El Centro D.F. - Georgetown

4.4

1966 Reviews

$30 and under

Contemporary Mexican

Make a reservation

2 people

Nov 26, 2024

11:00 PM

Booked 14 times today

Lively
Good for groups
Great for creative cocktails

Chef Richard Sandoval invites you to gather, dine and raise a glass at El Centro, D.F. Authentic Mexican comfort food and fine Tequilas are served in three vibrant spaces.

Reaching back to his roots, internationally acclaimed Chef Richard Sandoval created El Centro DF to introduce Washington DC to signature authentic Mexican flavors and traditional dishes that he grew up enjoying. The dynamic two-story restaurant in Georgetown, with a back patio, is also home to over 300 tequilas, mezcals alongside craft Mexican-inspired drinks.

Order delivery or takeout

Private dining

Book your next event with us

View details

Additional information

Dining style
Casual Dining
Price
$30 and under
Cuisines
Contemporary Mexican, Mexican, Comfort Food
Hours of operation
Brunch Sat, Sun 11:00 am–4:00 pm Dinner Mon–Fri 4:00 pm–10:00 pm Sat, Sun 5:00 pm–10:00 pm Happy Hour Mon–Fri 4:00 pm–7:00 pm Sat, Sun 4:00 pm–5:00 pm
Phone number
(202) 333-4100
Website
http://www.eatelcentro.com/georgetown
Payment options
AMEX, Discover, Mastercard, Visa
Dress code
Smart Casual
Executive chef
Chef Richard Sandoval
Private party facilities
Reaching back to his culinary roots, Chef Sandoval created El Centro DF to introduce Washington, D.C. to signature authentic Mexican flavors and traditional dishes that he grew up enjoying. The dynamic two-story restaurant in Georgetown, with back patio, is also the home to 200 tequilas and mezcals!
Private party contact
DC Events Team: (888) 387-7245

Location
1218 Wisconsin Ave., Washington, DC 20007
Neighborhood
Georgetown
Cross street
M Street NW
Parking details
There is both street parking and a public lot.
Public transit
Just North of the intersection of Wisconsin Ave NW and M St NW.
Additional
Bar/Lounge, Beer, Cocktails, Dancing, Delivery, Full Bar, Gluten-free Options, Happy Hour, Late Night, Non-Smoking, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Private Room, Takeout, Weekend Brunch, Wheelchair Access, Wine

Offers

Everyday Happy Hour
Multiple dates available
Sun - 5:00 PM - 6:00 PM,Mon - Fri - 4:00 PM - 7:00 PM,Sat - 5:00 PM - 6:00 PM
Join us in the Bar 7 days a week for Happy Hour featuring Small Bites, Tacos, Beer, Wine and Cocktails. Reservations are not needed or taken for Happy Hour. MONDAY - FRIDAY | 4 PM - 7 PM SATURDAY & SUNDAY | 4 PM - 5 PM

Popular dishes

Traditional Tableside$16.00
avocado, tomato, onion, cilantro, lime, chili serrano
Pork Belly**$18.00
traditional guacamole, pickled chili, salsa verde cruda, chips
Corn Esquites$16.00
grilled corn, queso fresco, tajín chipotle mayo
Queso Fundido**$14.00
melted oaxaca & chihuahua cheese, chili morita salsa, flour tortillas
El Centro Chile con Queso**$16.00
pico de gallo, pickled chili, bacon

For the Table

Tuna Ceviche**$16.00
lychee citrus broth, cilantro, mango, cucumber, onion, avocado
Cantina Nachos$14.00
requeson cheese sauce, cotija, guacamole, crema fresca, beans pico de gallo, jalapeño
Quesadillas**$13.00
melted mexican cheese, pico de gallo, chipotle mayo cilantro, crema fresca
Crispy Calamari**$16.00
jalapeño tartar, chipotle mayo, habanero salsa, tajín

Soup & Salad

Chicken Tortilla Soup$11.00
crema fresca, cheese, avocado, tortilla strips
Chipotle BBQ Salad$18.00
grilled chicken, panela, black beans, jicama, roasted corn avocado, tomato, tortilla strips, cilantro-ranch
Mexican Caesar Salad**$18.00
adobo grilled chicken, black beans, cherry tomato, avocado roasted corn, jicama, croutons, smoky caesar dressing

Street Tacos

three soft corn or flour tortillas** + mexican rice & beans

Hanger Steak*$22.00
mexican cheese blend, onion, cilantro, chile de árbol salsa
Chicken Tinga$17.00
crema fresca, lettuce, pico de gallo
Crispy Shrimp**$21.00
chipotle slaw, pickled chili, pineapple
Al Pastor$18.00
adobo pork, grilled pineapple, onion, cilantro, salsa verde
Crispy Baja Fish**$22.00
poblano tartar, cabbage slaw, pico de gallo salsa verde cruda
Mix & Match$22.00
choose any three street tacos

Chef's Specials

Pork Shank Carnitas$24.00
salsa trio, refried beans, mexican rice, corn tortillas
Diablo Shrimp$27.00
charred citrus shrimp marinade, chipotle tomato sauce sweet plantain, mexican rice, charred lemon
Carne Asada*$31.00
hanger steak, poblano rajas, cheese enchilada crema fresca, charred salsa
Salmon Adobado* **$28.00
grilled broccolini, salsa criolla, corn pico de gallo charred lemon
Seafood Chile Relleno$26.00
crab, shrimp, roasted poblano, melted cheese, crema fresca black bean purée, mexican rice, chile de árbol sauce
Del Campo Mexican Burger**$20.00
veggie burger, melted cheese, fajita pepper, chimichurri chipotle mayo, pretzel bun, fries

Fajitas, Enchiladas y Burritos

served with mexican rice & refried beans

Chicken Enchiladas**$18.00
tomatillo sauce, oaxaca cheese, crema, lettuce, onion
Cheese Enchiladas**$16.00
melted cheese, crema fresca, lettuce, tomatillo sauce
Achiote Hanger Steak Fajitas* **$31.00
guacamole, crema fresca, pico de gallo, flour tortillas
Adobo Chicken Fajitas**$27.00
guacamole, crema fresca, bell pepper, onion pico de gallo, flour tortillas
Shrimp Fajitas**$28.00
guacamole, crema fresca, bell pepper, onion pico de gallo, flour tortillas
Mix & Match Fajitas**$31.00
choose two

Sides

Mexican Rice & Beans$7.00
Sweet Plantains$7.00
crema

Postres

Churros**$10.00
cinnamon, sugar, cajeta, chocolate sauce
Corn Cheesecake$12.00
agave berry salsa, tajín sorbet, whipped cream

What 1,966 people are saying

Overall ratings and reviews

Reviews can only be made by diners who have eaten at this restaurant

4.4

4.4 based on recent ratings

4.4Food
4.4Service
4.3Ambience
4.3Value

Noise • Moderate

Review summary

AI-generated from verified diner reviews

El Centro D.F. in Georgetown offers a lively atmosphere with "excellent service" and "great food," making it an ideal spot for brunch and group outings. Guests rave about the "amazing brunch menu" and "delicious margaritas." While some mention slow service, the overall experience remains positive, especially for brunch enthusiasts.

1,966 Reviews

C
Chris
Washington DC
1 review
4.0
1 review
Dined 3 days ago
1. Overall 4
2. Food 5
3. Service 2
4. Ambience 5
The servers mixed up our orders but it was fixed quickly
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B
Benjamin
London
14 reviews
vip
5.0
14 reviews
Dined on November 19, 2024
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 4
Friendly speedy service and delicious food. Very much enjoyed!
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A
Arielle
Washington DC
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on November 17, 2024
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
Great food, great service, great atmosphere, will definitely be back
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R
Rebecca
Charleston
4 reviews
5.0
4 reviews
Dined on November 16, 2024
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
We really enjoyed our dinner at El Centro. Our server, Marta, was excellent. The food was amazing. And the spicy mango margarita -- out of this world!!
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J
Joe
Orlando
25 reviews
5.0
25 reviews
Dined on November 16, 2024
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 4
My favorites were the pitcher of margaritas, salsa, and chicken enchiladas. All perfect.
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K
Kayla
Dallas
2 reviews
5.0
2 reviews
Dined on November 11, 2024
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
Awesome experience. Thank you for hosting our group!
Is this helpful?
A
Ana
Washington DC
4 reviews
5.0
4 reviews
Dined on November 3, 2024
1. Overall 5
2. Food 3
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
Perfect decoration, ambience, and service. Centro can improve on the food and drinks.
El Centro D.F. - GeorgetownResponded on November 6, 2024
Thank you for sharing your feedback! We're thrilled that you enjoyed the decoration, ambiance, and service at El Centro. We're always striving to create a great environment for our guests. We're sorry to hear that the food and drinks didn’t meet your expectations. Your comments will be shared with our team as we continue to improve our offerings. We hope to have the chance to welcome you back soon and provide you with an even better experience!
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R
Reilly
Cleveland
1 review
vip
4.0
1 review
Dined on November 2, 2024
1. Overall 4
2. Food 4
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 3
The food was pretty good and our server was very attentive. The music gets cranked up by about 8:00pm and we could hardly hear each other speak. It’s a little bit pricey for what it is— it’s more of a date night price range than a casual dinner.
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P
Pippa
Miami
18 reviews
vip
4.0
18 reviews
Dined on November 2, 2024
1. Overall 4
2. Food 3
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
I preface this review by saying I have a lot of food allergies (gluten, dairy, soy, corn & egg) and know I run the gauntlet by eating out. I always look at the menu before hand and call ahead to check on the oil they use in the kitchen (soybean oil seems to be the oil of choice in a lot of Mexican restaurants) before making a reservation. I was super impressed that our server arrived at the table having memorized my allergies from my Open Table profile. Sorting through the menu and my various menu hacks, we agreed on a ceviche and fajitas (without the tortillas or cream). All good. Except that the ceviche arrived with shredded purple corn chips on the top which (due to the atmospheric lighting), I didn’t realise until I ate one. Then the fajitas arrived with rice that had kernels of corn blended into it. I asked three times about the refried beans having flour/cornflour in them but was assured they didn’t. I’ve had a really, really rough night and am still suffering this morning so I know there were multiple contaminates. I think the breakdown in communication was probably in the kitchen but either way, I offer this only as a warning to anyone with severe food allergies. Even though they charged me for the ceviche I couldn’t eat, I do not want to take away from the fact that my husband said his food was delicious, the service was excellent, the atmosphere fun and at least at the front end, they seemed concerned about the allergens.
El Centro D.F. - GeorgetownResponded on November 6, 2024
Thank you for taking the time to share your feedback. First, we want to sincerely apologize for the experience you had with your food allergies. We understand how serious allergies can be, and we strive to ensure the safety and satisfaction of all our guests. It's great to hear that our service was attentive and that our staff took care to note your allergies, but it’s clear there was a breakdown in communication between the front and the kitchen. We're committed to providing a safe and enjoyable dining experience for all of our guests, and your feedback will help us improve. We’re glad to hear your husband enjoyed his meal, and we hope to have the opportunity to welcome you back soon.
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L
Lorena
Washington DC
4 reviews
vip
5.0
4 reviews
Dined on October 28, 2024
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
Best spicy mango margaritas and carne asada in the DMV and let’s talk about the corn cheesecake 😋 so delicious. Staff and costumer service on point.
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FAQs

El Centro D.F. - Georgetown offers delivery in partnership with Uber Eats. El Centro D.F. - Georgetown also offers takeout which you can order by calling the restaurant at (202) 333-4100.

El Centro D.F. - Georgetown is rated 4.4 stars by 1966 OpenTable diners.

Yes, you can generally book this restaurant by choosing the date, time and party size on OpenTable.

Make a reservation

2 people

Nov 26, 2024

11:00 PM

Booked 14 times today

Order delivery or takeout

Google Map for El Centro D.F. - Georgetown

1218 Wisconsin Ave., Washington, DC 20007

Additional information

Cross street
M Street NW
Neighborhood
Georgetown
Hours of operation
Brunch Sat, Sun 11:00 am–4:00 pm Dinner Mon–Fri 4:00 pm–10:00 pm Sat, Sun 5:00 pm–10:00 pm Happy Hour Mon–Fri 4:00 pm–7:00 pm Sat, Sun 4:00 pm–5:00 pm
Price
$30 and under
Cuisines
Contemporary Mexican, Mexican, Comfort Food
Dining style
Casual Dining
Dress code
Smart Casual
Parking details
There is both street parking and a public lot.
Public transit
Just North of the intersection of Wisconsin Ave NW and M St NW.
Payment options
AMEX, Discover, Mastercard, Visa
Executive chef
Chef Richard Sandoval
Additional
Bar/Lounge, Beer, Cocktails, Dancing, Delivery, Full Bar, Gluten-free Options, Happy Hour, Late Night, Non-Smoking, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Private Room, Takeout, Weekend Brunch, Wheelchair Access, Wine

Website
http://www.eatelcentro.com/georgetown
Phone number
(202) 333-4100
Private party facilities
Reaching back to his culinary roots, Chef Sandoval created El Centro DF to introduce Washington, D.C. to signature authentic Mexican flavors and traditional dishes that he grew up enjoying. The dynamic two-story restaurant in Georgetown, with back patio, is also the home to 200 tequilas and mezcals!
Private party contact
DC Events Team: (888) 387-7245

El Centro D.F. - Georgetown

Make a reservation

Order delivery or takeout

Private dining

Additional information

Everyday Happy Hour

Tuna Ceviche

Cantina Nachos

Steak Tacos

Guacamole & Queso

Traditional Tableside$16.00

Pork Belly**$18.00

Corn Esquites$16.00

Queso Fundido**$14.00

El Centro Chile con Queso**$16.00

For the Table

Tuna Ceviche**$16.00

Cantina Nachos$14.00

Quesadillas**$13.00

Crispy Calamari**$16.00

Soup & Salad

Chicken Tortilla Soup$11.00

Chipotle BBQ Salad$18.00

Mexican Caesar Salad**$18.00

Street Tacos

Hanger Steak*$22.00

Chicken Tinga$17.00

Crispy Shrimp**$21.00

Al Pastor$18.00

Crispy Baja Fish**$22.00

Mix & Match$22.00

Chef's Specials

Pork Shank Carnitas$24.00

Diablo Shrimp$27.00

Carne Asada*$31.00

Salmon Adobado* **$28.00

Seafood Chile Relleno$26.00

Del Campo Mexican Burger**$20.00

Fajitas, Enchiladas y Burritos

Chicken Enchiladas**$18.00

Cheese Enchiladas**$16.00

Achiote Hanger Steak Fajitas* **$31.00

Adobo Chicken Fajitas**$27.00

Shrimp Fajitas**$28.00

Mix & Match Fajitas**$31.00

Sides

Mexican Rice & Beans$7.00

Sweet Plantains$7.00

Postres

Churros**$10.00

Corn Cheesecake$12.00

Overall ratings and reviews

Review summary

FAQs

Does El Centro D.F. - Georgetown offer delivery through OpenTable or takeout?

How is El Centro D.F. - Georgetown restaurant rated?

Is El Centro D.F. - Georgetown currently accepting reservations?

Make a reservation

Order delivery or takeout

Additional information