Zapata’s Restaurant
5485 Harpers Farm Rd, Columbia, MD, 21044
Zapata’s Restaurant Menu
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Appetizers
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Sopas And Ensalads
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Fajita
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Sandwiches
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Postres
Healthy Meal suggestions for Zapata’s Restaurant
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Appetizers
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Sopas And Ensalads
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Fajita
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Sandwiches
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Postres
Visit below restaurant in Columbia for healthy meals suggestion.
Visit below restaurant in Columbia for healthy meals suggestion.
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Address :
5485 Harpers Farm Rd
Columbia, MD, 21044 - Phone (410) 715-6929
- Website https://www.zapatasonline.com/
- Click To Get Directions
Opening Hours
- Mon :11:30 am - 9:00pm
- Mon : 11:30 am - 9:00pm
Specialities
- Takes Reservations : Yes
Delivery : No
Take-out : Yes
Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Good For : Lunch
Parking : Private Lot
Bike Parking : Yes
Wheelchair Accessible : Yes
Good for Kids : Yes
Good for Groups : Yes
Attire : Casual
Ambience : Casual
Noise Level : Quiet
Alcohol : Full Bar
Outdoor Seating : Yes
Wi-Fi : No
Has TV : Yes
Waiter Service : Yes
Caters : No
Categories
Mexican Cuisine
If you enjoy Taco Tuesday, then you have officially fallen in love with the Mexican Food. The main grain of Mexican cuisine is maize. Also known as corn, maize is grown for the past 9000 years after the crop was discovered by the people in Mayan civilization. Mexican empire flourished when they started growing beans, tomatoes, chili pepper, sweet potato and cactus. Till this date these ingredients are used in cooking authentic Mexican dishes and drinks.
Great use of spices, fresh chili pepper dishes like fajitas, tortilla chips, corn chips, salsa, chimichangas, burritos, nachos and quesadillas are invented in America. But when you are looking for authentic Mexican food then you must find a restaurant in the city that serves Rajas con Queso, Garbanzo in a Guajillo Chile Sauce, Pork Filled Chiles Rellenos, Chiles en Nogada, Molcajete Salsa, Pico de Gallo and Frijoles de la Olla. An eye-opening fact – Mexican don't like their food hot. They use fresh chili and other spices to create a flavor that lingers in your mouth.
Mexican food is great for those who are Gluten Intolerant as they use Corn instead of wheat in most of their dishes. Also, you can easily find many beans based Mexican dishes. Another dish which didn't get similar glory as tacos or nachos is the Mexican hot chocolate. If you love something hot on a chilly day, then go for Mexican Hot Chocolate. On merry days, you can enjoy the authentic Mexican Drinks like Tequila, Mezcal, Tecuí, Sotol, Bacanora, Charanda, Posh O Pox, Puebla and Pulque. Mexican Cuisine is for people who enjoy strong drinks and hearty meals.
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Puneet M.
Fajitas were good. Sizzling, plus they had a good amount of food and variety of veg's. Onions, squash, tomato's, peppers. The black beans were very good, almost the best part of the meal. Everything was good, but nothing great. I have had better salsa at home. But they have good service and the variety of choices on their menu is good.
(3)Matt M.
This is one of the better Mexican restaurants I've been to in a while. Excellent food (tried the Enchiladas Jalisco and Fajita Style Burrito) and strong, yet tasty, drinks. The restaurant is broken into two sections, which may be the reason for some of the confusion from the other reviews. The bar side is smaller, has a pool table, and is a bit more run down. I believe there were 3 tables set up in the bar area. We originally sat in the bar area thinking it was the restaurant. They have a full menu, great specials ($3 maragaritas on Thursday), and service is provided by the bartender. The bartender was very helpful with the menu and encouraged us to try the margaritas on special because they were a great deal. We were not disappointed. After getting a menu, the bartender sensed we were there primarily for a meal and mentioned that there is also an actual dining area. The dining area is much larger and is pretty much what I would expect from a Mexican restaurant. Service was good and things were clean. This will definitely be our go-to Mexican restaurant in the Columbia area, especially with the sweet $20 for $40 Yelp deal!
(4)Tracy G.
Another very good meal at zapatas. Standard salsa is good and they brought us tao other great ones as well. Queso fundido was really yummy and the salmon w mango salsa excellent. We also had the sopa mariscos - lots of fish shrimp and mussels -which was superb and enough for lunch tomorrow too. Our server was terrific. Knowledgable and helpful. We'll be back.
(4)Nancy C.
The service was good- the waiter handled our annoying group (some people wanted drinks, some people wanted dinner, one person wanted just dessert, people showed up over the course of an hour) very gracefully, and brought water out for my dog. The food was good- we noticed that they had alot of different sauces; even two different kinds of green sauce, one of which came with my empanadas and was super spicy and delicious. There's cooking going on, not just the standard putting the same ingredients in your choice of taco shells, enchiladas, or tortillas with a side of beans and rice that goes on at some places. The flan was the nice smooth kind without bubbles in the custard. The margaritas were a little sweet for my tastes, but tasty, strong, and reasonably priced. All things considered, given that Zapata's is within walking distance of my house, and I can bring my dog if we sit outside, I'm probably going to become a regular. I do not understand why some of the reviews were so low. No, it's not haute cuisine, but I was pleasantly surprised.
(4)larry c.
Fabulous margaritas, and their specials are great for variety. Love that I can walk home!
(5)Sarajeane D.
I wish i could give this place a fair review but i can't! why not ? well because my best friends and i went there because we were looking for a good mexican restaurant and we found this on on yelp deals ( 40$ worth for 20$) this was around 9 (saturday, June 23rd) and the place was EMPTY.... not a soul! so we walk in the place and from behind a wall this girl looking a pure mess , pokes her head out ( doesn't even walk up to great us) and says "Can I help you?) wtf! so I go, Yeah are you open. you would of thought i asked her an algebra question with the look she gave me.... she goes i don't know let me check! HOW THE HELL ARE YOU WORKING SOMEWHERE AND DO NOT KNOW IF YOU ARE CURRENTLY OPEN. so then this guy walks behind her and goes yeah i think we are open would you like a seat. so i look to my friends and kindly say no thanks and walk out.... IM SORRY BUT I WAS NOT ABOUT TO EAT THERE. now my friend and i are stuck with a coupon that won't ever use(but I'm going to try to get a refund) because i will not be going back there.
(1)Beth W.
Pretty good, but not great. Great margaritas, though!
(3)MICHAEL U.
Back again this past Saturday, yummy,yum, yummerson! Beef enchillada's yummy, next time i'm gonna man up and try the menudo!
(5)Kenneth F.
i ordered salmon. it tasted like a few weeks old, but against my better judgment i ate half of it. felt queasy that evening; fever the next day -- food poisoning.
(1)Nicholas S.
Lovely, quaint restaurant west of Columbia Mall. A great, authentic alternative to the big Mexican chains. A nice cielo azul margarita.
(4)Maiko H.
It's a nice little restaurant that serves great food. The prices are reasonable and portions are just right.
(4)Phil D.
Very bland food. Margarita on the rocks is tasty, but the frozen margarita is a waste of your time.
(2)Lindsey R.
The food is good and so are the margaritas! Our server was great and made sure we had everything we needed!
(4)EJ S.
A little too pricey for average fare. Not horrible for MD Mex, but I will stick to my "once every few years" pace. We only went because of the $20 Yelp deal. The verde sauce was nice and spicy, and the steak in my enchilada was good. The margarita was decent and strong.
(2)Alex A.
I would leave zero stars if I could. My husbands food came out with raw meat in it. No apology was given or offer to replace it. The waitress was hard to find and it took over 10 minutes to get my coke (that didn't taste right either). Did I mention that there was only 4 other occupied tables in the restaurant. To top it off there was zero toilet paper is the woman's bathroom. Do not waste your time. We used the yelp deal and it still was not worth it.
(1)Meredith B.
For what it is, the place is pretty solid. The food itself is really quite good. I particularly enjoyed my first visit there for breakfast- haven't had proper huevos rancheros since I was last in Texas. The service is... service? I'm not going to give the place five stars and rave about how perfect it is- Jaleo it ain't- but it's a quiet hole in the wall for good, inexpensive Mexican. As has been noted by others, the bar is not a place to go if you're not a regular; it doesn't look particularly welcoming to outsiders... but it turns out that doesn't bother me especially.
(4)Texman O.
great food, a bit rustic ambience
(4)Krissy K.
The food is ok. I liked the burritos and the empanadas were good. The tres leche cake was bad. A little overpriced but I'd recommend it. I heard the drinks are pretty good at the bar.
(3)Zach S.
Even though I would only rate the service as being average, that's very different than saying that it was bad. The waitress forgot to give us menus, so we couldn't order for six or seven minutes longer. That's no big deal. What's more important is the food quality. And it was great! The flavor of my pork enchilada was wonderful, with lots of cilantro, and this green spicy salsa that was just excellent (it started with a "v"...). My girlfriend had a vegetarian buritto that she also loved. If not for the excellent food, I would give Zapata's three stars, because the margaritas are just average, the service is average, and the prices were just a little bit high. But the great food is worth the extra fourth star.
(4)Laura E.
The cheese fondue with chorizo was very good, margaritas say they're made with natural lime juice but that was not the case, being a bartender I can tell the difference. Our server Herman was alright. I decided to go with the fajitas because it is a Mexican restaurant and it would be difficult to mess up something simple like fajitas. I was not pleased with them it didn't taste fresh to me. The bar smelled like cigarettes which also turned me off I'll probably never go back.
(1)Shachi B.
This place is a little tricky to find if you're not paying attention. Well... pay more attention cause it's good! Solid, solid sangria. Cheese enchiladas with mole sauce - I really enjoyed their mole sauce. Nice depth of flavor and just enough spice. Reasonably priced. Go here. You won't be disappointed. YUM.
(3)Robert M.
After looking at the wide range of reviews, I wasn't sure what to expect. But with the Yelp deal it was inexpensive to give this place a try. The reviews are correct. The food is very tasty. The margaritas are strong. The place is a dump. Dirty, messy. The service is terrible. We were there at 7pm on a Saturday. One would think any restaurant interested in repeat business would have their A game on a Saturday night. The food was good enough that I would consider getting take out. But I doubt it. If the dining room is that messy, how clean could the kitchen be?
(1)Paul W.
Awesome margaritas and great tacos. Waiter was very attentive and had helpful suggestions. Very good value with the $40 for $20 yelp deal.
(4)Courtney C.
I was looking for a place to get pitchers of margaritas and came across Zapatas. I snagged a few girls and headed there for dinner and drinks on a random Wednesday night. The bar is a little ghetto but not too uncomfortably so. The bartender was really sweet. We ordered a pitcher of the house margarita and asked for some chips and salsa. Chips were good, salsa was warm (weird) and spicy, margaritas were on point. Nothing outstanding but what you would expect from a Tex-Mex place. The AC was broken in the bar that night. I hope they get it fixed because it was pretty steamy in there. We ordered all sort of stuff and it was all really good, but nothing amazing. I was expecting the salsa verde to be spicier, but I have a high spice tolerance. My friend's salad has ceasar dressing on it for some reason, which she didn't ask for. The vegetarian burrito another friend ordered was almost too spicy for her, but huge and full of spinach. I enjoyed my chicken enchiladas with vegetables and a side salad. The queso was a little grainy and not my favorite. I think this would be a good spot to grab some drinks on one of the outside tables, but I don't see myself going back to the bar area or making a special trip for the food. Additionally, in the bar area there was a couch and a bunch of kids hanging out. It was strange and there is no longer a pool table. Just a couple random arcade type games by the entrance.
(3)Allison F.
This is probably the most authentic Mexican restaurants in Columbia, since the majority of restaurants are chains like On the Border and Don Pablo's. The food here is generally pretty good, although the service can be ridiculously slow at times. The last time we went, we were the only patrons in the restaurant and our waitress took at least 15 minutes to take our orders. The food is worth the wait, however. My husband swears by the mole sauce and the tacos al carbon are very good. There's rarely a wait here; I'm actually pretty surprised that this place is still in business, given that you can walk in on Saturday night and only share the restaurant with 3-4 other tables. Avoid the bar area at all costs; it doesn't even seem like it's attached to the restaurant. It's definitely for the regulars and not visitor-friendly. It's a shame that the bar is so sketchy and the service (aside from one waiter who is typically very attentive) is so slow. The food is quite good, the restaurant has a good ambiance and the sangria is excellent.
(3)Katrina M.
I kinda want to give this place a 3.5. I really liked the margaritas, they seemed well balanced with a solid kick of liquor. The food is good. I don't think there's anything that would be disappointing. I like that they offer more traditional dishes in addition to the Americanized typicals. The bar, however, is hilarious, and not in a good way. We walked in on the bar side to get to the restaurant (which is a mistake, try to pretend the bar isn't there), and it's very dark, skeezy, and clearly not welcome to new regulars. Sort of the record-skipping type moment when we walked in. Some 40-something dude at the bar gave us the worst look when we walked in, which is what nearly made me burst out laughing, because he's sitting in the lamest bar ever, clearly comfortable, and he thinks we're the ones with a problem.
(3)Chris B.
Excellent establishment. Authentic, the Real deal. Its a very nice family restaurant that has wonderful food, and a versatile atmosphere. My family goes there all the time and have some to know the owners and servers. Also has a bar in the back, away from the restaurant. Great atmosphere and drinks.
(4)Miss C.
Loved the black beans and rice. Taco, enchilada and burrito needed more flavor. But honestly I would bring my kids here. Why? Off the beaten path. Next door to a police office so def would have no issues from idiots. And because the food is not off the the chains with the spices...the kids would be good.
(3)Duy N.
Nice place, great for family meals or a good time with a group of friends. I had a variation of the chicken mole, which was a special they had running. Very good and complex in flavor as I love from all moles. This mole had a mostly nutty flavor, but I think I tasted some chocolate, and chili powder (and many other things I can't name, but are familiar). My friend had the menudo soup which was very interesting. It's basically a tripe soup said to be good for hangovers. He said hte soup could have used some kind of kick. I'll definitely go here again for my mole cravings, though they don't have mole negro. Oh also, they have a cantina/bar area that has a good amount of room. Not sure if it gets busy at night, but nice to know it's there. The service was very good and our waiter was very hospitable.
(4)Tucker H.
4.5* This was the best mexican/Southwestern food I have had in a LONG time. I came here while I was town for a conference on the strength of the Yelp reviews, and was not let down! Based on the sign in the window, they recently changed ownership and either brought back or retained the original chef. either way, I can see why they wanted him in the kitchen. The service was very friendly and prompt, and the warm chips and salsa arrived quickly. My shredded beef chimichanga was delicious, packed with nicely seasoned meat, and with some fresh lettuce and such on the side. The seasoned rice was only average, but the chimichanga was the best I've had in years, and my colleague inhaled his burrito, which makes me think it was rather good too!
(4)Tim L.
We went here since we got a coupon and we are new to the area and really want to find a good Mexican restaurant. This is not it... Place was empty and kinda depressing. We got chips and salsa and the salsa was served warm, which evidently is something they meant to do according to other reviews. We got chicken nachos as an appetizer, which lacked flavor. The chicken fajita was average and the tortillas were hard. The carnitas were by far the biggest disappointment. They were quite gamely and tasted about as bad as they looked. The service, even though we were the only ones in the restaurant, was shoddy at best and we never really got an opportunity to ask for a replacement for our carnitas. By the time we were asked 10 minutes later, we were ready to just leave. If your in the mood for mexican, skip this place and save your cash and go to chipotle.
(1)Katherine B.
The service was slow. Food was ok, not great. I'm not saying I won't go back, but I certainly won't make it a priority.
(2)Crystal W.
Great margaritas! I've only had the chimichanga but its always great. The service is lackluster if you sit in the dining area. Bartenders are always nice.
(3)SB M.
The service was good, the food was ok, nothing to write home about. The spinach artichoke burrito needs some work. It tasted like they had opened a can of spinach and a jar of artichoke hearts an threw them together. Delicious salsa though!
(3)Jen V.
Real salsa that is served warm and fresh hits the table as soon as you sit down. The menu is more original than a typical tex-mex place, with, for example, spinach-artichoke dishes. The daily specials are usually really tasty and creative, such as burritos that have included ingredients like pumpkin, mushrooms, or short ribs. The guacamole is fresh with the perfect balance of cilantro and lime. Tortilla soup is good, too. This isn't a cheap joint, but it's not overly expensive either; the price is perfectly right for the quality. Downsides: specialty drinks like horchata are not always available and the service can be very, very spotty. The separate bar area can get loud if the door is propped open.
(4)Sooj H.
The margaritas were fantastic! Also very strong. You get your money's worth with the drinks for sure. The Al Pastor tacos were amazing, as well. The spice and pineapple were very tasty, the pork was delicious and cooked perfectly, and the beans had great texture. On a Saturday, the atmosphere was pretty quiet (surprisingly) and the service was a bit slow. And you don't want to walk through the sketchy bar area! But overall: delicious drinks, pretty good food, decent atmosphere.
(4)Sid M.
Great service (although, we were the only ones there so that should have been a given). Quite Terrible food. The grilled meat on my chicken enchiladas was actually not that bad, but their sauce was terrible. Not to mention a piece of hair on the extra jalapenos they gave me. Their regular salsa that they serve with their chips is warm and disgusting. Ask for the spicy sauce, which is only slightly edible. Sorry, I don't mean to be a cynical person or anything like that, but this just wasn't good as much as I tried to make myself feel otherwise. I feel bad giving any place 1 star as long as they had nice staff members so i'll give it 2 stars.
(2)Joelyne K.
Zapata's is truly my favorite Mexican restaurant. I worry that they are not getting enough business and that they may close up shop soon. If that happens, I would be really sad and disappointed as their food is amazing. It is as authentic as you can get and the prices are great. The warm salsa they serve with the chips is delicious!!! The people that work their are really nice and the ambiance makes you feel like your in Mexico.
(5)Jeannell T.
Came here for the first time since we had a Resturant.com certificate. We were a little nervous when we entered as the place was empty...we were the only ones in the restaurant. Upon entering, we were greeted by a wonderful server who was very attentive and friendly. Must say that the food was great but the decor needs a little sprucing. All-in-all we had a great meal and great service...we will be back again.
(4)P S.
Unfinished chili relleno-a bare chilli with a chunk of endlessly chewable cheese. Tasteless rice, but decent refried beans and chips. An automatic 18% gratuity promotes inattentive service. Not a lot to like :-(.
(2)Jane H.
In on a rainy Sunday afternoon. We are the only ones in and the staff wants to watch football, but they are accommodating. Don't get the Quaso. Get the verde salsa hot. I had the pork tacos. They were outstanding. My other had the chicken enchilada. Two adults and two children with four margaritas for $50. I highly recommend this place. We took some of the Verde salsa home. It is outstanding.
(5)Candice D.
My husband was in the mood for Mexican for his birthday and we ended up here. Maybe we hit an off night or something but I just wasn't that impressed. The food was ok but nothing special to both me and my husband. Not particularly spicy, which might suit others, but I was expecting more zing. I also got the feeling that both entrees had sat under a warming light for a while before being brought out to us. It might have been because the place was practically dead but we didn't see our waiter with any regularity until a family group came in and sat next to us. The decor was sedate for lack of a better term. I have a feeling I would have enjoyed the restaurant more if we'd been in the bar area but giving a rating based on food only earns this place an 'a-ok' review with me. Maybe we just hit an off night like I said before but based on my previous experience I haven't gone out of my way to try this place again.
(3)Jason J.
My friend and I visited here last week and had an enjoyable meal. We split Chicken Empanadas and Trio Fajitas. The empandas were excellent and I was pleased with the fajitas, they came out sizzling and tasted good. The restaurant was quiet and the service was fine. I plan to eat here again.
(5)Melanie R.
Gag!! That about sums up this meal. The salsa came out hot (as in oven hot). I saw that in another review below. Weird is correct on that one!! I had a cheese enchillada and my husband had fajitas. My enchillada was a flour tortilla with melted cheese (not cooked through) and some jar salsa thrown on top. My husband had fajitas with strips of jerky beef and overdone chicken. The ONLY saving grace of this meal, was my Sangria which was great, hence my 1 star. Our bill was $40. The worst $40 I ever spent. I went home and literallly had a bowl of cereal.
(1)A S.
Went here with my boyfriend on a Sat night, around 6. You would think that this place would be packed based on the reviews but was not. Only saw one other couple. The guitarist they have there is a sub par player probably trying to make some summer bucks before school starts again. Didn't do much to be listening to alternative in a Mexican restaurant. They do serve you chips before your order. Was okay. Didn't care too much for the warm salsa. Never had it served that way before. I usually am served fresh cool salsa at other Mexican restaurants, which is the way I like mine, that way I know it's fresh. Ordered chicken tacos. Never had feta cheese in tacos before either. Didn't care much for it either. The rice side dish tasted off. Even my boyfriend thought it tasted off. I couldn't even take more than two bites from it. The black beans was also okay, nothing to rave about. I gave one star for the friendly staff and another star because I was able to finish my two tacos.
(2)James R.
This place is a pit. Its located in a ghetto strip mall and I guess could be ok if you're sitting in the dining room with your family but the bar is possibly one of the scariest places I've ever been - and I'm male. That was all before the horrilble food arrived. I had Chicken Empanadas that tasted like they were made with cat food and nothing like Empanadas I've eaten in a number of hispanic countries. Next came the beef burrito which was huge like Chipotle but tasted horrible. The inside was cold, the sauce on top was used mererly to hide the taste of the beef inside. Needless to say me and my date headed for the nearest Taco Bell to wash the taste of this food out of my mouth. The waiter was very attentive despite the bar being pretty busy with the oddest cast of characters I'd ever been a part of. From the very mature couple that danced up and down in front of the bar to every song, to the very smelly guy with dreads that looked like he just walked in from his cardboard home out back to the mult-racial table of lesbians that scowled at every other patron in the bar. Needless to say I will not be returning EVER. Save your hard earned money and go somewhere else - ANYwhere else.
(1)Ryan M.
The only restaurant in Columbia with Mexican food! Would not consider ever going back to the chain "Mexican" restaurants in Columbia. Service at Zapata's is good, food is tasty and the prices are reasonable. They also have some good dining specials throughout the week. My girlfriend and myself come here on a regular basis.
(5)Terry H.
I, along with my sister and daughter, went to Zapata's for lunch over the X-Mas holiday. I love Mexican food and found this restaurant here on Yelp and thought I'd give it a try. I was secretly hoping it would not be like On the Border or Don Pablo's as, to me, these restaurants represent poorly made fast food. When we arrived, the restaurant was empty and we were seated immediately. Our waiter brought out a warm salsa with hard chips. I didn't really care for either. We order the chicken stuff jalapenos to start which were horrible and we immediately sent them back. My sister and daughter ordered the chicken fajitas and I ordered the combination enchalidas; chicken, beef, and cheese. The fajitas arrived sizzling and we thought that was a good sign....not!!!! The chicken was so over cooked and dry that it was difficult to chew and the peppers and onions were burnt and stuck to the cast iron skillet. My enchalidas arrived and they were probably one of the nastiest things I've ever tasted. I can't believe there are people who think this is good Mexican food. The only positive thing about the experience was that the waiter was very nice. I would not recommend this place to anyone! As we were leaving, we decided to exit through the bar since that door was closer to the parking lot. A guy sitting at the bar asked how our lunch was. We told him it was horrbile. He said he'd never order food there; just drinks at the bar. I wish we'd ran into him before we ordered.
(1)Denice K.
Went in a large group for lunch. Everything tasted great... fajitas sizzling, steak salad impressive, & wet burrito was the best around. Hidden gem for good authentic mexican/southwest food.
(5)Jon F.
Service is always good and if your looking for authentic South American style food in a comfortable, clean sit down environment this is the best I've found in Columbia. The portions are large and fairly priced with all of the meats and sauces full of flavor and spice. I have tried several different menu items and have yet to be disappointed.
(5)Melonie T.
As far as Columbia establishments go this is by far my fav! My husband and I discovered this great little Hispanic food joint in our first week in MD. The food, although a bit more expensive then most Mexican type places, is of the best quality. The drinks are stout and most enjoyable. It is never crowded (in my experience) and the atmosphere is very pleasant.
(5)Michael M.
Probably the best Mexican you can find in Columbia. Good, not too expensive - although pricer than I would have liked. I'm not sure how they can refer to the restaurant as "Authentic Mexican Only" and still serve Chimichangas, but whatever. I had one of the Chimichangas with Shredded Beef, and was pretty tasty. My dining partner had some crispy tacos, which she also enjoyed. We went late in the day on a Tuesday, and had no wait. Downside: They served me Tecate in a can, which just isn't as good as the bottle. And pass on the Queso Fundido. It sounds good, but is seriously lacking in the execution. (We had the version with Chorizo.) I give it three stars.
(3)Freddy M.
The only reason I didn't give it 5 stars is cause upon walking the hostess didn't even acknowledge me nor the other people around. I just went in and did my thing and even as I left I said thank you, even though they didn't do anything they still ignored me. # RUDE! Now as far as the food goes. WOW. I WAS VERY IMPRESSED. Me and my friend got the steak and chicken fajitas a grilled chicken burrito the queso fundido chips and dip and some Guacamole. The food was so tasty and nothing was cold and the flavored were very good. We bought the 20 for $40 and that just made it worth it even more cause the place looks like a dump and the food is sort of over priced but with this deal it just makes everything better Would I come back? Yea but only for takeout not to sit down.
(4)Natasha M.
The overall experience of having dinner at Zapata's was so average that it really just wasn't good. I went in on a Friday night and the place was completely empty. It's very much in need of some updates. The place looks very old. I will say the reason I gave two stars is because the server seemed to actually know the menu and was able to answer all of our question. My mother is very sensitive to spice and I am vegan so it's always great when servers know the menu! I ordered the veggie fajitas with the poblano peppers. This came with rice, black beans, guacamole, lettuce, pico, and tortillas. The veggies themselves consisted of broccoli, onions, poblano peppers, carrots, yellow squash and zucchini. I opted out of having sour cream. The rice was pretty obviously frozen. It has those green peas and perfectly square carrots that often come with frozen rice. The guacamole although it had full pieces of avocado was absolutely awful. I would have rather just had plain avocado. The tortillas were fine and the black beans seriously lacked seasoning. The best part of the meal were the veggies, however they were VERY greasy. I had asked to have mine cooked in oil instead of butter and they seemed to be swimming in oil. Otherwise the veggies would have been great. It was one of those meals that you eat because you're starving but then begin to regret it because you're full but wanting to taste something good. I think this place needs a menu overhaul and a face lift for the dining area. I really wouldn't go back.
(2)Jackie B.
I live right down the street from this restaurant and we go pretty often. The food is always amazing. The queso fundido is our favorite. We usually get fajitas and they come out great and the margaritas are tasty as well. A pitcher of margaritas, an app, and 2 dinners is usually about $50, which is a deal. It's a little hole in the wall in a not so great village center and the service isn't fantastic. It isn't bad - they refill your water, get your orders correct, and do what servers should do, but they don't go out of their way. Pretty much, if you're over here and you want good mexican food at an awesome price, come by.
(4)Sheandrika S.
The restaurant wasn't aware how this worked with yelp and therefore charged my card an additional 20 not realizing I already had paid 20. After showing to her u had already paid she did credit our bill.
(3)Jasmine W.
decent service and good food mmm I love churros and fried icecream
(4)Theresa P.
This food is disgusting my boyfriend and I both were sick from it. Please stay away from the wings!!!!!
(1)Brian P.
We stopped in here one night about two weeks ago after I saw their listing on the Columbia Assoc. page. Being from Southern California,the mere thought that there could be an actual authentic Mexican restaurant in Columbia had me all kinds of excited. When we arrived, the first impressions were a "meh."!i was automatically assuming that the lack of authenticity in decor would be countered with the food. There was only one other couple at a table close by. I was instantly distracted by the bar that is connected by a hallway from the dining room to it, which had a muffled yet quite noticeable genre of music playing, none of which was anything "Mexican/Banda/Salsa" themed but more urban 90's-'00's, which don't get me wrong, inenjoy, just in a different setting. While looking over the menu, they had a separate page of specials sitting inside of it. One of the pages was a little hard to read,. We placed our order and the waitress brought us chips and salsa. I noticed the mention that additional baskets of chips were at an additional charge. So im guessing the folks in the area are into over doing the free chips and thats why they charge? The Food: I ended up ordering a combo plate with ground beef tacos and chicken enchiladas. The waitress never asked if I wanted the tacos to be soft or crunchy, she automatically brought soft. The ground beef had a weird spice combination. They were filled over capacity which I actually enjoyed. The chicken in the enchiladas could've been drained more and actually seasoned better. The rice was nothing special and again, lacked flavor (yes mexican rice should have flavor to it.) and the beans were decent. My partner ordered the carne asada. It "looked" like it was going to be good, that wasn't the case. Traditionally the option of corn or flour tortillas is given, and then those tortillas are warm and wrapped up or in a tortilla server. Not here. The meat seemed under flavored and too dry for authentic tastes. Another distracting observation, connected to their bar, was how patrons of the bar would use the restaurant to cut through back and forth. Want to keep the restaurant separate from the noise in the bar, put up a wall with a door that isolates the noise. I'd suggest a sign on the bar side that would ask bar patrons to refrain from using the dining room as an exit, but yeah, that'd likely be a waste. Atmosphere/Ambiance: Drab and boring, lacking personality and in need of an overhaul with furniture, the entry doesn't promote a welcoming space. Food: again being from SoCal, I truly understand that different regions of Mexico have different flavor palates, but you definitely missed the mark somewhere. And Marylanders, Mexican food isn't just quesadillas, nachos, and fajitas, you're just used to playing it safe. Then again you wouldn't know authentic Mexican unless you've been to SoCal, Arizona, New Mexico, or even Texas, OR Mexico itself. All in all, the food left much to be desired for. I'm not sure that a second chance is even in the realm of possibility.
(2)Lisa R.
Not sure if the food is any good or not. This place is a dump! Looks like they had water damage and instead of doing the repairs socked away the money! Musty smell very very run down. Only giving 1 star so I can write the review
(1)Brandon S.
It's been a while since I've been here. From memory it's a nice sit down restaurant with a bar off to the side and they serve large portions. The food was great.
(4)Sid M.
Great service (although, we were the only ones there so that should have been a given). Quite Terrible food. The grilled meat on my chicken enchiladas was actually not that bad, but their sauce was terrible. Not to mention a piece of hair on the extra jalapenos they gave me. Their regular salsa that they serve with their chips is warm and disgusting. Ask for the spicy sauce, which is only slightly edible. Sorry, I don't mean to be a cynical person or anything like that, but this just wasn't good as much as I tried to make myself feel otherwise. I feel bad giving any place 1 star as long as they had nice staff members so i'll give it 2 stars.
(2)Danny C.
Zapata's has both a bar and restaurant in different sections of the building. I walked in and the waitress sat me down. I don't remember her name but she was very nice and stopped by enough times to feel like I was somewhat important. I asked her what she would recommend getting from the menu and she told me the Salmon Fajitas were really good. I wasn't 100% certain about the dish but I ordered it anyway. I also got the small Guacamole. I got the Guac in like 2 minutes, figured it was already made before I even ordered. The Guac was alright, it didn't have a lot of flavor though. I then got my Fajitas which came with 1 empty plate, 1 plate of rice, refried beans, sour cream and guacamole. And the fajita plate that comes with sizzling onions, green peppers and tomato with a filet of Salmon on top. I took a bite of the Salmon and it wasn't great. It was overcooked and too salty for me. Then I took another bite and it was worse. I ate about half of the Salmon before it got too tough. It was like Unfresh Salmon Jerky. I then tried the green peppers and onions and they were overcooked as well. The peppers melted in my mouth, which in this case was a bad thing. I like crunchy veggies... The rice, refried beans, sour cream and guac were all alright, as in they were OK. The food here was mediocre at best but I did like the service here.
(3)Maria P.
Ehhhhhhh. That pretty much sums up the place. Our waitress was very nice and patient, giving us adequate time to look at the menu and check in periodically. She also brought out a bowl of salsa and chips which tasted homemade. Mmm. They offer your standard Mexican cuisine. Nothing special, but I will say their fried ice cream is AMAZING. I'm not even a dessert girl but it's so good that a small appetizer is all I would want beforehand. Saving space for dessert is crucial here. My friend ordered ground beef crispy tacos and the amount of meat and toppings are ridiculous. By ridiculous, I mean excessive. In a good way. Did I mention that it smelled heavenly? It smelled heavenly :) Much better than my beef enchiladas. The sauce on top tasted bland and the filling wasn't impressive. There wasn't enough cheese either, and I love my cheese. It's the main reason for ordering enchiladas in the first place. The black beans that came with it were PERFECT though. All in all, the meal wasn't too shabby but I wouldn't go out of my way to come here.
(3)Shawn M.
Not sure what happened to this place, but it used to be a lot better than it is now. It's almost like the people that run the restaurant have lost heart and need a visit from Chef Ramsey to get it back! Seriously though, the first couple of times we've come here it was great, but not now. Additionally, the annoyingly loud bar next door that they also own seems to be the focus of the owners and not the restaurant side. I guess there is more money in alcohol than in food, so they're let the other side lag quite a bit. The burritos are great, as is the chimichanga. However, I would advise against the cerviche or anything seafood here, since the last time we got anything from the ocean it had to be returned for being 'rotten'.
(2)Joelyne K.
Zapata's is truly my favorite Mexican restaurant. I worry that they are not getting enough business and that they may close up shop soon. If that happens, I would be really sad and disappointed as their food is amazing. It is as authentic as you can get and the prices are great. The warm salsa they serve with the chips is delicious!!! The people that work their are really nice and the ambiance makes you feel like your in Mexico.
(5)Rhea P.
This was one of the most pathetic dining experiences I'd had in a long time. First of all, the place was filthy. The tables (most of which were empty at 6pm on a weekend) held visible dirt. The carpet -- oh my god, the carpet. It looked like it had been caked in layers of dust and particles of salsa for years upon years with no intervention. Ironically (and disturbingly) there was a lonesome upright vacuum sitting right in the middle of the dining area. Very strange. It too looked dusty. The food was not very good at all. If you absolutely have to go to this place (but why would that ever be true?) I suggest getting the fajitas.
(2)Christen J.
Had a great girls night last night, waiter was very friendly, fast and made some great recommendations! Chips and salsa were awesome, nothing like fresh made salsa and chips! They give you plently!! We ordered stuffed jalapeno peppers, which were made fresh and excellent, not the frozen kind some places server. We then ordered the beef nachos, they were topped generously with cheese, steak, sour cream, tomatoes and onions. Steak was cooked perfect, not dry and very flavorful. We did not even make it to entrees and had leftover appetizers to take home! The protions are more then generous. Even the margaritas were strong and tasty, I had to stop at 2! Lookign forward to bringing the family by next week!!! It's a little hidden gem in the Harpers Choice Village Center which has gotten much better now.
(5)Darren A.
Quite possibly the worst service I have ever received. It was practically non-existent and there was only ONE other table seated. There is NO EXCUSE ... well aside form the fact that perhaps our server was ALSO serving virtual dishes via the world wide web due to the fact that she was on her cell more than anything else. We received NO REFILLS, including my lemonade (or as I referred to it - dirty sugar water). In fact, I walked to the kitchen area and began dispensing my OWN soda bc i was so DAYUM parched. Then, she turned the corner and had the NERVE to have an attitude bc I was 'helping myself'. HA! CHICK, PLEASE ... have a seat! Black beans (my FAVORITE SIDE DISH ... I mean, HOW can you mess up beans?!?!? I'll tell you - continue reading...) were served with ALL four of our dishes and the beans were literally rancid. The taste & smell were practically vomit inducing. The rice pilaf side that accompanied our dishes was nothing more than a frozen bag of rice, peas & carrots. Why do I say this? The peas were 'freezer burned'... And oh yeah, I've actually had that rice mix 'past its expiration date' and it tasted just like this drivel. Chicken enchiladas were bland. So bland in fact, that I took the chicken home and whipped up a 'good' breakfast frittata w/ this chicken in it (PERFECT MARRIAGE)... I can safely say, I am NEVER EVER goin back there.
(1)Sarah M.
I went here because I had a yelp deal. The margaritas are only $3 but they were not the best. I didn't know they had a dining part. When you walk in the door it looks like a sad cheap bar with only 4 high top tables. We got the queso. Please don't. Taste like velvetta. Salsa was free and not bad. Make sure you ask for it! I got the enchiladas. Nothing to write home about. Overall just a no. But 2 stars for trying. Doubt they'll stay open much longer.
(2)Kem W.
The food was OK though it was fairly standard Mexican fare without anything unusual on the menu. I had the pork burrito and it was good. I enjoyed my ultimate margarita. But the dining room really needs work. Bright fluorescent lighting and cheap tables and chairs. Good for lunch but not a dinner out. Try El Azteca or Pachanga Cocina for better Mexican food in Howard County.
(2)Jordan B.
We've been coming to Zapata's off and on over the last six or so years, and the visits have been getting less frequent. Sadly, the quality of the food isn't what it used to be. The tacos are good in general, but our most recent experience was that the carnitas were so dry, they were inedible. In the past, the burritos have also been quite tasty. We are also fans of the desserts, empanadas, and nachos; however my most recent nachos were beyond soggy. Their margaritas have also been quite good in the past. The restaurant itself can be a little hard to find, since it is through a breezeway and around the corner behind most of the stores that face the parking lot. It was nice to have a local independent Mexican restaurant nearby, but after our most recent experiences, I think we'll have to find somewhere else.
(2)Phil D.
Very bland food. Margarita on the rocks is tasty, but the frozen margarita is a waste of your time.
(2)Lindsey R.
The food is good and so are the margaritas! Our server was great and made sure we had everything we needed!
(4)EJ S.
A little too pricey for average fare. Not horrible for MD Mex, but I will stick to my "once every few years" pace. We only went because of the $20 Yelp deal. The verde sauce was nice and spicy, and the steak in my enchilada was good. The margarita was decent and strong.
(2)Alex A.
I would leave zero stars if I could. My husbands food came out with raw meat in it. No apology was given or offer to replace it. The waitress was hard to find and it took over 10 minutes to get my coke (that didn't taste right either). Did I mention that there was only 4 other occupied tables in the restaurant. To top it off there was zero toilet paper is the woman's bathroom. Do not waste your time. We used the yelp deal and it still was not worth it.
(1)Meredith B.
For what it is, the place is pretty solid. The food itself is really quite good. I particularly enjoyed my first visit there for breakfast- haven't had proper huevos rancheros since I was last in Texas. The service is... service? I'm not going to give the place five stars and rave about how perfect it is- Jaleo it ain't- but it's a quiet hole in the wall for good, inexpensive Mexican. As has been noted by others, the bar is not a place to go if you're not a regular; it doesn't look particularly welcoming to outsiders... but it turns out that doesn't bother me especially.
(4)Texman O.
great food, a bit rustic ambience
(4)Krissy K.
The food is ok. I liked the burritos and the empanadas were good. The tres leche cake was bad. A little overpriced but I'd recommend it. I heard the drinks are pretty good at the bar.
(3)Zach S.
Even though I would only rate the service as being average, that's very different than saying that it was bad. The waitress forgot to give us menus, so we couldn't order for six or seven minutes longer. That's no big deal. What's more important is the food quality. And it was great! The flavor of my pork enchilada was wonderful, with lots of cilantro, and this green spicy salsa that was just excellent (it started with a "v"...). My girlfriend had a vegetarian buritto that she also loved. If not for the excellent food, I would give Zapata's three stars, because the margaritas are just average, the service is average, and the prices were just a little bit high. But the great food is worth the extra fourth star.
(4)Laura E.
The cheese fondue with chorizo was very good, margaritas say they're made with natural lime juice but that was not the case, being a bartender I can tell the difference. Our server Herman was alright. I decided to go with the fajitas because it is a Mexican restaurant and it would be difficult to mess up something simple like fajitas. I was not pleased with them it didn't taste fresh to me. The bar smelled like cigarettes which also turned me off I'll probably never go back.
(1)Shachi B.
This place is a little tricky to find if you're not paying attention. Well... pay more attention cause it's good! Solid, solid sangria. Cheese enchiladas with mole sauce - I really enjoyed their mole sauce. Nice depth of flavor and just enough spice. Reasonably priced. Go here. You won't be disappointed. YUM.
(3)Duy N.
Nice place, great for family meals or a good time with a group of friends. I had a variation of the chicken mole, which was a special they had running. Very good and complex in flavor as I love from all moles. This mole had a mostly nutty flavor, but I think I tasted some chocolate, and chili powder (and many other things I can't name, but are familiar). My friend had the menudo soup which was very interesting. It's basically a tripe soup said to be good for hangovers. He said hte soup could have used some kind of kick. I'll definitely go here again for my mole cravings, though they don't have mole negro. Oh also, they have a cantina/bar area that has a good amount of room. Not sure if it gets busy at night, but nice to know it's there. The service was very good and our waiter was very hospitable.
(4)Tucker H.
4.5* This was the best mexican/Southwestern food I have had in a LONG time. I came here while I was town for a conference on the strength of the Yelp reviews, and was not let down! Based on the sign in the window, they recently changed ownership and either brought back or retained the original chef. either way, I can see why they wanted him in the kitchen. The service was very friendly and prompt, and the warm chips and salsa arrived quickly. My shredded beef chimichanga was delicious, packed with nicely seasoned meat, and with some fresh lettuce and such on the side. The seasoned rice was only average, but the chimichanga was the best I've had in years, and my colleague inhaled his burrito, which makes me think it was rather good too!
(4)Tim L.
We went here since we got a coupon and we are new to the area and really want to find a good Mexican restaurant. This is not it... Place was empty and kinda depressing. We got chips and salsa and the salsa was served warm, which evidently is something they meant to do according to other reviews. We got chicken nachos as an appetizer, which lacked flavor. The chicken fajita was average and the tortillas were hard. The carnitas were by far the biggest disappointment. They were quite gamely and tasted about as bad as they looked. The service, even though we were the only ones in the restaurant, was shoddy at best and we never really got an opportunity to ask for a replacement for our carnitas. By the time we were asked 10 minutes later, we were ready to just leave. If your in the mood for mexican, skip this place and save your cash and go to chipotle.
(1)Katherine B.
The service was slow. Food was ok, not great. I'm not saying I won't go back, but I certainly won't make it a priority.
(2)Crystal W.
Great margaritas! I've only had the chimichanga but its always great. The service is lackluster if you sit in the dining area. Bartenders are always nice.
(3)SB M.
The service was good, the food was ok, nothing to write home about. The spinach artichoke burrito needs some work. It tasted like they had opened a can of spinach and a jar of artichoke hearts an threw them together. Delicious salsa though!
(3)Jen V.
Real salsa that is served warm and fresh hits the table as soon as you sit down. The menu is more original than a typical tex-mex place, with, for example, spinach-artichoke dishes. The daily specials are usually really tasty and creative, such as burritos that have included ingredients like pumpkin, mushrooms, or short ribs. The guacamole is fresh with the perfect balance of cilantro and lime. Tortilla soup is good, too. This isn't a cheap joint, but it's not overly expensive either; the price is perfectly right for the quality. Downsides: specialty drinks like horchata are not always available and the service can be very, very spotty. The separate bar area can get loud if the door is propped open.
(4)Robert M.
After looking at the wide range of reviews, I wasn't sure what to expect. But with the Yelp deal it was inexpensive to give this place a try. The reviews are correct. The food is very tasty. The margaritas are strong. The place is a dump. Dirty, messy. The service is terrible. We were there at 7pm on a Saturday. One would think any restaurant interested in repeat business would have their A game on a Saturday night. The food was good enough that I would consider getting take out. But I doubt it. If the dining room is that messy, how clean could the kitchen be?
(1)Paul W.
Awesome margaritas and great tacos. Waiter was very attentive and had helpful suggestions. Very good value with the $40 for $20 yelp deal.
(4)Courtney C.
I was looking for a place to get pitchers of margaritas and came across Zapatas. I snagged a few girls and headed there for dinner and drinks on a random Wednesday night. The bar is a little ghetto but not too uncomfortably so. The bartender was really sweet. We ordered a pitcher of the house margarita and asked for some chips and salsa. Chips were good, salsa was warm (weird) and spicy, margaritas were on point. Nothing outstanding but what you would expect from a Tex-Mex place. The AC was broken in the bar that night. I hope they get it fixed because it was pretty steamy in there. We ordered all sort of stuff and it was all really good, but nothing amazing. I was expecting the salsa verde to be spicier, but I have a high spice tolerance. My friend's salad has ceasar dressing on it for some reason, which she didn't ask for. The vegetarian burrito another friend ordered was almost too spicy for her, but huge and full of spinach. I enjoyed my chicken enchiladas with vegetables and a side salad. The queso was a little grainy and not my favorite. I think this would be a good spot to grab some drinks on one of the outside tables, but I don't see myself going back to the bar area or making a special trip for the food. Additionally, in the bar area there was a couch and a bunch of kids hanging out. It was strange and there is no longer a pool table. Just a couple random arcade type games by the entrance.
(3)Allison F.
This is probably the most authentic Mexican restaurants in Columbia, since the majority of restaurants are chains like On the Border and Don Pablo's. The food here is generally pretty good, although the service can be ridiculously slow at times. The last time we went, we were the only patrons in the restaurant and our waitress took at least 15 minutes to take our orders. The food is worth the wait, however. My husband swears by the mole sauce and the tacos al carbon are very good. There's rarely a wait here; I'm actually pretty surprised that this place is still in business, given that you can walk in on Saturday night and only share the restaurant with 3-4 other tables. Avoid the bar area at all costs; it doesn't even seem like it's attached to the restaurant. It's definitely for the regulars and not visitor-friendly. It's a shame that the bar is so sketchy and the service (aside from one waiter who is typically very attentive) is so slow. The food is quite good, the restaurant has a good ambiance and the sangria is excellent.
(3)Melanie R.
Gag!! That about sums up this meal. The salsa came out hot (as in oven hot). I saw that in another review below. Weird is correct on that one!! I had a cheese enchillada and my husband had fajitas. My enchillada was a flour tortilla with melted cheese (not cooked through) and some jar salsa thrown on top. My husband had fajitas with strips of jerky beef and overdone chicken. The ONLY saving grace of this meal, was my Sangria which was great, hence my 1 star. Our bill was $40. The worst $40 I ever spent. I went home and literallly had a bowl of cereal.
(1)Sooj H.
The margaritas were fantastic! Also very strong. You get your money's worth with the drinks for sure. The Al Pastor tacos were amazing, as well. The spice and pineapple were very tasty, the pork was delicious and cooked perfectly, and the beans had great texture. On a Saturday, the atmosphere was pretty quiet (surprisingly) and the service was a bit slow. And you don't want to walk through the sketchy bar area! But overall: delicious drinks, pretty good food, decent atmosphere.
(4)Matt M.
This is one of the better Mexican restaurants I've been to in a while. Excellent food (tried the Enchiladas Jalisco and Fajita Style Burrito) and strong, yet tasty, drinks. The restaurant is broken into two sections, which may be the reason for some of the confusion from the other reviews. The bar side is smaller, has a pool table, and is a bit more run down. I believe there were 3 tables set up in the bar area. We originally sat in the bar area thinking it was the restaurant. They have a full menu, great specials ($3 maragaritas on Thursday), and service is provided by the bartender. The bartender was very helpful with the menu and encouraged us to try the margaritas on special because they were a great deal. We were not disappointed. After getting a menu, the bartender sensed we were there primarily for a meal and mentioned that there is also an actual dining area. The dining area is much larger and is pretty much what I would expect from a Mexican restaurant. Service was good and things were clean. This will definitely be our go-to Mexican restaurant in the Columbia area, especially with the sweet $20 for $40 Yelp deal!
(4)Puneet M.
Fajitas were good. Sizzling, plus they had a good amount of food and variety of veg's. Onions, squash, tomato's, peppers. The black beans were very good, almost the best part of the meal. Everything was good, but nothing great. I have had better salsa at home. But they have good service and the variety of choices on their menu is good.
(3)Tracy G.
Another very good meal at zapatas. Standard salsa is good and they brought us tao other great ones as well. Queso fundido was really yummy and the salmon w mango salsa excellent. We also had the sopa mariscos - lots of fish shrimp and mussels -which was superb and enough for lunch tomorrow too. Our server was terrific. Knowledgable and helpful. We'll be back.
(4)Jeannell T.
Came here for the first time since we had a Resturant.com certificate. We were a little nervous when we entered as the place was empty...we were the only ones in the restaurant. Upon entering, we were greeted by a wonderful server who was very attentive and friendly. Must say that the food was great but the decor needs a little sprucing. All-in-all we had a great meal and great service...we will be back again.
(4)P S.
Unfinished chili relleno-a bare chilli with a chunk of endlessly chewable cheese. Tasteless rice, but decent refried beans and chips. An automatic 18% gratuity promotes inattentive service. Not a lot to like :-(.
(2)Jane H.
In on a rainy Sunday afternoon. We are the only ones in and the staff wants to watch football, but they are accommodating. Don't get the Quaso. Get the verde salsa hot. I had the pork tacos. They were outstanding. My other had the chicken enchilada. Two adults and two children with four margaritas for $50. I highly recommend this place. We took some of the Verde salsa home. It is outstanding.
(5)Candice D.
My husband was in the mood for Mexican for his birthday and we ended up here. Maybe we hit an off night or something but I just wasn't that impressed. The food was ok but nothing special to both me and my husband. Not particularly spicy, which might suit others, but I was expecting more zing. I also got the feeling that both entrees had sat under a warming light for a while before being brought out to us. It might have been because the place was practically dead but we didn't see our waiter with any regularity until a family group came in and sat next to us. The decor was sedate for lack of a better term. I have a feeling I would have enjoyed the restaurant more if we'd been in the bar area but giving a rating based on food only earns this place an 'a-ok' review with me. Maybe we just hit an off night like I said before but based on my previous experience I haven't gone out of my way to try this place again.
(3)Nancy C.
The service was good- the waiter handled our annoying group (some people wanted drinks, some people wanted dinner, one person wanted just dessert, people showed up over the course of an hour) very gracefully, and brought water out for my dog. The food was good- we noticed that they had alot of different sauces; even two different kinds of green sauce, one of which came with my empanadas and was super spicy and delicious. There's cooking going on, not just the standard putting the same ingredients in your choice of taco shells, enchiladas, or tortillas with a side of beans and rice that goes on at some places. The flan was the nice smooth kind without bubbles in the custard. The margaritas were a little sweet for my tastes, but tasty, strong, and reasonably priced. All things considered, given that Zapata's is within walking distance of my house, and I can bring my dog if we sit outside, I'm probably going to become a regular. I do not understand why some of the reviews were so low. No, it's not haute cuisine, but I was pleasantly surprised.
(4)Katrina M.
I kinda want to give this place a 3.5. I really liked the margaritas, they seemed well balanced with a solid kick of liquor. The food is good. I don't think there's anything that would be disappointing. I like that they offer more traditional dishes in addition to the Americanized typicals. The bar, however, is hilarious, and not in a good way. We walked in on the bar side to get to the restaurant (which is a mistake, try to pretend the bar isn't there), and it's very dark, skeezy, and clearly not welcome to new regulars. Sort of the record-skipping type moment when we walked in. Some 40-something dude at the bar gave us the worst look when we walked in, which is what nearly made me burst out laughing, because he's sitting in the lamest bar ever, clearly comfortable, and he thinks we're the ones with a problem.
(3)Chris B.
Excellent establishment. Authentic, the Real deal. Its a very nice family restaurant that has wonderful food, and a versatile atmosphere. My family goes there all the time and have some to know the owners and servers. Also has a bar in the back, away from the restaurant. Great atmosphere and drinks.
(4)Miss C.
Loved the black beans and rice. Taco, enchilada and burrito needed more flavor. But honestly I would bring my kids here. Why? Off the beaten path. Next door to a police office so def would have no issues from idiots. And because the food is not off the the chains with the spices...the kids would be good.
(3)Sarajeane D.
I wish i could give this place a fair review but i can't! why not ? well because my best friends and i went there because we were looking for a good mexican restaurant and we found this on on yelp deals ( 40$ worth for 20$) this was around 9 (saturday, June 23rd) and the place was EMPTY.... not a soul! so we walk in the place and from behind a wall this girl looking a pure mess , pokes her head out ( doesn't even walk up to great us) and says "Can I help you?) wtf! so I go, Yeah are you open. you would of thought i asked her an algebra question with the look she gave me.... she goes i don't know let me check! HOW THE HELL ARE YOU WORKING SOMEWHERE AND DO NOT KNOW IF YOU ARE CURRENTLY OPEN. so then this guy walks behind her and goes yeah i think we are open would you like a seat. so i look to my friends and kindly say no thanks and walk out.... IM SORRY BUT I WAS NOT ABOUT TO EAT THERE. now my friend and i are stuck with a coupon that won't ever use(but I'm going to try to get a refund) because i will not be going back there.
(1)Beth W.
Pretty good, but not great. Great margaritas, though!
(3)MICHAEL U.
Back again this past Saturday, yummy,yum, yummerson! Beef enchillada's yummy, next time i'm gonna man up and try the menudo!
(5)Kenneth F.
i ordered salmon. it tasted like a few weeks old, but against my better judgment i ate half of it. felt queasy that evening; fever the next day -- food poisoning.
(1)larry c.
Fabulous margaritas, and their specials are great for variety. Love that I can walk home!
(5)Nicholas S.
Lovely, quaint restaurant west of Columbia Mall. A great, authentic alternative to the big Mexican chains. A nice cielo azul margarita.
(4)Maiko H.
It's a nice little restaurant that serves great food. The prices are reasonable and portions are just right.
(4)Jason J.
My friend and I visited here last week and had an enjoyable meal. We split Chicken Empanadas and Trio Fajitas. The empandas were excellent and I was pleased with the fajitas, they came out sizzling and tasted good. The restaurant was quiet and the service was fine. I plan to eat here again.
(5)Terry H.
I, along with my sister and daughter, went to Zapata's for lunch over the X-Mas holiday. I love Mexican food and found this restaurant here on Yelp and thought I'd give it a try. I was secretly hoping it would not be like On the Border or Don Pablo's as, to me, these restaurants represent poorly made fast food. When we arrived, the restaurant was empty and we were seated immediately. Our waiter brought out a warm salsa with hard chips. I didn't really care for either. We order the chicken stuff jalapenos to start which were horrible and we immediately sent them back. My sister and daughter ordered the chicken fajitas and I ordered the combination enchalidas; chicken, beef, and cheese. The fajitas arrived sizzling and we thought that was a good sign....not!!!! The chicken was so over cooked and dry that it was difficult to chew and the peppers and onions were burnt and stuck to the cast iron skillet. My enchalidas arrived and they were probably one of the nastiest things I've ever tasted. I can't believe there are people who think this is good Mexican food. The only positive thing about the experience was that the waiter was very nice. I would not recommend this place to anyone! As we were leaving, we decided to exit through the bar since that door was closer to the parking lot. A guy sitting at the bar asked how our lunch was. We told him it was horrbile. He said he'd never order food there; just drinks at the bar. I wish we'd ran into him before we ordered.
(1)Denice K.
Went in a large group for lunch. Everything tasted great... fajitas sizzling, steak salad impressive, & wet burrito was the best around. Hidden gem for good authentic mexican/southwest food.
(5)Jon F.
Service is always good and if your looking for authentic South American style food in a comfortable, clean sit down environment this is the best I've found in Columbia. The portions are large and fairly priced with all of the meats and sauces full of flavor and spice. I have tried several different menu items and have yet to be disappointed.
(5)Melonie T.
As far as Columbia establishments go this is by far my fav! My husband and I discovered this great little Hispanic food joint in our first week in MD. The food, although a bit more expensive then most Mexican type places, is of the best quality. The drinks are stout and most enjoyable. It is never crowded (in my experience) and the atmosphere is very pleasant.
(5)Michael M.
Probably the best Mexican you can find in Columbia. Good, not too expensive - although pricer than I would have liked. I'm not sure how they can refer to the restaurant as "Authentic Mexican Only" and still serve Chimichangas, but whatever. I had one of the Chimichangas with Shredded Beef, and was pretty tasty. My dining partner had some crispy tacos, which she also enjoyed. We went late in the day on a Tuesday, and had no wait. Downside: They served me Tecate in a can, which just isn't as good as the bottle. And pass on the Queso Fundido. It sounds good, but is seriously lacking in the execution. (We had the version with Chorizo.) I give it three stars.
(3)A S.
Went here with my boyfriend on a Sat night, around 6. You would think that this place would be packed based on the reviews but was not. Only saw one other couple. The guitarist they have there is a sub par player probably trying to make some summer bucks before school starts again. Didn't do much to be listening to alternative in a Mexican restaurant. They do serve you chips before your order. Was okay. Didn't care too much for the warm salsa. Never had it served that way before. I usually am served fresh cool salsa at other Mexican restaurants, which is the way I like mine, that way I know it's fresh. Ordered chicken tacos. Never had feta cheese in tacos before either. Didn't care much for it either. The rice side dish tasted off. Even my boyfriend thought it tasted off. I couldn't even take more than two bites from it. The black beans was also okay, nothing to rave about. I gave one star for the friendly staff and another star because I was able to finish my two tacos.
(2)James R.
This place is a pit. Its located in a ghetto strip mall and I guess could be ok if you're sitting in the dining room with your family but the bar is possibly one of the scariest places I've ever been - and I'm male. That was all before the horrilble food arrived. I had Chicken Empanadas that tasted like they were made with cat food and nothing like Empanadas I've eaten in a number of hispanic countries. Next came the beef burrito which was huge like Chipotle but tasted horrible. The inside was cold, the sauce on top was used mererly to hide the taste of the beef inside. Needless to say me and my date headed for the nearest Taco Bell to wash the taste of this food out of my mouth. The waiter was very attentive despite the bar being pretty busy with the oddest cast of characters I'd ever been a part of. From the very mature couple that danced up and down in front of the bar to every song, to the very smelly guy with dreads that looked like he just walked in from his cardboard home out back to the mult-racial table of lesbians that scowled at every other patron in the bar. Needless to say I will not be returning EVER. Save your hard earned money and go somewhere else - ANYwhere else.
(1)Ryan M.
The only restaurant in Columbia with Mexican food! Would not consider ever going back to the chain "Mexican" restaurants in Columbia. Service at Zapata's is good, food is tasty and the prices are reasonable. They also have some good dining specials throughout the week. My girlfriend and myself come here on a regular basis.
(5)Rhea P.
This was one of the most pathetic dining experiences I'd had in a long time. First of all, the place was filthy. The tables (most of which were empty at 6pm on a weekend) held visible dirt. The carpet -- oh my god, the carpet. It looked like it had been caked in layers of dust and particles of salsa for years upon years with no intervention. Ironically (and disturbingly) there was a lonesome upright vacuum sitting right in the middle of the dining area. Very strange. It too looked dusty. The food was not very good at all. If you absolutely have to go to this place (but why would that ever be true?) I suggest getting the fajitas.
(2)Christen J.
Had a great girls night last night, waiter was very friendly, fast and made some great recommendations! Chips and salsa were awesome, nothing like fresh made salsa and chips! They give you plently!! We ordered stuffed jalapeno peppers, which were made fresh and excellent, not the frozen kind some places server. We then ordered the beef nachos, they were topped generously with cheese, steak, sour cream, tomatoes and onions. Steak was cooked perfect, not dry and very flavorful. We did not even make it to entrees and had leftover appetizers to take home! The protions are more then generous. Even the margaritas were strong and tasty, I had to stop at 2! Lookign forward to bringing the family by next week!!! It's a little hidden gem in the Harpers Choice Village Center which has gotten much better now.
(5)Brian P.
We stopped in here one night about two weeks ago after I saw their listing on the Columbia Assoc. page. Being from Southern California,the mere thought that there could be an actual authentic Mexican restaurant in Columbia had me all kinds of excited. When we arrived, the first impressions were a "meh."!i was automatically assuming that the lack of authenticity in decor would be countered with the food. There was only one other couple at a table close by. I was instantly distracted by the bar that is connected by a hallway from the dining room to it, which had a muffled yet quite noticeable genre of music playing, none of which was anything "Mexican/Banda/Salsa" themed but more urban 90's-'00's, which don't get me wrong, inenjoy, just in a different setting. While looking over the menu, they had a separate page of specials sitting inside of it. One of the pages was a little hard to read,. We placed our order and the waitress brought us chips and salsa. I noticed the mention that additional baskets of chips were at an additional charge. So im guessing the folks in the area are into over doing the free chips and thats why they charge? The Food: I ended up ordering a combo plate with ground beef tacos and chicken enchiladas. The waitress never asked if I wanted the tacos to be soft or crunchy, she automatically brought soft. The ground beef had a weird spice combination. They were filled over capacity which I actually enjoyed. The chicken in the enchiladas could've been drained more and actually seasoned better. The rice was nothing special and again, lacked flavor (yes mexican rice should have flavor to it.) and the beans were decent. My partner ordered the carne asada. It "looked" like it was going to be good, that wasn't the case. Traditionally the option of corn or flour tortillas is given, and then those tortillas are warm and wrapped up or in a tortilla server. Not here. The meat seemed under flavored and too dry for authentic tastes. Another distracting observation, connected to their bar, was how patrons of the bar would use the restaurant to cut through back and forth. Want to keep the restaurant separate from the noise in the bar, put up a wall with a door that isolates the noise. I'd suggest a sign on the bar side that would ask bar patrons to refrain from using the dining room as an exit, but yeah, that'd likely be a waste. Atmosphere/Ambiance: Drab and boring, lacking personality and in need of an overhaul with furniture, the entry doesn't promote a welcoming space. Food: again being from SoCal, I truly understand that different regions of Mexico have different flavor palates, but you definitely missed the mark somewhere. And Marylanders, Mexican food isn't just quesadillas, nachos, and fajitas, you're just used to playing it safe. Then again you wouldn't know authentic Mexican unless you've been to SoCal, Arizona, New Mexico, or even Texas, OR Mexico itself. All in all, the food left much to be desired for. I'm not sure that a second chance is even in the realm of possibility.
(2)Lisa R.
Not sure if the food is any good or not. This place is a dump! Looks like they had water damage and instead of doing the repairs socked away the money! Musty smell very very run down. Only giving 1 star so I can write the review
(1)Brandon S.
It's been a while since I've been here. From memory it's a nice sit down restaurant with a bar off to the side and they serve large portions. The food was great.
(4)Darren A.
Quite possibly the worst service I have ever received. It was practically non-existent and there was only ONE other table seated. There is NO EXCUSE ... well aside form the fact that perhaps our server was ALSO serving virtual dishes via the world wide web due to the fact that she was on her cell more than anything else. We received NO REFILLS, including my lemonade (or as I referred to it - dirty sugar water). In fact, I walked to the kitchen area and began dispensing my OWN soda bc i was so DAYUM parched. Then, she turned the corner and had the NERVE to have an attitude bc I was 'helping myself'. HA! CHICK, PLEASE ... have a seat! Black beans (my FAVORITE SIDE DISH ... I mean, HOW can you mess up beans?!?!? I'll tell you - continue reading...) were served with ALL four of our dishes and the beans were literally rancid. The taste & smell were practically vomit inducing. The rice pilaf side that accompanied our dishes was nothing more than a frozen bag of rice, peas & carrots. Why do I say this? The peas were 'freezer burned'... And oh yeah, I've actually had that rice mix 'past its expiration date' and it tasted just like this drivel. Chicken enchiladas were bland. So bland in fact, that I took the chicken home and whipped up a 'good' breakfast frittata w/ this chicken in it (PERFECT MARRIAGE)... I can safely say, I am NEVER EVER goin back there.
(1)Sarah M.
I went here because I had a yelp deal. The margaritas are only $3 but they were not the best. I didn't know they had a dining part. When you walk in the door it looks like a sad cheap bar with only 4 high top tables. We got the queso. Please don't. Taste like velvetta. Salsa was free and not bad. Make sure you ask for it! I got the enchiladas. Nothing to write home about. Overall just a no. But 2 stars for trying. Doubt they'll stay open much longer.
(2)Kem W.
The food was OK though it was fairly standard Mexican fare without anything unusual on the menu. I had the pork burrito and it was good. I enjoyed my ultimate margarita. But the dining room really needs work. Bright fluorescent lighting and cheap tables and chairs. Good for lunch but not a dinner out. Try El Azteca or Pachanga Cocina for better Mexican food in Howard County.
(2)Jordan B.
We've been coming to Zapata's off and on over the last six or so years, and the visits have been getting less frequent. Sadly, the quality of the food isn't what it used to be. The tacos are good in general, but our most recent experience was that the carnitas were so dry, they were inedible. In the past, the burritos have also been quite tasty. We are also fans of the desserts, empanadas, and nachos; however my most recent nachos were beyond soggy. Their margaritas have also been quite good in the past. The restaurant itself can be a little hard to find, since it is through a breezeway and around the corner behind most of the stores that face the parking lot. It was nice to have a local independent Mexican restaurant nearby, but after our most recent experiences, I think we'll have to find somewhere else.
(2)Tracy G.
Another very good meal at zapatas. Standard salsa is good and they brought us tao other great ones as well. Queso fundido was really yummy and the salmon w mango salsa excellent. We also had the sopa mariscos - lots of fish shrimp and mussels -which was superb and enough for lunch tomorrow too. Our server was terrific. Knowledgable and helpful. We'll be back.
(4)Jeannell T.
Came here for the first time since we had a Resturant.com certificate. We were a little nervous when we entered as the place was empty...we were the only ones in the restaurant. Upon entering, we were greeted by a wonderful server who was very attentive and friendly. Must say that the food was great but the decor needs a little sprucing. All-in-all we had a great meal and great service...we will be back again.
(4)P S.
Unfinished chili relleno-a bare chilli with a chunk of endlessly chewable cheese. Tasteless rice, but decent refried beans and chips. An automatic 18% gratuity promotes inattentive service. Not a lot to like :-(.
(2)Jane H.
In on a rainy Sunday afternoon. We are the only ones in and the staff wants to watch football, but they are accommodating. Don't get the Quaso. Get the verde salsa hot. I had the pork tacos. They were outstanding. My other had the chicken enchilada. Two adults and two children with four margaritas for $50. I highly recommend this place. We took some of the Verde salsa home. It is outstanding.
(5)Candice D.
My husband was in the mood for Mexican for his birthday and we ended up here. Maybe we hit an off night or something but I just wasn't that impressed. The food was ok but nothing special to both me and my husband. Not particularly spicy, which might suit others, but I was expecting more zing. I also got the feeling that both entrees had sat under a warming light for a while before being brought out to us. It might have been because the place was practically dead but we didn't see our waiter with any regularity until a family group came in and sat next to us. The decor was sedate for lack of a better term. I have a feeling I would have enjoyed the restaurant more if we'd been in the bar area but giving a rating based on food only earns this place an 'a-ok' review with me. Maybe we just hit an off night like I said before but based on my previous experience I haven't gone out of my way to try this place again.
(3)Freddy M.
The only reason I didn't give it 5 stars is cause upon walking the hostess didn't even acknowledge me nor the other people around. I just went in and did my thing and even as I left I said thank you, even though they didn't do anything they still ignored me. # RUDE! Now as far as the food goes. WOW. I WAS VERY IMPRESSED. Me and my friend got the steak and chicken fajitas a grilled chicken burrito the queso fundido chips and dip and some Guacamole. The food was so tasty and nothing was cold and the flavored were very good. We bought the 20 for $40 and that just made it worth it even more cause the place looks like a dump and the food is sort of over priced but with this deal it just makes everything better Would I come back? Yea but only for takeout not to sit down.
(4)Natasha M.
The overall experience of having dinner at Zapata's was so average that it really just wasn't good. I went in on a Friday night and the place was completely empty. It's very much in need of some updates. The place looks very old. I will say the reason I gave two stars is because the server seemed to actually know the menu and was able to answer all of our question. My mother is very sensitive to spice and I am vegan so it's always great when servers know the menu! I ordered the veggie fajitas with the poblano peppers. This came with rice, black beans, guacamole, lettuce, pico, and tortillas. The veggies themselves consisted of broccoli, onions, poblano peppers, carrots, yellow squash and zucchini. I opted out of having sour cream. The rice was pretty obviously frozen. It has those green peas and perfectly square carrots that often come with frozen rice. The guacamole although it had full pieces of avocado was absolutely awful. I would have rather just had plain avocado. The tortillas were fine and the black beans seriously lacked seasoning. The best part of the meal were the veggies, however they were VERY greasy. I had asked to have mine cooked in oil instead of butter and they seemed to be swimming in oil. Otherwise the veggies would have been great. It was one of those meals that you eat because you're starving but then begin to regret it because you're full but wanting to taste something good. I think this place needs a menu overhaul and a face lift for the dining area. I really wouldn't go back.
(2)Jackie B.
I live right down the street from this restaurant and we go pretty often. The food is always amazing. The queso fundido is our favorite. We usually get fajitas and they come out great and the margaritas are tasty as well. A pitcher of margaritas, an app, and 2 dinners is usually about $50, which is a deal. It's a little hole in the wall in a not so great village center and the service isn't fantastic. It isn't bad - they refill your water, get your orders correct, and do what servers should do, but they don't go out of their way. Pretty much, if you're over here and you want good mexican food at an awesome price, come by.
(4)Danny C.
Zapata's has both a bar and restaurant in different sections of the building. I walked in and the waitress sat me down. I don't remember her name but she was very nice and stopped by enough times to feel like I was somewhat important. I asked her what she would recommend getting from the menu and she told me the Salmon Fajitas were really good. I wasn't 100% certain about the dish but I ordered it anyway. I also got the small Guacamole. I got the Guac in like 2 minutes, figured it was already made before I even ordered. The Guac was alright, it didn't have a lot of flavor though. I then got my Fajitas which came with 1 empty plate, 1 plate of rice, refried beans, sour cream and guacamole. And the fajita plate that comes with sizzling onions, green peppers and tomato with a filet of Salmon on top. I took a bite of the Salmon and it wasn't great. It was overcooked and too salty for me. Then I took another bite and it was worse. I ate about half of the Salmon before it got too tough. It was like Unfresh Salmon Jerky. I then tried the green peppers and onions and they were overcooked as well. The peppers melted in my mouth, which in this case was a bad thing. I like crunchy veggies... The rice, refried beans, sour cream and guac were all alright, as in they were OK. The food here was mediocre at best but I did like the service here.
(3)Maria P.
Ehhhhhhh. That pretty much sums up the place. Our waitress was very nice and patient, giving us adequate time to look at the menu and check in periodically. She also brought out a bowl of salsa and chips which tasted homemade. Mmm. They offer your standard Mexican cuisine. Nothing special, but I will say their fried ice cream is AMAZING. I'm not even a dessert girl but it's so good that a small appetizer is all I would want beforehand. Saving space for dessert is crucial here. My friend ordered ground beef crispy tacos and the amount of meat and toppings are ridiculous. By ridiculous, I mean excessive. In a good way. Did I mention that it smelled heavenly? It smelled heavenly :) Much better than my beef enchiladas. The sauce on top tasted bland and the filling wasn't impressive. There wasn't enough cheese either, and I love my cheese. It's the main reason for ordering enchiladas in the first place. The black beans that came with it were PERFECT though. All in all, the meal wasn't too shabby but I wouldn't go out of my way to come here.
(3)Shawn M.
Not sure what happened to this place, but it used to be a lot better than it is now. It's almost like the people that run the restaurant have lost heart and need a visit from Chef Ramsey to get it back! Seriously though, the first couple of times we've come here it was great, but not now. Additionally, the annoyingly loud bar next door that they also own seems to be the focus of the owners and not the restaurant side. I guess there is more money in alcohol than in food, so they're let the other side lag quite a bit. The burritos are great, as is the chimichanga. However, I would advise against the cerviche or anything seafood here, since the last time we got anything from the ocean it had to be returned for being 'rotten'.
(2)Sheandrika S.
The restaurant wasn't aware how this worked with yelp and therefore charged my card an additional 20 not realizing I already had paid 20. After showing to her u had already paid she did credit our bill.
(3)Jasmine W.
decent service and good food mmm I love churros and fried icecream
(4)Theresa P.
This food is disgusting my boyfriend and I both were sick from it. Please stay away from the wings!!!!!
(1)Sooj H.
The margaritas were fantastic! Also very strong. You get your money's worth with the drinks for sure. The Al Pastor tacos were amazing, as well. The spice and pineapple were very tasty, the pork was delicious and cooked perfectly, and the beans had great texture. On a Saturday, the atmosphere was pretty quiet (surprisingly) and the service was a bit slow. And you don't want to walk through the sketchy bar area! But overall: delicious drinks, pretty good food, decent atmosphere.
(4)Sid M.
Great service (although, we were the only ones there so that should have been a given). Quite Terrible food. The grilled meat on my chicken enchiladas was actually not that bad, but their sauce was terrible. Not to mention a piece of hair on the extra jalapenos they gave me. Their regular salsa that they serve with their chips is warm and disgusting. Ask for the spicy sauce, which is only slightly edible. Sorry, I don't mean to be a cynical person or anything like that, but this just wasn't good as much as I tried to make myself feel otherwise. I feel bad giving any place 1 star as long as they had nice staff members so i'll give it 2 stars.
(2)Nicholas S.
Lovely, quaint restaurant west of Columbia Mall. A great, authentic alternative to the big Mexican chains. A nice cielo azul margarita.
(4)Maiko H.
It's a nice little restaurant that serves great food. The prices are reasonable and portions are just right.
(4)Jason J.
My friend and I visited here last week and had an enjoyable meal. We split Chicken Empanadas and Trio Fajitas. The empandas were excellent and I was pleased with the fajitas, they came out sizzling and tasted good. The restaurant was quiet and the service was fine. I plan to eat here again.
(5)Terry H.
I, along with my sister and daughter, went to Zapata's for lunch over the X-Mas holiday. I love Mexican food and found this restaurant here on Yelp and thought I'd give it a try. I was secretly hoping it would not be like On the Border or Don Pablo's as, to me, these restaurants represent poorly made fast food. When we arrived, the restaurant was empty and we were seated immediately. Our waiter brought out a warm salsa with hard chips. I didn't really care for either. We order the chicken stuff jalapenos to start which were horrible and we immediately sent them back. My sister and daughter ordered the chicken fajitas and I ordered the combination enchalidas; chicken, beef, and cheese. The fajitas arrived sizzling and we thought that was a good sign....not!!!! The chicken was so over cooked and dry that it was difficult to chew and the peppers and onions were burnt and stuck to the cast iron skillet. My enchalidas arrived and they were probably one of the nastiest things I've ever tasted. I can't believe there are people who think this is good Mexican food. The only positive thing about the experience was that the waiter was very nice. I would not recommend this place to anyone! As we were leaving, we decided to exit through the bar since that door was closer to the parking lot. A guy sitting at the bar asked how our lunch was. We told him it was horrbile. He said he'd never order food there; just drinks at the bar. I wish we'd ran into him before we ordered.
(1)Denice K.
Went in a large group for lunch. Everything tasted great... fajitas sizzling, steak salad impressive, & wet burrito was the best around. Hidden gem for good authentic mexican/southwest food.
(5)Joelyne K.
Zapata's is truly my favorite Mexican restaurant. I worry that they are not getting enough business and that they may close up shop soon. If that happens, I would be really sad and disappointed as their food is amazing. It is as authentic as you can get and the prices are great. The warm salsa they serve with the chips is delicious!!! The people that work their are really nice and the ambiance makes you feel like your in Mexico.
(5)Matt M.
This is one of the better Mexican restaurants I've been to in a while. Excellent food (tried the Enchiladas Jalisco and Fajita Style Burrito) and strong, yet tasty, drinks. The restaurant is broken into two sections, which may be the reason for some of the confusion from the other reviews. The bar side is smaller, has a pool table, and is a bit more run down. I believe there were 3 tables set up in the bar area. We originally sat in the bar area thinking it was the restaurant. They have a full menu, great specials ($3 maragaritas on Thursday), and service is provided by the bartender. The bartender was very helpful with the menu and encouraged us to try the margaritas on special because they were a great deal. We were not disappointed. After getting a menu, the bartender sensed we were there primarily for a meal and mentioned that there is also an actual dining area. The dining area is much larger and is pretty much what I would expect from a Mexican restaurant. Service was good and things were clean. This will definitely be our go-to Mexican restaurant in the Columbia area, especially with the sweet $20 for $40 Yelp deal!
(4)Puneet M.
Fajitas were good. Sizzling, plus they had a good amount of food and variety of veg's. Onions, squash, tomato's, peppers. The black beans were very good, almost the best part of the meal. Everything was good, but nothing great. I have had better salsa at home. But they have good service and the variety of choices on their menu is good.
(3)Nancy C.
The service was good- the waiter handled our annoying group (some people wanted drinks, some people wanted dinner, one person wanted just dessert, people showed up over the course of an hour) very gracefully, and brought water out for my dog. The food was good- we noticed that they had alot of different sauces; even two different kinds of green sauce, one of which came with my empanadas and was super spicy and delicious. There's cooking going on, not just the standard putting the same ingredients in your choice of taco shells, enchiladas, or tortillas with a side of beans and rice that goes on at some places. The flan was the nice smooth kind without bubbles in the custard. The margaritas were a little sweet for my tastes, but tasty, strong, and reasonably priced. All things considered, given that Zapata's is within walking distance of my house, and I can bring my dog if we sit outside, I'm probably going to become a regular. I do not understand why some of the reviews were so low. No, it's not haute cuisine, but I was pleasantly surprised.
(4)Katrina M.
I kinda want to give this place a 3.5. I really liked the margaritas, they seemed well balanced with a solid kick of liquor. The food is good. I don't think there's anything that would be disappointing. I like that they offer more traditional dishes in addition to the Americanized typicals. The bar, however, is hilarious, and not in a good way. We walked in on the bar side to get to the restaurant (which is a mistake, try to pretend the bar isn't there), and it's very dark, skeezy, and clearly not welcome to new regulars. Sort of the record-skipping type moment when we walked in. Some 40-something dude at the bar gave us the worst look when we walked in, which is what nearly made me burst out laughing, because he's sitting in the lamest bar ever, clearly comfortable, and he thinks we're the ones with a problem.
(3)Chris B.
Excellent establishment. Authentic, the Real deal. Its a very nice family restaurant that has wonderful food, and a versatile atmosphere. My family goes there all the time and have some to know the owners and servers. Also has a bar in the back, away from the restaurant. Great atmosphere and drinks.
(4)Miss C.
Loved the black beans and rice. Taco, enchilada and burrito needed more flavor. But honestly I would bring my kids here. Why? Off the beaten path. Next door to a police office so def would have no issues from idiots. And because the food is not off the the chains with the spices...the kids would be good.
(3)Sarajeane D.
I wish i could give this place a fair review but i can't! why not ? well because my best friends and i went there because we were looking for a good mexican restaurant and we found this on on yelp deals ( 40$ worth for 20$) this was around 9 (saturday, June 23rd) and the place was EMPTY.... not a soul! so we walk in the place and from behind a wall this girl looking a pure mess , pokes her head out ( doesn't even walk up to great us) and says "Can I help you?) wtf! so I go, Yeah are you open. you would of thought i asked her an algebra question with the look she gave me.... she goes i don't know let me check! HOW THE HELL ARE YOU WORKING SOMEWHERE AND DO NOT KNOW IF YOU ARE CURRENTLY OPEN. so then this guy walks behind her and goes yeah i think we are open would you like a seat. so i look to my friends and kindly say no thanks and walk out.... IM SORRY BUT I WAS NOT ABOUT TO EAT THERE. now my friend and i are stuck with a coupon that won't ever use(but I'm going to try to get a refund) because i will not be going back there.
(1)Beth W.
Pretty good, but not great. Great margaritas, though!
(3)MICHAEL U.
Back again this past Saturday, yummy,yum, yummerson! Beef enchillada's yummy, next time i'm gonna man up and try the menudo!
(5)Kenneth F.
i ordered salmon. it tasted like a few weeks old, but against my better judgment i ate half of it. felt queasy that evening; fever the next day -- food poisoning.
(1)larry c.
Fabulous margaritas, and their specials are great for variety. Love that I can walk home!
(5)Jon F.
Service is always good and if your looking for authentic South American style food in a comfortable, clean sit down environment this is the best I've found in Columbia. The portions are large and fairly priced with all of the meats and sauces full of flavor and spice. I have tried several different menu items and have yet to be disappointed.
(5)Melonie T.
As far as Columbia establishments go this is by far my fav! My husband and I discovered this great little Hispanic food joint in our first week in MD. The food, although a bit more expensive then most Mexican type places, is of the best quality. The drinks are stout and most enjoyable. It is never crowded (in my experience) and the atmosphere is very pleasant.
(5)Michael M.
Probably the best Mexican you can find in Columbia. Good, not too expensive - although pricer than I would have liked. I'm not sure how they can refer to the restaurant as "Authentic Mexican Only" and still serve Chimichangas, but whatever. I had one of the Chimichangas with Shredded Beef, and was pretty tasty. My dining partner had some crispy tacos, which she also enjoyed. We went late in the day on a Tuesday, and had no wait. Downside: They served me Tecate in a can, which just isn't as good as the bottle. And pass on the Queso Fundido. It sounds good, but is seriously lacking in the execution. (We had the version with Chorizo.) I give it three stars.
(3)Freddy M.
The only reason I didn't give it 5 stars is cause upon walking the hostess didn't even acknowledge me nor the other people around. I just went in and did my thing and even as I left I said thank you, even though they didn't do anything they still ignored me. # RUDE! Now as far as the food goes. WOW. I WAS VERY IMPRESSED. Me and my friend got the steak and chicken fajitas a grilled chicken burrito the queso fundido chips and dip and some Guacamole. The food was so tasty and nothing was cold and the flavored were very good. We bought the 20 for $40 and that just made it worth it even more cause the place looks like a dump and the food is sort of over priced but with this deal it just makes everything better Would I come back? Yea but only for takeout not to sit down.
(4)Rhea P.
This was one of the most pathetic dining experiences I'd had in a long time. First of all, the place was filthy. The tables (most of which were empty at 6pm on a weekend) held visible dirt. The carpet -- oh my god, the carpet. It looked like it had been caked in layers of dust and particles of salsa for years upon years with no intervention. Ironically (and disturbingly) there was a lonesome upright vacuum sitting right in the middle of the dining area. Very strange. It too looked dusty. The food was not very good at all. If you absolutely have to go to this place (but why would that ever be true?) I suggest getting the fajitas.
(2)Natasha M.
The overall experience of having dinner at Zapata's was so average that it really just wasn't good. I went in on a Friday night and the place was completely empty. It's very much in need of some updates. The place looks very old. I will say the reason I gave two stars is because the server seemed to actually know the menu and was able to answer all of our question. My mother is very sensitive to spice and I am vegan so it's always great when servers know the menu! I ordered the veggie fajitas with the poblano peppers. This came with rice, black beans, guacamole, lettuce, pico, and tortillas. The veggies themselves consisted of broccoli, onions, poblano peppers, carrots, yellow squash and zucchini. I opted out of having sour cream. The rice was pretty obviously frozen. It has those green peas and perfectly square carrots that often come with frozen rice. The guacamole although it had full pieces of avocado was absolutely awful. I would have rather just had plain avocado. The tortillas were fine and the black beans seriously lacked seasoning. The best part of the meal were the veggies, however they were VERY greasy. I had asked to have mine cooked in oil instead of butter and they seemed to be swimming in oil. Otherwise the veggies would have been great. It was one of those meals that you eat because you're starving but then begin to regret it because you're full but wanting to taste something good. I think this place needs a menu overhaul and a face lift for the dining area. I really wouldn't go back.
(2)Jackie B.
I live right down the street from this restaurant and we go pretty often. The food is always amazing. The queso fundido is our favorite. We usually get fajitas and they come out great and the margaritas are tasty as well. A pitcher of margaritas, an app, and 2 dinners is usually about $50, which is a deal. It's a little hole in the wall in a not so great village center and the service isn't fantastic. It isn't bad - they refill your water, get your orders correct, and do what servers should do, but they don't go out of their way. Pretty much, if you're over here and you want good mexican food at an awesome price, come by.
(4)Sheandrika S.
The restaurant wasn't aware how this worked with yelp and therefore charged my card an additional 20 not realizing I already had paid 20. After showing to her u had already paid she did credit our bill.
(3)Jasmine W.
decent service and good food mmm I love churros and fried icecream
(4)Theresa P.
This food is disgusting my boyfriend and I both were sick from it. Please stay away from the wings!!!!!
(1)Danny C.
Zapata's has both a bar and restaurant in different sections of the building. I walked in and the waitress sat me down. I don't remember her name but she was very nice and stopped by enough times to feel like I was somewhat important. I asked her what she would recommend getting from the menu and she told me the Salmon Fajitas were really good. I wasn't 100% certain about the dish but I ordered it anyway. I also got the small Guacamole. I got the Guac in like 2 minutes, figured it was already made before I even ordered. The Guac was alright, it didn't have a lot of flavor though. I then got my Fajitas which came with 1 empty plate, 1 plate of rice, refried beans, sour cream and guacamole. And the fajita plate that comes with sizzling onions, green peppers and tomato with a filet of Salmon on top. I took a bite of the Salmon and it wasn't great. It was overcooked and too salty for me. Then I took another bite and it was worse. I ate about half of the Salmon before it got too tough. It was like Unfresh Salmon Jerky. I then tried the green peppers and onions and they were overcooked as well. The peppers melted in my mouth, which in this case was a bad thing. I like crunchy veggies... The rice, refried beans, sour cream and guac were all alright, as in they were OK. The food here was mediocre at best but I did like the service here.
(3)Lisa R.
Not sure if the food is any good or not. This place is a dump! Looks like they had water damage and instead of doing the repairs socked away the money! Musty smell very very run down. Only giving 1 star so I can write the review
(1)Brandon S.
It's been a while since I've been here. From memory it's a nice sit down restaurant with a bar off to the side and they serve large portions. The food was great.
(4)Christen J.
Had a great girls night last night, waiter was very friendly, fast and made some great recommendations! Chips and salsa were awesome, nothing like fresh made salsa and chips! They give you plently!! We ordered stuffed jalapeno peppers, which were made fresh and excellent, not the frozen kind some places server. We then ordered the beef nachos, they were topped generously with cheese, steak, sour cream, tomatoes and onions. Steak was cooked perfect, not dry and very flavorful. We did not even make it to entrees and had leftover appetizers to take home! The protions are more then generous. Even the margaritas were strong and tasty, I had to stop at 2! Lookign forward to bringing the family by next week!!! It's a little hidden gem in the Harpers Choice Village Center which has gotten much better now.
(5)Darren A.
Quite possibly the worst service I have ever received. It was practically non-existent and there was only ONE other table seated. There is NO EXCUSE ... well aside form the fact that perhaps our server was ALSO serving virtual dishes via the world wide web due to the fact that she was on her cell more than anything else. We received NO REFILLS, including my lemonade (or as I referred to it - dirty sugar water). In fact, I walked to the kitchen area and began dispensing my OWN soda bc i was so DAYUM parched. Then, she turned the corner and had the NERVE to have an attitude bc I was 'helping myself'. HA! CHICK, PLEASE ... have a seat! Black beans (my FAVORITE SIDE DISH ... I mean, HOW can you mess up beans?!?!? I'll tell you - continue reading...) were served with ALL four of our dishes and the beans were literally rancid. The taste & smell were practically vomit inducing. The rice pilaf side that accompanied our dishes was nothing more than a frozen bag of rice, peas & carrots. Why do I say this? The peas were 'freezer burned'... And oh yeah, I've actually had that rice mix 'past its expiration date' and it tasted just like this drivel. Chicken enchiladas were bland. So bland in fact, that I took the chicken home and whipped up a 'good' breakfast frittata w/ this chicken in it (PERFECT MARRIAGE)... I can safely say, I am NEVER EVER goin back there.
(1)Sarah M.
I went here because I had a yelp deal. The margaritas are only $3 but they were not the best. I didn't know they had a dining part. When you walk in the door it looks like a sad cheap bar with only 4 high top tables. We got the queso. Please don't. Taste like velvetta. Salsa was free and not bad. Make sure you ask for it! I got the enchiladas. Nothing to write home about. Overall just a no. But 2 stars for trying. Doubt they'll stay open much longer.
(2)Kem W.
The food was OK though it was fairly standard Mexican fare without anything unusual on the menu. I had the pork burrito and it was good. I enjoyed my ultimate margarita. But the dining room really needs work. Bright fluorescent lighting and cheap tables and chairs. Good for lunch but not a dinner out. Try El Azteca or Pachanga Cocina for better Mexican food in Howard County.
(2)A S.
Went here with my boyfriend on a Sat night, around 6. You would think that this place would be packed based on the reviews but was not. Only saw one other couple. The guitarist they have there is a sub par player probably trying to make some summer bucks before school starts again. Didn't do much to be listening to alternative in a Mexican restaurant. They do serve you chips before your order. Was okay. Didn't care too much for the warm salsa. Never had it served that way before. I usually am served fresh cool salsa at other Mexican restaurants, which is the way I like mine, that way I know it's fresh. Ordered chicken tacos. Never had feta cheese in tacos before either. Didn't care much for it either. The rice side dish tasted off. Even my boyfriend thought it tasted off. I couldn't even take more than two bites from it. The black beans was also okay, nothing to rave about. I gave one star for the friendly staff and another star because I was able to finish my two tacos.
(2)James R.
This place is a pit. Its located in a ghetto strip mall and I guess could be ok if you're sitting in the dining room with your family but the bar is possibly one of the scariest places I've ever been - and I'm male. That was all before the horrilble food arrived. I had Chicken Empanadas that tasted like they were made with cat food and nothing like Empanadas I've eaten in a number of hispanic countries. Next came the beef burrito which was huge like Chipotle but tasted horrible. The inside was cold, the sauce on top was used mererly to hide the taste of the beef inside. Needless to say me and my date headed for the nearest Taco Bell to wash the taste of this food out of my mouth. The waiter was very attentive despite the bar being pretty busy with the oddest cast of characters I'd ever been a part of. From the very mature couple that danced up and down in front of the bar to every song, to the very smelly guy with dreads that looked like he just walked in from his cardboard home out back to the mult-racial table of lesbians that scowled at every other patron in the bar. Needless to say I will not be returning EVER. Save your hard earned money and go somewhere else - ANYwhere else.
(1)Maria P.
Ehhhhhhh. That pretty much sums up the place. Our waitress was very nice and patient, giving us adequate time to look at the menu and check in periodically. She also brought out a bowl of salsa and chips which tasted homemade. Mmm. They offer your standard Mexican cuisine. Nothing special, but I will say their fried ice cream is AMAZING. I'm not even a dessert girl but it's so good that a small appetizer is all I would want beforehand. Saving space for dessert is crucial here. My friend ordered ground beef crispy tacos and the amount of meat and toppings are ridiculous. By ridiculous, I mean excessive. In a good way. Did I mention that it smelled heavenly? It smelled heavenly :) Much better than my beef enchiladas. The sauce on top tasted bland and the filling wasn't impressive. There wasn't enough cheese either, and I love my cheese. It's the main reason for ordering enchiladas in the first place. The black beans that came with it were PERFECT though. All in all, the meal wasn't too shabby but I wouldn't go out of my way to come here.
(3)Ryan M.
The only restaurant in Columbia with Mexican food! Would not consider ever going back to the chain "Mexican" restaurants in Columbia. Service at Zapata's is good, food is tasty and the prices are reasonable. They also have some good dining specials throughout the week. My girlfriend and myself come here on a regular basis.
(5)Shawn M.
Not sure what happened to this place, but it used to be a lot better than it is now. It's almost like the people that run the restaurant have lost heart and need a visit from Chef Ramsey to get it back! Seriously though, the first couple of times we've come here it was great, but not now. Additionally, the annoyingly loud bar next door that they also own seems to be the focus of the owners and not the restaurant side. I guess there is more money in alcohol than in food, so they're let the other side lag quite a bit. The burritos are great, as is the chimichanga. However, I would advise against the cerviche or anything seafood here, since the last time we got anything from the ocean it had to be returned for being 'rotten'.
(2)Brian P.
We stopped in here one night about two weeks ago after I saw their listing on the Columbia Assoc. page. Being from Southern California,the mere thought that there could be an actual authentic Mexican restaurant in Columbia had me all kinds of excited. When we arrived, the first impressions were a "meh."!i was automatically assuming that the lack of authenticity in decor would be countered with the food. There was only one other couple at a table close by. I was instantly distracted by the bar that is connected by a hallway from the dining room to it, which had a muffled yet quite noticeable genre of music playing, none of which was anything "Mexican/Banda/Salsa" themed but more urban 90's-'00's, which don't get me wrong, inenjoy, just in a different setting. While looking over the menu, they had a separate page of specials sitting inside of it. One of the pages was a little hard to read,. We placed our order and the waitress brought us chips and salsa. I noticed the mention that additional baskets of chips were at an additional charge. So im guessing the folks in the area are into over doing the free chips and thats why they charge? The Food: I ended up ordering a combo plate with ground beef tacos and chicken enchiladas. The waitress never asked if I wanted the tacos to be soft or crunchy, she automatically brought soft. The ground beef had a weird spice combination. They were filled over capacity which I actually enjoyed. The chicken in the enchiladas could've been drained more and actually seasoned better. The rice was nothing special and again, lacked flavor (yes mexican rice should have flavor to it.) and the beans were decent. My partner ordered the carne asada. It "looked" like it was going to be good, that wasn't the case. Traditionally the option of corn or flour tortillas is given, and then those tortillas are warm and wrapped up or in a tortilla server. Not here. The meat seemed under flavored and too dry for authentic tastes. Another distracting observation, connected to their bar, was how patrons of the bar would use the restaurant to cut through back and forth. Want to keep the restaurant separate from the noise in the bar, put up a wall with a door that isolates the noise. I'd suggest a sign on the bar side that would ask bar patrons to refrain from using the dining room as an exit, but yeah, that'd likely be a waste. Atmosphere/Ambiance: Drab and boring, lacking personality and in need of an overhaul with furniture, the entry doesn't promote a welcoming space. Food: again being from SoCal, I truly understand that different regions of Mexico have different flavor palates, but you definitely missed the mark somewhere. And Marylanders, Mexican food isn't just quesadillas, nachos, and fajitas, you're just used to playing it safe. Then again you wouldn't know authentic Mexican unless you've been to SoCal, Arizona, New Mexico, or even Texas, OR Mexico itself. All in all, the food left much to be desired for. I'm not sure that a second chance is even in the realm of possibility.
(2)Jordan B.
We've been coming to Zapata's off and on over the last six or so years, and the visits have been getting less frequent. Sadly, the quality of the food isn't what it used to be. The tacos are good in general, but our most recent experience was that the carnitas were so dry, they were inedible. In the past, the burritos have also been quite tasty. We are also fans of the desserts, empanadas, and nachos; however my most recent nachos were beyond soggy. Their margaritas have also been quite good in the past. The restaurant itself can be a little hard to find, since it is through a breezeway and around the corner behind most of the stores that face the parking lot. It was nice to have a local independent Mexican restaurant nearby, but after our most recent experiences, I think we'll have to find somewhere else.
(2)Phil D.
Very bland food. Margarita on the rocks is tasty, but the frozen margarita is a waste of your time.
(2)Lindsey R.
The food is good and so are the margaritas! Our server was great and made sure we had everything we needed!
(4)EJ S.
A little too pricey for average fare. Not horrible for MD Mex, but I will stick to my "once every few years" pace. We only went because of the $20 Yelp deal. The verde sauce was nice and spicy, and the steak in my enchilada was good. The margarita was decent and strong.
(2)Alex A.
I would leave zero stars if I could. My husbands food came out with raw meat in it. No apology was given or offer to replace it. The waitress was hard to find and it took over 10 minutes to get my coke (that didn't taste right either). Did I mention that there was only 4 other occupied tables in the restaurant. To top it off there was zero toilet paper is the woman's bathroom. Do not waste your time. We used the yelp deal and it still was not worth it.
(1)Meredith B.
For what it is, the place is pretty solid. The food itself is really quite good. I particularly enjoyed my first visit there for breakfast- haven't had proper huevos rancheros since I was last in Texas. The service is... service? I'm not going to give the place five stars and rave about how perfect it is- Jaleo it ain't- but it's a quiet hole in the wall for good, inexpensive Mexican. As has been noted by others, the bar is not a place to go if you're not a regular; it doesn't look particularly welcoming to outsiders... but it turns out that doesn't bother me especially.
(4)Texman O.
great food, a bit rustic ambience
(4)Krissy K.
The food is ok. I liked the burritos and the empanadas were good. The tres leche cake was bad. A little overpriced but I'd recommend it. I heard the drinks are pretty good at the bar.
(3)Zach S.
Even though I would only rate the service as being average, that's very different than saying that it was bad. The waitress forgot to give us menus, so we couldn't order for six or seven minutes longer. That's no big deal. What's more important is the food quality. And it was great! The flavor of my pork enchilada was wonderful, with lots of cilantro, and this green spicy salsa that was just excellent (it started with a "v"...). My girlfriend had a vegetarian buritto that she also loved. If not for the excellent food, I would give Zapata's three stars, because the margaritas are just average, the service is average, and the prices were just a little bit high. But the great food is worth the extra fourth star.
(4)Laura E.
The cheese fondue with chorizo was very good, margaritas say they're made with natural lime juice but that was not the case, being a bartender I can tell the difference. Our server Herman was alright. I decided to go with the fajitas because it is a Mexican restaurant and it would be difficult to mess up something simple like fajitas. I was not pleased with them it didn't taste fresh to me. The bar smelled like cigarettes which also turned me off I'll probably never go back.
(1)Shachi B.
This place is a little tricky to find if you're not paying attention. Well... pay more attention cause it's good! Solid, solid sangria. Cheese enchiladas with mole sauce - I really enjoyed their mole sauce. Nice depth of flavor and just enough spice. Reasonably priced. Go here. You won't be disappointed. YUM.
(3)Duy N.
Nice place, great for family meals or a good time with a group of friends. I had a variation of the chicken mole, which was a special they had running. Very good and complex in flavor as I love from all moles. This mole had a mostly nutty flavor, but I think I tasted some chocolate, and chili powder (and many other things I can't name, but are familiar). My friend had the menudo soup which was very interesting. It's basically a tripe soup said to be good for hangovers. He said hte soup could have used some kind of kick. I'll definitely go here again for my mole cravings, though they don't have mole negro. Oh also, they have a cantina/bar area that has a good amount of room. Not sure if it gets busy at night, but nice to know it's there. The service was very good and our waiter was very hospitable.
(4)Tucker H.
4.5* This was the best mexican/Southwestern food I have had in a LONG time. I came here while I was town for a conference on the strength of the Yelp reviews, and was not let down! Based on the sign in the window, they recently changed ownership and either brought back or retained the original chef. either way, I can see why they wanted him in the kitchen. The service was very friendly and prompt, and the warm chips and salsa arrived quickly. My shredded beef chimichanga was delicious, packed with nicely seasoned meat, and with some fresh lettuce and such on the side. The seasoned rice was only average, but the chimichanga was the best I've had in years, and my colleague inhaled his burrito, which makes me think it was rather good too!
(4)Tim L.
We went here since we got a coupon and we are new to the area and really want to find a good Mexican restaurant. This is not it... Place was empty and kinda depressing. We got chips and salsa and the salsa was served warm, which evidently is something they meant to do according to other reviews. We got chicken nachos as an appetizer, which lacked flavor. The chicken fajita was average and the tortillas were hard. The carnitas were by far the biggest disappointment. They were quite gamely and tasted about as bad as they looked. The service, even though we were the only ones in the restaurant, was shoddy at best and we never really got an opportunity to ask for a replacement for our carnitas. By the time we were asked 10 minutes later, we were ready to just leave. If your in the mood for mexican, skip this place and save your cash and go to chipotle.
(1)Katherine B.
The service was slow. Food was ok, not great. I'm not saying I won't go back, but I certainly won't make it a priority.
(2)Crystal W.
Great margaritas! I've only had the chimichanga but its always great. The service is lackluster if you sit in the dining area. Bartenders are always nice.
(3)SB M.
The service was good, the food was ok, nothing to write home about. The spinach artichoke burrito needs some work. It tasted like they had opened a can of spinach and a jar of artichoke hearts an threw them together. Delicious salsa though!
(3)Jen V.
Real salsa that is served warm and fresh hits the table as soon as you sit down. The menu is more original than a typical tex-mex place, with, for example, spinach-artichoke dishes. The daily specials are usually really tasty and creative, such as burritos that have included ingredients like pumpkin, mushrooms, or short ribs. The guacamole is fresh with the perfect balance of cilantro and lime. Tortilla soup is good, too. This isn't a cheap joint, but it's not overly expensive either; the price is perfectly right for the quality. Downsides: specialty drinks like horchata are not always available and the service can be very, very spotty. The separate bar area can get loud if the door is propped open.
(4)Robert M.
After looking at the wide range of reviews, I wasn't sure what to expect. But with the Yelp deal it was inexpensive to give this place a try. The reviews are correct. The food is very tasty. The margaritas are strong. The place is a dump. Dirty, messy. The service is terrible. We were there at 7pm on a Saturday. One would think any restaurant interested in repeat business would have their A game on a Saturday night. The food was good enough that I would consider getting take out. But I doubt it. If the dining room is that messy, how clean could the kitchen be?
(1)Paul W.
Awesome margaritas and great tacos. Waiter was very attentive and had helpful suggestions. Very good value with the $40 for $20 yelp deal.
(4)Courtney C.
I was looking for a place to get pitchers of margaritas and came across Zapatas. I snagged a few girls and headed there for dinner and drinks on a random Wednesday night. The bar is a little ghetto but not too uncomfortably so. The bartender was really sweet. We ordered a pitcher of the house margarita and asked for some chips and salsa. Chips were good, salsa was warm (weird) and spicy, margaritas were on point. Nothing outstanding but what you would expect from a Tex-Mex place. The AC was broken in the bar that night. I hope they get it fixed because it was pretty steamy in there. We ordered all sort of stuff and it was all really good, but nothing amazing. I was expecting the salsa verde to be spicier, but I have a high spice tolerance. My friend's salad has ceasar dressing on it for some reason, which she didn't ask for. The vegetarian burrito another friend ordered was almost too spicy for her, but huge and full of spinach. I enjoyed my chicken enchiladas with vegetables and a side salad. The queso was a little grainy and not my favorite. I think this would be a good spot to grab some drinks on one of the outside tables, but I don't see myself going back to the bar area or making a special trip for the food. Additionally, in the bar area there was a couch and a bunch of kids hanging out. It was strange and there is no longer a pool table. Just a couple random arcade type games by the entrance.
(3)Allison F.
This is probably the most authentic Mexican restaurants in Columbia, since the majority of restaurants are chains like On the Border and Don Pablo's. The food here is generally pretty good, although the service can be ridiculously slow at times. The last time we went, we were the only patrons in the restaurant and our waitress took at least 15 minutes to take our orders. The food is worth the wait, however. My husband swears by the mole sauce and the tacos al carbon are very good. There's rarely a wait here; I'm actually pretty surprised that this place is still in business, given that you can walk in on Saturday night and only share the restaurant with 3-4 other tables. Avoid the bar area at all costs; it doesn't even seem like it's attached to the restaurant. It's definitely for the regulars and not visitor-friendly. It's a shame that the bar is so sketchy and the service (aside from one waiter who is typically very attentive) is so slow. The food is quite good, the restaurant has a good ambiance and the sangria is excellent.
(3)Melanie R.
Gag!! That about sums up this meal. The salsa came out hot (as in oven hot). I saw that in another review below. Weird is correct on that one!! I had a cheese enchillada and my husband had fajitas. My enchillada was a flour tortilla with melted cheese (not cooked through) and some jar salsa thrown on top. My husband had fajitas with strips of jerky beef and overdone chicken. The ONLY saving grace of this meal, was my Sangria which was great, hence my 1 star. Our bill was $40. The worst $40 I ever spent. I went home and literallly had a bowl of cereal.
(1)