Awesome restaurant. We've been coming to Campeche Bay since they were on Atlantic Blvd.! Love the new venue by the beach. Staff is nice, you can often see a manager walking around. It's not intimate, but it's definitely a calming place to be. Booth areas for small groups and movable tables for large groups. Everything on the menu is at least 3 stars, but the specialties are Fajitas and Fish Tacos (Mahi-Mahi or Tuna). You think you've had a good Fish Taco before? Try the pineapple salsa that comes with it. It is perfect! In 6+ years, we have never found better Fajitas or Fish Tacos at any restaurant. Come and enjoy!
(5)
L M.
Great food, great bar and great employees. Amazing how many locals I see there on Friday nights. For 2 years straight, I would sit at the bar and get a draft Yuengling and fish taco's. I have now had everything on the menu and I liked it all except the fish Veracruz, to much cheese on top of the fish made it taste weird.
(5)
Reed N.
Had a business group dinner here and the service was great. The food was OK, and will appeal to most people... but I am a Mexican food snob. : ) Chile Relleno had ranchera sauce that was too dark, and the chile was not up to snuff in my book. The cheese enchilada tasted ok... but again that dark tangy sauce instead of some rich spicy ancho chili yummy flavor I love. The chorizo taco was excellent. I love chorizo and this item was just fine. I skipped the tamales because they told me they do not use lard with the masa... sacrilege! The queso was a little spicy and quite good. The two salsas given with the chips were fine, with the verde being the best IMO. I was assured by 7 colleagues that the top shelf margaritas, a Tuesday PM special, were quite good.
(3)
Tim M.
Great place for dinner
(5)
Skye L.
Great Mexican restaurant off the beaten path. Best fajitas and corn chowder you will find in town. This is really the best Mexican in jacksonville... Too bad it is all the way out at the beach.
(5)
Jessielou P.
Some of my favorite bartenders at the beach!!! Staff is helpful & attentive without being annoying. Laid back atmosphere & usually can avoid waits/crowds. It may sound crazy but Campeche is home to the best chicken wings around, Aztec dry rub wings are to die for. I also love the steak & shroom fajitas, they aren't on the menu but they will do the combo for you if you ask. They have a great beer & tequila selection as well. Great place to catch a game with a few friends or enjoy late night munchies from the half off app menu they offer after 10!
(4)
Will L.
The food is exceptional. I've eaten here for years and NEVER had anything that wasn't good. Their steak fajitas are the best I've ever had. The food is authentic mexican and very reasonably priced. The service and cleanliness are only average (hence four vice five stars).
(4)
Marc F.
Love love!!! Great fish tacos!!
(5)
Hilary L.
First, I have to say that I really do like the food and feel of Campeche Bay. Second, I have to say that this place really confuses me. On the one hand, they are located at the beach, and definitely play up some of the beachy/island/mexican angle with their name and logos. And naturally they push the margarita thing. But, on the other hand, the kiva fireplaces, hanging bunches of chiles and most of the menu is completely [but not quite awesomely authentic] New Mexican. Now don't get me wrong, having traveled and fallen in love with New Mexico, its really great to have somebody even attempt things with green chiles or salsa verde. But its not so authentic you can get something 'Christmas style' and have anyone know what you mean. The best things on the menu, to me, are actually the Mexican seafood dishes, although I usually go with something like the Combination Pueblo {$11.89 smothered in red sauce] just for the nostalgia. I would recommend Campeche Bay to anyone, especially someone who was looking for something a little different. However, you have to keep your mind off of the jarring inconsistency of drinking a margarita while eating green chile on the beach.
(3)
Doug F.
Thursday evening was a good time to go. No crowds, service was quick and good. Food was served quickly and the quality was very good. I very much liked the seafood burrito. Everyone seems to like the food. Everything had some level of spiciness, but nothing was to hot.
(4)
M. B. G.
try the taquito appetizer, fajitas, or campechanga...all three are delicious
(4)
Audrey N.
Great food and skinny margaritas!!! Fun!!!
(4)
Neil O.
What a great happy hour. Its not the most authentic Mexican but neither is anything else in Florida as far as we've seen. Cheap drinks and tasty food and nice service has mad us regulars here. Best ceviche we've had in N.FL. by far.
(4)
Ryan F.
Great Mexican food. Very consistent - cool atmosphere - best happy hour in town. Half prices apps :) and delicious!
(5)
Courtney A.
Food is OK but the atmosphere is way too dark. I wasn't impressed with the music genre of Carlos Santana and The Cranberries playing in the background.
(2)
toby j.
this place was ok.... definitely NOT authentic! if you are craving for some tex mex i would go here, if you were around the area... but i wouldn't drive out of the way to eat here.
(3)
Lindsey N.
This mexican joint is the bomb.com ! Sooo delicious! I have never been to JAX beach but when I went on vacation, we went to Campeche bay and fell in love! Real good authentic mexican and the chips and salsa was pretty dank too! Wish there was one in orlando!
(5)
Rick P.
Cinco DE mayo good good and great top shelf Margaritas here with Becky Spencer and Felicia
(4)
Bridgette D.
Starving we arrived at Campeche Bay Mexican Restaurant about 20 minutes before 5pm when they start serving dinner. We were greeted by the hostess and that they were not serving dinner but we could eat in the bar. I would recommend that the hostess reword her greeting, possibly "welcome" the customers first and then say that dinner is being prepared and will be ready in about 20 minutes. "Please join us in the bar." Had we not been very hungry, we would have simply left. Social greetings and proper training may improve customers perspective of the restaurant.
(2)
Marisa B.
Food was ok. Service was horrible. It didn't matter what we requested... Had to request it twice from the server. Prices were good... I think we walked in during happy hour... So we were happy with the unexpected cheap bill. I'll give it another try if I make my way to JAX Beach.
(3)
Rolando A.
This is the best Mexican food in Jacksonville. BEst Fajitas and Best Campechangas! Staff is always friendly and they have great Prices.
(5)
Jennifer G.
Great night to go to Jax beach and have dinner here, on the walk up to Campeche Bay I got startled b/c there was what looked to be a Woman standing under a tent with a man bent down by his surf board and they seamed to be trapped in a chain linked fence. When I did a double take I realized that it was a statue being restored...lol! On to Campeche Bay, it was so nice out and when we got inside everyone seemed to be having fun, the music was pumping, and you could smell the food calling you to come and stay from the kitchen. Even though we had up 15 minute wait we hardly realized it b/c we were to busy taking pictures behind the life size cutouts of a monkey couple were you were u could stick you faces through the face slots and take pictures as the Campeche Bay monkey couple or monkey! When we were seated we split the ceviche appetizer which was delicious. For our main courses I ordered a margarita...yumm!, and the chorizo hard shell tacos-amazing!-they came with a side of black beans and white rice. My mom had a margarita as well and the soft chorizo taco and crunchy steak taco, hers came with refried beans and white rice. The food was great, I wanted to try one of their desserts but we were completely stuffed after our main courses! I will definitely eat at Campeche Bay again!!^)
(4)
Katie C.
Campeche Bay may not be the best Mexican restaurant in Jacksonville, but it's a pretty darn good one. It's appeal gets bumped way up for it's late hours and great specials. The lounge is open until Midnight all week and until 2 am on Fridays and Saturdays. CB features Happy Hour daily and 1/2 off appetizers on selected nights. Last time I stopped in, I showed up starving at 11 pm on a Tuesday. (Not the best position to be in!) I sat down at the bar and was immediately greeted and informed about the 1/2 off appetizer deal. I went for a Shrimp Quesadilla, and requested that the jalapenos be swapped out for mushrooms, which the bartender said was no problem. I was planning on going out after I ate so my friend and I ordered a round of Milagro Silver shots (a great smooth tequila!) to get the night going. Things got a little happy-fuzzy after that, but I'm pretty sure my quesadilla was out within 10 minutes. It was warm, melty, cheesy delicious and the shrimp and mushrooms were both juicy and well cooked. As we finished our beers and grabbed our tabs I noticed that my quesadilla was not, in fact, half off. The bartender informed me that the shrimp selections weren't included in the special. Hmmm. I pointed out that she didn't clarify that or even mention it when she told me about the deal. She agreed, had her manager discount it, and returned my check with a smile and apology. The manager also came over to apologize for the confusion and they were both so nice about it I almost regretted saying anything at all! Great customer service will do that. :) All in all, Campeche offers quality food, a fun, cantina atmosphere and conscientious service; three things that go a long way for this yelper. I'll definitely be back, and I encourage anyone starving around midnight to check it out!
(4)
Julie M.
Campeche Bay is always a favorite! One of the few places in Jax beach that provides good food and friendly service. We usually come for happy hour and sit at the bar. They have an awesome happy hour that includes half priced happy hours. The smoked Aztec wings are to DIE for. They have also recently expanded their draft selection to include more craft beers. Great spot for some drinks and apps! I always recommend Campeche Bay.
(4)
Debbi C.
The food is good but not great. It's good, Inexpensive Mexican food. The service is usually good. I enjoy going there for a very casual, laid back evening.
(3)
Scott H.
Food was horrible. Sangria and a beer took 15 minutes. Sangria smelled and tasted like a dirty dish towel. Enchiladas tasted like moldy bread. Never coming back as there many other choices.
(1)
Steve W.
Best Mexican restaurant in town! Puts La Nop to shame!! Fajitias are a must, finish off with a mud pie
(5)
Whitney T.
Hmmm this place is okay. At first my friends and I were just waiting in the hostess area, we thought they weren't seating anymore because no one had greeted us for some minutes. The hostess even walked to the front, grabbed something and left. Finally, we got someones attention to help us. My friends decided not to eat here so I just ordered to go. I think the guy helping me at the bar was trying to do too much. Because first he charged me for the wrong thing, then he rung the order up wrong completely so they had to re-do it. All of that was okay though because he corrected everything quickly. I didn't see 1 Hispanic person working in here, maybe they were cooks in the back, but I highly doubt it because the food was not authentic at all. I mean my nachos were good but not even close to the real thing. I should have known when I didn't see any Hispanics that meant it was going to be very Americanized. When I eat Mexican I try to get as close to the real thing as possible. A Mexican restaurant with no Hispanics, no thank you! That's like eating at a Chinese restaurant with no Asians working. Also, for $8 they sure did skimp me. I usually don't eat all of my meal but I ate just about all of this. There were about 5 big nachos with toppings on them, that's all. i felt like I was eating the lunch portion. I don't regret eating here but won't be returning.
(3)
Dave S.
the tourists generally miss this place which is cool because it seems cater to the locals. It's a Mexican style bar-restaurant-sports-bar-cantina. I recommend their most awesome chicken fajitas. The staff is always fast and friendly. It tends to get very busy here on weekends with beach weather.
(3)
Rebecca N.
Everything was excellent for dinner. The margarita's were good also. The waitress was top notch also.The ambiance was nice also. At the beach.
(4)
James D.
Conveniently located near the beach. I went for happy hour and had a quesadilla; tasty and more than enough just for me. Solid, friendly service. I sat in the bar and regulars came and went and the barkeeps would swap stories with them and they'd leave with a friendly "See you next week!"
(4)
Jacob G.
Food is always great. Service is fast and friendly. One of the best Mexican places in town.
(5)
John W.
Great food. Try the sangria, it goes great with the meal! Will definitely eat there again.
(5)
Asil G.
Good food, reasonable prices, and our waitress was friendly & attentive. I will definitely be back.
(4)
Alexa L.
Every now and then I get an insatiable craving for Mexican. The only way my stomach can be satisfied, is by giving in, and indulging in a delicious array of food that does little for my health but wonders for my sanity. During finals week I developed this craving, and Campeche Bay was there to fix it. Five of my girlfriends and myself all ordered different combinations from the menu. I tried an array of items, all of which were outstanding. The margaritas were also quite fabulous (and so inexpensive)! I would recommend this place, but keep in mind like most Mexican places it's been a tad Americanized. Food is still great, but it is not like you feel as though you're in Mexico for a night.
(4)
Brian S.
We walked in to an empty restaurant, and a teeny-tiny sign that said to seat ourselves in the bar area for brunch (we got there at 12:15pm). Picked a seat and waited. And waited. And waited. After twiddling our thumbs for 10+ minutes, we left. Maybe that is why the place was empty at noon on a Saturday?
(1)
Sara C.
Campeche Bay awesome as always! I used the yelp eat 24 online order app which worked fine. I usually go to eat in and enjoy happy hour margarita specials but was in a rush to eat and pack for a trip so I used the delivery service. This is done through doorstop delivery and pretty pricey but worth it if you are craving Mexican and need delivery. I had the steak fajitas which is a large portion that can be eaten in for meals. It's full of tasty marinated charbroiled steak, onions, peppers, tomatoes, and baby corn. It comes with lettuce, cheese, sour cream, and guacamole. It's one of my faves...get sum!!!
(4)
Marie L.
My family has frequented this place for years back when they had 2 locations. It used to be a favorite. Today will most likely be my last. How can you order two of the same things and they look completely different? As a customer i expect consistency, good or bad, consistency is key. Two drinks completely different garnishes. Two appetizers, again different garnishes. Forget about this place if you are in a hurry. SLOW service seems to be the only constant in the joint.
(2)
Jennifer S.
I love Campeche Bay! I'm really not understanding these other reviews regarding bad margaritas, jar tasting salsa and the lack of Cinco specials, given they actually had a Cinco de Mayo party. I've yet to have a bad experience there. I like to frequent it on Tuesdays for Top Shelf Tuesdays, where top shelf margaritas are only $5! I'm super picky about my margaritas too and I can say I definitely recommend their top shelf ones. They also have trivia on Tuesdays and Thursdays at 9:30pm. It's free to play and the gift certificates are substantial for the winners. Plus, the host is hilarious! The service has always been great and the queso is the best I've ever had. I'm vegetarian so it's nice to have options at a Mexican restaurant that aren't just cheese, onions and peppers. They actually have steamed veggies of carrots, mushrooms, squash and zucchini that you can get in a burrito (with black beans not just refried!!!) The menu has a lot of variety and I've also had many friends say their wings are the best they have ever had. I would say check it out for yourself on a Tuesday or Thursday and stay for some trivia!
(4)
Logan F.
I have been here plenty of times. Every time the food is on point. I'm a huge fan of their Salsa Verde. I had the taco supreme, really good. My only complaint is our waitress. She seemed like she had other things to do. Really didn't feel like we were a priority, even though the place wasn't that busy. We got everything we needed, but the service wasn't what it could be. I'll be back, but it seems from most of the reviews it's their service that hurts them.
(4)
Marie B.
Ok me and my husband have been there once before and had a fish taco which I have to say was awful. I always give a place a second try and we went again and we ordered the fish dip to start. There was so much cream cheese in it and the fish tasted so fishy I have to say this was another awful experience. When we first walked in the door we didn't know what to do. There was no one there to greet us. We had to ask for plates and the waitress just said sassy.. okay okay. And the tortilla chips were stale.
(1)
Sheila B.
We had a dinner party here tonight. Tom was great! We loved the green salsa. Lobster and crab were tasty. Everyone loved it.
(4)
Jeff S.
We were in town for the Fourth of July and this was a great location to enjoy dinner before the fireworks show. The food was average Mexican fare but filling. Our large party sampled most of their dessert and again nothing to write home about. The bathrooms were tiled in an upscale finish, but had not been cleaned on this high traffic weekend---better to be wearing boots than flip flops. The best selling feature is the location and moderate price.
(3)
Morgan H.
I hadn't been to Campeche Bay is YEARS but we stopped in one afternoon recently and were reminded just how good it is. I can't remember exactly what all we had because we had had a few drinks as well but I can tell you that we were happy with everything we got. We'll definitely be back soon.
(3)
Kayla M.
The only reason I'm giving 2 stars, is because of the customer service. Our waitress was very nice, her name is Solana. She was amazing. Now, our hostess, seemed very irritated. When I had asked for a both, she just looked at me and didn't say a word, she just walked away. So when we sat down, she went to go get us water, and when she did, she slammed the glasses on our tables and when we said thank you, she never said you're welcome or anything. I thought that was very disrespectful. Now, the food. It was ok. It wasn't authentic like we had thought it was going to be. It could be better. But the chips and salsa were on point.
(2)
Kim M.
Nightly specials, Wednesday happens to be margarita madness. Great location and excellent service. Authentic Mexican menu. The aztec wings are delectable. Take time to savor the sangria on Sundays. Trivia nights Tue and Thur.
(5)
Pamela D.
Fun place for good food and flowing margaritas! I tried their spicy margarita last night and yum! The cool thing about this drink is you can choose how spicy you'd like it from mild to hot. I chose medium and it was just right; not sure what they infuse it with (maybe jalapeño?) but it was a great twist on the classic tequila drink. Their top shelf margarita is definitely no joke; delicious. The catch of the day was mahi, so I went for the fish tacos, my date ordered the seafood burrito and we shared a scoop of guacamole with the complimentary chips and salsa: BIG pieces of fresh mahi laid on a bed of red cabbage and a touch of house made tartar sauce. It was tasty and a great value considering the portion! The seafood burrito was also stuffed with ocean goodness; we both gobbled up our meals too quickly for pictures as I just got off from work and was starving ;) I'm not entirely sold on the guacamole-by-the-scoop concept; it's $5 for literally an ice cream scooper sized dollop. It pains me to pay that much! Overall, great place for margaritas and apps for sure, and surprisingly fish tacos! Catch a happy hour to save some green, but if you're feeling like a baller you get that second scoop of guacamole! Either way, you won't be disappointed.
(3)
Ruthie C.
Fabulous place to have a group dinner or stop in for drinks. Weekly specials every night of the week! Happy hour is from 4-7. 10-close every night! Ask for Miranda, she's the friendliest server around at the bar!!!
(5)
terence m.
Was not impressed with the food or the time it took for our food to be served. No one in the party was happy with food. $5 top shelf Marquita was strong but no complaints about it. Cannot recommend as a must when we return or to someone looking for Mexican food.
(2)
Josh S.
Another "mexican" restaurant I've decided to investigate while visiting Florida. And yet another restaurant falls short of my expectations. I got not major points to complain about with this place, just didn't enjoy the food at all. I think white-washed Mexican restaurants is a staple for this region.
(2)
Mike B.
The service was mediocre, the food was definitely not good, but the drinks were definitely on par. My buddy and I noticed the downward trend when the hostess poured our waters and only filled the small glasses 2/3 of the way and left. Interesting. We ordered our food pretty quickly and then began the great chips and salsa debacle. As we would run low on chips, the waitress who came by every 15 minutes or so would refill our chips and leave our half empty salsa bowls. Sure enough, a few minutes later, we would run out if salsa. She's come by, refill that and not top off our nearly empty chip basket. And again, we'd run out of chips and have full bowls of salsa. This repeated 3 or 4 times until our food came. Finally, the food arrived. I ordered a beef taco and a beef enchilada. The beef enchilada was covered in "enchilada" sauce. Let me stop right there and define what their enchilada sauce really was. Normally, at a good restaurant, it's similar in consistency to a thick tomato soup. This, on the other hand, looked and tasted like straight-from-the-can tomato paste with a slight hint of spice added. It was thick, had the rough texture of tomato paste, and overall off-putting. That was it for me. Trying to finish that meal was tough. Would not return. On top of that, my buddy ordered some kind of shrimp tacos (the Bam Bam shrimp if I recall correctly) and as soon a he bit into it, he questioned the freshness of the shrimp. He also complained that the contents of the tacos were literally just shrimp covered in sauce, and some red cabbage.
(2)
Aaron S.
Rude as hell. I was in this place for all of 5 minutes then walked out. The hostess at the front door was...somewhat cordial. Could have been a little more friendly, but whatever. She took us to our booth, and let us know that our server would be with us shortly. Our waitress arrives with two glasses, says nothing, doesn't look at either of us. I say to her, "how you doing" and get nothing in return. She puts both glasses on the table, and says...do you both want water? We say yes, she pours and walks away. We both look at each other, and decide to leave because of her rudeness. As were walking out, she's standing at the hostess station, chatting away with 2 other employees. Not a single one of them said a word to us. Stay classy Campeche.
(1)
Jim K.
Has proved through the years to be one of the best. Tried other places , no consistency. Always end up coming back. Good eats, and great drinks. No thimble shots here!
(5)
James R.
Blacked mahi tacos are the best in Jacksonville!! Their queso is delish and the chicken wings - smoked aztec - they are smoked and warmed on the grill, not fried. Unbelievable meal!!! I get it all the time. Top shelf margaritas are also amazing and very affordable - get them by the liter.
(5)
Leah A.
I've gone to JAX beach several times, but I've only been here once and I remember being very hungry. Unfortunately, I cannot even remember the meal AND I was sober. I do believe their chips were served warm and salsa average. Therefore, I give Campeche Bay 2 STARS for being unremarkable. Perhaps, I should have ordered the chicken wings like another reviewer suggested. Moving along...
(2)
Michael Hosto H.
The food here is below average. The atmosphere is good and location is good. Don't expect too much and maybe you won't leave disappointed. That's about the best i can say.
(2)
David G.
Campeche bay is a icon at the beach. It had another location at regency but I'm glad its closer at the beach. I went here on my birthday. Classic tex mex food. Campechangas and Burritos , Enchiladas. I like building my own plate. Nothing better then comfort food. and i did get a sombrero and a dessert. Will come back!!!!
(4)
William M.
One word: Wings. Campeche Bay has the best smoked dry rubbed wings I have ever had in my life! Every time I am at the beaches I get these things and they are always perfect!! This restaurant is always on point with these wings, and their bartenders are very polite and nice!! I always feel funny when I recommend wings from a tex-mex restaurant, but I stand by my recommendation and have yet to be embarrassed by it yet!
(5)
Brian A.
I feel like I'm a record on repeat harping on how much I love chicken wings. But I gotta say it again. I LOVE CHICKEN WINGS. When a neighbor told me that Campeche bay has the best chicken wings in Jax Beach, I scoffed. A Mexican joint with the BEST chicken wings? Now I had to try them just to write it off. Boy was I wrong. The Aztec smoked chicken wings are indeed the best wings in Jax Beach. I was gravely wrong and apologized to my neighbor for doubting him. The wings are smoked instead of fried or grilled and served with their own special BBQ sauce to compliment them. I usually just opt for bleu cheese to dip them in since the flavor on the wings holds it own. I can't speak for much else on the menu because I exclusively come here for chicken wings. The margaritas, specifically the coronaritas, are great. And by great, I mean pumped full of tequila, just the way I like them. So lesson learned, don't judge a book by it's cover and trust thy neighbor. If you fancy chicken wings, really think about coming by here to try them.
(4)
Riley B.
This place is terrible, and the fact that people continue to go there and it stays in existence is insane to me. The food here is gross, and strangely enough the best thing I've had there is not a Mexican dish, but a grilled chicken sandwich. The one positive thing I can say is that the servers are usually very friendly, but jesus are they slow. I have given this place like 5 chances, but the occasion that really did it for me was Cinco de Mayo - you would think a Mexican restaurant at the beaches would be taking advantage of this. We asked if there were any fun food or drink specials for Cinco, and the answer was no. Why in the world would a Mexican restaurant not be having a huge event for Cinco de Mayo? We planned on getting a lot of drinks and eating there, but ended up leaving after the first, ridiculously weak margarita. I know that being close to the beach means you don't have to be top notch gastronomically, but this place really blows.
(1)
Sue C.
I been going here for years, The food is good and Drinks, it's not a franchise Believe me you will enjoy it, if nothing is right for you ,they will fix it for you ,Enjoy
(5)
John S.
I love this restaurant! I have tried several different dishes and each have been wonderful! The service here is good; the servers are very attentive, always ensuring drinks stay filled. Mixed drinks here are really good! The bartenders are generous with the alcohol! Definitely worth a visit if you're in the area and in the mood for Mexican food!
(4)
Samantha I.
This is one of my dad's all-time favorite restaurants, as he has memories of going to Campeche Bay with my mom when I was still in a baby carrier. We've long since moved out of Jacksonville, but on a recent trip to Florida, he and I stopped here for dinner. It was a Wednesday night so house margaritas were on special (yay for cheaper drinks) and I thought they great, along with the chips and salsa. What I would definitely come back for though, was the seafood chimichanga (or, campechanga)! SO GOOD (even later, as leftovers). What else did I love? The decor, service, location, and how everyone at the bar seemed to know each other. If I lived here, I could see this being a regular spot. It helps that you can walk off your meal on the beach. ;)
(4)
Mr. G.
This place is below average...food is subpar at best. I love Mexican food so I'm not necessarily sure what the food is here...love to order queso dip when I eat Mexican. The queso here bares a striking resemblance to microwaved velveeta but tastes worse.... On the bright side, the margarita was good but not enough to make up for the horrendous food....good mexican in Jax is hard to find. Consider yourself one restaurant closer to finding it though when driving right past this place!!
(2)
Jo H.
Great service (Jennifer is da best and so nice) Decent burrito smothered in cheese Drink the size of my head Oh if only I had more stomach space... Get a Corona Rita. Just do it.
(4)
Daisy D.
I visited the Bay of Campeche back in my pre-Yelp days and remembered having a pretty good time. Since then I've married a man from So Cal and have had some really REALLY good Mexican food, so CB has a pretty high bar to jump over to try to impress me and prove it's different from all the other Mexican joints in town. With a last minute invite for drinks I hopped in Felix (my Honda Fit) and was on my way to have a margarita (or two). The specials board outside caught my attention with the chipotle shrimp tacos. Night was looking good so far. We grabbed a booth in the bar (bar is first come, first take) and ordered a round of drinks when our waitress arrived. Msrgarita Madness Wednesday? Don't mind if I do! Apart from the standard chips & salsa, we had a bowl of the queso dip with chorizo. The queso was thick & cheesy. The chorizo was plentiful and added just the right layer of flavor. The short & stout bowl - while making it difficult for multiple people to dig in at the same time - kept the queso warmer far longer than the standard long flat dish. The salsa verde had a nice kick to it and was nice alternative to the typical salsa (which we also had). For my entree, I decided to pass on the chipotle shrimp special & went with the Bam Bam Shrimp Tacos on the regular menu. Same price & allowed me the opportunity to compare with TacoLu's ( yelp.com/biz/taco-lus-ja… ) which I have always enjoyed. The shrimp were large (yes, I'm an Oxy Moron sometimes) and had a great flavor to them. The cabbage slaw gave the tacos the right crunch. I definitely understand why they were called Bam Bam; one bam wasn't enough to describe that punch of flavor in my mouth. However, it appears the cook on duty may have gone a little heavy on the sauce because my shrimp were swimming in sauce. Next time I would definitely consider asking them to go light on the sauce. The rice & beans weren't bad, but they weren't really good either. Definitely have had better elsewhere. After reading some of the other reviews, I was reminded that they were open a lot later during the week, which I will have to keep in mind the next time my husband gets home late from work and neither of us is in a mood to cook.
(3)
Mandie M.
The atmosphere is very nice, clean and well decorated. Staff are friendly and helpful. The food was not so great. I also had a margarita with patron and sent it back, just wasn't good. Salsa tasted like it was from a jar with some vegetables added. Chips and tomatillo sauce were the best things we ate.
(2)
Christa S.
As a Texas resident for almost 8 years (whoa!), I have become a bit of a Mexican food snob. It is rare that I will still eat it outside of the state line, but after seeing the menu and reading reviews, felt like this was a place worth trying. We went on a Sunday night, which is "Sangria Sunday" - not my favorite sangria ever, but it was OK. The salsas and chips are always my first litmus test, and these were solid. Crispy and substantial chips and a good salsa trio - we all particularly enjoyed the salsa Verde (my favorite salsa flavor!). The menu has a great variety and for those who want the sampler platter, you can customize it yourself. I decided to try out the Zapnin and it was 'hapnin (yes, I just did that). I preferred the beef, but both were good.
(4)
Lisa M.
New to the area and decided to try it out after hearing good things from some coworkers, so glad I did! Great service, great food, great margaritas, reasonably priced, definitely be back!
(5)
Rich M.
Prices were modest, with most dishes under $15. Interior decor was nice and service was great. The margaritas were good as well. Carnitas taco was delish as was the chicken enchiladas. I was not a fan of the shredded beef, but my mother liked it. I would definitely come back.
(4)
Trever P.
Well I must say living in Jacksonville Florida coming from California this has to be the most authentic Mexican restaurant in all of Jacksonville Florida the location is awesome . you're in walking distance of the beach the people who work there are amazingly nice .the chicken chimichanga and chorizo burrito are freaking amazing me and my family randomly stumbled across. and ever since we stumbled across this restaurant we went back . I live on the west side so even know Its 40 minute the drive is worth it if you're into getting some quality Mexican food highly recommend this restaurant you guys get 5.stars all the way baby
(5)
Amy S.
This is my favorite mexican restaurant in Jacksonville. I do have to say I hate the one on Atlantic Boulevard closed; I had many, many good times at that one back in the day! Now, for the review of the one still at Jax Beach. The chili con queso is very good. We always order it as an appetizer. When I order it I also ask for a few tortillas because they are just as wonderful to dip in the cheese as the chips. As many times as I've eaten at Campeche Bay, I never change. What can I say? I'm a creature of habit. I always order the steak fajitas. Always a generous serving and always enough left over to take home for lunch the next day. The mexican rice is also very good. Drinks are good here; I've always had a good pour. Hubby has tried numerous things from the menu as he loves to always mix it up and try new things. He has never been disappointed with anything he has ordered. I really like the ambiance here. Nice, dim lighting which can make for a really romantic dinner. Always very clean. Being at the beach, this location is always busier than the Atlantic Blvd location was, so sometimes there can be a bit of a wait for a table. Also, the service here can be hit or miss. Sometimes we get a really good server who is awesome and on top of everything - other times we get a server we hardly ever see. The only really negative thing I can say is the parking is awful! It's located literally a couple of blocks from the beach and parking is on the street. It's not uncommon to have to park blocks away and then walk to the restaurant. A bigger pain when it's really windy at the beach. Fact remains it's still my favorite mexican restaurant in Jax, so when I'm feeling the urge for mexican, I'm more than willing to drive from Oceanway (the northside of Jax) all the way out to Jax Beach.
(4)
Heather N.
Aztec wings. Get them. Best wings anywhere hands down. Avoid the chorizo anything; it's not the real deal unfortunately. Bar service is always great and friendly though some of the new guys need to learn to talk to the cute servers less and serve the customers first. Don't like waiting to be acknowledged when it's slow and I can see you standing there flirting and not paying attention to your bar. The folks that have been there a while take care of business, though. Great happy hour, twice a day and seriously, did I mention the Aztec wings??
(4)
Kelly F.
Excellent experience and service. Darien was extremely attentive, even though he was very busy. The Aztec wings, crab enchilada and Coca-Cola carnitas tacos were especially good. It also has reasonable drink prices and a good dessert selection. We went for my daughter's birthday and she got to pick some trinkets from the treasure chest and also got to keep the birthday sombrero. Thanks for making it fun!
(4)
Sorry, we don't have Q&A for this restaurant.
Sorry, No Coupons available for this restaurant.
Address :127 1st Ave N
Jacksonville Beach, FL, 32250
Takes Reservations : Yes Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Dinner Parking : Street Bike Parking : Yes Wheelchair Accessible : Yes Good for Kids : Yes Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Ambience : Casual Noise Level : Average Alcohol : Full Bar Outdoor Seating : No Wi-Fi : No Has TV : Yes Waiter Service : Yes
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.
Zacc G.
Awesome restaurant. We've been coming to Campeche Bay since they were on Atlantic Blvd.! Love the new venue by the beach. Staff is nice, you can often see a manager walking around. It's not intimate, but it's definitely a calming place to be. Booth areas for small groups and movable tables for large groups. Everything on the menu is at least 3 stars, but the specialties are Fajitas and Fish Tacos (Mahi-Mahi or Tuna). You think you've had a good Fish Taco before? Try the pineapple salsa that comes with it. It is perfect! In 6+ years, we have never found better Fajitas or Fish Tacos at any restaurant. Come and enjoy!
(5)L M.
Great food, great bar and great employees. Amazing how many locals I see there on Friday nights. For 2 years straight, I would sit at the bar and get a draft Yuengling and fish taco's. I have now had everything on the menu and I liked it all except the fish Veracruz, to much cheese on top of the fish made it taste weird.
(5)Reed N.
Had a business group dinner here and the service was great. The food was OK, and will appeal to most people... but I am a Mexican food snob. : ) Chile Relleno had ranchera sauce that was too dark, and the chile was not up to snuff in my book. The cheese enchilada tasted ok... but again that dark tangy sauce instead of some rich spicy ancho chili yummy flavor I love. The chorizo taco was excellent. I love chorizo and this item was just fine. I skipped the tamales because they told me they do not use lard with the masa... sacrilege! The queso was a little spicy and quite good. The two salsas given with the chips were fine, with the verde being the best IMO. I was assured by 7 colleagues that the top shelf margaritas, a Tuesday PM special, were quite good.
(3)Tim M.
Great place for dinner
(5)Skye L.
Great Mexican restaurant off the beaten path. Best fajitas and corn chowder you will find in town. This is really the best Mexican in jacksonville... Too bad it is all the way out at the beach.
(5)Jessielou P.
Some of my favorite bartenders at the beach!!! Staff is helpful & attentive without being annoying. Laid back atmosphere & usually can avoid waits/crowds. It may sound crazy but Campeche is home to the best chicken wings around, Aztec dry rub wings are to die for. I also love the steak & shroom fajitas, they aren't on the menu but they will do the combo for you if you ask. They have a great beer & tequila selection as well. Great place to catch a game with a few friends or enjoy late night munchies from the half off app menu they offer after 10!
(4)Will L.
The food is exceptional. I've eaten here for years and NEVER had anything that wasn't good. Their steak fajitas are the best I've ever had. The food is authentic mexican and very reasonably priced. The service and cleanliness are only average (hence four vice five stars).
(4)Marc F.
Love love!!! Great fish tacos!!
(5)Hilary L.
First, I have to say that I really do like the food and feel of Campeche Bay. Second, I have to say that this place really confuses me. On the one hand, they are located at the beach, and definitely play up some of the beachy/island/mexican angle with their name and logos. And naturally they push the margarita thing. But, on the other hand, the kiva fireplaces, hanging bunches of chiles and most of the menu is completely [but not quite awesomely authentic] New Mexican. Now don't get me wrong, having traveled and fallen in love with New Mexico, its really great to have somebody even attempt things with green chiles or salsa verde. But its not so authentic you can get something 'Christmas style' and have anyone know what you mean. The best things on the menu, to me, are actually the Mexican seafood dishes, although I usually go with something like the Combination Pueblo {$11.89 smothered in red sauce] just for the nostalgia. I would recommend Campeche Bay to anyone, especially someone who was looking for something a little different. However, you have to keep your mind off of the jarring inconsistency of drinking a margarita while eating green chile on the beach.
(3)Doug F.
Thursday evening was a good time to go. No crowds, service was quick and good. Food was served quickly and the quality was very good. I very much liked the seafood burrito. Everyone seems to like the food. Everything had some level of spiciness, but nothing was to hot.
(4)M. B. G.
try the taquito appetizer, fajitas, or campechanga...all three are delicious
(4)Audrey N.
Great food and skinny margaritas!!! Fun!!!
(4)Neil O.
What a great happy hour. Its not the most authentic Mexican but neither is anything else in Florida as far as we've seen. Cheap drinks and tasty food and nice service has mad us regulars here. Best ceviche we've had in N.FL. by far.
(4)Ryan F.
Great Mexican food. Very consistent - cool atmosphere - best happy hour in town. Half prices apps :) and delicious!
(5)Courtney A.
Food is OK but the atmosphere is way too dark. I wasn't impressed with the music genre of Carlos Santana and The Cranberries playing in the background.
(2)toby j.
this place was ok.... definitely NOT authentic! if you are craving for some tex mex i would go here, if you were around the area... but i wouldn't drive out of the way to eat here.
(3)Lindsey N.
This mexican joint is the bomb.com ! Sooo delicious! I have never been to JAX beach but when I went on vacation, we went to Campeche bay and fell in love! Real good authentic mexican and the chips and salsa was pretty dank too! Wish there was one in orlando!
(5)Rick P.
Cinco DE mayo good good and great top shelf Margaritas here with Becky Spencer and Felicia
(4)Bridgette D.
Starving we arrived at Campeche Bay Mexican Restaurant about 20 minutes before 5pm when they start serving dinner. We were greeted by the hostess and that they were not serving dinner but we could eat in the bar. I would recommend that the hostess reword her greeting, possibly "welcome" the customers first and then say that dinner is being prepared and will be ready in about 20 minutes. "Please join us in the bar." Had we not been very hungry, we would have simply left. Social greetings and proper training may improve customers perspective of the restaurant.
(2)Marisa B.
Food was ok. Service was horrible. It didn't matter what we requested... Had to request it twice from the server. Prices were good... I think we walked in during happy hour... So we were happy with the unexpected cheap bill. I'll give it another try if I make my way to JAX Beach.
(3)Rolando A.
This is the best Mexican food in Jacksonville. BEst Fajitas and Best Campechangas! Staff is always friendly and they have great Prices.
(5)Jennifer G.
Great night to go to Jax beach and have dinner here, on the walk up to Campeche Bay I got startled b/c there was what looked to be a Woman standing under a tent with a man bent down by his surf board and they seamed to be trapped in a chain linked fence. When I did a double take I realized that it was a statue being restored...lol! On to Campeche Bay, it was so nice out and when we got inside everyone seemed to be having fun, the music was pumping, and you could smell the food calling you to come and stay from the kitchen. Even though we had up 15 minute wait we hardly realized it b/c we were to busy taking pictures behind the life size cutouts of a monkey couple were you were u could stick you faces through the face slots and take pictures as the Campeche Bay monkey couple or monkey! When we were seated we split the ceviche appetizer which was delicious. For our main courses I ordered a margarita...yumm!, and the chorizo hard shell tacos-amazing!-they came with a side of black beans and white rice. My mom had a margarita as well and the soft chorizo taco and crunchy steak taco, hers came with refried beans and white rice. The food was great, I wanted to try one of their desserts but we were completely stuffed after our main courses! I will definitely eat at Campeche Bay again!!^)
(4)Katie C.
Campeche Bay may not be the best Mexican restaurant in Jacksonville, but it's a pretty darn good one. It's appeal gets bumped way up for it's late hours and great specials. The lounge is open until Midnight all week and until 2 am on Fridays and Saturdays. CB features Happy Hour daily and 1/2 off appetizers on selected nights. Last time I stopped in, I showed up starving at 11 pm on a Tuesday. (Not the best position to be in!) I sat down at the bar and was immediately greeted and informed about the 1/2 off appetizer deal. I went for a Shrimp Quesadilla, and requested that the jalapenos be swapped out for mushrooms, which the bartender said was no problem. I was planning on going out after I ate so my friend and I ordered a round of Milagro Silver shots (a great smooth tequila!) to get the night going. Things got a little happy-fuzzy after that, but I'm pretty sure my quesadilla was out within 10 minutes. It was warm, melty, cheesy delicious and the shrimp and mushrooms were both juicy and well cooked. As we finished our beers and grabbed our tabs I noticed that my quesadilla was not, in fact, half off. The bartender informed me that the shrimp selections weren't included in the special. Hmmm. I pointed out that she didn't clarify that or even mention it when she told me about the deal. She agreed, had her manager discount it, and returned my check with a smile and apology. The manager also came over to apologize for the confusion and they were both so nice about it I almost regretted saying anything at all! Great customer service will do that. :) All in all, Campeche offers quality food, a fun, cantina atmosphere and conscientious service; three things that go a long way for this yelper. I'll definitely be back, and I encourage anyone starving around midnight to check it out!
(4)Julie M.
Campeche Bay is always a favorite! One of the few places in Jax beach that provides good food and friendly service. We usually come for happy hour and sit at the bar. They have an awesome happy hour that includes half priced happy hours. The smoked Aztec wings are to DIE for. They have also recently expanded their draft selection to include more craft beers. Great spot for some drinks and apps! I always recommend Campeche Bay.
(4)Debbi C.
The food is good but not great. It's good, Inexpensive Mexican food. The service is usually good. I enjoy going there for a very casual, laid back evening.
(3)Scott H.
Food was horrible. Sangria and a beer took 15 minutes. Sangria smelled and tasted like a dirty dish towel. Enchiladas tasted like moldy bread. Never coming back as there many other choices.
(1)Steve W.
Best Mexican restaurant in town! Puts La Nop to shame!! Fajitias are a must, finish off with a mud pie
(5)Whitney T.
Hmmm this place is okay. At first my friends and I were just waiting in the hostess area, we thought they weren't seating anymore because no one had greeted us for some minutes. The hostess even walked to the front, grabbed something and left. Finally, we got someones attention to help us. My friends decided not to eat here so I just ordered to go. I think the guy helping me at the bar was trying to do too much. Because first he charged me for the wrong thing, then he rung the order up wrong completely so they had to re-do it. All of that was okay though because he corrected everything quickly. I didn't see 1 Hispanic person working in here, maybe they were cooks in the back, but I highly doubt it because the food was not authentic at all. I mean my nachos were good but not even close to the real thing. I should have known when I didn't see any Hispanics that meant it was going to be very Americanized. When I eat Mexican I try to get as close to the real thing as possible. A Mexican restaurant with no Hispanics, no thank you! That's like eating at a Chinese restaurant with no Asians working. Also, for $8 they sure did skimp me. I usually don't eat all of my meal but I ate just about all of this. There were about 5 big nachos with toppings on them, that's all. i felt like I was eating the lunch portion. I don't regret eating here but won't be returning.
(3)Dave S.
the tourists generally miss this place which is cool because it seems cater to the locals. It's a Mexican style bar-restaurant-sports-bar-cantina. I recommend their most awesome chicken fajitas. The staff is always fast and friendly. It tends to get very busy here on weekends with beach weather.
(3)Rebecca N.
Everything was excellent for dinner. The margarita's were good also. The waitress was top notch also.The ambiance was nice also. At the beach.
(4)James D.
Conveniently located near the beach. I went for happy hour and had a quesadilla; tasty and more than enough just for me. Solid, friendly service. I sat in the bar and regulars came and went and the barkeeps would swap stories with them and they'd leave with a friendly "See you next week!"
(4)Jacob G.
Food is always great. Service is fast and friendly. One of the best Mexican places in town.
(5)John W.
Great food. Try the sangria, it goes great with the meal! Will definitely eat there again.
(5)Asil G.
Good food, reasonable prices, and our waitress was friendly & attentive. I will definitely be back.
(4)Alexa L.
Every now and then I get an insatiable craving for Mexican. The only way my stomach can be satisfied, is by giving in, and indulging in a delicious array of food that does little for my health but wonders for my sanity. During finals week I developed this craving, and Campeche Bay was there to fix it. Five of my girlfriends and myself all ordered different combinations from the menu. I tried an array of items, all of which were outstanding. The margaritas were also quite fabulous (and so inexpensive)! I would recommend this place, but keep in mind like most Mexican places it's been a tad Americanized. Food is still great, but it is not like you feel as though you're in Mexico for a night.
(4)Brian S.
We walked in to an empty restaurant, and a teeny-tiny sign that said to seat ourselves in the bar area for brunch (we got there at 12:15pm). Picked a seat and waited. And waited. And waited. After twiddling our thumbs for 10+ minutes, we left. Maybe that is why the place was empty at noon on a Saturday?
(1)Sara C.
Campeche Bay awesome as always! I used the yelp eat 24 online order app which worked fine. I usually go to eat in and enjoy happy hour margarita specials but was in a rush to eat and pack for a trip so I used the delivery service. This is done through doorstop delivery and pretty pricey but worth it if you are craving Mexican and need delivery. I had the steak fajitas which is a large portion that can be eaten in for meals. It's full of tasty marinated charbroiled steak, onions, peppers, tomatoes, and baby corn. It comes with lettuce, cheese, sour cream, and guacamole. It's one of my faves...get sum!!!
(4)Marie L.
My family has frequented this place for years back when they had 2 locations. It used to be a favorite. Today will most likely be my last. How can you order two of the same things and they look completely different? As a customer i expect consistency, good or bad, consistency is key. Two drinks completely different garnishes. Two appetizers, again different garnishes. Forget about this place if you are in a hurry. SLOW service seems to be the only constant in the joint.
(2)Jennifer S.
I love Campeche Bay! I'm really not understanding these other reviews regarding bad margaritas, jar tasting salsa and the lack of Cinco specials, given they actually had a Cinco de Mayo party. I've yet to have a bad experience there. I like to frequent it on Tuesdays for Top Shelf Tuesdays, where top shelf margaritas are only $5! I'm super picky about my margaritas too and I can say I definitely recommend their top shelf ones. They also have trivia on Tuesdays and Thursdays at 9:30pm. It's free to play and the gift certificates are substantial for the winners. Plus, the host is hilarious! The service has always been great and the queso is the best I've ever had. I'm vegetarian so it's nice to have options at a Mexican restaurant that aren't just cheese, onions and peppers. They actually have steamed veggies of carrots, mushrooms, squash and zucchini that you can get in a burrito (with black beans not just refried!!!) The menu has a lot of variety and I've also had many friends say their wings are the best they have ever had. I would say check it out for yourself on a Tuesday or Thursday and stay for some trivia!
(4)Logan F.
I have been here plenty of times. Every time the food is on point. I'm a huge fan of their Salsa Verde. I had the taco supreme, really good. My only complaint is our waitress. She seemed like she had other things to do. Really didn't feel like we were a priority, even though the place wasn't that busy. We got everything we needed, but the service wasn't what it could be. I'll be back, but it seems from most of the reviews it's their service that hurts them.
(4)Marie B.
Ok me and my husband have been there once before and had a fish taco which I have to say was awful. I always give a place a second try and we went again and we ordered the fish dip to start. There was so much cream cheese in it and the fish tasted so fishy I have to say this was another awful experience. When we first walked in the door we didn't know what to do. There was no one there to greet us. We had to ask for plates and the waitress just said sassy.. okay okay. And the tortilla chips were stale.
(1)Sheila B.
We had a dinner party here tonight. Tom was great! We loved the green salsa. Lobster and crab were tasty. Everyone loved it.
(4)Jeff S.
We were in town for the Fourth of July and this was a great location to enjoy dinner before the fireworks show. The food was average Mexican fare but filling. Our large party sampled most of their dessert and again nothing to write home about. The bathrooms were tiled in an upscale finish, but had not been cleaned on this high traffic weekend---better to be wearing boots than flip flops. The best selling feature is the location and moderate price.
(3)Morgan H.
I hadn't been to Campeche Bay is YEARS but we stopped in one afternoon recently and were reminded just how good it is. I can't remember exactly what all we had because we had had a few drinks as well but I can tell you that we were happy with everything we got. We'll definitely be back soon.
(3)Kayla M.
The only reason I'm giving 2 stars, is because of the customer service. Our waitress was very nice, her name is Solana. She was amazing. Now, our hostess, seemed very irritated. When I had asked for a both, she just looked at me and didn't say a word, she just walked away. So when we sat down, she went to go get us water, and when she did, she slammed the glasses on our tables and when we said thank you, she never said you're welcome or anything. I thought that was very disrespectful. Now, the food. It was ok. It wasn't authentic like we had thought it was going to be. It could be better. But the chips and salsa were on point.
(2)Kim M.
Nightly specials, Wednesday happens to be margarita madness. Great location and excellent service. Authentic Mexican menu. The aztec wings are delectable. Take time to savor the sangria on Sundays. Trivia nights Tue and Thur.
(5)Pamela D.
Fun place for good food and flowing margaritas! I tried their spicy margarita last night and yum! The cool thing about this drink is you can choose how spicy you'd like it from mild to hot. I chose medium and it was just right; not sure what they infuse it with (maybe jalapeño?) but it was a great twist on the classic tequila drink. Their top shelf margarita is definitely no joke; delicious. The catch of the day was mahi, so I went for the fish tacos, my date ordered the seafood burrito and we shared a scoop of guacamole with the complimentary chips and salsa: BIG pieces of fresh mahi laid on a bed of red cabbage and a touch of house made tartar sauce. It was tasty and a great value considering the portion! The seafood burrito was also stuffed with ocean goodness; we both gobbled up our meals too quickly for pictures as I just got off from work and was starving ;) I'm not entirely sold on the guacamole-by-the-scoop concept; it's $5 for literally an ice cream scooper sized dollop. It pains me to pay that much! Overall, great place for margaritas and apps for sure, and surprisingly fish tacos! Catch a happy hour to save some green, but if you're feeling like a baller you get that second scoop of guacamole! Either way, you won't be disappointed.
(3)Ruthie C.
Fabulous place to have a group dinner or stop in for drinks. Weekly specials every night of the week! Happy hour is from 4-7. 10-close every night! Ask for Miranda, she's the friendliest server around at the bar!!!
(5)terence m.
Was not impressed with the food or the time it took for our food to be served. No one in the party was happy with food. $5 top shelf Marquita was strong but no complaints about it. Cannot recommend as a must when we return or to someone looking for Mexican food.
(2)Josh S.
Another "mexican" restaurant I've decided to investigate while visiting Florida. And yet another restaurant falls short of my expectations. I got not major points to complain about with this place, just didn't enjoy the food at all. I think white-washed Mexican restaurants is a staple for this region.
(2)Mike B.
The service was mediocre, the food was definitely not good, but the drinks were definitely on par. My buddy and I noticed the downward trend when the hostess poured our waters and only filled the small glasses 2/3 of the way and left. Interesting. We ordered our food pretty quickly and then began the great chips and salsa debacle. As we would run low on chips, the waitress who came by every 15 minutes or so would refill our chips and leave our half empty salsa bowls. Sure enough, a few minutes later, we would run out if salsa. She's come by, refill that and not top off our nearly empty chip basket. And again, we'd run out of chips and have full bowls of salsa. This repeated 3 or 4 times until our food came. Finally, the food arrived. I ordered a beef taco and a beef enchilada. The beef enchilada was covered in "enchilada" sauce. Let me stop right there and define what their enchilada sauce really was. Normally, at a good restaurant, it's similar in consistency to a thick tomato soup. This, on the other hand, looked and tasted like straight-from-the-can tomato paste with a slight hint of spice added. It was thick, had the rough texture of tomato paste, and overall off-putting. That was it for me. Trying to finish that meal was tough. Would not return. On top of that, my buddy ordered some kind of shrimp tacos (the Bam Bam shrimp if I recall correctly) and as soon a he bit into it, he questioned the freshness of the shrimp. He also complained that the contents of the tacos were literally just shrimp covered in sauce, and some red cabbage.
(2)Aaron S.
Rude as hell. I was in this place for all of 5 minutes then walked out. The hostess at the front door was...somewhat cordial. Could have been a little more friendly, but whatever. She took us to our booth, and let us know that our server would be with us shortly. Our waitress arrives with two glasses, says nothing, doesn't look at either of us. I say to her, "how you doing" and get nothing in return. She puts both glasses on the table, and says...do you both want water? We say yes, she pours and walks away. We both look at each other, and decide to leave because of her rudeness. As were walking out, she's standing at the hostess station, chatting away with 2 other employees. Not a single one of them said a word to us. Stay classy Campeche.
(1)Jim K.
Has proved through the years to be one of the best. Tried other places , no consistency. Always end up coming back. Good eats, and great drinks. No thimble shots here!
(5)James R.
Blacked mahi tacos are the best in Jacksonville!! Their queso is delish and the chicken wings - smoked aztec - they are smoked and warmed on the grill, not fried. Unbelievable meal!!! I get it all the time. Top shelf margaritas are also amazing and very affordable - get them by the liter.
(5)Leah A.
I've gone to JAX beach several times, but I've only been here once and I remember being very hungry. Unfortunately, I cannot even remember the meal AND I was sober. I do believe their chips were served warm and salsa average. Therefore, I give Campeche Bay 2 STARS for being unremarkable. Perhaps, I should have ordered the chicken wings like another reviewer suggested. Moving along...
(2)Michael Hosto H.
The food here is below average. The atmosphere is good and location is good. Don't expect too much and maybe you won't leave disappointed. That's about the best i can say.
(2)David G.
Campeche bay is a icon at the beach. It had another location at regency but I'm glad its closer at the beach. I went here on my birthday. Classic tex mex food. Campechangas and Burritos , Enchiladas. I like building my own plate. Nothing better then comfort food. and i did get a sombrero and a dessert. Will come back!!!!
(4)William M.
One word: Wings. Campeche Bay has the best smoked dry rubbed wings I have ever had in my life! Every time I am at the beaches I get these things and they are always perfect!! This restaurant is always on point with these wings, and their bartenders are very polite and nice!! I always feel funny when I recommend wings from a tex-mex restaurant, but I stand by my recommendation and have yet to be embarrassed by it yet!
(5)Brian A.
I feel like I'm a record on repeat harping on how much I love chicken wings. But I gotta say it again. I LOVE CHICKEN WINGS. When a neighbor told me that Campeche bay has the best chicken wings in Jax Beach, I scoffed. A Mexican joint with the BEST chicken wings? Now I had to try them just to write it off. Boy was I wrong. The Aztec smoked chicken wings are indeed the best wings in Jax Beach. I was gravely wrong and apologized to my neighbor for doubting him. The wings are smoked instead of fried or grilled and served with their own special BBQ sauce to compliment them. I usually just opt for bleu cheese to dip them in since the flavor on the wings holds it own. I can't speak for much else on the menu because I exclusively come here for chicken wings. The margaritas, specifically the coronaritas, are great. And by great, I mean pumped full of tequila, just the way I like them. So lesson learned, don't judge a book by it's cover and trust thy neighbor. If you fancy chicken wings, really think about coming by here to try them.
(4)Riley B.
This place is terrible, and the fact that people continue to go there and it stays in existence is insane to me. The food here is gross, and strangely enough the best thing I've had there is not a Mexican dish, but a grilled chicken sandwich. The one positive thing I can say is that the servers are usually very friendly, but jesus are they slow. I have given this place like 5 chances, but the occasion that really did it for me was Cinco de Mayo - you would think a Mexican restaurant at the beaches would be taking advantage of this. We asked if there were any fun food or drink specials for Cinco, and the answer was no. Why in the world would a Mexican restaurant not be having a huge event for Cinco de Mayo? We planned on getting a lot of drinks and eating there, but ended up leaving after the first, ridiculously weak margarita. I know that being close to the beach means you don't have to be top notch gastronomically, but this place really blows.
(1)Sue C.
I been going here for years, The food is good and Drinks, it's not a franchise Believe me you will enjoy it, if nothing is right for you ,they will fix it for you ,Enjoy
(5)John S.
I love this restaurant! I have tried several different dishes and each have been wonderful! The service here is good; the servers are very attentive, always ensuring drinks stay filled. Mixed drinks here are really good! The bartenders are generous with the alcohol! Definitely worth a visit if you're in the area and in the mood for Mexican food!
(4)Samantha I.
This is one of my dad's all-time favorite restaurants, as he has memories of going to Campeche Bay with my mom when I was still in a baby carrier. We've long since moved out of Jacksonville, but on a recent trip to Florida, he and I stopped here for dinner. It was a Wednesday night so house margaritas were on special (yay for cheaper drinks) and I thought they great, along with the chips and salsa. What I would definitely come back for though, was the seafood chimichanga (or, campechanga)! SO GOOD (even later, as leftovers). What else did I love? The decor, service, location, and how everyone at the bar seemed to know each other. If I lived here, I could see this being a regular spot. It helps that you can walk off your meal on the beach. ;)
(4)Mr. G.
This place is below average...food is subpar at best. I love Mexican food so I'm not necessarily sure what the food is here...love to order queso dip when I eat Mexican. The queso here bares a striking resemblance to microwaved velveeta but tastes worse.... On the bright side, the margarita was good but not enough to make up for the horrendous food....good mexican in Jax is hard to find. Consider yourself one restaurant closer to finding it though when driving right past this place!!
(2)Jo H.
Great service (Jennifer is da best and so nice) Decent burrito smothered in cheese Drink the size of my head Oh if only I had more stomach space... Get a Corona Rita. Just do it.
(4)Daisy D.
I visited the Bay of Campeche back in my pre-Yelp days and remembered having a pretty good time. Since then I've married a man from So Cal and have had some really REALLY good Mexican food, so CB has a pretty high bar to jump over to try to impress me and prove it's different from all the other Mexican joints in town. With a last minute invite for drinks I hopped in Felix (my Honda Fit) and was on my way to have a margarita (or two). The specials board outside caught my attention with the chipotle shrimp tacos. Night was looking good so far. We grabbed a booth in the bar (bar is first come, first take) and ordered a round of drinks when our waitress arrived. Msrgarita Madness Wednesday? Don't mind if I do! Apart from the standard chips & salsa, we had a bowl of the queso dip with chorizo. The queso was thick & cheesy. The chorizo was plentiful and added just the right layer of flavor. The short & stout bowl - while making it difficult for multiple people to dig in at the same time - kept the queso warmer far longer than the standard long flat dish. The salsa verde had a nice kick to it and was nice alternative to the typical salsa (which we also had). For my entree, I decided to pass on the chipotle shrimp special & went with the Bam Bam Shrimp Tacos on the regular menu. Same price & allowed me the opportunity to compare with TacoLu's ( yelp.com/biz/taco-lus-ja… ) which I have always enjoyed. The shrimp were large (yes, I'm an Oxy Moron sometimes) and had a great flavor to them. The cabbage slaw gave the tacos the right crunch. I definitely understand why they were called Bam Bam; one bam wasn't enough to describe that punch of flavor in my mouth. However, it appears the cook on duty may have gone a little heavy on the sauce because my shrimp were swimming in sauce. Next time I would definitely consider asking them to go light on the sauce. The rice & beans weren't bad, but they weren't really good either. Definitely have had better elsewhere. After reading some of the other reviews, I was reminded that they were open a lot later during the week, which I will have to keep in mind the next time my husband gets home late from work and neither of us is in a mood to cook.
(3)Mandie M.
The atmosphere is very nice, clean and well decorated. Staff are friendly and helpful. The food was not so great. I also had a margarita with patron and sent it back, just wasn't good. Salsa tasted like it was from a jar with some vegetables added. Chips and tomatillo sauce were the best things we ate.
(2)Christa S.
As a Texas resident for almost 8 years (whoa!), I have become a bit of a Mexican food snob. It is rare that I will still eat it outside of the state line, but after seeing the menu and reading reviews, felt like this was a place worth trying. We went on a Sunday night, which is "Sangria Sunday" - not my favorite sangria ever, but it was OK. The salsas and chips are always my first litmus test, and these were solid. Crispy and substantial chips and a good salsa trio - we all particularly enjoyed the salsa Verde (my favorite salsa flavor!). The menu has a great variety and for those who want the sampler platter, you can customize it yourself. I decided to try out the Zapnin and it was 'hapnin (yes, I just did that). I preferred the beef, but both were good.
(4)Lisa M.
New to the area and decided to try it out after hearing good things from some coworkers, so glad I did! Great service, great food, great margaritas, reasonably priced, definitely be back!
(5)Rich M.
Prices were modest, with most dishes under $15. Interior decor was nice and service was great. The margaritas were good as well. Carnitas taco was delish as was the chicken enchiladas. I was not a fan of the shredded beef, but my mother liked it. I would definitely come back.
(4)Trever P.
Well I must say living in Jacksonville Florida coming from California this has to be the most authentic Mexican restaurant in all of Jacksonville Florida the location is awesome . you're in walking distance of the beach the people who work there are amazingly nice .the chicken chimichanga and chorizo burrito are freaking amazing me and my family randomly stumbled across. and ever since we stumbled across this restaurant we went back . I live on the west side so even know Its 40 minute the drive is worth it if you're into getting some quality Mexican food highly recommend this restaurant you guys get 5.stars all the way baby
(5)Amy S.
This is my favorite mexican restaurant in Jacksonville. I do have to say I hate the one on Atlantic Boulevard closed; I had many, many good times at that one back in the day! Now, for the review of the one still at Jax Beach. The chili con queso is very good. We always order it as an appetizer. When I order it I also ask for a few tortillas because they are just as wonderful to dip in the cheese as the chips. As many times as I've eaten at Campeche Bay, I never change. What can I say? I'm a creature of habit. I always order the steak fajitas. Always a generous serving and always enough left over to take home for lunch the next day. The mexican rice is also very good. Drinks are good here; I've always had a good pour. Hubby has tried numerous things from the menu as he loves to always mix it up and try new things. He has never been disappointed with anything he has ordered. I really like the ambiance here. Nice, dim lighting which can make for a really romantic dinner. Always very clean. Being at the beach, this location is always busier than the Atlantic Blvd location was, so sometimes there can be a bit of a wait for a table. Also, the service here can be hit or miss. Sometimes we get a really good server who is awesome and on top of everything - other times we get a server we hardly ever see. The only really negative thing I can say is the parking is awful! It's located literally a couple of blocks from the beach and parking is on the street. It's not uncommon to have to park blocks away and then walk to the restaurant. A bigger pain when it's really windy at the beach. Fact remains it's still my favorite mexican restaurant in Jax, so when I'm feeling the urge for mexican, I'm more than willing to drive from Oceanway (the northside of Jax) all the way out to Jax Beach.
(4)Heather N.
Aztec wings. Get them. Best wings anywhere hands down. Avoid the chorizo anything; it's not the real deal unfortunately. Bar service is always great and friendly though some of the new guys need to learn to talk to the cute servers less and serve the customers first. Don't like waiting to be acknowledged when it's slow and I can see you standing there flirting and not paying attention to your bar. The folks that have been there a while take care of business, though. Great happy hour, twice a day and seriously, did I mention the Aztec wings??
(4)Kelly F.
Excellent experience and service. Darien was extremely attentive, even though he was very busy. The Aztec wings, crab enchilada and Coca-Cola carnitas tacos were especially good. It also has reasonable drink prices and a good dessert selection. We went for my daughter's birthday and she got to pick some trinkets from the treasure chest and also got to keep the birthday sombrero. Thanks for making it fun!
(4)