We ordered the chicken mole enchilada and the beef burrito. The chicken enchilada itself was good, but surprisingly there was no mole sauce inside, which was disappointing given the dish. The beans, however, were flavorful and a highlight of the meal. read more

Zavala Mexican Bistro - Chicken Mole Enchilada - New Mexican Cuisine Near Me - East Lyme, Connecticut

Feeling mixed about this place. It feels like a restaurant in transition - some of it is highly decorated, while some has the "back of the house" stuff on full display for those sitting near the kitchen. The bench seating was narrow and rather hard, so we didn't feel like staying very long. Service was quick enough, efficient but not particularly friendly or welcoming. The food was good, not great; I got the chicken mole and found the chicken to be rather tough. My husband got the chicken quesadilla and thought it was pretty tasty. For what we ordered, we felt the cost didn't match the quality. read more

I must go at least once a week for my chili rellenos fix. The best I have found since Hortencia passed. The margueritas are nothing to sneeze at either! Prices are reasonable, staff is friendly and helpful. I sent an order of chili relenos to a friend in NH and she loved them. Got to go. I'm off to East Lyme/Zavalas. Karen read more

Amazing service -- celebrated a birthday here and they went above and beyond for the surprise birthday song singing. Overall, food is very good -- the fish tacos are AMAZING. It is quite a drive away from where I leave but hoping for my next Mohegan Sun concert so I have an excuse to stop by. read more

See all

My husband got food poisoning from the fish tacos!!! Don't eat here! Almost 2 hours after eating it ( I'm someone who has their food handlers certificate) so I know how long it usually takes and the fact it was almost immediately after is scary! DONT EAT HERE read more

My husband and I LOVE it here! The nachos are my go-to I could have them as a full dinner, even though my husband likes to share. He always orders the fajitas, which are fresh and packed with flavor. We've also tried the chorizo appetizer, and it's definitely a favorite. I've had the burritos before personally found them a bit lacking in flavor, but with so many great options on the menu, I'm always excited to try something new. The servers are always friendly, the music adds a great vibe, and we love sitting on the bar side it has beautiful wallpaper. Highly recommend! read more

Zavala Mexican Bistro - Burrito and fajitas - New Mexican Cuisine Near Me - East Lyme, Connecticut

See all

Went here last night for happy hour Food was great and drinks well worth it Family owned and run. Would recommend it read more

Overall 4/5 Stars! Overview: Happy hour deals are good, the service is great, and I would definitely come back here! Nachos - Were definitely different from your typical nachos & for a good Happy Hour price ($6)! I personally really loved the nachos because of the smaller chips and the guac, shredded cheese, sour cream, and bean combination. It's a great eat while you're waiting for your meal! Chips & Guac - Was not mine, but my friends did devour & loved them! Chicken Chimichanga - Was LARGE and tasted absolutely delicious, however I did have to take most of it home. The Chimichanga was a lot less salty than previous chimichangas I've had and the amount it was fried was not over-the-top. I personally wasn't extremely fond of the sauce because it tasted quite cheesy, but if you enjoy cheese, it's definitely a great choice! Service - Was great! We were seated immediately and our waitress was very efficient without us feeling rushed. read more

Zavala Mexican Bistro - Top: Chips & Guac Bottom: Nachos - New Mexican Cuisine Near Me - East Lyme, Connecticut

See all

The food is always amazing, a knowledgeable and friendly staff, and a great location.

Over 30 minutes for 4 drinks to arrive More than an hour for appetizers to arrive. The place was 3/4 empty in a Thursday night. Hair in the food which waitress claimed was mine! Horrible experience It took 4 tries to get the check correct read more

First time visit to our local Mexican restaurant. Went for happy hour and then ordered dinner. The pork dinner was so tender didn't need the steak knife provided. So good husband wants to go back just so he can order it for his meal. His mole chicken with rice and beans was large. So full after we took a slice of flan to share at home. So glad this is just down the street from our new house. Going to become regulars..... read more

Zavala Mexican Bistro - Marinated pork over mashed sweet plantain cake ....molé chicken in back. - New Mexican Cuisine Near Me - East Lyme, Connecticut

Great food ,great service, friendly staff, seating outside is supper nice. over it was a amazing experienc. I would recommend to anyone how like Mexican food. read more

We stopped in for lunch and the food was simply delicious!! If you are looking for authentic Mexican food with complex flavors look no further. We had the chilis rellenos and the enchilada special and both were delicious. We met Martin the owner and we can see why his food is so good as she truly has a passion to bring authentic Mexican dishes to his restaurant. And the margaritas were perfect!! read more

Zavala Mexican Bistro - New Mexican Cuisine Near Me - East Lyme, Connecticut

See all

Food was amazing. I've been chasing the best tortilla soup for years and I finally found it. 12/10. Will visit again.

Great food. Very authentic but dudes really.... How bout cleaning the bathroom.... Maybe a little paint? Kinda ruined the experience. Also take a look at your moldings. They're pretty gross read more

I was excited to check out Zavala's new location because I remember them from when they were in downtown NL. The food was as good as I remember. My strawberry margarita was perfect! I could have drank so many more of those cuz they were smooth! Our server was nice and attentive. We tried the Mexico City Quesadilla, the Tuna Ceviche for apps and obviously chips and salsa. All of which were delicious. I had the carne asada tacos snd enjoyed them as well. I also liked that they put hot sauce in a tiny little squirt bottle on the side if you wanted to make your food a little more spicy. The spice level was mild which is what I like. Our server was nice and attentive...she even asked if we wanted our apps out first or all together with our meals. It's a pretty nice space with a bar and lounge on one side. Will definitely be back to try other items! read more

See all

I've been in CT for a little over 2 years and have been in the hunt for genuinely good Mexican food. Probably hundreds of dollars later... I Finally I found a winner! This place is SO GOOD! I live close to this restaurant and I swear I'm here at least twice a month. They have the best happy hour, the best selection of food, and the vibe is completely unmatched. The have the bar and dining area separated so if you want to have an adult only dinner out or dine out with the whole family, both are possible! I bring all of my friends here, all of my family when they visit. It's definitely a staple in my household. I am an extremely, extremely picky eater and they accommodated to what I will actually eat even though it wasn't a menu option & remembered what it was the next time I came! They truly have the best margaritas I've ever had in CT & will continue to return to this restaurant. read more

Mexican food is definitely one of my favorites, so I was very much looking forward to Zavala opening in town. I went at about 5:30 or so and was able to be seated right upon arrival, but it definitely got busier as we were eating. I did notice that there is a small bar area not in the dining room that I would love to sit at next visit as well! While the menu is not very extensive, there is something for everyone! The salsa and totopos is of course a must have. The salsa is quite flavorful, and it comes with a tiny bottle of hot sauce for those at your table (me) who like the extra kick of flavor. The Mexico City Quesadilla was also delicious and stuffed with cheese. We couldn't resist getting the tuna ceviche on the specials menu and it was outstanding! The guacamole on top was something I've never had with ceviche but it was the perfect addition. For my main meal I chose the fire grilled chicken tacos. The smoky flavor of the chicken was delicious, and I couldn't eat them fast enough! While I had no room for dessert on this trip, I absolutely had room for margaritas. I tried the Original Margarita and the Fresh Margarita. The original was great, but the fresh will definitely be my go-to. The squeezed citrus is just amazing! I will definitely be coming back to try some other items on the menu! read more

See all

We had take out from here. Not impressed. This place is very pricey. I had the scallops with mango which was very good but only a tiny portion of rice with it and a mixed vegetable. Charcoal grilled chicken, with onions and cilantro served on corn tortillas very dry, no flavor. Maybe down the road we will try it again. A $64 failed meal. read more

Zavala Mexican Bistro - Maybe a 1/2 bag, runny guacamole. $12 - New Mexican Cuisine Near Me - East Lyme, Connecticut

Great food and tequila. Family owned and operated. They have been consistently good for dinner and lunches.

Incredible Mexican food. Not the gloppy cheesy crap you get at other places. My wife got the flounder and I got the chicken enchilada verde. I'll say again, incredible. We'll be back! read more

If I could give this place MORE than 5 stars I absolutely would!! This is my Favorite Mexican restaurant. My daughter and I have been here several times and have Never had a bad meal. Everything is delicious and fresh. The service is impeccable as well. The staff greet & treat us like old friends or family. This place is located in a little strip mall in East Lyme. It's quaint and just right in size. The bar and dining room are separate which is great for families with children. The decor and music are authentic Mexican. I just LOVE this place! What else can I say?! read more

Not happy and most likely will not return. We ordered to go for Cinco de Mayo and wasn't thrilled at all. The beef burrito was bland at best, the carne asada tacos literally had no flavor and the fish tacos looked decent, but were tasteless. I know I should've made better plans to celebrate and not ordered at 7pm. Completely unimpressed. read more

The food is good, but the portions are very bad!!!! Really need to improve those portions.

I loved this little Mexican Bistro! It's a cute little establishment in the former Rebecca's restaurant space in a modest strip mall in E Lyme next to the Fire Station & directly across from Dollar General. It has a great casual but cozy & intimate vibe to it. They have ample dining space and an adorable 8 seating bar area. I went straight to the bar & settled in. They have a wonderful Happy hour M-Sat 3-6 PM and I wanted to take advantage of it! I looked over their Happy Hour Specials & selected the Strawberry Margarita OTR w salt, Nachos & the fish tacos (flounder blackened & seared). The Margaritas are served in pint glasses & rimmed perfectly. It was delicious: perfectly executed. The small personal size nachos comes in a medium deep soup bowl with homemade small triangle flour chips with a nice amount of black beans, melted cheese & spring onion with a sprinkling of cotija cheese. They were also fantastic although I was hoping they would be slightly bigger portion. I noshed on those & lovingly sipped my margaritas. Next came the fish tacos. They were lightly blackened & seared and served atop some shredded cabbage, carrot mixture on homemade flour tortillas with some cheese & a drizzle of medium spicy crema. They were food truck style so small but solidly good. (I generally prefer cod or grouper in my fish tacos but these were good). The Bartender was extremely knowledgeable, efficient, helpful, kind & welcoming. The waitstaff was equally as lovely. I really loved this place. The drinks & food are authentic & solidly good. The portions tend to be more modest & I feel it's slightly pricey but everything is executed thoughtfully & with quality ingredients. And it is also Niantic so things tend to be pricier in that area. It is still a great dining experience. The M-Sat 3-6 PM Happy Hour is a great alternative for those on a budget. All in all, a fantastic little Mexican bistro! DEFINITELY RECOMMENDED! read more

We visited Zavala for the first time last night; the owner runs several other restaurants in southeast CT including Milagro's in Stonington, which we love. The ambience was good, Mexican music playing in the background and, unlike so many restaurants, the noise level was low and manageable - we could talk without lip-reading or shouting. Tables were set a reasonable distance apart from one another. The service was excellent - we had made a reservation and were seated right away upon our arrival, having the choice of the dining room or the bar, we chose the dining room. The waiter was polite, efficient, and attentive. We both had margaritas which were delicious - fresh and not over-sweet like many 'house' margaritas can be. The salsa and chips - of course a basic staple at Mexican restaurants - were a notch above: the salsa was fresh and not over-spiced, and the chips were both fresh and hot. They really were the best we've ever had. For our mains, we had the veggie enchilada casserole and the beef burrito. They were both outstanding; there is a high-end restaurant in the area that serves a similar casserole and this was far better. Zavala is now a go-to place for us even though it's a 20-minute drive. Highly recommended, we'll definitely be back. read more

A nice addition to this little town that could use a few more good Mexican options. Pros and cons to this nice new bistro so overall above average and we want to visit again. The good include the hot house made chips, flavorful fresh salsa, the vegetable enchiladas and chicken burrito and tacos. The not so good include the margarita, guacamole and the above average prices. I started with a fresh margarita and chips and salsa. I didn't detect any fresh squeezed juice in fact the margarita overall was bland and watery. The chips however are some of the best we've had in any Mexican restaurant. Brought out fresh and warm with just the right amount of salt, crispy not at all greasy and paired with some of the best fresh salsa that was mild but packed with amazing flavor. We did not need the extra hot sauce to spice it up at all. The guacamole on the other hand was also watery and flavorless. It seemed fresh but it could've been poured like a thin liquid condiment. We added the hot sauce to this dip which didn't do much for it. I would recommend not missing out on the salsa and skipping the guacamole. Also maybe order a dependable Modelo and skip the margarita here. Although there were some descriptions the menu, it was not very clear which items were vegetarian. My guest went with the obvious vegetable enchiladas and found them to be delicious. I'm not usually a fan of burritos because I don't personally care for Mexican rice but after some back-and-forth on my choices I was able to order the special chicken burrito minus the rice with the green salsa Verde and it was outstanding. Also receiving accolades from our group were the chicken tacos. All of the entrées we would recommend, and order again ourselves. We did not save room for dessert on this visit but despite the pricey bill, we hope to return again and, perhaps next time will enjoy an all good full experience. read more

See all

This restaurant is located in the corner of a small plaza and is spacious inside. There's plenty of parking. The place looked very nice. Decor was cultural and vibrant. It was very clean. Our waiter was attentive, helpful, and professional. We came for lunch with about 6 other people. The place was almost empty. They took a while with the food, but the food was great. We enjoyed authentic chips with salsa and guacamole. The margaritas were tasty and they provide you with extra to pour. I had Chicken Mole enchiladas. The mole was very rich and flavorful. The rice was good, black beans were great, and there was plenty of shredded chicken. I would definitely come back. read more

Visiting from out of town. What a gem! Our bartender Sammy was very knowledgeable about all the tequilas... and made amazing recommendations (as well as an amazing tequila cocktail). I had the pork with mashed plantains and it was the best tasting food I've had in a long time. Great atmosphere, great fun! read more

Service was good but the food was just ok. Steak fajitas and rice were bland. Guacamole and spicy fish tacos were very good. Also seemed pretty expensive for Mexican food...an app and two meals (no drinks) was $62 before tip. read more

Best Mexican food I'd had in awhile. Have been to the other restaurants owned by them in Groton and stonington. It was delicious!!! Will definitely be back. Go check it out read more

Zavala Mexican Bistro - Fish tacos - New Mexican Cuisine Near Me - East Lyme, Connecticut

See all

Went on a Saturday night, which was fairly full. Not sure if they can handle full house. Waitresses were hustling but took 15 minutes to get my beer, and that was after waiting 15 minutes for a waitress to even check on us. Then another 20 minutes before taking our order, which took 40 minutes to prepare. I had Chicken enchiladas- fairly bland. Even the rice had little flavor. Expected a little more flavor/ spice. Somewhat disappointing for our first time. read more

Holy cow. Unexpected. I'd define the food as more traditional, upscale Mexican. The portions are perfect. I got the quesadilla and it's more like a turnover and it was delicious! My kids have a very picky pallet, and they were super happy with the kids tacos. I will definitely be back to try some more. Wish I lived closer to the area. read more

Updated review: Restaurant has gotten even better. Excellent gourmet food at fair prices. Their signature dishes are creative, well prepared, and beautifully presented. Bartender truly deserves her "margarita queen" nickname. Let's all support this local gem. read more

Fantastic meal! We both ordered what the bartender recommended... excellent drinks. We arrived late so not much of a crowd. Best Mexican I have ever sampled!!! Bartender Sousa was knowledgeable and fun!!!! Don't miss this place! read more

Place was nice and clean but got the mole enchiladas and they were nowhere near what Mole should be like. The chicken and enchiladas were good but mole was like a tomato sauce for pasta. Would try something else there next time but will try again. read more

This place has such a warm and festive atmosphere with amazing food! Everything I've ordered is delicious and Totally authentic and very creative. Dishes are so colorful and appetizing! Wait staff is attentive and friendly. It's the real deal, you might as well be in Mexico. read more

What a great dinner we had with friends last night at Zavala. All appetizers and entrees were excellent. Service impeccable!

The food was delicious. The service was friendly and attentive. Prices were very reasonable. Will totally return with the family again soon.

Service was great, food was absolutely terrible. Soggy, bland and insulting. Very disappointing!