Cantina Tacos and Tequila — Restaurant in Charlevoix

This was someplace we passed a number of times while we were walking around town and my husband really wanted to try it. I wanted a club sandwich. Couldn't find a good restaurant in town that fit our needs for a table of 8. Ended up where my husband originally wanted to eat anyways. They were very accommodating with our large party. The only problem is that it was very rustic seating. It was a long wood and iron table similar to a picnic table that had three tiny metal chairs on one side and a backless bench on the other. I am slightly larger currently since I just had a baby and the tiny metal chairs were super uncomfortable and there was no way I was going to sit on the backless bench with my bad back. We made the kids sit on the bench, but they all fussed. We ordered our food but the server acted like we had been there before and seemed slightly perturbed we asked questions about the food. I ordered the grilled shrimp tacos without cheese or salsa verde and she got it right. They were yummy, but there were only three small shrimp in each taco. Seemed it would have been better if they were cut up and dispersed better. Very unique flavors and fresh ingredients. My husband got the nachos and they were enormous. There was nothing left of them when he finished. The kids had a taco plate and quesadillas. Both kids meals came with a small side of Mexican rice. My kids wouldn't touch the rice, so the adults ate it. Hot tamale! It was so spicy it made my nose run and my throat tingle, lol. I can't believe they serve that to children. There is no way in hell my kids would have been okay after eating that, which I'm glad they didn't attempt it. But they did eat every bite of their food, so that's a good sign. My father in law got a shredded beef taco and he loved it, said it completely filled him up. My mother in law got one grilled shrimp taco and one chicken taco, she enjoyed both. The place is decorated nicely, with cool colorful artwork and lots of pops of vibrant colors, like a cobalt blue wall and orange walls. It seems maybe at one point it was a garage and it was repurposed into a restaurant, because it has a garage door that was open into an outdoor seating area with a fireplace. Nice ambiance. The server seemed to warm up to us, even though my kids were being...

First we were told the wait was an hour and 20 mins and it was only like 30 minutes. Thankfully they have a text alert to let you know when your table is ready because we were down the road in the shops. The hostess told us that there was no beef and no pork due to their order not coming in which was fine because they had chicken and other things to choose from. Not being from Michigan we search the best Mexican restaurant in the area we were staying in and this restaurant came up with quite a few stars. I have no clue why. The food was horrible. Certainly not worth the price. The service was even worse. Our server told us that they now had pork because it was cooking and wouldn't be ready until 7. Hmmm if your going to lie about why your not selling certain things on your menu... make sure all of your staff is in board. Then our food was brought out and I asked for sour cream for my chicken quesadillas and they brought out a tiny bit for 4 huge quesadillas, my moms order was no where to be found and when she went back to see why, the kitchen told our server that they didnt have any chicken left to make her food but we were never told that until the rest of us had our food so we shared our dinner with her. Our server never asked us if we wanted refills but she made sure to ask my mom if she wanted another expensive margarita. Then I asked for more sour cream because I ran out of the first bit that I ordered. The quesadilla was dry and needed sour cream so my server went to go get me some. About 30 mins later after not seeing my server again, I asked another server if she could get me some and she came back and let me know that they were out. I sat there 30 minutes waiting for sour cream that was never coming and our server could have told me that. I'm assuming she forgot. Our server did take off my moms order and gave us 20% off our meal, but that doesnt make up for the poor experience we had. I wouldn't even give it a 1 star but there is no 0 stars. Sad excuse for a Mexican restaurant. Would not...

MUST LOVE LIMES!!! In EVERYTHING!!! The GREAT disappointment.... Worst $40 for 2 people I have spent in many years. (Went with 6 total people. Bill split 2/4.) I'm baffled about the 'good' reviews! Honestly, between the horrible food and how the server dealt with every question or situation we had...... This was absolutely the biggest disappointment I have had in over 20 years in ANY restaurant, bar or anywhere who serves food and alcohol. We have heard that The Cantina has recently switched owner's. This MIGHT explain the cinnamon in the salsa, the overwhelming amount of lime in the guacamole, lime in the sour cream (Yes, this IS their only sour cream), lack of ground beef on the menu anywhere and just plain poor quality of food across the board! However, new ownership does NOT explain terrible service with a poor attitude, food taking an hour to come (not very busy at all). The straw that broke the camel's back was that the server took it upon herself to split up the cost of the chips and salsa appetizer that one person ordered at our table. We had 2 checks at our table. Whoever orders an appetizer, it should go in their bill! This server, literally, divided the cost in two, and charged half to our bill and half to theirs. When we attempted to address this, the server took the check's, switched then TOSSED the checks right in front of one of the teenager's at our table and said "Here! I fixed 'em!" So.... Done being nice at this point, we went to the manager! The manager was not only unprofessional, but had no idea how to handle the situation.

Not only will we not return, but will inform and warn everyone we know about what happened, in hope's that no one we know will ever be exposed to the horrible food and service at this LIME infused, alley Mexican...