Simply delicious food. If you are going with "Mexican Restaurant" in your mind, you have the wrong approach. This is Latin American inspired food, but with its own original twist. I had the vegetarian tacos (new item on the menu) and I was pleasantly surprised by the rich flavors. The chips and the variety of salsas are also great and worth getting it (they are not free, and you should be ok with paying a few bucks to get them) We had street corn. My wife had two different margaritas and she really enjoyed the flavors. We loved it. The price was reasonable. We'll be back. P.S. please add some deserts to the menu! Thanks. read more

The husband and I stopped in here for a late lunch, and I gotta say, MAN was that some good food! Aside from needing a little salt, the guac and the shrimp ceviche appetizers were full of flavor. I even enjoyed the tortilla chips, and I'm not normally a big chip person. The husband got the poblano pepper entree, with chicken added, and it was everything he hoped for -- cheesey, gooey, and delicious. I had the gulf fish (grouper, I'm guessing) Veracruz, which was amazing. The fish was wonderfully flaky, the bed of rice with capers, olives, blistered tomatoes, and grilled asparagus, and whatever broth or sauce was on the plate...YUM YUM YUM. So good, and totally worth the $21 price tag. We were one of about two tables in the restaurant, so I was a little surprised that the hostess seated us right next to the wait station (we just relocated to the next table). I also would have loved to be able to see the open kitchen, instead of being separated by a wall. The space is really gorgeous, but quite cold -- I'm sure the kitchen staff likes it that way, but it was kind of chilly as a customer. Our server was friendly but not effusive, and when we asked for to-go containers, he brought out exactly the right kinds (including a small one for the guac), a box with extra chips to take home, and a bag for everything. Our leftovers were just as good the next day too, making a $58 lunch (granted, we got apps) a little more justifiable. So next time I'm in the mood for some Mexican/Latin-inspired food, I will totally be back here. I'm still thinking about how delicious it was! read more

Fantastic service and delicious food! The drinks are really good too. It's not your ordinary Mexican spot - I would highly recommend.

I have been there now twice - once for lunch and once for dinner. Great atmosphere, and great food! Of what I got, I would highly recommend the brisket and grits, the fundito, and the guacamole. The San Luis looks fabulous - that will be my next choice. The owner, Craig, seems to truly strive for 100% customer satisfaction (just as with Avenue Pub). He has already made some changes since opening, and is very receptive to what customers like and/or don't like. I will definitely be going back! read more

Great place in Tuscaloosa for Mexican food. Being from Texas I was skeptical, but Central Mesa did not disappoint at all. The chorizo tacos were out of this world. Also try the Queso and chips. Outstanding. Will visit again next time I am in the area. read more

Central Mesa - Chorizo Tacos - American Near Me - Tuscaloosa, Alabama

I had found Central Mesa via YELP not too long ago and finally got a chance to try it for the first time. Our waiter Chris T. was very helpful and friendly. The Street corn and their salsa was very tasty and my San Luis chicken dish was absolutely amazing. It had a lot of flavors going on and the chicken was cooked to perfection. I can wait to return and tell my friends about this new restaurant in T-town. It's a great place to take someone for a date with a great meal and drinks. read more

Central Mesa - The San Luis chicken dish - American Near Me - Tuscaloosa, Alabama

Not a bad addition to Tuscaloosa's restaurant scene...certainly more enjoyable than the previous (Epiphany). I recommend trying a bit of everything to find what they're best at. Went here with a friend and did just that...definitely did not regret it. Love the layout...reminds me a little of El Bario. I don't go off-site for lunch much, but I'll keep this place in mind for when I do. read more

Central Mesa - ceviche, brisket tacos, cuban - American Near Me - Tuscaloosa, Alabama

FINALLY a place in Tuscaloosa that serves upscale Mexican/Latin American food! Being from Texas, Mexican/Latin American food in this town is far from even being "good." It's honestly horrible. So I'm super happy about this place- food is delicious, tastes fresh and has a cool atmosphere with a great house margarita. My only request is that more chips are served with the ceviche and guacamole!! read more

If you're looking for a great food, great drinks, and a great atmosphere, look no further. We had a party of ten and went through the all the tacos 3x!! I can't even say we were hungry on the 3rd round, but everyone wanted to try their favorite, one more time. My favorite was the fish... I'll certainly be back to try other dishes, that I'm sure won't disappoint. You can tell that all the ingredients are fresh, and the dishes are made with care. Remember it's more Latin inspired than a traditional Mexican menu. After dinner we sat at the awesome, extremely long for the space bar, and had some freshly made margaritas. Look no further for a great lunch/dinner/cocktail hour. read more

Great food! I had the Fundito and Brisket and Grits. Amazing! My gf had the Brisket tacos. Everything was great and the service was friendly and fast. I can't wait to go back to try the Chorizo tacos! read more

Central Mesa - American Near Me - Tuscaloosa, Alabama

Our waiter was nice, which is why I'm giving two stars. The food pretty much was flavorless. Pork belly tacos 3 out of 10. Not much to choose from on the menu and you have to pay extra for chips and salsa. read more

Best new restaurant in Tuscaloosa! Highly recommend. Central Mesa fills in the gap of high end Mexican/Latin American food that this town has desperately needed. Put this one one your "must try" lists for sure! I highly recommend the spicy chicken tostadas. They also offer many gluten free dishes! read more

Central Mesa - Spicy chicken tostadas were delicious! - American Near Me - Tuscaloosa, Alabama

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We had brunch here and it was amazing. They have a great variety on the menu. Everything is fresh. They even had live music and it was around 11:30. It created a nice atmosphere. Definitely plan on returning. I encourage everyone to give it a try. read more

Gotta love a place that closed during the evening but let's the party keep going while they cleaned up! Totally enjoyed our experience there and everything was wonderful. Try the hot chicken taco and chips and queso. Service was perfect and they also offer a great brunch. read more

I loved the guac and queso appetizers, delicious! The decor is very nice inside and the waitstaff was good and fast! I got the carnitas tacos and the serving size was plenty for one but I didn't enjoy this dish as much as others. We had children in our party and the owner was receptive to creating a children's menu and making sure the kids at our table were happy with their meals. My cocktail was a little watery. read more

The flavors are incredible. Service is fast and very friendly. The floors are a bit slippery so watch your step but the food and the ambience is amazing. Ordered the Cuban and it was great and the flavors were bold and meshed incredibly well. Owned by the same people who own The Avenue Pub this Mexican fusion does more than hold its weight it delivers time and time again. read more

Central Mesa - American Near Me - Tuscaloosa, Alabama

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We came here when it first opened and the menu wasn't that big, and we weren't very impressed. We decided to give it another go, in search of another good lunch spot, and we are SO GLAD. We had the southwest egg rolls as an app and that avocado ranch is to die for! I had the chicken enchiladas and hubby had the Cuban and both had SO much flavor. I couldn't get enough of it. Definitely going to be visiting more often now! Also, we ordered the Tres Leches and the server brought it to us and admitted they hadn't made the caramel sauce yet and didn't charge us for the dessert! It was good without it though. I'm impressed. read more

The food was awesome. I was so happy that they were able to make grilled veggies instead of rice. read more

Central Mesa - Hanging out eating dinner in Tuscaloosa AL at Central Mesa - American Near Me - Tuscaloosa, Alabama

The street corn dip is great with the brisket quesadilla... The service is Speedy Gonzalez style, & the cage dancers are awesome! Just kidding, there are no cage dancers, but that'd be cool! read more

This is one of the restaurants that I always tell my friends to try. I haven't been disappointed in anything I have ordered. The food is unique and it is not your typical Mexican restaurant but in a very good way! Today i got the chicken enchiladas and my girlfriend got the brisket quesadilla, both were amazing. Super cool atmosphere and great service. Definitely would recommend! read more

Central Mesa - Chicken enchilada, salsa, brisket quesadilla - American Near Me - Tuscaloosa, Alabama

Super friendly staff, cool environment/ decor, great prices. Food was on point as well, tasted very fresh. We got two appetizers - street corn and chips and salsa. Would recommend both. For entrees my boyfriend and I split the Nashville Hot Tacos and Chicken Enchiladas. The tacos were SO good but definitely HOT, so if you have a sensitive palate these are not for you. Enchiladas were good as well. With the tacos I'd recommend the fries as a side. They come with a very addicting chipotle ranch dipping sauce. All around great visit! read more

Central Mesa is a great! The staff is friendly, the place has a great atmosphere. The brisket quesadilla and the queso fundito are the best items on the menu! Highly recommended! read more

Fantastic food and even better margs! Central Mesa is my favorite place to bring my visitors- family and friends! Such a cute hole in the wall downtown to have a chill night and eat some fuego Mexican. 10/10 would recommend! read more

Management or ownership has clearly changed. This place was great but is now only okay. The menu changed and even the some of the items that remained on the menu had a recipe change. Prices went more upscale while the menu went slightly downscale. The new aesthetic looks like a bunch of white evangelical sorority girls got margarita drunk and decided to decorate it "Mexican... but cute!" (i.e. hokey and mildly offensive by trying to use culture and religion as cutesy decor). Even the logo got a hokey "Old El Paso" makeover. We were really surprised and sad. All good things must come to an end, I suppose. read more

The best Mexican in Tuscaloosa by far. Always great. Love the beer specials and the palomas. Cant go there without getting street corn. Also the spicy chicken tostadas are great as well as the hot chicken tacos read more

DO NOT GET THE STREET TACOS. You can't advertise "street tacos" for $4/taco if they aren't going to be up to par. They only had ONE tortilla and I barely had cilantro and onion. Those are the literal basics for street tacos. And then my tacos were lukewarm compared to the food that the other people at my table had. Y'all I wish I had taken a picture of them. AND I HAD NO CHEESE, NO SALSA ROJO OR VERDE. Just dry cold meat and cold tortilla. And the tacos were so small. You could tell on my face once I received them I was like "wtf is this". Our service was also not the best. I was just very disappointed and most likely won't be back. And this was my first time at Central Mesa. I felt like my server wasnt honest about the street tacos. I'd rather go to Anjitios on 15th and be done. I will say the breakfast burritos was great! read more

Best brunch I've had in this town. Excellent service and great atmosphere. I ordered the steak and eggs and we also got the chorizo tacos and guacamole appetizer, would recommend all of them. Central mesa is a must try in tuscaloosa for brunch, lunch and dinner. read more

The atmosphere and food were both amazing. I had the queso fundito dip, which is on the thin side, and the cuban sandwich. The bun-to-meat ratio on the cuban was perfect, and the sauce that came with it was great. The atmosphere was wonderful - it felt upscale yet comfortable at the same time. I will definitely be going back. read more

Central Mesa - Amazing cuban and fries.Bun-to-meat ratio is perfect. NOTE: You normally get black bean soup. Make sure to sub fries, if you want them. - American Near Me - Tuscaloosa, Alabama

One of my favorite restaurants in Tuscaloosa. Everything I've had is very good except the rice. The brisket quesadilla is my all time favorite. I'm giving four stars because their rice is awful and they don't allow you to substitute. read more

Tried it, base on the reviews beforehand, your previous patrons wouldn't know a good Mexican restaurant if " té muerde en el c...". As you come in and the hostess takes almost a minute to assign a table with only one table occupied in the establishment that is a preview of things to come. When the waitress suggested appetizers, that's it because chips and a little salsa is considered a full appetizer. The rice bowls entrees looked more like a Mexican version of Pho, the only Mexican thing for sure was the Modelo and XX beers. The only reason that saved the occasion was the waitress that offered some chips and was very much appreciated. read more

They offer a unique southern spin on Mexican cuisine, along with a personable & attentive staff, delicious fresh food & an amazing atmosphere. read more

Only doing this because the new ownership switched up the queso and all of the food seems to have lost the FLAVOR that was so good before. Rice..chicken.. portion sizes are also way smaller. Please go back to the old food. Tinga chicken is also not COMPARABLE to what it was before :( Please go back to whatever cheese you were using before read more

The BEST Mexican food I've ever had - no joke. I was nervous at first due to their smaller menu but all of the items looked good. I got the Enchiladas and was blown away. 10/10 read more

We arrived in town on Sun night and went out in search of a good dinner restaurant. Our first picks were busy and had a wait time that we couldn't handle because we were starving. We walked around until we came across Central Mesa. It was great. The brisket burrito with crema sauce was sublime as was the rice that came with it. I had the summer salad and it hit the spot. I liked the atmosphere. read more

Great food. Amber B was amazing and very helpful! Had the Pork Belly Rice Bowl, Hot Chicken Tacos and the Old Fashion was great. Atmosphere and music were very relaxing. A must do when in Tuscaloosa!!! read more

WONDERFUL FOOD, if you like latin fusion this is the place , just happened upon it, food was awesome they offer a variety of drinks, drinks are very good. I hope this business continues to flourish, when I stay at Embassy suites you are one of my go to places. Thank you Dorothy,Northern Virginia read more

Honestly the worst Mexican food I've had. I'm from Texas, and I know what good mex food should be. I started with the queso, had stale chips and it was not like any queso I've ever had, I didn't know it was possible to mess up queso- only could manage a few bites. After, we tried the Cuban and brisket quesadillas and was equally disappointed. One thing is our service was very good, however the restaurant was empty. Cant say I will be coming back. read more

it's like good but not that great. I definitely recommend getting the hot chicken taco that's definitely the best thing that they have on their menu. Mexican food is my second favorite type of food and this Mexican food is just average. read more

Great experience for lunch. Bartender Logan was great, Brent in the kitchen was awesome as well. Stepped out and chatted for awhile with me about BBQ, smoking, and cooking. Great experience all around. read more

What an amazing restaurant! I love the homemade hot sauce, and the creamy mayo served with the fries is awesome! I had the pimento cheese empanadas with Conecuh sausage. The plate was huge so I only ate half and took the rest home. My sweetie had the Cuban sandwich. He enjoyed it and took half of it home. The salsa and chips are $3 with free refills--and it's worth it! Homemade chips and salsa are delicious. Can't wait to go back! Service was friendly and quick! read more