Great upscale mexican joint. Cantina Laredo serves authentic Mexican dishes in a sophisticated trendy atmosphere. The large queso was good and was served as a huge portion. House Margaritas were average. Entree was the CAMARON PObLANO ASADA, it was really good. The steak seemed a little cheap but not bad. Fast service, maybe because we came in around 9ish. Dante, our server was great.
(4)
Charles R.
The food and service is always good!
(4)
Charlie C.
We had a great meal and time while eating here. The salsa and guacamole, which was made fresh by our table, were fantastic. Great atmosphere and service.
(5)
Timothy D.
Eat there about every week.... This is only chain I will say I love
(5)
Raghu M.
The food was excellent but after I drank the coffee there were 3 plastic pieces in the cup. I told the waiter and the manager. They did not seem concerned at all. Poor PR Skills
(3)
Rachel A.
Loved the tableside fresh guacamole, fast service the margaritas were amazing the mango one was the best. Don't really enjoy getting carne asada at many other places but this was prepared and served great, grilled jalapeños were very good every thing about this establishment was awesome I will definitely try to come back to this place on my vacation
(5)
Eric S.
Definitely have your waitstaff prepare the guacamole for you. The nachos are also recommended.
(4)
Josh U.
A very strangely decorated Mexican eatery. You won't find the typical import beer signs and Mexican hats hanging on the ceiling here. The design is very modern using lots of soft colored wood. The guacamole appetizer (about $10) is pretty large and made fresh at the table by your waiter. It's a good choice to start with. Their soup is also good (their cup is the size of most bowls). For an entree I highly recommend the cheese and onion enchiladas which are great. Two salsas (one warm, one room temperature) are served with the chips.
(5)
T. Nichole K.
Went for dinner with a friend. Service was horrible....We were seated quickly, waited forever after being seated. Odd, because there were plenty of staff standing around just talking to each other. A waiter finally approached our table and seemed very rushed. we ordered and again waited forever for our drinks. Chips and Salsa were good. Finally the food that we ordered was delivered. Food was cold and tasteless. Great location and atmosphere, too bad, because the food and service are horrible. Very Pricey!
(2)
Michael F.
This is an upscale Mexican restaurant, and it lives up to that standard. The food is wonderful, blending flavors that complement each other. Service is efficient and genial. I think this was the best enchiladas I've ever eaten. The setting complements the experience. A nice park with a fountain adjoins, and those who ate on the patio had that added to the ambience.
(4)
Leah G.
Food was either bland and or too spicy to taste. Less than spectacular service followed by a bland $25-35 dinner leaves me wishing for my neighborhood Mexican restaurant. "Not worth it" doesn't even begin to describe it. Check out any number of delicious restaurants in the surrounding area and stay away from this one!
(1)
Epeeds M.
I would not recommend this place. As much as i liked the location and the atmosphere, i an'y say the same about the food.
(1)
Keith P.
Fresh ingredients. Excellent atmosphere in indoor and outdoor dining areas. Guacamole prepared at your table! Love the light crisp chips. Two salsas served at the table and one is more Tex-Mex while the other is more tomatillo based with a little more Citrus zest. Plenty of nice shops in this upscale shopping/dining in the Grand Boulevard shops surrounding the restaurant.
(5)
Christopher W.
Bad service and mediocre food make this restaurant a place to avoid
(2)
Gwen H.
One of my favorite places in Destin. The Mango Margaritas are one of the best margaritas I've ever had. Actually all the drinks are great and strong. All the ingredients are fresh and I've never eaten anything I Didn't like!
(5)
Brett S.
On vacation here each summer we dine at this location. Previous experiences have been good but this year was terrible. Our chips were very stale and when I told the waiter as much his response was "they all taste like that?!". The experience went downhill from there with this argumentative waiter who was more concerned with eating with the other employees on opposite side of restaurant than taking care of this table of 14. Food was just ok which was another huge disappointment considering the restaurant's high price points. Oh and another added bonus....the automatic 20% tip this jackass received for his terrible service due to our parties size.
(1)
Megan R.
Favorite mexican restaurant in destin! The homemade guacamole is a must! Margaritas are great as well (usually my drink tab ends up costing me more than my meal!) Would consider this the pf changs of Mexican food.
(4)
Ramona W.
Great upscale Mexican. The guacamole prepared table side could use a little work - they do not request if you like mild, medium, or hot. It was kind of dry and needed more heat (& flavor actually with more red onions). The queso on the other hand is a must to order! I tried their shrimp enchiladas with the poblano sour cream sauce. It was very good but a little rich. It needed another flavor to try to balance the richness. Others I dined with tried their Carne Asada with the bacon wrapped shrimp which was amazing. The steak was quite tender & had a delicious marinade. And of course you can never mess up bacon-wrapped shrimp! The drinks are really the star of the show. The classic margarita is great! I tried their blackberry smash which included fresh blackberries and mint. It was not overly sweet and packed a powerful punch. For Destin I would rate this as 4-star. For a bigger city with more options I would have to lower the ranking. If you're looking for a nice Mexican dinner it is a must hit when you're in Destin!
(4)
Shelly H.
The menu looked great, but when the food came, it was a huge disappointment. It was cold and bland. The chips and salsa was the best part of the meal.
(2)
Nicole S.
Being from Southeast Texas I have plenty of chioces for Mexican food. Not so much here in Destin. Since there is a Cantina Laredo in Houston we gave it a shot. Not so impressed. Overpriced and not the best but apparently one of the best Destin has to offer.. I will refrain from Mexican Food while out here.
(2)
Brandi G.
Awesome place awesome food great service! Top shelf guacamole is a must!
(5)
Andrea W.
Worst food ever! My chicken enchiladas tasted like the chicken came straight from a tin can, tortillas from the grocery store and the sauce was just melted sour cream. There was no flavor or complexity to the dish. Others at the table had cold entrees and bland dishes and the queso tasted like Velveeta. It is a crime to advertise this place as a Mexican restaurant.
(1)
James S.
There's aren't too many mexican restaurants in the area so Cantina sits on top of a scant few. They make fresh guacamole at your table -- a nice treat.
(4)
Jessica R.
Happy Cinco De Mayo to me! $5.00 Margaritas! All of the specialty ritas were between $8.00 and 13.00. I had one with blackberry and pomegranate, and the house rita. My friend had the mango. Both were good. Guacamole made at the table was fab, Tortilla soup was very good. I will be back!
(4)
Diane G.
yes. finally a mexican restaurant with an upscale atmosphere and a very reasonable price! if u like guacomole you simply must try it here! a cant miss for the area!
(5)
Michael S.
This place is way overpriced for what you get. I'm from Kansas City, and we have MUCH better Mexican food for half the price. We also were unfortunate to get a rogue waiter one night. The manager did comp the meal and had other complaints about the waiter that night. The decor is beautiful for a Mexican restaurant. The shopping district is lovely at night. I ate here 3 times while staying in Destin for a work project. I kept hoping it would get better. I tried something different each time. It was all pretty boring, but I have to say the steak fajitas were pretty good.
(3)
steve p.
I'm not sure if the cool atmosphere is fooling my taste, but food was great.
(4)
Kim M.
The description says not good for kids...NOT SO! We had a 3 and 7 Yr old with us and the wait staff was very attentive ---- made us a burrito for one that was off the menu, and even put a sparkler on her chocolate cake (it was not a birthday dinner!). Great food, service was a bit slow, but our waiter also took the "skinny margaritas" off of our bill when we said we didn't care for them. All in all highly recommended for a dinner while vacationing in Destin FL. Try the guacamole, Mole Chicken Enchiladas and Fajitas...all very good!
(4)
Gaetanino P.
Watery Margaritas. Slow bar service. Microwaved TV dinner style Mexican. Tough tortilla, dry chicken. Menu said cheese relleno on combo plate and we gor beef and raisin. The service was good and the Mexican apple pie was incredible. Overpriced and unsatisfying. Everyone I visit this area I am impressed with the number of new dining options, but still hard to find quality food here.
(2)
Josh T.
We have eaten here twice in sucessive years. We find that this is some of the best Mexican food we've had. It's not your typical Mexican experience. The dishes are unique. They serve two different kind of salsa(both good). This has become one of the spots added to the list of must eats when we go to Destin. If it's not too hot I highly recxend sitting at the outside eating area.
(5)
Jeffrey M.
Dined here for lunch, very upscale Mexican food, everything was delicious! You have to get the table side guacamole. Cheese dip was nice as well. Enchiladas with chicken and spinach were some of the best I've had. We also enjoyed their Cabo Margarita. We dined outdoors on their patio and had very attentive service. I would highly recommend it!
(5)
Tamara T.
This is an upscale Mexican eatery in Grand Boulevard shopping center. It's a beautiful restaurant, and the staff is very attentive. We started with their special margarita of the day, which was way too tart, and seemed very weak alcohol-wise. The chips and salsa hit the table right after sitting down. We liked the choice of two different salsas, one hot and one cold. Both were very good. We ordered the fresh guacamole, which was prepared table-side, and was absolutely delish. My main course was the spinach enchilada, and that's where they really dropped the ball. I was expecting freshly sauteed spinach with mushrooms, oozing with jack cheese. The reality was what tasted like canned spinach, with a token mushroom or two, no cheese inside, and covered with a bland white sauce that didn't resemble cheese in taste or appearance. We probably won't go back, unless we're really craving that fresh guac!
(3)
Jeff D.
The Sunday Brunch Menu was quite a deal. Our selections included excellent traditional breakfast dishes with a refined Mexican twist. Cantina went above and beyond with fresh fruit in a cinnamon crisp and complimentary bloody maria or mimosa.
(4)
Chad H.
It was our second trip to the Laredo. The salsa is exceptional, particularly the warm salsa. Casa Rita's are very good. We went with the fish taco, fish special of the day, and it was a grouper and it was exceptional. There may be a bit of a wait, but the bar is comfortable, the servers are nice and they have TVs. Our wait was not much more than 15 minutes, although there were some people that said their weight had been closer to 45 minutes. The Mexican is a bit more expensive than typical, but I thought that the food quality was well worth it.
(5)
Dan E.
Dear person considering coming here: First, you should understand that this is not authentic Mexican food. If you go here, please don't walk away thinking "that's what Mexican food tastes like". It's not. (I have a Hispanic surname for a reason. I grew up in Arizona. With Nanas that can cook well. ) Second, I can only assume the other glowing reviews are tourists comparing this place to Taco Bell or ... Chipotle? Because this place is kind of good compared to them (albeit VERY pricy) Third, what sets this place apart is its upscale ambience and location. It's across the street from Brooks Brothers. It has very nice seating. It has a classy(ish?) looking bar area. If you're an older male tourist looking to impress your friends by throwing some cash around, this is your place. If you're somebody with an even mildly sophisticated palate, look elsewhere.
(3)
Linda C.
My first time eating there was yesterday. Best Mexican food I have ever had!! Highly suggest this place.
(5)
Natalie R.
The food was horrible. The meat was dry and rubbery. Even the kids enchalada was dry and hardly anything in the enchalada. I WOULD NOT WASTE MY TIME EATING HERE. waitress was friendly though....
(1)
John T.
Go annually while on vacation Margaritas and salsa are exceptional. Service is always good. Food was better this year then in years past. Atmosphere is great with indoor and outdoor seating
(4)
Brandon G.
Our experience with Cantina Laredo in the past has been excellent which is why we chose to try this one. Mistake! Our service and food were below average. I ordered one of their "famous" mojito's and was greatly disappointed twice. I had to send both efforts back to the bar and stick with water. Overall, very bad experience and I would recommend avoiding this restaurant.
(2)
Rheinhart Saxon V.
This is actually a 3.5 review. We just moved from San Antonio and explored all of South Texas for some incredible hole-in-the-wall joints that served tremendous Tex-Mex. It's hard to do classy Mexican in a resort town like Sandestin and comparing them to South Texas is an outright mismatch. Nice Place, clean and upscale. Wait Staff dropped the ball initially and when we mentioned that, service sky-rocketed. Dante stepped in, was very good and turned that ship around. Food was actually decent and the Carnitas entree was outstanding! For those of you who know what German Schwein Haxe is, their Carnitas are three smaller versions with a boatload of meat! Ask for the tortillas and build your own Carnita tacos...and use the warmed salsa...Yow! Bar menu is very good and a decent happy hour. Fish Tacos were only OK and that's surprising for a fishing resort like Destin. They could have spiced the fish a bit more to give them some zest. Salsa and chips were super. Overall, expensive for Mexican fare but that's to be expected in Sandestin. Service was mediocre to start, but picked up. Overall, food was actually quite good.
(4)
Jason B.
Good food. Great service. Good ambience. The drink specials are great (be fore warned, the mixed drinks are strong). I would strongly suggest the table side guacamole as an appetizer.
(4)
Ryan P.
Upscale Mexican is not easy to pull off. Cantina Laredo figured it out. My wife and I had lunch here for the first time a few days ago and we both really enjoyed it. My wife ordered a salad and the tortilla soup, both of which she really liked. The greens in the salad were crisp and fresh and the chicken was very well seasoned and blackened while still being juicy. My wife (who is Mexican) said that is exactly how her father used to grill chicken. I really wanted desert, so I ate light. I just ordered the Ahi Tacos from the appetizer menu. The three little tacos were the perfect mix of sweet and spicy. The fish was sashimi grade and was perfect. The presentation of the food was nice too and everything looked as good as it tasted. We then split the Mexican Apple Pie, which they prepare with cinnamon ice cream and a butter sauce in a sizzling skillet right at your table. It was far and away my favorite desert on our recent trip to the emerald coast. The service was attentive and friendly and the lunch was great. We would definitely return.
(5)
Sharon A.
The food was good but overpriced. The quality wasnt such that I would go back. Not that it was bad but it just wasnt great either. We had the mixed fajitas, tableside guacamole which was very good, chicken quesadilla (average). The drinks were inconsistent in that the first one was different tasting from the second one right down to the glass it was served in. 1st coconut mojito was tart 2nd was sweet. Dessert was the brownie sundae, apple pie, tres leches. Service was a long drawn out process of over 2 hours but we were enjoying our evening so that was ok. But not for every occasion.
(3)
Drew P.
Absolute worst service we've gotten at any restaurant in the Miramar Beach/Destin area. The food looked GREAT and smelled SOOOO delicious...but I can't tell you how it tastes. My wife and I sat patiently waiting for service for 30 minutes...wait staff never even came by to even take a drink order. They seemed to have plenty of time to stand around and socialize with one another - but not enough time to serve their customers. After 30 minutes of waiting patiently, and dealing with a very rude hostess, we walked out.
(1)
Megan H.
Dined here last night with a party of 11, based on Yelp reviews. Mexican is my favorite food, and this is definitely a more upscale Mexican joint. We did call-ahead seating, which was perfect for our large group. We only had to wait about 5 minutes for a table at 7:00 on a spring break Tuesday night. The menu offered a fantastic-looking, diverse selection, and everything our folks ordered was proclaimed tasty. We got the table-side Guac since it had such rave yelp reviews and IMO it was good but not any better than any freshly-made Guac you can get in dozens of restaurants these days. I had carnitas tacos on flour shells (rather than corn). The pork was delicious. My hub had tacos al carbon with chicken. And while his tolerance for spicy is higher than most--loves a good kick--the roasted pepper on his tacos was so strong that it nearly choked him and with just one bite, he felt the heat for the rest of the meal...heck, the rest of the night. Be cautious with these! Service was deplorable, unfortunately. We waited so long to be greeted, we had to ask a hostess who our server was. We ordered drinks that took so long, we had to inquire about them multiple times. I ordered the margarita special that was featured prominently on a poster at the front door but the waiter had no idea what I was talking about. When I requested it over ice vs straight up, the waiter was uncertain it would be accommodated by the bartenders (as it turns out, it was). The mojito my hub got was outstanding, once it finally arrived. Food came out in a reasonable time, but the separate checks we requested took three attempts to get straight. Parts of our experience were good here, but there just weren't enough of them that I'd bother returning.
(3)
J P.
Lively feel. Fancy enough but not snooty at all. Friendly, but forgetful, but friendly. Messed up drink, order, waited 15 min for chips after delivered fresh made guac... Seriously guys, cmon. Mixed drinks above average quality & taste. Hair in food but s happens. Comped that plate, thus we left 25% tip on original amt. brownie was very good. Will return.
(4)
Lisa A.
Our all time favorite Mexican restaurant!!! This location is as great as the others. Great salsa, queso, fajitas and some other shrimp/chicken dish my husband ordered. Service was prompt and friendly. Highly recommend!!!!
(5)
Christopher J.
Came here with my SO, cousin, and cousin's wife for dinner the night before a triathlon. I had one of my cousin's ahi tuna taco appetizer bites, and it was delicious. I normally stay away from raw tuna - I'm just not a fan - but this won me over. I ordered the chicken tacos, which came with pico de gallo, avocado slices, rice and beans. They were very good, and plentiful. The free chips and salsas are an obvious staple at a place like this. They had a warm mild salsa and a cold spicy salsa. Neither was anything special, but we sure ate a lot of those chips. The service was pretty good, but I wasn't a fan of the general ambience. No real character in the place. And it seemed pricey for run-of-the-mill Mexican food. But it did the trick.
(3)
Micheal T.
Table for two sat quick. Good service. Waiter was cool. Good chips and salsa. I had the Chicken Tacos and they were okay. Overall 3 but I would go again and try something else.
(3)
Alaina K.
Wow! Surprised to see any negative reviews...we thought this place was fantastic! Ate there 3 times in 3 days! The fajitas, table side guacamole, mini tuna tacos, and salad were fantastic as was the service. Sorry some didn't get the same great food and service we did. It's now on my favorites list!
(5)
Brenna S.
My boyfriend sat at Sara's bar while I was running errands and enjoyed himself so much that he took me here the next day. The margaritas were tasty. The guacamole was super, the enchiladas, fajitas and carne asada were super tasty. I really liked the bacon wrapped shrimp too. The manager Nelly was really nice to talk to as well.
(4)
Meredith B.
This is the best Mexican food I have ever eaten & I have been to many Mexican restaurants, in multiple states. The only reason they don't get 5 stars is because the service was not very good. The hostess was rude & the waiter seemed annoyed by our group. I would eat here again, but not give my usual generous tip.
(3)
Aggie S.
The service was awful, guacamole was really good but WAY over priced. They say it will feed 2-4 people at $10... With one avocado used not sure it would feed 4. It wasn't enough to for 2 toddlers and 2 adults. Entree was really good. Overall the food was delicious, service awful and a bit overpriced for what you get.
(3)
Darla H.
Chips and salsa were excellent. Really salty if you like salt. We had the chimichanga and loved it. The fajitas were ok. Sit outside, definitely a plus.
(4)
Philip B.
If you're in the San Destin area, you must visit this restaurant. The quality of food and excellent customer service is the best you will find when it relates to Mexican cuisine. Fresh food, awesome drinks, and a friendly face will make you wanna sit in your chair for hours upon end. I'll give it a 4.7 but Yelp only do whole number reviews.
(4)
Daniel W.
There was excellent service and food! We were served immediately and every dish at our table was delicious.
(5)
Ashley W.
Enjoyed the chips and table side guacamole. The complimentary salsa was on the runny side and kind of a mess. Fish tacos were very good. Nice, upscale atmosphere, with a strange smell upon entering. Couple pet peeves-they sat us at the worst table when others were available and brought out the entrees just as we were starting the soup course. Good food-service speed was off.
(3)
Chris C.
Best margarita around. Not to mention the great happy hour menu and prices at the bar. We are there at least two times a week! Don't be fooled. This is. It your typical hot plate mexican food. So, if you are looking for a more upscale experience, this is your place!
(5)
Dan Kerri P.
Great experience tonight even though the restaurant was slammed due to the Artsquest crowd. We shared a combination fajitas which was wonderful and plenty to enjoy amongst two. The kids corn dog was wrapped in bacon and came with french fries and some case so. We were quite pleased with the quality of food and speedy service.
(4)
Tory G.
The food was great! Been there twice now, with a year in separation. Food was consistent and packed with flavor. The rice was a little over cooked for my taste, but that's just me! However, I give this four stars because our service was terrible. Our waiter was very attentive, but was completely inappropriate. I took some college students (many of whom were women) out to lunch on their work break. Our waiter was making inappropriate comments to my girls in such a manner that I had to ask him to stop. Asking which ones were single, and "what happens in Destin stays in Destin." Maybe those comments would be appropriate for a bachelorette dinner, but it was quite obvious that this was not such a thing. A couple also on our trip bought our lunch and our waiter told us by saying that "we were such pains in the asses that someone else bought our lunch." Such a shame for such great food, but it may cause me to not go back.
(4)
Jules W.
Oh, CL. You match your other locations in food taste and quality. However, the waitstaff? oy. Our waiter had a rather "that's not my department" attitude. I asked several times for jalepenos - he finally told us that he "already told someone and they should be out any minute". Maybe go check on it...We also sat with a getting-cold bowl of queso with no chips for some time, He also didn't tell us about the HH specials. We overheard another waiter and decided we would partake, however, by the time our waiter happened back by, the thrill was gone. Ended up going for drinks elsewhere afterwards. The food was amazing - and I'm sure we'll be back - but maybe just for take out.
(2)
Irma Z.
Very good meals...fajitas. Can feed two people. Steak tasted like it was marinated in weichster sauce, chicken was tender. Fish of the day was grouper, very well done..seasoned and hot. Creamy.rice...really good.
(4)
Gary P.
On vacation in Sandestin and wanted Mexican. This is a very nice restaurant but over priced for the food. You will pay about $5 more for your meal than a typical Mexican restaurant. I had the Chicken fajita nachos and they really did not have much of a taste. Nice atmosphere but not a place I would list as a much do place while on vacation here.
(3)
Keo S.
I was hoping that given the location (they have to pay high rental prices to be in the plaza) that we weren't going to overpay for mediocre food. Unfortunately, the experience was poor all around and I'm basing my ranking on 3 key factors. #1 Service - our server was just weird, had awkward comments/jokes, and just slow (I can ignore poor service if the food is spectacular) #2 Food/Drinks - the drinks took forever to come out which is strange for Monday at 8:30PM, but when they arrived they were fine (we tried several types of margaritas). The guac was pretty good so that was the highlight of the evening. Too bad the bowls are so shallow that you don't really get very much for the price. Anyway, I had the fajitas and they were ok - not better than any other Americanized Mexican place, but my friends had the enchiladas mole which weren't even average - totally meh! I don't even think what I tasted was mole - very strange. They also got a salad, but it was missing 2 ingredients that were suppose to be on it. At that point, we were starving so we just ate as quickly as we could to get the heck out. #3 Cleanliness/overall ambiance - bathrooms were messy (never a good sign) and when we were getting our bill, there were 2 servers next to us flipping a table over (completely) in the middle of the dining room with screwdrivers to fix the leg - I'm not sure why any manager or establishment would allow this to happen in the middle of the restaurant while people are still eating. This was very awkward and at about 10:15PM so it wasn't that late. Overall, it was a disappointing night. There is no reason to go to a chain restaurant like this again and overpay. We should have known better. People need to steer clear of this place if they want real Mexican food.
(1)
John C.
I've been here a few times when in town. I think over all it's good and offers something a bit different than the basic mexican places.
(4)
Katie C.
We love our Catina Laredo! I was so happy to see they had one here because back home in Missouri they had just put two locations in and we had moved to the Emerald Coast shortly after. Great service, perfect outside dining area, and of course wonderful food!
(5)
Kelly G.
Admittedly, we eat here EVERY time we come to the beach, so we do love the food and the drinks; however, we find the service to be slow...so I've subtracted a star for that. LOVE the ginger margarita. LOVE the guacamole. LOVE the artichoke and avocado enchilada (but I have them make it with a flour tortilla). Oh, and this restaurant is terrifically accommodating toward our veggie/vegan tastes.
(4)
Melanie F.
Very pleased with our experience. We had 8 adults and 9 children. They quickly arranged a table for all of us. The server was excellent. Food was excellent and came out quick! I loved the Camaron Pablano Asada. Only area for improvement would be bar drinks...they were ok. But still 5 stars for overall great experience!
(5)
Jahmin L.
The guacamole is phenomenal. If you get nothing else, get the guacamole. The mahi mahi tacos are very good as well. The service was pleasant and the food arrived promptly. The location isn't the best if you want to take advantage of being at the beach since it's not near the water at all, but I highly recommend the food.
(4)
Norma W.
Excellent meal. Top shelf guacamole was great. Good Rita, good service. No complaints
(5)
Vissa S.
The food was the best quality. We were about to go to PFCHANGS but this beats all! The food came out quick and seemed very fresh. They had free chips and made us guacamole at the table side . I loved this restaurant!
(5)
Charles M.
Average food, OK service, small portions, for above average prices. Restaurant was half empty today and they seated our party of 2 next to another couple......and then seated 3 adults and 2 babies on our other side. Strange way to treat guests if you want repeat business.
(2)
Melissa T.
For years the one thing you could always count on here is was a great Margarita and the freshly made at your table Guacamole! Don't get me wrong, I have had good food here too. It is just sooooo inconsistent. We start off ordering the always fabulous margaritas, the 'Perfect Patron Margarita', one frozen & one on the rocks. At $12.25 a pop you would expect perfection especially since they use "fresh" lime juice and top shelf tequila. Not this time. All we could taste was what I assume to be sour mix, we had to order shots of tequila on the side to mix in at the average cost of $10. This is one expensive and not so tasty margarita! Also, when we arrived at our table the avocado that was sitting in the bowl ready to be turned into that great guacamole was rotten...not a good start. To top it off our meals were disappointing too. This place has an average 4 stars, you got lucky people. My vote is based on years of experiences and I will not be going back hoping to catch them on a good night anymore.
(2)
James S.
I love this place, you always need a change from the seafood. Guac is amazing and I really enjoy the chips and salsa. When you need a change of pace from the local seafood eateries try this place out.
(4)
Mark S.
Good, but not great Mexican, maybe because some of the ingredients seem pre-prepared. The service is usually good...unless they are busy. The decor is fine, if a little predictable. I have eaten here half a dozen times and never had a bad experience. Just never had a great one. It a nice place for group dinners in an upscale area.
(3)
Valerie W.
Recently went back to this restaurant. They've changed the menu, and not for the better in my humble opinion. My poblano pepper with Piccadillo filling is now off the menu, and I'm not sure what they did to the guacamole but it had an off flavor. I couldn't eat it, and my daughter who loves guacamole could barely eat it. I wish they would go back to what they were doing before!
(4)
Stacie B.
Good fajitas and chips 'n' salsa. Restaurant is located in a nice establishment with shops, other restaurants.
(4)
Casey T.
One of the best happy hour deals around. Just know to ask for the special happy hour menu, because the staff doesn't always offer it (they probably make lower tips during HH, so don't be a stiff!). Delicious tacos, margaritas, and good draught beer pricing. Bonus is you can go to a movie afterwards!
(4)
Michael W.
The carnitas are the best on the menu, and they make their own guac right at the table, very tasty and best Mexican food in destin
(5)
Burt B.
We had the casa margarita and cabo flip margarita which were wonderful, carnitas excellente, server was Sara who was outstanding!
(4)
Julius G.
This has to have been one of the most disrespected times I have had since I have been in the Destin area. Me and my family came in to eat around 4pm. Once we walked in nobody was at the host stand and there was 3 employees behind the bar. We stood up there for about 5mins. Never to get greeted or even acknowledged. So we took it upon ourselves to seat ourselves. We found a high top and sat down hoping somebody would notice us. So about another 5mins or so with the bar staff looking right at us and nobody comes and greets us. 2 WHITE gentleman walk in and once they walked up to the host stand one of the bartenders come around and looks straight in my face didn't say any thing and speaks to the white men at the host stand making them feel welcome while I got ignored. This right here made me feel so discriminated against and unwanted in your establishments and I guarantee I will not be back and I will be sure to tell others.
(1)
Justin H.
I love this chain. However, the one in Destin needs some training on customer service and food quality. Out waitress was pretty terrible. She forgot to put our drinks in, we didn't receive them until after our food came out. We ordered the fajitas which were just ok. Any other Cantina, the fajitas are spot on. Pretty disappointed with this Cantina.
(3)
Brian N.
Probably my favorite spot in the greater Destin area. The beer is cold, the food is great, and the bartenders rock it out. Ashley, Heather and Amber (hubba hubba!). Additionally, the chimichanga will change your life. Seriously. I don't know every ingredient in it, but it's gotta be made with Unicorn tears and angel's hymns. It's like they have Jesus himself in the kitchen blessing every single one.
(5)
Natalie S.
This place was great! I'm kind of surprised about the negative reviews regarding the service because they were VERY accommodating for my group of eight, five of which were small children. The table side guacamole was fun. My entree of spinach enchiladas were really tasty. The only negative is I felt my mixed drink didn't have much alcohol in it, but that's okay. If I make it back to Sandestin, I'll definitely be back here for dinner.
(4)
Michelle S.
Fairly expensive for Mexican. We had the appetizer plate - 2 tacos very tasty, queso was cold. Skewers- shrimp was overlooked but steak was good, quesadilla was delish and jalepeno popper were delish. The sizzling brownie sundae was amazing and they present table side. Even though we didn't have entrees they just seemed a little over priced, but it is a tourist town. Def save room for dessert!
(3)
Shannon T.
Wonderful food. Fresh twist on some Mexican dishes. Wonderful cocktails. They make guacamole at the table side fresh. Atmosphere is wonderful. Staff is friendly. Had a great time with friends. Price is not bad. Can't wait to go again. The chicken mole was to die for!!
(5)
Mathew C.
some of the best Mexican food I have ever been privileged to enjoy! The food is amazing and the Margaritas are beyond the best. Food is great and at a great value. service will be on point point and personal.
(5)
D D.
I've been here twice. Staff is not too friendly or helpful. Lunch menu runs until 3pm. It was 2:40pm and they tried having us order off the dinner menu. Quite a big price increase. Nowhere on the menu does it say dinner or lunch. The only reason I knew it was wrong is I had been there before and knew the prices. The waitress said there was only one menu. I told her she was wrong and could I speak with someone else. We finally got the correct order in. The fresh catch of the day was grouper. It was excellent with grilled asparagus and rice. The chips are very thin and not oily. The drinks are a bit expensive but it is a resort town. You can still order off the lunch menu after 3pm for $1 more. Happy hour at the bar only.
(3)
Todd L.
I was told by our waitress the fish tacos were the best. She was wrong. Also, one of my kids had over cooked chicken. I say this place is way overpriced for what you get. We won't be back.
(3)
Happy T.
Enjoyed dinner three times in one week while on vacation. Had to return for the great food and margaritas. Had the tacos, fajitas and the grouper. All perfect. My server Jorge was 100%. Leaving tomorrow, can't wait to eat here on next years vacation.
(5)
Blake B.
Of you are looking for a rich ambiance then this is your place. Servers are great. However, the food is in tiny little portions, expensive, and not that good. I could cook better. It's better off as a margarita bar.
(2)
Wes M.
Good food. Good service. Great salsa. Kind of a smokey habanero taste. Great guacamole. Shrimp fajitas were very spicy. I liked them but some may think they are too hot.
(4)
Elizabeth F.
Amazed by the consistency of the table-side prepared guacamole. Pleasantly surprised by the fish tacos and chipolte chicken dish and service. So happy they serve WARM chips!
(5)
Edward L.
Excellent food, excellent drinks, and excellent waitstaff. The prices were not bad, especially considering this is a tourist area. Decor is very nice and modern/upscalish. Came here for dinner with several coworkers and everyone enjoyed their dishes and drinks.
(4)
Caryn R.
BEST MEXICAN ever! I absolutely love this place. The guacamole is the best you will ever have. They make it fresh right in front of you. I have never had anything here that I did not like. I usually get some variety of tacos. They use to have tacos al pastor which was my favorite, but they have taken it off the menu. I tell them every time I go how much I love it, but they say that people tend to not order pork, so they took it off. The chicken tacos are great and so are the fish tacos. They serve black beans as a side with their dishes which are so much better than the typical refried beans you get at a mexican restaurant. If you ever have room for dessert, you MUST get the apple dessert! it comes out steaming hot on a iron skillet with HOMEMADE cinnamon ice cream - TO DIE FOR! LOVE LOVE LOVE this place...one of my favorite places in the Destin area.
(5)
Justin M.
Wonderful fish tacos and fajitas. Everytime we come to Destin, we say we're coming back a 2nd time before we leave at end of our vacation. Great margaritas too. Guacamole fresh and made at table. Always had a top-notch, upscale Mexican meal and will continue to go back everytime we vacation in sandestin. Update--make sure and ask for flour tortillas not corn. Forgot to ask, corn was tough and chewy. Flour melts in your mouth, much better.
(5)
Paula O.
We just ate here and it was amazing! Our waiter was Ernesto and he was very friendly, had great suggestions and made our evening enjoyable! The ahi tuna taco appetizer was wonderful as was the salsa- roasted veggies, yum! Not your typical cookie cutter Mexican place, much better- fresh food!
(5)
Dale R.
Very good food and portions at a very good value. Everything as described and out fast. Fresh guacamole made at the table is awesome and fajitas were superb. Busy and active place.
(4)
Amanda E.
5 stars for the guacamole alone! And possibly the flan. We came in with a group of 30 last weekend, and the staff was incredibly accommodating. Shout out to our waiters as I know our group was not easy to deal with. Food was DELICIOUS and margaritas were on point. I ordered the combination fajitas and would probably order these again and again. Other members of our party had tacos and enchiladas, and I believe everyone was happy. Reasonable prices for a tourist area, and the facility is beautiful.
(5)
Kimberly J.
Delicious guacamole made fresh at the table. The food was tasty and we were pleased with our service. As for drinks - I totally recommend the Cabo Flip margarita.
(4)
Jimmy Q.
Good food, this is not a taco shop! This place offers a nice atmosphere and fine cosmopolitan Mexican food.
(4)
Louie B.
Food was very good. Now service on the other hand was okay. Having to get your own silverware and napkins is not good signs of proper management. The other funny kicker was they ran out if coke and the credit card machine was down.
(4)
Suzanna D.
My husband and I went here tonight for the first time, for a date night. We were impressed! I had the Casa Rita with mango which was quite yummy. I also had the top shelve guacamole with all the available ingredients that was made fresh right in front of us. None of that went to waste! I got the tacos de pescado which was very reasonably priced considering it included 3 mahi mahi tacos, rice and beans. It was delicious! My husband had the fajitas combo and really enjoyed them also. The service was great. We had a great meal here, only positive nothing negative to say about our experience. We will definitely come back.
(5)
Ryan E.
Amazing
(5)
Janet S.
Mexican Fusion - expensive but given the location it has to be. Margarita $12 was good but not the best. Jicama and Mango was very tasty and went well with the artichoke and spinach enchilada. Overall another upmarket fast food joint with no soul in the food or ambiance - kind of sums up Destin really.
(2)
Jen M.
I hate to ever write a negative review, but its very unfortunate that from the time we were seated basically in the middle of all the bar traffic to the time we got the bill we were less than impressed. The food was good, but way over priced and my mom ordered avocado enchiladas and was given shrimp tacos, not good for a person with a shellfish allergy. The server could have cared less. I get that the location allows to charge the higher prices but you would expect the quality service to follow. Don't plan to go back or recommend.
(2)
P.j. F.
Very good. Had the taco fajitas and they were good. Good atmosphere and upbeat. Server was very nice
(4)
Matt M.
We have eaten here about 4 times over the past couple years and have yet to have a bad experience. While the food is a little pricier than a lot of Mexican restaurants (especially the drinks it seems) - the quality and service do set this restaurant apart. Generally, I order the enchiladas of some sort. I've tried the plain beef and cheese enchiladas, the espinaca enchiladas (which I would have expected to contain chicken but do not) and the shrimp enchiladas. All have been quite good. This restaurant has a tex-mex type taste to it (it is from Texas) and is not what I'd call an "authentic" restaurant in the sense of the typical Mexico City type diner. Overall, I've always enjoyed the food and service at this restaurant. While it is a little pricey, beer is half the price of margaritas, and dishes such as enchiladas run 10.99-16.99 a plate.
(5)
Jason A.
All I have to say is wow! My wife and I were blown away by this place. The service was excellent. The food was extremely delicious and filling. Definitely holds the top spot for Mexican foodin the panhandle! We will definitely be coming back here!
(5)
Mirande E.
We went here the service was slow and wait staff were rather unfriendly. The fresh guacamole was interesting to watch but she waitress doing it was very unpleasant. I found the food to be descent nothing spectacular.
(3)
Dennis T.
Excellent! Every time we come to Sandestin we visit here at least twice! Try the carnitas - fantastic with a very unique presentation - the pork is still on the shank and it is so tender and seasoned just right! Highly recommend if you like unique Mexican food!
(5)
Rod M.
By far the best Mexican in the Destin area. And that's not only because it's the only decent Mexican in the area: it would be great despite that. Cantina Laredo bills itself as gourmet Mexican, which isn't strictly true since it's actually gourmet Tex-Mex. However, nearly everyone who works here is Mexican, and boy do they know their guacamole! How do I know this? Because they make it at your table, and my wife always asks them how they learned to make it. Most of them have a story about learning from their mother or grandmother when they were little. A lot of interesting discussions grow from this. The management here is genuinely outstanding and runs a tight ship. This IS a good date place (and by the way, it has several extremely girly salads that female non-Mexican eaters seem not to be able to get enough of), and a good party place, and a good everything place. The outdoor seating is great and in a beautiful setting, the bar is always full and happy, and there's plenty of indoor seating away from the bar so that you can have a quiet evening if that's what you want. That all said, if what you want is El Chico or Chuy's or On The Border, this is NOT it. And the area needs something like that (sidebar: the company that owns Cantina Laredo also owns El Chico). But alas, we'll have to make do for now. Oh, lots of great desserts too! Bottom line: great place.
(5)
Tim J.
Cantina has grown on me since my move down here a few months ago. It is upscale Mexican, and I am more of a home style kinda guy when it comes to my Mexican, but this somehow works for me. They most definitely cross into south of Mexico cuisine, with a great chimichurri, but mostly just elevate classics including mole, and chile rellenos. As good as a lot of the stuff is, there have been some misses that I have gotten, and they are quite expensive compared with the competition, but I feel the quality is proportionally higher, you are paying for ambiance. If you are going on a date, and really want Mexican, this is something that is a lot better idea than heading to any of the other choices in town. I have tried quite a few things here, I fell like there a few big hits and a couple misses, including the rellenos which I feel have little flavor, but are semi authentic. Worth a try if you are in the area.
(4)
Chad H.
It was our second trip to the Laredo. The salsa is exceptional, particularly the warm salsa. Casa Rita's are very good. We went with the fish taco, fish special of the day, and it was a grouper and it was exceptional. There may be a bit of a wait, but the bar is comfortable, the servers are nice and they have TVs. Our wait was not much more than 15 minutes, although there were some people that said their weight had been closer to 45 minutes. The Mexican is a bit more expensive than typical, but I thought that the food quality was well worth it.
(5)
Dan E.
Dear person considering coming here: First, you should understand that this is not authentic Mexican food. If you go here, please don't walk away thinking "that's what Mexican food tastes like". It's not. (I have a Hispanic surname for a reason. I grew up in Arizona. With Nanas that can cook well. ) Second, I can only assume the other glowing reviews are tourists comparing this place to Taco Bell or ... Chipotle? Because this place is kind of good compared to them (albeit VERY pricy) Third, what sets this place apart is its upscale ambience and location. It's across the street from Brooks Brothers. It has very nice seating. It has a classy(ish?) looking bar area. If you're an older male tourist looking to impress your friends by throwing some cash around, this is your place. If you're somebody with an even mildly sophisticated palate, look elsewhere.
(3)
Linda C.
My first time eating there was yesterday. Best Mexican food I have ever had!! Highly suggest this place.
(5)
Natalie R.
The food was horrible. The meat was dry and rubbery. Even the kids enchalada was dry and hardly anything in the enchalada. I WOULD NOT WASTE MY TIME EATING HERE. waitress was friendly though....
(1)
John T.
Go annually while on vacation Margaritas and salsa are exceptional. Service is always good. Food was better this year then in years past. Atmosphere is great with indoor and outdoor seating
(4)
Rheinhart Saxon V.
This is actually a 3.5 review. We just moved from San Antonio and explored all of South Texas for some incredible hole-in-the-wall joints that served tremendous Tex-Mex. It's hard to do classy Mexican in a resort town like Sandestin and comparing them to South Texas is an outright mismatch. Nice Place, clean and upscale. Wait Staff dropped the ball initially and when we mentioned that, service sky-rocketed. Dante stepped in, was very good and turned that ship around. Food was actually decent and the Carnitas entree was outstanding! For those of you who know what German Schwein Haxe is, their Carnitas are three smaller versions with a boatload of meat! Ask for the tortillas and build your own Carnita tacos...and use the warmed salsa...Yow! Bar menu is very good and a decent happy hour. Fish Tacos were only OK and that's surprising for a fishing resort like Destin. They could have spiced the fish a bit more to give them some zest. Salsa and chips were super. Overall, expensive for Mexican fare but that's to be expected in Sandestin. Service was mediocre to start, but picked up. Overall, food was actually quite good.
(4)
Jason B.
Good food. Great service. Good ambience. The drink specials are great (be fore warned, the mixed drinks are strong). I would strongly suggest the table side guacamole as an appetizer.
(4)
Ryan P.
Upscale Mexican is not easy to pull off. Cantina Laredo figured it out. My wife and I had lunch here for the first time a few days ago and we both really enjoyed it. My wife ordered a salad and the tortilla soup, both of which she really liked. The greens in the salad were crisp and fresh and the chicken was very well seasoned and blackened while still being juicy. My wife (who is Mexican) said that is exactly how her father used to grill chicken. I really wanted desert, so I ate light. I just ordered the Ahi Tacos from the appetizer menu. The three little tacos were the perfect mix of sweet and spicy. The fish was sashimi grade and was perfect. The presentation of the food was nice too and everything looked as good as it tasted. We then split the Mexican Apple Pie, which they prepare with cinnamon ice cream and a butter sauce in a sizzling skillet right at your table. It was far and away my favorite desert on our recent trip to the emerald coast. The service was attentive and friendly and the lunch was great. We would definitely return.
(5)
Brandon G.
Our experience with Cantina Laredo in the past has been excellent which is why we chose to try this one. Mistake! Our service and food were below average. I ordered one of their "famous" mojito's and was greatly disappointed twice. I had to send both efforts back to the bar and stick with water. Overall, very bad experience and I would recommend avoiding this restaurant.
(2)
Sharon A.
The food was good but overpriced. The quality wasnt such that I would go back. Not that it was bad but it just wasnt great either. We had the mixed fajitas, tableside guacamole which was very good, chicken quesadilla (average). The drinks were inconsistent in that the first one was different tasting from the second one right down to the glass it was served in. 1st coconut mojito was tart 2nd was sweet. Dessert was the brownie sundae, apple pie, tres leches. Service was a long drawn out process of over 2 hours but we were enjoying our evening so that was ok. But not for every occasion.
(3)
Drew P.
Absolute worst service we've gotten at any restaurant in the Miramar Beach/Destin area. The food looked GREAT and smelled SOOOO delicious...but I can't tell you how it tastes. My wife and I sat patiently waiting for service for 30 minutes...wait staff never even came by to even take a drink order. They seemed to have plenty of time to stand around and socialize with one another - but not enough time to serve their customers. After 30 minutes of waiting patiently, and dealing with a very rude hostess, we walked out.
(1)
Alaina K.
Wow! Surprised to see any negative reviews...we thought this place was fantastic! Ate there 3 times in 3 days! The fajitas, table side guacamole, mini tuna tacos, and salad were fantastic as was the service. Sorry some didn't get the same great food and service we did. It's now on my favorites list!
(5)
Brenna S.
My boyfriend sat at Sara's bar while I was running errands and enjoyed himself so much that he took me here the next day. The margaritas were tasty. The guacamole was super, the enchiladas, fajitas and carne asada were super tasty. I really liked the bacon wrapped shrimp too. The manager Nelly was really nice to talk to as well.
(4)
Megan H.
Dined here last night with a party of 11, based on Yelp reviews. Mexican is my favorite food, and this is definitely a more upscale Mexican joint. We did call-ahead seating, which was perfect for our large group. We only had to wait about 5 minutes for a table at 7:00 on a spring break Tuesday night. The menu offered a fantastic-looking, diverse selection, and everything our folks ordered was proclaimed tasty. We got the table-side Guac since it had such rave yelp reviews and IMO it was good but not any better than any freshly-made Guac you can get in dozens of restaurants these days. I had carnitas tacos on flour shells (rather than corn). The pork was delicious. My hub had tacos al carbon with chicken. And while his tolerance for spicy is higher than most--loves a good kick--the roasted pepper on his tacos was so strong that it nearly choked him and with just one bite, he felt the heat for the rest of the meal...heck, the rest of the night. Be cautious with these! Service was deplorable, unfortunately. We waited so long to be greeted, we had to ask a hostess who our server was. We ordered drinks that took so long, we had to inquire about them multiple times. I ordered the margarita special that was featured prominently on a poster at the front door but the waiter had no idea what I was talking about. When I requested it over ice vs straight up, the waiter was uncertain it would be accommodated by the bartenders (as it turns out, it was). The mojito my hub got was outstanding, once it finally arrived. Food came out in a reasonable time, but the separate checks we requested took three attempts to get straight. Parts of our experience were good here, but there just weren't enough of them that I'd bother returning.
(3)
J P.
Lively feel. Fancy enough but not snooty at all. Friendly, but forgetful, but friendly. Messed up drink, order, waited 15 min for chips after delivered fresh made guac... Seriously guys, cmon. Mixed drinks above average quality & taste. Hair in food but s happens. Comped that plate, thus we left 25% tip on original amt. brownie was very good. Will return.
(4)
Lisa A.
Our all time favorite Mexican restaurant!!! This location is as great as the others. Great salsa, queso, fajitas and some other shrimp/chicken dish my husband ordered. Service was prompt and friendly. Highly recommend!!!!
(5)
Christopher J.
Came here with my SO, cousin, and cousin's wife for dinner the night before a triathlon. I had one of my cousin's ahi tuna taco appetizer bites, and it was delicious. I normally stay away from raw tuna - I'm just not a fan - but this won me over. I ordered the chicken tacos, which came with pico de gallo, avocado slices, rice and beans. They were very good, and plentiful. The free chips and salsas are an obvious staple at a place like this. They had a warm mild salsa and a cold spicy salsa. Neither was anything special, but we sure ate a lot of those chips. The service was pretty good, but I wasn't a fan of the general ambience. No real character in the place. And it seemed pricey for run-of-the-mill Mexican food. But it did the trick.
(3)
Micheal T.
Table for two sat quick. Good service. Waiter was cool. Good chips and salsa. I had the Chicken Tacos and they were okay. Overall 3 but I would go again and try something else.
(3)
Meredith B.
This is the best Mexican food I have ever eaten & I have been to many Mexican restaurants, in multiple states. The only reason they don't get 5 stars is because the service was not very good. The hostess was rude & the waiter seemed annoyed by our group. I would eat here again, but not give my usual generous tip.
(3)
Aggie S.
The service was awful, guacamole was really good but WAY over priced. They say it will feed 2-4 people at $10... With one avocado used not sure it would feed 4. It wasn't enough to for 2 toddlers and 2 adults. Entree was really good. Overall the food was delicious, service awful and a bit overpriced for what you get.
(3)
Darla H.
Chips and salsa were excellent. Really salty if you like salt. We had the chimichanga and loved it. The fajitas were ok. Sit outside, definitely a plus.
(4)
Philip B.
If you're in the San Destin area, you must visit this restaurant. The quality of food and excellent customer service is the best you will find when it relates to Mexican cuisine. Fresh food, awesome drinks, and a friendly face will make you wanna sit in your chair for hours upon end. I'll give it a 4.7 but Yelp only do whole number reviews.
(4)
Mike B.
Great food! They make the guacamole fresh, right at your table, I don't like guacamole but this was great. The steak fajitas were awesome, great flavor. This will be a regular vacation stop in the future. We had a party of nine and the wait was not bad.
(4)
Daniel W.
There was excellent service and food! We were served immediately and every dish at our table was delicious.
(5)
Ashley W.
Enjoyed the chips and table side guacamole. The complimentary salsa was on the runny side and kind of a mess. Fish tacos were very good. Nice, upscale atmosphere, with a strange smell upon entering. Couple pet peeves-they sat us at the worst table when others were available and brought out the entrees just as we were starting the soup course. Good food-service speed was off.
(3)
Chris C.
Best margarita around. Not to mention the great happy hour menu and prices at the bar. We are there at least two times a week! Don't be fooled. This is. It your typical hot plate mexican food. So, if you are looking for a more upscale experience, this is your place!
(5)
Dan Kerri P.
Great experience tonight even though the restaurant was slammed due to the Artsquest crowd. We shared a combination fajitas which was wonderful and plenty to enjoy amongst two. The kids corn dog was wrapped in bacon and came with french fries and some case so. We were quite pleased with the quality of food and speedy service.
(4)
Keo S.
I was hoping that given the location (they have to pay high rental prices to be in the plaza) that we weren't going to overpay for mediocre food. Unfortunately, the experience was poor all around and I'm basing my ranking on 3 key factors. #1 Service - our server was just weird, had awkward comments/jokes, and just slow (I can ignore poor service if the food is spectacular) #2 Food/Drinks - the drinks took forever to come out which is strange for Monday at 8:30PM, but when they arrived they were fine (we tried several types of margaritas). The guac was pretty good so that was the highlight of the evening. Too bad the bowls are so shallow that you don't really get very much for the price. Anyway, I had the fajitas and they were ok - not better than any other Americanized Mexican place, but my friends had the enchiladas mole which weren't even average - totally meh! I don't even think what I tasted was mole - very strange. They also got a salad, but it was missing 2 ingredients that were suppose to be on it. At that point, we were starving so we just ate as quickly as we could to get the heck out. #3 Cleanliness/overall ambiance - bathrooms were messy (never a good sign) and when we were getting our bill, there were 2 servers next to us flipping a table over (completely) in the middle of the dining room with screwdrivers to fix the leg - I'm not sure why any manager or establishment would allow this to happen in the middle of the restaurant while people are still eating. This was very awkward and at about 10:15PM so it wasn't that late. Overall, it was a disappointing night. There is no reason to go to a chain restaurant like this again and overpay. We should have known better. People need to steer clear of this place if they want real Mexican food.
(1)
John C.
I've been here a few times when in town. I think over all it's good and offers something a bit different than the basic mexican places.
(4)
Tory G.
The food was great! Been there twice now, with a year in separation. Food was consistent and packed with flavor. The rice was a little over cooked for my taste, but that's just me! However, I give this four stars because our service was terrible. Our waiter was very attentive, but was completely inappropriate. I took some college students (many of whom were women) out to lunch on their work break. Our waiter was making inappropriate comments to my girls in such a manner that I had to ask him to stop. Asking which ones were single, and "what happens in Destin stays in Destin." Maybe those comments would be appropriate for a bachelorette dinner, but it was quite obvious that this was not such a thing. A couple also on our trip bought our lunch and our waiter told us by saying that "we were such pains in the asses that someone else bought our lunch." Such a shame for such great food, but it may cause me to not go back.
(4)
Katie C.
We love our Catina Laredo! I was so happy to see they had one here because back home in Missouri they had just put two locations in and we had moved to the Emerald Coast shortly after. Great service, perfect outside dining area, and of course wonderful food!
(5)
Kelly G.
Admittedly, we eat here EVERY time we come to the beach, so we do love the food and the drinks; however, we find the service to be slow...so I've subtracted a star for that. LOVE the ginger margarita. LOVE the guacamole. LOVE the artichoke and avocado enchilada (but I have them make it with a flour tortilla). Oh, and this restaurant is terrifically accommodating toward our veggie/vegan tastes.
(4)
Jahmin L.
The guacamole is phenomenal. If you get nothing else, get the guacamole. The mahi mahi tacos are very good as well. The service was pleasant and the food arrived promptly. The location isn't the best if you want to take advantage of being at the beach since it's not near the water at all, but I highly recommend the food.
(4)
Melanie F.
Very pleased with our experience. We had 8 adults and 9 children. They quickly arranged a table for all of us. The server was excellent. Food was excellent and came out quick! I loved the Camaron Pablano Asada. Only area for improvement would be bar drinks...they were ok. But still 5 stars for overall great experience!
(5)
Jules W.
Oh, CL. You match your other locations in food taste and quality. However, the waitstaff? oy. Our waiter had a rather "that's not my department" attitude. I asked several times for jalepenos - he finally told us that he "already told someone and they should be out any minute". Maybe go check on it...We also sat with a getting-cold bowl of queso with no chips for some time, He also didn't tell us about the HH specials. We overheard another waiter and decided we would partake, however, by the time our waiter happened back by, the thrill was gone. Ended up going for drinks elsewhere afterwards. The food was amazing - and I'm sure we'll be back - but maybe just for take out.
(2)
Irma Z.
Very good meals...fajitas. Can feed two people. Steak tasted like it was marinated in weichster sauce, chicken was tender. Fish of the day was grouper, very well done..seasoned and hot. Creamy.rice...really good.
(4)
Gary P.
On vacation in Sandestin and wanted Mexican. This is a very nice restaurant but over priced for the food. You will pay about $5 more for your meal than a typical Mexican restaurant. I had the Chicken fajita nachos and they really did not have much of a taste. Nice atmosphere but not a place I would list as a much do place while on vacation here.
(3)
Norma W.
Excellent meal. Top shelf guacamole was great. Good Rita, good service. No complaints
(5)
Vissa S.
The food was the best quality. We were about to go to PFCHANGS but this beats all! The food came out quick and seemed very fresh. They had free chips and made us guacamole at the table side . I loved this restaurant!
(5)
Charles M.
Average food, OK service, small portions, for above average prices. Restaurant was half empty today and they seated our party of 2 next to another couple......and then seated 3 adults and 2 babies on our other side. Strange way to treat guests if you want repeat business.
(2)
Melissa T.
For years the one thing you could always count on here is was a great Margarita and the freshly made at your table Guacamole! Don't get me wrong, I have had good food here too. It is just sooooo inconsistent. We start off ordering the always fabulous margaritas, the 'Perfect Patron Margarita', one frozen & one on the rocks. At $12.25 a pop you would expect perfection especially since they use "fresh" lime juice and top shelf tequila. Not this time. All we could taste was what I assume to be sour mix, we had to order shots of tequila on the side to mix in at the average cost of $10. This is one expensive and not so tasty margarita! Also, when we arrived at our table the avocado that was sitting in the bowl ready to be turned into that great guacamole was rotten...not a good start. To top it off our meals were disappointing too. This place has an average 4 stars, you got lucky people. My vote is based on years of experiences and I will not be going back hoping to catch them on a good night anymore.
(2)
James S.
I love this place, you always need a change from the seafood. Guac is amazing and I really enjoy the chips and salsa. When you need a change of pace from the local seafood eateries try this place out.
(4)
Mark S.
Good, but not great Mexican, maybe because some of the ingredients seem pre-prepared. The service is usually good...unless they are busy. The decor is fine, if a little predictable. I have eaten here half a dozen times and never had a bad experience. Just never had a great one. It a nice place for group dinners in an upscale area.
(3)
Valerie W.
Recently went back to this restaurant. They've changed the menu, and not for the better in my humble opinion. My poblano pepper with Piccadillo filling is now off the menu, and I'm not sure what they did to the guacamole but it had an off flavor. I couldn't eat it, and my daughter who loves guacamole could barely eat it. I wish they would go back to what they were doing before!
(4)
Casey T.
One of the best happy hour deals around. Just know to ask for the special happy hour menu, because the staff doesn't always offer it (they probably make lower tips during HH, so don't be a stiff!). Delicious tacos, margaritas, and good draught beer pricing. Bonus is you can go to a movie afterwards!
(4)
Stacie B.
Good fajitas and chips 'n' salsa. Restaurant is located in a nice establishment with shops, other restaurants.
(4)
Shannon T.
Wonderful food. Fresh twist on some Mexican dishes. Wonderful cocktails. They make guacamole at the table side fresh. Atmosphere is wonderful. Staff is friendly. Had a great time with friends. Price is not bad. Can't wait to go again. The chicken mole was to die for!!
(5)
Mathew C.
some of the best Mexican food I have ever been privileged to enjoy! The food is amazing and the Margaritas are beyond the best. Food is great and at a great value. service will be on point point and personal.
(5)
Julius G.
This has to have been one of the most disrespected times I have had since I have been in the Destin area. Me and my family came in to eat around 4pm. Once we walked in nobody was at the host stand and there was 3 employees behind the bar. We stood up there for about 5mins. Never to get greeted or even acknowledged. So we took it upon ourselves to seat ourselves. We found a high top and sat down hoping somebody would notice us. So about another 5mins or so with the bar staff looking right at us and nobody comes and greets us. 2 WHITE gentleman walk in and once they walked up to the host stand one of the bartenders come around and looks straight in my face didn't say any thing and speaks to the white men at the host stand making them feel welcome while I got ignored. This right here made me feel so discriminated against and unwanted in your establishments and I guarantee I will not be back and I will be sure to tell others.
(1)
Michael W.
The carnitas are the best on the menu, and they make their own guac right at the table, very tasty and best Mexican food in destin
(5)
Burt B.
We had the casa margarita and cabo flip margarita which were wonderful, carnitas excellente, server was Sara who was outstanding!
(4)
Justin H.
I love this chain. However, the one in Destin needs some training on customer service and food quality. Out waitress was pretty terrible. She forgot to put our drinks in, we didn't receive them until after our food came out. We ordered the fajitas which were just ok. Any other Cantina, the fajitas are spot on. Pretty disappointed with this Cantina.
(3)
Brian N.
Probably my favorite spot in the greater Destin area. The beer is cold, the food is great, and the bartenders rock it out. Ashley, Heather and Amber (hubba hubba!). Additionally, the chimichanga will change your life. Seriously. I don't know every ingredient in it, but it's gotta be made with Unicorn tears and angel's hymns. It's like they have Jesus himself in the kitchen blessing every single one.
(5)
Natalie S.
This place was great! I'm kind of surprised about the negative reviews regarding the service because they were VERY accommodating for my group of eight, five of which were small children. The table side guacamole was fun. My entree of spinach enchiladas were really tasty. The only negative is I felt my mixed drink didn't have much alcohol in it, but that's okay. If I make it back to Sandestin, I'll definitely be back here for dinner.
(4)
Michelle S.
Fairly expensive for Mexican. We had the appetizer plate - 2 tacos very tasty, queso was cold. Skewers- shrimp was overlooked but steak was good, quesadilla was delish and jalepeno popper were delish. The sizzling brownie sundae was amazing and they present table side. Even though we didn't have entrees they just seemed a little over priced, but it is a tourist town. Def save room for dessert!
(3)
D D.
I've been here twice. Staff is not too friendly or helpful. Lunch menu runs until 3pm. It was 2:40pm and they tried having us order off the dinner menu. Quite a big price increase. Nowhere on the menu does it say dinner or lunch. The only reason I knew it was wrong is I had been there before and knew the prices. The waitress said there was only one menu. I told her she was wrong and could I speak with someone else. We finally got the correct order in. The fresh catch of the day was grouper. It was excellent with grilled asparagus and rice. The chips are very thin and not oily. The drinks are a bit expensive but it is a resort town. You can still order off the lunch menu after 3pm for $1 more. Happy hour at the bar only.
(3)
Todd L.
I was told by our waitress the fish tacos were the best. She was wrong. Also, one of my kids had over cooked chicken. I say this place is way overpriced for what you get. We won't be back.
(3)
Happy T.
Enjoyed dinner three times in one week while on vacation. Had to return for the great food and margaritas. Had the tacos, fajitas and the grouper. All perfect. My server Jorge was 100%. Leaving tomorrow, can't wait to eat here on next years vacation.
(5)
Blake B.
Of you are looking for a rich ambiance then this is your place. Servers are great. However, the food is in tiny little portions, expensive, and not that good. I could cook better. It's better off as a margarita bar.
(2)
Wes M.
Good food. Good service. Great salsa. Kind of a smokey habanero taste. Great guacamole. Shrimp fajitas were very spicy. I liked them but some may think they are too hot.
(4)
Elizabeth F.
Amazed by the consistency of the table-side prepared guacamole. Pleasantly surprised by the fish tacos and chipolte chicken dish and service. So happy they serve WARM chips!
(5)
Edward L.
Excellent food, excellent drinks, and excellent waitstaff. The prices were not bad, especially considering this is a tourist area. Decor is very nice and modern/upscalish. Came here for dinner with several coworkers and everyone enjoyed their dishes and drinks.
(4)
Caryn R.
BEST MEXICAN ever! I absolutely love this place. The guacamole is the best you will ever have. They make it fresh right in front of you. I have never had anything here that I did not like. I usually get some variety of tacos. They use to have tacos al pastor which was my favorite, but they have taken it off the menu. I tell them every time I go how much I love it, but they say that people tend to not order pork, so they took it off. The chicken tacos are great and so are the fish tacos. They serve black beans as a side with their dishes which are so much better than the typical refried beans you get at a mexican restaurant. If you ever have room for dessert, you MUST get the apple dessert! it comes out steaming hot on a iron skillet with HOMEMADE cinnamon ice cream - TO DIE FOR! LOVE LOVE LOVE this place...one of my favorite places in the Destin area.
(5)
Justin M.
Wonderful fish tacos and fajitas. Everytime we come to Destin, we say we're coming back a 2nd time before we leave at end of our vacation. Great margaritas too. Guacamole fresh and made at table. Always had a top-notch, upscale Mexican meal and will continue to go back everytime we vacation in sandestin. Update--make sure and ask for flour tortillas not corn. Forgot to ask, corn was tough and chewy. Flour melts in your mouth, much better.
(5)
Paula O.
We just ate here and it was amazing! Our waiter was Ernesto and he was very friendly, had great suggestions and made our evening enjoyable! The ahi tuna taco appetizer was wonderful as was the salsa- roasted veggies, yum! Not your typical cookie cutter Mexican place, much better- fresh food!
(5)
Dale R.
Very good food and portions at a very good value. Everything as described and out fast. Fresh guacamole made at the table is awesome and fajitas were superb. Busy and active place.
(4)
Amanda E.
5 stars for the guacamole alone! And possibly the flan. We came in with a group of 30 last weekend, and the staff was incredibly accommodating. Shout out to our waiters as I know our group was not easy to deal with. Food was DELICIOUS and margaritas were on point. I ordered the combination fajitas and would probably order these again and again. Other members of our party had tacos and enchiladas, and I believe everyone was happy. Reasonable prices for a tourist area, and the facility is beautiful.
(5)
Kimberly J.
Delicious guacamole made fresh at the table. The food was tasty and we were pleased with our service. As for drinks - I totally recommend the Cabo Flip margarita.
(4)
Jimmy Q.
Good food, this is not a taco shop! This place offers a nice atmosphere and fine cosmopolitan Mexican food.
(4)
Louie B.
Food was very good. Now service on the other hand was okay. Having to get your own silverware and napkins is not good signs of proper management. The other funny kicker was they ran out if coke and the credit card machine was down.
(4)
Ryan E.
Amazing
(5)
Suzanna D.
My husband and I went here tonight for the first time, for a date night. We were impressed! I had the Casa Rita with mango which was quite yummy. I also had the top shelve guacamole with all the available ingredients that was made fresh right in front of us. None of that went to waste! I got the tacos de pescado which was very reasonably priced considering it included 3 mahi mahi tacos, rice and beans. It was delicious! My husband had the fajitas combo and really enjoyed them also. The service was great. We had a great meal here, only positive nothing negative to say about our experience. We will definitely come back.
(5)
Janet S.
Mexican Fusion - expensive but given the location it has to be. Margarita $12 was good but not the best. Jicama and Mango was very tasty and went well with the artichoke and spinach enchilada. Overall another upmarket fast food joint with no soul in the food or ambiance - kind of sums up Destin really.
(2)
Jen M.
I hate to ever write a negative review, but its very unfortunate that from the time we were seated basically in the middle of all the bar traffic to the time we got the bill we were less than impressed. The food was good, but way over priced and my mom ordered avocado enchiladas and was given shrimp tacos, not good for a person with a shellfish allergy. The server could have cared less. I get that the location allows to charge the higher prices but you would expect the quality service to follow. Don't plan to go back or recommend.
(2)
P.j. F.
Very good. Had the taco fajitas and they were good. Good atmosphere and upbeat. Server was very nice
(4)
Matt M.
We have eaten here about 4 times over the past couple years and have yet to have a bad experience. While the food is a little pricier than a lot of Mexican restaurants (especially the drinks it seems) - the quality and service do set this restaurant apart. Generally, I order the enchiladas of some sort. I've tried the plain beef and cheese enchiladas, the espinaca enchiladas (which I would have expected to contain chicken but do not) and the shrimp enchiladas. All have been quite good. This restaurant has a tex-mex type taste to it (it is from Texas) and is not what I'd call an "authentic" restaurant in the sense of the typical Mexico City type diner. Overall, I've always enjoyed the food and service at this restaurant. While it is a little pricey, beer is half the price of margaritas, and dishes such as enchiladas run 10.99-16.99 a plate.
(5)
Jason A.
All I have to say is wow! My wife and I were blown away by this place. The service was excellent. The food was extremely delicious and filling. Definitely holds the top spot for Mexican foodin the panhandle! We will definitely be coming back here!
(5)
Mirande E.
We went here the service was slow and wait staff were rather unfriendly. The fresh guacamole was interesting to watch but she waitress doing it was very unpleasant. I found the food to be descent nothing spectacular.
(3)
Dennis T.
Excellent! Every time we come to Sandestin we visit here at least twice! Try the carnitas - fantastic with a very unique presentation - the pork is still on the shank and it is so tender and seasoned just right! Highly recommend if you like unique Mexican food!
(5)
Rod M.
By far the best Mexican in the Destin area. And that's not only because it's the only decent Mexican in the area: it would be great despite that. Cantina Laredo bills itself as gourmet Mexican, which isn't strictly true since it's actually gourmet Tex-Mex. However, nearly everyone who works here is Mexican, and boy do they know their guacamole! How do I know this? Because they make it at your table, and my wife always asks them how they learned to make it. Most of them have a story about learning from their mother or grandmother when they were little. A lot of interesting discussions grow from this. The management here is genuinely outstanding and runs a tight ship. This IS a good date place (and by the way, it has several extremely girly salads that female non-Mexican eaters seem not to be able to get enough of), and a good party place, and a good everything place. The outdoor seating is great and in a beautiful setting, the bar is always full and happy, and there's plenty of indoor seating away from the bar so that you can have a quiet evening if that's what you want. That all said, if what you want is El Chico or Chuy's or On The Border, this is NOT it. And the area needs something like that (sidebar: the company that owns Cantina Laredo also owns El Chico). But alas, we'll have to make do for now. Oh, lots of great desserts too! Bottom line: great place.
(5)
Tim J.
Cantina has grown on me since my move down here a few months ago. It is upscale Mexican, and I am more of a home style kinda guy when it comes to my Mexican, but this somehow works for me. They most definitely cross into south of Mexico cuisine, with a great chimichurri, but mostly just elevate classics including mole, and chile rellenos. As good as a lot of the stuff is, there have been some misses that I have gotten, and they are quite expensive compared with the competition, but I feel the quality is proportionally higher, you are paying for ambiance. If you are going on a date, and really want Mexican, this is something that is a lot better idea than heading to any of the other choices in town. I have tried quite a few things here, I fell like there a few big hits and a couple misses, including the rellenos which I feel have little flavor, but are semi authentic. Worth a try if you are in the area.
(4)
Jeremy B.
Great upscale mexican joint. Cantina Laredo serves authentic Mexican dishes in a sophisticated trendy atmosphere. The large queso was good and was served as a huge portion. House Margaritas were average. Entree was the CAMARON PObLANO ASADA, it was really good. The steak seemed a little cheap but not bad. Fast service, maybe because we came in around 9ish. Dante, our server was great.
(4)
Charles R.
The food and service is always good!
(4)
Charlie C.
We had a great meal and time while eating here. The salsa and guacamole, which was made fresh by our table, were fantastic. Great atmosphere and service.
(5)
Timothy D.
Eat there about every week.... This is only chain I will say I love
(5)
Raghu M.
The food was excellent but after I drank the coffee there were 3 plastic pieces in the cup. I told the waiter and the manager. They did not seem concerned at all. Poor PR Skills
(3)
Rachel A.
Loved the tableside fresh guacamole, fast service the margaritas were amazing the mango one was the best. Don't really enjoy getting carne asada at many other places but this was prepared and served great, grilled jalapeños were very good every thing about this establishment was awesome I will definitely try to come back to this place on my vacation
(5)
Eric S.
Definitely have your waitstaff prepare the guacamole for you. The nachos are also recommended.
(4)
Josh U.
A very strangely decorated Mexican eatery. You won't find the typical import beer signs and Mexican hats hanging on the ceiling here. The design is very modern using lots of soft colored wood. The guacamole appetizer (about $10) is pretty large and made fresh at the table by your waiter. It's a good choice to start with. Their soup is also good (their cup is the size of most bowls). For an entree I highly recommend the cheese and onion enchiladas which are great. Two salsas (one warm, one room temperature) are served with the chips.
(5)
T. Nichole K.
Went for dinner with a friend. Service was horrible....We were seated quickly, waited forever after being seated. Odd, because there were plenty of staff standing around just talking to each other. A waiter finally approached our table and seemed very rushed. we ordered and again waited forever for our drinks. Chips and Salsa were good. Finally the food that we ordered was delivered. Food was cold and tasteless. Great location and atmosphere, too bad, because the food and service are horrible. Very Pricey!
(2)
Michael F.
This is an upscale Mexican restaurant, and it lives up to that standard. The food is wonderful, blending flavors that complement each other. Service is efficient and genial. I think this was the best enchiladas I've ever eaten. The setting complements the experience. A nice park with a fountain adjoins, and those who ate on the patio had that added to the ambience.
(4)
Leah G.
Food was either bland and or too spicy to taste. Less than spectacular service followed by a bland $25-35 dinner leaves me wishing for my neighborhood Mexican restaurant. "Not worth it" doesn't even begin to describe it. Check out any number of delicious restaurants in the surrounding area and stay away from this one!
(1)
Epeeds M.
I would not recommend this place. As much as i liked the location and the atmosphere, i an'y say the same about the food.
(1)
Keith P.
Fresh ingredients. Excellent atmosphere in indoor and outdoor dining areas. Guacamole prepared at your table! Love the light crisp chips. Two salsas served at the table and one is more Tex-Mex while the other is more tomatillo based with a little more Citrus zest. Plenty of nice shops in this upscale shopping/dining in the Grand Boulevard shops surrounding the restaurant.
(5)
Christopher W.
Bad service and mediocre food make this restaurant a place to avoid
(2)
Gwen H.
One of my favorite places in Destin. The Mango Margaritas are one of the best margaritas I've ever had. Actually all the drinks are great and strong. All the ingredients are fresh and I've never eaten anything I Didn't like!
(5)
Brett S.
On vacation here each summer we dine at this location. Previous experiences have been good but this year was terrible. Our chips were very stale and when I told the waiter as much his response was "they all taste like that?!". The experience went downhill from there with this argumentative waiter who was more concerned with eating with the other employees on opposite side of restaurant than taking care of this table of 14. Food was just ok which was another huge disappointment considering the restaurant's high price points. Oh and another added bonus....the automatic 20% tip this jackass received for his terrible service due to our parties size.
(1)
Megan R.
Favorite mexican restaurant in destin! The homemade guacamole is a must! Margaritas are great as well (usually my drink tab ends up costing me more than my meal!) Would consider this the pf changs of Mexican food.
(4)
Ramona W.
Great upscale Mexican. The guacamole prepared table side could use a little work - they do not request if you like mild, medium, or hot. It was kind of dry and needed more heat (& flavor actually with more red onions). The queso on the other hand is a must to order! I tried their shrimp enchiladas with the poblano sour cream sauce. It was very good but a little rich. It needed another flavor to try to balance the richness. Others I dined with tried their Carne Asada with the bacon wrapped shrimp which was amazing. The steak was quite tender & had a delicious marinade. And of course you can never mess up bacon-wrapped shrimp! The drinks are really the star of the show. The classic margarita is great! I tried their blackberry smash which included fresh blackberries and mint. It was not overly sweet and packed a powerful punch. For Destin I would rate this as 4-star. For a bigger city with more options I would have to lower the ranking. If you're looking for a nice Mexican dinner it is a must hit when you're in Destin!
(4)
Shelly H.
The menu looked great, but when the food came, it was a huge disappointment. It was cold and bland. The chips and salsa was the best part of the meal.
(2)
Nicole S.
Being from Southeast Texas I have plenty of chioces for Mexican food. Not so much here in Destin. Since there is a Cantina Laredo in Houston we gave it a shot. Not so impressed. Overpriced and not the best but apparently one of the best Destin has to offer.. I will refrain from Mexican Food while out here.
(2)
Brandi G.
Awesome place awesome food great service! Top shelf guacamole is a must!
(5)
Andrea W.
Worst food ever! My chicken enchiladas tasted like the chicken came straight from a tin can, tortillas from the grocery store and the sauce was just melted sour cream. There was no flavor or complexity to the dish. Others at the table had cold entrees and bland dishes and the queso tasted like Velveeta. It is a crime to advertise this place as a Mexican restaurant.
(1)
James S.
There's aren't too many mexican restaurants in the area so Cantina sits on top of a scant few. They make fresh guacamole at your table -- a nice treat.
(4)
Jessica R.
Happy Cinco De Mayo to me! $5.00 Margaritas! All of the specialty ritas were between $8.00 and 13.00. I had one with blackberry and pomegranate, and the house rita. My friend had the mango. Both were good. Guacamole made at the table was fab, Tortilla soup was very good. I will be back!
(4)
Diane G.
yes. finally a mexican restaurant with an upscale atmosphere and a very reasonable price! if u like guacomole you simply must try it here! a cant miss for the area!
(5)
Michael S.
This place is way overpriced for what you get. I'm from Kansas City, and we have MUCH better Mexican food for half the price. We also were unfortunate to get a rogue waiter one night. The manager did comp the meal and had other complaints about the waiter that night. The decor is beautiful for a Mexican restaurant. The shopping district is lovely at night. I ate here 3 times while staying in Destin for a work project. I kept hoping it would get better. I tried something different each time. It was all pretty boring, but I have to say the steak fajitas were pretty good.
(3)
steve p.
I'm not sure if the cool atmosphere is fooling my taste, but food was great.
(4)
Kim M.
The description says not good for kids...NOT SO! We had a 3 and 7 Yr old with us and the wait staff was very attentive ---- made us a burrito for one that was off the menu, and even put a sparkler on her chocolate cake (it was not a birthday dinner!). Great food, service was a bit slow, but our waiter also took the "skinny margaritas" off of our bill when we said we didn't care for them. All in all highly recommended for a dinner while vacationing in Destin FL. Try the guacamole, Mole Chicken Enchiladas and Fajitas...all very good!
(4)
Gaetanino P.
Watery Margaritas. Slow bar service. Microwaved TV dinner style Mexican. Tough tortilla, dry chicken. Menu said cheese relleno on combo plate and we gor beef and raisin. The service was good and the Mexican apple pie was incredible. Overpriced and unsatisfying. Everyone I visit this area I am impressed with the number of new dining options, but still hard to find quality food here.
(2)
Josh T.
We have eaten here twice in sucessive years. We find that this is some of the best Mexican food we've had. It's not your typical Mexican experience. The dishes are unique. They serve two different kind of salsa(both good). This has become one of the spots added to the list of must eats when we go to Destin. If it's not too hot I highly recxend sitting at the outside eating area.
(5)
Jeffrey M.
Dined here for lunch, very upscale Mexican food, everything was delicious! You have to get the table side guacamole. Cheese dip was nice as well. Enchiladas with chicken and spinach were some of the best I've had. We also enjoyed their Cabo Margarita. We dined outdoors on their patio and had very attentive service. I would highly recommend it!
(5)
Tamara T.
This is an upscale Mexican eatery in Grand Boulevard shopping center. It's a beautiful restaurant, and the staff is very attentive. We started with their special margarita of the day, which was way too tart, and seemed very weak alcohol-wise. The chips and salsa hit the table right after sitting down. We liked the choice of two different salsas, one hot and one cold. Both were very good. We ordered the fresh guacamole, which was prepared table-side, and was absolutely delish. My main course was the spinach enchilada, and that's where they really dropped the ball. I was expecting freshly sauteed spinach with mushrooms, oozing with jack cheese. The reality was what tasted like canned spinach, with a token mushroom or two, no cheese inside, and covered with a bland white sauce that didn't resemble cheese in taste or appearance. We probably won't go back, unless we're really craving that fresh guac!
(3)
Jeff D.
The Sunday Brunch Menu was quite a deal. Our selections included excellent traditional breakfast dishes with a refined Mexican twist. Cantina went above and beyond with fresh fruit in a cinnamon crisp and complimentary bloody maria or mimosa.
(4)
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Address :585 Grand Blvd,Ste N-106
Sandestin, FL, 32550
Takes Reservations : Yes Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Dinner Parking : Street Bike Parking : Yes Wheelchair Accessible : No Good for Kids : Yes Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Ambience : Casual Noise Level : Loud Alcohol : Full Bar Outdoor Seating : Yes Wi-Fi : Free Has TV : Yes Waiter Service : Yes Caters : Yes
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.
Jeremy B.
Great upscale mexican joint. Cantina Laredo serves authentic Mexican dishes in a sophisticated trendy atmosphere. The large queso was good and was served as a huge portion. House Margaritas were average. Entree was the CAMARON PObLANO ASADA, it was really good. The steak seemed a little cheap but not bad. Fast service, maybe because we came in around 9ish. Dante, our server was great.
(4)Charles R.
The food and service is always good!
(4)Charlie C.
We had a great meal and time while eating here. The salsa and guacamole, which was made fresh by our table, were fantastic. Great atmosphere and service.
(5)Timothy D.
Eat there about every week.... This is only chain I will say I love
(5)Raghu M.
The food was excellent but after I drank the coffee there were 3 plastic pieces in the cup. I told the waiter and the manager. They did not seem concerned at all. Poor PR Skills
(3)Rachel A.
Loved the tableside fresh guacamole, fast service the margaritas were amazing the mango one was the best. Don't really enjoy getting carne asada at many other places but this was prepared and served great, grilled jalapeños were very good every thing about this establishment was awesome I will definitely try to come back to this place on my vacation
(5)Eric S.
Definitely have your waitstaff prepare the guacamole for you. The nachos are also recommended.
(4)Josh U.
A very strangely decorated Mexican eatery. You won't find the typical import beer signs and Mexican hats hanging on the ceiling here. The design is very modern using lots of soft colored wood. The guacamole appetizer (about $10) is pretty large and made fresh at the table by your waiter. It's a good choice to start with. Their soup is also good (their cup is the size of most bowls). For an entree I highly recommend the cheese and onion enchiladas which are great. Two salsas (one warm, one room temperature) are served with the chips.
(5)T. Nichole K.
Went for dinner with a friend. Service was horrible....We were seated quickly, waited forever after being seated. Odd, because there were plenty of staff standing around just talking to each other. A waiter finally approached our table and seemed very rushed. we ordered and again waited forever for our drinks. Chips and Salsa were good. Finally the food that we ordered was delivered. Food was cold and tasteless. Great location and atmosphere, too bad, because the food and service are horrible. Very Pricey!
(2)Michael F.
This is an upscale Mexican restaurant, and it lives up to that standard. The food is wonderful, blending flavors that complement each other. Service is efficient and genial. I think this was the best enchiladas I've ever eaten. The setting complements the experience. A nice park with a fountain adjoins, and those who ate on the patio had that added to the ambience.
(4)Leah G.
Food was either bland and or too spicy to taste. Less than spectacular service followed by a bland $25-35 dinner leaves me wishing for my neighborhood Mexican restaurant. "Not worth it" doesn't even begin to describe it. Check out any number of delicious restaurants in the surrounding area and stay away from this one!
(1)Epeeds M.
I would not recommend this place. As much as i liked the location and the atmosphere, i an'y say the same about the food.
(1)Keith P.
Fresh ingredients. Excellent atmosphere in indoor and outdoor dining areas. Guacamole prepared at your table! Love the light crisp chips. Two salsas served at the table and one is more Tex-Mex while the other is more tomatillo based with a little more Citrus zest. Plenty of nice shops in this upscale shopping/dining in the Grand Boulevard shops surrounding the restaurant.
(5)Christopher W.
Bad service and mediocre food make this restaurant a place to avoid
(2)Gwen H.
One of my favorite places in Destin. The Mango Margaritas are one of the best margaritas I've ever had. Actually all the drinks are great and strong. All the ingredients are fresh and I've never eaten anything I Didn't like!
(5)Brett S.
On vacation here each summer we dine at this location. Previous experiences have been good but this year was terrible. Our chips were very stale and when I told the waiter as much his response was "they all taste like that?!". The experience went downhill from there with this argumentative waiter who was more concerned with eating with the other employees on opposite side of restaurant than taking care of this table of 14. Food was just ok which was another huge disappointment considering the restaurant's high price points. Oh and another added bonus....the automatic 20% tip this jackass received for his terrible service due to our parties size.
(1)Megan R.
Favorite mexican restaurant in destin! The homemade guacamole is a must! Margaritas are great as well (usually my drink tab ends up costing me more than my meal!) Would consider this the pf changs of Mexican food.
(4)Ramona W.
Great upscale Mexican. The guacamole prepared table side could use a little work - they do not request if you like mild, medium, or hot. It was kind of dry and needed more heat (& flavor actually with more red onions). The queso on the other hand is a must to order! I tried their shrimp enchiladas with the poblano sour cream sauce. It was very good but a little rich. It needed another flavor to try to balance the richness. Others I dined with tried their Carne Asada with the bacon wrapped shrimp which was amazing. The steak was quite tender & had a delicious marinade. And of course you can never mess up bacon-wrapped shrimp! The drinks are really the star of the show. The classic margarita is great! I tried their blackberry smash which included fresh blackberries and mint. It was not overly sweet and packed a powerful punch. For Destin I would rate this as 4-star. For a bigger city with more options I would have to lower the ranking. If you're looking for a nice Mexican dinner it is a must hit when you're in Destin!
(4)Shelly H.
The menu looked great, but when the food came, it was a huge disappointment. It was cold and bland. The chips and salsa was the best part of the meal.
(2)Nicole S.
Being from Southeast Texas I have plenty of chioces for Mexican food. Not so much here in Destin. Since there is a Cantina Laredo in Houston we gave it a shot. Not so impressed. Overpriced and not the best but apparently one of the best Destin has to offer.. I will refrain from Mexican Food while out here.
(2)Brandi G.
Awesome place awesome food great service! Top shelf guacamole is a must!
(5)Andrea W.
Worst food ever! My chicken enchiladas tasted like the chicken came straight from a tin can, tortillas from the grocery store and the sauce was just melted sour cream. There was no flavor or complexity to the dish. Others at the table had cold entrees and bland dishes and the queso tasted like Velveeta. It is a crime to advertise this place as a Mexican restaurant.
(1)James S.
There's aren't too many mexican restaurants in the area so Cantina sits on top of a scant few. They make fresh guacamole at your table -- a nice treat.
(4)Jessica R.
Happy Cinco De Mayo to me! $5.00 Margaritas! All of the specialty ritas were between $8.00 and 13.00. I had one with blackberry and pomegranate, and the house rita. My friend had the mango. Both were good. Guacamole made at the table was fab, Tortilla soup was very good. I will be back!
(4)Diane G.
yes. finally a mexican restaurant with an upscale atmosphere and a very reasonable price! if u like guacomole you simply must try it here! a cant miss for the area!
(5)Michael S.
This place is way overpriced for what you get. I'm from Kansas City, and we have MUCH better Mexican food for half the price. We also were unfortunate to get a rogue waiter one night. The manager did comp the meal and had other complaints about the waiter that night. The decor is beautiful for a Mexican restaurant. The shopping district is lovely at night. I ate here 3 times while staying in Destin for a work project. I kept hoping it would get better. I tried something different each time. It was all pretty boring, but I have to say the steak fajitas were pretty good.
(3)steve p.
I'm not sure if the cool atmosphere is fooling my taste, but food was great.
(4)Kim M.
The description says not good for kids...NOT SO! We had a 3 and 7 Yr old with us and the wait staff was very attentive ---- made us a burrito for one that was off the menu, and even put a sparkler on her chocolate cake (it was not a birthday dinner!). Great food, service was a bit slow, but our waiter also took the "skinny margaritas" off of our bill when we said we didn't care for them. All in all highly recommended for a dinner while vacationing in Destin FL. Try the guacamole, Mole Chicken Enchiladas and Fajitas...all very good!
(4)Gaetanino P.
Watery Margaritas. Slow bar service. Microwaved TV dinner style Mexican. Tough tortilla, dry chicken. Menu said cheese relleno on combo plate and we gor beef and raisin. The service was good and the Mexican apple pie was incredible. Overpriced and unsatisfying. Everyone I visit this area I am impressed with the number of new dining options, but still hard to find quality food here.
(2)Josh T.
We have eaten here twice in sucessive years. We find that this is some of the best Mexican food we've had. It's not your typical Mexican experience. The dishes are unique. They serve two different kind of salsa(both good). This has become one of the spots added to the list of must eats when we go to Destin. If it's not too hot I highly recxend sitting at the outside eating area.
(5)Jeffrey M.
Dined here for lunch, very upscale Mexican food, everything was delicious! You have to get the table side guacamole. Cheese dip was nice as well. Enchiladas with chicken and spinach were some of the best I've had. We also enjoyed their Cabo Margarita. We dined outdoors on their patio and had very attentive service. I would highly recommend it!
(5)Tamara T.
This is an upscale Mexican eatery in Grand Boulevard shopping center. It's a beautiful restaurant, and the staff is very attentive. We started with their special margarita of the day, which was way too tart, and seemed very weak alcohol-wise. The chips and salsa hit the table right after sitting down. We liked the choice of two different salsas, one hot and one cold. Both were very good. We ordered the fresh guacamole, which was prepared table-side, and was absolutely delish. My main course was the spinach enchilada, and that's where they really dropped the ball. I was expecting freshly sauteed spinach with mushrooms, oozing with jack cheese. The reality was what tasted like canned spinach, with a token mushroom or two, no cheese inside, and covered with a bland white sauce that didn't resemble cheese in taste or appearance. We probably won't go back, unless we're really craving that fresh guac!
(3)Jeff D.
The Sunday Brunch Menu was quite a deal. Our selections included excellent traditional breakfast dishes with a refined Mexican twist. Cantina went above and beyond with fresh fruit in a cinnamon crisp and complimentary bloody maria or mimosa.
(4)Chad H.
It was our second trip to the Laredo. The salsa is exceptional, particularly the warm salsa. Casa Rita's are very good. We went with the fish taco, fish special of the day, and it was a grouper and it was exceptional. There may be a bit of a wait, but the bar is comfortable, the servers are nice and they have TVs. Our wait was not much more than 15 minutes, although there were some people that said their weight had been closer to 45 minutes. The Mexican is a bit more expensive than typical, but I thought that the food quality was well worth it.
(5)Dan E.
Dear person considering coming here: First, you should understand that this is not authentic Mexican food. If you go here, please don't walk away thinking "that's what Mexican food tastes like". It's not. (I have a Hispanic surname for a reason. I grew up in Arizona. With Nanas that can cook well. ) Second, I can only assume the other glowing reviews are tourists comparing this place to Taco Bell or ... Chipotle? Because this place is kind of good compared to them (albeit VERY pricy) Third, what sets this place apart is its upscale ambience and location. It's across the street from Brooks Brothers. It has very nice seating. It has a classy(ish?) looking bar area. If you're an older male tourist looking to impress your friends by throwing some cash around, this is your place. If you're somebody with an even mildly sophisticated palate, look elsewhere.
(3)Linda C.
My first time eating there was yesterday. Best Mexican food I have ever had!! Highly suggest this place.
(5)Natalie R.
The food was horrible. The meat was dry and rubbery. Even the kids enchalada was dry and hardly anything in the enchalada. I WOULD NOT WASTE MY TIME EATING HERE. waitress was friendly though....
(1)John T.
Go annually while on vacation Margaritas and salsa are exceptional. Service is always good. Food was better this year then in years past. Atmosphere is great with indoor and outdoor seating
(4)Brandon G.
Our experience with Cantina Laredo in the past has been excellent which is why we chose to try this one. Mistake! Our service and food were below average. I ordered one of their "famous" mojito's and was greatly disappointed twice. I had to send both efforts back to the bar and stick with water. Overall, very bad experience and I would recommend avoiding this restaurant.
(2)Rheinhart Saxon V.
This is actually a 3.5 review. We just moved from San Antonio and explored all of South Texas for some incredible hole-in-the-wall joints that served tremendous Tex-Mex. It's hard to do classy Mexican in a resort town like Sandestin and comparing them to South Texas is an outright mismatch. Nice Place, clean and upscale. Wait Staff dropped the ball initially and when we mentioned that, service sky-rocketed. Dante stepped in, was very good and turned that ship around. Food was actually decent and the Carnitas entree was outstanding! For those of you who know what German Schwein Haxe is, their Carnitas are three smaller versions with a boatload of meat! Ask for the tortillas and build your own Carnita tacos...and use the warmed salsa...Yow! Bar menu is very good and a decent happy hour. Fish Tacos were only OK and that's surprising for a fishing resort like Destin. They could have spiced the fish a bit more to give them some zest. Salsa and chips were super. Overall, expensive for Mexican fare but that's to be expected in Sandestin. Service was mediocre to start, but picked up. Overall, food was actually quite good.
(4)Jason B.
Good food. Great service. Good ambience. The drink specials are great (be fore warned, the mixed drinks are strong). I would strongly suggest the table side guacamole as an appetizer.
(4)Ryan P.
Upscale Mexican is not easy to pull off. Cantina Laredo figured it out. My wife and I had lunch here for the first time a few days ago and we both really enjoyed it. My wife ordered a salad and the tortilla soup, both of which she really liked. The greens in the salad were crisp and fresh and the chicken was very well seasoned and blackened while still being juicy. My wife (who is Mexican) said that is exactly how her father used to grill chicken. I really wanted desert, so I ate light. I just ordered the Ahi Tacos from the appetizer menu. The three little tacos were the perfect mix of sweet and spicy. The fish was sashimi grade and was perfect. The presentation of the food was nice too and everything looked as good as it tasted. We then split the Mexican Apple Pie, which they prepare with cinnamon ice cream and a butter sauce in a sizzling skillet right at your table. It was far and away my favorite desert on our recent trip to the emerald coast. The service was attentive and friendly and the lunch was great. We would definitely return.
(5)Sharon A.
The food was good but overpriced. The quality wasnt such that I would go back. Not that it was bad but it just wasnt great either. We had the mixed fajitas, tableside guacamole which was very good, chicken quesadilla (average). The drinks were inconsistent in that the first one was different tasting from the second one right down to the glass it was served in. 1st coconut mojito was tart 2nd was sweet. Dessert was the brownie sundae, apple pie, tres leches. Service was a long drawn out process of over 2 hours but we were enjoying our evening so that was ok. But not for every occasion.
(3)Drew P.
Absolute worst service we've gotten at any restaurant in the Miramar Beach/Destin area. The food looked GREAT and smelled SOOOO delicious...but I can't tell you how it tastes. My wife and I sat patiently waiting for service for 30 minutes...wait staff never even came by to even take a drink order. They seemed to have plenty of time to stand around and socialize with one another - but not enough time to serve their customers. After 30 minutes of waiting patiently, and dealing with a very rude hostess, we walked out.
(1)Megan H.
Dined here last night with a party of 11, based on Yelp reviews. Mexican is my favorite food, and this is definitely a more upscale Mexican joint. We did call-ahead seating, which was perfect for our large group. We only had to wait about 5 minutes for a table at 7:00 on a spring break Tuesday night. The menu offered a fantastic-looking, diverse selection, and everything our folks ordered was proclaimed tasty. We got the table-side Guac since it had such rave yelp reviews and IMO it was good but not any better than any freshly-made Guac you can get in dozens of restaurants these days. I had carnitas tacos on flour shells (rather than corn). The pork was delicious. My hub had tacos al carbon with chicken. And while his tolerance for spicy is higher than most--loves a good kick--the roasted pepper on his tacos was so strong that it nearly choked him and with just one bite, he felt the heat for the rest of the meal...heck, the rest of the night. Be cautious with these! Service was deplorable, unfortunately. We waited so long to be greeted, we had to ask a hostess who our server was. We ordered drinks that took so long, we had to inquire about them multiple times. I ordered the margarita special that was featured prominently on a poster at the front door but the waiter had no idea what I was talking about. When I requested it over ice vs straight up, the waiter was uncertain it would be accommodated by the bartenders (as it turns out, it was). The mojito my hub got was outstanding, once it finally arrived. Food came out in a reasonable time, but the separate checks we requested took three attempts to get straight. Parts of our experience were good here, but there just weren't enough of them that I'd bother returning.
(3)J P.
Lively feel. Fancy enough but not snooty at all. Friendly, but forgetful, but friendly. Messed up drink, order, waited 15 min for chips after delivered fresh made guac... Seriously guys, cmon. Mixed drinks above average quality & taste. Hair in food but s happens. Comped that plate, thus we left 25% tip on original amt. brownie was very good. Will return.
(4)Lisa A.
Our all time favorite Mexican restaurant!!! This location is as great as the others. Great salsa, queso, fajitas and some other shrimp/chicken dish my husband ordered. Service was prompt and friendly. Highly recommend!!!!
(5)Christopher J.
Came here with my SO, cousin, and cousin's wife for dinner the night before a triathlon. I had one of my cousin's ahi tuna taco appetizer bites, and it was delicious. I normally stay away from raw tuna - I'm just not a fan - but this won me over. I ordered the chicken tacos, which came with pico de gallo, avocado slices, rice and beans. They were very good, and plentiful. The free chips and salsas are an obvious staple at a place like this. They had a warm mild salsa and a cold spicy salsa. Neither was anything special, but we sure ate a lot of those chips. The service was pretty good, but I wasn't a fan of the general ambience. No real character in the place. And it seemed pricey for run-of-the-mill Mexican food. But it did the trick.
(3)Micheal T.
Table for two sat quick. Good service. Waiter was cool. Good chips and salsa. I had the Chicken Tacos and they were okay. Overall 3 but I would go again and try something else.
(3)Alaina K.
Wow! Surprised to see any negative reviews...we thought this place was fantastic! Ate there 3 times in 3 days! The fajitas, table side guacamole, mini tuna tacos, and salad were fantastic as was the service. Sorry some didn't get the same great food and service we did. It's now on my favorites list!
(5)Brenna S.
My boyfriend sat at Sara's bar while I was running errands and enjoyed himself so much that he took me here the next day. The margaritas were tasty. The guacamole was super, the enchiladas, fajitas and carne asada were super tasty. I really liked the bacon wrapped shrimp too. The manager Nelly was really nice to talk to as well.
(4)Meredith B.
This is the best Mexican food I have ever eaten & I have been to many Mexican restaurants, in multiple states. The only reason they don't get 5 stars is because the service was not very good. The hostess was rude & the waiter seemed annoyed by our group. I would eat here again, but not give my usual generous tip.
(3)Aggie S.
The service was awful, guacamole was really good but WAY over priced. They say it will feed 2-4 people at $10... With one avocado used not sure it would feed 4. It wasn't enough to for 2 toddlers and 2 adults. Entree was really good. Overall the food was delicious, service awful and a bit overpriced for what you get.
(3)Darla H.
Chips and salsa were excellent. Really salty if you like salt. We had the chimichanga and loved it. The fajitas were ok. Sit outside, definitely a plus.
(4)Philip B.
If you're in the San Destin area, you must visit this restaurant. The quality of food and excellent customer service is the best you will find when it relates to Mexican cuisine. Fresh food, awesome drinks, and a friendly face will make you wanna sit in your chair for hours upon end. I'll give it a 4.7 but Yelp only do whole number reviews.
(4)Daniel W.
There was excellent service and food! We were served immediately and every dish at our table was delicious.
(5)Ashley W.
Enjoyed the chips and table side guacamole. The complimentary salsa was on the runny side and kind of a mess. Fish tacos were very good. Nice, upscale atmosphere, with a strange smell upon entering. Couple pet peeves-they sat us at the worst table when others were available and brought out the entrees just as we were starting the soup course. Good food-service speed was off.
(3)Chris C.
Best margarita around. Not to mention the great happy hour menu and prices at the bar. We are there at least two times a week! Don't be fooled. This is. It your typical hot plate mexican food. So, if you are looking for a more upscale experience, this is your place!
(5)Dan Kerri P.
Great experience tonight even though the restaurant was slammed due to the Artsquest crowd. We shared a combination fajitas which was wonderful and plenty to enjoy amongst two. The kids corn dog was wrapped in bacon and came with french fries and some case so. We were quite pleased with the quality of food and speedy service.
(4)Tory G.
The food was great! Been there twice now, with a year in separation. Food was consistent and packed with flavor. The rice was a little over cooked for my taste, but that's just me! However, I give this four stars because our service was terrible. Our waiter was very attentive, but was completely inappropriate. I took some college students (many of whom were women) out to lunch on their work break. Our waiter was making inappropriate comments to my girls in such a manner that I had to ask him to stop. Asking which ones were single, and "what happens in Destin stays in Destin." Maybe those comments would be appropriate for a bachelorette dinner, but it was quite obvious that this was not such a thing. A couple also on our trip bought our lunch and our waiter told us by saying that "we were such pains in the asses that someone else bought our lunch." Such a shame for such great food, but it may cause me to not go back.
(4)Jules W.
Oh, CL. You match your other locations in food taste and quality. However, the waitstaff? oy. Our waiter had a rather "that's not my department" attitude. I asked several times for jalepenos - he finally told us that he "already told someone and they should be out any minute". Maybe go check on it...We also sat with a getting-cold bowl of queso with no chips for some time, He also didn't tell us about the HH specials. We overheard another waiter and decided we would partake, however, by the time our waiter happened back by, the thrill was gone. Ended up going for drinks elsewhere afterwards. The food was amazing - and I'm sure we'll be back - but maybe just for take out.
(2)Irma Z.
Very good meals...fajitas. Can feed two people. Steak tasted like it was marinated in weichster sauce, chicken was tender. Fish of the day was grouper, very well done..seasoned and hot. Creamy.rice...really good.
(4)Gary P.
On vacation in Sandestin and wanted Mexican. This is a very nice restaurant but over priced for the food. You will pay about $5 more for your meal than a typical Mexican restaurant. I had the Chicken fajita nachos and they really did not have much of a taste. Nice atmosphere but not a place I would list as a much do place while on vacation here.
(3)Keo S.
I was hoping that given the location (they have to pay high rental prices to be in the plaza) that we weren't going to overpay for mediocre food. Unfortunately, the experience was poor all around and I'm basing my ranking on 3 key factors. #1 Service - our server was just weird, had awkward comments/jokes, and just slow (I can ignore poor service if the food is spectacular) #2 Food/Drinks - the drinks took forever to come out which is strange for Monday at 8:30PM, but when they arrived they were fine (we tried several types of margaritas). The guac was pretty good so that was the highlight of the evening. Too bad the bowls are so shallow that you don't really get very much for the price. Anyway, I had the fajitas and they were ok - not better than any other Americanized Mexican place, but my friends had the enchiladas mole which weren't even average - totally meh! I don't even think what I tasted was mole - very strange. They also got a salad, but it was missing 2 ingredients that were suppose to be on it. At that point, we were starving so we just ate as quickly as we could to get the heck out. #3 Cleanliness/overall ambiance - bathrooms were messy (never a good sign) and when we were getting our bill, there were 2 servers next to us flipping a table over (completely) in the middle of the dining room with screwdrivers to fix the leg - I'm not sure why any manager or establishment would allow this to happen in the middle of the restaurant while people are still eating. This was very awkward and at about 10:15PM so it wasn't that late. Overall, it was a disappointing night. There is no reason to go to a chain restaurant like this again and overpay. We should have known better. People need to steer clear of this place if they want real Mexican food.
(1)John C.
I've been here a few times when in town. I think over all it's good and offers something a bit different than the basic mexican places.
(4)Katie C.
We love our Catina Laredo! I was so happy to see they had one here because back home in Missouri they had just put two locations in and we had moved to the Emerald Coast shortly after. Great service, perfect outside dining area, and of course wonderful food!
(5)Kelly G.
Admittedly, we eat here EVERY time we come to the beach, so we do love the food and the drinks; however, we find the service to be slow...so I've subtracted a star for that. LOVE the ginger margarita. LOVE the guacamole. LOVE the artichoke and avocado enchilada (but I have them make it with a flour tortilla). Oh, and this restaurant is terrifically accommodating toward our veggie/vegan tastes.
(4)Melanie F.
Very pleased with our experience. We had 8 adults and 9 children. They quickly arranged a table for all of us. The server was excellent. Food was excellent and came out quick! I loved the Camaron Pablano Asada. Only area for improvement would be bar drinks...they were ok. But still 5 stars for overall great experience!
(5)Jahmin L.
The guacamole is phenomenal. If you get nothing else, get the guacamole. The mahi mahi tacos are very good as well. The service was pleasant and the food arrived promptly. The location isn't the best if you want to take advantage of being at the beach since it's not near the water at all, but I highly recommend the food.
(4)Norma W.
Excellent meal. Top shelf guacamole was great. Good Rita, good service. No complaints
(5)Vissa S.
The food was the best quality. We were about to go to PFCHANGS but this beats all! The food came out quick and seemed very fresh. They had free chips and made us guacamole at the table side . I loved this restaurant!
(5)Charles M.
Average food, OK service, small portions, for above average prices. Restaurant was half empty today and they seated our party of 2 next to another couple......and then seated 3 adults and 2 babies on our other side. Strange way to treat guests if you want repeat business.
(2)Melissa T.
For years the one thing you could always count on here is was a great Margarita and the freshly made at your table Guacamole! Don't get me wrong, I have had good food here too. It is just sooooo inconsistent. We start off ordering the always fabulous margaritas, the 'Perfect Patron Margarita', one frozen & one on the rocks. At $12.25 a pop you would expect perfection especially since they use "fresh" lime juice and top shelf tequila. Not this time. All we could taste was what I assume to be sour mix, we had to order shots of tequila on the side to mix in at the average cost of $10. This is one expensive and not so tasty margarita! Also, when we arrived at our table the avocado that was sitting in the bowl ready to be turned into that great guacamole was rotten...not a good start. To top it off our meals were disappointing too. This place has an average 4 stars, you got lucky people. My vote is based on years of experiences and I will not be going back hoping to catch them on a good night anymore.
(2)James S.
I love this place, you always need a change from the seafood. Guac is amazing and I really enjoy the chips and salsa. When you need a change of pace from the local seafood eateries try this place out.
(4)Mark S.
Good, but not great Mexican, maybe because some of the ingredients seem pre-prepared. The service is usually good...unless they are busy. The decor is fine, if a little predictable. I have eaten here half a dozen times and never had a bad experience. Just never had a great one. It a nice place for group dinners in an upscale area.
(3)Valerie W.
Recently went back to this restaurant. They've changed the menu, and not for the better in my humble opinion. My poblano pepper with Piccadillo filling is now off the menu, and I'm not sure what they did to the guacamole but it had an off flavor. I couldn't eat it, and my daughter who loves guacamole could barely eat it. I wish they would go back to what they were doing before!
(4)Stacie B.
Good fajitas and chips 'n' salsa. Restaurant is located in a nice establishment with shops, other restaurants.
(4)Casey T.
One of the best happy hour deals around. Just know to ask for the special happy hour menu, because the staff doesn't always offer it (they probably make lower tips during HH, so don't be a stiff!). Delicious tacos, margaritas, and good draught beer pricing. Bonus is you can go to a movie afterwards!
(4)Michael W.
The carnitas are the best on the menu, and they make their own guac right at the table, very tasty and best Mexican food in destin
(5)Burt B.
We had the casa margarita and cabo flip margarita which were wonderful, carnitas excellente, server was Sara who was outstanding!
(4)Julius G.
This has to have been one of the most disrespected times I have had since I have been in the Destin area. Me and my family came in to eat around 4pm. Once we walked in nobody was at the host stand and there was 3 employees behind the bar. We stood up there for about 5mins. Never to get greeted or even acknowledged. So we took it upon ourselves to seat ourselves. We found a high top and sat down hoping somebody would notice us. So about another 5mins or so with the bar staff looking right at us and nobody comes and greets us. 2 WHITE gentleman walk in and once they walked up to the host stand one of the bartenders come around and looks straight in my face didn't say any thing and speaks to the white men at the host stand making them feel welcome while I got ignored. This right here made me feel so discriminated against and unwanted in your establishments and I guarantee I will not be back and I will be sure to tell others.
(1)Justin H.
I love this chain. However, the one in Destin needs some training on customer service and food quality. Out waitress was pretty terrible. She forgot to put our drinks in, we didn't receive them until after our food came out. We ordered the fajitas which were just ok. Any other Cantina, the fajitas are spot on. Pretty disappointed with this Cantina.
(3)Brian N.
Probably my favorite spot in the greater Destin area. The beer is cold, the food is great, and the bartenders rock it out. Ashley, Heather and Amber (hubba hubba!). Additionally, the chimichanga will change your life. Seriously. I don't know every ingredient in it, but it's gotta be made with Unicorn tears and angel's hymns. It's like they have Jesus himself in the kitchen blessing every single one.
(5)Natalie S.
This place was great! I'm kind of surprised about the negative reviews regarding the service because they were VERY accommodating for my group of eight, five of which were small children. The table side guacamole was fun. My entree of spinach enchiladas were really tasty. The only negative is I felt my mixed drink didn't have much alcohol in it, but that's okay. If I make it back to Sandestin, I'll definitely be back here for dinner.
(4)Michelle S.
Fairly expensive for Mexican. We had the appetizer plate - 2 tacos very tasty, queso was cold. Skewers- shrimp was overlooked but steak was good, quesadilla was delish and jalepeno popper were delish. The sizzling brownie sundae was amazing and they present table side. Even though we didn't have entrees they just seemed a little over priced, but it is a tourist town. Def save room for dessert!
(3)Shannon T.
Wonderful food. Fresh twist on some Mexican dishes. Wonderful cocktails. They make guacamole at the table side fresh. Atmosphere is wonderful. Staff is friendly. Had a great time with friends. Price is not bad. Can't wait to go again. The chicken mole was to die for!!
(5)Mathew C.
some of the best Mexican food I have ever been privileged to enjoy! The food is amazing and the Margaritas are beyond the best. Food is great and at a great value. service will be on point point and personal.
(5)D D.
I've been here twice. Staff is not too friendly or helpful. Lunch menu runs until 3pm. It was 2:40pm and they tried having us order off the dinner menu. Quite a big price increase. Nowhere on the menu does it say dinner or lunch. The only reason I knew it was wrong is I had been there before and knew the prices. The waitress said there was only one menu. I told her she was wrong and could I speak with someone else. We finally got the correct order in. The fresh catch of the day was grouper. It was excellent with grilled asparagus and rice. The chips are very thin and not oily. The drinks are a bit expensive but it is a resort town. You can still order off the lunch menu after 3pm for $1 more. Happy hour at the bar only.
(3)Todd L.
I was told by our waitress the fish tacos were the best. She was wrong. Also, one of my kids had over cooked chicken. I say this place is way overpriced for what you get. We won't be back.
(3)Happy T.
Enjoyed dinner three times in one week while on vacation. Had to return for the great food and margaritas. Had the tacos, fajitas and the grouper. All perfect. My server Jorge was 100%. Leaving tomorrow, can't wait to eat here on next years vacation.
(5)Blake B.
Of you are looking for a rich ambiance then this is your place. Servers are great. However, the food is in tiny little portions, expensive, and not that good. I could cook better. It's better off as a margarita bar.
(2)Wes M.
Good food. Good service. Great salsa. Kind of a smokey habanero taste. Great guacamole. Shrimp fajitas were very spicy. I liked them but some may think they are too hot.
(4)Elizabeth F.
Amazed by the consistency of the table-side prepared guacamole. Pleasantly surprised by the fish tacos and chipolte chicken dish and service. So happy they serve WARM chips!
(5)Edward L.
Excellent food, excellent drinks, and excellent waitstaff. The prices were not bad, especially considering this is a tourist area. Decor is very nice and modern/upscalish. Came here for dinner with several coworkers and everyone enjoyed their dishes and drinks.
(4)Caryn R.
BEST MEXICAN ever! I absolutely love this place. The guacamole is the best you will ever have. They make it fresh right in front of you. I have never had anything here that I did not like. I usually get some variety of tacos. They use to have tacos al pastor which was my favorite, but they have taken it off the menu. I tell them every time I go how much I love it, but they say that people tend to not order pork, so they took it off. The chicken tacos are great and so are the fish tacos. They serve black beans as a side with their dishes which are so much better than the typical refried beans you get at a mexican restaurant. If you ever have room for dessert, you MUST get the apple dessert! it comes out steaming hot on a iron skillet with HOMEMADE cinnamon ice cream - TO DIE FOR! LOVE LOVE LOVE this place...one of my favorite places in the Destin area.
(5)Justin M.
Wonderful fish tacos and fajitas. Everytime we come to Destin, we say we're coming back a 2nd time before we leave at end of our vacation. Great margaritas too. Guacamole fresh and made at table. Always had a top-notch, upscale Mexican meal and will continue to go back everytime we vacation in sandestin. Update--make sure and ask for flour tortillas not corn. Forgot to ask, corn was tough and chewy. Flour melts in your mouth, much better.
(5)Paula O.
We just ate here and it was amazing! Our waiter was Ernesto and he was very friendly, had great suggestions and made our evening enjoyable! The ahi tuna taco appetizer was wonderful as was the salsa- roasted veggies, yum! Not your typical cookie cutter Mexican place, much better- fresh food!
(5)Dale R.
Very good food and portions at a very good value. Everything as described and out fast. Fresh guacamole made at the table is awesome and fajitas were superb. Busy and active place.
(4)Amanda E.
5 stars for the guacamole alone! And possibly the flan. We came in with a group of 30 last weekend, and the staff was incredibly accommodating. Shout out to our waiters as I know our group was not easy to deal with. Food was DELICIOUS and margaritas were on point. I ordered the combination fajitas and would probably order these again and again. Other members of our party had tacos and enchiladas, and I believe everyone was happy. Reasonable prices for a tourist area, and the facility is beautiful.
(5)Kimberly J.
Delicious guacamole made fresh at the table. The food was tasty and we were pleased with our service. As for drinks - I totally recommend the Cabo Flip margarita.
(4)Jimmy Q.
Good food, this is not a taco shop! This place offers a nice atmosphere and fine cosmopolitan Mexican food.
(4)Louie B.
Food was very good. Now service on the other hand was okay. Having to get your own silverware and napkins is not good signs of proper management. The other funny kicker was they ran out if coke and the credit card machine was down.
(4)Suzanna D.
My husband and I went here tonight for the first time, for a date night. We were impressed! I had the Casa Rita with mango which was quite yummy. I also had the top shelve guacamole with all the available ingredients that was made fresh right in front of us. None of that went to waste! I got the tacos de pescado which was very reasonably priced considering it included 3 mahi mahi tacos, rice and beans. It was delicious! My husband had the fajitas combo and really enjoyed them also. The service was great. We had a great meal here, only positive nothing negative to say about our experience. We will definitely come back.
(5)Ryan E.
Amazing
(5)Janet S.
Mexican Fusion - expensive but given the location it has to be. Margarita $12 was good but not the best. Jicama and Mango was very tasty and went well with the artichoke and spinach enchilada. Overall another upmarket fast food joint with no soul in the food or ambiance - kind of sums up Destin really.
(2)Jen M.
I hate to ever write a negative review, but its very unfortunate that from the time we were seated basically in the middle of all the bar traffic to the time we got the bill we were less than impressed. The food was good, but way over priced and my mom ordered avocado enchiladas and was given shrimp tacos, not good for a person with a shellfish allergy. The server could have cared less. I get that the location allows to charge the higher prices but you would expect the quality service to follow. Don't plan to go back or recommend.
(2)P.j. F.
Very good. Had the taco fajitas and they were good. Good atmosphere and upbeat. Server was very nice
(4)Matt M.
We have eaten here about 4 times over the past couple years and have yet to have a bad experience. While the food is a little pricier than a lot of Mexican restaurants (especially the drinks it seems) - the quality and service do set this restaurant apart. Generally, I order the enchiladas of some sort. I've tried the plain beef and cheese enchiladas, the espinaca enchiladas (which I would have expected to contain chicken but do not) and the shrimp enchiladas. All have been quite good. This restaurant has a tex-mex type taste to it (it is from Texas) and is not what I'd call an "authentic" restaurant in the sense of the typical Mexico City type diner. Overall, I've always enjoyed the food and service at this restaurant. While it is a little pricey, beer is half the price of margaritas, and dishes such as enchiladas run 10.99-16.99 a plate.
(5)Jason A.
All I have to say is wow! My wife and I were blown away by this place. The service was excellent. The food was extremely delicious and filling. Definitely holds the top spot for Mexican foodin the panhandle! We will definitely be coming back here!
(5)Mirande E.
We went here the service was slow and wait staff were rather unfriendly. The fresh guacamole was interesting to watch but she waitress doing it was very unpleasant. I found the food to be descent nothing spectacular.
(3)Dennis T.
Excellent! Every time we come to Sandestin we visit here at least twice! Try the carnitas - fantastic with a very unique presentation - the pork is still on the shank and it is so tender and seasoned just right! Highly recommend if you like unique Mexican food!
(5)Rod M.
By far the best Mexican in the Destin area. And that's not only because it's the only decent Mexican in the area: it would be great despite that. Cantina Laredo bills itself as gourmet Mexican, which isn't strictly true since it's actually gourmet Tex-Mex. However, nearly everyone who works here is Mexican, and boy do they know their guacamole! How do I know this? Because they make it at your table, and my wife always asks them how they learned to make it. Most of them have a story about learning from their mother or grandmother when they were little. A lot of interesting discussions grow from this. The management here is genuinely outstanding and runs a tight ship. This IS a good date place (and by the way, it has several extremely girly salads that female non-Mexican eaters seem not to be able to get enough of), and a good party place, and a good everything place. The outdoor seating is great and in a beautiful setting, the bar is always full and happy, and there's plenty of indoor seating away from the bar so that you can have a quiet evening if that's what you want. That all said, if what you want is El Chico or Chuy's or On The Border, this is NOT it. And the area needs something like that (sidebar: the company that owns Cantina Laredo also owns El Chico). But alas, we'll have to make do for now. Oh, lots of great desserts too! Bottom line: great place.
(5)Tim J.
Cantina has grown on me since my move down here a few months ago. It is upscale Mexican, and I am more of a home style kinda guy when it comes to my Mexican, but this somehow works for me. They most definitely cross into south of Mexico cuisine, with a great chimichurri, but mostly just elevate classics including mole, and chile rellenos. As good as a lot of the stuff is, there have been some misses that I have gotten, and they are quite expensive compared with the competition, but I feel the quality is proportionally higher, you are paying for ambiance. If you are going on a date, and really want Mexican, this is something that is a lot better idea than heading to any of the other choices in town. I have tried quite a few things here, I fell like there a few big hits and a couple misses, including the rellenos which I feel have little flavor, but are semi authentic. Worth a try if you are in the area.
(4)Chad H.
It was our second trip to the Laredo. The salsa is exceptional, particularly the warm salsa. Casa Rita's are very good. We went with the fish taco, fish special of the day, and it was a grouper and it was exceptional. There may be a bit of a wait, but the bar is comfortable, the servers are nice and they have TVs. Our wait was not much more than 15 minutes, although there were some people that said their weight had been closer to 45 minutes. The Mexican is a bit more expensive than typical, but I thought that the food quality was well worth it.
(5)Dan E.
Dear person considering coming here: First, you should understand that this is not authentic Mexican food. If you go here, please don't walk away thinking "that's what Mexican food tastes like". It's not. (I have a Hispanic surname for a reason. I grew up in Arizona. With Nanas that can cook well. ) Second, I can only assume the other glowing reviews are tourists comparing this place to Taco Bell or ... Chipotle? Because this place is kind of good compared to them (albeit VERY pricy) Third, what sets this place apart is its upscale ambience and location. It's across the street from Brooks Brothers. It has very nice seating. It has a classy(ish?) looking bar area. If you're an older male tourist looking to impress your friends by throwing some cash around, this is your place. If you're somebody with an even mildly sophisticated palate, look elsewhere.
(3)Linda C.
My first time eating there was yesterday. Best Mexican food I have ever had!! Highly suggest this place.
(5)Natalie R.
The food was horrible. The meat was dry and rubbery. Even the kids enchalada was dry and hardly anything in the enchalada. I WOULD NOT WASTE MY TIME EATING HERE. waitress was friendly though....
(1)John T.
Go annually while on vacation Margaritas and salsa are exceptional. Service is always good. Food was better this year then in years past. Atmosphere is great with indoor and outdoor seating
(4)Rheinhart Saxon V.
This is actually a 3.5 review. We just moved from San Antonio and explored all of South Texas for some incredible hole-in-the-wall joints that served tremendous Tex-Mex. It's hard to do classy Mexican in a resort town like Sandestin and comparing them to South Texas is an outright mismatch. Nice Place, clean and upscale. Wait Staff dropped the ball initially and when we mentioned that, service sky-rocketed. Dante stepped in, was very good and turned that ship around. Food was actually decent and the Carnitas entree was outstanding! For those of you who know what German Schwein Haxe is, their Carnitas are three smaller versions with a boatload of meat! Ask for the tortillas and build your own Carnita tacos...and use the warmed salsa...Yow! Bar menu is very good and a decent happy hour. Fish Tacos were only OK and that's surprising for a fishing resort like Destin. They could have spiced the fish a bit more to give them some zest. Salsa and chips were super. Overall, expensive for Mexican fare but that's to be expected in Sandestin. Service was mediocre to start, but picked up. Overall, food was actually quite good.
(4)Jason B.
Good food. Great service. Good ambience. The drink specials are great (be fore warned, the mixed drinks are strong). I would strongly suggest the table side guacamole as an appetizer.
(4)Ryan P.
Upscale Mexican is not easy to pull off. Cantina Laredo figured it out. My wife and I had lunch here for the first time a few days ago and we both really enjoyed it. My wife ordered a salad and the tortilla soup, both of which she really liked. The greens in the salad were crisp and fresh and the chicken was very well seasoned and blackened while still being juicy. My wife (who is Mexican) said that is exactly how her father used to grill chicken. I really wanted desert, so I ate light. I just ordered the Ahi Tacos from the appetizer menu. The three little tacos were the perfect mix of sweet and spicy. The fish was sashimi grade and was perfect. The presentation of the food was nice too and everything looked as good as it tasted. We then split the Mexican Apple Pie, which they prepare with cinnamon ice cream and a butter sauce in a sizzling skillet right at your table. It was far and away my favorite desert on our recent trip to the emerald coast. The service was attentive and friendly and the lunch was great. We would definitely return.
(5)Brandon G.
Our experience with Cantina Laredo in the past has been excellent which is why we chose to try this one. Mistake! Our service and food were below average. I ordered one of their "famous" mojito's and was greatly disappointed twice. I had to send both efforts back to the bar and stick with water. Overall, very bad experience and I would recommend avoiding this restaurant.
(2)Sharon A.
The food was good but overpriced. The quality wasnt such that I would go back. Not that it was bad but it just wasnt great either. We had the mixed fajitas, tableside guacamole which was very good, chicken quesadilla (average). The drinks were inconsistent in that the first one was different tasting from the second one right down to the glass it was served in. 1st coconut mojito was tart 2nd was sweet. Dessert was the brownie sundae, apple pie, tres leches. Service was a long drawn out process of over 2 hours but we were enjoying our evening so that was ok. But not for every occasion.
(3)Drew P.
Absolute worst service we've gotten at any restaurant in the Miramar Beach/Destin area. The food looked GREAT and smelled SOOOO delicious...but I can't tell you how it tastes. My wife and I sat patiently waiting for service for 30 minutes...wait staff never even came by to even take a drink order. They seemed to have plenty of time to stand around and socialize with one another - but not enough time to serve their customers. After 30 minutes of waiting patiently, and dealing with a very rude hostess, we walked out.
(1)Alaina K.
Wow! Surprised to see any negative reviews...we thought this place was fantastic! Ate there 3 times in 3 days! The fajitas, table side guacamole, mini tuna tacos, and salad were fantastic as was the service. Sorry some didn't get the same great food and service we did. It's now on my favorites list!
(5)Brenna S.
My boyfriend sat at Sara's bar while I was running errands and enjoyed himself so much that he took me here the next day. The margaritas were tasty. The guacamole was super, the enchiladas, fajitas and carne asada were super tasty. I really liked the bacon wrapped shrimp too. The manager Nelly was really nice to talk to as well.
(4)Megan H.
Dined here last night with a party of 11, based on Yelp reviews. Mexican is my favorite food, and this is definitely a more upscale Mexican joint. We did call-ahead seating, which was perfect for our large group. We only had to wait about 5 minutes for a table at 7:00 on a spring break Tuesday night. The menu offered a fantastic-looking, diverse selection, and everything our folks ordered was proclaimed tasty. We got the table-side Guac since it had such rave yelp reviews and IMO it was good but not any better than any freshly-made Guac you can get in dozens of restaurants these days. I had carnitas tacos on flour shells (rather than corn). The pork was delicious. My hub had tacos al carbon with chicken. And while his tolerance for spicy is higher than most--loves a good kick--the roasted pepper on his tacos was so strong that it nearly choked him and with just one bite, he felt the heat for the rest of the meal...heck, the rest of the night. Be cautious with these! Service was deplorable, unfortunately. We waited so long to be greeted, we had to ask a hostess who our server was. We ordered drinks that took so long, we had to inquire about them multiple times. I ordered the margarita special that was featured prominently on a poster at the front door but the waiter had no idea what I was talking about. When I requested it over ice vs straight up, the waiter was uncertain it would be accommodated by the bartenders (as it turns out, it was). The mojito my hub got was outstanding, once it finally arrived. Food came out in a reasonable time, but the separate checks we requested took three attempts to get straight. Parts of our experience were good here, but there just weren't enough of them that I'd bother returning.
(3)J P.
Lively feel. Fancy enough but not snooty at all. Friendly, but forgetful, but friendly. Messed up drink, order, waited 15 min for chips after delivered fresh made guac... Seriously guys, cmon. Mixed drinks above average quality & taste. Hair in food but s happens. Comped that plate, thus we left 25% tip on original amt. brownie was very good. Will return.
(4)Lisa A.
Our all time favorite Mexican restaurant!!! This location is as great as the others. Great salsa, queso, fajitas and some other shrimp/chicken dish my husband ordered. Service was prompt and friendly. Highly recommend!!!!
(5)Christopher J.
Came here with my SO, cousin, and cousin's wife for dinner the night before a triathlon. I had one of my cousin's ahi tuna taco appetizer bites, and it was delicious. I normally stay away from raw tuna - I'm just not a fan - but this won me over. I ordered the chicken tacos, which came with pico de gallo, avocado slices, rice and beans. They were very good, and plentiful. The free chips and salsas are an obvious staple at a place like this. They had a warm mild salsa and a cold spicy salsa. Neither was anything special, but we sure ate a lot of those chips. The service was pretty good, but I wasn't a fan of the general ambience. No real character in the place. And it seemed pricey for run-of-the-mill Mexican food. But it did the trick.
(3)Micheal T.
Table for two sat quick. Good service. Waiter was cool. Good chips and salsa. I had the Chicken Tacos and they were okay. Overall 3 but I would go again and try something else.
(3)Meredith B.
This is the best Mexican food I have ever eaten & I have been to many Mexican restaurants, in multiple states. The only reason they don't get 5 stars is because the service was not very good. The hostess was rude & the waiter seemed annoyed by our group. I would eat here again, but not give my usual generous tip.
(3)Aggie S.
The service was awful, guacamole was really good but WAY over priced. They say it will feed 2-4 people at $10... With one avocado used not sure it would feed 4. It wasn't enough to for 2 toddlers and 2 adults. Entree was really good. Overall the food was delicious, service awful and a bit overpriced for what you get.
(3)Darla H.
Chips and salsa were excellent. Really salty if you like salt. We had the chimichanga and loved it. The fajitas were ok. Sit outside, definitely a plus.
(4)Philip B.
If you're in the San Destin area, you must visit this restaurant. The quality of food and excellent customer service is the best you will find when it relates to Mexican cuisine. Fresh food, awesome drinks, and a friendly face will make you wanna sit in your chair for hours upon end. I'll give it a 4.7 but Yelp only do whole number reviews.
(4)Mike B.
Great food! They make the guacamole fresh, right at your table, I don't like guacamole but this was great. The steak fajitas were awesome, great flavor. This will be a regular vacation stop in the future. We had a party of nine and the wait was not bad.
(4)Daniel W.
There was excellent service and food! We were served immediately and every dish at our table was delicious.
(5)Ashley W.
Enjoyed the chips and table side guacamole. The complimentary salsa was on the runny side and kind of a mess. Fish tacos were very good. Nice, upscale atmosphere, with a strange smell upon entering. Couple pet peeves-they sat us at the worst table when others were available and brought out the entrees just as we were starting the soup course. Good food-service speed was off.
(3)Chris C.
Best margarita around. Not to mention the great happy hour menu and prices at the bar. We are there at least two times a week! Don't be fooled. This is. It your typical hot plate mexican food. So, if you are looking for a more upscale experience, this is your place!
(5)Dan Kerri P.
Great experience tonight even though the restaurant was slammed due to the Artsquest crowd. We shared a combination fajitas which was wonderful and plenty to enjoy amongst two. The kids corn dog was wrapped in bacon and came with french fries and some case so. We were quite pleased with the quality of food and speedy service.
(4)Keo S.
I was hoping that given the location (they have to pay high rental prices to be in the plaza) that we weren't going to overpay for mediocre food. Unfortunately, the experience was poor all around and I'm basing my ranking on 3 key factors. #1 Service - our server was just weird, had awkward comments/jokes, and just slow (I can ignore poor service if the food is spectacular) #2 Food/Drinks - the drinks took forever to come out which is strange for Monday at 8:30PM, but when they arrived they were fine (we tried several types of margaritas). The guac was pretty good so that was the highlight of the evening. Too bad the bowls are so shallow that you don't really get very much for the price. Anyway, I had the fajitas and they were ok - not better than any other Americanized Mexican place, but my friends had the enchiladas mole which weren't even average - totally meh! I don't even think what I tasted was mole - very strange. They also got a salad, but it was missing 2 ingredients that were suppose to be on it. At that point, we were starving so we just ate as quickly as we could to get the heck out. #3 Cleanliness/overall ambiance - bathrooms were messy (never a good sign) and when we were getting our bill, there were 2 servers next to us flipping a table over (completely) in the middle of the dining room with screwdrivers to fix the leg - I'm not sure why any manager or establishment would allow this to happen in the middle of the restaurant while people are still eating. This was very awkward and at about 10:15PM so it wasn't that late. Overall, it was a disappointing night. There is no reason to go to a chain restaurant like this again and overpay. We should have known better. People need to steer clear of this place if they want real Mexican food.
(1)John C.
I've been here a few times when in town. I think over all it's good and offers something a bit different than the basic mexican places.
(4)Tory G.
The food was great! Been there twice now, with a year in separation. Food was consistent and packed with flavor. The rice was a little over cooked for my taste, but that's just me! However, I give this four stars because our service was terrible. Our waiter was very attentive, but was completely inappropriate. I took some college students (many of whom were women) out to lunch on their work break. Our waiter was making inappropriate comments to my girls in such a manner that I had to ask him to stop. Asking which ones were single, and "what happens in Destin stays in Destin." Maybe those comments would be appropriate for a bachelorette dinner, but it was quite obvious that this was not such a thing. A couple also on our trip bought our lunch and our waiter told us by saying that "we were such pains in the asses that someone else bought our lunch." Such a shame for such great food, but it may cause me to not go back.
(4)Katie C.
We love our Catina Laredo! I was so happy to see they had one here because back home in Missouri they had just put two locations in and we had moved to the Emerald Coast shortly after. Great service, perfect outside dining area, and of course wonderful food!
(5)Kelly G.
Admittedly, we eat here EVERY time we come to the beach, so we do love the food and the drinks; however, we find the service to be slow...so I've subtracted a star for that. LOVE the ginger margarita. LOVE the guacamole. LOVE the artichoke and avocado enchilada (but I have them make it with a flour tortilla). Oh, and this restaurant is terrifically accommodating toward our veggie/vegan tastes.
(4)Jahmin L.
The guacamole is phenomenal. If you get nothing else, get the guacamole. The mahi mahi tacos are very good as well. The service was pleasant and the food arrived promptly. The location isn't the best if you want to take advantage of being at the beach since it's not near the water at all, but I highly recommend the food.
(4)Melanie F.
Very pleased with our experience. We had 8 adults and 9 children. They quickly arranged a table for all of us. The server was excellent. Food was excellent and came out quick! I loved the Camaron Pablano Asada. Only area for improvement would be bar drinks...they were ok. But still 5 stars for overall great experience!
(5)Jules W.
Oh, CL. You match your other locations in food taste and quality. However, the waitstaff? oy. Our waiter had a rather "that's not my department" attitude. I asked several times for jalepenos - he finally told us that he "already told someone and they should be out any minute". Maybe go check on it...We also sat with a getting-cold bowl of queso with no chips for some time, He also didn't tell us about the HH specials. We overheard another waiter and decided we would partake, however, by the time our waiter happened back by, the thrill was gone. Ended up going for drinks elsewhere afterwards. The food was amazing - and I'm sure we'll be back - but maybe just for take out.
(2)Irma Z.
Very good meals...fajitas. Can feed two people. Steak tasted like it was marinated in weichster sauce, chicken was tender. Fish of the day was grouper, very well done..seasoned and hot. Creamy.rice...really good.
(4)Gary P.
On vacation in Sandestin and wanted Mexican. This is a very nice restaurant but over priced for the food. You will pay about $5 more for your meal than a typical Mexican restaurant. I had the Chicken fajita nachos and they really did not have much of a taste. Nice atmosphere but not a place I would list as a much do place while on vacation here.
(3)Norma W.
Excellent meal. Top shelf guacamole was great. Good Rita, good service. No complaints
(5)Vissa S.
The food was the best quality. We were about to go to PFCHANGS but this beats all! The food came out quick and seemed very fresh. They had free chips and made us guacamole at the table side . I loved this restaurant!
(5)Charles M.
Average food, OK service, small portions, for above average prices. Restaurant was half empty today and they seated our party of 2 next to another couple......and then seated 3 adults and 2 babies on our other side. Strange way to treat guests if you want repeat business.
(2)Melissa T.
For years the one thing you could always count on here is was a great Margarita and the freshly made at your table Guacamole! Don't get me wrong, I have had good food here too. It is just sooooo inconsistent. We start off ordering the always fabulous margaritas, the 'Perfect Patron Margarita', one frozen & one on the rocks. At $12.25 a pop you would expect perfection especially since they use "fresh" lime juice and top shelf tequila. Not this time. All we could taste was what I assume to be sour mix, we had to order shots of tequila on the side to mix in at the average cost of $10. This is one expensive and not so tasty margarita! Also, when we arrived at our table the avocado that was sitting in the bowl ready to be turned into that great guacamole was rotten...not a good start. To top it off our meals were disappointing too. This place has an average 4 stars, you got lucky people. My vote is based on years of experiences and I will not be going back hoping to catch them on a good night anymore.
(2)James S.
I love this place, you always need a change from the seafood. Guac is amazing and I really enjoy the chips and salsa. When you need a change of pace from the local seafood eateries try this place out.
(4)Mark S.
Good, but not great Mexican, maybe because some of the ingredients seem pre-prepared. The service is usually good...unless they are busy. The decor is fine, if a little predictable. I have eaten here half a dozen times and never had a bad experience. Just never had a great one. It a nice place for group dinners in an upscale area.
(3)Valerie W.
Recently went back to this restaurant. They've changed the menu, and not for the better in my humble opinion. My poblano pepper with Piccadillo filling is now off the menu, and I'm not sure what they did to the guacamole but it had an off flavor. I couldn't eat it, and my daughter who loves guacamole could barely eat it. I wish they would go back to what they were doing before!
(4)Casey T.
One of the best happy hour deals around. Just know to ask for the special happy hour menu, because the staff doesn't always offer it (they probably make lower tips during HH, so don't be a stiff!). Delicious tacos, margaritas, and good draught beer pricing. Bonus is you can go to a movie afterwards!
(4)Stacie B.
Good fajitas and chips 'n' salsa. Restaurant is located in a nice establishment with shops, other restaurants.
(4)Shannon T.
Wonderful food. Fresh twist on some Mexican dishes. Wonderful cocktails. They make guacamole at the table side fresh. Atmosphere is wonderful. Staff is friendly. Had a great time with friends. Price is not bad. Can't wait to go again. The chicken mole was to die for!!
(5)Mathew C.
some of the best Mexican food I have ever been privileged to enjoy! The food is amazing and the Margaritas are beyond the best. Food is great and at a great value. service will be on point point and personal.
(5)Julius G.
This has to have been one of the most disrespected times I have had since I have been in the Destin area. Me and my family came in to eat around 4pm. Once we walked in nobody was at the host stand and there was 3 employees behind the bar. We stood up there for about 5mins. Never to get greeted or even acknowledged. So we took it upon ourselves to seat ourselves. We found a high top and sat down hoping somebody would notice us. So about another 5mins or so with the bar staff looking right at us and nobody comes and greets us. 2 WHITE gentleman walk in and once they walked up to the host stand one of the bartenders come around and looks straight in my face didn't say any thing and speaks to the white men at the host stand making them feel welcome while I got ignored. This right here made me feel so discriminated against and unwanted in your establishments and I guarantee I will not be back and I will be sure to tell others.
(1)Michael W.
The carnitas are the best on the menu, and they make their own guac right at the table, very tasty and best Mexican food in destin
(5)Burt B.
We had the casa margarita and cabo flip margarita which were wonderful, carnitas excellente, server was Sara who was outstanding!
(4)Justin H.
I love this chain. However, the one in Destin needs some training on customer service and food quality. Out waitress was pretty terrible. She forgot to put our drinks in, we didn't receive them until after our food came out. We ordered the fajitas which were just ok. Any other Cantina, the fajitas are spot on. Pretty disappointed with this Cantina.
(3)Brian N.
Probably my favorite spot in the greater Destin area. The beer is cold, the food is great, and the bartenders rock it out. Ashley, Heather and Amber (hubba hubba!). Additionally, the chimichanga will change your life. Seriously. I don't know every ingredient in it, but it's gotta be made with Unicorn tears and angel's hymns. It's like they have Jesus himself in the kitchen blessing every single one.
(5)Natalie S.
This place was great! I'm kind of surprised about the negative reviews regarding the service because they were VERY accommodating for my group of eight, five of which were small children. The table side guacamole was fun. My entree of spinach enchiladas were really tasty. The only negative is I felt my mixed drink didn't have much alcohol in it, but that's okay. If I make it back to Sandestin, I'll definitely be back here for dinner.
(4)Michelle S.
Fairly expensive for Mexican. We had the appetizer plate - 2 tacos very tasty, queso was cold. Skewers- shrimp was overlooked but steak was good, quesadilla was delish and jalepeno popper were delish. The sizzling brownie sundae was amazing and they present table side. Even though we didn't have entrees they just seemed a little over priced, but it is a tourist town. Def save room for dessert!
(3)D D.
I've been here twice. Staff is not too friendly or helpful. Lunch menu runs until 3pm. It was 2:40pm and they tried having us order off the dinner menu. Quite a big price increase. Nowhere on the menu does it say dinner or lunch. The only reason I knew it was wrong is I had been there before and knew the prices. The waitress said there was only one menu. I told her she was wrong and could I speak with someone else. We finally got the correct order in. The fresh catch of the day was grouper. It was excellent with grilled asparagus and rice. The chips are very thin and not oily. The drinks are a bit expensive but it is a resort town. You can still order off the lunch menu after 3pm for $1 more. Happy hour at the bar only.
(3)Todd L.
I was told by our waitress the fish tacos were the best. She was wrong. Also, one of my kids had over cooked chicken. I say this place is way overpriced for what you get. We won't be back.
(3)Happy T.
Enjoyed dinner three times in one week while on vacation. Had to return for the great food and margaritas. Had the tacos, fajitas and the grouper. All perfect. My server Jorge was 100%. Leaving tomorrow, can't wait to eat here on next years vacation.
(5)Blake B.
Of you are looking for a rich ambiance then this is your place. Servers are great. However, the food is in tiny little portions, expensive, and not that good. I could cook better. It's better off as a margarita bar.
(2)Wes M.
Good food. Good service. Great salsa. Kind of a smokey habanero taste. Great guacamole. Shrimp fajitas were very spicy. I liked them but some may think they are too hot.
(4)Elizabeth F.
Amazed by the consistency of the table-side prepared guacamole. Pleasantly surprised by the fish tacos and chipolte chicken dish and service. So happy they serve WARM chips!
(5)Edward L.
Excellent food, excellent drinks, and excellent waitstaff. The prices were not bad, especially considering this is a tourist area. Decor is very nice and modern/upscalish. Came here for dinner with several coworkers and everyone enjoyed their dishes and drinks.
(4)Caryn R.
BEST MEXICAN ever! I absolutely love this place. The guacamole is the best you will ever have. They make it fresh right in front of you. I have never had anything here that I did not like. I usually get some variety of tacos. They use to have tacos al pastor which was my favorite, but they have taken it off the menu. I tell them every time I go how much I love it, but they say that people tend to not order pork, so they took it off. The chicken tacos are great and so are the fish tacos. They serve black beans as a side with their dishes which are so much better than the typical refried beans you get at a mexican restaurant. If you ever have room for dessert, you MUST get the apple dessert! it comes out steaming hot on a iron skillet with HOMEMADE cinnamon ice cream - TO DIE FOR! LOVE LOVE LOVE this place...one of my favorite places in the Destin area.
(5)Justin M.
Wonderful fish tacos and fajitas. Everytime we come to Destin, we say we're coming back a 2nd time before we leave at end of our vacation. Great margaritas too. Guacamole fresh and made at table. Always had a top-notch, upscale Mexican meal and will continue to go back everytime we vacation in sandestin. Update--make sure and ask for flour tortillas not corn. Forgot to ask, corn was tough and chewy. Flour melts in your mouth, much better.
(5)Paula O.
We just ate here and it was amazing! Our waiter was Ernesto and he was very friendly, had great suggestions and made our evening enjoyable! The ahi tuna taco appetizer was wonderful as was the salsa- roasted veggies, yum! Not your typical cookie cutter Mexican place, much better- fresh food!
(5)Dale R.
Very good food and portions at a very good value. Everything as described and out fast. Fresh guacamole made at the table is awesome and fajitas were superb. Busy and active place.
(4)Amanda E.
5 stars for the guacamole alone! And possibly the flan. We came in with a group of 30 last weekend, and the staff was incredibly accommodating. Shout out to our waiters as I know our group was not easy to deal with. Food was DELICIOUS and margaritas were on point. I ordered the combination fajitas and would probably order these again and again. Other members of our party had tacos and enchiladas, and I believe everyone was happy. Reasonable prices for a tourist area, and the facility is beautiful.
(5)Kimberly J.
Delicious guacamole made fresh at the table. The food was tasty and we were pleased with our service. As for drinks - I totally recommend the Cabo Flip margarita.
(4)Jimmy Q.
Good food, this is not a taco shop! This place offers a nice atmosphere and fine cosmopolitan Mexican food.
(4)Louie B.
Food was very good. Now service on the other hand was okay. Having to get your own silverware and napkins is not good signs of proper management. The other funny kicker was they ran out if coke and the credit card machine was down.
(4)Ryan E.
Amazing
(5)Suzanna D.
My husband and I went here tonight for the first time, for a date night. We were impressed! I had the Casa Rita with mango which was quite yummy. I also had the top shelve guacamole with all the available ingredients that was made fresh right in front of us. None of that went to waste! I got the tacos de pescado which was very reasonably priced considering it included 3 mahi mahi tacos, rice and beans. It was delicious! My husband had the fajitas combo and really enjoyed them also. The service was great. We had a great meal here, only positive nothing negative to say about our experience. We will definitely come back.
(5)Janet S.
Mexican Fusion - expensive but given the location it has to be. Margarita $12 was good but not the best. Jicama and Mango was very tasty and went well with the artichoke and spinach enchilada. Overall another upmarket fast food joint with no soul in the food or ambiance - kind of sums up Destin really.
(2)Jen M.
I hate to ever write a negative review, but its very unfortunate that from the time we were seated basically in the middle of all the bar traffic to the time we got the bill we were less than impressed. The food was good, but way over priced and my mom ordered avocado enchiladas and was given shrimp tacos, not good for a person with a shellfish allergy. The server could have cared less. I get that the location allows to charge the higher prices but you would expect the quality service to follow. Don't plan to go back or recommend.
(2)P.j. F.
Very good. Had the taco fajitas and they were good. Good atmosphere and upbeat. Server was very nice
(4)Matt M.
We have eaten here about 4 times over the past couple years and have yet to have a bad experience. While the food is a little pricier than a lot of Mexican restaurants (especially the drinks it seems) - the quality and service do set this restaurant apart. Generally, I order the enchiladas of some sort. I've tried the plain beef and cheese enchiladas, the espinaca enchiladas (which I would have expected to contain chicken but do not) and the shrimp enchiladas. All have been quite good. This restaurant has a tex-mex type taste to it (it is from Texas) and is not what I'd call an "authentic" restaurant in the sense of the typical Mexico City type diner. Overall, I've always enjoyed the food and service at this restaurant. While it is a little pricey, beer is half the price of margaritas, and dishes such as enchiladas run 10.99-16.99 a plate.
(5)Jason A.
All I have to say is wow! My wife and I were blown away by this place. The service was excellent. The food was extremely delicious and filling. Definitely holds the top spot for Mexican foodin the panhandle! We will definitely be coming back here!
(5)Mirande E.
We went here the service was slow and wait staff were rather unfriendly. The fresh guacamole was interesting to watch but she waitress doing it was very unpleasant. I found the food to be descent nothing spectacular.
(3)Dennis T.
Excellent! Every time we come to Sandestin we visit here at least twice! Try the carnitas - fantastic with a very unique presentation - the pork is still on the shank and it is so tender and seasoned just right! Highly recommend if you like unique Mexican food!
(5)Rod M.
By far the best Mexican in the Destin area. And that's not only because it's the only decent Mexican in the area: it would be great despite that. Cantina Laredo bills itself as gourmet Mexican, which isn't strictly true since it's actually gourmet Tex-Mex. However, nearly everyone who works here is Mexican, and boy do they know their guacamole! How do I know this? Because they make it at your table, and my wife always asks them how they learned to make it. Most of them have a story about learning from their mother or grandmother when they were little. A lot of interesting discussions grow from this. The management here is genuinely outstanding and runs a tight ship. This IS a good date place (and by the way, it has several extremely girly salads that female non-Mexican eaters seem not to be able to get enough of), and a good party place, and a good everything place. The outdoor seating is great and in a beautiful setting, the bar is always full and happy, and there's plenty of indoor seating away from the bar so that you can have a quiet evening if that's what you want. That all said, if what you want is El Chico or Chuy's or On The Border, this is NOT it. And the area needs something like that (sidebar: the company that owns Cantina Laredo also owns El Chico). But alas, we'll have to make do for now. Oh, lots of great desserts too! Bottom line: great place.
(5)Tim J.
Cantina has grown on me since my move down here a few months ago. It is upscale Mexican, and I am more of a home style kinda guy when it comes to my Mexican, but this somehow works for me. They most definitely cross into south of Mexico cuisine, with a great chimichurri, but mostly just elevate classics including mole, and chile rellenos. As good as a lot of the stuff is, there have been some misses that I have gotten, and they are quite expensive compared with the competition, but I feel the quality is proportionally higher, you are paying for ambiance. If you are going on a date, and really want Mexican, this is something that is a lot better idea than heading to any of the other choices in town. I have tried quite a few things here, I fell like there a few big hits and a couple misses, including the rellenos which I feel have little flavor, but are semi authentic. Worth a try if you are in the area.
(4)Jeremy B.
Great upscale mexican joint. Cantina Laredo serves authentic Mexican dishes in a sophisticated trendy atmosphere. The large queso was good and was served as a huge portion. House Margaritas were average. Entree was the CAMARON PObLANO ASADA, it was really good. The steak seemed a little cheap but not bad. Fast service, maybe because we came in around 9ish. Dante, our server was great.
(4)Charles R.
The food and service is always good!
(4)Charlie C.
We had a great meal and time while eating here. The salsa and guacamole, which was made fresh by our table, were fantastic. Great atmosphere and service.
(5)Timothy D.
Eat there about every week.... This is only chain I will say I love
(5)Raghu M.
The food was excellent but after I drank the coffee there were 3 plastic pieces in the cup. I told the waiter and the manager. They did not seem concerned at all. Poor PR Skills
(3)Rachel A.
Loved the tableside fresh guacamole, fast service the margaritas were amazing the mango one was the best. Don't really enjoy getting carne asada at many other places but this was prepared and served great, grilled jalapeños were very good every thing about this establishment was awesome I will definitely try to come back to this place on my vacation
(5)Eric S.
Definitely have your waitstaff prepare the guacamole for you. The nachos are also recommended.
(4)Josh U.
A very strangely decorated Mexican eatery. You won't find the typical import beer signs and Mexican hats hanging on the ceiling here. The design is very modern using lots of soft colored wood. The guacamole appetizer (about $10) is pretty large and made fresh at the table by your waiter. It's a good choice to start with. Their soup is also good (their cup is the size of most bowls). For an entree I highly recommend the cheese and onion enchiladas which are great. Two salsas (one warm, one room temperature) are served with the chips.
(5)T. Nichole K.
Went for dinner with a friend. Service was horrible....We were seated quickly, waited forever after being seated. Odd, because there were plenty of staff standing around just talking to each other. A waiter finally approached our table and seemed very rushed. we ordered and again waited forever for our drinks. Chips and Salsa were good. Finally the food that we ordered was delivered. Food was cold and tasteless. Great location and atmosphere, too bad, because the food and service are horrible. Very Pricey!
(2)Michael F.
This is an upscale Mexican restaurant, and it lives up to that standard. The food is wonderful, blending flavors that complement each other. Service is efficient and genial. I think this was the best enchiladas I've ever eaten. The setting complements the experience. A nice park with a fountain adjoins, and those who ate on the patio had that added to the ambience.
(4)Leah G.
Food was either bland and or too spicy to taste. Less than spectacular service followed by a bland $25-35 dinner leaves me wishing for my neighborhood Mexican restaurant. "Not worth it" doesn't even begin to describe it. Check out any number of delicious restaurants in the surrounding area and stay away from this one!
(1)Epeeds M.
I would not recommend this place. As much as i liked the location and the atmosphere, i an'y say the same about the food.
(1)Keith P.
Fresh ingredients. Excellent atmosphere in indoor and outdoor dining areas. Guacamole prepared at your table! Love the light crisp chips. Two salsas served at the table and one is more Tex-Mex while the other is more tomatillo based with a little more Citrus zest. Plenty of nice shops in this upscale shopping/dining in the Grand Boulevard shops surrounding the restaurant.
(5)Christopher W.
Bad service and mediocre food make this restaurant a place to avoid
(2)Gwen H.
One of my favorite places in Destin. The Mango Margaritas are one of the best margaritas I've ever had. Actually all the drinks are great and strong. All the ingredients are fresh and I've never eaten anything I Didn't like!
(5)Brett S.
On vacation here each summer we dine at this location. Previous experiences have been good but this year was terrible. Our chips were very stale and when I told the waiter as much his response was "they all taste like that?!". The experience went downhill from there with this argumentative waiter who was more concerned with eating with the other employees on opposite side of restaurant than taking care of this table of 14. Food was just ok which was another huge disappointment considering the restaurant's high price points. Oh and another added bonus....the automatic 20% tip this jackass received for his terrible service due to our parties size.
(1)Megan R.
Favorite mexican restaurant in destin! The homemade guacamole is a must! Margaritas are great as well (usually my drink tab ends up costing me more than my meal!) Would consider this the pf changs of Mexican food.
(4)Ramona W.
Great upscale Mexican. The guacamole prepared table side could use a little work - they do not request if you like mild, medium, or hot. It was kind of dry and needed more heat (& flavor actually with more red onions). The queso on the other hand is a must to order! I tried their shrimp enchiladas with the poblano sour cream sauce. It was very good but a little rich. It needed another flavor to try to balance the richness. Others I dined with tried their Carne Asada with the bacon wrapped shrimp which was amazing. The steak was quite tender & had a delicious marinade. And of course you can never mess up bacon-wrapped shrimp! The drinks are really the star of the show. The classic margarita is great! I tried their blackberry smash which included fresh blackberries and mint. It was not overly sweet and packed a powerful punch. For Destin I would rate this as 4-star. For a bigger city with more options I would have to lower the ranking. If you're looking for a nice Mexican dinner it is a must hit when you're in Destin!
(4)Shelly H.
The menu looked great, but when the food came, it was a huge disappointment. It was cold and bland. The chips and salsa was the best part of the meal.
(2)Nicole S.
Being from Southeast Texas I have plenty of chioces for Mexican food. Not so much here in Destin. Since there is a Cantina Laredo in Houston we gave it a shot. Not so impressed. Overpriced and not the best but apparently one of the best Destin has to offer.. I will refrain from Mexican Food while out here.
(2)Brandi G.
Awesome place awesome food great service! Top shelf guacamole is a must!
(5)Andrea W.
Worst food ever! My chicken enchiladas tasted like the chicken came straight from a tin can, tortillas from the grocery store and the sauce was just melted sour cream. There was no flavor or complexity to the dish. Others at the table had cold entrees and bland dishes and the queso tasted like Velveeta. It is a crime to advertise this place as a Mexican restaurant.
(1)James S.
There's aren't too many mexican restaurants in the area so Cantina sits on top of a scant few. They make fresh guacamole at your table -- a nice treat.
(4)Jessica R.
Happy Cinco De Mayo to me! $5.00 Margaritas! All of the specialty ritas were between $8.00 and 13.00. I had one with blackberry and pomegranate, and the house rita. My friend had the mango. Both were good. Guacamole made at the table was fab, Tortilla soup was very good. I will be back!
(4)Diane G.
yes. finally a mexican restaurant with an upscale atmosphere and a very reasonable price! if u like guacomole you simply must try it here! a cant miss for the area!
(5)Michael S.
This place is way overpriced for what you get. I'm from Kansas City, and we have MUCH better Mexican food for half the price. We also were unfortunate to get a rogue waiter one night. The manager did comp the meal and had other complaints about the waiter that night. The decor is beautiful for a Mexican restaurant. The shopping district is lovely at night. I ate here 3 times while staying in Destin for a work project. I kept hoping it would get better. I tried something different each time. It was all pretty boring, but I have to say the steak fajitas were pretty good.
(3)steve p.
I'm not sure if the cool atmosphere is fooling my taste, but food was great.
(4)Kim M.
The description says not good for kids...NOT SO! We had a 3 and 7 Yr old with us and the wait staff was very attentive ---- made us a burrito for one that was off the menu, and even put a sparkler on her chocolate cake (it was not a birthday dinner!). Great food, service was a bit slow, but our waiter also took the "skinny margaritas" off of our bill when we said we didn't care for them. All in all highly recommended for a dinner while vacationing in Destin FL. Try the guacamole, Mole Chicken Enchiladas and Fajitas...all very good!
(4)Gaetanino P.
Watery Margaritas. Slow bar service. Microwaved TV dinner style Mexican. Tough tortilla, dry chicken. Menu said cheese relleno on combo plate and we gor beef and raisin. The service was good and the Mexican apple pie was incredible. Overpriced and unsatisfying. Everyone I visit this area I am impressed with the number of new dining options, but still hard to find quality food here.
(2)Josh T.
We have eaten here twice in sucessive years. We find that this is some of the best Mexican food we've had. It's not your typical Mexican experience. The dishes are unique. They serve two different kind of salsa(both good). This has become one of the spots added to the list of must eats when we go to Destin. If it's not too hot I highly recxend sitting at the outside eating area.
(5)Jeffrey M.
Dined here for lunch, very upscale Mexican food, everything was delicious! You have to get the table side guacamole. Cheese dip was nice as well. Enchiladas with chicken and spinach were some of the best I've had. We also enjoyed their Cabo Margarita. We dined outdoors on their patio and had very attentive service. I would highly recommend it!
(5)Tamara T.
This is an upscale Mexican eatery in Grand Boulevard shopping center. It's a beautiful restaurant, and the staff is very attentive. We started with their special margarita of the day, which was way too tart, and seemed very weak alcohol-wise. The chips and salsa hit the table right after sitting down. We liked the choice of two different salsas, one hot and one cold. Both were very good. We ordered the fresh guacamole, which was prepared table-side, and was absolutely delish. My main course was the spinach enchilada, and that's where they really dropped the ball. I was expecting freshly sauteed spinach with mushrooms, oozing with jack cheese. The reality was what tasted like canned spinach, with a token mushroom or two, no cheese inside, and covered with a bland white sauce that didn't resemble cheese in taste or appearance. We probably won't go back, unless we're really craving that fresh guac!
(3)Jeff D.
The Sunday Brunch Menu was quite a deal. Our selections included excellent traditional breakfast dishes with a refined Mexican twist. Cantina went above and beyond with fresh fruit in a cinnamon crisp and complimentary bloody maria or mimosa.
(4)