Right next to the Subway in the Shops at Ithaca Mall sits Zocalo, a Mexican restaurant that has been quickly gaining popularity amidst a declining mall. Zocalo opened in mid-April, grabbing the attention of local mall-goers, including myself, my father, and my sister, Laura. We finally made our way to eat lunch at Zocalo on Cinco de Mayo, therefore getting the full energy of the exciting restaurant.
When my family and I arrived at Zocalo, we were immediately seated, even though the restaurant was almost full. While we sat at the table, we looked at the many interesting black-and-white photographs hung around the restaurant and enjoyed listening to the Spanish music in the background. Our server was tired but nevertheless polite, handing us large menus that displayed an impressive collection of fajitas, burritos, and quesadillas.
Our lunch started off with complimentary chips and salsa. The chips were warm and crispy, matching perfectly with the fresh-tasting salsa. A very addictive opener; we had to stop ourselves from eating them in order to save room for the rest of the meal. For readers older than twenty-one, my father ordered a margarita, commenting that it was excellent and that it made him want to return to Zocalo just for another. Refreshed, we ordered the Quesadilla Appetizer, the Burrito Santa Fé, the Pollo Yucatán, and the chimichanga.
The wait time for the Quesadilla Appetizer did not feel long, and soon our server came with about five quesadillas filled with chicken, guajillo peppers, and soft onions, served with a creamy cheese sauce. The dish also came with sour cream, along with pico de gallo that helped to add flavor and balance to the quesadillas. We all agreed with no delay that the chicken was delightfully well-cooked, with absolutely no chewiness or dryness. The cheese sauce was smooth and flavorful, demonstrating Zocalo’s high-quality food before the entrees had even arrived. However, this appetizer did fall on the heavy side and was quite filling, so I recommend that if you order the Quesadilla Appetizer you share it with others.
Shortly after, our server informed us that the wait time for the entrees would be about twenty-five minutes. Luckily, the wait time did not feel long. We easily talked to each other and passed the time, as Zocalo’s music and atmosphere is loud enough to be lively, but quiet enough so you can hear the person next to you. Our servers, who had become more relaxed and friendly as other customers began to leave, brought our entrees to the table. My burrito had chicken and beef accented with cilantro to add a note of freshness, preventing the dish from feeling too heavy. Like the meat in my burrito, the shredded beef in the chimichanga was not chewy at all and was properly salted without being overwhelming. My sister was impressed with the chicken in the Pollo Yucatán for its smokey and delicious flavor. It is very easy to make under-seasoned chicken that becomes bland as you eat it, but the flavor of this chicken lasted throughout the whole bite. The entrees were also on the heavy side, but because the meat was so well seasoned, moist, and cooked expertly, the meal was warm and comforting to eat. As a bonus, the meal was very reasonably priced, while still delivering excellent food.
Throughout the whole experience, perhaps the most disconcerting thing about Zocalo was their abundant use of plastic. Plastic cups were used instead of glasses, paper napkins were used as opposed to cloth napkins, and sauces were held in plastic cups. While not environmentally friendly, it is likely Zocalo must use plastic because they are relatively new and don’t have a steady money flow. Hopefully, as time goes on and they earn more money, they can afford glasses and materials that are better for the environment.
The overall environment of Zocalo was comforting and welcoming. Taking a look around, people of all ages were having a great time, laughing and enjoying the flavorful food. Zocalo is definitely family friendly and has a festive but relaxed environment that is impeccably clean. They even gifted beads to us in celebration of Cinco de Mayo and gave children decorative cactus headbands. Even though I don’t particularly favor Mexican food, Zocalo showed me what well-seasoned, flavorful Mexican food is like. This is an excellent place to relax and talk with family and friends, and I highly recommend you try something new to eat and check out Zocalo.