El Cerro Bar & Grill
The location: El Cerro Bar & Grill, 2217 Avent Ferry Road
The guests: Brian, Derick, Jenny, & Jessi
The order: Texas Dip, Parrillada Mix For Two, ACP, Enchiladas Blancas, Texas ACP
The review: 6/10
Let's get into it:
This restaurant is iconic in the NC State/Avent Ferry area, and stands out with it bright red and green decor and its location right in front of a shopping center. Although not natives to the area (like most people we run into these days in the Raleigh-Durham area), we have lived in Raleigh for a while now - and one of us even went to NC State.... so we have driven by this restaurant many, many times. And have heard from lots of people that it is a happening place, and has received good reviews. But, surprisingly, none of us have eaten here -- so we were excited to check it out!
Did I mention the bright appearance of the restaurant? You literally can't miss it.
There's plenty of lot parking, and its location makes it easy to get in and out of.
We were quickly greeted and taken to a table. The service was prompt and pleasant throughout the evening. The restaurant didn't look exceptionally clean as we walked through - but it is an older building and it was late in the evening, and nothing was exceptionally dirty either, so I am giving that a pass.
The decor? Festive. I'm not really sure how else to describe it. Maybe over the top? But it is what I would expect from a Mexican restaurant with a very large bar located right next to a college campus. It was a bit dark, and a bit noisy, however. There were some tables celebrating birthdays nearby. I would consider this a good place for a large group who doesn't mind some loud noises, but maybe not for a evening where you are hoping for uninterrupted conversation.
The menu was quite extensive, and offered a wide variety of options and price points. After looking over the menu, we decided on our usual favorites. We started polishing off some chips and salsa, which tasted fresh, but not unlike the chips and salsa from most other Mexican restaurants. The rest of our food came out hot and quickly.
Now, onto the food. It is hard to say much other than it was mediocre. Mediocre portion sizes (don't let the massive plate of meat fool you too much - that was described on the menu as a plate for 2!). The food was all good - but nothing exceptional in terms of quality or flavor. I didn't find the meat seasoned all that much, and there was definitely no spice. The queso was rich and creamy. The rice was cooked properly. But nothing stood out to us in a "oh man, this is soooo good" kind of way. If you have had other Mexican food from around the Raleigh area, that is pretty much consistent with what you will get here.
If you are looking for a meal that is relatively inexpensive that will leave you full and satisfied, and you are in the area, I would check it out. But I don't think it is worth the drive across town for.
Will we go back? Hard to say when there are so many other delicious restaurants in the area that far outrank this place in terms of flavor alone.
That said - if you are a college student on a budget and looking for a lot of food and plenty of drinks, this might be your place....
This restaurant is iconic in the NC State/Avent Ferry area, and stands out with it bright red and green decor and its location right in front of a shopping center. Although not natives to the area (like most people we run into these days in the Raleigh-Durham area), we have lived in Raleigh for a while now - and one of us even went to NC State.... so we have driven by this restaurant many, many times. And have heard from lots of people that it is a happening place, and has received good reviews. But, surprisingly, none of us have eaten here -- so we were excited to check it out!
Did I mention the bright appearance of the restaurant? You literally can't miss it.
There's plenty of lot parking, and its location makes it easy to get in and out of.
We were quickly greeted and taken to a table. The service was prompt and pleasant throughout the evening. The restaurant didn't look exceptionally clean as we walked through - but it is an older building and it was late in the evening, and nothing was exceptionally dirty either, so I am giving that a pass. The decor? Festive. I'm not really sure how else to describe it. Maybe over the top? But it is what I would expect from a Mexican restaurant with a very large bar located right next to a college campus. It was a bit dark, and a bit noisy, however. There were some tables celebrating birthdays nearby. I would consider this a good place for a large group who doesn't mind some loud noises, but maybe not for a evening where you are hoping for uninterrupted conversation.
The menu was quite extensive, and offered a wide variety of options and price points. After looking over the menu, we decided on our usual favorites. We started polishing off some chips and salsa, which tasted fresh, but not unlike the chips and salsa from most other Mexican restaurants. The rest of our food came out hot and quickly. Now, onto the food. It is hard to say much other than it was mediocre. Mediocre portion sizes (don't let the massive plate of meat fool you too much - that was described on the menu as a plate for 2!). The food was all good - but nothing exceptional in terms of quality or flavor. I didn't find the meat seasoned all that much, and there was definitely no spice. The queso was rich and creamy. The rice was cooked properly. But nothing stood out to us in a "oh man, this is soooo good" kind of way. If you have had other Mexican food from around the Raleigh area, that is pretty much consistent with what you will get here.
If you are looking for a meal that is relatively inexpensive that will leave you full and satisfied, and you are in the area, I would check it out. But I don't think it is worth the drive across town for.
Will we go back? Hard to say when there are so many other delicious restaurants in the area that far outrank this place in terms of flavor alone.
That said - if you are a college student on a budget and looking for a lot of food and plenty of drinks, this might be your place....
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| Parrillada Mix For Two |
 |
| Enchiladas Blancas |
 |
| Texas ACP (chicken, steak, shrimp) |
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| ACP (chicken) |
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