I went there last night for dinner with my friends and it was great . It was my first time there and the food was good, people working there were very nice and helpful , I liked the Mexican theme and the guys playing instruments . I will go back there . Matt k read more

Zapata has some of the best Mexican food around. My favorites include the fajitas, flautas, and combination plates where you can get a little taste of everything. Being from the west coast, I could use a little more spice but the quality, portions, and price are better than any other I've tasted in NJ or Rockland County, NY. The service is absolutely amazing and you're treated like you're the only table in the house. Very roomy for parties. The best part is the baileys/butterscotch (yeah, you know the name) shot when you get the bill. read more

The service is stellar. Zapata has a very professional and attentive staff. There is a huge disconnect between the stellar service and the food. That being said, the food is unequivocally abysmal. I really can't reconcile other Yelpers' assessments of the food with what we encountered. The salsa easily could have passed for Campbell's vegetable soup. The guac was bland and otherwise forgettable. The fish tacos reeked; how do you mess up fish tacos? My wife had chicken fajitas that were semi-decent. The drinks were equally disappointing. I ordered a Cadillac Margarita, which used margarita mix...it's 2011, who is still using margarita mix for anything other than a low-rent pool party? Save your money and go elsewhere. read more

Finally got a chance to go here after eyeing it for years. Food was average. Salsa was good, complimentary quesadilla was also very good. My strawberry margharita came in a cute glass with a cactus stem. That was great! We ordered the nachos as an appetizer and they did not come the traditional way. It was basically one large tortilla with a layer of beans then a layer of cheese that was baked then cut like a pizza pie and topped with guacamole, lettuce and roasted green chilis. It was okay but I would have preferred it served the other way. I wasn't a fan of the guacamole, too much salt and pepper, a little bland. I also ordered the vegetarian platter with a cheese chimichanga, bean burritto and tostada. All was good but I was stuffed from consuming way too much cheese that day so I took most of it home. Overall, I would go back and try this place again and definately go back for drinks. read more

Again, a stellar meal at Zapata...ate light this time, chips, salsa, guacamole and albondiga soup.....to die for soup. A great hefty snack...see my photos! read more

Zapata - Albondiga soup, guacamole to the left, chips to the right, salsa at 12:00 - Mexican Near Me - Palisades, New York

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THIS is what authentic Mexican is, all the way down to the cute decor! I've been here with my family, my boyfriend, and my circle of friends and they have nothing but compliments! Right off the bat, the waiter stops by for drink orders and gives the table not just free tortilla chips, but also a tasty quesadilla EACH! The only thing is, as a vegetarian, the only main dish I can eat is the Vegetarian Combo. It comes with a burrito, tostada, as well as refried beans and rice. But I personally don't mind getting it every time. My boyfriend got the breaded steak and although obviously heavy, the texture of the meal was "fun," in his words. My friends all got various combos, which they all enjoyed. Huge portions on every meal, too! read more

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Hands down the best Mexican food I hv had in a long time. Being a food snob, I ordered Tamale for appetizer & Caramel custard for lunch, skipping the Entree. Best decision I made. My 3 veg colleagues actually polished off their places. Food was authentic & very tasty. Place is huge with ethnic decor. People could move a bit faster though. Overall Highly Recommended. read more

Agreed with other reviewers that service is very good, ambiance is nice and looks like a Mexico from a movie set, but I can't believe anyone would get excited about the food here. However, the little cheese quesadilla appetizer was a nice touch. The menu had a lot of different options beyond the standard taco-burrito-enchilada combo. I requested a side of steamed corn tortillas that was brought at no extra charge = Nice touch! 3 stars is probably harsh but 4 stars is too many. This is probably the best that can be expected for a Mexican restaurant in Palisades. read more

The food is amazing. Atmosphere beyond words you actually feel like you're in Mexico it's beautiful and the sangria top notch we have found our place Mexican food read more

Had a good dinner. Ordered a half pitcher of sangria to share with my mom. The waitress told us it was 15 dollars and we thought it was a steal! Once we got the check, it said it was $20 for a half pitcher. Confused, we asked the waitress and she said she made a mistake. We completely understood but asked that they change the amount on the check since they told us a certain price and it wasn't that price. When the manager came over, she was so rude and claimed that we should've looked at the menu...but we asked the waitress so we wouldn't have to. We understand people make mistakes but it was handled so unprofessionally and the manager was incredibly rude rather than letting us speak first. She cut us off and hardly tried to ensure we, as the customers, left the night happy. Ridiculous and rude. read more

Last night my Husband and I went here for dinner for a much-needed date night. All I can say is - best decision ever!!! The food was phenomenal... I mean seriously out of this world! The service was great and the precautions taken during these Covid-ridden times made me feel safe. As soon as we sat down, we were brought water and chips with delicious homemade salsa. We were also each brought a mini quesadilla which I thought was a very nice touch. I ordered the Steak Monterrey and it was so incredibly delicious that I am still thinking about it today. My husband ordered the Mariscada with garlic sauce... It is a seafood dish and he really loved it. Each meal was brought with a side of rice and retried beans. The portions were enormous. Honestly you will not leave this place hungry! The wait staff was attentive but not overly so. We are definitely coming back again and again! read more

I really like this place - its close, the food is really delicious, the staff is friendly and they call me a cowboy every time I go in there for some reason.. I think thats a plus! (not sure why!) plus its not too expensive, good margaritas, free awesome chips and salsa, great guac, the whole 9! Which is why it saddens me to not give a 5.. I got takeout the other day and man did they ever royally screw it up... they said 15 minutes, I showed up half an hour later, and it wasnt ready, I dont think it was even started!, I asked for no lettuce on anything, there was lettuce on everything, 1 item was totally missing...(didn't notice until I got home and didnt feel like driving back) My combo plate with 2 tacos might as well have been a stew.. everything crammed together, beans, cheese, etc. in one container all mixed together in a big slop of food....so bad that it was literally not possible to pick the shells up because they were 100% soggy... major bummer! Moral of the story... this place will rock your socks off, it is awesome and very tasty! Just don't get it to go, it's a totally different experience! read more

Great food. Very noisy the night we were there. My husband ordered a burrito but something else came. He liked it anyway. Margarita was good. read more

The best Mexican around this area. There are not many options for Mexican in Bergen County so I am forced just over the NY state line to Zapata. I work right on this boarder so it isn't bad. This place is a distance from my house but worth the drive on a weekend. The guacamole is the best! The food is very good and very reasonably priced. The only place that comes close is Mama Mexico but it is much more expensive. read more

Zapata's is my family's favorite restaurant in all of Rockland. Zapata's is a family owned restaurant that makes you feel like family. The food is always delicious and fresh. Their chips and salsa is delicious and you receive a complimentary quesadilla as an appetizer. If you ask them to make a dish spicier they will gladly do it. The menu has many different options my favorite is their Sarape and my husband loves the Apollo Zapata with extra heat. They make excellent sangrias as well. Visit Zapata's you won't be disappointed!! read more

Great food at great prices in a fun place. Best Mexican food i Bergen county read more

My favorite Mexican restaurant!!! Service is great, food comes out quick and they are son nice to my 2 year old son!

We've been coming to Zapatas for more than 12 years and had several private parties here and more dinners than I can count. We've never had a bad meal or bad service. The Cadillac margaritas are amazing, as is the ceviche - always fresh and perfectly seasoned. The fajitas, the burritos, steak zapata, chicken with green sauce, you name it we've tried it and it's delicious. The red sangria is good too, order a pitcher don't bother with just a glass. read more

I went today for a birthday celebration. We had a group of 16 people, and did the outdoor dining. Our entire group was satisfied with their dining experience. A special thanks to the restaurant for accommodating a party of 16 people. read more

I'd give this place a 4 star for food. but I have to go up to 5 because the Sangria and staff are amazing! if you're craving authentic Mexican food this is the place to go read more

Came here to eat after winning a gift certificate. First impressions were positive, the Parking lot was packed and walking inside seemed like a huge crowd, surprisingly was seated within minutes. They come and give you chips and salsa to start which is nice, but the salsa is way to watery at least for myself and guest. We had ordered a chicken quesadilla as an appetizer. I would have liked to let you know how it was, but as we never received it I can not comment. We were given free small child size cheese quesadilla which was pretty taste. Probably highlight of the whole meal. We ordered chicken fajitas and steak and shrimp fajitas. The chicken we found to be way to dry and very bland. The steak was over cooked and way to thick. The shrimps were cold and two had their tails left on, not that it's a big deal for me but others may not like that. They were served with rice, beans, guacamole, and what looked liked warm sour cream. The pico de gallo that is supposed to come with it per the menu was nowhere to be seen. For dessert we split the fried tortilla shell with ice cream and syrup. I'm not sure how you think it would come out, I had in my head that it be a lil warm with the ice cream melting a little. What was served was far from my Imagination. It was a pre deep fried shell, cold as if it was in the refrigerator. The ice cream seemed freezer burnt, and was square. Think of it like the old school ice cream sandwiches you would get from school or the ice cream trucks tasted like it too. The syrup was ok if it was ok tasted like it was Aunt Jemima and deserved to be on top of the pancakes I had in the morning not the dessert I had at night. Would I recommend this place for your dinning experience? Let me put it this way, I have a small credit left in the gift certificate that will never see the light of day. read more

Our family go to Mexican spot that cant be beat for food service and drinks. Great for small and large groups. The chips and salsa are top notch. Shrimp diablo is my go to dish! read more

There are plenty of other places you can get better and more affordable mexican food. Trust me.

Good food but service may be suffering from COVID stress. I was told my take-out order would be ready in 20 minutes, but on arrival I was told "it was being packed up." Had to wait another 25 minutes to get my order. Staff appeared too focused on in-house diners to actually check in the kitchen. There was only one other take-out order while I was there, but dining room and waiting room were pretty busy. Staff got annoyed when I asked them to check again. Order was cold when it finally came out. Service appears less good than previous experience during summer 2020. Will likely go back eventually however. read more

This is our favorite Mexican restaurant in the area, service is great! consistently every single time, margaritas are the best ! Great food

Very authentic cuisine. Great Sangria. Prices were a little high, but all in all the food was delicious. The chalupas were a solid choice. Also the tamales were a great app, but be careful not to ruin your appetite! read more

Came here on a recommendation from a Facebook group. I wasn't disappointed at all!!!! Service is non stop from the second you sit down. The food is amazing. Very tasteful and comes as ordered. If they tell you the plates are hot take there word for it. They pay attention to detail!! I highly recommend this place if your looking for good Mexican in the area. You will not be let down. read more

NEAR TRUE DEATH HORROR. spent the next day and a half in the emergency room. when I left this disgusting place, ten minutes in the car (I was passenger), I had lost control of my lungs and breathing. I asked my driver to go to the gazebo in piermont since we were heading that way, just to see if it was asthma related. I had used my entire asthma pump and needed EMS to pick me up into the truck. I was on and off cold - I do not have these kinds of allergies to anything. I had to go to nyack hospital to where my blood was spiked to 179 and was on constant watch after having a gas mask placed on me for half an hour. ALL I ordered: the steak with mushrooms and red mole sauce, their run down version of guacamole, and their awful beef tamales. I had the tamales and guac sit there for an HOUR before the steak came. they said, 'oh. excuse me. do we take you guac and tamale to trash? you no eat.' - I was dumbfounded and asked them where the steak was, considering I review for several actual sites. one guy missing a tooth said, 'oh. we thought maybe you did not want or you eat the first two first. make it good'. I looked at him and said, 'no one asked in what order I would like my food in. could you please give me the rest of my order, because everything else is disgusting - and that's not your fault, but I'm not giving it back.' I salted and peppered the tiny guac like I would at home; clearly no one knows how to use cilantro. the rice was dry and from a box. they serve you off with midget quesadillas. I had my partner order another one and the employees were pissed. both times the tortillas were old. with the worst stale taste. the steak entree was charged $6 more than what was on the site and physical menu. the old female owner with the energy of eighty mules was constantly coming to my table and yelling at all her employees to clean because of a food inspection - I comprehend spanish more than anyone would ever know. she came over to my table to speak to me verbally three times with about eight others in crew. I asked her nicely to please back off because I have anxiety and this is not necessary, I can speak to her alone. she continued to yell and smile with her dentures. as I was dining, the employees were sweeping angrily in the seated section for dinner and I had wanted to leave. I had ordered a watery sangria. someone approached me and said they are closed and told me to finish my ENTIRE crappy pitcher or I would be kicked out. along came another one of her employees and he told me that she needs to go and get fired because she 'does not do nice things to people food and she big bitch, everyone sick'. well, sick behold. I almost died over $80 worth of two apps and one dish. not including my hospital bill. if this review is taken off, I will contact the better business bureau to my people in the snap of a finger. working out all my lab results, may have a firm case to sue. as for mexican, rockland county has the most unauthentic food. going into bergen county if I ever need a fix of sloppy food that I can't make in my kitchen. to add to it, I look very young. I was not once carded for the sangria. the employees kept reaching over my food to rearrange dishes and to swirl my sangria pitcher. not sanitary. this place is just unethical and whomever finds this place to be anything better than a ruin, seemingly has no knowledge of food nor customer service. the moment I pulled up into the parking lot, four chefs were outside yelling loudly and smoking. they ran away when I parked and walked out of my car. thank god I'm okay but this place HAS to be avoided, without any thought. read more

I had been to Zapata a few times before since it's close to my home and had a good time. That's why I chose to have my wedding after party at Zapata with about 20 friends and family. Zapata never told us when we made the reservation that people are only allowed to stay for 1.5 hours. Otherwise, we would have never booked them. Due to COVID, we hadn't seen each other for many months so we wanted to spending quality time together since we wouldn't see each other again for a long time. We ordered hundreds of dollars worth of food and drinks and were quietly talking, but we could see the owner was getting angry after 1.5 hours. The waiters were also very rude and wouldn't even come to our table. We were running out of water and had to keep asking them to bring us some. We wanted to order more food and drinks too, but since the waiters weren't coming over, we decided not to bother since we were getting negative vibes from the staff. The owner eventually told us we had to leave, even though I didn't see anybody lined up waiting for seats. We gave a tip (even though they didn't deserve it) and left without making a fuss, even though I was mad about how we were all treated. I have never been treated with as much disrespect at a restaurant as I was at Zapata. I apologized to our friends and family for choosing Zapata for the after party, since they were uncomfortable too. It was upsetting that we were being treated so poorly, especially on our wedding day, which was stressful enough to plan during COVID. I advise all people not to go there because the owner and his staff are ill-mannered. I would rather give my business to restaurant owners who treat their patrons with dignity and respect, which this place lacks. I will never set foot at Zapata again and my friends and family won't either. read more

Really food Mexican food! Wish the guac appetizer was a little more spicy. Didn't seem to have any jalapeños but I got fajitas and they were great and my fiancé got enchiladas that were also very tasty. The flaming banana desert with rum sauce was also good! I'll go back! read more

I have been going to Zapata's with family for years and this is an absolutely delicious Mexican restaurant with polite service and charming atmosphere. The times I have been there, the place is usually quiet and we've always enjoyed our meals. We started out with some yummy guacamole and an order of the Queso Con Chorizo... which is melted cheese and sausage. They always start you out with chips, salsa and a cheese quesadilla before you even order so the meal started out in style. For dinner one of my favorites is the "Camarones Rellenos" which is broiled stuffed shrimp with cheese rolled up in bacon and it is as scrumptious as it sounds served with rice and absolutely delish refried beans. Tonight though, I tried the Steak Acapulco which is rolled steak cooked to perfection and stuffed with cheese and bacon and covered with a creamy white sauce. It was simply awesome and I'm glad I deviated from my usual to try it. We were so stuffed, we finished the meal with just a nice cup of coffee and a complementary glass of Tia Maria which is a liqueur made from coffee beans, Jamaican rum, vanilla and sugar. And it's as good as it sounds. If you love Mexican food this restaurant has a large and varied menu and if you are out for a bite and an entertaining evening with friends, there is a large full service bar/dining area that also has a TV so you can watch the big game while enjoying some great food and some great margaritas... and my family swears by their margaritas! I highly recommend this nice, off the beaten path Mexican restaurant. read more

I was at Zapata Thursday night with my best friend. I've been many times and the food is consistently fresh and outstanding. We shared the made to order guacamole and a house salad (which was huge) and we had flans for dessert. I enjoyed the guacamole so much I went back the next day and got more via take out. I stopped going to Mexican restaurants because the food was always mushy and blah. Not ZAPATA! It's the best I have ever had and I'm a content "forever" customer. The Owner's and Staff are awesome... This place rocks! read more

Drinks are soooo good Really nice staff and great hospitality, and chips and salsa are so great For someone who likes spicy and tangy their drinks are perfect for that, their bartenders do a great job read more

I have been coming here for years and I love the food. The portions (for take out and eat in) are very filing. The service is very good. I regularly order the nopalitos, chicken and black bean soup, and many of the lunch combination. read more

Went to Zapata this year for cinco de mayo with a party of 3. Great atmosphere. Boy, was it busy. We called ahead at 6:30, was told to expect a 45 minute wait. We arrived at 7pm. Waited an additional 45 mins and was eventually seated around 8pm. It then took them an hour and 15 mins to get entrees to our table. In their defense, a table of 15 and a table of 7 had just been sat at the same time as us. While we waited for food we had some free chips and salsa and free cheese quesadilla, plus they kept the margaritas/sangria coming (regretfully, these were not free). We all ordered combo plates, which were all delicious. Drinks were great. Lots of liquor in them and good size. I deducted one star because the host was a bit snippy with us. I suspect this is because he was overwhelmed by the number of people waiting and EVERYONE was giving him attitude about the wait, but seriously, its cinco de mayo... what do you expect?!? you really think you're the only person trying to get mexican food?!? All in all, I would highly recommend it, and I will definitely be back... just not on cinco de mayo. I'll make my own tacos next year. read more

Great foo! Fun atmosphere! And very nice staff. Upon sitting down you are brought chips and salsa and a complimentary cheese quesadilla -- which is simple but so delicious. I mean who doesn't love cheese? The guacamole is always fresh, and not over blended so you can tell it is made with fresh avocados. I have never had a bad meal here. Everything tastes fresh and comes out steaming hot, which makes all the difference. The price is absolutely reasonable and the quality is amazing. The cadillac margaritas are the best. If you are craving Mexican food -- this is the place to go! read more

Not just my favorite Mexican restaurant. My favorite restaurant period! World class margaritas, delicious quesadillas, the very best fajitas, black bean soup to die for. As to the decor, it's the prettiest restaurant I know, and I am a world traveler. As to the service, it is charming and competent, up and down the line. This is an extremely well run restaurant. I go every week or so, always look forward to it, and am never disappointed. I feel like I am in Mexico. Even the music is perfect. One note of caution: this is not a place for foodies. The menu and preparation are good traditional Mexican. No new wave here. Just a place to eat and drink well and have a good time doing it. Just look around you at all the happy people. read more

The chicken was old and hard in a dish, and not edible. However when I told the manager, he reached his hand into the plate and grabbed a piece of chicken broke it into 2 pieces and stated, "no one complained ". Then he threw it back onto the plate. read more

In a nutshell, energetic atmosphere, delicious food, less than friendly service and portions that are either too big or too small. A few minor adjustments could really make this place outstanding. We were a party of 6 and ordered nachos for the table, a black bean soup and I ordered the ceviche with avocado. While we waited there were chips and salsa on the table, and a server came around with small sample quesadillas. The soup was really good and served in a nice-sized bowl. The waiter did tell us the nachos were small but we were not at all prepared for just how small. There were literally 8 tortilla chips with some cheese and guacamole spread out on a small appetizer dish. I couldn't believe they actually served this- it was very cheaply done (I should have taken a picture:-/ ). I believe this cost around $8 but it should not have cost more than $3. The ceviche on the other hand was enough to be a meal itself. Poorly described on the menu as an avocado stuffed with shrimp ceviche, it is actually half an avocado that is completely buried in shrimp and crab ceviche. Don't get me wrong, it was delicious, but if I knew the portion was that large I wouldn't have ordered a dinner. Most of us ordered combination plates because the dinner prices were a bit steep. I had the enchilada, flauta and burrito combo, all were very good as was the rice. The service was not quite warm and welcoming, especially given the prices here. There were two young adults at our table and one did not like the dinner. When the manager or waiter (not sure who he was) came by, he politely said he didn't like it and was about to ask for a different dinner when the manager interrupted with a gruff "what do you want me to do about it?" It would have been nicer to say, "is there something else I can get you?" or something more hospitable. Good food but pricing, service and portions need to be fine-tuned. read more

Went on a Sunday afternoon, not busy but not empty. Service was quick and polite, the chips and dip coupled with the small free quesadilla was a great start. My margarita was very good too. I had the tacos al carbon, and they the steak perfectly. There wasn't any seasoning on the meat, but it was very good. My girlfriend got the enchiladas and was impressed. Will be going back! read more