Wonderful food and service. Portions are large so come hungry. The Cheese dip is great.
(5)
Rachael P.
Definitely meh. When this place first opened up over 10 years ago, it was amazing. However, that opinion could have been a result of my never having had "real" Baja or California-style Mexican food before either. After living in SoCal for a decade though, CFC seems have gotten a little too big so the quality has gone way down. Example: soggy fish tacos (absolutely NOT Cali-style as they should be super crispy and not mushy); bland cilantro-lime rice that was oddly overly-wet; and enchiladas with hard, dry edges which are most likely reheated from being made a few days earlier. Bleh.
(2)
Jillian O.
This place is really gross. The food is very lame and flavorless. Everything was small and overpriced. I will never go back.
(1)
Keith G.
This is in the top 5 of our favorite restaurants in Pensacola. Whether you live in or around Pensacola or are just passing through, make it a point to try the Cactus Flower either near NAS Pensacola or on 12th. Both are awesome but the one on 12th is more "date night" oriented with more ambience. My wife lives their gigantic burritos and I love their shrimp based burrito. They are one of the few restaurants serving Mexican oriented cuisine and serves alcohol. Try their Sangria's! My profile picture was taken here Cinqo de Mayo 2012.
(5)
Marlene P.
After reading a lot of the reviews I was looking forward to eating here. My husband and I got here around 1pm, the restaurant had a good amount of people, especially outside since it was so beautiful today. We were greeted right away and were seated in the second dining room, next to the coffee shop. Our waitress came soon after and seemed a little distracted, not a problem since she probably just got through a very busy lunch crowd. She got my husband's drink order wrong, I didn't know this until we were driving home. We were given complimentary chips and salsa, the chips were just ok but I really liked the salsa. I ordered the enchiladas verdes with black beans and some jasmine-type rice with lime on it. I figured I'd try it as opposed to the Spanish rice. The beans were lukewarm and not very flavorful, the rice was also barely warm and too tangy, and *PHEW* the enchiladas verdes were horrible! I want to add that after many years of using yelp this is my first comment, the food was that bad! I appreciate the descriptive comments some people write, and will do the best I can. The tortillas were hard and chewy in some places, not sure what that's about. The tomatillo sauce didn't have that slight tang that it should have, it actually didn't have any of the flavors I expect from tomatillo sauce. On the third bite I got a horrible mass of something that had a slight buttery flavor, this is not a bad flavor in some things, but not in an enchilada! After that I was done, I couldn't force another bite. I had a bite of my husband's pork burrito and just stared at him wondering how in the heck did he eat this? It tasted old, nothing fresh about any of the ingredients. I'm not a picky eater by any means and I wasn't expecting much since this place states that it's "California style" but the temperature of the food, the gob of something in my enchilada, the lack of anything resembling fresh in either of our dishes has nothing to do with it not being authentic Tex-Mex and everything to do with lack of quality and bad choices made by someone in the kitchen.
(1)
Liz J.
Absolutely delicious! I had the enchiladas verdes and they were fantastic. We got there at about 6pm on a Friday night and it was already packed. We had about a 25 minute wait which was just what the hostess had predicted. Wonderful Mexican restaurant.
(5)
Jessica M.
My first stop every time I come back to visit. Love this place so much. I always get the Chicken chimichanga or the fish tacos and their delicious sangria. The Chimichanga I would recommend splitting with someone. The portion is huge. The sangria is to die for. Fresh ingredients, full of flavor, great atmosphere.
(5)
Emily F.
The food was ok. Don't get the cilantro lime rice. It tastes like soap and is drowning in lime juice. Everything is very bland. Service is very very slow. It took twenty minutes for us to finally get our checks and pay. I can get over poor service if the food makes up for it. That was not the case this time.
(2)
Francesca G.
Amazing food. Everything is really good (and also cheap). I've tried a chicken sandwich with avocado and other gorgeous stuff and it also comes with a tortilla soup. Awesome!! Cute atmosphere and smiling staff. Totally recommended! PS. Free tortilla chips with sauce as appetizer.
(5)
Timothy T.
Sona P. had some rave reviews of this place - and she knows her Mexican. As such, I had high expectations, and they were met with ease. The venue is quite nice in appearance. They offer both indoor and outdoor seating, and while the people watching scene is not necessarily off the hook, the Pensacola sunshine with a cool gentle breeze made outdoor seating a no-brainer. Per usual down South, service is excellent. Friendly staff, free tortilla chips and salsa, nonstop refills. Menu options are standard for Mexican joints, with the usual burritos, enchiladas, yatta yatta yattas. Prices are higher than Taco Bell for sure, but everything I can remember is under $10. You can customize your food a bit with different beans and rice. The presentation of the food is gourmet-quality, with mammoth-sized portions and a taste that will please any palate. Easily the best Mexican I've had in a while (ever?). (^_-) Ambience (^_^) Service (^_^) Presentation (^_^) Taste (^_^) Bang for buck Glad I came. If you are in Pensacola and want Mexican, do go out of your way to come here.
(5)
David D.
This California Mexican restaurant has the vest fish tacos ever. I prefer them with black beans and a hard flour shell but they are provably good regardless of the shell you select. Their tortilla soup is fantastic and the appetizer you can't go wrong with is the chimichanga bites.
(4)
KarmaQueen S.
Chimichanga was fresh, well seasoned and delicious. Spanish rice and refried style beans were great sides. Plate presentation was appealing and service was spot on. Nice place to meet with friends, have a Sangria and enjoy a well prepared meal.
(4)
Ms B.
The fish tacos are excellent. If you want food that's made fresh, then this is where you need to eat.
(5)
Michael T.
I'm from souther California, and I'm Mexican...so I love Mexican food. Since moving to Pensacola I haven't had anything close to resembling actual Mexican food. However, this place comes very close. I had a great dinner and will be going back.
(4)
Dan M.
Very good food and decent severs. Only complain is you do NOT sweep right next to people while they are eating. I had to move my feet as she tried to sweep under our table. Wait until after people leave please.
(4)
Jisun J.
The Mexican food in this restaurant is decent. Nothing like real Mexican food but much better than the mexican chain restaurants in pensacola such as Los rancheros and monterreys. The ingredients in the food are more fresh and I recommend the lunch special that they have sometimes which is torta and soup. I have also done the valentines special and I enjoyed it. I definitely recommend trying their sangria omg so good!!! I do think that it's a little pricey to be Mexican food.
(3)
Sonya V.
Chicken Tortilla soup was great! Lots of fresh veggies.
(3)
Robert H.
There is much Hype about the Cactus Flower Cafe being the "best" Mexican food around. I suppose that's true, location considered. On the grand-scale however, this is not Cali-Mex or a version of any legitimate high quality Mexican cuisine. The food was good, but missing expected seasoning, flavor and spice. - Food plating was impressive - Plenty of parking - Missing seasoning and spice - Meat is very lean - Soothing atmosphere - Quick and friendly service I ordered a burrito and my wife the enchiladas verdes. We were very excited after reading the reviews and couldn't wait to eat when the beautifully plated food was presented to us. After the first bite we were a bit confused. It looked great, seemed authentic but was lacking something important - flavor. We found ourselves pouring the chip salsa on our food just for a slight kick. Perhaps it was dumbed down for the general public's pallet? While it may not have met our expectations, I'm sure it would be a great place for those that have not tried authentic Mexican food. The food provided was a large portion and the service was fantastic. I really had high hopes for the Cactus Flower Cafe.
(3)
Hungry H.
Meh! Nothing to brag about. The service was ok. My tortilla soup too salty. Tacos had no flavor. How about some seasoning on the meat yo!? Cilantro lime rice lacked flavor. Cute ambience and excellent fresh made guacamole....hence the 3 stars. Prices are too high for what you get. This Cali girl will stick to the authentic mom and pop's.
(2)
Arnold N.
Not really a four star, but I can't put in 3 1/2. Went here for a late lunch with my wife, as we were in the area, and I had been wanting to eat here for awhile. I had been told how good the fish tacos were here, so I decided to give them a try, as I love good fish tacos. Here is the good and bad. The service was good not great. The food is good not great. The atmosphere is once again good not great. I see from some of the other reviews that people do not like the rice or beans. I opted for the salad with ranch dressing instead, and was pretty happy with that choice. My only real issue with the fish tacos, is that the fish was over cooked making it dry and rubbery. Fish is better slightly undercooked, rather than overcooked. I am sure they probably pre cook the fish, and just warm it up, so this is probably why it was dryed out. Would I eat here again? Yes, as even with the overcooked fish, it is still probably the second best fish tacos in the area. I wouldn't make a special trip to eat here, but if I am in the area, it is worth a stop.
(4)
Alexander N.
The best place in the area for Mexican cuisine. Service is moderate depending on the waiter that you get and the wait for a table can be a bit long at the peak of lunch but the quality of the food is always worth it.
(4)
Laura B.
Customer service is this cafe's number one priority. A friend and I lunched here a couple weeks go and had a very unpleasant experience. I didn't want to put on Trip Advisor what we felt so emailed the cafe voicing our issues. The founder/owner replied very quickly, apologizing and offering to make it right. My husband and I had lunch there yesterday and our experience was outstanding!!! The food is fresh and delicious. We have a weakness for Cactus Flower type food and this is among the best, if not THE best we've ever had. We look forward to returning to this cafe on our next visit to Pensacola. We were there almost mid afternoon and customers just kept coming in. Cant imagine how busy it would be if we were there at the "traditional" lunch hour.
(5)
Erin C.
This is one of the first places that my parents take me to when I come to Pensacola for a visit home. We always start with the guac, chips and salsa. The chips are fresh and just the right amount of salt. I absolutely adore the sour cream chicken enchiladas verdes. I'm not a fan of rice so I always get a double order of beans. All of the entrees are huge and often times I have leftovers. Or I just shove the rest of it in my mouth because it tastes so good and it seems sinful to leave it on the plate. The only way to complete a Mexican meal is to enjoy an adult beverage. My fave is the wine margarita and my Dad gives the Sangria a vote. The wine margarita is smooth and the sangria is sweet. You really can't go wrong with either one. Service was on point and it is *always* busy! Can't wait for my next visit!
(5)
Janice T.
One of the best state-side Mexican restaurants I've been to. Everything on the menu is delicious. Get the hot blanco queso if you like heat, the mild and medium are both very mild. Staff is pleasant, attentive and professional. The paintings on the walls are beautiful (and for sale but pricey). It's a little weird that they don't have their liquor license but the wine margarita is a good substitute.
(5)
Jode M.
Love this place! Have had several of the menu items and never a bad flavor. My family does not eat Mexican out and were reluctant to try, but neighbor kept recommending and wow were we missing out. Yum!
(5)
Kevin Y.
I went with a large group of about 20 people, so it took a little while for our food to come out. Fortunately, their chips and salsa were pretty good; not too salty, not too oily. I had the Enchiladas Verdes. It was not the best Mexican food I've had, but it wasn't bad. I wish there was more flavor to the sauce, and the rice and beans seemed overcooked and a little dried out. Some other people in my party, however, really enjoyed their dishes, so I'll order something else next time. To me, the food tasted average but the plating and presentation tried to make up for it.
(3)
Stella H.
Yummo Mexican!! This place is the bomb! Food is sooo good. We even used them for a catered event and it was 5 stars then too. Highly recommend to all.
(5)
Beth B.
This place is ok. I would not make it a regular stop, but if you want Mexican food in Pensacola there are few options.
(3)
Tim F.
Reasons to go: 1. Amazing Guacomole 2. Fresh Homemade Tortillas 3. Sante Fe Tacos are amazing 4. Killer Queso 5. Fast and Friendly Service 6. Everything tastes amazingly fresh. Minus: 1. Only beer and wine and the margaritas are made with wine instead of tequila. (ie find a cantina if you are in the need to slam back something a bit stronger. ) Overall: Probably one of the finest Mexican meals I have had. Go, go, go.
(5)
Kristi g.
One of my favorite, inexpensive and casual places to go for dinner or lunch. This isnt a typical mexican restaurant, so set your expectations as such and you should enjoy the meal. The tortilla soup is wonderful, and the nachos have green olives and somehow, weird, but it takes it to another level... Servers are usually pleasant, host is very nice (and funny). Pleasant- good word to describe the place! P.S. the coffee shop next store is pretty awesome.
(4)
Jason A.
I have been coming to Cactus Flower for lunch and sometimes dinner about once a Month since it first opened. It has always been a great place to get really good California/Mexican food here in Pensacola. My last visit was last week and ordered the chicken burrito with smashed pinto beans. Consistently tasty as always. My other favorites include the Verdi Enchiladas and the pork chimichanga. I also recommend the made to order guacamole and cheese dip.
(5)
Charles B.
I'll keep writing 5-star reviews for Cactus Flower in the hopes that people will stop leaving 1-star reviews for my favorite restaurant in Pensacola. :-( To recap some of my earlier sentiments... do NOT come to Cactus Flower if you are looking for Vallartas. If you want Vallartas, go to Vallartas. But if you want to try original, handmade mexican food that doesn't come from a can or plastic wrap, then be sure to try Cactus Flower. Even though I have tried every single entree on the menu, I found a new love on this most recent visit - the Mexican Salad, topped with Mahi-Mahi, and I added fresh avocado slices. Amazing!!! Seriously... y'all realize you can't get fresh flash-fried Mahi-Mahi at Cazadores right? You definitely can't get fresh sliced avocado...that was peeled fresh in the kitchen. You HAVE to be able to see the difference. Look - it's OK if tex mex is your thing. But please stop comparing this place to the hundreds of "I'll have the number 112 with refried beans" Mexican places we have here in Pensacola!
(5)
Brenda T.
It wasn't terrible, but it needs a lot of changes. It was super loud and it felt as though we were all sitting on top of each other. As soon as we sat down the waiter didn't even give us enough time to look at the menu. I thought that it would be easy to choose but nothing jumped excited me about this menu and it was pricey. You will not pay less that 7.95 for a lunch menu item I ended up ordering the pork tacos with black beans and rice. I wasn't expecting to get a salad. Why was there so much lettuce on my plate? The taco shell and the pork was ok, but needed more flavor. There was also a white sauce on my tacos that was not mentioned on the menu. I like to know what I am ordering and this was not cool. Maybe the other location is serviced better.
(2)
Erika M.
Moving here temporarily from San Diego, I've been going through Mexican food withdrawals. For some reason I was expecting something similar to the 24 hour taco shops in Cali like Alberto's. This is nothing like taco shop food. While the flavors used are "Cali" style, this is NOT what real Mexican food is. However, the food here is better than any other "Mexican" food spot in pensacola (I will give them that). It's good for Americanized Mexican food.
(3)
Emily R.
I don't live in Pensacola anymore, but I miss Cactus Flower! Nothing like this in Massachusetts. The medium-spicy queso is perfect, and the shrimp enchiladas verde are to die for!
(5)
David E.
Stop for lunch with my wife. Took almost 20min for my wife's food to come out. I did not eat at the time, just got tea. Menu bragged about everything being fresh and from scratch. I have been a high end Chef for 30 yrs.....I know the business. The tortilla chips were not done in house. My wife got the lime -cilantro basmati rice, what a waste of good rice....too acidic ! The chicken enchiladas where made with canned, pressure cooked chicken. That is why some reviewers called it mealy in texture. Just cannot hide that taste too. Menu said they use all white meat chicken, and they do: right out of a can! Salsa was fresh, Mole sauce was good. But will not go back. This is what happens when you open more restaurants: Cutting corners. Then you become, what we call in back of the house slang: a shoemaker.
(2)
Kolin K.
Outstanding. Great & authentic food. Sat outside with good atmosphere. Good service....will go again!
(5)
Wendi S.
An absolute favorite and have NEVER had a bad meal here! I cannot even go anywhere else in Pensacola for Mexican food. Although, not "traditional" Mexican food, it is fresh and delicious! Start with the queso and order it spicy. It's not too spicy and addictive! My favorite lunch is the salad with black beans and shredded beef. So filling! Loaded with cheese and rice too! For burrito lovers, the El Jefe is for you and enough to share or take home for later. The Enchiladas Verdes is to die for as well. I don't think there's a bad item on the menu! It's your lucky day if you get Millie as your waitress. We adore her!
(4)
Lea N.
Came here tonight with a party of four. We were seated quickly... Drinks served and chips w/ salsa brought over quickly as well! But after that it felt like another 20 min before our server returned! When our food did come... Wow... Yumm-o! Homemade guacamole... Fresh salsa... AND... vegetarian, vegan options available!!!! Only gave it 4 stars cuz my burrito was mainly rice and beans... Very little chicken. But my brothers chimichanga was PACKED with chicken.
(4)
Katie Q.
After reading other views I have to say I was skeptical about trying this place out but I'm SO glad we did. I had the soft tacos while the people I was with had a chicken quesadilla, a chimichanga, and a chicken burrito. We were all very happy with the taste and flavor of our food. The portions are gigantic and it would be reasonable to share a dish. As others mentioned, the sangria was great. The service was great and the atmosphere was bustling if a little loud. I will definitely be back, especially on Tuesday or Wednesday when they have fresh tamales on special!
(4)
Joey E.
Great food. AMAZING tortilla soup!!
(5)
Will H.
Although I am a TexMex kinda guy this is THE favorite hands down of both my wife and our son when he comes home for visit. It is a Must stop when he comes. We have been happy customers since they first opened. The service matches the menu...Outstanding in all respects! The wait staff are the friendliest and very attentive. I would say the Fish Tacos would be their top choice on the menu. For my TexMex I head to Mariachi's Mexican Grill 2747 Gulf Breeze Pkwy.
(5)
Chris H.
This place has crazy good food. I'm a Mexican food junkie and this is as good as it gets for me in Pensacola. No matter what you order, you can pretty much pick the type of meat you want in it (or go all veggie, of course). I usually order the 3 tacos meal and have them stuff each one with a different meat (chicken, pork, and shredded beef for me). On this most recent occasion, I ordered the "special," which was a blue crab quesadilla w/ a bowl of their famous chicken tortilla soup (you can order the soup mild, medium, or hot). The quesadilla was a monster! I couldn't even finish it (and I'm a big dude!). I also recommend the enchiladas, and pretty much everything else on the menu!
(5)
Steve H.
Fish tacos are the best and our waitress was outstanding.
(4)
Kenny P.
Totally recommend the fish tacos. Every time I go there I order them just because they're the best around town.
(4)
Lindsay M.
I don't understand why Cactus Flower only has three stars- this place is excellent. I have never had a bad meal there. In fact sometimes all I get is the quacamole (I won't share!) and a bowl of their tortilla soup. Top it off with some of their delicious sangria and that's perfection. If I want to bring home leftovers I will get the tamale special or fish tacos. Everything here is good, the spicing is great, they do tend to rush you out a bit because they are constantly busy. Also I tend to get really cold here (probably because the staff is so busy and getting hot!) so I would suggest bringing a little sweater or something if you tend to get cold. Cactus flower is definitely a treat I enjoy and my cousin even had her graduation party there and that was a great experience too.
(5)
M G.
First visit and plan to return. Nice atmosphere and people.
(5)
Haley J.
Best Mexican around. The chicken quesadilla is fantastic, the fresh salsa, and the cheese dip are tasty. I get it every time I go. The service is always great and everything tastes fresh every time I have gone. I have been to the Pensacola and Navarre location multiple times. I am a big fan!!
(5)
LookAlive A.
I like Cactus Flower, mainly because it is less-awful than any other "mexican" place in Pensacola. (There's a HUGE Mexican population in Pensacola... why none of them can break away from the "Redneck Southern Gringo Mexican Food Restaurant" mold, I don't know. Beats all I've ever seen. 483 Mexican restaurants in this small town*, and every single one of them tastes EXACTLY the same. Which is to say, "average-to-poor".) I go regularly, but for one reason only: The Fish Tacos. They are truly excellent. Get the "hard flour" shell and the fried fish and you won't be disappointed. (TIP: Don't pay the full price for the fish taco plate with beans and rice.... ask for the tacos only, a la carte, and the price is about half the menu price, and still plenty of food. And I'm a Big Guy®) Don't get the cheese dip. It's sort of like white sawmill gravy. There is little to no taste of "cheese", and a DEFINITE flavor and texture of cooked flour (like a roux). It dips, but it ain't queso. Bizarre to say the least. Also, it makes me GRRR ANGRY that they think it's okay to serve tortilla chips out of a bag. WTF? No ma'am.... I can get those at Winn Dixie, thankyouverymuch. *I tease... over-exaggerated for emphasis.... probably closer to 732 Mexican Restaurants in P'cola
(3)
Anna C.
Very fresh, delicious and well presented Mexican style food. A good place to take non-adventurous eaters to turn them on to Mexican food. Don't expect what you would normally encounter south of the border at Cactus Flower, it's good food, but there are some poetic licenses taken that might not please a hard core Mexican food junkie. However, their version of refried beans, "smashed beans" are delicious without the heavy serving of normal lard. Good food, nice, clean atmosphere, although a little on the "cozy" and somewhat-loud side during peak hours.
(4)
Bekki H.
We had lunch here and the food was delicious. They had lots of options for vegetarians and several highchairs for the little ones. I would have rated it higher had our waitress been even the slightest bit friendly. She barely acknowledged us and never smiled--I saw her treat every table like this too. She may have been the most unfriendly waitress I've ever had anywhere! That actually kind of ruined it for us--thank goodness the food was so wonderful!
(3)
Mariah S.
I love it here! The service is always friendly and attentive, and the food is awesome. I usually get one of their big salads with some meat on it and the tortilla soup. The portions are huge and the food is always hot. Although the main dining room is a little small and can get crowded, the atmosphere is really nice. It's a great choice for lunch or dinner.
(4)
Tina W.
Food is fresh and good, waiter was very friendly and in point. The only complaint is that food needs a bit more seasoning to make it a five star place
(4)
Gabrielle P.
The pros: Nice wait staff GREAT Tortilla Soup! Decent wine list Good appetizer selection Great, fresh salsa The cons: Mexican food is Pensacola sucks- this place is not an exception They discontinued the Carmeniere wine I liked A little pricey for what you get Too many kids screaming every time I come here! AHHHHH!!! Perhaps I'm a Mexican food snob after living in Arizona, but I definitely would not eat here if you're craving Mexican. Go for drinks and appetizers.
(3)
Thomas A.
There was nothing wrong with the food and there was nothing notable about the food. I enjoy spices and Mexican culture; I was not impressed by this kitchen. The chips were an ordinary commercial brand even though the menu promised everything was made by hand The menu items were a pale Americanized version of the cuisine. And extremely mild. The Pico de Gallo had no heat and was a tomato sauce heavy on the cumin. The chicken in the Enchilada and Tortilla Soup was chopped so fine that it had a mealy texture. The Verde sauce on the enchiladas was equally mild. Everything had flavor and it didn't taste bad, but it did not have the complex mixture of spice and heat that I have grown accustom to from our southern neighbor. It was plain. The wait staff ignored my obvious lackluster response when I was asked 'if everything was OK'. This place may be perfect for people with mild sensibility to their palate but it is not Mexican food.
(1)
Derek F.
I went with a group at around 8:30pm on a Saturday. They were gracious enough to keep the kitchen open until my late friends arrived at 9:10pm, after their normal closing time. I had the enchiladas, which were very good. Tried the nachos, also very good. Everyone in my party liked their food. The Sangria was excellent as well. My only gripe is the rather limited menu (i was looking for Tamales), and the chips they brought were from a bag and crushed.
(4)
Michele P.
Yuk. A very disappointing yuk. The restaurant marquis declares it "California Style Mexican" and is a bald-faced lie! It shames California. I am a CA native, weaned on Mexican food, and I have never experienced flavors like Pensacola's version. While the restaurant appears charming and local, the food really is not Mexican in the slightest. The pork was dry and the aroma reminiscent of Alpo canned dog food. There were about 4 in our party and we ordered an array of items, none were impressed or sated. The fresh salsa and chips... the chips were from a bag!? No self-respecting Mexican restaurant would ever serve chips from a store bought bag. To add insult to injury, Mexican food is my comfort food, something I need before resorting to the fetal position with a thumb in my mouth, and guacamole is critical! They ran out of avocados and didn't even tell me until after my order come out... granted, the server lopped off a few bucks and provided a free dessert, but it was inadequate compensation for what I truly needed. I'm not sure why this place was recommended to me, maybe it was an off night, but I won't take my chances again.
(1)
Jessie H.
Clean refreshing mexican food. The fish tacos are the best, every time. Its hard to even think about ordering something other than them. The staff is always fast and friendly.
(5)
Andrew M.
Tortilla Soup is legit. Ive been there three times. The last time I went the service was terrible, but that was definitely not the norm. Great place to stop if your looking for good restaurantes in Pensacola.
(4)
Chris R.
Overall not terribly impressed. Quesadillas tasted OK but pretty slim on the chicken. Chips were over-salted & salsa had no kick. Service also didn't measure up. Really we only saw our server 3 times; order, food & check. Had to ask for more chips, salsa and refill. Also we had our kids with us and were the only kids in the place. Don't know about the previous review but definitely did not get a kid-friendly vibe. Given Pensacola's limited Mexican options, it's worth a try, but don't expect too much.
Best "gourmet" Mexican in Pensacola! Love their taco salad!
(5)
Katie L.
I was very impressed! Their fish tacos are excellent. Really, really excellent. The salsa was fresh (we ate bowl after bowl) and the decor and ambiance are cute. We came on Cinco de Mayo and this is definitely a family place. Holy cow. Lots of kids. They have 2 rooms and we (luckily) sat on the other side away from all of the noise. We'll come a bit later next time so the kids have cleared out a little. Chips and salsa came right away. The salsa was fresh tomatoes, cilantro and jalapenos. Perfect! The chips obviously came out of a bag... but were okay. They can only sell beer and wine, so no margaritas. Well, they make a green wine margarita... I had the sangria and it was tasty. I would order it again. I ordered the fish tacos and the waitress asked what kind of shell. I am really hoping she just meant flour or corn tortillas and not actual hard shell tacos. I got the corn tortillas (the only way to eat a fish taco, IMO) and they were AWESOME. Holy moly. The mahi was lightly fried, the sauces in the taco were superb, the cabbage was fresh and it was an amazing flavor explosion. Probably one of the best meals I've had in Pensacola. If you haven't had fish tacos before, order these. They come with 2 tortillas for each taco. One falls apart, so eat with both (I actually don't think I've ever seen good fish tacos with only one tortilla). Hubby had the verde enchiladas. They were good, but he wishes he ordered the fish tacos :) We will definitely be back. I took off a star for no liquor license and the bagged chips, but this place is really good!
(4)
Brittany T.
I am shocked to see less than 5 stars for my favorite Pensacola restaurant. Cactus Flower has turned me into a Mexican snob, as I can no longer stomach the typical Mexican restaurant. Everything is FRESH, FRESH, FRESH! And cooked to order! They offer vegetarian and vegan options on most dishes! Delicious!
(5)
Xasperniak B.
I was willing to pay 9.75 for 1 Chicken Chimichanga until I got it and found that it was way way to small and little flavor. Service is OK. Waiter slammed down hot sauce we were able to finally ask for after multiple attempts were required to get service. Chips and salsa were so so. This place is DEFINITELY over hyped. There is no where else in town? So that must be why ppl are droppin 5 stars ratings here. How sad.
(2)
Heidi Z.
I have been on a constant quest to find good mexican food since coming to Pensacola. Out of all the restaurants, this was by far the best. Not nearly as good as what I have had elsewhere, but still very good. It is pricey though. Waitress was pretty hard to get the attention of. Sangria was very good.
(3)
Paul P.
Food Wasn't the greatest at all. The coke was yummy but the food tasted worse then taco bell.
(2)
J D.
My husband and I went for lunch today there. It was fantastic. I had the fish tacos and my husband had the Santa Fe Enchiladas. They were both excellent. It is one of the best kept secrets of Pensacola. Great service too. It was our first time to go to the Cactus Flower but it will not be our last.
(5)
Brian W.
Excellent meal at Cactus Flower Cafe earlier this week. Tamales are a rare treat and these were very good. The other meals that my colleagues had were very good as well. Good service, nice atmosphere.
(5)
R W.
The food was very disappointing. The salsa was soupy with really no bite. Chips were store bought. The tortilla soup was bland. The chicken in it was so shredded it looked like it came from a can. Price is high for what you get. I will not be going back.
(1)
E.J. J.
We went to the Cactus Flower for the first time a couple of nights ago. It was very busy, but we still received great service. Noticing my husband was going through his tea very fast, the waitress brought him a whole carafe. The food was exceptional; however, I did not like the guacamole very much. They have very large servings of food, and everything was very tasty. I had the burrito, with chosen meat of shredded beef, and it was sooooooooo good. My husband had the taco salad, an he liked it very much.Most menu items can be made into vegetation entrees. I tasted my daughter tacos, she had them make it vegetarian style, and it was really good. Looking around the restaurant at other food they're was not a shortage of entrees I would try. Their dinner menu is different than their lunch menu, and I can't wait to go try their torte sandwich and desserts. They say this is California Mexican, but being from California I don't FULLY agree with that; however, I would consider it gourmet California Mexican cuisine.
(5)
Brooke D.
Very good food. I had the vegetarian quesadilla and it was awesome. The restaurant is very clean. The atmosphere is very soothing. And the waitress was able to bring us drinks from the coffee shop next door. Awesome experience!
(5)
Robert Joseph K.
All in all, everything was really good. Raised in Cali and Texas and having worked in several Mexican, Peruvian, Argentinian, and Cuban restaurants, as well as owning my own restaurant in Texas, it takes a bit to impress me. I was impressed. The Mahi Tacos were great, the Lime Rice just so-so. The Pork Chimichanga was delicious and the Spanish Rice that came with that was perfect. The black beans were perfect, and the Salsa that came w/the obligatory Chips was one of my favorite recipes! The waitstaff was pretty on it, though it seems like nobody noticed its FREEZING in here! 5 stars from us! Shout out to Crystal! Good job! We'll seek this place out in our future travels.... definitely!
(5)
Lac J.
Love this place wonderful place to eat love the one on 12th Ave just tried the one on hwy 98 and it was great to
(5)
Cynthia G.
This restaurant is one of the best latin food restaurants I have found so far. I liked everything I have tried so far with the exception of their tamale. The only reason was because they drowned it in sauce and it was a bit salty. I'm going to have to try it without sauce & just a spicy salsa. They bring out chips & salsa which are delicious. But I love the owners hot salsa she makes. I've had others make it but it's not the same.
(4)
CJ G.
We came here because Taco Rock was closed. (On a Monday?) Something with Pensacola and businesses operating with awkward hours... I digress. Upon arriving, I immediately knew that the food would disappoint. The store front was too quaint and too clean; the beemers and benzes in the parking lot were not a good sign either. Is it a bad thing your business is clean with a higher end target demographic? Certainly not... but when your product is good Mexican food, you're going to come up short. Despite all of this, we entered what seemed to be a retail store in the past looking for a seat. We were greeted warmly and seated promptly. Our waitress was great, getting us our complimentary chips and salsa while taking our drink orders. To this point I was pleasantly surprised... Reviewing the menu I was immediately drawn to the California burrito... having lived in San Diego for more than a few years and know Santana's well. Taking that into consideration... to say I was disappointed would be an understatement. First of all their price is more than twice that of what you would pay in San Diego and you receive a burrito half the size. I keep returning to my San Diego comparison because they courageously compared their product to what you might pick up on the Pacific. Had they not done this... my stomach wouldn't have gotten its hopes up. Moving on... the burrito was undersized, you couldn't tell there were fries on it, the carne asada was too salty, I could not even tell you if there was guacamole. All I could taste was pico and over salted carne asada. I should have trusted my gut and waited for the skeezy taco stand to open instead of following the misguided reviews that led me here.
(2)
Andrew J.
As a Mexican from San Diego I was really excited to try this place especially since the sign stated it was a California Style Mexican Cusine. I ordered the Torta. It was made with a French Baguette, not Pan Bolillo and the torta was all bread, none of the miga was taken out. No queso fresco or frijoles in the torta? the salsa wasnt homemade. The chicken was good, but overall, unfortunately, i was disappointed. Also... maybe a renovation could help the place, at least a TV with a telenovela on or Thalia/Selena playing in the background.
(2)
Heather J.
I have heard of Tex-Mex...Cali-Mex is now my new term! I ordered these bite size-like shrimp tacos...so good! As well my companion had the fish tacos and we find those delightful as well. Nice surprise to find in the panhandle area! The salsa and just about everything else had a bit of heat...but then I am a wimp when it comes to spicy!
(4)
Tiffany M.
Me and my mom had the pleasure of eating at the Cactus Flower today! We got the the "Queso Bites" and the Fish Tacos for lunch. The Queso Bites were good. They were also very filling... The taco meal comes with a side of rice and beans. The Tacos themselves were STUFFED to the brim!!! We also ordered guacamole. The guacamole was exactly like it should be... Fresh ingredients with nice chunky prices of avocado. It wasn't your authentic Mexican food but they did incorporate a lot of the traditional ingredients, like cilantro and jalapeño. We had to ask for extra of both but we're both from Cali... So what do you expect? I would say this more of an American Mexican mixed with Cajun tropical type of restaurant. It's clean and quaint with great staff! The service was on point and friendly. I would eat here again.
(4)
Chris H.
Amazing food! The chips tho... Really? Using store bought chips (sometimes are heated so long they taste stale) when it takes 2-3 minutes to fry fresh chips is no bueno in my book. Sorry but the chips totally lost 1 star. I have been eating here since they first opened and have never had a bad meal.
(4)
Timothy B.
Best. Fish. Tacos. Ever. Overall, the food was very good. Queso Blanco with chips was good, though a tad bland. The refried beans tasted good, but I wasn't crazy about the cilantro lime rice. The rice wasn't bad, just different. Did I mention the fish tacos were awesome?!! We came with a party of 10 during the lunch rush; so it take a little long to get seated. Service was slow due to the big lunch crowd. But the fish tacos made it worth it!
(4)
Al S.
Good salsa. Food lacks flavor sometimes.
(2)
Carol F.
Absolutely fabulous fish tacos, Mexican salad, Sangria, chips and salsa. I live in Hawaii but have family in Pensacola. Can't wait to eat at Cactus Flower- every single visit. No comparison so far except in Utah at Cafe Rio.
Sorry, Store hours have not been updated. If you are the owner of this restaurants. Please update the store hours.
Specialities
Takes Reservations : Yes Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Lunch, Dinner Parking : Private Lot Bike Parking : Yes Wheelchair Accessible : Yes Good for Kids : Yes Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Ambience : Casual Noise Level : Average Alcohol : Beer & Wine Only Outdoor Seating : Yes Wi-Fi : No Has TV : No Waiter Service : Yes Caters : 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.
Jill B.
Wonderful food and service. Portions are large so come hungry. The Cheese dip is great.
(5)Rachael P.
Definitely meh. When this place first opened up over 10 years ago, it was amazing. However, that opinion could have been a result of my never having had "real" Baja or California-style Mexican food before either. After living in SoCal for a decade though, CFC seems have gotten a little too big so the quality has gone way down. Example: soggy fish tacos (absolutely NOT Cali-style as they should be super crispy and not mushy); bland cilantro-lime rice that was oddly overly-wet; and enchiladas with hard, dry edges which are most likely reheated from being made a few days earlier. Bleh.
(2)Jillian O.
This place is really gross. The food is very lame and flavorless. Everything was small and overpriced. I will never go back.
(1)Keith G.
This is in the top 5 of our favorite restaurants in Pensacola. Whether you live in or around Pensacola or are just passing through, make it a point to try the Cactus Flower either near NAS Pensacola or on 12th. Both are awesome but the one on 12th is more "date night" oriented with more ambience. My wife lives their gigantic burritos and I love their shrimp based burrito. They are one of the few restaurants serving Mexican oriented cuisine and serves alcohol. Try their Sangria's! My profile picture was taken here Cinqo de Mayo 2012.
(5)Marlene P.
After reading a lot of the reviews I was looking forward to eating here. My husband and I got here around 1pm, the restaurant had a good amount of people, especially outside since it was so beautiful today. We were greeted right away and were seated in the second dining room, next to the coffee shop. Our waitress came soon after and seemed a little distracted, not a problem since she probably just got through a very busy lunch crowd. She got my husband's drink order wrong, I didn't know this until we were driving home. We were given complimentary chips and salsa, the chips were just ok but I really liked the salsa. I ordered the enchiladas verdes with black beans and some jasmine-type rice with lime on it. I figured I'd try it as opposed to the Spanish rice. The beans were lukewarm and not very flavorful, the rice was also barely warm and too tangy, and *PHEW* the enchiladas verdes were horrible! I want to add that after many years of using yelp this is my first comment, the food was that bad! I appreciate the descriptive comments some people write, and will do the best I can. The tortillas were hard and chewy in some places, not sure what that's about. The tomatillo sauce didn't have that slight tang that it should have, it actually didn't have any of the flavors I expect from tomatillo sauce. On the third bite I got a horrible mass of something that had a slight buttery flavor, this is not a bad flavor in some things, but not in an enchilada! After that I was done, I couldn't force another bite. I had a bite of my husband's pork burrito and just stared at him wondering how in the heck did he eat this? It tasted old, nothing fresh about any of the ingredients. I'm not a picky eater by any means and I wasn't expecting much since this place states that it's "California style" but the temperature of the food, the gob of something in my enchilada, the lack of anything resembling fresh in either of our dishes has nothing to do with it not being authentic Tex-Mex and everything to do with lack of quality and bad choices made by someone in the kitchen.
(1)Liz J.
Absolutely delicious! I had the enchiladas verdes and they were fantastic. We got there at about 6pm on a Friday night and it was already packed. We had about a 25 minute wait which was just what the hostess had predicted. Wonderful Mexican restaurant.
(5)Jessica M.
My first stop every time I come back to visit. Love this place so much. I always get the Chicken chimichanga or the fish tacos and their delicious sangria. The Chimichanga I would recommend splitting with someone. The portion is huge. The sangria is to die for. Fresh ingredients, full of flavor, great atmosphere.
(5)Emily F.
The food was ok. Don't get the cilantro lime rice. It tastes like soap and is drowning in lime juice. Everything is very bland. Service is very very slow. It took twenty minutes for us to finally get our checks and pay. I can get over poor service if the food makes up for it. That was not the case this time.
(2)Francesca G.
Amazing food. Everything is really good (and also cheap). I've tried a chicken sandwich with avocado and other gorgeous stuff and it also comes with a tortilla soup. Awesome!! Cute atmosphere and smiling staff. Totally recommended! PS. Free tortilla chips with sauce as appetizer.
(5)Timothy T.
Sona P. had some rave reviews of this place - and she knows her Mexican. As such, I had high expectations, and they were met with ease. The venue is quite nice in appearance. They offer both indoor and outdoor seating, and while the people watching scene is not necessarily off the hook, the Pensacola sunshine with a cool gentle breeze made outdoor seating a no-brainer. Per usual down South, service is excellent. Friendly staff, free tortilla chips and salsa, nonstop refills. Menu options are standard for Mexican joints, with the usual burritos, enchiladas, yatta yatta yattas. Prices are higher than Taco Bell for sure, but everything I can remember is under $10. You can customize your food a bit with different beans and rice. The presentation of the food is gourmet-quality, with mammoth-sized portions and a taste that will please any palate. Easily the best Mexican I've had in a while (ever?). (^_-) Ambience (^_^) Service (^_^) Presentation (^_^) Taste (^_^) Bang for buck Glad I came. If you are in Pensacola and want Mexican, do go out of your way to come here.
(5)David D.
This California Mexican restaurant has the vest fish tacos ever. I prefer them with black beans and a hard flour shell but they are provably good regardless of the shell you select. Their tortilla soup is fantastic and the appetizer you can't go wrong with is the chimichanga bites.
(4)KarmaQueen S.
Chimichanga was fresh, well seasoned and delicious. Spanish rice and refried style beans were great sides. Plate presentation was appealing and service was spot on. Nice place to meet with friends, have a Sangria and enjoy a well prepared meal.
(4)Ms B.
The fish tacos are excellent. If you want food that's made fresh, then this is where you need to eat.
(5)Michael T.
I'm from souther California, and I'm Mexican...so I love Mexican food. Since moving to Pensacola I haven't had anything close to resembling actual Mexican food. However, this place comes very close. I had a great dinner and will be going back.
(4)Dan M.
Very good food and decent severs. Only complain is you do NOT sweep right next to people while they are eating. I had to move my feet as she tried to sweep under our table. Wait until after people leave please.
(4)Jisun J.
The Mexican food in this restaurant is decent. Nothing like real Mexican food but much better than the mexican chain restaurants in pensacola such as Los rancheros and monterreys. The ingredients in the food are more fresh and I recommend the lunch special that they have sometimes which is torta and soup. I have also done the valentines special and I enjoyed it. I definitely recommend trying their sangria omg so good!!! I do think that it's a little pricey to be Mexican food.
(3)Sonya V.
Chicken Tortilla soup was great! Lots of fresh veggies.
(3)Robert H.
There is much Hype about the Cactus Flower Cafe being the "best" Mexican food around. I suppose that's true, location considered. On the grand-scale however, this is not Cali-Mex or a version of any legitimate high quality Mexican cuisine. The food was good, but missing expected seasoning, flavor and spice. - Food plating was impressive - Plenty of parking - Missing seasoning and spice - Meat is very lean - Soothing atmosphere - Quick and friendly service I ordered a burrito and my wife the enchiladas verdes. We were very excited after reading the reviews and couldn't wait to eat when the beautifully plated food was presented to us. After the first bite we were a bit confused. It looked great, seemed authentic but was lacking something important - flavor. We found ourselves pouring the chip salsa on our food just for a slight kick. Perhaps it was dumbed down for the general public's pallet? While it may not have met our expectations, I'm sure it would be a great place for those that have not tried authentic Mexican food. The food provided was a large portion and the service was fantastic. I really had high hopes for the Cactus Flower Cafe.
(3)Hungry H.
Meh! Nothing to brag about. The service was ok. My tortilla soup too salty. Tacos had no flavor. How about some seasoning on the meat yo!? Cilantro lime rice lacked flavor. Cute ambience and excellent fresh made guacamole....hence the 3 stars. Prices are too high for what you get. This Cali girl will stick to the authentic mom and pop's.
(2)Arnold N.
Not really a four star, but I can't put in 3 1/2. Went here for a late lunch with my wife, as we were in the area, and I had been wanting to eat here for awhile. I had been told how good the fish tacos were here, so I decided to give them a try, as I love good fish tacos. Here is the good and bad. The service was good not great. The food is good not great. The atmosphere is once again good not great. I see from some of the other reviews that people do not like the rice or beans. I opted for the salad with ranch dressing instead, and was pretty happy with that choice. My only real issue with the fish tacos, is that the fish was over cooked making it dry and rubbery. Fish is better slightly undercooked, rather than overcooked. I am sure they probably pre cook the fish, and just warm it up, so this is probably why it was dryed out. Would I eat here again? Yes, as even with the overcooked fish, it is still probably the second best fish tacos in the area. I wouldn't make a special trip to eat here, but if I am in the area, it is worth a stop.
(4)Alexander N.
The best place in the area for Mexican cuisine. Service is moderate depending on the waiter that you get and the wait for a table can be a bit long at the peak of lunch but the quality of the food is always worth it.
(4)Laura B.
Customer service is this cafe's number one priority. A friend and I lunched here a couple weeks go and had a very unpleasant experience. I didn't want to put on Trip Advisor what we felt so emailed the cafe voicing our issues. The founder/owner replied very quickly, apologizing and offering to make it right. My husband and I had lunch there yesterday and our experience was outstanding!!! The food is fresh and delicious. We have a weakness for Cactus Flower type food and this is among the best, if not THE best we've ever had. We look forward to returning to this cafe on our next visit to Pensacola. We were there almost mid afternoon and customers just kept coming in. Cant imagine how busy it would be if we were there at the "traditional" lunch hour.
(5)Erin C.
This is one of the first places that my parents take me to when I come to Pensacola for a visit home. We always start with the guac, chips and salsa. The chips are fresh and just the right amount of salt. I absolutely adore the sour cream chicken enchiladas verdes. I'm not a fan of rice so I always get a double order of beans. All of the entrees are huge and often times I have leftovers. Or I just shove the rest of it in my mouth because it tastes so good and it seems sinful to leave it on the plate. The only way to complete a Mexican meal is to enjoy an adult beverage. My fave is the wine margarita and my Dad gives the Sangria a vote. The wine margarita is smooth and the sangria is sweet. You really can't go wrong with either one. Service was on point and it is *always* busy! Can't wait for my next visit!
(5)Janice T.
One of the best state-side Mexican restaurants I've been to. Everything on the menu is delicious. Get the hot blanco queso if you like heat, the mild and medium are both very mild. Staff is pleasant, attentive and professional. The paintings on the walls are beautiful (and for sale but pricey). It's a little weird that they don't have their liquor license but the wine margarita is a good substitute.
(5)Jode M.
Love this place! Have had several of the menu items and never a bad flavor. My family does not eat Mexican out and were reluctant to try, but neighbor kept recommending and wow were we missing out. Yum!
(5)Kevin Y.
I went with a large group of about 20 people, so it took a little while for our food to come out. Fortunately, their chips and salsa were pretty good; not too salty, not too oily. I had the Enchiladas Verdes. It was not the best Mexican food I've had, but it wasn't bad. I wish there was more flavor to the sauce, and the rice and beans seemed overcooked and a little dried out. Some other people in my party, however, really enjoyed their dishes, so I'll order something else next time. To me, the food tasted average but the plating and presentation tried to make up for it.
(3)Stella H.
Yummo Mexican!! This place is the bomb! Food is sooo good. We even used them for a catered event and it was 5 stars then too. Highly recommend to all.
(5)Beth B.
This place is ok. I would not make it a regular stop, but if you want Mexican food in Pensacola there are few options.
(3)Tim F.
Reasons to go: 1. Amazing Guacomole 2. Fresh Homemade Tortillas 3. Sante Fe Tacos are amazing 4. Killer Queso 5. Fast and Friendly Service 6. Everything tastes amazingly fresh. Minus: 1. Only beer and wine and the margaritas are made with wine instead of tequila. (ie find a cantina if you are in the need to slam back something a bit stronger. ) Overall: Probably one of the finest Mexican meals I have had. Go, go, go.
(5)Kristi g.
One of my favorite, inexpensive and casual places to go for dinner or lunch. This isnt a typical mexican restaurant, so set your expectations as such and you should enjoy the meal. The tortilla soup is wonderful, and the nachos have green olives and somehow, weird, but it takes it to another level... Servers are usually pleasant, host is very nice (and funny). Pleasant- good word to describe the place! P.S. the coffee shop next store is pretty awesome.
(4)Jason A.
I have been coming to Cactus Flower for lunch and sometimes dinner about once a Month since it first opened. It has always been a great place to get really good California/Mexican food here in Pensacola. My last visit was last week and ordered the chicken burrito with smashed pinto beans. Consistently tasty as always. My other favorites include the Verdi Enchiladas and the pork chimichanga. I also recommend the made to order guacamole and cheese dip.
(5)Charles B.
I'll keep writing 5-star reviews for Cactus Flower in the hopes that people will stop leaving 1-star reviews for my favorite restaurant in Pensacola. :-( To recap some of my earlier sentiments... do NOT come to Cactus Flower if you are looking for Vallartas. If you want Vallartas, go to Vallartas. But if you want to try original, handmade mexican food that doesn't come from a can or plastic wrap, then be sure to try Cactus Flower. Even though I have tried every single entree on the menu, I found a new love on this most recent visit - the Mexican Salad, topped with Mahi-Mahi, and I added fresh avocado slices. Amazing!!! Seriously... y'all realize you can't get fresh flash-fried Mahi-Mahi at Cazadores right? You definitely can't get fresh sliced avocado...that was peeled fresh in the kitchen. You HAVE to be able to see the difference. Look - it's OK if tex mex is your thing. But please stop comparing this place to the hundreds of "I'll have the number 112 with refried beans" Mexican places we have here in Pensacola!
(5)Brenda T.
It wasn't terrible, but it needs a lot of changes. It was super loud and it felt as though we were all sitting on top of each other. As soon as we sat down the waiter didn't even give us enough time to look at the menu. I thought that it would be easy to choose but nothing jumped excited me about this menu and it was pricey. You will not pay less that 7.95 for a lunch menu item I ended up ordering the pork tacos with black beans and rice. I wasn't expecting to get a salad. Why was there so much lettuce on my plate? The taco shell and the pork was ok, but needed more flavor. There was also a white sauce on my tacos that was not mentioned on the menu. I like to know what I am ordering and this was not cool. Maybe the other location is serviced better.
(2)Erika M.
Moving here temporarily from San Diego, I've been going through Mexican food withdrawals. For some reason I was expecting something similar to the 24 hour taco shops in Cali like Alberto's. This is nothing like taco shop food. While the flavors used are "Cali" style, this is NOT what real Mexican food is. However, the food here is better than any other "Mexican" food spot in pensacola (I will give them that). It's good for Americanized Mexican food.
(3)Emily R.
I don't live in Pensacola anymore, but I miss Cactus Flower! Nothing like this in Massachusetts. The medium-spicy queso is perfect, and the shrimp enchiladas verde are to die for!
(5)David E.
Stop for lunch with my wife. Took almost 20min for my wife's food to come out. I did not eat at the time, just got tea. Menu bragged about everything being fresh and from scratch. I have been a high end Chef for 30 yrs.....I know the business. The tortilla chips were not done in house. My wife got the lime -cilantro basmati rice, what a waste of good rice....too acidic ! The chicken enchiladas where made with canned, pressure cooked chicken. That is why some reviewers called it mealy in texture. Just cannot hide that taste too. Menu said they use all white meat chicken, and they do: right out of a can! Salsa was fresh, Mole sauce was good. But will not go back. This is what happens when you open more restaurants: Cutting corners. Then you become, what we call in back of the house slang: a shoemaker.
(2)Kolin K.
Outstanding. Great & authentic food. Sat outside with good atmosphere. Good service....will go again!
(5)Wendi S.
An absolute favorite and have NEVER had a bad meal here! I cannot even go anywhere else in Pensacola for Mexican food. Although, not "traditional" Mexican food, it is fresh and delicious! Start with the queso and order it spicy. It's not too spicy and addictive! My favorite lunch is the salad with black beans and shredded beef. So filling! Loaded with cheese and rice too! For burrito lovers, the El Jefe is for you and enough to share or take home for later. The Enchiladas Verdes is to die for as well. I don't think there's a bad item on the menu! It's your lucky day if you get Millie as your waitress. We adore her!
(4)Lea N.
Came here tonight with a party of four. We were seated quickly... Drinks served and chips w/ salsa brought over quickly as well! But after that it felt like another 20 min before our server returned! When our food did come... Wow... Yumm-o! Homemade guacamole... Fresh salsa... AND... vegetarian, vegan options available!!!! Only gave it 4 stars cuz my burrito was mainly rice and beans... Very little chicken. But my brothers chimichanga was PACKED with chicken.
(4)Katie Q.
After reading other views I have to say I was skeptical about trying this place out but I'm SO glad we did. I had the soft tacos while the people I was with had a chicken quesadilla, a chimichanga, and a chicken burrito. We were all very happy with the taste and flavor of our food. The portions are gigantic and it would be reasonable to share a dish. As others mentioned, the sangria was great. The service was great and the atmosphere was bustling if a little loud. I will definitely be back, especially on Tuesday or Wednesday when they have fresh tamales on special!
(4)Joey E.
Great food. AMAZING tortilla soup!!
(5)Will H.
Although I am a TexMex kinda guy this is THE favorite hands down of both my wife and our son when he comes home for visit. It is a Must stop when he comes. We have been happy customers since they first opened. The service matches the menu...Outstanding in all respects! The wait staff are the friendliest and very attentive. I would say the Fish Tacos would be their top choice on the menu. For my TexMex I head to Mariachi's Mexican Grill 2747 Gulf Breeze Pkwy.
(5)Chris H.
This place has crazy good food. I'm a Mexican food junkie and this is as good as it gets for me in Pensacola. No matter what you order, you can pretty much pick the type of meat you want in it (or go all veggie, of course). I usually order the 3 tacos meal and have them stuff each one with a different meat (chicken, pork, and shredded beef for me). On this most recent occasion, I ordered the "special," which was a blue crab quesadilla w/ a bowl of their famous chicken tortilla soup (you can order the soup mild, medium, or hot). The quesadilla was a monster! I couldn't even finish it (and I'm a big dude!). I also recommend the enchiladas, and pretty much everything else on the menu!
(5)Steve H.
Fish tacos are the best and our waitress was outstanding.
(4)Kenny P.
Totally recommend the fish tacos. Every time I go there I order them just because they're the best around town.
(4)Lindsay M.
I don't understand why Cactus Flower only has three stars- this place is excellent. I have never had a bad meal there. In fact sometimes all I get is the quacamole (I won't share!) and a bowl of their tortilla soup. Top it off with some of their delicious sangria and that's perfection. If I want to bring home leftovers I will get the tamale special or fish tacos. Everything here is good, the spicing is great, they do tend to rush you out a bit because they are constantly busy. Also I tend to get really cold here (probably because the staff is so busy and getting hot!) so I would suggest bringing a little sweater or something if you tend to get cold. Cactus flower is definitely a treat I enjoy and my cousin even had her graduation party there and that was a great experience too.
(5)M G.
First visit and plan to return. Nice atmosphere and people.
(5)Haley J.
Best Mexican around. The chicken quesadilla is fantastic, the fresh salsa, and the cheese dip are tasty. I get it every time I go. The service is always great and everything tastes fresh every time I have gone. I have been to the Pensacola and Navarre location multiple times. I am a big fan!!
(5)LookAlive A.
I like Cactus Flower, mainly because it is less-awful than any other "mexican" place in Pensacola. (There's a HUGE Mexican population in Pensacola... why none of them can break away from the "Redneck Southern Gringo Mexican Food Restaurant" mold, I don't know. Beats all I've ever seen. 483 Mexican restaurants in this small town*, and every single one of them tastes EXACTLY the same. Which is to say, "average-to-poor".) I go regularly, but for one reason only: The Fish Tacos. They are truly excellent. Get the "hard flour" shell and the fried fish and you won't be disappointed. (TIP: Don't pay the full price for the fish taco plate with beans and rice.... ask for the tacos only, a la carte, and the price is about half the menu price, and still plenty of food. And I'm a Big Guy®) Don't get the cheese dip. It's sort of like white sawmill gravy. There is little to no taste of "cheese", and a DEFINITE flavor and texture of cooked flour (like a roux). It dips, but it ain't queso. Bizarre to say the least. Also, it makes me GRRR ANGRY that they think it's okay to serve tortilla chips out of a bag. WTF? No ma'am.... I can get those at Winn Dixie, thankyouverymuch. *I tease... over-exaggerated for emphasis.... probably closer to 732 Mexican Restaurants in P'cola
(3)Anna C.
Very fresh, delicious and well presented Mexican style food. A good place to take non-adventurous eaters to turn them on to Mexican food. Don't expect what you would normally encounter south of the border at Cactus Flower, it's good food, but there are some poetic licenses taken that might not please a hard core Mexican food junkie. However, their version of refried beans, "smashed beans" are delicious without the heavy serving of normal lard. Good food, nice, clean atmosphere, although a little on the "cozy" and somewhat-loud side during peak hours.
(4)Bekki H.
We had lunch here and the food was delicious. They had lots of options for vegetarians and several highchairs for the little ones. I would have rated it higher had our waitress been even the slightest bit friendly. She barely acknowledged us and never smiled--I saw her treat every table like this too. She may have been the most unfriendly waitress I've ever had anywhere! That actually kind of ruined it for us--thank goodness the food was so wonderful!
(3)Mariah S.
I love it here! The service is always friendly and attentive, and the food is awesome. I usually get one of their big salads with some meat on it and the tortilla soup. The portions are huge and the food is always hot. Although the main dining room is a little small and can get crowded, the atmosphere is really nice. It's a great choice for lunch or dinner.
(4)Tina W.
Food is fresh and good, waiter was very friendly and in point. The only complaint is that food needs a bit more seasoning to make it a five star place
(4)Gabrielle P.
The pros: Nice wait staff GREAT Tortilla Soup! Decent wine list Good appetizer selection Great, fresh salsa The cons: Mexican food is Pensacola sucks- this place is not an exception They discontinued the Carmeniere wine I liked A little pricey for what you get Too many kids screaming every time I come here! AHHHHH!!! Perhaps I'm a Mexican food snob after living in Arizona, but I definitely would not eat here if you're craving Mexican. Go for drinks and appetizers.
(3)Thomas A.
There was nothing wrong with the food and there was nothing notable about the food. I enjoy spices and Mexican culture; I was not impressed by this kitchen. The chips were an ordinary commercial brand even though the menu promised everything was made by hand The menu items were a pale Americanized version of the cuisine. And extremely mild. The Pico de Gallo had no heat and was a tomato sauce heavy on the cumin. The chicken in the Enchilada and Tortilla Soup was chopped so fine that it had a mealy texture. The Verde sauce on the enchiladas was equally mild. Everything had flavor and it didn't taste bad, but it did not have the complex mixture of spice and heat that I have grown accustom to from our southern neighbor. It was plain. The wait staff ignored my obvious lackluster response when I was asked 'if everything was OK'. This place may be perfect for people with mild sensibility to their palate but it is not Mexican food.
(1)Derek F.
I went with a group at around 8:30pm on a Saturday. They were gracious enough to keep the kitchen open until my late friends arrived at 9:10pm, after their normal closing time. I had the enchiladas, which were very good. Tried the nachos, also very good. Everyone in my party liked their food. The Sangria was excellent as well. My only gripe is the rather limited menu (i was looking for Tamales), and the chips they brought were from a bag and crushed.
(4)Michele P.
Yuk. A very disappointing yuk. The restaurant marquis declares it "California Style Mexican" and is a bald-faced lie! It shames California. I am a CA native, weaned on Mexican food, and I have never experienced flavors like Pensacola's version. While the restaurant appears charming and local, the food really is not Mexican in the slightest. The pork was dry and the aroma reminiscent of Alpo canned dog food. There were about 4 in our party and we ordered an array of items, none were impressed or sated. The fresh salsa and chips... the chips were from a bag!? No self-respecting Mexican restaurant would ever serve chips from a store bought bag. To add insult to injury, Mexican food is my comfort food, something I need before resorting to the fetal position with a thumb in my mouth, and guacamole is critical! They ran out of avocados and didn't even tell me until after my order come out... granted, the server lopped off a few bucks and provided a free dessert, but it was inadequate compensation for what I truly needed. I'm not sure why this place was recommended to me, maybe it was an off night, but I won't take my chances again.
(1)Jessie H.
Clean refreshing mexican food. The fish tacos are the best, every time. Its hard to even think about ordering something other than them. The staff is always fast and friendly.
(5)Andrew M.
Tortilla Soup is legit. Ive been there three times. The last time I went the service was terrible, but that was definitely not the norm. Great place to stop if your looking for good restaurantes in Pensacola.
(4)Chris R.
Overall not terribly impressed. Quesadillas tasted OK but pretty slim on the chicken. Chips were over-salted & salsa had no kick. Service also didn't measure up. Really we only saw our server 3 times; order, food & check. Had to ask for more chips, salsa and refill. Also we had our kids with us and were the only kids in the place. Don't know about the previous review but definitely did not get a kid-friendly vibe. Given Pensacola's limited Mexican options, it's worth a try, but don't expect too much.
(2)Stuart W.
Originally from the Pensacola area, I'd been fond of the Cactus Flower Cafe for a long time. However, now living in Austin, TX, I've been exposed to more authentic Mexican/Tex-Mex. I don't mean it's hot and spicy in Texas, I mean it's more flavorful. This place has good food if you like something better than the regular Taco Bell fare (although I haven't eaten at a TB in many years...). They could kick the flavor up some but I think they are aiming for a crowd with milder tastes. My wife's salsa verde (green tomatillo sauce) was bland; my molé sauce was not like any other I've tasted. Not bad, mind you, just not very authentic. Guess we should have tried the fish tacos. The atmosphere is OK and the wait staff is great. Still my favorite Mexican restaurant in the Pensacola area.
(3)Laura K.
Best "gourmet" Mexican in Pensacola! Love their taco salad!
(5)Katie L.
I was very impressed! Their fish tacos are excellent. Really, really excellent. The salsa was fresh (we ate bowl after bowl) and the decor and ambiance are cute. We came on Cinco de Mayo and this is definitely a family place. Holy cow. Lots of kids. They have 2 rooms and we (luckily) sat on the other side away from all of the noise. We'll come a bit later next time so the kids have cleared out a little. Chips and salsa came right away. The salsa was fresh tomatoes, cilantro and jalapenos. Perfect! The chips obviously came out of a bag... but were okay. They can only sell beer and wine, so no margaritas. Well, they make a green wine margarita... I had the sangria and it was tasty. I would order it again. I ordered the fish tacos and the waitress asked what kind of shell. I am really hoping she just meant flour or corn tortillas and not actual hard shell tacos. I got the corn tortillas (the only way to eat a fish taco, IMO) and they were AWESOME. Holy moly. The mahi was lightly fried, the sauces in the taco were superb, the cabbage was fresh and it was an amazing flavor explosion. Probably one of the best meals I've had in Pensacola. If you haven't had fish tacos before, order these. They come with 2 tortillas for each taco. One falls apart, so eat with both (I actually don't think I've ever seen good fish tacos with only one tortilla). Hubby had the verde enchiladas. They were good, but he wishes he ordered the fish tacos :) We will definitely be back. I took off a star for no liquor license and the bagged chips, but this place is really good!
(4)Brittany T.
I am shocked to see less than 5 stars for my favorite Pensacola restaurant. Cactus Flower has turned me into a Mexican snob, as I can no longer stomach the typical Mexican restaurant. Everything is FRESH, FRESH, FRESH! And cooked to order! They offer vegetarian and vegan options on most dishes! Delicious!
(5)Xasperniak B.
I was willing to pay 9.75 for 1 Chicken Chimichanga until I got it and found that it was way way to small and little flavor. Service is OK. Waiter slammed down hot sauce we were able to finally ask for after multiple attempts were required to get service. Chips and salsa were so so. This place is DEFINITELY over hyped. There is no where else in town? So that must be why ppl are droppin 5 stars ratings here. How sad.
(2)Heidi Z.
I have been on a constant quest to find good mexican food since coming to Pensacola. Out of all the restaurants, this was by far the best. Not nearly as good as what I have had elsewhere, but still very good. It is pricey though. Waitress was pretty hard to get the attention of. Sangria was very good.
(3)Paul P.
Food Wasn't the greatest at all. The coke was yummy but the food tasted worse then taco bell.
(2)J D.
My husband and I went for lunch today there. It was fantastic. I had the fish tacos and my husband had the Santa Fe Enchiladas. They were both excellent. It is one of the best kept secrets of Pensacola. Great service too. It was our first time to go to the Cactus Flower but it will not be our last.
(5)Brian W.
Excellent meal at Cactus Flower Cafe earlier this week. Tamales are a rare treat and these were very good. The other meals that my colleagues had were very good as well. Good service, nice atmosphere.
(5)R W.
The food was very disappointing. The salsa was soupy with really no bite. Chips were store bought. The tortilla soup was bland. The chicken in it was so shredded it looked like it came from a can. Price is high for what you get. I will not be going back.
(1)E.J. J.
We went to the Cactus Flower for the first time a couple of nights ago. It was very busy, but we still received great service. Noticing my husband was going through his tea very fast, the waitress brought him a whole carafe. The food was exceptional; however, I did not like the guacamole very much. They have very large servings of food, and everything was very tasty. I had the burrito, with chosen meat of shredded beef, and it was sooooooooo good. My husband had the taco salad, an he liked it very much.Most menu items can be made into vegetation entrees. I tasted my daughter tacos, she had them make it vegetarian style, and it was really good. Looking around the restaurant at other food they're was not a shortage of entrees I would try. Their dinner menu is different than their lunch menu, and I can't wait to go try their torte sandwich and desserts. They say this is California Mexican, but being from California I don't FULLY agree with that; however, I would consider it gourmet California Mexican cuisine.
(5)Brooke D.
Very good food. I had the vegetarian quesadilla and it was awesome. The restaurant is very clean. The atmosphere is very soothing. And the waitress was able to bring us drinks from the coffee shop next door. Awesome experience!
(5)Robert Joseph K.
All in all, everything was really good. Raised in Cali and Texas and having worked in several Mexican, Peruvian, Argentinian, and Cuban restaurants, as well as owning my own restaurant in Texas, it takes a bit to impress me. I was impressed. The Mahi Tacos were great, the Lime Rice just so-so. The Pork Chimichanga was delicious and the Spanish Rice that came with that was perfect. The black beans were perfect, and the Salsa that came w/the obligatory Chips was one of my favorite recipes! The waitstaff was pretty on it, though it seems like nobody noticed its FREEZING in here! 5 stars from us! Shout out to Crystal! Good job! We'll seek this place out in our future travels.... definitely!
(5)Lac J.
Love this place wonderful place to eat love the one on 12th Ave just tried the one on hwy 98 and it was great to
(5)Cynthia G.
This restaurant is one of the best latin food restaurants I have found so far. I liked everything I have tried so far with the exception of their tamale. The only reason was because they drowned it in sauce and it was a bit salty. I'm going to have to try it without sauce & just a spicy salsa. They bring out chips & salsa which are delicious. But I love the owners hot salsa she makes. I've had others make it but it's not the same.
(4)CJ G.
We came here because Taco Rock was closed. (On a Monday?) Something with Pensacola and businesses operating with awkward hours... I digress. Upon arriving, I immediately knew that the food would disappoint. The store front was too quaint and too clean; the beemers and benzes in the parking lot were not a good sign either. Is it a bad thing your business is clean with a higher end target demographic? Certainly not... but when your product is good Mexican food, you're going to come up short. Despite all of this, we entered what seemed to be a retail store in the past looking for a seat. We were greeted warmly and seated promptly. Our waitress was great, getting us our complimentary chips and salsa while taking our drink orders. To this point I was pleasantly surprised... Reviewing the menu I was immediately drawn to the California burrito... having lived in San Diego for more than a few years and know Santana's well. Taking that into consideration... to say I was disappointed would be an understatement. First of all their price is more than twice that of what you would pay in San Diego and you receive a burrito half the size. I keep returning to my San Diego comparison because they courageously compared their product to what you might pick up on the Pacific. Had they not done this... my stomach wouldn't have gotten its hopes up. Moving on... the burrito was undersized, you couldn't tell there were fries on it, the carne asada was too salty, I could not even tell you if there was guacamole. All I could taste was pico and over salted carne asada. I should have trusted my gut and waited for the skeezy taco stand to open instead of following the misguided reviews that led me here.
(2)Andrew J.
As a Mexican from San Diego I was really excited to try this place especially since the sign stated it was a California Style Mexican Cusine. I ordered the Torta. It was made with a French Baguette, not Pan Bolillo and the torta was all bread, none of the miga was taken out. No queso fresco or frijoles in the torta? the salsa wasnt homemade. The chicken was good, but overall, unfortunately, i was disappointed. Also... maybe a renovation could help the place, at least a TV with a telenovela on or Thalia/Selena playing in the background.
(2)Heather J.
I have heard of Tex-Mex...Cali-Mex is now my new term! I ordered these bite size-like shrimp tacos...so good! As well my companion had the fish tacos and we find those delightful as well. Nice surprise to find in the panhandle area! The salsa and just about everything else had a bit of heat...but then I am a wimp when it comes to spicy!
(4)Tiffany M.
Me and my mom had the pleasure of eating at the Cactus Flower today! We got the the "Queso Bites" and the Fish Tacos for lunch. The Queso Bites were good. They were also very filling... The taco meal comes with a side of rice and beans. The Tacos themselves were STUFFED to the brim!!! We also ordered guacamole. The guacamole was exactly like it should be... Fresh ingredients with nice chunky prices of avocado. It wasn't your authentic Mexican food but they did incorporate a lot of the traditional ingredients, like cilantro and jalapeño. We had to ask for extra of both but we're both from Cali... So what do you expect? I would say this more of an American Mexican mixed with Cajun tropical type of restaurant. It's clean and quaint with great staff! The service was on point and friendly. I would eat here again.
(4)Chris H.
Amazing food! The chips tho... Really? Using store bought chips (sometimes are heated so long they taste stale) when it takes 2-3 minutes to fry fresh chips is no bueno in my book. Sorry but the chips totally lost 1 star. I have been eating here since they first opened and have never had a bad meal.
(4)Timothy B.
Best. Fish. Tacos. Ever. Overall, the food was very good. Queso Blanco with chips was good, though a tad bland. The refried beans tasted good, but I wasn't crazy about the cilantro lime rice. The rice wasn't bad, just different. Did I mention the fish tacos were awesome?!! We came with a party of 10 during the lunch rush; so it take a little long to get seated. Service was slow due to the big lunch crowd. But the fish tacos made it worth it!
(4)Al S.
Good salsa. Food lacks flavor sometimes.
(2)Carol F.
Absolutely fabulous fish tacos, Mexican salad, Sangria, chips and salsa. I live in Hawaii but have family in Pensacola. Can't wait to eat at Cactus Flower- every single visit. No comparison so far except in Utah at Cafe Rio.
(5)