Cactus Cantina Downtown Pensacola — Restaurant in Pensacola

After months on end of strict dieting, we were in downtown Pensacola the other day, decided to finally cheat a little, looked at the restaurants around us, and went with this Mexican restaurant. It proved to be an excellent choice. It was around 4 p.m., and we appeared to be the only customers. We're a couple of old people--not ideal customers--but regardless of that we received excellent service. Our dining experience got off to a good start when I ordered a marguerita and got a real one--a real live marguerita! (When restaurants reopened after COVID and bartenders started watering down mixed drinks I stopped ordering any, trying one occasionally at different restaurants to test the waters. I've been disappointed until now.) We ordered the fish tacos and Boom Boom Shrimp tacos. Each order was two tacos with two sides. Only two tacos, you ask? Yes, but let me tell you about these tacos: they were in standard size taco shells, but they were overflowing with such delicious stuff that was so filling and satisfying we could each barely finish one. He got black beans and grits that had a really unique flavor; I got beans and rice that tasted really good. (Side note about the Boom Boom Shrimp: my Chiweenie and Husky demanded a bite when we got home and almost bit me sucking that sauce off my fingers!) Both wait staff and the manager were attentive, but we were neither rushed nor pestered so that we could relax and enjoy our meal. Might be different when the restaurant is busy, don't know. As I said, we're old, and it looks like our fun days of going out and enjoying good food and drink are pretty much over, so we won't get to patronize this restaurant as often as we'd like. But we can spread the word about it through reviews and encourage you to...

My friends and I were standing in the line outside of Cactus Cantina to get into Wild Greg's. We were buying a good amount of shots (at least $50) from the waitress that Cactus Cantina had coming through the Wild Greg's line. When we went to go to the bathroom in cantina we were immediately disrespected by the manager. She told us, in a very unpleasant way, that the bathrooms were for customers only. We tried explaining to her that we had been buying shots for the past 30 minutes from HER waitress. She was incredibly rude and refused to let us. When the waitress came back out, I told my friends not to buy shots from her since they weren't considering us customers. The waitress was very nice and walked us inside to the BR and told her manager to let us through. The manager responded with a snarly "well how was I supposed to know you weren't lying." Aggression and disrespect will be met with the same feeling. Which is why my friend, who was not belligerent, not drunk and not "in her face" did say some choice words. In the future I hope this manager will "tell the whole truth" and realize that if you are polite and apologetic, like the waitress was, she wouldn't have lost so much money, and her and her establishment would be much farther respected and that situation probably would have never happened in the first place. Instead of taking the opportunity, as a customer service worker, to apologize on my friends negative review she lashed back out and called him belligerent. Ma'am if he was belligerent, then so were you. I hope you can learn from this, though based on the attitude youve displayed so far I'm sure you'll make some excuse up for this review too. Although I didn't personally find my energy worth your time I do not faulthim for...

Solid four, we came in late & starving, the food came out hot&fast which was lovely. The waitress was courteous and even though it was late and she might have been tired she still had a smile on her face. As a previous waitress I appreciate that.

The food is TexMex, I've previously lived in El Paso, TX / currently in Colorado and can give the food a solid 4. The food came out fast which was excellent because I hadn't eaten anything since breakfast and it was now 9pm.😫 thanks for the chips and salsa with the drinks it was a life saver.🤗

I will say, .I ordered the Chimichanga, the menu says lightly fried. Which I was like, excellent, I prefer them fried, unfortunately, it wasn't fried at all but still tasted good. Maybe it was because the fryer was already turned off? If that was the case, customers should be told this and given ther opportunity to order something else. Regardless, it was good and filling.

Also, I will give a heads up to anyone who is sensitive to sodium or watching your salt intake, I ordered the steak Chimichanga filling.

The salt on the filling was noticeable, I was starving but once I was 3/4 done, and my stomach wasn't folded in on itself, I was like "oh this is salty" ...my husband agreed but our daughter didn't think it was 'too' salty'. So perhaps it was the fact that I don't use salt as a seasoning per se and lightly use any of those premade seasoning mixes that have loads of sodium.

Instead, I use herbs and salt only when required when I cook...I'm a 🤷‍♂️ 54 y/o without hypertension here 😎 So the 'old people' noticed but my 30 y/ daughter didn't mind it. Overall, I'd come back and try...