Cactus Jack’s — Restaurant in Mont Belvieu

Visited Cactus Jack at 12 noon on Sunday. We were a party of 6. Overall experience was average. Not great but not terrible. The space is massive and looks aesthetically pleasing - live performer was good. There’s a couple design flaws I’ll mention later.

We were promptly seated. Our server seemed disinterested and either wasn’t all that familiar with the basic menu, lacked personality or simply didn’t GAF. Our beverage order included 2 sweet teas, 2 ice waters and 2 cokes. For apps, we started with queso and chips and the chips and salsa. The creamy jalapeño ranch is delicious and is the same as what they serve at their Iguana Joe’s locations. Our order was simple. 4 of us ordered the chicken fried steak and 2 had filets. 3 of us went with the mac and cheese as a side and 3 opted for the whipped potatoes and we all had the salad bar. Very basic and simple.

The salad bar could be amazing but the layout / design is a disaster. It’s in an L shape and wedged against a wall in the bar area - I can’t imagine what it’s like when the restaurant and bar are packed - it was only starting to get busy and there was a constant line of at least 10 people waiting to make their salad. What should be a 3 minute task took about 15 minutes for me to go through the line and make a salad. Most of the problem is from the staff restocking the salad bar - inefficient and terribly slow and brings everything to a standstill. This was at noon, right after opening. I don’t understand why the 2 ladies were so slow to rotate or add simple items. From a design perspective, having the salad bar against a wall in an L shape is stupid. Pull the thing 2 feet away from the wall so staff can restock and clean from the backside and not have to stop the flow. The line of customers block the walkway to the restrooms and there’s also 6-top table in that same area, too. Easily the worst table to be seated at as you’d have people standing right on top of you. The offerings on the salad bar were good and fresh but on my pass through, I was scraping bottom on the large vat of ranch dressing - so shortly after opening and it already needs refilled? No. They need to figure out a better, more efficient way to restock.

The only good thing about taking 15 minutes to get through the salad bar is that by the time you’re back at your table, your entre comes out before you’re finished eating your salad. The protein portion of our meals was on point. The chicken fried steak is huge and tastes amazing and the cream gravy is delicious. The filets were cooked to the proper temperatures ordered and were tender and full of flavor. The sides were lackluster. Probably the worst macaroni and cheese I’ve ever had and the whipped potatoes were weird and really not that good. They were kind of lumpy and tasted like bland scalloped potatoes. Beverage refills were few and far between with our glasses sitting empty half the meal and 2 of us asked for to-go cups that never came.

When we were finished eating and waiting for the check, a food runner came to the table carrying a large tray of food and said “seafood boil?” … not us … our server finally resurfaced and was ready to settle the bill. They use a hand-held POS device. She kind of waved the screen in my direction and said “all together?” The total was $271. … my quick math knew that was $80 more than it should have been … so I said, that’s not our tab … ours should be right around $190 after tax. She was insistent that it was our tab and it was correct and really wanted to just swipe a card, hover as I select gratuity percentage and get us out the door. I asked if there was a way to see a print out, itemized version. She seemed irritated. Huffed and mumbled something and that she could do that. Good thing. The bill had our drinks, apps and order plus the addition of 2 seafood boils at $35 each … so they would have overcharged me around $75. I wonder how often this happens here?!

Entryway becomes a bottle neck as they get busy with people standing in the way as you try to exit.

Don’t know that...

6 stars: Presidential Service 5 stars: Top Notch Service 4 stars: It was straight 3 stars: Ok 2 stars: 😶 1 star: I need to bypass the manager and speak to the owner

Cactus Jack’s Mont Belvieu Where Texas Portions Meet Southern Hospitality

Step into Cactus Jacks, and you’ll immediately know you’re in for a dining experience that’s as bold as Texas itself. From the moment you sit down, the hearty portions, craft cocktails, and lively atmosphere make it clear why locals and travelers alike call this place a must-stop.

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Offerings

The plates here don’t just arrive; they command attention. Their Chicken Fried Chicken is the perfect example of balance done right: a golden, crisp crust that doesn’t overpower, with tender, juicy meat taking center stage. Every bite delivers flavor without the heavy breading that too many spots rely on. Pair that with the sheer portion size, and you’ll find yourself satisfied, but still sneaking bites long after you think you’re full.

The bar at Cactus Jack’s doesn’t just pour cocktails; they craft experiences in a glass. Whether it’s the bold and unapologetic “COME AND TAKE IT,” the refreshing kick of the “CACTUS MULE,” or the crowd-favorite “SHIP FACED,” every drink is served with flair and designed to complement the meal and the vibe. They’re the kind of cocktails that invite you to stay for Just One More!!

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Service A special shout-out goes to Tyler, who set the tone with attentive service, genuine smiles, and spot-on recommendations. It’s rare to find someone who can keep things efficient while still making every guest feel like the only table in the house, but Tyler nailed it.

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Soundtrack of the Night As if the food and drinks weren’t enough, the evening was wrapped in the soulful sounds of Michael Allen Magliulo. His live performance created the perfect backdrop, upbeat enough to energize the crowd, yet smooth enough to let conversations flow. It elevated the atmosphere from a great dinner to a night out worth remembering.

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Final Impressions Cactus Jack’s Mont Belvieu isn’t just a restaurant; it’s a Texas experience served on a plate and poured in a glass. From the generous portion sizes and flavor-packed dishes to the signature cocktails, standout service, and live music, this spot delivers on every front. If you’re hungry, thirsty, and ready for a little fun, Cactus Jack’s is the place to be. Big food, bold drinks, and...

Atmosphere is kinda cool. So we had a large party 15 of us. One person got their food before anyone else. I thought they ordered an appetizer. Then after 15-20 minutes we started to get the rest of our food. The food was room temperature. It had no flavor. One persons food was wrong everyone heard them say chicken enchiladas and they brought out cheese enchiladas. They asked for double rice and no beans and got beans and rice after waiting another 15 minutes for chicken enchiladas. Their food was the only hot food at that point. We told the waitress about the rice and she said she would put it in and bring a side of rice. Never got it. Then the last person at the table that ordered a steak sat there for a good 30-45 minutes before they got their steak that the rest of the table was pretty much done eating. The waitress at one point told someone at our table that she had been there all day and was tired and we were her last table. Our reservation was at 3pm. So it’s not like it was late. Anyway, we felt rushed because she wanted to leave like literally the person took the last bite of his steak and we didn’t even get the check. She walked around with her tablet asking a person what they ordered and then handed the tablet to pay. You couldn’t double check anything because we had no receipt. Someone at the table heard the waitress tell another employee that she’s tired and been there all day and she knows she’s messing up. On top because it was a large party gratuity was included and she did not deserve a 20$ tip from my bill alone. Not the service I received. I won’t speak for the others at our table. Let’s just say I don’t recommend this place unless you like room temp food with no flavor and to be rushed out the door before your done eating because the wait staff has been working all day at 3pm in the afternoon.

Looking and reading reviews there are only 2 responses from this place out of 20 plus reviews. Let’s see if the “owner” responds, reading all the reviews I don’t think they do really care about fixing any problems because it seems like we all have the same issues from most recent to 11 months ago. Salty or bland food. Never receiving food in a timely manner. Poor wait staff...