Cantina Jack's — Restaurant in Pleasant Hill

I really wanted to love this place, and I will be going back as we love Jacks and I hope they can get some of our feedback.

Atmosphere and the entire place? Gorgeous. Absolutely stunning. Next time I just want to ha my out at the bar.

The good: the venue is very pretty, and conveniently located. the service was good, but it could be better, I wish our server would have checked in more with us, we needed napkins, limes, more food and it took a minute to get that. Service was good, but again, it can be better! Just like at Jacks.

The Al pastor tacos, the fish tacos, the chips and salsa were quite tasty.

The meals aesthetically look pretty. Purple corn tortillas always make an impact.

The bad: the rice tastes like cardboard, the black refried beans taste bland, like they came from a can or something. I am sorry, I am Mexican and I am very picky with the most fundamental items of the Mexican cuisine: beans and rice. If you can’t make this right, what are we doing?

The drinks, we got cantaritos and man I really was seeking for the taste of my hometown in Jalisco. But nope. Drinks were kinda strong and I could barely taste the juices from the grapefruit, lemon, oranges. This is an easy fix, just add more juices and lemon! Cantaritos are supposed to be a joyous fun citric drink and ours tasked just like cheap tequila with club soda? Or maybe it was grapefruit soda as it should be but I could not tell.

Cantaritos can be complex so I hope they improve the taste as they can be very profitable if served properly.

We will going back I just know they can be better and I have faith they will improve over time.

You got this, we’re here to support local businesses but at the same time we have...

I had the honor to attend a fabulous evening and opening preview for Pleasant Hill’s newest restaurant, Cantina Jack’s in downtown PH. The food was a step up for any mexican style food restaurant in the area, the cocktails had great flavor and were well balanced, the service was attentive and friendly, the atmosphere was cozy, bright and with great colorful works of art. The menu had many creative choices, abundant portions, and intentional flavors that kept my tastebuds on overdrive! And to top off the evening, just as our dessert was being served, the managers opened up the entire front side bay of windows letting in the summer night’s cool evening air — another amazing and unexpected surprise!! It didn’t take me long to understand how and why this restaurant was exceeding my expectations, “CJ’s” is a family business and restaurant (on the menu you learn the story about 3 brothers who traveled through Northern Mexico tasting different flavors throughout the regions). The brothers and management team are uber friendly, approachable and have a genuine passion for great cocktails that pairs with unique and really, really good food. The environment was no doubt family friendly yet sophisticated that had my husband and I already planning our next date night. Our server was Rachel and she was an absolute delight. Just one of the many seasoned staff members who know good customer service. Cantina Jack’s is opening soon and no doubt will be become a favorite for...

Was at Cantina Jacks the first night they were open.

Overall, good experience will definitely be back.

Nice ambience, reasonable prices, and very good service.

Was the first night they were open. Lots of staff including one of the owners stopped by to see what we thought.

Chips and salsa - 4.5/5. Chips and salsa was complementary. Chips were warm, salsa had a nice rich flavor.

Chicken taquitos - 5/5 great flavor and loved the green salsa Tortilla soup - 5/5 loved the flavor. Both my wife and I loved it. Shrimp Fajitas- 5/5 great succulent shrimp with flour tortillas Branzino Fish 4/5 Carnitas Tacos

Desert Flan 4/5 - wife said was good but not the best she has had Rice pudding with Churro chips - 3/5 the chips really taste nothing like churros. This one needs some work. Would be better if they serve actual churros with the rice pudding. Or if they just have an option for Churros by themselves.

Drinks Watermelon Sueno - 5/5 excellent drink, well executed. Loved it Guavarita - 4/5 Nice guava taste with Tajin rim Desert Rose - 3/5 prickly pea, and tequila. Was OK but need more kick to it...