To start the food was well done and the portions were really big! I would say the service was good as well and we were well taken care of throughout our dinner! The restaurant had TVs all through the dinning area and a big bar in the middle with lots of beverage choices. read more

Pros: Great food, good prices and great portions. food is some of the best Mexican food I have had, served in decent portions. you get the standard chips and salsa when you sit down but the salsa is really good. its my go to for lunch in Pickerington with a large menu. I have not tired the breakfast. Sometimes the service can be a little slow but staff is friendly and highly recommend you check it out. read more

Service was good. Incorrect order was brought out but quickly rectified by waitress. Food however is just not good. I ordered the Adelitas Tacos and the Rajas Poblanas. The Adelitas were entirely too salty and greasy, the meats had no flavor other than the bacon. It was messily compiled onto the corn tortillas and difficult to fold. The Rajas Poblanas side dish was brought out room temp at best and was extremely watery, able to keep any of it on a chip, and the dish itself lacked seasoning. The atmosphere is nice, the outside patio is great if weather allows like it did this day. The restrooms were stocked well, smelled fresh and looked clean. If you are looking to slam back some margaritas and some cheap Mexican food, this is your place. If you are looking to enjoy some quality, fresh Mexican food go somewhere else. read more

Zapata's Mexican Kitchen - Rajas Poblanas - Mexican Near Me - Pickerington, Ohio

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Walked in with my family for the first time tonight to this restaurant. My first impression was that the hostess was incredibly rude. I walked up said hello and she never spoke. She never asked how many so I offered the information. She grabbed the menus threw them down on the table and walked away. Never said a word. I was thinking I was going to regret coming in. Our waiter Aaron was amazing. He was attentive, very busy, and smiled. He had a great personality. I loved how clean the place was. I have never seen any restaurant as clean as this one especially during a rush. It was busy. The cooks brought out the food as soon as it was ready they did not wait for the waiter to go and get it. Food was hot, beautiful, and delicious. I will definitely go back. read more

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Outstanding food, quick and effective service and a wonderful relaxed atmosphere. We are frequent visitors and love the family atmosphere.

They are absolutely Wonderful! their staff is always courteous, their food is always fresh, and their prices are perfect. I always have great events when they cater for us. Thank you for being so involved in your community zapatas! read more

Sit on the patio! It is newly renovated and very cute/comfortable. The food tasted fine--when it comes to American-Mexican restaurants, they're pretty much all the same and this one is no exception. The reason for the low rating was the service. This is not to say all their staff is bad, however, the service I received from my server was very poor. We were seated, greeted and gave our drink orders quickly, and despite us ordering waters all around, it took our server FAR too long to get our drinks to us. This persisted throughout the entire meal with everything: chips/salsa, refills, entrees... I'm fortunate I was surrounded with good company otherwise I would've been frustrated because of the poor service. read more

Zapata's Mexican Kitchen - Shredded chicken Flautas - Mexican Near Me - Pickerington, Ohio

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This is a family favorite restaurant. The staff is always very pleasant even when busy. Their lunch prices per plate servings are generous. They offer coupons as well. Very nice dining experience for lunch or dinner. read more

Some friends and I visited on a Wednesday for their all-you-can-eat tacos. The price was incredible, something like five bucks for all the delicious tacos I could manage. We were given the choice of soft or crispy tacos with chicken, chorizo, or ground beef. The first order was three tacos, accompanied by a small plate of rice and refried beans. The chicken was juicy and flavorful, the chorizo was delicious (not too salty like it tends to be) and the ground beef was just alright. Our servers were attentive, refilling drinks and not hesitating to bring us additional tacos (after the initial order, they bring you two with each order.) It being their special taco night, the place was crowded, but the wait for a table was worth it. read more

If you're already in Picktown, Zapata's is a solid choice for Mexican. I really like how big, bright, and clean the restaurant is. The menu is also very clear and easy to understand. Not too many choices... but just enough to make the decision difficult. The staff is super friendly and helpful. One thing I thought was weird though--anytime our server refilled our water, he would take our glasses away instead of just bringing over a pitcher. Not a big deal--just odd. The food was totally what I expected: piping hot, delicious cheesiness. I had a taco, beans, and rice, and everything was very good. read more

Great margaritas, I like the Texas or Cadillac but the House Zapata rita is a solid choice too. Chips & salsa always on point, add some queso and you're all set. Zapatas is redefining 'Taco Tuesday' with their all you can eat tacos on Wednesday for only $5 bones, yea I'm serious!! Chicken, beef or pastor. If you're not visiting on a Weds the Zapatas steak tacos or fish tacos are awesome as well. I really enjoy all the variety options with their sides, not just beans n rice. If you're looking for a reasonably priced, chill dining experience check this place out. read more

Food was small and gross and there hot sauce was old and tasted like rust not worth the money if you want Mexican go to las margaritas they have great food and it doesn't taste old read more

Really enjoyed the food here. Service was quick and everyone was friendly. Portions were huge. Def recommend them!

I tried this place with a few friends and we ate out on the patio. It was a nice atmosphere and the food was good, but not anything extremely memorable. Many of the salsa ingredients are grown on site and you can taste the difference! That is the one major highlight of this place. Not to mention, close to closing time, they did have a baby raccoon that came to visit patrons on the patio and swipe a chip or two! He stayed away from people and was adorable, but some people may be wary of this. read more

Best Mexican in Pickerington!! Everything I've ordered has been delicious, they have a cute patio, the restaurant is very clean, and the service is very fast and friendly! Right now my favorites are the fish tacos and chips and quesoDelicious! read more

Great lunch specials. Salsa often seems a bit boring. The water/tea often has an odd flavor to it. The food in general is hit or miss.

Good food and great staff. Been there a few times and always had a good relaxing time. Roshin was my waiter. He was new and did a great job. Bar tender, Evan, was quick. Only reason I didn't rate a 5 was because the volume for the OSU game was down. read more

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This place is a hidden gem in the town of Pickerington! Definitely unassuming, as it sits in a strip mall type lot with a minimalistic sign, with beer specials posters plastered all over the windows and door. You would think this was a bar restaurant instead of a restaurant with a bar. The food was amazing; generous portions and a pretty inexpensive combo special. The service somehow was better than the food; WHEN you go ask for Jenni! It was completely random that I even found this place but next time I'm up this way, I know I'll go again! read more

Enjoyed all you can eat tacos for $8! I thought the ground beef was the best put of the choices and was not a fan, personally, of the other meat options. It would have been better if we could have mixed the the tacos and have three options per spread instead of three of the same taco per round. But in plan on coming here again soon! Worth the $8! read more

Service wasn't bad, food left much to be desired. We ordered some new type of beans,the server said the were tasty and popular...they were basically beanie weenies, literally had cut up hot dogs in then! Guessing it'll be our last visit. read more

Zapata's Mexican Kitchen - Mexican Near Me - Pickerington, Ohio

Amazing food and service... our family loves this place and really have an absolutely fantastic meal and experience every time! The level of service is outstanding, Mohamed is by far the best and defines service excellence and the food is absolutely archetypal! read more

I've reviewed this place when the name still came up as the old one. We love this alternative to La Fogata, same family atmosphere and service, delicious food. The patio is great on a summer afternoon for sure! read more

Arrived and asked to be seated on the patio. We waited for about 10 min before we even got chips and salsa and by that time we were ready to order. Food took about 40 mins to come out. When our food finally did come the waiter said there was only one chef. The food was average, nothing spectacular. Probably won't be back. read more

We love Mexican food and Tex-Mex and have lived in Texas and California. This is the best Mexican food in Pickerington. We've sampled quite a few items on the menu and are always delighted by the quality and quantity of food. They use fresh ingredients and the house salsa has flavorful heat. Service is fast and friendly. The margaritas are big and tasty. read more

Love the patio and the margaritas! The food is just okay. But a great place to sit outside and drink. They also have a great happy hour and pretty good queso! read more

Great casual or formal. I love this place. Food and prices are great!! I had the pollo Yucatan and my friend had a combination meal.

Don't waste your time or money! We had no wait for a table which should have been the first alert. Once seated, Service was slow and inconsistent. Food was nothing dynamic. Mediocre at best. The Fajitas were mostly onions with very little meat. So overpriced for what you get. No drink refill offered. We even watched other tables that came in after us get served before us. I had to go find someone to bring us the bill! The sad part is that there were empty tables everywhere. When I voiced my disappointment, they simply said "sorry" and did not even ask what could make my next visit better. No attempt at all to rescue a bad experience. They seemed nice but poorly trained. Huge disappointment! read more

By far our absolute favorite restaurant to eat Mexican! Our kids love it, the food is never a let down!

$16.00 for a margarita! And not a very good one at that. I realize restaurants are raising prices to recover lost revenue from pandemic impact, but $16.00 for one drink isn't the way to do it. My wife and I used to frequent Zapatas, but never again. Permanent loss of revenue from me. read more

Won't be returning after my first trip. Heard great reviews from coworkers, so my boyfriend and I checked it out. Went in on a Wednesday at 7pm, the place wasn't very busy, and we were seated immediately. Once we put our order in, we waited almost 40 mins for our food to come out. When the food arrived, my boyfriend's tacos were cold, and my "sizzling fajitas" were not even steaming. We let the waitress know, and she apologized and said she would have it fixed... they brought the food back out it was clear they just microwaved the plate and brought it back out. They took our water to refill and never returned them until we asked for the checks. Not very happy with the reheated food, or the service. read more

Been here a few times and was pretty happy. However, my husband ordered a to-go order for the three of us. The waiter read the order back to him. But once home we discovered a burrito full of French fries and other items not ordered. Manager claims that was written on the order. He suggested we just come back and wait for another burrito:( I said no, it's late and we were starving. Just refund the money. He agreed and also to refund a few dollars extra for the trouble and disappointment. Low and behold, SIX days later they CHARGED, not refunded, us $13 for that incorrect burrito!! Never going back read more

In the past, we have loved this restaurant and never a problem. The last two times we have had issues of carry out. The first time the manager, Gloria was very apologetic they forgot our rice. She offer to leave a gift card in the office for the next visit. The next visit, we got home and we were missing an entire meal. I called and this time was the male manager. His solution was for me to drive back from Reynoldsburg to get it while the rest of my family had dinner without me. Totally different experience, not so much as an apology. Customer service is everything and I will no longer be giving them my business. read more

This is a great family friendly Mexican restaurant. The staff is friendly and the service is quick. Great for kids and groups. They have a nice patio for outdoor dining. read more

I have to say that the food and service was amazing! I would give it a 5 star review but the chips & salsa was very bland. They really need to add some salt to the chips and the salsa had no taste. We ordered the Queso and it was very runny. We will definitely go back, but the chips and salsa are a very important part of the experience. read more

Imaginative dishes, but poorly executed... bordering on the bizarre. They were clearly over-serving the drunk locals at the bar who were shouting and obnoxious, which is not only frustrating but dangerous. Peculiar hours. Not impressive. (2/5 stars accounts for atmosphere; would be just "average" 3/5 if I didn't have to listen to the people at the bar.) read more

This is my new favorite Mexican restaurant in Pickerington they are extremely nice and generous. I ordered a cheese quesadilla and they brought me out a chicken taco then we received my mail and beverage at no charge I would highly recommend trying them out!!! read more

We used to go here every Wednesday for all you can eat tacos. We moved away and were meeting family here, since we told them how good it was. The food was good, but our service was not. We were there for 2 hours and they were not that busy. It took a while to get drinks. The food was delivered by another person, so at least our food was hot. It took him a while to split our bill and he messed it up, so he had to do it again. While we were waiting, a guy was smoking behind us (we were out on the patio). Even though we were outside, I don't think they should allow smoking. We won't be back. read more

Ordered 5 combo dinners for takeout along with pints of salsa, queso & chips. Requested lettuce, tomatoes, jalapeños, guacamole & sour cream in separate containers so we could reheat meals when home & not have to eat mush. 2 Chimichanga supreme combos had condiments minus jalapeños on them & were totally mush. 3 other combo dinners had no condiments & none were included with order. All 5 dinners placed in one bag on top of one another & bottom 3 were squished. Not a pretty site. Totally regretted the 18% tip & $90+ outlay. Called the restaurant to vehemently complain as we called in advance to review our intended order when closer to the restaurant. Upon doing so called back & placed order. Round trip to families home from restaurant was approximately 4O minutes. This after driving 11 hours. Imagine our disappointment! Called the restaurant & after a short discussion was put on hold & disconnected. Called back today, Sunday, & was offered a $30 credit which was approximately 33% of total bill & no more. Caveat Emptor! read more

Always had good food and service here. No complaints from us at all. The food is pretty authentic and the menu is pretty vast so it's easy to find something for everyone. read more

I seldom, if ever, feel strongly enough about an establishment that would warrant a one-star review on my part. I wouldn't call myself a regular here, but I've been here several times since they've opened and I thought I knew what to expect when dining: A pretty good Tex-Mex joint with some interesting and tasty menu options, and great service. That was not the case on my most recent visit. The wife and I were hungry, so we set out to Zapata's for a nice meal. Nothing stood out at us, the place was clean, and seating prompt. The chips and salsa arrived, we saved them until we placed our order and received our drinks. My wife beat me to the chip pile, tasted the salsa and said "That tastes like marinara sauce!". I couldn't believe my ears, salsa? Tastes like marinara? That can't be right, the salsa here is generally good, a nice freshly made sauce with pureed tomatoes and onions, a bit heavy on the cilantro at times, but not Ragu Old World Classic! I scooped some salsa onto a chip myself to verify that my wife wasn't having a stroke, and my taste buds were assaulted with the overwhelming sensation of eating cold spaghetti sauce from a can. It looked like salsa, but smelled and tasted decidedly like Chef Boyardee. Now from the point of placing our order and receiving our drinks, we didn't see our server until after our food was delivered by a runner. Food was tasty, we dug in, pleased to be eating. Not long after, our server came by and asked "Everything taste alright to you guys?" to which we almost in unison replied "NO!", we went on to explain that although our entrees were good, the salsa was lacking tonight, and tasted like pizza sauce. Her response was to condescendingly reply "We make it that way every day", I admit, I got a little on the defensive after being talked down to by someone who probably just passed their driver's ed class, so I retorted with "I've been here before, I'd remember if it tasted like marinara sauce.". Still with the tone of voice one usually reserves for talking to a small child that's done wrong, she insists "Well, we haven't changed it, we make it the same way every day." and walked away. Wow, no offer to replace it, no apology, no manager coming by address our concerns, just a rude server and a lost appetite. I requested a box for the remainder of our food, the check, and we changed our opinions on Zapata's faster than Hillary Clinton changes her views on same-sex marriage. I genuinely felt like this was a bad dream, we had planned on going out for cocktails afterwards, but after that humiliating and infuriating incident we decided to cut our losses and go home. Work on your customer service training Zapata's, before you end up being just another failed Pickerington restaurant, but we won't be returning or recommending. read more