El Centro D.f. - Washington

This was my first time at El Centro. A group of us gathered to celebrate a friend's birthday. We had made reservations and arrived at 10:30, and what...

My friend and I went to a happy hour on a Friday, and it was absolutely amazing! I ordered a strawberry basil mojito, and my friend chose a guava mojito. Both drinks were just fantastic!

I arrived at 5:00, and the host informed me that she was fully booked until 8:00. Yet, I noticed the restaurant was empty!

Our waitress was friendly and knowledgeable, which is always a winning combination. The food was impressive. El Centro DF seems to make a genuine effort to keep things lively, offering themed nights like Nacho Mondays and Taco Tuesdays, along with appealing happy hour specials. Fortunately for us, we happened to visit during a guacamole festival, which compelled us to try a sampler. We chose the mild version, and it featured three distinct guacamoles served on mini tostadas. The Norteno variety included chicharron, pickled onion, salsa fresca, serrano pepper, queso fresco, and roasted corn. The Sur had grasshoppers, tomatillos, cotija cheese, onion, and chile cascabel. While the grasshopper was slightly stale, that might have been because I didn’t eat it immediately, and it soaked up the guacamole’s juices. The Pacifico came with grilled beet, roasted walnut, queso fresco, and diced orange. All of them were also accompanied by three different salsas, which added to the overall flavor. I couldn't resist ordering a tamale, so I ended up having appetizers for dinner. The Chicken Tinga Tamales were served with avocado and sweet chipotle sauce, which tasted almost like a sweet taco sauce. It was very enjoyable. I paired my meal with a Kiwi Margarita, which I had high hopes for, but it didn’t quite meet my expectations. While it was a decent margarita, the lime flavor overshadowed the kiwi, making the kiwi mainly a textural addition. Overall, it was a delightful dining experience. I definitely plan to return, and I’ll make sure to check out the rooftop bar next time!