Definitely my new favorite restaurant in Tuscaloosa. The food is amazing and drinks are great too. Got the hot chicken and churros but was skeptical ordering fried chicken in Tuscaloosa (haven't found a place that has good fried chicken yet)-- completely blown away by how great it was. Probably the best meal I've had in over a year. My boyfriend got the brisket hash which was also great. The brisket was so tender and cooked perfectly. Seriously can't describe how great this place's food is.There weren't any open tables so we sat at the bar. The service was ok, but to be fair the bartender was super busy and the only person at the bar. Great place for brunch and dinner. read more

Central Mesa - Chicken and churros on the left, brisket hash on the right! They're both a lot bigger than they look - American Near Me - Tuscaloosa, Alabama

cole is an awesome server. this was my third time having him and he's always so sweet to us! he brought our food out quick and it was delicious. read more

A year later and this place is still just as great! Had the pork tacos and a side salad, the meat was juicy and the salad was a good size. I went this time on a weekday for dinner and there was no crowd. Very relaxed environment but still a great atmosphere to be in. Our server was also helpful with decision making on food choices. Keep it up Central Mesa! read more

Central Mesa - American Near Me - Tuscaloosa, Alabama

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I'd like to say that my dining experiences were always perfect. This one was not. BUT unlike others recently, the management made it right and then some. When I worked in restaurant management, that was our policy. I ordered the Steak Birria Machete. The tortilla is run through a consommé to add flavor before frying. Having tasted the tortilla separately, it was effective. The tortilla was filled with shredded cheese, a pepper sauce, and beef chunks. The beef was perfect; tender and a little pink. The cheese is where I ran into the problem. Actually, that was the proof. The shredded cheese was not melted. I did not taste my food for a couple of minutes as I was sending out emails. When I did taste it, the food seemed to be room temperature. BUT the flavors were outstanding. I continued to eat slowly until the waiter came around to check on me. My question was: Is the dish supposed to be room temperature? I showed him the thinly shredded cheese before he whisked it away. The manager returned a bit later with a completely new meal, not the remains of the original, and comped the order. The temperature of the food was not room temperature, not blistering hot, but just perfect. Oh, the corn. I ordered it after the meal was returned so I could have a bill to run my on my credit card and I had waivered on ordering it anyway. I was brought the appetizer version (I intended to get the side order version) with a bowl of chips. The corn had nice roast marks, a bit of cheese, and crema or something to add a bit of richness. I was in heaven. read more

Ate for lunch. They double charged my card and said it was a mistake. I said so put my money back and they said I had to wait and then when I said I shouldn't, they can refund, the owner started to curse me out. Told me to never call his restaurant again. Your food was mediocre at best, way over priced and hardly attentive staff at all. Go elsewhere and don't get robbed and then cussed out by the owner when you want it made right. read more

Huge portions and delicious drinks! I haven't had a bad appetizer here either. The service is the only downside to this delicious restaurant. The food has taken way too long to come out and can be cold upon arrival. They need to hire more staff as this place has grown in popularity so the hostesses aren't being required to run around doing a servers job while leaving people up front unattended. Besides the lackluster service, the food is great. The queso, when it arrives hot, is delicious and the guacamole is spicy and filling. They removed some of the healthier options off the menu but the chicken enchiladas are filling and flavorful. read more

Charming waiting staff, food was served timely and was delicious.... met an old blues man at the bar who had wonderful stories.... so good I'll always try to visit whenever I'm in T-town.... read more

Central Mesa - Chicken Enchiladas..... - American Near Me - Tuscaloosa, Alabama

I really enjoyed this place. The food is very creative, we had the Street Corn appetizer (it needs more sauce), the Pork Belly tacos, and Carnitas tacos. The make their own corn tortillas, so that's what we chose. Everything was delicious. And our server was excellent. My Friend is one of those that doesn't like cilantro. When she found that out, she had the chef to make him another taco without cilantro, and there was no charge for it. read more

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Stoped in for a quick lunch and their hot chicken tacos didn't disappoint. Margaritas we're on the sweet side

The taco salad here is to die for. One of my favorite places because of the food and atmosphere!!

I Have been to several restaurants downtown but I have never been to Central Mesa. It was a little loud, but once seated we were met by the nicest young lady named Bronwyn. She was engaging and took care of our entire evening. There was four of us in our party ranging in age from 20's to 80 and we all agreed that this was some of the best Mexican fare we have had in a long time. Go and enjoy the wonderful food that Central Mesa has to offer. Next time I'm in town I will be back. read more

The BEST Anniversary Brunch Ever!!!!!! The atmosphere was inviting & the staff was friendly and accommodating! We followed the advice of fellow Yelpers and got the signature Chicken & Churros and the Breakfast Nachos. Both dishes were tasty & cooked to perfection; however, the Chicken & Churros completely stole our tastebuds attention. Bless the innovative soul that created this dish and the hands that prepared it on 8/19/18. read more

Central Mesa - American Near Me - Tuscaloosa, Alabama

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Upon entering the door we were greeted by the smiling staff.This was the start of a great lunch for my daughter,mom,and I.The restaurant was very clean and i loved the decor.our waiter was so very polite and helpful.I asked him which dishes he recommended.for the appetizer he suggested the street corn,for the entree the chicken enchiladas, and pork belly tacos.they didnt disappoint everything was so flavorful.we left central mesa full and happy read more

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Fresh modern take on Mexican food. Generous portions and great service. Try the brisket quesadilla, you won't be disappointed!

I didn't expect hot Tacos could be so therapeutic on a hot summer afternoon after having spent hours on the road!! Jokes aside, we stopped by, well after lunchtime, and tried the Chorizo Tacos and the Blackened Fish Tacos. Even though they weren't busy at all, the food took quite long to come out, which was a little odd. The Tacos seemed to have been served in tiny round flour tortillas tailor-made for the purpose, but the meat and grilled veggie stuffings inside them were revolutionary. The Blackened Fish had a subdued flavor that was well complemented by the house guacamole and cheese. The Chorizo, on the other hand, went on a full-fledged assault on the taste buds in my mouth. General spicy Chorizo and his band of soldiers, featuring roasted potatoes, jack cheese, fresh cream, cilantro, and onions, were a team made in Taco heaven. They utilized the element of surprise to thoroughly satisfy my hunger. While they might have won the battle, the war has barely begun. I am definitely coming back for Round Two. read more

Been here twice. The food is awesome & the atmosphere is very nice. Try a classic margarita and get the street tacos.

Cool spot for brunch. They have $10 champagne bottles but we didn't order any because I had to drive back to Atlanta. They had live music which wasn't too loud and it didn't overpower. We ordered the avocado toast, hot chicken & churros, and chilaquiles. The avocado toast was okay and different from what I'm used to, because they put the avocado on sourdough bread. It was a little soggy but still good. The hot chicken & churros was NOT spicy at all. The churros was good but they overfried it. The best dish was the chilaquiles!! The chicken was tender and juicy, and the house crema tastes like a cilantro lime ranch sauce. Soooooo good. Definitely recommend this place and wanna come back if I'm back in Tuscaloosa again. Great ambiance, great service, and great music. read more

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Wonderful customer service! Deep pour Mimosas for Sunday brunch!! Food was hot and brought out quickly!!

9 pm sit at bar. Decent service. Not a fan of most Mexican drinks but manage to get one down. Ordered 2 tacos and the sweet corn. Waiting, waiting, waiting and ask bartender what is taking so long. She says they are really busy. Based on people in restaurant and looking at kitchen does not add up. Food quality was NOT good and the tacos were awful!!!. Won't be going back read more

Central Mesa - So small and fish was dry! - American Near Me - Tuscaloosa, Alabama

Stopped in here for lunch and can say the meal was pleasant. We loved their chips and salsa, and the queso was eh... some might dislike me for saying this but GOD AWFUL. Upon first dip, i almost gagged. I try not to be dramatic but it wasn't traditional. It tasted like a strong beer cheese and I was NOT prepared. Im not sure if it was a beer cheese, but it sure did taste like it. On a positive note, everything else was delicious! I had their black bean soup and Mexican corn and it was amazing! I absolutely loved it all. It is not like your typical Mexican food, it really is amazing. I will definitely be back to see what else they have! read more

You have to come here while in Tuscaloosa. One of, if not, the best Mexican restaurants in town. The space is cool and can get a little loud, but the food is totally worth it. Their queso is by far the best i've ever had. A must try. read more

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Honestly best seasoned food in Tuscaloosa, the flavor is always great. It's like I'm back home in Houston.

Go here for dinner not lunch! My husband and I have eaten here multiple times for dinner and it has been delicious with great service. I took a coworker to lunch because I wanted her to try it. The salad we got was pathetic compared to when I ordered the same salad for dinner just weeks before. It barely had any chicken on it (chicken costs extra btw) and it was not nearly as good as it was the previous time. I understand lunch portions can be smaller but if I'm paying the same price as dinner then I expect the same amount. I regret not taking a picture to post with my review. read more

The food was not authentic and was very greasy. Managers were rude too. Would not recommend. Go to Antojitos

If you like greasy overpriced food try this place. Better off spending your money at taco mama or antijitos

Central Mesa is SO GOOD! This place is always so yummy and the new manager Rafael is so nice and helpful! Love the Paloma !

This place is my favorite when I visit the area. Street corn appetizer is fantastic. Good selection of Bama beers. The carnitas are great. The chicken enchilada is great. All around good food. read more

Food is good but overpriced for the quantities you receive. Drinks are good but also a bit overpriced. Atmosphere is nice and service is always good. If you're looking for a date night spot this is a good place; if you're looking for affordable Mexican food, there are other options. read more

Looks like ownership changed. Until 2021, this was one of my favorite restaurants in town. Now, I would recommend it to anyone. Good quality is down the drain, food quantity has reduced, drinks a joke now. My most important concern is the food quality. What a waste. read more

Central Mesa opened in July 2017 (approximately 4 months ago). We tried it tonight for the first time and had a wonderful dining experience. Our waiter, Chris T., was very friendly and helpful. The industrial look decor was very inviting. Loved the beautiful polished woods and brick walls! The Street Corn Appetizer was delicious and large enough for several to share. My Brisket And Grits entree was excellent! I recommend Central Mesa very highly and look forward to returning again soon! read more

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My husband and I stopped in for a late lunch. We highly recommend the Cojita Chicken and the Guacamole Appetizer! Central Mesa is a cool spot with great food full of flavor! read more

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

Hash was really really tasty Service top notch -- efficient and friendly Look forward to coming back read more

Unfortunately, my favorite place to eat in Tuscaloosa has become my least favorite. The menu is completely new and bares little resemblance to the old. Customer service was great. However, the queso is horrible compared to the old. My food came out burnt to a crisp. I used to recommend this establishment anytime someone asked where to eat. I would not recommend this to anyone anymore. read more

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

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

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

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