. She also informed us of their Tuesday night barbecue menu and floated a copy of that menu. We each promptly ordered a draft beer, and the server smiled and disappeared. After another 10 minutes, our server eventually reappeared, but without beers, and wanted to take our food order. (She never asked us if we were interested in an appetizer.) She commented that they had to change the keg before we could have our beer. If we had been informed of this as a courtesy, we would have changed our drink order to something readily available. But instead we went dry. Beers finally came. We had now been seated for at least 20 minutes. Remember, the dining room was nearly empty - only one other table was occupied. The server's timing was simply off with us. She kept coming by at the wrong time to take our food order, but once we had a chance to sip the overdue beer and then read the menu, she was no where to be found. We finally placed our dinner orders. No mention was made of any nightly specials other than the barbecue menu. I ordered the grilled blue marlin salad and my husband had the grilled mahi. The food came in a reasonable amount of time and was good, but not sensational. There was no complimentary bread or tortillas with dinner, only salt and pepper on the table. The food was decent, but not memorable. We took our time, enjoyed ourselves, and were not rushed. Until we finished our meals, of course. Once our plates were cleared, our server returned and presented us with both the dessert menu and our bill simultaneously. She explained that if we wanted some dessert, no problem, but if we didn't here was our check. (The dining room was still empty, by the way.) We paid the bill and left. As we left the restaurant, we walked past a sign on the patio outside advertising that the special of the evening was an aji dish. Server never mentioned this.
(2)
Fred L.

Staff is pleasant but pushy in the service. Food was tasty for the price but the options during brunch were limited. Probably pass on this in the future unless there are no other options
(2)
Ingrid E.

Centro is one of my favorite happy hour places.... incredible shrimp tacos, their avocado salsa is to "die for" and all the servers are so kind, and great service. It's a busy place, so make sure you get there early. In the summer it's THE place to go to sit outside and simply enjoy Pearl Street views, and have amazing drinks and food.
(5)
Maggie F.

I recently enjoyed a fabulously fun brunch at Centro - it is now giving Zolo a run for its money for my favorite brunch spot in Boulder! Wandering about downtown in need of some food, we were drawn to the inviting patio dining scene at Centro, and stopped to check their menu. The hostess offered a menu not posted outside - brunch happy hour! Huzzah! This menu of small plates at (incredibly!) small prices definitely drew us the rest of the way into the restaurant.....where we proceeded to be gluttons to the fullest extent! I was THRILLED with the veggie friendliness of this menu - vegetarians rejoice! We ordered one of each off this gem of a menu, which included: fried eggs with christmas salsa, hashbrowns (normally with a black bean chorizo salsa), seared greens, a breakfast taco with eggs, cotija and roasted jalapenos, coconut fried banana with vanilla anglaise, and a burnt (bruleed) grapefruit half. We also "splurged" and got a mimosa and a bloody mary (super spicy and highly recommended). The damage?? $16. Really!!! Happily, the food was phenomenal as well...the burnt grapefruit being the standout on the sweet side and the breakfast taco faring very well for the savory camp. The best part (in my opinion) was dining al fresco, nibbling on the myriad small plates covering the table's surface, bits and bites here and there....so many tastes to explore! Paradoxical though it may seem, if you are looking for a eurocentric dining experience, search no farther - this Latin American restaurant fits the bill perfectly! P.S. I only gave four stars because if you don't happen to catch this unparalleled deal at brunch, our experience has been overpriced dining & drink options (but still tasty) with an extremely limited veggie section.
(4)
Dave I.

We had dinner there on a busy Friday evening. The food was excellent! I had the Masa Cakes, my wife had the Mushroom Soft Tacos. Both were well thought-out, well prepared dishes and different enough to make them interesting. I asked for a 2nd non-alcoholic beer half way through the meal. It seemed a long time coming, but the manager came over and explained that they had run out, so they had sent someone over to Jax to get one. Plus one for customer service. She came back a couple of minutes later and said that it had arrived warm, so they weren't going to serve it. Plus two. Then she offered us both a drink on the house. Plus three. My one complaint? We exhausted the vegetarian options on our first visit, so we'll need to wait a while before we go back.
(4)
Paolo D.

We went here on a recommendation from a local and she did not disappoint. I ordered the Grilled Chicken Enchiladas with a fried egg on top. I also had the Cucumber Mojito and the Pineapple Express margarita. The food was amazing and the drinks were excellent. I love mojitos and I've never had a cucumber one before, so that was a huge selling point. We also got lucky and ended up with an outdoor table after only 5 minutes of waiting (after being told it might be a 45-minute wait).
(4)
Travis D.

My girlfriend and i spent an afternoon in Boulder shortly after Christmas while waiting for a friend of ours to arrive at DIA. After walking up and down Pearl Street we were getting a little hungry and decided to pop into Centro for dinner. It turned out to be happy hour so we got things started with $2 chips and salsa and a few $2 cuba libres. You really can't beat those prices. After that we got an order of the blue crab and sweet corn fritters. They showed up hot a crispy, with a delicious and slightly sweet exterior. They came with some sort of savory marinade reduction sauce that was great. Next up was a bowl of the roasted tomato and poblano soup. It came with a crouton floating in the middle covered in melted manchego cheese. The soup was really tasty with a very complex flavor and a bit of heat. Perfect for the cold night we were experiencing. Though the crouton was sitting in soup, it still had a significant amount of crunch to it and wasn't too soggy. I'm a big fan of pureed vegetable soups, and this was nothing short of fantastic. We finished up with an order of the habanero rotisserie pork tacos. Though i thought they were a little over stuffed for the size of the tortillas, i'm not going to complain about having some filling fall onto the plate that i can scoop up with a fork later. The pork had some heat from the habanero, but not overwhelmingly so, and the flavor was just great. I've had a problem lately with looking at the dessert menu with the intention of not getting anything, and then getting suckered into ordering something decadent, so this time i passed at even looking at the thing. It looks like they have churros. I love churros. But i guess i'm better for not getting them. For a place that a couple of San Francisco foodies just strolled into, we thought Centro was surprisingly fantastic. If i'm back in Boulder at any point, i may just have to come back for another meal. Hopefully we'll catch happy hour again.
(5)
Robin P.

Best outdoor dining in Boulder.
(4)
Murpheezzz X.

Great happy hour and the best patio in Boulder. I always loved Rhumba and was a little disappointed when they changed to Centro, but ultimately it still possesses all of the greatness that was Rhumba, minus the live music. Good food, drinks and a great atmosphere. Unfortunately the service can out right suck!
(2)
Dominique R.

Love the party atmosphere, love the food. This is right up my alley for a fun night out....neat food that's delicious and worth talking about. Love it.
(4)
Erika S.

I was visiting Boulder with my mom and after a long hike we were looking for a bite to eat and a drink. We saw centro after walking around and it looked busy so we got a table. To our pleasant surprise it was happy hour so they had a la carte dishes for $2!! We had a habanero pork taco, shrimp taco and rock shrimp and yam fritter. It was all sooo good! The service was awesome and for 5 a la carte dishes and 2 cocktails with tax it was $17! Cant beat that! Highly recommended
(5)
Lacey M.

I went here on a Friday night with some girlfriends for a birthday celebration and had a great time. We had to wait at the bar for a table of course, so we all had a drink and some chips and salsa. The mojitos were not too spectacular...I've had way better. But my Pom-arita was amazing! It's a margarita made with pomegranate flavored tequila. So delicious, it didn't even taste like it was made with alcohol....dangerous. All 3 salsas were really good. My favorite was the super spicy one. And boy was it spicy! But great flavor. Our first batch of chips were a little chewy, but the second batch was warm and cripsy. I do think that charging $7 for chips and salsa is a little ridiculous...but nonetheless, I loved it and will order it again if I return. We had dinner on the patio, which was wonderful. Perfect evening, great people watching spot, and fun atmosphere. I had the Chicken and Yam Enchiladas, which were great. Good portion size, with big chunks of juicy chicken and tender yams, all covered in a chile rojo sauce. One of my friends had the Crispy Tofu and Grilled Vegetable Bowl with nopales and asparagus. She loved it, and I agreed after I stole a bite or two. It came with flour tortillas and all 3 salsas on the side. My other friend ordered the Grilled Chicken Thigh Tacos. She loved them, but I didn't even try them due to the mound of onions on top. Overall, it was a very enjoyable dinner for my friend's birthday. Tasty drinks and food, and pleasant service.
(4)
Blair K.

Centro contacted me following my last post and invited me to come back to retry their restaurant. They said that they had made great efforts to improve their service. And they have. The waitress was very attentive, friendly and informative. It seems like things have really turned around service wise and the food was amazing as always!
(4)
Lindsay L.

I was in Boulder for a weekend class and thought this place was great! The food was delicious and our server was excellent. She was personable, knowledgeable, and she actually knew a lot about the many interesting cocktails they have to offer. The food was a little spendy, but the portions were huge, so I would recommend splitting. I was really excited about their drink list. Lots of options for every palate. I would highly recommend this place. A schnazzy atmosphere without the pretentiousness.
(5)
Bob A.

I haven't lived in Boulder for too long but I am starting to get the sense that all these poor Boulderites have never been introduced to great food as all the restaurants I have been to that have rave reviews have been mediocre. Centro is certainly no exception. The food was decent, but abhorrently overpriced. For starters $20 for two tacos is a little outrageous but I can get over the price tag if it's a great taco, not 90% lettuce like what I was served. For what it's worth it was quality lettuce and the little bit of habanero pork was tasty, but simply not $20 worth. This would be a 3 star review but the service was painfully slow. My second drink literally arrived a half hour after I ordered it with the excuse that "the computer that prints the orders broke" which, as I have been told by my friends in the service industry, is code for "I forgot your order".
(2)
rusty r.

I disagree that Centro's drinks are not tasty. In fact, I think they make some of the better drinks on Pearl street, and their dark & stormy's are excellent. The key to Centro is HAPPY HOUR. Here are my favorites during this time: $1.50 Cuba Libre's, which are Flor De Cana Rum and Coke. Same rum they use in the mojitos. Very tasty, strong, and cheap! $2.00 garlic shrimp tacos. These things are really incredible, and over the past 2 months have gotten better for some reason. The shrimp is plentiful, the cabbage crisp, and the garlicky lemon sauce is just amazing. So simple, but really incredible. Best $2 you will spend in a day. As far as dinner, I think it's great, but a little pricey for what you get. But happy hour is crucial.
(4)
Daniel F.

Pretty overrated. We went for the Monday all day happy hour. My Cuba Libre was weak, nobody should ever drink Modelo especial, and the food was decent. We had a pork taco, a shrimp and yam fritter, chicken enchilada, chips and salsa, and rice and beans. All edible. The service and atmosphere really knocked this one down though. Stuck in the corner, yelling to carry on a conversation, and so hot and muggy in there that my legs were sticking to the booth by the end as we waited and waited for our server to reappear and bring the check.
(2)
Buddha K.

Great overall VIBE! the Food was fantastic. Sat outside for dinner and had an amazing time. Back for seconds? Absolutely!
(4)
Penelope B.

I always enjoy eating here. Most recently, a somewhat deconstructed tamal was absolutely delicious. Very good drinks. Gets rather busy with the bar scene so call ahead to get on the list. Kid friendly at non-evening hours, good menu with excellent mac and cheese.
(4)
Greg D.

been here plenty of times when the parents come to town. Lobster nachos and El Hombre Burrito! Delicious, fresh, great service and happening place
(4)
Tirtho C.

Awesome food, mediocre service and very nice ambience. My wife and I sat outside and we didnt like our table first. The waitress wasnt anywhere to be seen. The food came out first without the drinks and we had to tell them explicitly that we needed the drinks. So I would pretty much say that the service sucked. But later we sat in a different table which they were able to do for us. When the food arrived, we were just "OMG". The food was very tasty, well presented. The cocktails were great! I would come back to this restaurant for sure, but will make sure that its a different server next time.
(4)
Lawrence W.

The wife and I were taken to Centro with some new friends. We were really prepared to love it, but the food just didn't do it for us. The service here was great, as was the case everywhere we've been in Boulder. The waitress was very attentive and helpful, and the manager spent quite a bit of time at our table, chatting and even considering suggestions for improvements. We all shared a salsa sampler appetizer -- for me this was the highlight of the meal (besides the fantastic company and aforementioned great service). Each of the salsas had a distinct flavor, the best being the sweet and wonderfully spicy mango-habanero salsa. I ordered the chicken and yams enchiladas. I really wanted to love these, but they fell way short of my expectations. The problem arose I believe from the fact that the 'yam' aspect of the enchilada actually featured the skin off of the yams, which if anything detracted from the other flavors. The rice and enchilada sauce were also somewhat bland. The butter beans accompanying the dish though were pretty tasty. Wife had the rotisserie chicken, and was also disappointed with the lack of flavor and the taste of the tortillas (she did however really enjoy her Mojito). For dessert, we had the churros, which were a crowd pleaser, but I couldn't get behind them (they tasted too much like Cinnamon Toast Crunch cereal). At the end of the meal, we learned from the manager that all of Centro's offerings are gluten-free. I doubt however that the lack of gluten impacted my impressions of the meal, but perhaps. I suspect that if I drank alcohol, I might have enjoyed my Centro dining experience more. That said, it was a very fun location for a meal -- certainly somewhere to go with a crowd. However, if you're looking for a more of a great food experience, you might want to try elsewhere.
(3)
Tim B.

Seems like one of the nicer places on West Pearl to eat lunch/brunch on a sunny day - patio seating is ample. My mojito was pretty bland but the avocado salsa was awesome (but a little pricey at $8). The tortilla chips are pretty much the tastiest chips ever. They do an interesting taco on a soft corn tortilla which was a good value at $9. And the hostess had this hot Scarlett Johansson thing going on which was nice.
(4)
Merrilee T.

I seem to be reviewing places based on whether or not they make me feel old, so I don't know how helpful they are. Anyhoo, good food, tasty drinks, not cheap, fun atmosphere. It's a tight fit to cram onto the patio, but it's worth it. They have an incredible rum selection, and a variety of mojitos. I've never been disappointed with the food. On our most recent visit, I had a dark chocolate peanut torte. It was more like a peanut butter pie with a layer of chocolate torte on top, which was fine by me. Thankfully, it's a bit of an older crowd in the early evenings, and I frequently run into acquaintances from days past which is fun. Or not, depending on the nature of the acquaintance-ship. Jeebus Boulder is small.
(4)
Pb N L L.

Great atmosphere. Just wished my carne asada made me a full beast.
(4)
Penelope W.

It has taken me time to realize that this restaurant is no longer Rhumba, but now I see. . . The decor is most fabulous - of course, the location, outdoor patio and center-aisle bar are not hard to work with. But, there was something; the chair was not on level-ground, so had to pick another chair : ( ; then there was our waitress. . . That is all I will say [for I also suffer with affliction, being a horrid waitress]; besides this, the f o o d s are truly delightful. spinach, mushroom, bean tacos! oh my. and the grapefruit margs were not half bad themselves. in fact, crystallized sugar beads dot the rim! Must say, the drinks were very well-executed. Beautiful - Mr. Bartender! . . . Not a lot of people in our age box tho, so. . . So, we paid and left. The green salsa is fantastic!
(4)
Jason T.

I really enjoy Centro. Their soups are perfect for a chilled winter day and the vibe is perfect. Eaten lunch there many times since they opened as Centro. I also love eating dinner on their huge patio. It's a great dining space and the food is really good and the service attentive.
(3)
Delphine F.

I wish I could review the food here, but I didn't make it past the bar list. And after two caipirihas, the appetizer menu was as far as my eye could get too. Those were fantastic caipirinhas - just the right mix of lime and cachaca, sweet but not too sweet. Strong, but not tasting quite as strong as they must have been... This place apparently prides itself on the margaritas, and, judging from the sip I tried, they certainly were good, but anyone can do a margarita - the caipirinha takes a little more skill... Appetizers were good and reasonably priced - dinner entrees were a little too upscale for us that evening, but certainly looked delicious as they went by ($15-20 range - I had to give this place 4 stars as the appetizers were good and entrees looked good, but since I didn't try them, I wouldn't want to up anyone's expectations too high...). The atmosphere friendly, the waitstaff entertaining (though our waiter did have a snake-skin belt that looked more snake than belt - slightly creepy, but cool. but creepy). The patio was gorgeous, for a Colorado summer evening. The lamps, bar and table settings were trendy in a hip nuevo Latino way. It would be a great place to impress a date. I would happily go again. If someone took me. (she types wistfully).
(4)
Lara I.

I'm in love with the food in this glorious jewel. If I weren't already involved, I'd flirt with Centro shamelessly. I went downtown one Wednesday for no other reason than a strong urge to wrap my lips around the guac and a mojito, only to find it closed (Gasp!) and I ended up at the Med, you know, sort of like a really satisfying rebound relationship. I hope Centro opens for weekday lunch again.
(5)
Stefanie W.

I have to say I usually chose Tahona over Centro, mainly because Centro's Happy Hour ends at 5.30 already and I simply prefer the taco choice across the street. However, the food is very good and the drinks are tasty. Had a couple of bad experiences with the service, but I think in general I'd say the service is good. I really like their date night special with Paella for 2. It's a great deal and very tasty!
(4)
Susie H.

I would have given this restaurant 4 stars but I felt the kitchen ran slow. The bartender was fast getting drink to you and very nice. We shared an avocado salsa and a very good tasting salad... It was suppose to serve one person but was huge.... So glad we shared. The lemonade with peppers is very spicy... Nice breeze sitting at the bar as it is all open air.
(3)
Jennifer L.

Happy Hour -- not so happy. Dropping cash at restaurants is no problem and dining out is inherent to my profession as a public relations professional. However, our waitress could have done a better job about letting us know Happy Hour was about to end instead her response makes me wish to never return. Centro - rethink how you treat your customers.
(2)
Matt S.

I have never tasted chicken enchilada's as amazing as the ones at Centro. The food is an amazing mix of exotic flavors, and traditional dishes. A wonderful place for dinner with a friend or date, I am excited to return with a small group.
(4)
Andrew H.

The worst drinks in Boulder. Hands down. You pay a pretty penny for the watered down creation as well. I've had a few good lunches here, but overall every experience has been ruined by the staff or the drinks.
(1)
Sarah V.

AVOCADO SALSA & CHIPS. Nice big chunks of avocados and lots of flavor. mmmmm. My friend and I went early and sat on the outdoor patio with this app and fresh margaritas for a couple of hours before moving on to the main dish. For dinner I had the habanero rotisserie pork tacos - also quite palatable if you're a carnivore like me. The ambiance here is really vibrant - this place was kicking on a Friday night! Loved it!
(5)
Cynthia S.

Best brunch happy hour I've experienced anywhere! This place is spot-on with all things made from scratch, and as authentic and clean as central Mexican fare could be. The coconut bananas are a "must", and the fried eggs are the bomb! Each priced at a meager $2 per item! But those are just two picks from the $2 selections on the menu. Get there early, as the HH starts when door's open at 9:30am, and ends at 11:30, and outdoor seating goes fast when weather's great!
(5)
Jen C.

the torta cubana!! very very tasty though i think i can only eat it once a month. nothing beats a sandwich with a friend egg in it :) aside from that though, i wasn't a huge fan of any of the other dishes. it's a fun place for happy hour though!
(3)
J S.

I wish half stars were an option cause I would throw a half in there w/the three, but I don't think they are quite a four. Went here recently and had a good time but it was definitely due to the company and not so much the food. We sat on the patio and like another reviewer mentioned, swatting bugs during a meal is a bummer, how about a candle people! My friend ordered the lamb taquitos which were delish! I got the chicken and clams and the chicken was dry and I was unimpressed w/their homemade chorizo, boulder sausage brand chorizo from the store is better. It also had masa dumplings and they seemed, well, old. The broth was flavorful but I didn't order that for the broth ya know? Service was fine, not bad, not awesome. Would I go back? Maybe for lunch.
(3)
Ryan F.

The Brunch at Centro is amazing. I have ordered the carribean hash? 2x now. It has a really nice rising spice tempo, in other words it doesn't seem hot at first, and by the time you are getting close to finishing, its is quite spicy. This dish incorporates shrimp, eggs, poblanos, sweet potatoes, red peppers, and fried bananas with some very interesting spices to form a complex medley of flavors that are definitely out of the ordinary for breakfast, but very satisfying. The coconut fried bananas with vanilla pudding sauce are to die for too. My new favorite breakfast spot in Boulder; based on the strength of these two dishes alone.
(4)
Rick K.

Brunch is not to be missed. The selection is not big, but it is pretty diverse. The Bloody Mary is absolutely excellent and a must try. I have made a follow up reservation for their Wednesday Date Night Paella event. Every Wednesday paella for two and a bottle of wine for $30.00. Too good to not try it out.
(5)
Jennifer S.

I found the food decent, but everything was a little "too sweet". No regular iced tea.... just "sweet tea". The salsa sampler was OK. The chips and avocado were really good! My pork tacos were OK, but they came with a huge thing of sour cream and no salsa at all? I had to steal some salsa from the chips. Also, the service was not good at all. We had reservations and when we got there no one was at the hostess area and we waited for several minutes to get attention. The waitress was slow, took forever to refill our water when the bottles on the table were empty, and the food service was delayed as well. Overall.... I wouldn't go back or recommend.
(2)
David C.

Centro has some interesting dishes and is definitely worth a try. Some meals are right on and some a bit of a miss but you have to love their effort to create something different. If you can enjoy the outside patio. Service can be a bit slow as it is pretty popular.
(3)
Sarah S.

Lunch at Centro is my first stop when I return to Boulder. I order a marg and the salsa sampler with chips for starters, and usually attempt to tackle the burrito, garlic grilled shrimp tacos, or- most recently- the grilled chicken enchiladas which I will definitely order again. The ingredients are fresh, the plate was really pretty, our server was really sweet, and the grapefruit marg was delish.
(4)
Jen A.

Best happy hour specials: $2 tacos, $2 chips and salsa and $1.50 rum and cokes. You can't go wrong.
(4)
Alexandra S.

Best Happy Hour in town. Patio is amazing in the summer. Brunch is to die for.
(4)
Josh W.

Great masa cakes
(4)
Shoshana D.

Went here for brunch and enjoyed the experience. The entrees themselves were just okay, but some of the more unique sides/beverages made it a place worth revisiting. I loved the apricot habenero hot salsa, and also enjoyed the cucumber mint limeade. The best thing we had by far though was the grilled watermelon. It was grilled just long enough to get the grill marks, then sprinkled with salt, drizzled with honey and topped with thinly sliced serrano peppers. Amazingly tasty... who would have thought! And at $4, well worth it. Nice outdoor seating and bar area. This combined with The Kitchen could make a good high-end bar crawl.
(4)
Barbara F.

My favorite mojito in Boulder. The pisco diablo drink is another favorite, though the pisco sour is too far from the traditional preparation for my tastes. The "avocado salsa" (don't call it guacamole, or your server may scold you) is fantastic, and I adore the garlicky shrimp. Service ranges from indifferent to haughty to sorta-nice.
(4)
E H.

We Love this place. Beautiful patio. Great service. Amazing food. We drive from Denver just to go here. Happy hour for breakfast-so good!
(5)
Jessica W.

Continuing the restaurants-as-clothing-designers scheme...if the Kitchen is J.Crew, then Centro is more like Forever 21: a bit more brash, louder, and not afraid to flirt with tacky. Of course, it could just be that we're only there on all-day happy hour Mondays when the place can be wall-to-wall packed with a younger crowd. We head down to Centro on Mondays when we want to enjoy a night out that doesn't give us a credit card hangover. The happy hour drinks (cheap beer and margs) are decent, and the little dishes are excellent across the board (though we've dropped the rice and beans from our lineup--it didn't measure up.) If you can score a place on the patio, you're set for energetic vibes and tasty food.
(4)
Kurt S.

Great food especially the burrito. The mojito and pisco sour were not good, but other drinks were not good.
(4)
William F.

Brunch at Centro is AMAZING. Served both Saturday and Sunday. Outdoor patio. Great creative selection. Good service.
(4)
Kati A.

I have been to Centro multiple times (pretty much always for their AWESOME all day happy hour on Mondays!) but every time it has been just amazing. Today we went again with some friends and all four of us agreed that one of their dishes was honestly one of, if not the THE best dish we have ever eaten. The dish was a special; basically a pulled chicken slider with sautÃ©ed mushrooms on a biscuit... but my description does it no justice. There were so many other unique ingredients in it, and all of the flavors were so distinct and worked so well together. I can hands down say it was one of the best dishes I have ever tried in my life. I also had their Wahoo Adobado Salad which was amazing! The candied Yams tied in so well with the sweetness of the grilled pineapple, and then the lightness of the fish balanced it all out extremely well. On top of that, if you have never tried their Manchengo - Chimichurri Verde Fries, you are seriously missing out. I don't know where you will find better fries! Plus our servers have always been laid back and helpful. The vibe and feel at Centro is great and the food is always so exciting and different. I would highly recommend this restaurant to anyone. love it!
(5)
Jen M.

This is a real hee-haw...I ordered the blackened mahi mahi salad and no shit, the piece of mahi was barely 2" wide by 2" long. When the server first put the plate in front of me I mistook the piece of fish for a crouton. Nope. It was a measly piece of mahi mahi. I called the server back over and said, "Is this the normal portion size for the mahi?" She said, "Our chef serves a 2oz. portion." I said, "That's ridiculous." Keep in mind, a normal restaurant will give you a 6oz. piece of fish. I asked her for another piece. Pretty soon the manager came over, eyeballed the piece of mahi, and said it was on the small side. You think? I wish I would have taken a picture of it--it was such a joke. My boyfriend ordered the chicken enchiladas and they barely came out warm. Portions for all other menu items are generous but not for the mahi mahi salad. And for $12 I would expect a larger portion of mahi!
(2)
Sarah S.

I could've done without constantly having to shoo flies away from my food. I don't know if it was because they had the door opened or what, but I felt like I was eating in a barn. The atmosphere in general was great, however. We got there a little early before a big rush of "hipsters", and while it got a little busy farther into the evening, the end of happy hour (dollar rum and cokes and 2 dollar tacos!) was very enjoyable. My flank steak was really good. The flavors were bold and the meat just fell apart. My biggest complaint? It was Swimming in sauce. It was almost like an oily soup--totally drenched the bed of greens the steak was on. If I go there again, I'd ask if they could either use no sauce, or a 1/4 of what they usually put on the plate. I'd definately go there again though. The guacamole is extra chunky-huge pieces of avacado really set off how fresh it is. Never browning or sloppy. It's clearly made to order. As it should be.
(3)
Todd P.

Very disappointing. As a fan of the old Rhumba, I had not returned since the change to Centro, and was expecting a great meal based on other reviews I had seen. The best part about Centro was the very polite and helpful hostess; the rest of the meal would have been forgettable but for how poor our experience was. We found seats at the outside bar while waiting for our table; despite 3 bartenders at work and an average size crowd at best, not one even acknowledged our presence for 10 minutes. The Pisco Sour I finally received was good, the Mojito was just ok and somewhat over-rated. This turned out to be the highlight of our meal. Once seated we waited....and waited...for service. Our server (to remain nameless for her sake) was brief, not helpful, and ready to move on even before each stop to our table. Totally unengaged. My Wife had the Garlicky Shrimp Tacos, which had very little substance but for lots of cabbage and a sour taste to them. My Carne Asada was ok. Cooked to my liking, but a little stringy and tough to cut. The wait times for our server continued throughout the meal and through payment. I had to track her down myself, and even then had to ask for help from the very helpful guy bussing tables in order to pay my bill. I had hoped for much better from Centro, and left extremely disappointed. I will not be returning; there are so many great restaurants in Boulder, I would recommend you explore them before considering Centro.
(1)
Worthy M.

One of my favorite places on Pearl. $2 Tecate cans and very good avocado salsa and enchiladas. Im a huge fan. Check it out.
(4)
Lisa R.

Great food, especially for the price. I also like the drinks although I think they were better back when the restaurant was called "Rhumba".
(4)
Laura L.

Delicious! But depending on what you order, you may or may not leave with your tastebuds intact. We were in the mood to sample, so started with the chunky guacamole and chips - like sister restaurant Lola in Denver, they do a fantastic job with this, it's super chunky and tasty and I probably could have eaten just this all night long; we also tried the grilled watermelon (crunchy & sweet), pork tacos (incredibly spicy - our waiter decided to enlighten us 15 minutes later that drinking water only makes it worse), crab empanada with avo salsa verde (hot as hades), and dipped and smothered corn on the cob (slightly fancier sounding on the menu than reality, but it tasted real good.) Mojitos were light and refreshing, just like the rainstorm that forced us inside to the community table where we could watch the hustle & bustle and spy on people's plates without being too obvious. Oh, treat yourself to the churros with chocolate and caramel - double dip and soothe your tastebuds a bit.
(4)
A Marie J.

Sat out on the patio on a beautiful day. Had the happy hour menu and they had lots of great choices. Their drinks are on point and they have a great tequila menu. When I have been here in the past I ordered off of the dinner menu and have always been pleased.
(5)
Abby M.

Centro seems to have changed the past few years. I remember it having a bigger menu, and not being so loud. It seems like a good place to go for drinks and happy hour (which most people seemed to be there for), but that wasn't what I had expected based on a previous visit about 3 years ago. The food was still good, but the selection small. The service was painfully slow.
(3)
Kali M.

The queso is the best here. It comes with pita bread and is also on the happy hour menu! I would also recommend getting a mojito! Prices are pretty good and the atmosphere is fun! The patio is covered and connected to the indoor bar. They have brunch on the weekends.
(5)
Conrad S.

The food is good no doubt about it. The chops however are quite feeble. But $9 for most drinks is definitely a bummer when you have to wait longer for those than the appetizers. In fact I'm still waiting for my drink right now. So it's been about 15 minutes. Update: so I finally for my cucumber mojito (I ordered a double) and it is fucking delicious. Too bad it took so long.
(3)
Dan S.

Another special evening at my favorite Latin kitchen in boulder. Flying solo with no schedule but my own, I could sit and savor the best enchiladas in town. I've been here a lot and had the same thing over and over. So how is it that what I am so comfortable with, almost habituated to, can still stop me in mid bite, stop my time space continuum, and bring a singular focus to the flavors I am so fortunate to enjoy? It's because the kitchen staff rocks. It's Friday, and the place is jamming, but the service was silky. Couple my enchiladas with margaritas made with the personality of each bartender, and I was transported to a warm beach vacation. Which in my world is what Friday night is! Since I'm a sugar junky, I'm thrilled that bite size sopapillas are on the menu, with an amazing fig jam, but get the Tahitian vanilla ice cream as well!!! Go all the way on these babies! This is a place you come to be happy, pure and simple. The food is unique, delightful and totally approachable. Whatever end of the spice spectrum you live on its Here. it's a casual atmosphere, cool music and it's what Boulder is known for. I wish I could rate it 4 1/2 stars only because I don't believe anything is perfect. Hey yelp! Give us half stars!
(4)
Kameron C.

I have been back here 3 times now for brunch. The food is great and very affordable!
(5)
Casey H.

Loved the snapper and margarita but the ceviche made me sad. I really love the atmosphere and happy hour is wonderful ! The staff is really friendly and accommodating... Just kinda sad about a very tomato juice tasting ceviche. Great music and location!
(3)
MaryBeth R.

I admit it. I sometimes get stuck in a rut when it comes to eating out. Not always a bad thing, but sometimes you crave something different. Centro really satisfies that itch to eat something other than wood fired pizza or other "American Bistro" fare. And with Centro's "Monday's all day Happy Hour" you can try a little bit of this (avocado salsa!), a little bit of that (special tacos! calamari!) and wash it all down with a little something special (mojito! coin margarita!). Seriously....the tapas are not expensive, so giving 5 or 6 a try each visit is certainly within reach of most! The staff is also really quite skilled and accommodating, not the norm at trendy Boulder restaurants. I actually grabbed a card for the manager so I could give him a personal "shout out", but I must have had one too many something specials for it is lost forever.... So, if you are in the mood for a bit of authentic Mexican cuisine at a very reasonable (Boulder) price, I highly recommend a visit to Centro!
(4)
William K.

Price is good, especially during happy hour 9:30-11:30am. I had the breakfast, gluten free Pancakes and deep fried coconut bananas. The bananas are fantastic, as is the sauce you dip it in. But it's really rich, I suggest sharing it. The pancakes on the other hand taste like a wet dog and have the texture of a fine sand. Oh, Service was great! Would be 4 star but the pancakes move it back to average
(3)
Allan P.

Centro Latin Kitchen & Refreshment Palace @ 950 Pearl, Boulder/ dateline May 5, 2015/ about Happy Hour: Pearl Street pedestrians gawk at the columns of blue, twisting smoke streaming from the patio. The smell is familiar, pungent and inescapable; you recognize equal parts back yard barbecue and pancake breakfast when suddenly your stomach moans like a creaky old house. Hunger, oh man! You just walked up to Centro, and it's Cinco de Mayo. How did this happen? You've heard about Dave Query's Big Red F Restaurant Group, right? It includes Jax Fish House, Zolo Grill, West End Tavern, and Lola...but where does Centro fit in Query's quiver? Well, it's located in what was formerly home to the Boulder Bagel Bakery and Abo's Pizza in the 90's, so it has a food-related foundation. By the early 2000's it had been converted to a lively bar--Rhumba--which, by-the-way, had an eclectic, Caribbean menu rich in plantains, rice, and jerk flavored dishes, leavened by potent mojitos made fresh. Honestly, neither my friends nor I ate there much, preferring to focus on the people-meeting aspect of the sweet, open-air environment instead. Frankly, we treated it as a tequila soaked petting zoo, with nocturnal visiting hours. Fast-forward to 2015 and Centro carries on the tradition of a friendly bar, but now the food is creating the major buzz. With that in mind, this writer went with a small band of chums to actually sit inside and eat. Here's how it went: We licked our salted hands, tilted our heads back and opened our throats like baby birds, and afterwards limes were sucked. Sure we were there for the food, and the El Tesora Tequila Anejo probably should have been sipped not shot, but some traditions die slowly. With a tequila so smooth, the crying, punched in the face reaction you often see following a shooter is rare, and any tears are shed only from joy. The Tesora stoked our now ravenous appetites: it was Cinco de Mayo, Centro was en fuego, and the fiesta was on! It felt like Pamplona, minus the bulls and the horrible, bloody goring. But let's not get off on the wrong hoof. Centro's head chef, Dakota Coburn, is truly enjoying his turn at the grill, not at all quavering in the shadow of famous Red F alum, Hosea Rosenburg. Though it was Cinco de Mayo (celebrating the 1862 victory of the underdog Mexican army over French forces in the Battle of Puebla) and Coburn was cranking out some special Cinco Pig Roast dishes--including pork tamales, poblano enchiladas and spicy pork tacos with tomatillo salsa for the occasion--we also feasted on fare available year round. We tore into the previously mentioned platter of tamales, tacos and enchiladas, but also pickled ramps (from the pepper family), classic huevos rancheros from the brunch menu, a zingy guac with avocado chunks the size of a baby's fist, a bowl of mussels and clams in a bitingly spicy chorizo beer broth (too lethal for 3 out of 4 of us), a cluster of brown chicharrones snapping and crackling from the fryer, and more, but our favorites were oddly idiosyncratic and simple: the 'street corn' which was a perfectly grilled cobb slathered with an intoxicating aioli and crumbly Mexican queso; the simply named Avocado and Radish Salad, whose watermelon radishes were as beautiful on the plate as they were tasty in the food hatch; and, finally, the Tres Leches cake, which combines fresh berries (straw, in our case) with butter, whipped cream and something called rum brittle. Four spoons, four seconds and...gone; vamanos! If we hadn't been so abarrotados with carne de cerdo, chips, margaritas and whatnot, we would have ordered another round of the wondrous cake. Bottom line with the food was that it was mostly amazing, largely local, variable in spice content and infused with mucho amor. Although the fine folks at Centro invited me knowing that I write reviews, we saw identical looking dishes arrive at other tables, and we heard the same satisfied groans and frenzied chomping all around us. In other words, we ate what everyone else was eating. Sure, we were met by the gracious, fedora-wearing manager, Jessy Casado, who was charming and eager to please, and it's true that we had tableside visits from Mr. Coburn to explain the food, as these were perks orchestrated by Big Red F, which surely knows how to schmooze a food blogger. However, the truth is, these guys have something to brag about. They put tons of thought into every decision, from sourcing their meats to greeting their customers. They are ruthless at improving their brand and their product, muchacho, which makes it better for all of us...the ripe, crispy-skinned hogs among us notwithstanding. So, can you still meet a lovely at the all-season bar? Can you drink more than you or a small army of Irish longshoremen should? Yes, of course, but now you can have an intelligent conversation over some of the finest Mexican cuisine in Boulder, and live to both remember AND tell the tale
(5)
Meredith L.

Go here for brunch and find some fantastic deals for their happy hour specials for food which run in the morning, not in the evening time like most happy hours. The dishes were fairly simple upon their description but they were perfectly executed and well thought out. I got the centro cazuela that had sweet potato, eggs, spinach, green chilis, and cheese. It was incredibly flavorful, delicious, and healthy. I was impressed with the addition of fresh spinach instead of cooked spinach which I abhor. This was the best meal I had while I was in Boulder recently. Yum yum.
(5)
Julie R.

Centro is so fun! I have never had a bad meal here and their drinks are always on par as well as their service. The patio is amazing, even when it's cold out. Centro has an awesome happy hour. Fries with either pork or vegetarian green chili, tacos, chips and salsa and the AMAZING goat cheese queso dip! Drinks include margs, mojitos and beer of course. Definitely a fun place regardless of if you're going just for a quick drink or to sit down and have a whole meal.
(4)
Matt R.

Great appetizers the drinks were really good as well Me and my wife offered to move our table due to a big party leaving next to us.... Manager bought our next round of drinks. We will be back
(5)
Lee B.

Great happy hour! Great drinks
(4)
RJ D.

Nothing like inattentive service to ruin a meal. We came here for Brunch Happy Hour today and almost walked out after waiting 10 minutes just to get our water and put in drink orders. Another 10 minutes later, the waitress returned with only 1 of our drinks and apologized that it would take time to muddle the strawberries for my strawberry lemonade. After putting in our meal order and 2/3 of the way through our meal, she finally returned to check in on us, and apologize about the drink (that NEVER showed), blaming the problem on the kitchen, and remarking that it made HER look bad. When we received our bill, it turned out she also failed to give us the Happy Hour price for one of our meals. Very unimpressed. Boulder has too many good restaurants to waste time at a place that leaves you with a bad taste in your mouth.
(1)
Hannah M.

Had dinner here with my mom and step-dad the other night, and while the food was good, the most memorable thing would be the excellent waitstaff. Everyone was so kind and helpful and really made you feel like they wanted you to have the best dining experience possible. We started off with chips, salsa and guacamole. Yum. I ordered ceviche which was tasty but not spectacular. My moms enchiladas came out cold and they immediately replaced them with warm ones when she complained. They were very nice about it and even took the the entree off our bill. Definitely would go again, the service was just outstanding.
(4)
Sara F.

Stopped in for brunch with a crowd of rowdy six.. Great service from beginning to end.. No reservations.. the place was empty around 11am, and we were sat right away. The brunch menu had options of smaller plates or full on breakfast plates... I had the benedict and I can't quite remember what all else everyone had.. because the bloody mary was deleecious and Picoso!! Ay Ay AY!! The benedict was perfect, the portion was not huge and just satisfied my apetite. Everyone at the table was quite happy with thier food.. and the waiter and hostess were so friendly and professional, it felt like a five star experience! Can't wait to visit again!
(5)
Mark J.

Loud and lively on a Friday night, but food was very flavorful. Had the street tacos, choice of 3, all were great. The salsa sampler was great as well. Our service was a bit slow as they seemed understaffed for the busy time, but we still enjoyed the meal and will return.
(4)
Colan S.

Went there before a recent CU football game for brunch, and we were very impressed by the food! Good portion size, not enough to get us overstuffed, and the bloody mary I had was pretty good. The ambience was good, and the server was very intelligent and delightful, engaging us in conversation, which was welcome. They have a patio that we enjoyed for a second after our meal, before heading up to Folsom Field for the game. This review would be 5 stars, but the food and drink was a bit pricey. My only complaint.
(4)
Ben F.

Great place! I hope you are Lucky enough to catch Kyle the Best Bartender on the Planet! It's a Great Place for Food, Fun and Drinks! If you like spicy try the Shrimp Diablo! It's not often you find staff that makes your experience a dream to remember! We stumbled onto Centro the first time.... We went straight to it a few nights later! Another Great Time! Thanks Centro for Fun in Boulder!
(5)
Linda G.

Love this place! Go see peter the bartender, he makes a kickass margarita and the chili reanos to DIE for!! Yum!!
(5)
Libby L.

This place is the absolute best!! Definitely one of the best Happy Hours in Boulder any day of the week, and they even have Happy Hour all night Monday! Every single item on the food and drink menu is above and beyond excellent and I cannot praise the exceptional staff enough!! The bartender Jackie is always welcoming, sincere, and accommodating and the Manager Garrett always walks around to say hello and check in on everything. I definitely recommend the happy hour tacos and queso fundito and the happy hour mojitos and margaritas, it doesn't get much better than this :)
(5)
Megan C.

Great (but small) margaritas; yummy tacos and great gauc. However the place was SO LOUD I could not hear at all during dinner.
(3)
Judy K.

First time to try this place. I am loving this atmosphere. Enjoying some casual faire on the covered patio. There is a loud buzz of happy people, a sign of good food, good service, good fun. Our server, Ariel, has been attentive to my lactose intolerance. She suggested and brought me extra goat cheese for our fabulous nachos. Thanks, Ariel! We will be back...with friends.
(5)
Matt S.

Fantastic food and service. Carne Asada, washed down with a couple of coronas and then rounded out with a yummy chocolate taco desert.
(4)
J P.

Centro seems to have fallen to a new low. My mojito tasted like canned limeade and when I mentioned this to the server he noted that 'it couldn't be mixed poorly because it comes from a tap.' Well then. Tacos were the best part of our meal. Chile relleno was heavy and chicken enchilada was not very flavorful. Won't be returning anytime soon.
(2)
Christie V.

Man, this place gets busy at happy hour, but it's worth it - the Mojitos were great, the service was friendly without being over-bearing, the outdoor seating was refreshing and simple, and we got some appetizers that hit the spot. Best of all, although it's a nicer place, it's Boulder friendly - we went after a hike and fit in just fine!
(4)
Monica C.

Great brunch here! And it seems like there is never a wait so you can get a table easily. The service has always been good as well, and the wait staff provides great drink recommendations (or they can happily help you find a non-alcoholic but delicious concoction). The ambience is really cool too, and they have a nice patio looking out onto Pearl that is great in the summer. The food is unique and tasty. Be sure to check out the gluten free pancakes! I have not yet visited for dinner.
(4)
Tay G.

This place is so fun. I go here a lot- mostly when nothing else sounds good enough. Centro is a cool environment. I like sitting outside personally . It's a little more expensive than a lot of places but it never disappoints . Their drinks are good too.
(5)
Ken C.

I'm a vegetarian who loves amazing food. I make it point to have Sunday brunch here whenever I'm in town. I food is creative, with allot of thought and love. The Chef works magic with Latin Cuisine. A must go restaurant.
(5)
Andrea R.

I really liked coming here when I used to live in Colorado. The food was always super good and I also enjoyed going there for happy hour.
(4)
William C.

A seemingly very popular place by the crowd, but upon deciding to give Centro a try on a Saturday night our expectations were dashed by the poor service we experienced. Food however was very good and reasonably priced and the atmosphere was pleasant. Be advised if you want to carry on a conversation with anyone in your party you better bring a "Bull Horn"...........
(2)
Michael H.

Of all of the times that I have been here, the food has been absolutely amazing. The avocado Deb is amazing, and the Mexican corn is to die for.
(5)
Sara R.

Centro is my favorite place to go in Boulder! I've been there 3 times. It is a bit pricey, but great for a special occasion or just drinks. They have amazing tacos, tequila, and avocado salsa. Creative and fresh take on Latin food! Definitely worth the money.
(5)
Stephen B.

Don't go here for lunch. I'm not even finished eating yet and I feel the need to light them up on Yelp. I had a Caesar salad and the only good thing I can say about it is that the dressing was zesty. Otherwise, it was basically a bland pile of romaine for $8. My two coworkers were both disappointed as well. They're already talking about the need for a second lunch. One had the field greens salad ($8) with chicken ($5). The other had the ahi. I can't attest to the quality or flavor but the portions for the price are a joke. Either the meals should be more substantial or the cost lower. I've heard the Centro has a good happy hour and my coworker has enjoyed dinner there. But based on our experience today at lunch I wouldn't recommend it. Worst meal I've had in my two months in Boulder. The bartender was nice and the beer on tap tasty.
(1)
Dan B.

After getting a break from work in south Denver, I visited my friends K and M up in Boulder again. They wanted to get breakfast, and my only criteria was that the place have huevos rancheros. K's eyes lit up and he said "We should go to Centro!" The thing is, I never did get the huevos. There were so many other wonderful options, I couldn't decide. The blackened trout version of a Spanish style eggs benedict? (M got that). Biscuits and gravy with green-chile smoked cheddar biscuits? Yam and chorizo hash? Gluten-free pancakes? It was an extremely difficult decision, but I went with the chicken and roasted sqaush chilaquilles. I had chosen wisely. They were the best chilaquilles I've ever had. Had to get a side dish of sweet and smoky green chile pork, just to ensure that I had the full food coma later on. Everyone LOVED their meals. Excellent coffee was refilled frequently. The bloody mary was very spicy but good. No pain, no gain. Best brunch I've had in many years. I may dream about it.
(5)
byron d.

Best tacos I have had in awhile. The service is welcoming and the atmosphere lively. There was a small mishap with the order and they were all over it. They even comped our entire meal, which was entirely unexpected and not asked for. Would visit again.
(4)
Andrea D.

Great Happy Hour for both evening and brunch! We did the brunch HH and delicious! The fried bananas and chorizo taco were amazing! Service is always great and never felt like I had to as for anything. Definitely recommend this place! Can't wait to go back again!
(4)
Nory B.

Our waiter Alex was very friendly and attentive. Only the brunch menu was available since we came on Saturday around 2; it was a lot more limited than the regular one, but we found things we liked. The avocado salsa with lobster was amazing--great flavor! The shrimp taco was really good; the chile fries were just new potatoes in a spicy sauce. I didn't like them but my son did. Good place for a quick light lunch.
(4)
Mary P.

I love Centro's happy hour. I could probably eat it every day. Their gold coin marg is on point; I love that it's not pumped full of sugar but still goes down smooth and delicious. I love sitting out of the patio in the warm weather. It's an ideal spot for people watching. I just wished the opened before 4pm!
(4)
Chrissy S.

After the TWO hour wait for the table and the very long wait for the food, I had high expectations. I ordered the special which was scallops and a salad. The scallops were a joke - the tiniest 4 scallops I've ever seen and they were cold. The salad had so much pepper in the dressing I could barely eat it. By that point, I was starving so I choked down the $15 meal (an outrageous price for the quality) and went to another restaurant for some real food. I won't be going back.
(1)
Loralynn A.

Very slow service from bar and kitchen. But, everything we ordered was very good. Tacos, avocado salsa & margaritas.
(4)
Jeff C.

I seem to go to Centro once a year. The more I go, the more I wonder why it's not more. This place is great. We went on a Saturday and made reservations which I was surprised we could do. We requested the outside patio for the reservation and when we arrived we were surprised to have to wait up to 30 minutes for the patio. They said they didn't take reservations for the patio which was definitely strange to me. After some back and forth and with my fiance pushing for a break, the wait staff "pushed us up the list." Strange, but awesome in the end. We ordered some coin margs and started with the salsa sampler, duck empanadas (great) and the goat cheese fundido (amazing). The fundido was so cheesy and delicious we asked for more tortillas. We anticipated with this being a start, but really we were good with it all. Full-ish and I think we planned on sharing the street tacos but decided against it. We were impressed- yet again by the food and the solid service. A strange start, but all the service seemed very helpful and delightfully so. Well done Centro. We will be back soon.
(5)
Marisa K.

Being both a trained chef and from San Francisco, I have used yelp for years and years and yet I have rarely contributed to the pool of opinions. I have finally decided in all fairness this should changed so here goes my yelping... My visits to Centro have always been for happy hour, brunch, or cocktails so I cannot comment on the quality of their dinner dishes but I'd say its safe to assume they are scrumptious. While I am a big fan of their regular happy hour and cocktails- both are excellent, I am most fond of their Sunday brunch. While you may not know it, Centro is one of the best spots in Boulder for Brunch. In addition, the happy hour specials between 9:30-11:30 are soo cheap you will walk out of their feeling like you took advantage of your server and the chef. Just make sure you at least leave your server a bit more than usual for bringing you insanely good food for dirt cheap prices. The Brunch HH consists of several small plate options..I've yet to have one I did not love. Burnt grapefruit, plantains, breakfast taco, home fries and green chili, wilted greens. are my favorite...all $3 or less. I prefer to order a bunch to share as well as one larger dish from the main menu. Last weekend i had the huevos rancheros with poached eggs.. another fabulous one is the biscuits and gravy with cheddar, green chili, and chorizo. yum! Their $3 bloodys and mimosa are solid as well. However, the bloody Mary's could really use a garnish besides a lemon and lime wedge. Even an olive would have done it for me. One drawback, usually the hostesses are on the bitchy side. Working in this business for so many years it always amazes me how often you come across bitchy and unwelcoming hostesses...especially given that warm first impressions are their primary objective. My last trip wasn't bad and in fact I really liked our server who's name I cannot remember. We got there late and she suggested we order a second round of bloodys at hh price before it ended and when we were ready to drink them she would add the ice. She also asked how I wanted the eggs on my huevos cooked and they came out perfectly poached. I will be back very soon to try the new items I missed!
(4)
Tyler G.

I've have been here many times. The place is not comfortable and almost always drafty, service is OK at best, and absolutely nothing has ever wowed me here. I just recently went there for brunch and had the biscuits and gravy. The biscuits were good but the gravy was lack-luster and made the entire dish bland and mushy. We had a vegan friend with us and the waitress didn't know what that meant. . . . I guess I understand, but if you are working in Boulder you best be pretty aware of different diets. Drinks were just ok too. I really don't get why I see this place packed all the time. I promised myself after the last time I will never return to Centro.
(2)
Walter L.

Wait for a while until the host knledge that l was waiting. Ask for autside l sit a a bar no one came to take any orther since that bar is not by the bartender. Then one came and told me that l have to order to the bartender. Bad communication.
(1)
Jenn T.

Cam here for some happy hour action! Just decided to hit this place up because yelp had some great reviews. It was pretty crowded here but luckily we were able to score a seat outside in the nice weather. They have $3 tacos and various other things on the happy hour menu. I got the griddled shrimp taco and the barbacoa taco, both were really tasty and had great flavor. I added some hot sauce and boy was that sucker hot!! We also got the nachos, which were delicious as well. They came with guacamole, salsa, meat, black beans and onions. SO much food that we couldn't finish it all. The only thing thats not so good about this place during happy hour is the selection of beer, they only had one on happy hour and a 2-3 other drinks on happy hour (margaritas and such). Cheap, but not the most extensive list. Overall the staff and wait service was on par and polite.
(4)
Mike T.

Came here for the Sunday Brunch HH. First, surprisingly, there was no wait. My party of 8 arrived around 10:30 and we were seated immediately. And there were plenty of other tables open. The HH pricing is awesome. $3 for most of the items. (Bloody, Mimosa, Plantains, Banana Pancake, Hash Browns with Green Chili, etc). Unfortunately the HH brunch menu doesn't include any protein, but the regular Brunch menu does not disappoint. Everyone in the group enjoyed the meal, and our server was friendly and attentive. Would definitely come back!
(4)
Kyle M.

I am a picky restaurant goer because i work in the industry. Maybe i always go here when its slow, or maybe they know me now, or maybe they are just great. I dont know but i always get great freaking service here and the food is delicious. happy hour is awesome. basically i love this place. if i've ever had a bad experience i cant remember it. big red F scores again.
(5)
Jessica F.

My sister is obsessed with mojitos right now and I don't blame her. Give me a mojito over a margarita any day. On a wonderfully sunny Colorado afternoon, we decided to wander around Pearl Street Mall for a stroll down memory lane. I always loved this street in college and there have definitely been some added improvements. They may have always been there, just like the guy who shoves himself into a box, but my memory is fuzzy and my restaurant experience on the mall was limited to Old Chicago back in the day. A stop at Centro was a nice way to end our walk around Pearl Street and satisfied the craving. Centro came up on the old Yelp app as tops for the mojitos so we came here for the happy hour. Sadly, mojitos are not included in the happy hour menu but we got one anyway. We both tried the crushed strawberry mojitos and they were delicious. My sister also ordered a side of the tortilla chips and salsa. The chips were very tasty and seem to have a bit of garlic in them as we were both searching for gum later.
(4)
John W.

Got the three taco plate. Wife the same. I got one fish, one chicken & one pork. Wife - two chicken. & one fish. They were good. Not out standing. Served with black beans & rice. If they hadn't had jalapeÃ±os on them, they'd be bland.
(3)
Amber M.

This restaurant group is doing something right. I've already raved about The Bitter Bar, and now I'm going to do the same for Centro. The ambiance is lively, upbeat, and welcoming. We showed up on a Friday night at 7:30 and we only had to wait about 5 minutes for a table. My husband and I tried Southern American wines- he had a Cab (I think it was Chilean) and I have a wine I've never heard of from Argentina (similar to a Oregon Pinot Noir, very earthy, and very delicious). Hands down, the goat cheese avocado salsa is a must. I would get the chiles on the side next time- they were super spicy, but I was able to push them to the side and thoroughly enjoy the big chunks of avocado. Who knew that it would take so good with goat cheese! The chips were warm and had plenty of salt! My husband had the pumpkin soup- I don't care for the flavor profile- but he pretty much licked the bowl. The Carne Asada was NOM NOM! We both ordered it for dinner and I can't stop thinking about it. The sauce it's served in reminds me of a mole- so many flavors, each bite brought out a new flavor profile. The onions and green peppers were perfectly grilled. I can't say enough about this dish, it was excellent. Our service was okay, not great, not bad. Seems to be a trend in Boulder, but honestly, I'll take average service and exceptional food any day over the reverse. I look forward to reviewing their cocktails in the future!
(5)
Kayla C.

The hostess forgot to write our names down to be seated so we waited a long time to find we didn't have seats. The (expensive) drinks and food were unforgettable and not worth the cost. The waitress was pleasant and gave great service. I would never recommend this place.
(1)
Mat B.

A nice restaurant on Pearl, in a good location. It is likely important to order the right things, and stay away from some of their more experimental dishes. The service was attentive and catered to an allergy of one of the members in our party extremely carefully. Their coin margaritas are fantastic. During the summer it is nice to sit out on the patio, especially during happy hour when things start to cool off a bit. It would be more convenient if they took reservations, but they have a call-ahead list that will allow you to put your name on the waiting list for a table a bit before you arrive to shorten your wait time. The lack of reservations keeps me from eating here more often.
(4)
Rebeca R.

This place is hella awesome! I only had drinks, but damn did I also have a good time. Their lovely patio has seating at the bar and a great indoor/outdoor vibe. We perched on a Sunday and watched the ladies behind the bar with hypnotic fascination. The drink menu is severe, so many great options! They had a drink special on Sunday morning that I couldn't pass up - I enjoyed a pomegranate mimosa and it was fabulous! When the statement 'full bar' is used, it would only be accurate if used at this venue. They have everything, including a variety of bitters! The bartendresses were busy making crazy drink after crazy drink the entire time we were there. Plus, they were super cool, I also really enjoyed the naked lady wood carving. This is a great spot to chill and is nice and open and filled with good energy.
(4)
Mike F.

Had a fabulous Mother's Day brunch here, the food was outstanding and the service was top notch. Will definitely be returning here soon!
(5)
R H.

This place is not worth it. I have been here multiple times, and have left unhappy every time. The food is average at best, the service has always been terrible. Tonight we were there with a table of 8 (I would have chosen somewhere else).. We could not get our server to bring drinks, and he acted like he was doing us some big favor to actually show up at our table. All 8 of us sat there for over 30 minutes with empty glasses after we were done eating. We were there to celebrate and wanted more drinks... I'm talking about beer glasses, wine glasses, margarita glasses, and even water glasses. ALL of them empty for over 30 minutes!! We could not get any drinks!!! What a joke. We all left and went somewhere else to spend our money. The management at this place is a total joke. The manager actually came to our table and we loaded him up with all the plates the the terrible server had not bothered to collect... We had been done with them for a very long time.. but instead of realizing that his server was worthless, he seemed bothered that he had to carry our plates. You would think he would have gotten a hint, but nope.. He seemed oblivious...Many better options in Boulder. I cannot figure out how this place stays open. Terrible customer service!! Unless friends drag me there again I will never step foot in this place again... even thought my office is a few doors away.
(1)
Michael A.

My cousin and I dined here on my recent visit and shared a number of dishes. I wanted to like this place especially for its hip vibe and nice outdoor seating, and the drink menu is great. But it all comes down to the food. I'm a huge fan of gazpacho, and their version of this classic soup was off and very disappointing. It had a weird aftertaste that simply did not belong in this refreshing soup. The "farm greens" salad was decent but rather bland, although it was the best dish we had. The waitress highly recommended two dishes: the pork shoulder and the agave glazed ahi tuna. We ordered both, and both dishes were way overcooked and totally dry. They pretty much ruined the ahi tuna which is generally supposed to be seared, and my pork was just so dry it was hardly edible even though the plate included some of their sauce. Very disappointing. There are tons of great places on Pearl Street, and the poor quality of the food certainly doesn't warrant a return visit, especially for the price paid at Centro. I would give it a one star, but again the vibe is good and so are the drinks.
(2)
Cindy M.

The best place in Boulder CO for happy hour, dinner or brunch. I love their margaritas, avocado salsa and pork french fries. YUM! YUM! The wait staff and management are always super friendly and the service is just incredible.
(5)
Jeff F.

Quick rundown: - solid atmosphere - griddled shrimp tacos were a great call - apps were great: both ceviches and the Ahi Crudo - great spot to come for dinner, drinks, apps, date, biz dinner or bender
(4)
Michele B.

We have been going to Centro for drinks with small plates and the occasional dinner since 2008 or so. While it is still a good place to sit outside and have drinks and small plates on a sunny afternoon, the menu offerings have shrank considerably over the past few years. Gone are the bit more sophisticated menu options and what remains is a quite spartan dinner menu that just isn't very interesting. The salsa sampler is much smaller than it used to be and the delicious lobster guacamole is gone. With that, the tasty goat cheese guacamole is consistently deficient with goat cheese. Last evening was particularly disappointing with the ahi tuna special drenched in the very same green sauce as the avocado radish salad...ugh! It was a one note overload. The good is that the atmosphere is upbeat; service is friendly; the cocktails are generally well done; and it's always nice to sit outside. Bottom line, it's a worthwhile place to go for drinks and small plates with friends, but keep your food expectations low and do not expect anything too special.
(3)
Laura M.

AWESOME happy hour which is all day Mondays too! Drinks and food for happy hour were great! Great patio and decent service. Haven't tried the dinner yet but can't wait to go back!
(4)
Alex H.

I came here as per a friend's recommendation, and I was very impressed. The host and my server were very polite and offered a lot of great advice for my visit to Boulder. I ordered the enchiladas and a salsa sampler....both were outstanding.
(5)
Liz W.

After speaking with the General Manager, my boyfriend and I decided to give this place one more shot. I am glad we did. We ordered the tuna crudo, which was fresh and delicious with just the right amount of heat from the fresno chilies. We also ordered the vegetarian version of the avocado salsa, it was well seasoned and had a good balance of tomato and avocado...and of course we had to order a special salsa, I believe they call it the 'fantasy' salsa, it is a combo of their hot and mild flavors, soo good. For our entrees, I tried the sea bass and my boyfriend tried the special which was a braised short rib. We were both impressed with how well the dishes were cooked, and enjoyed the sweet mashed potatoes and regular mashed potatoes. I was also thrilled to see that the shrimp tacos are back on the menu, that was a wise decision on their part. My only complaint in the end was that our service was spot on until we asked for our check, we then did not see our server again for another twenty minutes at which point the hostess stepped in to help. Overall, this was a positive experience and I would recommend giving the place a shot - particularly on a week night when the place isn't as loud and busy.
(4)
Dylan L.

I came into Centro with a date after hearing it nice atmosphere for the occasion, and i have to say, I was definitely impressed. It was a Saturday night, but we were seated right away. We were lucky enough to be seated on a covered/heated patio that feels enough like you're outside and away from the big restaurant crowd, and just toasty enough. We went for some beers and their chips/salsa sampler only, but really liked both. The sampler goes with 3 salsas, mild to hot, and all are very fresh tasting and a nice mix. Our server was super friendly and attentive. Centro offers some good food in a great atmosphere, and it's well worth a stop in.
(4)
Colie J.

I usually stick to brunch so I can't comment on the dinner food. I used to love their pancakes but I see now the flavor has changed. They used to have this amazing skillet and then when I went back for it again 3 weeks later it was gone! I can't wait to try their french toast!
(4)
JP S.

Due to the pervasive garbage smell, I lost my appetite before the food even came. When it did come (30 mins later), it was awful: mushy bruised bits in the lettuce, gristly carne asada, and what seemed to be flavorless butter-soaked rice. This visit confirmed my understanding that I don't need to ever return to Centro.
(1)
Greg D.

They need to get their kitchen exhaust hoods cleaned. The place smells like a deep fryer. And so did I after dining there. I don't understand why this place is so popular. The only reason I returned was because an old friend wanted to meet there for lunch. Big Red F makes good bars that serve food, but I wouldn't call them restaurants. That goes double for Centro. The avocado salsa we ordered was large chunks of avocado and a few smaller chunks of tomato. No seasoning. Very bland. I had ordered the Farm Greens salad also. Visually very unappetizing. Soggy tortilla strips. The aroma was amazing though, but the actual flavor was lacking.
(2)
Charlene K.

Bah, humbug. I really wanted to like this place, but I didn't. The patio area was crowded and hot, I had to push around several rude patrons on stools. It's so loud I couldn't hear myself mutter. The waitress was constantly harried and always seemed like we were bothering her. I ordered food off the happy hour menu. DO NOT DO THAT! It was awful. The shrimp in the taco wasn't de-veined. Gross!! The chicken was so dry it was sawdust in my mouth. The vanilla bourbon drink was so watered down it had only a mild sweet flavor. My friend ordered the special scallops off the dinner menu and she let me try some, they were amazing!! I really should have ordered "real" food, not the slop they serve to the drunkies. Boo, hiss!
(2)
Joyce K.

I came here for a company dinner and at first, thought it was like a Mi Cocina with the typical menu items of fajitas and enchiladas. I was pleasantly surprised! Does pecan tequila ice cream sound like something you've seen before? Their menu items are unique and well prepared. I had a beef tenderloin with sweet potato fritters and fried kale. It came with a generous chunk of beef and very well prepared. Dessert was a pumpkin donut with the pecan tequila ice cream. I recommend this place, it's nice and quaint
(4)
Tonya D.

In my opinion I would of gave no stars but I had to give at least one. Horrible service waited so long to order my ice melted in my glass and the water was luke warm by the time I recieved my straw to drink it. The food was sloppy and not very tasty. The customer service was slow and not interested in servicing as a functioning restaurant business. I will not be coming to this restaurant ever again. When I brought it to my waiters attention he did not respond in any suitable manner to resolve any issues. Two thumbs down for service and the food.
(1)
Pam L.

Had brunch here on 9/27 and really loved it. Don't remember the name of the dish I had but it was a skillet dish with sweet potatoes, tomatoes, spinach, egg, chorizo...tasted great and was very filling. The grapefruit marg was pricey but outstanding (had 2!) and we loved the fried coconut bananas. Would go back.
(5)
Jason S.

Update: They've upped their game on the service side. Nice fluidity now with both pros and trainees. In addition to the below.....I must also add that the plantains are #nomilicious. _________ Most recently attended for brunch on their lovely patio. Not as full throttle as during some of their evenings but a good crowd regardless. I think our server was either new or terribly incompetent - but, either way, seemingly overwhelmed. I watched and listened (to my stomach growl) as other diners arrived after me, ordered and got their courses before me. If I wasn't really hungry I think I would have been fine but I was about to Hulk-out. The grapefruit is unique and a definite must-order. Hopefully you'll get yours before the rest of your order (unlike me) so that you can appropriately appreciate it. The tacos are Boss Hogg. Go for the 3 taco plate because some of the tacos really benefit from that little bit of guac love.
(5)
Diane K.

I came for their happy hour brunch (very creative!) and really enjoyed my experience. The menu is diverse with both sweet and savory items. I ordered the hash browns with green chili and pork, the breakfast tostada with eggs and chorizo, the fried coconut banana, and the cinnamon, sugar and honey sopaipilla. My favorite were the former two. I liked the friend banana, but could have shared with a friend, and thought the sopaipillas were overdone. I was hoping for a softer shell. My partner had the breakfast sandwich and said it was really tasty, so next time I would order that. The best part of this brunch is that you get to try so many different flavors for a great price. My total was $11. I came to Centro when they first opened and didn't really care for the ambiance or food, but their brunch has won me over.
(4)
Bruce F.

Brunch: sweet plantains=amazing, cream cheese pancakes= yummy uniqueness, breakfast taco=soggy and bland. Service is usually above adequate. All in all this is my favorite genre of food and Centro is an excellent value. I continue to go back. Like most restaurants some things are just better than others.
(4)
Mike H.

I've never gone out of my way to find Central American food nor did I know how to define it. I came here to Centro to meet a friend for apps and happy hour not realizing that this isn't a typical Mexican restaurant, which becomes clear once you start looking at the menu. Our server who was very helpful and identified that we were new here, was very excited about their new menu that the chef rolled out recently. Our "just here for apps" very quickly turned into a four course meal with awesome cocktails paired up to each dish. The chef even stopped by our table to ask our thoughts and he too was very kind and welcoming. What I thought was going to be a quick catchup with an old friend after work turned into a dining experience like none other I have experienced.
(5)
Therese P.

Facebook has like, shouldn't yelp have love? And love we did! Had my hard to please hubby, two cu sons/students and a nine year old to please...success! The mahi mahi ceviche was creative and delicious, the happy hour had some thing for everyone (even a vegetarian like me) , yum! The cocktails were presented fun in the menu and even funner ( ya, I know all you English teachers, it's Tuesday, let it go) to drink. Regretted not having booked a hotel so stopped at one fun, top shelf cheap drink...next time I will indulge and walk to a hotel room! We are going back for dinner soon, we were so satiated by apps we didn't order dinner. When seeing entrees make their way past us we all decided - we are going back for dinner!
(5)
Randy D.

I just came in to say that the carnitas at Centro have been blowing my mind lately. so tasty. Perfectly crisped and not dry. Fantastic. Probably the best mojitos in town too. Centro never dissapoints.
(4)
Scott L.

Seriously fantastic! The pork carnitas tacos are awesome! Love this place, and their margaritas aren't bad either.
(4)
Kent K.

Great appetizers: avocado salsa, soft tacos, and calamari are terrific. The mojitos are outstanding.
(4)
Teresa P.

I had my birthday celebration here. We had a fantastic experience and our waitress Brittney made the experience even better! The food and atmosphere were both fantastic. I definitely know we will be returning here for dinner again! Thanks Centro for making my birthday one I will never forget!
(5)
Jelena S.

It was a lazy Sunday afternoon and we just wanted to stop somewhere for drinks and apps to plan a future trip we're taking. Centro looked great so we decided to stop in. The restaurant was clean and looked great in terms of decor but it was so loud! We heard every silverware *clink* from people sitting across the room. That wasn't such a huge issue though and we decided to go with a margarita and two of the shrimp tacos from the happy hour menu. The tacos were great! Definitely not "Latin" style, more Americanized but tasty, nonetheless. Everything tasted good but the service was horrible! The hostess and servers seemed pleasant but they were never available or even around our table. Mind you there were about 10 people at the bar and only 2 or 3 tables inside and our server not once stopped by to see if we needed anything (and we did, multiple times). We saw other servers chatting, wrapping silverware, etc. but we were not once approached to see if we needed anything. The first time we needed a server we tried to catch the attention of a young lady wrapping silverware but she seemed like she was on a different planet. The second time we just got up and found someone to order more food. The last time we got up and found our server for the check. She brought us the check and then gave us a dessert menu. The desserts looked great but why would you bring out a dessert menu AFTER you just gave us the final check?! This was a fun place to stop and grab a quick bite but we won't make a special trip back for it.
(3)
Fair W.

Best mojitos -- with big bunches of mint. Guacamole with big chunks of avocado and just the right piquant with fresh tomato cubes. All day Happy Hour Mondays. I'm looking forward to their brunch some fine day.
(5)
Kristen F.

We always, always make a stop at Centro's happy hour after an afternoon of hiking Chautauqua / Flagstaff. They have awesome chicken tacos (traditional size) and kick-ass margaritas. OlÃ©!
(5)
Alice C.

Got a message from the manager who kindly offer another dinning oppotunities for two on the house. Good to know the restaurant listens to their customers and seek improvements.
(3)
Marcy M.

By far the best margarita in Boulder - coin style. They have a great happy hour as well and the people who work there are always friendly and happy.
(5)
Alice K.

Short & sweet: Service: 3.5 Food: 3.5 Wait time: 5 Price: 4 Cleanliness of bathroom: 5 I like breakfast. A lot. However, I happen to like sleeping even more, and therefore, when I have the opportunity to eat a decent breakfast, I choose to sleep in instead. So, I've decided to like brunch even more: I can usually convince myself to get out of bed for a 11:00ish meal. It was no surprise when my sister and I skirted into the doors of Centro and breathlessly asked if brunch happy hour would apply. "Um. It's 11:20 and happy hour ends at 11:30 so. Yeah.. I guess," was the snarky response we received, but hey, whatever. Between us, we tried the breakfast tacos, the burnt grapefruit, coconut-fried bananas with a vanilla anglaise (mostly because I wanted to say anglaise over and over again), the fried eggs with medium salsa (because we enjoy salsa), and the hash browns... pretty much everything on the brunch happy hour menu. The tacos were nothing special. Likewise, the eggs and hash browns were good, but a little disappointing. I'm not sure what I was expecting, but probably something a little tastier. The items weren't expensive by any means, but once again, I thought, 'I could've made myself some eggs at home...' - never a good thought when eating out. However, the burnt grapefruit and the coconut-fried bananas (with the vanilla anglaise!) were quite fabulous. I'd eat brunch elsewhere and come by for a mimosa and the coconut-fried bananas as a nice finish.
(3)
Christopher C.

I had a very good experience here, we went for a friends birthday. It was Monday so happy hour is all day, great drinks and food. The coin margs were awesome, and we just some kind of nacho plate with pork that was very good. I will be going back to here, the outside bar area was nice and the wait staff did a great job.
(4)
Kat C.

I really love the happy hours at Centro. On Monday's it's all day and the drinks are strong, reasonably priced, the tacos and other food delicious. If you plan on ordering the stewed meat prepare to wait and make sure you bring at least 3 other people. The portion was HUGE but it was insanely delicious. The waitstaff is nice and the atmosphere buzzing. What's not to like?
(4)
Terry B.

What do you do when your friends and you are perhaps slightly (to majorly) hungover, walking through Boulder, wondering about brunchy brunch? I'm going to recommend a stop at Centro. First of all, happy hour prices for food are very good! We basically ordered everything on the menu while a friend ordered an actual plate. The sauteed greens were good, I thought. Noone else liked them, but great sauteed kale, sauteed in olive oil and garlic. I swear I detected some nice acidity there too. The breakfast tostadas were awesome. The egg taco, a bit strange as it came with what appeared to be a salsa verde, but it was sweet! The hash browns with green chile were delicious as well as the pancake. All items were $2 - $3 if I remember corectly. My friend really enjoyed his enchiladas as well. Drinks...they have horchata, with booze! Combine my two favorite things and I'm so in love with you! The drink was really good. Friends ordered grapefruit margs I believe which weren't that good at all. They can also make a proper caipirinha, so overall they made up for the grapefruit drinks. Finally, they do have a nice sized patio for beautiful sunny days, so give this place a shot if you're down at the end of Pearl.
(4)
Kirsten R.

I'm a fan. Went here for a late lunch on a Thursday, and found the service to be great: really personable and on top of things. Beer was great, avocado goat cheese salsa was terrific (highly recommend that). Patrons at other tables were relaxed and having a good time. Solid 4 stars, and would recommend.
(4)
Zulay V.

Had some really great food here! Buuut... watch out... if its busy, it will take a while for your food to come out. So have a snack first or order an app. We had the special app... Poblano Pepper Tater Tots... very good! Chips & sauce trio was yummy, some very spicy sauces so be ready. Entrees were also very good... I had the shrimp and fish plate which came with REALLY yummy soft tortillas... use them to wipe up the broth on the plate... probably my favorite part of the meal.
(4)
William C.

the place has a nice design, but sorta typical of most spots designed to be a chain (i guess that's their eventual goal). their drink selection was pretty good, so cant complain there. i did enjoy my food very much, but wouldnt go so far as to call this a LATIN KITCHEN (more like an americanized one). my only problem with the joint was that it took forever for someone to help me. hostess was on point, but when i sat at the bar, it took long for everything.
(3)
Jason L.

I came here for an unusual reason -- I was in Boulder for work, and I wanted a place with both tequila and wifi. So, welcome to Centro! Wandered in around 9pm last Wednesday and ended up taking over a section with my laptop and paperwork. I had some ceviche and a couple of drinks and left a completely happy guy. Good ambiance, decent food, great drinks, and friendly and charming service (no joke: my server made what was otherwise a pretty rough night of work and travel). Absolutely recommend, even if you don't develop a juvenile crush on your waitress ; )
(4)
Nicole W.

Monday happy hour all day! (that is what the 3rd star is for). $2 cuba libre, Joined some friend here for the happy hour monday! We had one of every taco including the special Chili Relleno taco. The shrimp and special were by far the winners! The pork was boring and not very tasty, the duck tasted like fish and the flavor was just soso, and the veggie on was not bad. The fries were ok, very garlicy but not spread out very much. The nachos were bland and had potatoes... weird. And the enchilada was ok. Awesome patio - which btw is open seating so skip the hostess! I'd go back and enjoy happy hour again, not sure i'd pay full price.
(3)
Selah D.

We love this place! We live in Parker {but wish we lived in Boulder} and travel to Boulder every chance we get. Centro's Happy Hour is a staple on our visits. The food is always great and the margaritas are dangerous! I especially love that we can bring our kids and this place does not have the "too cool for school" attitude. We will be back again very soon!
(5)
Paul P.

It was Sunday morning. My wife and I needed some food. Centro was around the corner from the Hotel. Yelp said it was closed. I called and they assured me it was not. Although I didn't really want to order a drink, the Bloody Marys looked so good I went ahead and ordered one. I was not disappointed. These are great. I ordered the brunch special. It had sausage, peppers, sweet potatoes, onions and other pieces of goodness. This is the food I needed. My wife ordered several items from the brunch special menu. Good size portions and very tasty as well. Thank you Centro for curing what the night before had done to me.
(4)
Bill B.

Has a good location, lots of indoor seating, nice outdoor seating area, but not big enough, and an OK menu. We came for dinner. The drink choices were many but the dinner menu choices were actually a bit limited. Good atmosphere, good for a first date or place to bring a small group for a fun night out.
(3)
Jennifer M.

Yum! I'm definitely a fan of this place now. My husband and I spent about 20 minutes walking up and down Pearl St before deciding on giving Centro a try and I'm glad we did. Everything about this place was great. The drinks were a little expensive, but the quality matched the price so no complaints. The food was creative and tasty and the service was great. Our server was actually knowledgeable about the menu and what the bar had to offer, which is a rarity sometimes. I forget her name now, but yeah, go server lady! Can't wait to come back to Centro again.
(5)
Lauren T.

Centro is authentic Latin American food at its best. They update classics and plate dishes beautifully. (No sloppy plates full of rice and beans here) I had high expectations knowing the owner was the same as Jax and it lived up to my hopes. They really have opened my mind. I grew up on Tex Mex thinking of mexican food as chicken or beef. and the only thing differentiating one restaurants from the next, was whether the tortillas were homemade. This is SO MUCH MORE. I will be back soon!
(4)
Michael S.

Not only did this place nab the best location on the Pearl St mall for daytime sunshine exposure (the old Bagel bakery spot), but they made this place a first class restaurant. The tapas-like Latin brunch Happy Hour is genius. The Huevos and every thing else from the Black Tuna and Guac tacos to the Coconut Fried Bananas all knocked my socks off. The physical layout is excellent the way it integrates the outdoors and indoors. You can see it's flow in the background to the picture we had taken of three old pals having a great time together. Prices: very reasonable. Staff: AWESOME. They honored my reservation promptly even during a busy brunch, got us a table outdoors, and despite the crowds, teh food came prompty. After a hike up Boulder Canyon we came back for beer, and were greeted like regulars. Loved it.
(5)
Kevin D.

My only regret is that we didn't share the Barbacoa Pork Shoulder special with two sides that I ordered... because three grown men could live off this delicious platter of Mexican bbq and tamales for 3 days. The "Santa Fe Lemonade"- lemonade with chilies in it- is the best mocktail I have had all year. Service was the extremely kind and professional- i could tell our waitress was slammed but she still managed to take great care of us.
(4)
Renee B.

Exotic flavors emerge as blended herbs and spices fill your senses. Fresh fish, meats and vegetables thoughtfully prepared are offered as you casually enjoy the quality, fresh ingredients. This is not "Mexican" food - this is beautifully made Latin American food. If you are looking for chips and salsa - go somewhere else - if you want substance and style - this place is it! Another plus - good beer on tap!
(3)
Sarah P.

I don't know why I didn't visit Centro sooner - I already can't wait to return. We thoroughly enjoyed ceviche and tacos, along with their delicious coin margaritas. Service is excellent, and the atmosphere is just the right kind of loud/fun/casual while being a nice place.
(4)
Jonathan M.

I have to say, I am in love with this restaurant and consider it one of the better restaurants on Pearl street. While quite a few reviews I've seen mention complaints with food quality, I've experienced nothing but delicious food. The Sopa Azteca is one of the best soups I've ever eaten (although I'm sad to see they've discontinued it). The drinks (margaritas, mojitos and dark and stormys) were excellent as well. The outdoor patio is awesome if you'd like to eat/drink outside. People complaining about the heat need to realize they're eating in Colorado, in the first place. While it can be a little loud, that's what you're asking for when you request an OUTDOOR BAR seat. You can't complain about being allergic to fish if you order a salmon.
(4)
shelly p.

Went to Centro for a late, late dinner on Fat Tuesday. Bar was busy as was the restaurant. I have to say the aroma when I walked in was amazing. The inferno cocktail...outstanding. You really can taste the pineapple but not sweet at all. (I am not a fan of sweet drinks) You MUST order the tortilla soup. The presentation of the dish is truly unique and the flavor...is so...so...the best! and for $4/cup and $7/bowl by far the best deal. I wish I would have ordered the bowl...next time I know! As for the main entree, I ordered the Mezcal Chicken with Tamale and Coleslaw...not a fan. The chicken was good, tamale good and the slaw...eh. My companian ordered the Vera Cruz as the Wahoo fish was sold out. Now the Verz Cruz was very impressive. Lots of flavor and different ingredients that I would never have thought to put together. Definately order that again. Our server, Kat was on top of everything. Service was great, ambience was great and food was great...(minus the smoked chicken..now I know). I would definately come back to Centro. Enjoy!
(4)
L J.

Weak drinks and small portions all of which are too expensive...
(1)
David S.

Don't come here for the food! I think I would rather eat a $20 bill. There was nothing redeemable about this place. The food was bland or salty in all the wrong places, and the beer was warm.
(1)
Hannah E.

I liked the sound of the breakfast Latin Kitchen Hash when I heard it in passing one day long long ago (despite not having any idea what it actually was) so I'd been meaning to try it for breakfast. And I finally did. Ordered it blind, without looking at the ingredients. Luckily for my tastebuds, it consisted of mostly sweet potatoes, blackened shrimp, fried banana, AND (note that the menu omits this info) tons of spicy-ass peppers. The peppers were very valuable - they kept the meal from being too sweet. I'm not a sweet-breakfast person and I needed the kick of serrano to cancel out the sweet potato. The bananas were fantastic as well, and I'd recommend enjoying them as a side dish rather than mixing them in and making everything even sweeter. Shrimp wasn't blackened - at all - and I could have stood more of it - but it was quality shrimp. $12 for a breakfast dish is kinda insane, but I was able to get about a meal and a half out of it. Once you get a drink you're looking at $20+ per person before it's even noon, which makes me uncomfortable, but if you're okay with that... just expect it. I'm going to mostly stay with happy hour (or dinner, on special occasions) when it comes to Centro from now on, but if you're sick of the benedicts, omelettes, scrambles, and skillets that the remainder of Boulder breakfast joints serve up, (and you don't want to wait in line at Lucile's for 7 hours) let Centro break the pattern for you. You may be quite a bit poorer when you walk out, but your tastebuds will get their thrill.
(4)
Peter C.

I've been here a bunch of times and have almost always had a good experience. Lately I've been for dinner where I had a pork chop, and for breakfast, where I had the huevos rancheros. The pork chop came with a sweet potato hash, which appeared to be just thrown together and didn't really complement the pork that well. However, the pork itself was cooked perfectly, slightly pink, a surprise given that I EXPECTED it to be overcooked and dry - the standard at many places. Furthermore, it was a really good quality piece of pork. Recently I had the huevos, and they were delicious though slightly non-traditional. They were served with 2 corn tortillas sandwiches together by cheese and roasted poblanos. The eggs were over easy, cooked nicely and fresh. The black bean refritos were seasoned really well and fantastic, guac was fine, and it came with what appeared to be a citrusy reduction (they called it bbq sauce). All in all a lighter, more vibrant take on the classic. Oh by the way I also had the coconut fried bananas, heavenly!
(4)
Griffin T.

Definitely get at this place for happy hour, knocking down all the prices a few bucks was a huge help. My coin marg was good, although not that different from the house in terms of flavor (for about half the quantity wtf). Food is off the charts though, definitely go for the half hot half mild salsa. Portions were microscopic so guys if you're going for the tacos don't be afraid to order a few extras.
(4)
Robin C.

After having such an amazing dining experience at Centro, it is hard to imagine anyone giving them less than 5 stars. Given the option, I would award more. The food is simply art on a plate, and it tastes every bit as good as it looks. My butternut squash soup with mole and tomatilla salsa was so extraordinary, everyone at the table had to have some. The guacamole was hyper fresh and consisted of huge, luscious chunks of avocado. My sister-in-law's carne asada was packed with flavor, my brother's spare ribs were tender and juicy, and my seared wahoo made me yahoo(!). The grilled pineapple and candied yams on my plate would've been satisfying on their own, they were so delicious. We had planned to have dessert elsewhere, but after such a fabulous meal and such outstanding service, we elected to stay at Centro. We had the fried bananas with rum and coke ice cream--delicious and light, and the molten chocolate cake with homemade graham cracker and toasted marshmallow. OMG. To die for. This meal was such a culinary treat, it shocked me out of my year-ish absence from writing Yelp reviews. It was THAT good.
(5)
julie n.

Attended a private holiday party on the patio. It was a tight squeeze but cozy. Bartender were nice and prompt. We had shrimp tacos which were very good. The "hot" salsa was not hot at all and very mango'y sweet. The medium was better but needed more spice.
(4)
Chris B.

I'm not entirely sure what to think about this place, even though I've been several times, albeit only for happy hour. The atmosphere: Every time I've gone, our group has sat on the patio. Its shaded and comfortable. The dining room has simple, elegant decor. The service: No complaints. Friendly staff, quick service. The food: Confusing(to me). So far I have only ordered from the happy hour menu, and I give a big thumbs up to everything on that. I usually order the tacos, the chicken and the pork are the best in my opinion, and the happy hour price is not too bad ($3 each). The pork green chili nachos are fantastic. I am torn on their chips and salsa, as the medium salsa I ordered had the consistancy of baby food, and was bright green. It was very sweet, with a hint of heat. Side note, their $5 gold coin margarita is wonderful, and even the $4 'casa' marg is good, large, and quite strong. As much as I want to go for dinner at some point, I can't bring myself to do it. Boulder seems to be teeming with restaurants that pride themselves on menus packed with unusual combinations of ingredients, that sometimes borderline what I would call experimental. Centro's menu is no exception, and I cringe at the thought of ordering a $20 entree that I won't like *Pernilasado - slow roasted pork shoulder / arroz con gandules / sour orange chile mojo / sweet plantains / black pepper crema
(3)
Max R.

With a great outdoor patio area and nice weather, I was looking forward to lunch. Ordered 4 tacos .. carnitas, shrimp, asada & chicken barbacoa. The portion sizes were happy-hour sized .. more like tapas then regular tacos. With the exception of the shrimp, the tacos lacked flavor and taste. The asada portion was almost non-existent and the chicken barbacoa did not taste like it had been in any marinade for very long. The carnitas were also bland. The shrimp was so much better is most of been ordered out from another restaurant. bored waiter rounded out the boring food and small portions. no interest in going back
(2)
R J.

The ambience is somewhat trendy and very noisy (not ideal for a first date/conversation). Yet, our family didn't feel out of place even with an infant. The service was prompt and the food was excellent. To some the small portions for the price turn some people . I prefer good food in small portions rather than mediocre food in large portions. I had the empanadas (small plate), ceviche (small plate) and carnitas taco. My wife had the parrillada (i.e. flat iron steak). All were excellent. Skip the mixed alcoholic drinks. I don't think they are worth the price. Perhaps the reason I gave this place 5 stars is for the desserts. My wife had the Tres Leches (very good according to her) and I had the churros with chocolate (perfect according to me). Not since Hugo's (Houston, TX) have I eaten this fried perfection. Not to be missed.
(5)
Andy S.

I don't believe that college kids can afford to hang out here, but it seems like they do. The bartender's aren't that great. The guy didn't clear our empty plates for like half an hour. You're better off at Lola in Denver.
(3)
Penni R.

Definitely my favorite place to dine in Boulder. Love the unique flavors especially the Tuna Crudo. @chefpenni
(5)
Veggie Q.

I love love Centro, as long as we're talking drinks. Their cocktails are to die for! Their bartenders have mastered a huge number of cocktails, and the restraunt's own drinks are creative and very well done. The menu is also super fun and creative. The food, however, is not by any means worth the price. I expected so, so much more from this chain (they also own Jax and Zolo), but they couldn't deliver. First, there is not much to choose from as the menu is very small. The ceviche was in a tomatoe base (ew) and didn't seem very fresh. Our entrees were small and the flavor just wasn't there. Beware of the heated patio in the winter- you just may find yourself roasting under the heating elements. It is also a VERY loud place, which is fine if you're sticking to drinks, but can be very frustrating if you're trying to have a nice dinner.
(3)
Michele S.

Although I'm not a huge fan of this type of food, everything I've had at Centro was very good, well presented, and interesting Great Happy Hour. AMAZING Mojitos. Nice patio.
(4)
Amir R.

Stopped in for Bunch and had the Biscuits and Gravy. The biscuits were made with green chili and cheddar, the gravy with chorizo. I asked the waiter about the dish and he told me that I was lucky that they hadn't run out yet - it's that good. He was right, it was that good. The food is good and the outdoor area is lively and comfortable. This is a great little place at the west-end of the Pearl Street Mall.
(4)
Holly G.

I have wanted to try Centro for a while now, passing it while visiting some shops in Boulder. I experienced it recently with my boyfriend, mid-week. The patio was closed due to rain the night we went it, which I was sad about because their patio looked quite inviting from outside. But we got a cozy table inside nonetheless. I was aware of the Lola, West End, Zolo, Jax connection to this restauraunt, so I expected the atmosphere to be about the same as those places and it did feel that way. I was also expecting the food to be about the same flavors and ideas as Lola, and about the same price. I guessed correctly. We order the house margs at $6 each. Then some chips and salsa, also $6. Things add up quick! Then dinner, tacos $12, and enchiladas $14. Both had good sized portions but I don't see the reason for the high price tags really. I could see more like $10 for each. But then again, look where we were. Dining establishments always seem a bit more pricey in Boulder than Denver for some reason, and it bothers me. The food was good and well presented though. I just feel like it was really spicy! I like spicy, don't get me wrong but it seemed to be spicy out of nowhere and it was kind of shocking. I really liked the chips and salsa though, and the margs were pretty good. I gave it a try and it was worth a try, but I won't be going out of my way to come here anytime soon probably.
(3)
Kate G.

This is the one place in Boulder that really makes me wish I lived there. I wish they would trade Lola for Centro! The menu is so much more awesome, and even cheaper I think especially at happy hour. Their $2 shrimp tacos are full of big juicy shrimp. So full I had to eat half the toppings with a fork before I even picked it up. Probably twice the size of the $3 chicken taco at Lola. The $4 cast iron pan full of thick-cut seasoned french fries topped with melted manchego and chimichurri verde sauce = unique, heavenly, amazing, garlicky, I love you, marry me. The pulled pork nachos, also $4 and piled high in that same cast iron dish, are topped with melty white cheese, black beans and guacamole. Yum! Perfectly salty chips with tangy green salsa, I devoured you along with my $2 Modelo cans served with lime. Please, Centro and your friendly bartenders, make your way to Denver!
(5)
Lisa O.

Perhaps this was not the best choice for dinner with my grandparents. But I liked it. Centro's trendy, loud, and fun. We were seated in a corner booth, tucked a bit away from everyone else. This was probably a good choice on the hostess's part. The music was a little loud in the beginning, but the manager was very accommodating and turned down the speaker in our little corner. The cocktails and the food were delicious, but the service was pretty slow. We got there at a quarter to six, and left a little after 7:30. That's a long time for a one-drink dinner. The quality of service was fantastic though, and I tend not to mind the slow service when I'm with people I care about. I think I'll be back to Centro, but I'll probably leave the g'rents at home next time.
(4)
Cynthia N.

Last night my boyfriend and I decided to come here for no reason other than I was craving fish and we agreed sushi wasn't quite what we wanted. I searched yelp and saw someone's review of the seared wahoo with grilled pineapple: SOLD! I love grilling pineapple, and wahoo is my favorite fish. The chimichurri fries were a perfect app. They were just spicy enough and very garlicky. I worried about that for about two seconds and then I realized at least we'll both have garlic breath... And yummy fries in our bellies! I loved my main meal. My fish was served on a mountain of soft red bell peppers and crispy pineapple then topped with guacamole. The wahoo itself was JUST seared with the mauve insides still fresh and barely warm. The yams were super soft and served with an ancho chile barbecue sauce from heaven (or maybe from hell cuz it was kind of Hot and you know someone there is buying their way to the devil's top box!) Everything came together with a just-right hint of sweetness atop tangy flavors and the deep taste of the fish. I wished I could tip the chef. My boyfriend got the flank steak with eggs and skillet cornbread. While it was a little more rare than straight up medium, we loved how tender it was, so neither of us had reason to complain. He loved the cumin crust and the sauce on top. The cornbread, however, was probably my favorite part. It was filled with fresh bursts of sweet corn and the bread itself was smooth and not coarse like southern-style cornbread. It threw us off at first, but the unexpected textures are great. The dish was also served with a heaping pile of garlicky kale. I have tried so many times to cook kale just like this and I always either burn the garlic or undercook the greens. It was so nice to finally see how it is done. We happened to be there during Monday happy hour so we decided to try a the margaritas, but they were just ok and their regular prices for cocktails are too rich for my blood. I guess they are about average for the area and type of establishment though. The only downside is that our waiter was kind of terse and disdainful. I know everyone has down nights (I've worked in food service as have my sister and niece) but I felt put off by him all night. At least he stayed away for the most part and since we didn't need anything else with the food that was just fine by me. Either way, this will not be the last time we come back! I am eyeing many things on this varied menu, and I hope the bad service was a fluke.
(4)
J. T.

Since the Nuggets/Lakers game made finding a quick bite in Boulder more difficult than anticipated, we found ourselves at Centro - Latin Kitchen & Refreshment Palace. This place turned out to be fantastic, not only for food (fresh avocado salsa, a stuffed red pepper, and chicken enchiladas!), but for service. James and his trainee (we didn't catch his name, but it was only his first day on the job) ended up playing dual roles - our waiters, as well as our own personal concierge. They helped us locate a butcher (to stock up for camping) and offered all sorts of other advice about Boulder. We sat outside (Memorial day weekend) and it was a little cold - they don't have outdoor heaters (which is fine with me since think those are a huge waste of fuel)). The dinner was a little pricier than we had anticipated spending that evening, but well worth it in my opinion. All of the food we ordered was well prepared and the margaritas were both delicious and not outrageously expensive. I can't imagine there being a better place for Mexican in the area.
(4)
Jenna A.

Welp, the next time I was in Boulder I picked Centro for my boyfriend and I's sexy date night. Yes...sexy date night. They don't take reservations but you can put your name on a list..sorta the same thing but whatever. We went on a Saturday night and called prior to arriving. Wait was 30 minutes so we searched for a spot to park, walked a few blocks and made our way in. Perfect timing, we were seated immediately. We both started off with a drink. Sangria for my man, a margarita for me and an appetizer of their chunky avocado salsa with a side of their warm tortilla chips. I remembered correctly, it's delicious and juicy. Our drinks were great and I was super tipsy after just one, so I ordered another to keep the night going. Boyfriend was driving so I was free! Our meals arrived. I ordered the shrimp tacos and my manfriend ordered the lobster bisque soup. My food was great. I got the smaller order. They reminded me of street tacos with double tortillas so it felt like I had a lot more than I did. I loved the cabbage and radishes that were in the mix. I topped off the tacos with a little avocado salsa and sour cream, so yummy. Boyfriend's soup was BIG and he almost licked the bowl. It had the coconut taste to it that he loves and he was also very happy with his choice. We wanted dessert but we weren't so excited about any of the options and our tummies were satisfied, so we continued sexy date night with a walk on Pearl Street and a little bit of shopping. Dinner was prepared ridiculously fast and the service was fantastic. Can't wait to be in Boulder for happy hour in the near future!
(4)
Tara S.

My husband and I had a nice lunch at Centro in Boulder, CO, en route to a wedding in Estes Park. We started with a nice bottle of Albarino. The cocktail menu sounded really fun, but since we had a bit more driving to do I figured wine was safer (we shopped for awhile on Pearl St. after lunch, so the wine wore off). The wine was great, but what made it really great was the setting. We were on a cute little patio in a courtyard, and the people-watching on Pearl St. was awesome. For an appetizer, we tried the "avocado salsa". Basically, this is guacamole, but rough chopped instead of mashed. Whatever, it's really, really good. Giant hunks of fresh avocado, the flavors were perfect. For my lunch, I had the mojo-marinated shrimp tacos, which were recommended by my server. The menu lists fried shrimp, but she suggested I get the grilled shrimp instead, and I am so glad I did. I loved them. The shrimp had wonderful flavor, but the jalapeno cilantro aioli served on them was what really set them off. They were awesome. My husband had the grilled hangar steak with fries and chimichurri. The steak was tender and cooked exactly to my husband's specifications (perfect medium rare) but the FRIES! The fries were incredible. So well seasoned, occasionally you would get a really spicy one. They were pretty salty, but that is how I think good fries should be, and I couldn't stay out of them. They were the standout of his meal, which is saying a lot considering they accompanied a pretty great steak! Our server was a bit aloof, but she recommended a great dish for me and was fairly prompt with service, so it's hard to say that we didn't have good service. The outdoor seating and delicious food made this a spot that I would recommend to anyone in Boulder.
(4)
Kendra L.

It seems to me, judging by my life experience so far, that the best experiences are those that come unexpectedly with the natural flow of things. Mum is in town from Maine, so of course, Boulder was placed on our list of "Colorado Things To Do". Mum and I began at East End of Pearl Street and sauntered down to muse at the entertainment acts (whether there to purposely entertain or not). West End was getting closer and my hunger was growing bigger. We passed a few restaurants that didn't have what it takes to draw me in. What does it take? Well. Centro is a good example. Even the door and its frame were art - with metal flowers and a cool handle. I glanced at the menu, saw that pumpkin and jicama were included in the ingredients of the vegetarian soft tacos and led Mum through the door. A nice host sat us at a booth by the window and our good-looking, dark rimmed glasses wearing server soon greeted us and explained several menu items to the wide eyes of the out of towner sitting at the table (Mum). So, at this point, it's all been about the aesthetics of the menu, the server, the decor inside and out... and does it get better? Sure does! Hello Happy Hour! The prices were amazing and the serving size, while slightly smaller than a meal, was perfect. I enjoyed a "funny tasting" margarita (originally Mum's, but it didn't taste like the kind she's used to... this is not a bad thing, friends). Yum. I don't know if they pre-make the mix or not, but if they do, it sure doesn't taste like it. As for the food: delicious! My vegetarian corn tortilla soft taco was everything I wanted it to be (and, yes, more). I'd love to check out another meal at this place, as so many menu items had my taste buds excited.
(4)
Hank H.

I don't have a lot to say about Centro except that if you haven't ever been there, you have to check it out for: -Happy Hour (great drinks and unbeatable food deals) -Ambience (great outdoor patio in the summer, which is covered and heated in the winter) -Consistently friendly service -Saturday & Sunday brunch (try the fried banana & the burnt grapefruit) -Interesting (but always satisfying) food pairings -An excellent (albeit pricey) drink menu -Weekly events like the smoke out, date night, and family night
(5)
Lars W.

Great food and drinks on monday. Only complaint is that they CHARGE as much as $6 FOR chips. That is somewhat sac religious. They should start charging people for using the rest room or using the lights in there while they are at it.
(4)
Jake B.

Took way too long to get a table. The hostess "forgot" we were there. Over the hill crowd playing cougar-ville around the bar. Food was good.
(3)
Doug R.

Walked in mid-day for a bite, and ended up eating a fantastic meal. Try the avocado salsa & chips. Also the mushroom soft tacos were awesome...served with extremely fresh, flavorful slaw, very good black beans and rice, and the mushrooms were cooked perfectly! Did I mention fresh? Great bar menu, too...looking forward to putting it to the test another day.
(4)
Abby S.

Terrific happy hour. Super-yum.
(4)
Brittany C.

It amazes me that I am still discovering places to eat on Pearl Street, even though Centro seems to be no secret in Boulder. Now that my roommate works there, I have been twice! And I plan to keep going. The first time, I went just for drinks, and the wine I ordered was delicious. I really like the indoor/outdoor bar setup as well. It was such a nice summer evening, so sitting out on the patio with a glass of wine was perfect. Last time, I actually ordered food. I ordered the pork tacos (which are admittedly not that adventurous, but I was feeling tradition Latin food!) and man, oh man, were they glorious. I was informed by my roommate that the pork takes three days to marinate and cook, so when it arrives at your table, it almost literally melts like butter. So incredibly delicious. Although both times I went it was relatively slow, I hear the wait to get into Centro can be pretty crazy, so I would say that is a bit of a drawback. The location is on Pearl St Mall, so (especially during the school year) may have your fair share of college frat kid festivities later in the evening, but it's also far enough West on the mall that it isn't in the epicenter of party central. Next time: date night paella and wine!
(5)
Lesley H.

the food here pretty mediocre in my book. I got the pork tacos which were pretty bland. i had to load it up with sour cream to give it some flavor. i went with two of my friends and they got the masa cakes and the huevos rancheros. i didnt try their but they both said they really liked it and polished off their plates so maybe i just made a bad choice in an entree. i also think that all latin or mexican restaurants should serve free chips and salsa. i hate it when they make you pay for it.... and that was the case here. the only reason i gave this place 3 stars is bc they have an awesome happy hour. you can get modelo especial or a cube libre for $2. a house marg for like $3 and some other specialty drinks for $5. It was the cheapest happy hour that i saw my whole time in boulder.
(3)
Laurie G.

It had been a while that I had enjoyed a good margarita at a restaurant, and Centro came through for me. Their house margarita is fresh, tasty and packs quite a punch. We coupled our margs with Centro's avocado salsa - large chunks of avocado with diced fresh tomatoes and onion, some lime wedges, and crispy, light tortilla chips. We also tried their pork tacos, a chicken enchilada and the green chile. Everything was fresh and full of flavor. The environment is different, but the food reminds me a lot of El Camino in Denver - although a bit pricer. Nice atmosphere, great bartenders, and great food.
(4)
Alex N.

Was here on a Friday get together as was in town for a wedding. Had about 15 people in the group for their happy hour and it didnt really phase the place. During this happy hour, $2 tacos (shrimp, chicken, or pork) and big bowls of salsa and chips are their feature (3 types of salsa I believe, ranging is spiciness). $1.50 rum and cokes and $1.50 Modelo are whats on the menu alcohol wise. Service was somewhere in the pleasant to annoyingly pleasant category. If I lived in boulder, I'd probably try to this this place up once every 2 weeks to twice every 2 weeks. Was also here when it was called "Rhumba" and the happy hour drink menu seemed more diverse.
(4)
Dulcie F.

When I first read that Centro was opening, I remember that the owner said the food would be very reasonably priced with nothing over $14. Well, I've been a couple of times for dinner and almost everything is over $14! Last time my husband got a 16 dollar burrito! It was a fancy burrito, but it was still just a burrito. I don't even think it came with a side. The entrees are good, but we haven't found anything spectacular. I like the taco platters (these are in fact a mere $12) and have gotten the garlicky shrimp and the chicken. The reason I give 4 stars is that I love the happy hour. $2 tacos (now we're talking) and $1.50 modelo especials. It has a great atmosphere, a nice patio, and the drinks are yummy. Just wish the happy hour was longer! It is from 3:30 to 5:30 everyday. Also recommended, the (outrageously priced) Centro avocado salsa ($8). Have a couple of Dark & Stormy's and you'll forget you paid close to a tenner for some really delicious Guac.
(4)
Elaine S.

My rating would Centro would ideally be 3 1/2 stars. Any time I've gone for dinner, I've left saying "Nothing special". The dinner is disappointing. The tacos (any of them!) are unimpressive and over-priced (lack of texture and flavor).However the drinks and brunch are absolutely fabulous!! All I have to say is: Coconut Fried Bananas! Usually when you go out to brunch in Boulder, you expect at least a 30 minute wait. Last weekend when we brunched at Centro, we were seated right away and it happened to be Brunch Happy Hour. Everything was supremely well priced and delicious! The basic coffee was also great. I ordered the Biscuits and Gravy (which weren't like "normal" biscuits and gravy, but totally satisfying!) and my friend got the Sweet Potato-Chorizo Hash. We both left happy and full at a cheaper price than when we go to Southside or Walnut. Cheerful, laid-back service. :) So either go on a Monday when it's Happy Hour all day, or for Saturday/Sunday brunch.
(4)
Lauren C.

Ah, Centro..I wanted to like this place. As a big fan of good wine and Latin food, I was expecting a lot...and was let down a little. I do think the food is good, but not quite worth the price and a bit cumbersome. I ordered ceviche that was more avocado than seafood, and my friend ordered the chicken that was more bones than meat. The drinks are good, and unique at that, so I'd recommend this place for happy hour if anything...drink (maybe eat) cheaply in a a good atmosphere.
(3)
Bryant N.

Love this place! This is the type of place you can go to for any occasion, whether your taking someone here on a date or just having a nice day drinking session. Located in the heart of Pearl St. in downtown Boulder, this place has a great atmosphere with cool staff, and has an awesome patio for those Sunny days in Boulder. The food isn't uber authentic but it is still very tasty. Highly recommend! Only downside is the prices, definitely overpriced but not atypical for the Pearl Street area.
(5)
Maria A.

excellent service, excellent food, loved this place. great drinks too.
(5)
Caroline S.

Came to Centro on a Monday after a hike at Chatuqua. Great location right on Pearl street. Exposed brick, heated patio and low key come in your hiking clothes and cozy up in a big booth. So on Mondays they have drink and food specials. Everything was 2-5 dollars....ummmm yes please after a long cold hike in the mountains. First of we ordered the pork and green chile nachos which came with fresh guacamole, cheese, pico, and sour cream. So not good for you but you only live once. Same thing goes for the chimichurri fries....loaded with herbs, garlic, and red chili pepper flakes. We also got a brisket taco ( kind of a bbq direction with queso fresco) and a shrimp one ( spicy...perfectly cooked with jalapeno aiolli, queso fresco, and thinly sliced radish) both served on corn tortillas...as they should be. :) We all loved it. Walk over on a Monday afternoon, avoid the higher prices, sample several different items of the menu for a couple of bucks and leave happy and full.
(4)
Ken K.

Good cocktails. Good food. Bad management. Several of us arrived as a group and waited a few minutes for a perfect table on the patio. Having ordered a round of drinks and two appetizers, we were discussing entrÃ©e options when the hostess came over and asked if we were going to order dinner. We thought she was going to take our order. Before any of us could begin, she said, "Because we need to keep the patio tables clear for people ordering dinner. If you're not ordering dinner, we need you to move." Totally unprofessional, rude, and flabbergasting behavior. The last time someone in a restaurant pushed me to order food while I was enjoying a drink was in Utah. We were already digging into our appetizers and with the second round of cocktails on the way, we were closing in on a $100 bill for a small table. When our server did take our orders and the food came, it was good and cocktails we ordered were delicious, but it was hard to enjoy my two tacos after the bad taste Centro's awful manager left in my mouth. I'm giving Centro a generous 2 stars simply because my $18 two taco entrÃ©e was actually pretty tasty. But I recommend taking Centro's own advice and dining elsewhere.
(2)
Nathan B.

The new menu is awful. That about sums it up. I don't know what happened (new owner? new management?), but it's not as good as it used to be. Too bad. And honestly, "refreshment palace"?
(2)
Greg S.

We frequent this place. It is typically pretty good and I would recommend stopping by if you are visiting Boulder (or live in Boulder and haven't been here yet!). The best time to go is happy hour. Try the avocado salsa, it is usually pretty good. I would recommend that Centro get this more consistent. We have had it some times where it is mostly avocado or mostly tomato. The best times are when it is that perfect blend of avocado, tomato, red onion, cilantro, and peppers. The chips are always great.
(4)
Erika G.

Loved this place. Only had a glass of delicious wine here, but I loved the vibe, the outdoor bar and the friendly bartenders. The food smelled delicious. If I'm lucky, I'll be back.
(4)
Brad F.

We ate at Centro last night to take advantage of First Bite Boulder which provided diners with a three-course meal for $26. This is a great bargain and a great way to taste some different items. I started with the Queso and Chorizo appetizer. This appetizer was amazing. Way to big for one person, but I managed to get it all down using the two homemade, warm tortillas. It had some pickled veggies on top that really made this dish a potpourri of flavor. The spicy Chorizo and the pickled veggies melded together nicely. Seemed like the veggies had a bit of spice to them too. This dish was great. My main course was the chicken thigh enchiladas. These too were unbelievable. Unfortunately, I was full from the appetizer so I could only eat one of them, but I took the remaining one home. The smoked red pepper cream sauce over these enchiladas was very good. Not your typical enchilada sauce. For dessert I have a few bites of the Pumpkin, Piloncillo ice cream with sugar cookies. Both the ice cream and the cookies were very tasty. By this time I was incredibly full, but the ice cream was a nice after dinner dish. This is not the first time we've eaten here, and won't be the last!
(4)
Curtis B.

I only drank there. Good: The drinks! I had a pisco sour and some house concoction that is similar to a French 75. Both were quite good. Not drop dead amazing (I thought the pisco too sweet), but good. The bar is a nice place to hang out...it's double sided indoor and out. The interior is sort of a weird mix of Mexican wrestling posters and "higher" art. Bar staff knows their stuff and is friendly. Bad: I don't really like paying $10 for a cocktail, but maybe that's market rate (I'm new to town). I wasn't impressed with the bottled beer menu. I understand that it might be more visually pleasing to have only a couple of prices with a bunch of stuff listed under it, but who the hell wants to pay $4/bottle for Corona?
(4)
Steve D.

Happy hour was good. Sundays have live music. Loud, but good. Can't do much talking, but good ambiance. Plenty of HH food options with a fair range of prices.
(4)
David N.

This is definitely one of my favorite places in Boulder. I was a little saddened when I had heard that they changed their menu. I was sad to see some of their choices go, but some of their new items are definitely a crowd pleaser. If you go here, you would be missing out if you didnt try their nachos. It is something out of this world. Get it with the chicken and you will be in paradise. The chicken is fill of flavor and still has the juices locked in. It's not the dry kind that you might get elsewhere. Last time I was here I ordered the steak and shrimp burrito and it was a compliment of flavors I won't soon forget.
(5)
Tyler M.

The restaurant with no identity. Every time I come to centro the staff and the menu changes. I have been coming here since it was Rumba and it is the only big red f restaurant that can't keep good employees. The sad thing is that none of the changes are for the better. I just ordered a happy hour drink I have had many times over the years and the bartender just started making what she though I should have and then charged me accordingly. I have no problem paying full price for a drink, but not at centro. I would gladly pay it at zolo where the service is impeccable and the bartenders stick around. I'm not sure what the problem is with this place but 3+ bar managers in a year along with many uniform changes doesn't make for a better restaurant. Maybe shut down for dinner too until the new building next door is finished. Maybe reopen with professionals. The only saving grace of this sad sad restaurant is Jessie. She is kind, attentive, and is leaps and bounds above anyone else that works there. RIP Devlin, Brad, Peaches, Jackie, Mike, and so on
(2)
Gerardo D.

Centro is towards the end of the busy part of Pearl St. Finding parking was not a problem. The restaurant is beautiful and the patio is great. Service is quick and helpful. I tried a Mojito, and it was VERY good. Probably the best I have tried in Colorado. However, I found the menu to be somewhat limited. I tried four of the Perrones tacos, and all of them were good but a little on the bland side, but that may be OK for people that unlike me did not grow up in Mexico eating super hot salsa. I was not blows away by either one of the tacos and was disappointed by the restaurant offering a bottled Tapatio salsa instead of their own hot,m or mildly hot salsa. I might have to come back to try the enchiladas....oh, and to get another mojito or three
(3)
Ariele L.

We came in on a slow Monday. The food wasn't that great I thought that it would have more flavor and the service would be better considering how empty it was. We tried the tacos, salsa, and green chile pork soup. I wouldn't really return or come back it wasn't anything spectacular or much of a memorable experience.
(2)
Claire C.

Absolutely loved this refreshment palace from food, dÃ©cor to drinks in downtown Boulder! We stumbled upon this gem while strolling around downtown and came here twice for happy hour. Needless to say that we were impressed both times and it has become our go-to spot for happy hour and dinner whenever we're in the area! Happy Hour: it gets crowded pretty fast after 5 pm but we were able to snatch a spot right at the bar outside on the patio. The bartenders were very attentive and fun. The vibe was cool and relaxed. You could tell that people were having a good time! Food: chips and salsa sampler were pretty good but the nachos hit a sweet spot. It's an explosion of great flavors from the cheese, guac, pico and pickled onion! I ordered the eggplant taco since I'm a vegetarian and it was delish! The chicken taco was really good too. There was a lot of food for the price you pay for happy hour. Drinks: mint rum fizz and marg were extremely tasty and you can't beat the happy hour price! Centro definitely set the bar high for Mexican food!
(5)
Ally S.

Centro is absolutely amazing! The tacos to the drinks are 100% perfect!!! If your in the mood for the best avocado salsa in the world go there!
(5)
Amanda F.

Came in for lunch. Was seated inside and then nothing. No greeter, no service.... Not even water!!
(1)
Kellie F.

Mexican food with a twist! Loved their tequila menu...lots of choices! My husband ordered the steak and shrimp burrito and he claims it's the best he's ever eaten! I ordered a mixture of tacos...pork, shrimp and steak. They were excellent! The only complaint was our waiter...he was nice but not attentive. Our bottomless chips never got refilled and he never came back to refill water glasses or get us another drink. However, the food was so good along with the charming patio seating that I still gave it 4 stars.
(4)
Ali L.

Checked out Centro with a group of friends after running the BolderBoulder, and boy were we starving! We got there right as it opened, and it's a good thing we did because shortly after we were seated, it was packed! Because of the crowds I was expecting lackluster service, but we were so well-attended by server all servers and never had an empty glass! We were seated on the patio (which is one of the cutest patios I've ever seen!) and started with drinks and apps. We ordered the chips&salsa and the avocado salsa, and I ordered the drug mule (Moscow mule but with tequila). The mule was okay, but the avocado salsa was delicious! Essentially guac, but with the avocado in chunks instead, and the seasonings were perfect and heavy on the lime juice which I am a huge fan of! For lunch I ordered the taco salad with shrimp. The shrimp was perfectly grilled and garlicky, and the salad was a bed of very crisp greens, cotija, crema, pico, and more of that amazing avocado salsa. If you're looking for a great patio in Boulder, this is the place to be!
(5)
Amber A.

Great Mexican restaurant w a great patio/outdoor bar! Stopped in for a couple margaritas - my fave was the blackberry margarita. We got a couple tacos. Everything, including service, was spot on!
(5)
Carolyn K.

Lively and fun atmosphere with delicious modern Mexican and awesome Happy hours. Avocado salsa appetizer was so yum.
(4)
Lauren D.

I like Centro. I like the covered outdoor patio and the fact that the bar faces both the inside and the outside. I like that they have a very solid Happy Hour menu and I like that both the food and the drink delivers. I'm not sure I liked how long our server would take between check-ins but I forgive him because he was a delight when he did finally show up. I'm not in Boulder often, but when I am, I would absolutely be willing to go back to Centro.
(4)
Judy T.

We've come here a few times and highly recommend for very tasty mexican food. However, we specifically came about 2 weeks ago so my husband could get Paella which was listed on their Website. BUT, server then said management had just changed and no paella. My husband was disappointed but we still enjoyed our dinner. We usually get the chips and salsa (which isn't too spicy for our girls), and I've ordered various taco's while my husband has gotten burritos. Just very tasty sauces/spice combinations. Also, the kids meals are quite generous. The chicken w/rice is my daughter's favorite and I think they also offer quesadilla.
(4)
Kenny N.

Lots of seating on an early Sunday afternoon, so you'll probably score a seat like us. Unfortunately, we barely missed happy brunch (drat!). I tucked in a very large breakfast burrito chock full of eggs, skin-on potatoes, and chorizo. It was a really good choice and a winner post-hike. My only wish? Spicier salsa.
(4)
Lis R.

This review is for Monday All Day Happy Hour. Yes, you read that right, ALL DAY HAPPY HOUR. Translation: go here to brighten your Monday. Go on an evening when you can enjoy Centro's awesome patio space - people watch the passerbys on Pearl Street as you sip (or chug, depending on your day) your gold coin margarita (it's HH, so you can order another, or five. Enjoy!). The Happy hour is more than enough to fill you up for a meal. I went with a friend - and our total bill was under $25. And we were stuffed. We each had a drink, chips and salsa, I went for the goat cheese chicken enchilada and a shrimp taco. She did a shrimp taco and pulled pork taco. We were both happy. And it was perfect for introducing her to Boulder's Pearl Street on a Monday on a beautiful evening :)
(4)
Melissa H.

I haven't given Centro a fair chance since it changed names a few years back. I was a big fan of Rhumba's food and their mojitos and Dark & Stormys. Since it became Centro we've been a couple of times for drinks... and each time it's been disappointing. The mojitos and other mixed drinks seem to be smaller in size and don't seem to have the liquor ratio right. On Friday we decided to give it another try, this time for dinner. Surprisingly while the rest of Boulder was absolutely packed, there was only a 10 minute wait at Centro. We ordered drinks at the bar and waited for the hostess to seat us. The dinner entrees ranged from $12 to around $20. The menu wasn't gigantic but there was a decent variety of items. I ordered the achiote fish tacos and the man ordered a chorizo and egg tostada. He also had a couple of mixed drinks... both were disappointing. Word of advice... stick to wine. The fish tacos came out 3 on a plate on small corn tortillas. They were piled high with the fish, sliced cabbage, raddish, and queso fresco/goat cheese or something similar. The achiote seasoning on the fish was really good. 3 tacos was a bit much for me so I wasn't able to finish them... if you aren't that hungry I'd suggest asking if you can just order one or two. The chorizo and egg tostada was not anything you would be picking up to eat. It was piled high with egg, potatoes, cheese, and lettuce with the chorizo mixed in. It was good... but pretty large. All in all, the food was good ... their patio and bar area is fantastic as well but with so many other restaurants in Boulder with both delicious food & delicious drinks, I don't know how often I'll be back.
(3)
Harry S.

Their patio is nice and the drinks were OK. I had dinner here and the value at dinnertime is highly questionable. $11 ceviche is laughably small and not that great. I would not be at all surprised if the squid and shrimp were frozen. The pork entree was also pretty stingy on quantity. I might go back for happy hour sometime as the prices are much lower.
(3)
Prianka N.

We visited Centro on our last night in the Denver/Boulder area. After a long weekend of great meals, Centro was still a standout experience. I started out with the slightly dirty-sounding Hot Rosser cocktail...unique and delicious...may I have another? You'd better believe I did! That habanero-grape fantasy sauce is aptly named...I am now obsessed with it and actively fantasizing. The service was great and everything we ate (salad, salsas, guac, masa cakes, steak, pork, and dessert) was awesome! This was one of the most expensive meals we had in the Denver area, but it was still reasonably priced and well worth the money - I've spent twice as much in Miami and had less than half the dining experience, so congrats to Centro on getting it right!
(5)
Alise R.

I've been to Centro a handful of times and each time it is as delicious and amazing as the next. They have a wonderful selection of what I think of as "upscale mexican" dishes. The portions are a good size and the price is right. Although I usually have my parents take me here when they come up to visit : ) I can't recommend just one thing on their menu. TRY IT ALL!!!
(4)
Juile S.

I've had several truly OUTSTANDING meals at Centro over the past few years, so I was extremely disappointed when I went there with my family and a guest last week and found that the menu has been completely changed (I had a hard time finding something that sounded interesting). The food and the service were both mediocre, at best. Very sad -- this used to be a really terrific place. I would give it the benefit of the doubt since it was just one bad visit, but the new offerings just don't sound very enticing...and there are so many other terrific restaurants within a 5-minute walk.
(3)
Naji S.

Found this place on my annual vacation to Colorado - thanks to having a GLUTEN-FREE menu - we were all over it's creativity! Awesome ambiance, open space, great inside/outside bar, amazing food menu and creative drinks. We were very pleased!
(4)
Sani G.

This place gets 4 stars for the margs, although I think the food is slightly over priced. However, I would highly recommend their all night HH on Monday!
(4)
Morgan W.

Finally finally finally. A Latin American restaurant that is worth a return trip. My husband and I went here after having the place recommended several times. We went at 5:00 on a Friday evening and the dining room was blissfully quiet save for a couple of tables. We were seated quickly in a booth near the back. Our waiter was efficient, friendly, and very attentive despite the fact that some servers might have overlooked us as we were tucked away in the back corner. I love the lighting in this place. In general the restaurant has a terrific ambiance. And the funky bathroom sinks are really worth the trip alone. We managed to make happy hour and quickly ordered drinks (mojito for me; house marg for him) and the yam and chorizo hash. This is the only chorizo I can profess to loving. The flavors were wonderful and the yam was chopped larger than the chorizo so the texture wasn't too soft compared to the firm ground meat. My mojito was excellent, not too sweet and a bit on the dry side. My only criticism is that it could have been a touch stronger on the alcohol. For entrees I got the beef tip enchiladas and my husband ordered the habaÃ±ero pulled pork tacos. My dish was lovely, served in a small cast iron skillet and sizzling away. The beef tips were juicy, seared on the outside and tender on the inside, topped with tortillas and cheese and surrounded with rice and beans. Quite a delicious undertaking to navigate. I tried a bite of my husband's pork tacos and was surprised that the habaÃ±ero spice wasn't overpowering. This will be the next thing I try when we return. My husband also ordered a burrito with mahi mahi and devoured that as well. Centro is the kind of place where if you come hungry, expect to spend some money. Their portions are a reasonable size but not the overly huge helpings we are accustomed to in society today. Still, it was fun to try several dishes and we were not disappointed by anything. I look forward to returning and trying everything on the menu.
(4)
Kat S.

This is one of my absolute favorite places in Boulder. I no longer live there so it's a treat whenever I return. I should probably get something other than the chips and guac and shrimp tacos, as that is all I can recommend. What can I say, I'm a creature of habit! But they are so amazing. The tacos are super super garlicky, so if you don't enjoy garlic, stay away. I love them for this very reason. Plus, they have a great low-cal, natural margarita that always hits the spot. Not to menion, the crowd here is young, but not too college-aged, which is such a nice reprieve in a college town. Whether you're in for just a drink, or food and apps too, I highly recommend Centro!
(4)
David L.

This is my first Boulder review, yet I've been here for a bit. The culinary arts of this town have left me largely disappointed after leaving my fair city of Portland, OR and those random bohemian buttered masterpieces. Centro lends a glimmer of hope. Honestly I'm biased, most of my experiences there are breakfast oriented, but what a breakfast! On the occasion that I make it there before breakfast happy hour ends, which is a great concept, there unique $2 dishes are ample enough to fill nigh any hangover for $6-8. Coconut cream fried bananas, yes, they are as good as they sound. Breakfast tacos, burnt grapefruit, really, some novel dishes. They also typically have a special dish not on the menu that is almost always worth trying, from pork belly to a camarone fritata. Since I rarely make it before 11, I generally have to be satisfied with their $2 Mimosas and Bloody Marys. The bloody marys leave a bit wanting on the tongue and the liver. They're more bloody than mary. Throw a bit more booze in there, some veggies, and some spice, and I'll pray at your altar. Their mimosas are amply generous though, and you'll find me sipping pinky out any Sunday I can. The occasions I've been there for dinner have been good, something about bbq lamb tickled my tastebuds. Baaaah. Not so pricey for Boulder, and the staff are nice enough. On the whole, 4 stars is a stretch for me, but I'm hoping other Boulder restaurants follow suit, drop a bit of the haute, and focus more on the cuisine.
(4)
Margaret A.

I was pleasantly surprised with the locale and food at this restaurant. My boyfriend and I were passing by Pearl St., and we were drawn to the "Happy Hour All Day" on Mondays board outside. The space is large with a bar, and we were seated on the side which allowed for privacy even though there were other people there. The Happy Hour dishes were affordable and the servings were large considering it was discounted for Happy Hour. They had $2 Cuba Libres which were strong yet well balanced. The Butternut Squash Soup was delicious, and I also would recommend the Manchego fries. To top it off we had the Hush puppies with a tomatillo sauce which was perfect if you like sweet and salty combinations like me! I was pleasantly surprised and would definitely recommend this place for anyone looking for a upscale Happy Hour for an affordable price.
(4)
Michael K.

Really, really liked this restaurant for a few reasons. Locations is right on Pearl Street, and a good happy hour. Additionally, came here for a late night dinner, and the kitchen being open late was a welcome relief. The bar area was full (both during happy hour and during the later part of the evening), and the scene was very relaxed. Even more of a pleasant surprise was the quality of the food... the menu is truly fusion...definitely a mix of latin flavors with local focus on fresh ingredients. The white bass & prawn veracruz was good, and the chicken thigh enchiladas was excellent. The sauce was similar to a good mole...but with a lighter cream. The portions were large and filling, while our server was friendly (if a bit absent-minded). Food came out timely. But without a doubt, the dish of the night was the sopa azteca...the chicken, tortilla strips, avocado (in healthy portion), and radish in the serving dish...then the broth poured over the ingredients. Absolutely fantastic! Don't miss this dish...really a big fan of this restaurant.
(4)
Michelle P.

I just don't understand what the hype is about this place. No way is it even close to Mexican food. Their food is bland, no seasoning or taste and for the price you pay, its a ripoff. I ordered some pork tacos and I honestly thought they were made by a newbie chef trying to make tacos. If people go to Centro for the atmosphere, then I recommend they cross the street to Tahona's for music and drinks. Centro is super overrated and overpriced! Go somewhere else....
(1)
Ben W.

Great lunch spot on West Pearl. Food is always solid and they try creative dishes. I almost always go for the special as it never disappoints. Chicken enchiladas are always good too.
(4)
Eric S.

Damn fine meal... We started off with a drink in the bar -- the cuba libre was better than I expected, and the bartender even said that for their signature drink, they had a rum-off contest to determine the best... and it was. Chips and salsa are available (at a price, which seems weird), but they have mild, medium, and hot. The medium was great and left a nice little jalapeno aftertaste. From there, it was the pork tacos. The tacos were really good, with a nice flavor and a bite. The happy hour menu was solid, with $2 cuba libre's and $2 modelos. Would definitely go back. The decor was decidedly non-franchise like and the bar lively. Good times.
(4)
Drew F.

I don't even know where to begin. Centro is one of, if not the best restaurant in Boulder. If you've ever had the pleasure of dining at a Big Red F Restaurant, you know that they spend a lot of energy making your experience the very best it can be. To be honest, I go to Centro 2x a week. Usually for brunch during the weekend and their 'ALL DAY' Happy Hour. If you haven't been and find yourself there during a H.H. I'd recommend the habanero pork tacos, manchego-chimichurri verde fries, or the pork green chili nachos.
(5)
Zachary E.

I've been to Centro many times over the years, with both family, friends, and clients. We love the shady patio on the east side, especially in the afternoon in the summertime. One of the coolest spots to hang out and relax after a hike or bike ride. One of my favorite beverages is their Dark n Stormy. The menu is always exciting and a treat that can't be found anywhere else in town quite like it. I only wish that it weren't so loud sometimes when sitting inside, the noise factor is a bit of a negative, but the staff's professionalism makes us keep coming back, and I continue to bring clients to Centro as one of the choice spots to eat when introducing them to Boulder restaurants I love. If you go on a nice day, definitely sit outside!
(4)
Jane P.

Stopped in for a late night dinner while in town. The food was actually better than we expected - it was really good, innovative latin cuisine - when I was expecting more of a generic taco-y place. The soup was awesome, the nachos were generous and tasty, and the cocktails were killer. Also a great bonus: they had a good selection of interesting virgin (alcohol-free) drinks, which is unusual for a bar / restaurant.
(5)
David C.

My food was delivered by a woman in a dirty chef coat, the salsa that was billed as med was less than mild in fact it was sweet and full of inedible pepper skins. Go to tahona and save ur money
(1)
Leah C.

eh food but the "all day monday" happy hour can't be beat... $2 shrimp, fish, pork or mushroom/zucchini tacos are a bargain. the taste won't knock your socks off but they'll fill your belly. the $4 tecates or house wine are decent enough to satiate your palate but not leave a dent in your wallet. the one dish i did enjoy were the "greens" - which is bok choy lightly stir-fried with soy sauce and spices. not very latin but good! also, their vegetarian black beans (that i ordered to go with the NON-complimentary chips) were spicy and not greasy -- very good! my husband who hates beans even thought they were "decent" probably because the "medium" salsa was so watered down...
(3)
jessy t.

This is a nice little interior restaurant. There is at least one vegetarian option on each section of the menu. The tacos were served with some creative dressings (radishes and cabbage), which I thought was great. The plantain fritter was a little heavy on the oil, but the tacos, cocktails, and desserts were creative and great. They have peanut butter ice cream, additionally, which was great. Salty and sweet.
(4)
Jessica H.

One of our favorites when visiting Boulder. Stopped in for happy hour while shopping this week and tried the Manchego-Chimichurri Verde Fries for the first time. They were outstanding. The portion was so large I brought half of the order home for my husband. He loved them and then wanted to go back for more! We stopped by a couple of days later but were dissapointed when we found out we missed the happy hour menu. The hostess checked with the cook to see if we could special order the fries, which we were able to do which was great! We also had the Arugula & Avocado Salad which had a great mix of sour, hot and cool flavors. We also tried the Carna Asada, Chicken Enchiladas and Spicy Fried Chicken. I've had both happy hour and dinner here. Both are good but the prices for happy our are great. The drink menu is extensive - I've stuck with the house margarita which is very good and the sangria's which are outstanding.
(5)
Mercedes P.

My partner is a big lover of gourmet mexican food. I'm always a bit reluctant to spend $15 on tacos, but he was dying to give Centro a try. After my experience with Happy Noodle House's fortune cookie a few weeks back I wasn't that eager to throw this restaurant owner more money, but I acquiesced. First, I wasn't impressed with the menu here and ended up ordering a special. The menu selection was small and all of it a little boring-enchiladas, dark meat chicken, tacos-all of it over $15. ehh. My partner ordered scallops and rice. I ordered steak. We shared a salsa appetizer. The salsa appetizer wasn't impressive. The first round of chips were stale and greasy and the salsas-three small dishes-weren't special. One tasted like ketchup. The hottest one didn't taste hot at all. Chips and salsa were $7-not cheap for what most restaurants serve for free or charge something nominal like a $1 for-especially when the salsas were unimpressive. The steak special was ***I am not joking*** the best steak I've had in my life. Melt in your mouth. Seriously, a steak like butter. Served with a squash sauce and peppers. It was $25, but I'm willing to spend $25 for the best more than I'm willing to spend $15 for a taco dish that is served everywhere. My partners scallops on top of rice were good, but it was only three scallops. He was still hungry. He wished he ordered the steak. If you're lucky enough to get seating in one of the front booths, I think you might experience some good ambience here. We didn't get a good table. Good service, personable waiter. Like Happy Noodle House, I get the feeling that this place will just end up being a hit for Happy Hour. The rave reviews here are for happy hour and brunch where the low price does a lot to offset any negative experience-expectations are lower. The dining room, not coincidentally, was empty and the bar was packed.
(4)
Jim H.

A boring menu with about the same amount of taste. They try too hard to be different and it just takes away from the food
(2)
Karen B.

On the recommendation of relatives, my husband and I went to Centro to celebrate our anniversary. We weren't expecting anything fancy, we just wanted to experience something different outside of our regular restaurant routine. We knew the place was popular, so we went on a Tuesday evening to try to avoid a weekend night. When we arrived a little after 7:00 p.m., there was no available patio seating, but seating inside was nearly empty. We took a booth by a window and proceeded to wait, and wait for a server to appear. After about 10 minutes of waiting, a server finally showed briefly, but promised to be back later. Several more minutes, and the server again appeared and offered to take our drink order. She also informed us of their Tuesday night barbecue menu and floated a copy of that menu. We each promptly ordered a draft beer, and the server smiled and disappeared. After another 10 minutes, our server eventually reappeared, but without beers, and wanted to take our food order. (She never asked us if we were interested in an appetizer.) She commented that they had to change the keg before we could have our beer. If we had been informed of this as a courtesy, we would have changed our drink order to something readily available. But instead we went dry. Beers finally came. We had now been seated for at least 20 minutes. Remember, the dining room was nearly empty - only one other table was occupied. The server's timing was simply off with us. She kept coming by at the wrong time to take our food order, but once we had a chance to sip the overdue beer and then read the menu, she was no where to be found. We finally placed our dinner orders. No mention was made of any nightly specials other than the barbecue menu. I ordered the grilled blue marlin salad and my husband had the grilled mahi. The food came in a reasonable amount of time and was good, but not sensational. There was no complimentary bread or tortillas with dinner, only salt and pepper on the table. The food was decent, but not memorable. We took our time, enjoyed ourselves, and were not rushed. Until we finished our meals, of course. Once our plates were cleared, our server returned and presented us with both the dessert menu and our bill simultaneously. She explained that if we wanted some dessert, no problem, but if we didn't here was our check. (The dining room was still empty, by the way.) We paid the bill and left. As we left the restaurant, we walked past a sign on the patio outside advertising that the special of the evening was an aji dish. Server never mentioned this.
(2)
Fred L.

Staff is pleasant but pushy in the service. Food was tasty for the price but the options during brunch were limited. Probably pass on this in the future unless there are no other options
(2)
Ingrid E.

Centro is one of my favorite happy hour places.... incredible shrimp tacos, their avocado salsa is to "die for" and all the servers are so kind, and great service. It's a busy place, so make sure you get there early. In the summer it's THE place to go to sit outside and simply enjoy Pearl Street views, and have amazing drinks and food.
(5)
Maggie F.

I recently enjoyed a fabulously fun brunch at Centro - it is now giving Zolo a run for its money for my favorite brunch spot in Boulder! Wandering about downtown in need of some food, we were drawn to the inviting patio dining scene at Centro, and stopped to check their menu. The hostess offered a menu not posted outside - brunch happy hour! Huzzah! This menu of small plates at (incredibly!) small prices definitely drew us the rest of the way into the restaurant.....where we proceeded to be gluttons to the fullest extent! I was THRILLED with the veggie friendliness of this menu - vegetarians rejoice! We ordered one of each off this gem of a menu, which included: fried eggs with christmas salsa, hashbrowns (normally with a black bean chorizo salsa), seared greens, a breakfast taco with eggs, cotija and roasted jalapenos, coconut fried banana with vanilla anglaise, and a burnt (bruleed) grapefruit half. We also "splurged" and got a mimosa and a bloody mary (super spicy and highly recommended). The damage?? $16. Really!!! Happily, the food was phenomenal as well...the burnt grapefruit being the standout on the sweet side and the breakfast taco faring very well for the savory camp. The best part (in my opinion) was dining al fresco, nibbling on the myriad small plates covering the table's surface, bits and bites here and there....so many tastes to explore! Paradoxical though it may seem, if you are looking for a eurocentric dining experience, search no farther - this Latin American restaurant fits the bill perfectly! P.S. I only gave four stars because if you don't happen to catch this unparalleled deal at brunch, our experience has been overpriced dining & drink options (but still tasty) with an extremely limited veggie section.
(4)
Dave I.

We had dinner there on a busy Friday evening. The food was excellent! I had the Masa Cakes, my wife had the Mushroom Soft Tacos. Both were well thought-out, well prepared dishes and different enough to make them interesting. I asked for a 2nd non-alcoholic beer half way through the meal. It seemed a long time coming, but the manager came over and explained that they had run out, so they had sent someone over to Jax to get one. Plus one for customer service. She came back a couple of minutes later and said that it had arrived warm, so they weren't going to serve it. Plus two. Then she offered us both a drink on the house. Plus three. My one complaint? We exhausted the vegetarian options on our first visit, so we'll need to wait a while before we go back.
(4)
Paolo D.

We went here on a recommendation from a local and she did not disappoint. I ordered the Grilled Chicken Enchiladas with a fried egg on top. I also had the Cucumber Mojito and the Pineapple Express margarita. The food was amazing and the drinks were excellent. I love mojitos and I've never had a cucumber one before, so that was a huge selling point. We also got lucky and ended up with an outdoor table after only 5 minutes of waiting (after being told it might be a 45-minute wait).
(4)
Travis D.

My girlfriend and i spent an afternoon in Boulder shortly after Christmas while waiting for a friend of ours to arrive at DIA. After walking up and down Pearl Street we were getting a little hungry and decided to pop into Centro for dinner. It turned out to be happy hour so we got things started with $2 chips and salsa and a few $2 cuba libres. You really can't beat those prices. After that we got an order of the blue crab and sweet corn fritters. They showed up hot a crispy, with a delicious and slightly sweet exterior. They came with some sort of savory marinade reduction sauce that was great. Next up was a bowl of the roasted tomato and poblano soup. It came with a crouton floating in the middle covered in melted manchego cheese. The soup was really tasty with a very complex flavor and a bit of heat. Perfect for the cold night we were experiencing. Though the crouton was sitting in soup, it still had a significant amount of crunch to it and wasn't too soggy. I'm a big fan of pureed vegetable soups, and this was nothing short of fantastic. We finished up with an order of the habanero rotisserie pork tacos. Though i thought they were a little over stuffed for the size of the tortillas, i'm not going to complain about having some filling fall onto the plate that i can scoop up with a fork later. The pork had some heat from the habanero, but not overwhelmingly so, and the flavor was just great. I've had a problem lately with looking at the dessert menu with the intention of not getting anything, and then getting suckered into ordering something decadent, so this time i passed at even looking at the thing. It looks like they have churros. I love churros. But i guess i'm better for not getting them. For a place that a couple of San Francisco foodies just strolled into, we thought Centro was surprisingly fantastic. If i'm back in Boulder at any point, i may just have to come back for another meal. Hopefully we'll catch happy hour again.
(5)
Robin P.

Best outdoor dining in Boulder.
(4)
Murpheezzz X.

Great happy hour and the best patio in Boulder. I always loved Rhumba and was a little disappointed when they changed to Centro, but ultimately it still possesses all of the greatness that was Rhumba, minus the live music. Good food, drinks and a great atmosphere. Unfortunately the service can out right suck!
(2)
Shannon R.

Our group was beyond impressed with Centro. The food is a savory approach to Latin food with just the right amount of heat. The service, including management, went above and beyond to deliver an exceptional dining experience and the environment, both indoors and outdoors is warm and inviting.
(5)
Danielle B.

Service was great and the waitress was really helpful in guiding us through the menu. Chupacabra (muddled watermelon, poblano chili, basil with gin and lemonade) was amazing! Unusual entree's and standard mexican dishes but all six of us (including two kids) loved it!
(5)
Scott H.

Amazing happy hour drink specials and the taco for 2 was sooo good!
(5)
Lacey M.

I went here on a Friday night with some girlfriends for a birthday celebration and had a great time. We had to wait at the bar for a table of course, so we all had a drink and some chips and salsa. The mojitos were not too spectacular...I've had way better. But my Pom-arita was amazing! It's a margarita made with pomegranate flavored tequila. So delicious, it didn't even taste like it was made with alcohol....dangerous. All 3 salsas were really good. My favorite was the super spicy one. And boy was it spicy! But great flavor. Our first batch of chips were a little chewy, but the second batch was warm and cripsy. I do think that charging $7 for chips and salsa is a little ridiculous...but nonetheless, I loved it and will order it again if I return. We had dinner on the patio, which was wonderful. Perfect evening, great people watching spot, and fun atmosphere. I had the Chicken and Yam Enchiladas, which were great. Good portion size, with big chunks of juicy chicken and tender yams, all covered in a chile rojo sauce. One of my friends had the Crispy Tofu and Grilled Vegetable Bowl with nopales and asparagus. She loved it, and I agreed after I stole a bite or two. It came with flour tortillas and all 3 salsas on the side. My other friend ordered the Grilled Chicken Thigh Tacos. She loved them, but I didn't even try them due to the mound of onions on top. Overall, it was a very enjoyable dinner for my friend's birthday. Tasty drinks and food, and pleasant service.
(4)
Blair K.

Centro contacted me following my last post and invited me to come back to retry their restaurant. They said that they had made great efforts to improve their service. And they have. The waitress was very attentive, friendly and informative. It seems like things have really turned around service wise and the food was amazing as always!
(4)
Lindsay L.

I was in Boulder for a weekend class and thought this place was great! The food was delicious and our server was excellent. She was personable, knowledgeable, and she actually knew a lot about the many interesting cocktails they have to offer. The food was a little spendy, but the portions were huge, so I would recommend splitting. I was really excited about their drink list. Lots of options for every palate. I would highly recommend this place. A schnazzy atmosphere without the pretentiousness.
(5)
Bob A.

I haven't lived in Boulder for too long but I am starting to get the sense that all these poor Boulderites have never been introduced to great food as all the restaurants I have been to that have rave reviews have been mediocre. Centro is certainly no exception. The food was decent, but abhorrently overpriced. For starters $20 for two tacos is a little outrageous but I can get over the price tag if it's a great taco, not 90% lettuce like what I was served. For what it's worth it was quality lettuce and the little bit of habanero pork was tasty, but simply not $20 worth. This would be a 3 star review but the service was painfully slow. My second drink literally arrived a half hour after I ordered it with the excuse that "the computer that prints the orders broke" which, as I have been told by my friends in the service industry, is code for "I forgot your order".
(2)
rusty r.

I disagree that Centro's drinks are not tasty. In fact, I think they make some of the better drinks on Pearl street, and their dark & stormy's are excellent. The key to Centro is HAPPY HOUR. Here are my favorites during this time: $1.50 Cuba Libre's, which are Flor De Cana Rum and Coke. Same rum they use in the mojitos. Very tasty, strong, and cheap! $2.00 garlic shrimp tacos. These things are really incredible, and over the past 2 months have gotten better for some reason. The shrimp is plentiful, the cabbage crisp, and the garlicky lemon sauce is just amazing. So simple, but really incredible. Best $2 you will spend in a day. As far as dinner, I think it's great, but a little pricey for what you get. But happy hour is crucial.
(4)
Daniel F.

Pretty overrated. We went for the Monday all day happy hour. My Cuba Libre was weak, nobody should ever drink Modelo especial, and the food was decent. We had a pork taco, a shrimp and yam fritter, chicken enchilada, chips and salsa, and rice and beans. All edible. The service and atmosphere really knocked this one down though. Stuck in the corner, yelling to carry on a conversation, and so hot and muggy in there that my legs were sticking to the booth by the end as we waited and waited for our server to reappear and bring the check.
(2)
Buddha K.

Great overall VIBE! the Food was fantastic. Sat outside for dinner and had an amazing time. Back for seconds? Absolutely!
(4)
Penelope B.

I always enjoy eating here. Most recently, a somewhat deconstructed tamal was absolutely delicious. Very good drinks. Gets rather busy with the bar scene so call ahead to get on the list. Kid friendly at non-evening hours, good menu with excellent mac and cheese.
(4)
Greg D.

been here plenty of times when the parents come to town. Lobster nachos and El Hombre Burrito! Delicious, fresh, great service and happening place
(4)
Tirtho C.

Awesome food, mediocre service and very nice ambience. My wife and I sat outside and we didnt like our table first. The waitress wasnt anywhere to be seen. The food came out first without the drinks and we had to tell them explicitly that we needed the drinks. So I would pretty much say that the service sucked. But later we sat in a different table which they were able to do for us. When the food arrived, we were just "OMG". The food was very tasty, well presented. The cocktails were great! I would come back to this restaurant for sure, but will make sure that its a different server next time.
(4)
Lawrence W.

The wife and I were taken to Centro with some new friends. We were really prepared to love it, but the food just didn't do it for us. The service here was great, as was the case everywhere we've been in Boulder. The waitress was very attentive and helpful, and the manager spent quite a bit of time at our table, chatting and even considering suggestions for improvements. We all shared a salsa sampler appetizer -- for me this was the highlight of the meal (besides the fantastic company and aforementioned great service). Each of the salsas had a distinct flavor, the best being the sweet and wonderfully spicy mango-habanero salsa. I ordered the chicken and yams enchiladas. I really wanted to love these, but they fell way short of my expectations. The problem arose I believe from the fact that the 'yam' aspect of the enchilada actually featured the skin off of the yams, which if anything detracted from the other flavors. The rice and enchilada sauce were also somewhat bland. The butter beans accompanying the dish though were pretty tasty. Wife had the rotisserie chicken, and was also disappointed with the lack of flavor and the taste of the tortillas (she did however really enjoy her Mojito). For dessert, we had the churros, which were a crowd pleaser, but I couldn't get behind them (they tasted too much like Cinnamon Toast Crunch cereal). At the end of the meal, we learned from the manager that all of Centro's offerings are gluten-free. I doubt however that the lack of gluten impacted my impressions of the meal, but perhaps. I suspect that if I drank alcohol, I might have enjoyed my Centro dining experience more. That said, it was a very fun location for a meal -- certainly somewhere to go with a crowd. However, if you're looking for a more of a great food experience, you might want to try elsewhere.
(3)
Tim B.

Seems like one of the nicer places on West Pearl to eat lunch/brunch on a sunny day - patio seating is ample. My mojito was pretty bland but the avocado salsa was awesome (but a little pricey at $8). The tortilla chips are pretty much the tastiest chips ever. They do an interesting taco on a soft corn tortilla which was a good value at $9. And the hostess had this hot Scarlett Johansson thing going on which was nice.
(4)
Merrilee T.

I seem to be reviewing places based on whether or not they make me feel old, so I don't know how helpful they are. Anyhoo, good food, tasty drinks, not cheap, fun atmosphere. It's a tight fit to cram onto the patio, but it's worth it. They have an incredible rum selection, and a variety of mojitos. I've never been disappointed with the food. On our most recent visit, I had a dark chocolate peanut torte. It was more like a peanut butter pie with a layer of chocolate torte on top, which was fine by me. Thankfully, it's a bit of an older crowd in the early evenings, and I frequently run into acquaintances from days past which is fun. Or not, depending on the nature of the acquaintance-ship. Jeebus Boulder is small.
(4)
Pb N L L.

Great atmosphere. Just wished my carne asada made me a full beast.
(4)
Royah M.

After reading my review, the manager got in touch with me to request I give their cocktails another try. Hats off to a business that listens to its customers and tries to make things right.
(5)
Dominique R.

Love the party atmosphere, love the food. This is right up my alley for a fun night out....neat food that's delicious and worth talking about. Love it.
(4)
Erika S.

I was visiting Boulder with my mom and after a long hike we were looking for a bite to eat and a drink. We saw centro after walking around and it looked busy so we got a table. To our pleasant surprise it was happy hour so they had a la carte dishes for $2!! We had a habanero pork taco, shrimp taco and rock shrimp and yam fritter. It was all sooo good! The service was awesome and for 5 a la carte dishes and 2 cocktails with tax it was $17! Cant beat that! Highly recommended
(5)
Penelope W.

It has taken me time to realize that this restaurant is no longer Rhumba, but now I see. . . The decor is most fabulous - of course, the location, outdoor patio and center-aisle bar are not hard to work with. But, there was something; the chair was not on level-ground, so had to pick another chair : ( ; then there was our waitress. . . That is all I will say [for I also suffer with affliction, being a horrid waitress]; besides this, the f o o d s are truly delightful. spinach, mushroom, bean tacos! oh my. and the grapefruit margs were not half bad themselves. in fact, crystallized sugar beads dot the rim! Must say, the drinks were very well-executed. Beautiful - Mr. Bartender! . . . Not a lot of people in our age box tho, so. . . So, we paid and left. The green salsa is fantastic!
(4)
Jason T.

I really enjoy Centro. Their soups are perfect for a chilled winter day and the vibe is perfect. Eaten lunch there many times since they opened as Centro. I also love eating dinner on their huge patio. It's a great dining space and the food is really good and the service attentive.
(3)
Susie H.

I would have given this restaurant 4 stars but I felt the kitchen ran slow. The bartender was fast getting drink to you and very nice. We shared an avocado salsa and a very good tasting salad... It was suppose to serve one person but was huge.... So glad we shared. The lemonade with peppers is very spicy... Nice breeze sitting at the bar as it is all open air.
(3)
Jennifer L.

Happy Hour -- not so happy. Dropping cash at restaurants is no problem and dining out is inherent to my profession as a public relations professional. However, our waitress could have done a better job about letting us know Happy Hour was about to end instead her response makes me wish to never return. Centro - rethink how you treat your customers.
(2)
Delphine F.

I wish I could review the food here, but I didn't make it past the bar list. And after two caipirihas, the appetizer menu was as far as my eye could get too. Those were fantastic caipirinhas - just the right mix of lime and cachaca, sweet but not too sweet. Strong, but not tasting quite as strong as they must have been... This place apparently prides itself on the margaritas, and, judging from the sip I tried, they certainly were good, but anyone can do a margarita - the caipirinha takes a little more skill... Appetizers were good and reasonably priced - dinner entrees were a little too upscale for us that evening, but certainly looked delicious as they went by ($15-20 range - I had to give this place 4 stars as the appetizers were good and entrees looked good, but since I didn't try them, I wouldn't want to up anyone's expectations too high...). The atmosphere friendly, the waitstaff entertaining (though our waiter did have a snake-skin belt that looked more snake than belt - slightly creepy, but cool. but creepy). The patio was gorgeous, for a Colorado summer evening. The lamps, bar and table settings were trendy in a hip nuevo Latino way. It would be a great place to impress a date. I would happily go again. If someone took me. (she types wistfully).
(4)
Lara I.

I'm in love with the food in this glorious jewel. If I weren't already involved, I'd flirt with Centro shamelessly. I went downtown one Wednesday for no other reason than a strong urge to wrap my lips around the guac and a mojito, only to find it closed (Gasp!) and I ended up at the Med, you know, sort of like a really satisfying rebound relationship. I hope Centro opens for weekday lunch again.
(5)
Stefanie W.

I have to say I usually chose Tahona over Centro, mainly because Centro's Happy Hour ends at 5.30 already and I simply prefer the taco choice across the street. However, the food is very good and the drinks are tasty. Had a couple of bad experiences with the service, but I think in general I'd say the service is good. I really like their date night special with Paella for 2. It's a great deal and very tasty!
(4)
Charlie Bolognese Z.

Strange place. The "avocado salsa" is not, as you might think, guacamole. It's a small plate of avocado chunks. We improved ours immensely by mashing it and adding salt. The "hush puppies" were not really hush puppies, but more like donuts. The quality of the ingredients in the entrees wasn't the best. The chilaquiles advertise kale, but come with about a tablespoon of it. Of the three of us, none of us were happy with our entrees. The drinks were good though.
(2)
James Bruce B.

We came for lunch on a whim while visiting Boulder and were very pleasantly surprised by the service and the food. The food was amazing! To be fair, this is not authentic mexican dining, but that aint the point. The creations are thoroughly inspired by mexican cuisine and are indeed mouth-watering. The garlic shrimp soft tacos with lemon aioli were rock and roll! Inspired also were the house cocktails - I recommend the Oscar. I have have never savoured agave nectar in such style. The decor was excellent too - unpretentious but elegant and reminscant of modern mexican culture. Im coming back!
(5)
Matt S.

I have never tasted chicken enchilada's as amazing as the ones at Centro. The food is an amazing mix of exotic flavors, and traditional dishes. A wonderful place for dinner with a friend or date, I am excited to return with a small group.
(4)
Andrew H.

The worst drinks in Boulder. Hands down. You pay a pretty penny for the watered down creation as well. I've had a few good lunches here, but overall every experience has been ruined by the staff or the drinks.
(1)
Sarah V.

AVOCADO SALSA & CHIPS. Nice big chunks of avocados and lots of flavor. mmmmm. My friend and I went early and sat on the outdoor patio with this app and fresh margaritas for a couple of hours before moving on to the main dish. For dinner I had the habanero rotisserie pork tacos - also quite palatable if you're a carnivore like me. The ambiance here is really vibrant - this place was kicking on a Friday night! Loved it!
(5)
Cynthia S.

Best brunch happy hour I've experienced anywhere! This place is spot-on with all things made from scratch, and as authentic and clean as central Mexican fare could be. The coconut bananas are a "must", and the fried eggs are the bomb! Each priced at a meager $2 per item! But those are just two picks from the $2 selections on the menu. Get there early, as the HH starts when door's open at 9:30am, and ends at 11:30, and outdoor seating goes fast when weather's great!
(5)
Jen C.

the torta cubana!! very very tasty though i think i can only eat it once a month. nothing beats a sandwich with a friend egg in it :) aside from that though, i wasn't a huge fan of any of the other dishes. it's a fun place for happy hour though!
(3)
J S.

I wish half stars were an option cause I would throw a half in there w/the three, but I don't think they are quite a four. Went here recently and had a good time but it was definitely due to the company and not so much the food. We sat on the patio and like another reviewer mentioned, swatting bugs during a meal is a bummer, how about a candle people! My friend ordered the lamb taquitos which were delish! I got the chicken and clams and the chicken was dry and I was unimpressed w/their homemade chorizo, boulder sausage brand chorizo from the store is better. It also had masa dumplings and they seemed, well, old. The broth was flavorful but I didn't order that for the broth ya know? Service was fine, not bad, not awesome. Would I go back? Maybe for lunch.
(3)
Ryan F.

The Brunch at Centro is amazing. I have ordered the carribean hash? 2x now. It has a really nice rising spice tempo, in other words it doesn't seem hot at first, and by the time you are getting close to finishing, its is quite spicy. This dish incorporates shrimp, eggs, poblanos, sweet potatoes, red peppers, and fried bananas with some very interesting spices to form a complex medley of flavors that are definitely out of the ordinary for breakfast, but very satisfying. The coconut fried bananas with vanilla pudding sauce are to die for too. My new favorite breakfast spot in Boulder; based on the strength of these two dishes alone.
(4)
Rick K.

Brunch is not to be missed. The selection is not big, but it is pretty diverse. The Bloody Mary is absolutely excellent and a must try. I have made a follow up reservation for their Wednesday Date Night Paella event. Every Wednesday paella for two and a bottle of wine for $30.00. Too good to not try it out.
(5)
Jennifer S.

I found the food decent, but everything was a little "too sweet". No regular iced tea.... just "sweet tea". The salsa sampler was OK. The chips and avocado were really good! My pork tacos were OK, but they came with a huge thing of sour cream and no salsa at all? I had to steal some salsa from the chips. Also, the service was not good at all. We had reservations and when we got there no one was at the hostess area and we waited for several minutes to get attention. The waitress was slow, took forever to refill our water when the bottles on the table were empty, and the food service was delayed as well. Overall.... I wouldn't go back or recommend.
(2)
David C.

Centro has some interesting dishes and is definitely worth a try. Some meals are right on and some a bit of a miss but you have to love their effort to create something different. If you can enjoy the outside patio. Service can be a bit slow as it is pretty popular.
(3)
Sarah S.

Lunch at Centro is my first stop when I return to Boulder. I order a marg and the salsa sampler with chips for starters, and usually attempt to tackle the burrito, garlic grilled shrimp tacos, or- most recently- the grilled chicken enchiladas which I will definitely order again. The ingredients are fresh, the plate was really pretty, our server was really sweet, and the grapefruit marg was delish.
(4)
Jen A.

Best happy hour specials: $2 tacos, $2 chips and salsa and $1.50 rum and cokes. You can't go wrong.
(4)
Alexandra S.

Best Happy Hour in town. Patio is amazing in the summer. Brunch is to die for.
(4)
Josh W.

Great masa cakes
(4)
Shoshana D.

Went here for brunch and enjoyed the experience. The entrees themselves were just okay, but some of the more unique sides/beverages made it a place worth revisiting. I loved the apricot habenero hot salsa, and also enjoyed the cucumber mint limeade. The best thing we had by far though was the grilled watermelon. It was grilled just long enough to get the grill marks, then sprinkled with salt, drizzled with honey and topped with thinly sliced serrano peppers. Amazingly tasty... who would have thought! And at $4, well worth it. Nice outdoor seating and bar area. This combined with The Kitchen could make a good high-end bar crawl.
(4)
Barbara F.

My favorite mojito in Boulder. The pisco diablo drink is another favorite, though the pisco sour is too far from the traditional preparation for my tastes. The "avocado salsa" (don't call it guacamole, or your server may scold you) is fantastic, and I adore the garlicky shrimp. Service ranges from indifferent to haughty to sorta-nice.
(4)
E H.

We Love this place. Beautiful patio. Great service. Amazing food. We drive from Denver just to go here. Happy hour for breakfast-so good!
(5)
Jessica W.

Continuing the restaurants-as-clothing-designers scheme...if the Kitchen is J.Crew, then Centro is more like Forever 21: a bit more brash, louder, and not afraid to flirt with tacky. Of course, it could just be that we're only there on all-day happy hour Mondays when the place can be wall-to-wall packed with a younger crowd. We head down to Centro on Mondays when we want to enjoy a night out that doesn't give us a credit card hangover. The happy hour drinks (cheap beer and margs) are decent, and the little dishes are excellent across the board (though we've dropped the rice and beans from our lineup--it didn't measure up.) If you can score a place on the patio, you're set for energetic vibes and tasty food.
(4)
Kurt S.

Great food especially the burrito. The mojito and pisco sour were not good, but other drinks were not good.
(4)
William F.

Brunch at Centro is AMAZING. Served both Saturday and Sunday. Outdoor patio. Great creative selection. Good service.
(4)
Kati A.

I have been to Centro multiple times (pretty much always for their AWESOME all day happy hour on Mondays!) but every time it has been just amazing. Today we went again with some friends and all four of us agreed that one of their dishes was honestly one of, if not the THE best dish we have ever eaten. The dish was a special; basically a pulled chicken slider with sautÃ©ed mushrooms on a biscuit... but my description does it no justice. There were so many other unique ingredients in it, and all of the flavors were so distinct and worked so well together. I can hands down say it was one of the best dishes I have ever tried in my life. I also had their Wahoo Adobado Salad which was amazing! The candied Yams tied in so well with the sweetness of the grilled pineapple, and then the lightness of the fish balanced it all out extremely well. On top of that, if you have never tried their Manchengo - Chimichurri Verde Fries, you are seriously missing out. I don't know where you will find better fries! Plus our servers have always been laid back and helpful. The vibe and feel at Centro is great and the food is always so exciting and different. I would highly recommend this restaurant to anyone. love it!
(5)
Jen M.

This is a real hee-haw...I ordered the blackened mahi mahi salad and no shit, the piece of mahi was barely 2" wide by 2" long. When the server first put the plate in front of me I mistook the piece of fish for a crouton. Nope. It was a measly piece of mahi mahi. I called the server back over and said, "Is this the normal portion size for the mahi?" She said, "Our chef serves a 2oz. portion." I said, "That's ridiculous." Keep in mind, a normal restaurant will give you a 6oz. piece of fish. I asked her for another piece. Pretty soon the manager came over, eyeballed the piece of mahi, and said it was on the small side. You think? I wish I would have taken a picture of it--it was such a joke. My boyfriend ordered the chicken enchiladas and they barely came out warm. Portions for all other menu items are generous but not for the mahi mahi salad. And for $12 I would expect a larger portion of mahi!
(2)
Sarah S.

I could've done without constantly having to shoo flies away from my food. I don't know if it was because they had the door opened or what, but I felt like I was eating in a barn. The atmosphere in general was great, however. We got there a little early before a big rush of "hipsters", and while it got a little busy farther into the evening, the end of happy hour (dollar rum and cokes and 2 dollar tacos!) was very enjoyable. My flank steak was really good. The flavors were bold and the meat just fell apart. My biggest complaint? It was Swimming in sauce. It was almost like an oily soup--totally drenched the bed of greens the steak was on. If I go there again, I'd ask if they could either use no sauce, or a 1/4 of what they usually put on the plate. I'd definately go there again though. The guacamole is extra chunky-huge pieces of avacado really set off how fresh it is. Never browning or sloppy. It's clearly made to order. As it should be.
(3)
Todd P.

Very disappointing. As a fan of the old Rhumba, I had not returned since the change to Centro, and was expecting a great meal based on other reviews I had seen. The best part about Centro was the very polite and helpful hostess; the rest of the meal would have been forgettable but for how poor our experience was. We found seats at the outside bar while waiting for our table; despite 3 bartenders at work and an average size crowd at best, not one even acknowledged our presence for 10 minutes. The Pisco Sour I finally received was good, the Mojito was just ok and somewhat over-rated. This turned out to be the highlight of our meal. Once seated we waited....and waited...for service. Our server (to remain nameless for her sake) was brief, not helpful, and ready to move on even before each stop to our table. Totally unengaged. My Wife had the Garlicky Shrimp Tacos, which had very little substance but for lots of cabbage and a sour taste to them. My Carne Asada was ok. Cooked to my liking, but a little stringy and tough to cut. The wait times for our server continued throughout the meal and through payment. I had to track her down myself, and even then had to ask for help from the very helpful guy bussing tables in order to pay my bill. I had hoped for much better from Centro, and left extremely disappointed. I will not be returning; there are so many great restaurants in Boulder, I would recommend you explore them before considering Centro.
(1)
Worthy M.

One of my favorite places on Pearl. $2 Tecate cans and very good avocado salsa and enchiladas. Im a huge fan. Check it out.
(4)
Lisa R.

Great food, especially for the price. I also like the drinks although I think they were better back when the restaurant was called "Rhumba".
(4)
Laura L.

Delicious! But depending on what you order, you may or may not leave with your tastebuds intact. We were in the mood to sample, so started with the chunky guacamole and chips - like sister restaurant Lola in Denver, they do a fantastic job with this, it's super chunky and tasty and I probably could have eaten just this all night long; we also tried the grilled watermelon (crunchy & sweet), pork tacos (incredibly spicy - our waiter decided to enlighten us 15 minutes later that drinking water only makes it worse), crab empanada with avo salsa verde (hot as hades), and dipped and smothered corn on the cob (slightly fancier sounding on the menu than reality, but it tasted real good.) Mojitos were light and refreshing, just like the rainstorm that forced us inside to the community table where we could watch the hustle & bustle and spy on people's plates without being too obvious. Oh, treat yourself to the churros with chocolate and caramel - double dip and soothe your tastebuds a bit.
(4)
Chris M.

Great food and moderately priced. Brunch special for drinks is only from 9:30-11:30 am. It should be extended especially being that mimosas start at $5.
(3)
Ken B.

I showed up on time for my 7pm reservation and was promptly seated. It was a Monday night and the place was full. I thought the menu would be a bit more extensive, but it is limited to pretty much finger foods. There are a few larger entrees. I had a selection of their tacos and a empanada. All were delicious. The chorizo was one of my favorites which is unusual for me. Chorizo is usually too salty for me, but this was very good.
(4)
Valery L.

I've visited this location multiple times, and WOW do we love their margaritas & salsas. My fiance pretty much HAS to come here if we are anywhere near Boulder. The first time we came they had plenty of vegetarian items on their happy hour menu, but a few weeks ago there were none. A little disappointed, but will definitely still keep coming. Their patio is great!
(3)
Inayah V.

I have to admit I was really worried when I walked in and saw the live band. I know some people love it, I just think live bands in restaurants are way too loud, to the point of making conversation and any enjoyment of the food or experience impossible. Luckily, the hostess sat us on the patio, around the bar from the stage. It was slightly rainy outside, so the the sides of the patio were covered and the heat was on full blast. I was so grateful that our server immediately turned it down, seeming relieved herself that we requested it. I couldn't help but think how nice this patio could be were it not enclosed, then again I realize I'm somewhat unique in my love of overcast weather. Now, on to the food. I ordered a glass of pinot grigio, while my friends ordered mojitos. I didn't try their drinks, but they said the mojitos were way too sweet. We had the chips, salsa, and avocado salsa. I highly recommend the avocado salsa (kind of like a guacamole cruda if you will) the salsa was too mild. I also ordered the ahi tostada as an entree. It was delicious! My husband tells me the tacos are awesome as well. i absolutely love Boulder, and am super excited to ad Centro to our list favorites.
(4)
Brandon Y.

Eh, I really wanted to like Centro, but I just didn't. I work on Pearl and walk by it all the time, and the location is convenient, and the outdoor seating is great. But the food was just disappointing... We started with the "Queso" Fundido, which I was excited to see as a menu item. But what they brought was really just some melted cheese, no chorizo, pumpkin seeds in the cheese, and almost pieces of pita to dip it in. Queso Fundido, while can be different from place to place, is typically served in a baking-safe dish or platter and is melted in a fried or baked manner, served with corn tortillas, and has chorizo in it. The cheese they brought wasn't bad, but it wasn't Queso Fundido. I have a hard time resisting foods served in giant taco shells, so I went with the taco salad. Waaaay too overseasoned on the bowl, the salad itself was salty, too much dressing removed any crispness from the lettuce (which much seemed wilted and bad), and the carnitas was a bit overcooked and dry. So yeah. I don't think I'll go back. Maybe it was just an off day, but it wasn't good at all. I have pretty high standards for Mexican food, as my wife's first language is Spanish and I'm used to much more authentic foods, so that doesn't help. But the minute they brought out a thing of queso and pita instead of Fundido, I was pretty much checked out.
(2)
Kevin S.

Our first stop in Boulder with our three boys 15, 13 and 10. We arrived around 5 without reservations and we were seated immediately and the server was very informative and friendly. It was still happy hour so the band was playing loudly, the patio was busy and the bar was hopping. We were seated in the back of the restaurant which was fine. Drinks were great--the kids loved the limonatas and strawberry lemonade and I went with the mojito which was well made and a nice fresh mint sprig on top. The food was outstanding! They were very attentive to my wife who doesn't eat meat (even mentioning that the beans in the nachos used lard so they would replace them with black vegetarian beans). Speaking of the nachos, probably top 3 nachos ever (my wife said best ever)! The black beans and pickled red onion, delicious queso, along with the superior chips made these worth coming to eat here alone. I think we could have licked the plate if given the chance. My wife had the vegetarian burrito which was huge and she loved it (mole and verde sauce came on it), I had the summer vegetable enchiladas with chicken and the kids all had tacos. My 10 year old said the steak was "spicy" but the older kids didn't mind at all. The food was nicely presented, service was great and attentive but the food really took the cake. A great, fun Boulder stop for the family! 5 stars all the way!
(5)
Darren C.

I got to hit up almost every Mexican restaurant in Boulder while I was in town for about a week and this place definitely stands out as the best. For starters, the vibe, layout and dÃ©cor of the space is open, casual and cool. The service was always very friendly (although extremely frustratingly slow almost every time at the bar) and the food was overall pretty good. Of all that I ordered, the Mexican Street Corn and the Spicy Eggplant Taco were the best. The Veggie Enchiladas were good, but I didn't like the fact that the enchiladas were served atop the rice and beans. The rice and beans were actually great, but when mixed with the enchiladas, it just turns into some kind of casserole. Either way, it was okay, but the enchiladas didn't seem to have enough flavor or substance to stand on their own. I also had the Pork Green Chile, which was decent as well, though it did seem a little too watery and not quite spicy enough for a green chile. The biggest item I'm a fan of at Centro though, was their Sophia Bonita Margarita. It's a blackberry & vanilla infused tequila with limejuice, agave syrup and a jalapeno slice. The one awesome bartender (blonde girl) suggested I have it made a little spicier by adding some jalapeno infused tequila, which really made the marg much, much better. Because of that, I ended up having several and ended up meeting the cute girls sitting next to me drinking the same exact thing. Ironically, the super cute one was also named Sophia and I suddenly found myself between a pair of really Bonita Sophia's. Lucky man indeed, and long story short, I've met up with her a couple times since and am meeting her again tomorrow night. This place is cool, with good vibes, and decent food. It deserves 4 and a half stars and if I end up dating Sophia a few more times, I'll come back and readjust my rating to 5 stars for the hook up.
(4)
trolley S.

Love the happy hour here. For a party of 3 we can usually walk out under $50 (with drinks for 2 bc the 3rd person is 6 yrs old!) feeling beyond stuffed. And even leftovers too! Basic gringo mexican food with nice ingredients. Love the carnitas with a pineapple salsa. 5 out of 6 times, you'll have really great service. Then on that 6th try, you'll just get a server that is just out to lunch with no concept of time or service. But for the most part, it'll be just fine.
(4)
Alanna M.

I like coming here for happy hour. The menu is great and the drinks are well-priced. $3 for drafts and $5 for their margarita. The vegetarian nachos are my favorite item during happy hour and enough for 2 people. The chicken enchilada is good but a bit spicy for my taste. All the tacos are good. Their hot toddy is my favorite thing on a cold snowy day. It's a definite thing to order!
(4)
Caitlin F.

Centro is the place. Margaritas in yo face. Nachos are legit Salsa is a hit. Service is so quick. Tacos, take your pick. Patio's pretty sweet. An awesome place to meet.
(4)
Val En Tina B.

Went to dinner here during happy hour. Margaritas were OK for $5 but the chicken tacos (happy hour special) were absolutely disgusting. The chicken was chewy and the three of us who got them could not eat them. The chips and salsa quickly became dinner.
(3)
Isaac S.

This place is okay for drinks. Their bottled Mexican beer selection is good, and the margaritas are standard. However, the food was disappointing. Only the enchiladas I had were okay for a typical Boulder-Mex style. The salsa is TERRIBLE. It tastes like it came from a jar at Pasta Jay's across the street. There is no noticeable spice at all. I guess my aunt from middle-Pennsylvania would like it, but she thinks yellow mustard is too spicy. The ceviche is something you might expect from Bob's Mexican place in Laramie Wyoming rather than a foodie town like Boulder. In fact: don't get the ceviche unless you come from Laramie, in which case you may actually like it. It was mostly liquid, and the portion was not generous. Pros: good location and nice patio Cons: slow service on Saturday night, food didn't meet expectations.
(2)
Andrea K.

What a fantastic happy hour! Hubs and I have been here a couple times whilst exploring Boulder and it is one of our favorites. The mojitos are rockin'. If you are deciding between the marg and the mojito during hh, I'd go with the mojito. One of the best I've ever had. The nachos are a STEAL at happy hour. We got them with green chile and I only wish there had been more of that because it was go-oo-od. I also highly recommend the avocado salsa. At first I thought it sounded kind of lame- I mean, $6 for salsa? But it's fantastic and worth it. The goat cheese queso was a bit of a let down. It sounds so much better on paper. The pesto was delicious but practically non-existent and there were just two tiny slices of the smoked jalapenos. Minus those items, the queso itself was pretty bland. But I can forgive one miss at such an awesome happy hour spot. Sit on the patio and relax!
(4)
Justin S.

Great place to grab brunch on pearl. Very accommodating when it started to rain outside, moving us inside. The avocado salsa was awesome and the tortilla chips were very light and crispy, some of the best I have had. I enjoyed everything I got to try: fried bananas, huevos rancheros, breakfast burrito, and shrimp salad. I would definitely come back to this place again.
(5)
Steph G.

Such a fun place to have dinner! I've been here for drinks once but never ate a meal here. Colorful, energetic, and upbeat is the vibe here. Come hungry and ready for a good night out. The food is tasty and good value for the price. I got "el burro" con chorizo and shrimp. It was so FILLING. It could have been 2-3 meals for me, honestly. And it was only $15. Delish. The margarita was actually a bit disappointing. I ordered that first thinking it would be awesome, but the mojito was actually much better (drink 2). Both had a good kicking' also, so don't worry you get your money's worth in alcohol. :) And if you're like me, more than your fill for the night! Our server was great and friendly. There were a couple times when we asked for things and there seemed to be a lag, but the server was kind enough to update us on why or what was taking so long. All in all, solid on food, service, and ambience!
(4)
Emily S.

I think their food and drinks are very good - love the fried avocado and eggplant tacos. This is our go to place when we have visitors who want to get Mexican food.
(5)
Braxton T.

What a great place!! Great food, drinks, service and we lucked on to the happy hour!! What a deal great energy and atmosphere!!
(5)
Steve V.

This place is a light and bright bar that was fairly crowded the night I was there. The best part is, because there is plenty of space, you aren't constantly bumping into people. This is also a restaurant and since I was here well after dining hours, the space was utilized in that capacity. The line for drinks at the bar was minimal as they keep things running smoothly. The bouncer is friendly and not as "meat-headish" as other places in town. I would recommend this place for large groups as the vibe is cool, and there is space for all. THIS REVIEW IS NOT FOR THE FOOD HERE, JUST DRINKS!!!
(4)
Stephanie S.

If I could give no stars, I would. So first, let's talk about the food it's self. The food was exceptionally good. I had the Carnitas Benny which was wonderful. However, the manager, who is a heavier set woman, came to our table and checked our ID's. After noticing that we were from out of town, (we're from Florida), she asked which part. When my partner answered her, the manager's response was "oh, you live in the ghetto". I WAS IN SHOCK. I could not believe those words had come out of her mouth. Thanks to this incredibly rude woman, I will never come back to this place.
(1)
Liz S.

My oh my, how Centro as changed over the years - for the better! Centro is a Boulder hotspot, what with their amazing happy hour and outdoor patio overlook Pearl Street but just a few years ago it was just that - a place you went to drink, not eat. After visiting last night, I was very pleasantly surprised at the quality of everything. We started off with the avocado salsa sampler, one had lump crab nestled on top, one guacamole had goat cheese and chipotle peppers mixed in and one was just your traditional guacamole. DELICIOUS! Wow! How have more restaurants not thought to do this? The crab avocado salsa was by far my favorite, packed with flavor but the creaminess from crab made it absolutely incredible. We also had the mixed pepper and acorn squash salad which is hardly a salad but a whole lot of yummyness. Roasted squash slices topped with spicy peppers from shishito to chipotle, this is definitely an interesting take but I would consider it more of an appetizer than a salad. For my main I got the street tacos and while they were pretty to look at that didn't translate to taste. The fish was dry and way way over-fried, the garlic shrimp was tasteless and the mushroom was just fine. After such a strong start to the meal, I was disappointed in the tacos. After eyeing the dishes that sat at tables around me, I would have gone with the El Burro or even the butternut squash soup had I known. Now, the cocktails were absolutely impeccable. Each one was fabulous and it was very clear that whoever running the bar program knows that they are doing. I had the seasonal daiquiri and I can't remember if I have ever ordered a daiquiri before in my life but boy, was I glad I did. All in all, the experience was made by the cocktails and the extremely friendly staff. I will definitely go back and while it has moved up in my mind as just a happy hour spot, I still need to be sold on the entree game.
(4)
Jason O.

Highly recommended! It's got a lively atmosphere, but it's not too loud for conversation. The patio is great, the space heater was a little overpowering but the server took care of that right away. We got chips and salsa, along with an order of avocado salsa. The avocado salsa is far superior to whatever their "bottomless" salsa is, so go with that. I ordered a grilled steak taco and a chorizo taco (they're a little bigger than street tacos, so 2 or 3 is about right). Both of them were incredible! Hope to go back next time I'm in Boulder.
(4)
Cristina C.

Centro is on my Usual Suspects list (no, that does not mean that Keyser Soze will be breaking bread with me), but instead means that it is a total no-brainer for brunch/lunch or dinner and requires no special occasion, reason or thought. It's fresh, good and consistent and relies on producing dishes with real flavor...not faked with gobs of butter and fat. I laugh out loud as I segue from that last statement into mac and cheese...but if you had kids in tow, the kids Mac n Cheese is a HUGE hit - but you have to know to ask as they just recently took it off the menu. Don't feel guilty as you sneak a bite or two off their plates. My favs are their street tacos - the mushroom one is super yummy - their chicken enchiladas and their pazole. The grilled, caramelized grapefruit is very nice (Borat agrees). The outdoor-ish patio is fabulous and the location at the Top of Pearl (ironically acronyms to TOP) is ideal. Great prices.
(4)

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Address : 950 Pearl St
Boulder, CO, 80302
Phone (303) 442-7771
Website https://www.centrolatinkitchen.com/
Click To Get Directions

Opening Hours

Mon :4:00 pm - 10:00pm

Specialities

Takes Reservations : Yes
Delivery : No
Take-out : Yes
Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Good For : Dinner
Parking : Garage, Street
Bike Parking : Yes
Wheelchair Accessible : Yes
Good for Kids : No
Good for Groups : Yes
Attire : Casual
Ambience : Trendy
Noise Level : Average
Alcohol : Full Bar
Outdoor Seating : Yes
Wi-Fi : Free
Has TV : No
Waiter Service : Yes
Caters : Yes

Claim Restaurant

Mexican Cuisine

If you enjoy Taco Tuesday, then you have officially fallen in love with the Mexican Food. The main grain of Mexican cuisine is maize. Also known as corn, maize is grown for the past 9000 years after the crop was discovered by the people in Mayan civilization. Mexican empire flourished when they started growing beans, tomatoes, chili pepper, sweet potato and cactus. Till this date these ingredients are used in cooking authentic Mexican dishes and drinks.

Great use of spices, fresh chili pepper dishes like fajitas, tortilla chips, corn chips, salsa, chimichangas, burritos, nachos and quesadillas are invented in America. But when you are looking for authentic Mexican food then you must find a restaurant in the city that serves Rajas con Queso, Garbanzo in a Guajillo Chile Sauce, Pork Filled Chiles Rellenos, Chiles en Nogada, Molcajete Salsa, Pico de Gallo and Frijoles de la Olla. An eye-opening fact – Mexican don't like their food hot. They use fresh chili and other spices to create a flavor that lingers in your mouth.

Mexican food is great for those who are Gluten Intolerant as they use Corn instead of wheat in most of their dishes. Also, you can easily find many beans based Mexican dishes. Another dish which didn't get similar glory as tacos or nachos is the Mexican hot chocolate. If you love something hot on a chilly day, then go for Mexican Hot Chocolate. On merry days, you can enjoy the authentic Mexican Drinks like Tequila, Mezcal, Tecuí, Sotol, Bacanora, Charanda, Posh O Pox, Puebla and Pulque. Mexican Cuisine is for people who enjoy strong drinks and hearty meals.

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Centro Latin Kitchen

950 Pearl St, Boulder, CO, 80302

Centro Latin Kitchen Menu

Salads

Soup

Share

Tacos - Perrones

Tacos - Baja Style

Huevos Rancheros

Tortas

Sides

Nachos

Healthy Meal suggestions for Centro Latin Kitchen

Salads

Soup

Share

Tacos - Perrones

Tacos - Baja Style

Huevos Rancheros

Tortas

Sides

Nachos

William C.

Jason L.

Terry B.

Kirsten R.

Zulay V.

Nicole W.

Selah D.

Paul P.

Bill B.

Jennifer M.

Lauren T.

Michael S.

Kevin D.

Renee B.

Sarah P.

Jonathan M.

shelly p.

L J.

David S.

Hannah E.

Peter C.

Griffin T.

Robin C.

julie n.

Chris B.

Max R.

R J.

Andy S.

Penni R.

Veggie Q.

Holly G.

Kate G.

Lisa O.

Cynthia N.

J. T.

Michele S.

Jenna A.

Tara S.

Kendra L.

Hank H.

Lars W.

Jake B.

Doug R.

Abby S.

Brittany C.

Lesley H.

Laurie G.

Alex N.

Dulcie F.

Elaine S.

Lauren C.

Bryant N.

Maria A.

Caroline S.

Ken K.

Nathan B.

Greg S.