Cactus Flower Cafe
3800 Gulf Shores Pkwy, Gulf Shores, AL, 36542
Cactus Flower Cafe Menu
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Address :
3800 Gulf Shores Pkwy
Gulf Shores, AL, 36542 - Phone (251) 948-4642
- Website https://www.cactusflowercafe.net
- Click To Get Directions
Opening Hours
- Mon :11:00 am - 9:00pm
- Mon : 11:00 am - 9:00pm
Specialities
- Takes Reservations : No
Delivery : No
Take-out : Yes
Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Good For : Lunch
Bike Parking : Yes
Good for Kids : Yes
Good for Groups : Yes
Attire : Casual
Ambience : Casual
Noise Level : Average
Alcohol : Full Bar
Outdoor Seating : No
Wi-Fi : No
Has TV : No
Waiter Service : Yes
Caters : No
Categories
Mexican Cuisine
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.
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Collin S.
Great food! Came in to visit from Dallas, TX and ordered the Texas burrito, it was definitely up to Texas standards.
(5)Bill B.
We stopped by to try out the guacamole and found out they're only open till 3 p.m. on Sundays. It is not on the brochure that we found at the visitor center
(1)Kenneth Patrick J.
We wanted to try this place based on the good reviews and word of mouth recommendations. Definitely try their fresh guacamole,it really was good. My wife had one of their salads and I had an enchilada. Her salad was delicious - very fresh tasting with a nice, light dressing. My enchilada was served hot and was also very good. Service was also very good. We will be back!
(4)Geraldine W.
I liked Cactus Flower in several ways--friendly staff, pleasant atmosphere, and the fish tacos were good. My friend ordered the huevos rancheros. They were so heavy on the red mole sauce that she couldn't taste anything else. The chips and salsa were not reminiscent of California at all. Overall, my meal was okay. I would like to return to try some of the other dishes to see if they are any better.
(3)Caroline H.
Coming from California, I was really excited to see this restaurant that served Mexican food "California style." Unfortunately, this place is anything but. I liked the atmosphere when I first walked in. It was really nice and they had Halloween decor up front, which was a cute touch. Once we were seated, chips and salsa were served. The chips are literally Santita's brand tortilla chips from a grocery store. You can buy a huge bag of them for $2. The salsa was good, but nothing like the salsa you can find in any restaurant in California. When I saw the chips and salsa, I knew this wasn't going to be authentic. For our meal, I got the Huevos Rancheros and my friend got the Mahi tacos. The Huevos Rancheros were DRENCHED in their sauce... so much that you couldn't taste anything but the sauce. I was not pleased and only took a few bites. My friend liked the tacos, but agreed that they were nothing like the tacos we have in California. I guess I'm just confused as to why they advertise the restaurant as "California Style Mexican Cuisine" when clearly it is not. I don't know if the owners have ever been to California and tasted REAL Mexican food, but this is not it. I will mention that our waitress Samantha was great. She was very friendly and attentive. She always kept our glasses full, and made sure we had enough chips and salsa. 5 stars to her.
(1)Rhonda E.
What I liked most about this place is the general ambiance. Although it's in a shopping complex, the vibe is welcoming and comfortable. Our service was excellent, attentive and did not rush us. The food was good. The salsa great. Our group was varied in tastes and all enjoyed themselves.
(4)Usagi T.
Yummy, yummy. We had a little difficulty finding the place due to its obscure location inside a shopping center. Actually, we drove past it three times and almost stopped at a neighboring place with a very similar name down the road. When we arrived, very hungry and a bit hungover, we went straight to the bar for a bit of "hair of the dog" and to place a carry out order. Our bartender (who let us know she had just started and couldn't stop eating the food from here) immediately gave us chips and salsa. The chips were perfectly salted, crisp and appeared to have been made in house. The salsa was fresh and tasty with just the right amount of heat. Making the decision between the Enchiladas Verde and Mahi Mahi tacos was difficult, but I went with the tacos and a chicken tortilla soup. My bf chose a burrito that he requested be made in a way that he could drive and eat. Unfortunately we were in a rush back to Mobile and thankfully the kitchen was happy to accommodate his request. After a short wait with some nice conversation and a few cocktails with the bartender, our bag arrived packed perfectly for our drive & dine. A few minutes on the road and we jumped in. The food was pretty good. The soup was incredible! I would do anything (almost) to obtain their recipe. Be advised, this style of tortilla soup is not for everyone. Instead of the rich and creamy soup I'm accustomed to (and prepare at home) it was light, transparent and full of flavor with a nice bit of cilantro in each bite. It was my favorite part of the meal. Different and delicious. I also enjoyed my tacos, which were overly stuffed so I had leftovers and the bf liked his burrito a lot. I definitely wish there was a location near me.
(4)Will T.
Who goes to the beach and eats Mexican, right? We were off the island doing some shopping and needed a convenient place to eat and Cactus Flower came highly recommended. It was a good recommendation. It bills itself as California Style Mexican with food that's prepared fresh to order, not pre-measured, pre-cut or pre-prepared from frozen. That commitment to freshness is noticeable right away when chips and salsa arrive. These are excellent chips and the salsa is bursting with fresh tomato flavor. Both are memorable. My Mahi Fish Tacos not quite as much. I didn't find a lot of flavor and the only reason Cactus Flower doesn't get 4 stars is because my first two bites yielded a fishy taste, a no-no for seafood. I was surprised to discover after the fact that my tacos came with citrus lime dressing, fresh pico de gallo and creamy lime sauce. If present the flavors were way too subtle and need to be intensified. The attention to detail carries over to presentation, too. Service was spot on with recommendations on best dishes and what combinations work best, i.e. Spanish rice vs. lime/cilantro rice, smashed pintos vs. black beans, ground beef vs. shredded. Listen to your server. They will steer you well. This is a well-executed menu, committed to fresh food served in a cozy, comforting atmosphere. It's definitely worth putting on your list of restaurants to visit at the beach and is located in the Pelican Place Shopping Center just across from the Cobb Theatres.
(3)Andrew N.
Amazing food! Actually the best food we've had while in gulf shores. Great service and very reasonable prices! The mahi fish tacos are to die for and either of the enchiladas are amazzzzzing! My wife got the Mexican salad and requested shredded chicken which she found much better than the normal fajita chicken they put on it. Also on Mondays the margaritas are only $3!!!!! Ask for Samantha to be your waitress. She's the best!
(5)Charlot R.
Came to Cactus Flower Again to have their fish tacos. GF grilled on corn. Wonderful!! Took home an order of their guacamole !
(5)Kenny S.
If you're from California or Texas and read the reviews thinking this will be a good Mexican restaurant, think again lol. This place is anything but what you would expect from a mexican restaurant. If you want your margarita brought out in a little thin glass, Tositio chips, and salsa that was made in New York City, then this is your place. Too funny, typical "Mexican" restaurant from people that haven't experienced the real deal thing. Happy hunting....btw, i think Taco Bell would have a good run at competing with these guys.
(2)Rachel V.
Very fresh mexican. Their homemade taco shells were great. Food is full of flavor, not just smothered in cheese or mole sauce. Lime rice was light and fluffy, meats marinated and moist. And one of the best margaritas that i have ever had (and I've have a few...)
(5)Laura H.
The food was amazing and super fresh! Service was great, and we really enjoyed the experience.
(5)Ted D.
Great food and friendly staff. Portions were just right and tasty! California Margarita and spicy sangria were awesome!
(4)Karen G.
We regularly frequent the original Cactus Flower as well as the one on hwy 98 in Pensacola. We have been happy with our experiences 95% of the time. We wanted to try this location as well. Big mistake! First time I can recall sending my plate back in over a decade! I ordered the chicken quesadilla. What I received was two tortillas with a smattering of cheese in the very middle and a brief suggestion of chicken. Flavor was left off completely! I chose not to order anything else as the other entrees at the table were unimpressive at best. Also, they started closing down the restaurant by turning off lights and putting chairs up on tables before my companions were finished eating and before restaurant closing time! In summary, a huge disappointment!!! We will not return.
(1)Tom C.
After a hot morning at The Track, Dad needed a break from Kidville activities. Based on past reviews and the fact that Cactus was not on a wait like the tourist places, we ducked-in. The verdict from all the tee kids and Dad. It is "not good, it is great."
(5)Phil M.
I used to love this place and visit it each time I came down to the Gulf Shores area; however, each time I have come by in the last 18 months, the service has gotten worse and worse. I came in with four other people on Friday night (Aug 7) about an hour before it closed. Another group of 5 walked in just in front of us. It took several minutes for the hostess to greet them and then several more minutes to return - the restaurant wasn't even busy. So long, in fact, that the other group had left by that time. It worked out in our favor, though, since we were seated then. The hostess told us that she still needed to find us silverware - we didn't end up getting any until after our entrees finally hit the table and we asked again. Our waitress was pretty good. The food quality has gone down since I first started visiting the restaurant, though. We even overheard some kitchen employees counting down the time before the place closed for the night. All in all, it's easy for me to say that I will not be returning to Cactus Flower with family, friends, or colleagues ever again.
(1)Pamela R.
We stopped in here because it was convenient all the while thinking it was going to be your typical Mexican food. Boy, were we wrong! The first thing I noticed was that everything was prepared fresh to order! I ordered the queso bites and fresh quacamole from the appetizer of the menu. I have to say this was the best guacamole I've had in a long time! there was so much food Ieft I have enough left for another meal! My husband ordered the enchiladas verde and he said his was just as delicious. Oh! I almost forgot to mention the drinks...I had the spicy sangria (I never have sangria bec section ause it's usually too sweet) and my husband had the top shelf Margarita made with fresh lime juice (as all their margaritas are). To sum it up, great food, great service and a definite on our return list!!
(5)Jessica B.
I wanted to like this place. The reviews made me excited to try them out while on vacation. The interior is very nice but it felt so much classier than I anticipated, especially with its location inside an outdoor mall. The food was just okay. There were a lot of options as far as customizing your entree. I chose the the chimichanga and my boyfriend had the burrito. Then we had to choose which meat we preferred, then came beans (smashed or black) plus the type of rice (spanish or lime). I appreciated restaurants that let you customize your food but I felt like every decision was followed by another question. The chimichanga was nothing spectacular, it was mostly crispy tortilla and cheese with a little bit of chicken/peppers/ onion mixture. Boyfriend said the burrito was okay, not worth the $10 it cost. Our server was probably the highlight of the meal, she was very nice and checked in often with refills. Overall the experience was a positive one but I don't see myself going back if I'm in town.
(3)Craig S.
Decent food. Slow service. Chips are not freshly made and salsa has heavy chipotle taste. Typical Mexican food for the South. I grew up in Southern California and this is not California style Mexican food. The highlight is the guacamole. Very fresh and tasty.
(3)Angela K.
I've discovered it's pretty difficult to find good Mexican food down in these parts. While shopping in the area, we decided to try this place out and see if it was any good since the Yelp reviews looked good. Maybe it's BECAUSE there isn't anything good down here to compare it to, but it was not good. The atmosphere was pleasant and clean. The service was excellent and friendly. But good god, the food. We ordered the queso dip, which tasted like melted american cheese and milk. It would have made a decent Mac & Cheese sauce. Granted, they did ask if we wanted it mild, medium or spicy and we asked for medium because I don't like things too spicy. If you asked for spicy where we come from, you'd get mouth-on-fire spicy. But you would think asking for middle of the road spice, there'd be some kind of heat there. The salsa and chips were good, though...thank goodness because that was the only flavor we were getting here. I ordered a burrito with rice and beans and the only way I can describe what was on my plate was tasteless cardboard. I've had better frozen dinners. Spices need to be introduced to the kitchen here. The tortilla was so dry and stiff and the filling (beans, cheese, meat) was completely devoid of flavor. I don't know, maybe it's an impossible quest in southern Alabama. There must be no market for Mexican/Southwest restaurants here. I'm from Kansas City and we have so many fantastic Mexican restaurants that I'm obviously spoiled.
(1)Charla R.
The food was very good and fresh. The service was prompt and the wait staff was very friendly. I would definitely recommend this to others!
(5)Missy D.
Just left and had a great experience. Our server Ina was great. They were all super accomodating and friendly. We had a baby and a child plus my 86 year old grandma and everyone enjoyed everything. She stayed pretty on top of everything, barely letting our drinks run out. The food was great and the service was too. Highly recommended
(5)Stephanie T.
Our only complaint is that we over ate! The waiter and chef were extremely attentive to our cilantro allergy and even whipped up a fresh batch of rice without cilantro. I had the fish tacos - fabulous. Husband had enchiladas verde and he swooned! Son had shredded beef tacos and not a speck remained! Beverages were kept topped off. Worth the $.
(5)Lee R.
I wish I could write a glowing review for this restaurant but I and my family along with the other 6-8 people waited and waited to be seated for over 15 minutes without anyone at all coming to the hostess station. They looked fairly busy but not packed. Employees saw everyone waiting but gave no acknowledgement or indication that we were in the right place. Maybe this was just s rare occurrence but I did feel the need to leave this info for others to know about and perhaps for the owners or managers to be aware of. We and a few others ended up leaving to find somewhere else to dine.
(1)John B.
All I can say is WOW!!! We ate on a recommendation while on vacation. This place has amazing food. In St. Louis your typical Mexican spot with no flavor are all over the place and disguised by different names but the same blah food. So needless to say when the wife and I decided to go I was skeptical. You could taste the flavors of the ingredients in the food. We had the chicken tacos, which were out of this world. If your on the Gulf give them a shot you won't be unhappy.
(5)Sheila C.
The night I was there the waiter took our drink order and then said, "I just received seating in 6 other stations. I'll do the best I can to serve you guys." Wow, not a really great welcoming statement. I felt like we would have been helping him out to get up and leave. I am not exactly sure what "California Mexican" means, but I found their food items to be a little "hotter" than I like, even the guacamole had too much heat. Hopefully you will catch them when they are better staffed and better balanced in the prep room.
(2)Mike L.
Great California Mexican Restaurant. I have tried most things on the menu and have not had a bad meal yet. If you go to Cactus Flower stop by my shop as well LifeBytes, an Apple Authorized Reseller.
(5)John K.
We have been four separate times, ordered four different dishes, and thoroughly enjoyed each and every one. Great food, great atmosphere, and great service!
(5)Cole Y.
This was my first time at a location other than the one on 12th avenue in Pensacola. It was not bad, but compared the to 12th avenue location it was not as good. They were also very busy at the time, which could be why it was not as good.
(3)Aaron P.
Very friendly service, reasonable prices, and AMAZING food. I live 20 minutes above the Mexican boarder in San Diego, and this place still put all my local favorites there to shame.
(5)Zelda P.
Good food, but need to cut way back on the salt! This is a nicely appointed restaurant located in a shopping area, so easy enough to pass the time while waiting for a table. My husband ordered a margarita which was quite good, but we were disappointed that while mojitos were on the featured drink list, they were out of mint so not available. I asked about the white sangria concerned that it might be too sweet and our server was honest saying that other patrons had remarked it was too sweet. So, I was having trouble deciding what to order. I wish that she would have let me know there was a wine list, but no. The chips and salsa came first, a nicely seasoned salsa that what quite good. The chips however were too salty to each much of them. We both ordered enchiladas of different types. The verde sauce was excellent, the burritos filled heavily though with a great deal of cheese and very little of the meat. The entrees came with rice which was good and a choice of black beans or mashed pinto beans. We opted for the black beans which were salty to the point of being inedible. So overall a mixed review but due to the heavy hand with the salt in the prep, I would not return. Too bad, because otherwise we would.
(2)Christine V.
Delicious Cali Mex! The staff is very friendly and attentive. We had no wait at 8pm on a Thursday. Server Danielle greeted us with chips and salsa, and promptly returned with our drinks. Upon her recommendation, we ordered fish (grilled mahi) tacos and beef tacos, kids had the burritos and cheese quesadilla. Everything was delicious. We ordered the top shelf margarita, and it was nothing special. Would definitely go back for more of those mahi tacos!
(5)Jenny G.
For (affordable) Mexican, this place is way above the rest. Fresh ingredients, tons of options, great service, and even creative drinks available from the full bar. A gem to find in the GS/OB area.
(5)Stephanie J.
The food was fresh, plentiful, and had decent flavor but all of the "Wow!" reviews left us a little disappointed. It was tasty but I am trying to avoid using the phrase slightly bland to describe it. It was super nice and clean. The atmosphere was sophisticated but lacked warmth. Great artwork on the walls. The setting seemed a little staged, somehow like those restaurants set up on cooking competitions. The service was friendly, if a little slow. Our waitress was a bit ditzy and seemed unfamiliar with the menu. She also didn't know whether or not their guacamole had tomatoes in it or not -which you would think was a basic question. We needed a high chair and the hostess seated us with one that was dirty, announcing as she presented it that it had "a little birthday cake on it" and didn't offer to clean it. We asked our server to wipe it down and she was disgusted with the glob of crud in the middle of the seat that she had to really scrub off. -this was the one exception to a VERY CLEAN place. This place is just on the verge, kind of almost really great but having something missing that is almost unidentifiable. You will not be unsatisfied, but may not be wowed.
(4)jon w.
Been in Alabama 4 days and this is the best food we experienced. Tried several high profile places and left with a bad taste. Not here tho. Super fresh and delicious food.
(4)Sherry B.
Good quality food - except chips are store bought. Salsa is great, don't understand why they don't make their own chips! Also, frozen margarita needs some work (mostly crushed ice). Needs a margarita machine and better prices!
(3)K A.
This isn't your typical Mexican restaurant. Much more creative. Everything I've had on the menu is delicious. Most things can be ordered vegetarian, which is very nice and hard to come by around here. Highly recommend.
(5)Alice B.
Try the California Margarita- served martini style with jalapeño stuffed olive. Yummy. We had a party of nine and everyone was happy. Chili relleno, Santa Fe enchiladas, El Jefe burrito and fish tacos...all was good.
(4)Kelley U.
Excellent California style Mexican. I tried the Santa Fe Enchiladas today at the new Gulf Shores location and found the quality of food and the service to be the same as the other Pensacola locations... spectacular! I can't wait to go back. There is no better Mexican food in the area.
(5)