The Velvet Cactus
7655 Old Hammond Hwy, Baton Rouge, LA, 70809
The Velvet Cactus Menu
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Visit below restaurant in Baton Rouge for healthy meals suggestion.
Visit below restaurant in Baton Rouge for healthy meals suggestion.
Visit below restaurant in Baton Rouge for healthy meals suggestion.
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Address :
7655 Old Hammond Hwy
Baton Rouge, LA, 70809 - Phone (225) 227-2563
- Website https://www.thevelvetcactus.com/
- Click To Get Directions
Opening Hours
- Mon :4:30 pm - 9:00pm
- Mon : 4:30 pm - 9:00pm
Specialities
- Takes Reservations : No
Delivery : No
Take-out : Yes
Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Good For : Brunch, Dinner
Parking : Private Lot
Bike Parking : Yes
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 : No
Categories
Mexican Cuisine
If you enjoy Taco Tuesday, then you have officially fallen in love with the Mexican Food. The main grain of Mexican cuisine is maize. Also known as corn, maize is grown for the past 9000 years after the crop was discovered by the people in Mayan civilization. Mexican empire flourished when they started growing beans, tomatoes, chili pepper, sweet potato and cactus. Till this date these ingredients are used in cooking authentic Mexican dishes and drinks.
Great use of spices, fresh chili pepper dishes like fajitas, tortilla chips, corn chips, salsa, chimichangas, burritos, nachos and quesadillas are invented in America. But when you are looking for authentic Mexican food then you must find a restaurant in the city that serves Rajas con Queso, Garbanzo in a Guajillo Chile Sauce, Pork Filled Chiles Rellenos, Chiles en Nogada, Molcajete Salsa, Pico de Gallo and Frijoles de la Olla. An eye-opening fact – Mexican don't like their food hot. They use fresh chili and other spices to create a flavor that lingers in your mouth.
Mexican food is great for those who are Gluten Intolerant as they use Corn instead of wheat in most of their dishes. Also, you can easily find many beans based Mexican dishes. Another dish which didn't get similar glory as tacos or nachos is the Mexican hot chocolate. If you love something hot on a chilly day, then go for Mexican Hot Chocolate. On merry days, you can enjoy the authentic Mexican Drinks like Tequila, Mezcal, Tecuí, Sotol, Bacanora, Charanda, Posh O Pox, Puebla and Pulque. Mexican Cuisine is for people who enjoy strong drinks and hearty meals.
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Amy W.
Ambiance was great. Art was cool to look at while eating. Service, however, was lackluster and the food was SO DISAPPOINTING. Our server, even though she was friendly, asked us for our order after providing us with water and we said we may need a minute to decide. Well a minute turned into about 20 minutes before she came back to take our order. The queso was yummy. I ordered the cabo quesadillas but all I tasted was huge chunks of mango and a crap ton of corn. No flavoring. My girlfriend ordered a shrimp taco that was really watery and needed flavor. Hope the food improves because otherwise it would probably be a nice place to hang out!
(2)Elizabeth B.
Good food, friendly and fast service, extreme lack of parking and crowded feel! We went around 5:15 to attempt to beat the crowd and although we got a table immediately we had to park on the far side of the neighboring parking lot. Handicap parking is also limited if you are planning to go with someone of limited mobility but besides the booths I believe they have a level surface throughout. Chips and salsa were good but different- the salsa is served warm and has good flavor, the chips are nice and crisp but a bit heavier than other local places. We also had mainly tiny broken pieces in our chip basket but that is likely luck of the draw. Everyone in my group got tortilla soup as part of the meal and we all enjoyed it but noted that it was different than we had eaten anywhere else. Good flavor. I had enchiladas and a taco as one of the plates although I can't remember the name. Chicken enchilada was good, shrimp enchilada left something to be desired with small shrimp that just didn't have much flavor. I had the gringo taco as part of my meal as well and it had good flavor but nothing to write home about. If you are ordering for children the regular ground meat for the tacos may be a bit spicy so keep that in mind. Overall, good food, good prices, fun atmosphere.
(4)Sofia Z.
Great atmosphere, customer service, and food. The staff is very welcoming and management very proactive. Friendly environment!!!
(5)Gina C.
TL;DR- Go for the margaritas and tacos and sit in Darrel's section! I want to start this review by saying the food was okay. Just okay! For all the hype surrounding this place, I think the strength lies in the atmosphere, the drinks, and the service. We had a party of 2 that arrived at 5:45 on a Thursday and I found *literally* the last parking space 4 buildings away behind a dental office. There was an hour wait for a table outside, but no wait for a table inside. Our table ended up being right next to the garage-style open doors so it's like we dined outside anyway. The atmosphere was GREAT. A nice rocky water feature outside, beautiful paintings on the walls, Bob Marley style music pumping through the speakers rather than the typical Tejano of a Mexican restaurant, and the breeze coming in was nice. I could see why the parking lot was full...until we ordered. The salsa was fine, but had a chipotle edge to it and is served warm. The queso was fine. My friend got the Mayan quesadillas (filled with slow-cooked shredded pork and pineapple salsa), a Velvet Steak Taco, and I got the chicken fajitas. The quesadillas were mostly pineapple and the pork had no flavor; however my friend said the taco was pretty damn good. The chicken fajitas tasted more like chipotle rubbed blackened chicken. It wasn't bad, but not "fajita" flavored. The yellow rice was bland, the black beans were good. Overall, meh on the food. I'm saving the best for last- our waiter Darrel was fantastic! He had a huge smile and was more than happy to guide a couple of first timers through the menu. He recommended a strawberry jalapeño margarita that was incredible (best part of the meal), and took his time explaining specials and menu options. With a packed house, he never rushed us. I'm a 10 year service industry veteran and Darrel is a gem.
(3)Marc C.
First time visit with a group of six. Was able to try a wide variety of the menu. Everyone was pleased with everything. I had the fish taco and the shrimp taco which were awesome. The cheese grits were outstanding. The tortilla soup was different than any other and it worked. Love this place
(5)Meghan K.
My new favorite place to get mexican in town. A lot of it has to do with the atmosphere, but the food is enjoyable as well. I LOVE the patio. I could sit out there all damn day. I like they have a little game this kids can play out there. My younger son was loving playing by the water as well. I like that they serve the salsa warm. I was starving and wanted to get an appetizer. I considered the ceviche but it's made with tilapia. No thank you. My oldest son did not enjoy the kids nachos. He's so picky! I got the pork quesadilla except with chicken. It was great although a little greasy. I couldn't take it home because the bottom of the tortilla was soaked. The taco salad is huge and good. My dad has the beef enchiladas and enjoyed them. He's easy to please. On a previous trip, my family of 4 split the family grill platter and it was great. It's a ton of food! Their cheese grits are some of the best I've EVER had. I have tried a couple of their margaritas and wasn't too thrilled. I finally found one where I could taste the tequila and enjoyed the flavor (cucumber jalapeño). I wish they were open for lunch everyday.
(4)Chris Y.
Food is good, I enjoyed the quesadillas, and tacos that my wife and I ordered. Portions are appropriate for the $ amount. House margarita is from a mix, and the ratio isn't quite right. I've heard they also have healthier naked margaritas, which I'll try the next time I go.... Once the summer hits, there won't be a long wait because of all the outside seating. Until then, it's a little cramped inside.
(4)AshLee S.
My partner and I liked the atmosphere; however, the chairs outside are a bit annoying. Our waiter was rather short with us and seemed to be too busy. The salsa is served warm, which is a turn off to me (though my boyfriend liked it). The food was a bit overpriced and the portions were small. Overall, they new to get their act together, until I'll be back anytime soon. Solid 2.5 Stars.
(2)JB L.
Thanks for reading... First of all I ALWAYS tell the goods and the bads, (pros/cons) and let me just start off with the goods... This place LOOKS amazing.. The art inside is beautiful and from various artist and it is a very busy casual Mexican college-kid type hangout atmosphere. The service is fairly quick and the art is also for sale. NOW lets move on to the BADS... The food. First and fore-most; people go to restaurant to eat food. I'm not joking when I say that the salsa here taste EXACTLY like Albertsons salsa... like they just went and bought salsa from Albertsons. I ordered chicken fajitas. The chicken ALSO tasted like it came from albertsons (poor quality) and had a high water content which is a dead give-away for injected chicken.. They also DUMP like a half cup of those nasty ass pickled jalapenos (the ones movie theaters and gas stations use). To me this is SLAP in the face to Hispanic cuisine... I mean 'REAL' mexican/spanish food is all about fresh peppers, GOOD quality food and spices and not some cheap movie theater jalapenos and water/chemical injected chicken. If you want to come here JUST for art and maybe a few drinks then by all means come. But don't eat the "Mexican" food. I was highly disappointed and its not for me. I pay very close attention to quality. THE only reasons and I mean ONLY reason I give 2 stars is because the art is amazing.
(2)Tricia G.
Fun atmosphere and great food! I enjoyed the chef's special tacos, which were pulled pork with pickled onions, sweet and sour pickles and cole slaw. So delish. But, for me, the best thing I ate by far was the cheesy grits. Wonderfully spicy and smooth. Amazing. Also loved the cucumber and jalepeno margarita. Unusual and refreshing. Can't wait to return here!
(4)Steve C.
Delicious meal, ample portions, distracted servers. The Velvet Cactus' New Orleans location was near my house when I lived on the Lakefront, so I was delighted to watch as they built and opened their Baton Rouge restaurant near my residence in this city as well. While it's fun to see that the BR location pretty much mimics the NOLA one in every way, the important details were to be revealed in the cuisine. Fortunately, the cleverly contrived menu selections have been transported to BR as has excellent food quality in ample portions. Hits at the table included the massive Fried Chicken Burrito, which is a behemoth construction that includes the chicken, rice, and beans. One of the diners accompanying me declared it scrumptious and virtually licked the platter clean. I enjoyed the Cochinita Pibil, a braised pork served with pineapple, pickled onions, and fragrant yellow rice. The ingredients worked beautifully together creating a satisfying (indeed too much so!) lunch dish. Per expectation, the restaurant was busy, but we didn't wait for a table. The service was spotty. Our server was friendly and accommodating and mostly attentive to refills. However, our entrees arrived at different times (a pet peeve of mine), and there seemed to be ongoing confusion over which diner was to receive which drink. Both of the servers who dealt with our table seemed distracted. Nonetheless, Baton Rouge's Velvet Cactus gets high marks for creativity and quality. There is no doubt that it will be a frequent destination for me now that it's once again nearby.
(4)Teri H.
Have the dumbest policy ever.. Can't sit on patio "bar tables" and order food.. And staff is confused about their own policy.. Management inflexible as we were attempting to sit there during a rain storm. Food only so so, and motif looks like a horror movie..
(3)Malaiika G.
The food was ok but the service was great. It was a creative atmosphere. I didn't like the fact that the Mexican food wasn't authentic.
(2)K K.
Delicious drinks! Quick and fantastic service. I suggest the mint watermelon deliciousness. We will return!
(5)Missy A.
Don't go if you have a larger group and small children. We are visiting Louisiana from Utah and got together with some friends I grew up with. Since I don't see them often, I was excited to get together with them. However, the wait was so long for a table it went into my son's bed time and he was done before we were even seated. So let's just say it wasn't very enjoyable when my usually sweet and even-tempered little boy could not stop crying. We were told it was a 45 minute-1 hour wait. We were fine with that. But it was 2 hours. We would have gone elsewhere had we known that. I will give the manager credit for being apologetic and giving us two free appetizers. That's the reason for two stars and not just one. I was initially given the wrong order... then realized someone else at my table had my burrito. Then the burrito was supposed to be made without onions and it was covered in them. And it wasn't even a good burrito. The food was bland and just didn't taste right for the type of food you usually find in Louisiana. Needless to say we were disappointed in the food, the ridiculous wait in the cold and the fact that we paid nearly $60 for a meal we barely took 5 bites of. And feeling as if we barely got any decent time with my friends where we weren't trying to entertain the kids outside in the waiting area. Not worth it in my book. If rather have gone to raising cane's...
(2)Melanie G.
Great atmosphere and food. We waited 45 minutes on a Saturday. .so typical wait time. I tried the fried chicken burrito (exploded). Great tasting burrito with fried chicken, rice, beans,etc. Yummy! Definitely worth trying. The chefs special was the shrimp poboy taco. You get maybe 3-4 shrimp. Sounds better than it tastes. Kids chicken strip meal...only 2 tenders per plate. I thought they could have had one more..but you do get 2 sides. Cheese grits are awesome!! Margaritas definitely have kick! !
(4)Janet R.
I really enjoyed the food here. The queso dip as the appetizer and the steak fajita meal were delicious. I liked the atmosphere (very eclectic - reminded me of the Rum House decor) and the waiter was very attentive. Will visit again when the mood for Mexican food strikes.
(4)Kathy M.
Nothing special here. The food and margaritas was decent though slightly overpriced. It had cute decor but our waiter was young and seemingly nervous. I think there's better places to eat in baton rouge for sure.
(3)Steven W.
Food tasted great. But... Everything was cold except for the beans. Grilled vegetables. Cold. Conchila plate with rice- cold. Cold dry pork and cold rice. Not the thought should come to table. Again, the flavor profile is great, but cold. Can't wait to warm it up at home.
(3)Sonia S.
I went to Velvet Cactus a few weeks after they opened for happy hour with my girlfriends. We were seated by a waitress and someone who was shadowing her. The waitress was not very friendly, even after we made some conversation with her about it being our first time at this location. We started with chips and salsa and ordered a round of margaritas. The salsa was not my favorite- it was served hot, like the one at Fuzzy's sometimes is. The chips tasted like they were from a bag, not like restaurant style chips. Thankfully, my margarita was muy delicioso! I ordered the lower calorie "naked" margarita. Though the menu says it doesn't taste as good as a regular, I found it perfect (and strong!). My friends and I ordered food, a queso to split and I got the vegetarian taco- it had mushrooms, gouda, pine nuts, and truffle oil. I thought it seemed like an odd combination but there are not many vegetarian options on the menu and I like all of those things separately so I decided to give it a try. The queso was good- just what I'd expect from any Mexican restaurant. The taco arrived and it was absolutely covered with pine nuts- like at least 1/3 cup of pine nuts on a single taco. I scraped most of them off and tried the taco. I very rarely complain about food and I am not a picky eater, but this was just horrible. The pine nuts were rancid and had a terrible aftertaste. The combination of mushrooms with gouda and truffle oil was not good at all. I ended up eating a bit of the tortilla and leaving the majority of the food behind. The waitress never asked how our food was and didn't comment on my barely-touched food when she cleared my plate. Overall, I'll probably be back for a margarita to enjoy on the patio once the weather warms up. I don't think I would eat here again.
(2)Bob M.
Very popular so expect a wait. Brightly colored and high energy. Somewhat standard menu but with lots of interesting and unusual twists. Started with frozen margaritas which were good, nothing really special. I added a shot of habanero infused tequila as a side. A sip was very spicy, don't think I would recommend oral sex immediately after, but added to the frozen, not so much. The standard salsa is different, but very good. Chipotle. Also have a salsa verde which was warm, but nothing special. One of us ordered fish tacos which came dressed with coleslaw and were very good. I ordered cheese enchilada, shrimp enchilada, marked spicy, and a pork pibil taco with a side cup of tortilla soup instead of the usual sides. The star was the tortilla soup which was great. The enchiladas only soso. Good place. Will be interesting to see how it matures.
(4)Kathi B.
After reading up on Chef Roots and reading diner reviews I expected better. The chef is a Johnson & Wales grad and cooked at the James Beard House. The smoked pork tamales were dry. The manchego Cesar salad was soaked in heavy dressing rendering it inedible IMO. My husband enjoyed the chicken Pablo but we will not return.
(2)Victor G.
First I will have to say do not go on a busy day. The hostess will tell you it's about 30 min wait when really it's over an hour wait. Once we got seated the service was good. Their chips and salsa was good. I had the chicken and steak fajitas which I can say I had better. They do serve you plenty of food so that was a plus. If asked if I would go back, I would have to say yes but only if I do not have to wait to be seated.
(3)Isabelle D.
There isn't a wait that's why we decided to eat here. Service is awful!! I came in asked for orange juice. Our waiter told me that they don't have orange juice. Yet, they are serving mimosas and mixed drinks with orange juice. I asked him again, and he said actually we do have orange juice. Then it took them 30 mins to get our drinks out, and other hour and half to get our food. Finally got my chicken tortilla soup. And it taste like soy sauce. Wow!!! I don't see me back anytime soon. The manager is useless too.
(1)Katie C.
Great outdoor seating area and patio. Very cool vibe, however I was not impressed with the food. Actually, no one in our party of 9 was. Parking was horrible and there was a 1.5 hour wait- I will cut them some slack as it was a Saturday night and we had a large party. The outdoor bar was packed. I ordered the shrimp burrito, which was mostly filled with rice and had maybe 6 shrimp in the entire meal. It was mediocre at best. Large portion for the price, but if we return to Velvet Cactus, I will order something different. Would likely go back at a less crowded time for drinks with friends, as the atmosphere was probably the bright spot of this restaurant.
(2)Dakota K.
Mad props to these guys for the amazing presentation that they make with this restaurant! It seemed like they worked on the building for a year and you can see why when you get there. Very nice details in the decorating and just a interesting theme overall. Also the menu was very cool with way out of the norm combinations and well thought out recipes. The fried green tomatillos where very nice! I only had two complaints, our food was cold and it was a tad spicy for us. The service was good and we really enjoyed the experience.
(5)Chase D.
Great atmosphere, great margaritas, good wait staff and the food tastes great, although it is a little clunky and needs refinement.
(4)Sonja C.
I went here with a group of six people. We sat in the patio. The drinks were good, but the food was not. Both the flautas and the quasidillas were filled with chicken that was dark meat and had a weird seasoning taste. The manager did comp our meal but I don't think he wanted too. Stick to the drinks and chips.
(2)Donna B.
Fun, funky atmosphere and delicious food. Ceviche was good, needed a little more lime and salt for my taste, the server was very accommodating to provide those quickly. We ordered the Mixed Grill Family Platter, the Ribs were amazing, shrimp were great, chicken fajitas were very good. The only thing we weren't crazy about was the steak fajitas, it had a decent flavor but was a little tough. It's not the typical carne asada type fajitas, it's like steak that is thinly sliced and cooked in fajita seasoning. We will definitely go back, I'm going to be dreaming about those Ribs!
(4)Tom R.
Stopped in to meet friends and this place seems like somewhere I'd hangout at if I lived in BR. The patio looks big and inviting- just the peak of the summer is not the best time to sit out there. Our server (Ryland?) was great- attentive balanced with giving us time to drink and catch up with friends. Margaritas as pretty good- and probably much more tasty when on Happy Hour (which is m-f only). Free chips and salsa (can't go wrong there) and the quesadilla looked awesome. We had the ceviche, which was ok, though self-admitting my I'm very particular about ceviche (having been ruined by Peru). I'd be back in a heartbeat.
(4)Chris C.
First off, I love the outdoor patio. The water fountain adds a nice ambiance. The restaurant was full, but just a short 5 minute wait for an area seating 10 people. We skipped the appetizers and went straight to the entrees. I ordered the cheese enchiladas and had chips and salsa while waiting. The chips had a strange, salty flavor to them. It wasn't bad, just different. It did not take long to get the food out. My wife had hard shell tacos. On her first bite, grease dripped off the taco and landed straight onto her shirt. She didn't care for the taste and did not finish her meal. My chhese enchiladas were not bad. I think if I were to go back, I'd order something different. A couple seated next to us had gotten what looked like a beef burrito and it was huge. I really think the patio stole the show on this visit.
(4)Prisha P.
Not a fan of the food at all. Guacamole was ok.. def needed more lime and salt.. tasted bland. Chicken tortilla soup was ok.. it was extremely over salted... Fried Chicken Burrito was a huge disappointment. It needs more taste in it.. everything inside of it tasted so mushy and plain. Tacos/Quesadilla were ok.. very plain and simple.. nothing out of the ordinary... There are much better mexican restaurants in the area.. Ambiance is really nice though and drinks are decent so good place for that but food wise there is a better selection elsewhere...
(2)Melody N.
I really enjoyed the atmosphere, service, food and drinks. The menu had a lot of variety, the patio was nice with cooling misters, and the drinks were unique. We celebrated my birthday here with friends and the waitress even wore a party hat with us. They were great and I'll be back! Great salsa too! Only downsides, the ceviche was a little bland, the queso was your average queso (and super thick,) I tried my friends fried chicken burrito and the chicken tasted a little dry. My husbands tacos were ok, not bad. There's a lot of wow factor to the atmosphere and menu variety, and it's not fully delivered with the flavor, it has more potential. With that being said, I think everyone will enjoy it and I'll be back.
(4)Jannean D.
Spice and personality are the keywords for this new Baton Rouge establishment. The outdoor area is beautiful. The pond and fountain is really cool. The interior is very eclectic! There is local art of every sort adorning the walls of the dining room. Nothing is the same - walls are in interesting sections. The ceiling is the same way, very mixed media. So much to look at! Once you finish looking around the room, open the menu! There are interesting combinations of Mexican cuisine. My lunch companion and I started with the queso and chips. It was a good choice except that I ate way too many!!! For lunch I had the fish tacos. They are stuffed absolutely full of fresh, fun ingredients. Don't order these if you don't like produce! They are chock full of fresh slaw and pico. The sauce is delicious and the fish was cooked nicely. I ordered the slaw and the chipotle grits for side items. The grits were SPICY. Beware and know what you're ordering! Fire grits!! The slaw, sadly, I didn't get to eat because I was stuffed!! In short - I'd go here again!
(4)Katherine R.
A great place to enjoy with friends, however the salsa is gross. For me I think the salsa is the first selling point on any Mexican restaurant and this salsa has an aweful taste. The other menu options are very tasty however most can be a little pricy. The saff is very attentive and interactive making the busy dinner rush feel more homely. Our server was Kelly, don't let her brightly colored hair scare you off. This server knows her stuff. She made excellent recommendations and even helped us when our 18 month old son got a little too fussy. That's not something you see or expect in a resuarant and the fact that she took even a minute to help us was a blessing.
(3)Keith M.
After two tries here I am in the not returning camp. I just don't get it unless having a funky name and expensive art on the walls is the hallmark of a top notch culinary experience, $11 "house" margs are decent but better be at these prices. Had to return some of the more "froofy" cocktails we ordered as they tasted like nothing more than a red fizzy liquid. Weird. Beef fajitas were the weirdest meat I have ever encountered on this particular dish and burritos are largely rice and beans with a little protein thrown in to make you think you are getting your money's worth. Service is a bit on the inconsistent side as well but they are a busy crew usually. So loud you might not hear a jet engine start up inside. Bottom line, I just don't feel it when I leave here and if I am not planning my next trip in when I visit a place then I am not a big fan. Sorry to say.
(2)Latrina R.
I've been waiting to write my review on this place because I felt I was biased because the one in NOLA is my all time favorite restaurant. Well, after many visits, I realized that this location can stand on its own reputation! The food is awesome and the drinks keep you happy. Let's first talk about the nightly drink specials. Where else can you go and every night you are lured in with a new discounted special for drinks?? I especially love Tuesday and Wednesday nights. Tuesday they have a $11 grand margarita for $7.... Great deal! Wednesday they have 2 for 1 and you can really have a great time :-) The food is amazing. The tacos are worth every calorie going in. You have to try the guacamole which is made fresh and very awesome. Overall this is a great place to eat and hang out!
(5)Brad V.
I enjoyed the decor and I am sure it will be a relaxing place to have food & drinks in the patio area once the weather warms up. As for the food, my table was not impressed. My food overall was too salty. I got the 2 taco 2 side: beef and pork. Beef taco was good, pork taco = greasy, and SALTY! I had to drink half a glass of water after eating half of it. The cheese grits had a layer of oil in the bottom. My wife said her fish taco smelled 'unpleasant' (putting that one really nicely). And, they gave a small amount of shrimp while layering on strong toppings. This is a new location, so maybe they are working on things still. Maybe we just ordered the wrong things. But, we found it a bit pricey especially for the experience. So, I doubt we will be back until we hear some honestly better feedback.
(3)Kilbert P.
Great locale, GREAT food, wonderful service, and terrific margaritas. Kitchen was entirely too slow. Waited over one hour and 15 minutes for the food to arrive at the table. Might come back in a couple of months to see if they have ironed out all the kinks in the kitchen
(4)Sabrina V.
Ambiance, art, margaritas, fresh ingredients, delicious menu, huge portions, and friendly staff --This place has it all! Whatever your taste buds maybe thinking you will sure to be satisfied at The Velvet Cactus. On my first visit to the Baton Rouge location, I was enticed to purchase (and keep) the skull mug. It holds two frozen margaritas. Get there before 6:30 for Happy Hour Specials!! I always start off with one of those! The margaritas are top notch...not too salty, not too tart, not too sweet--frozen consistency is perfect. I've enjoyed several menu items each having rich, distinct flavors. I would start off with the Ceviche served in a huge martini glass over romaine. It is simply delightful and light. The chicken fajitas are always my go to at a Mexican/Tex-Mex restaurant. The portions are huge, enough for tomorrow's lunch. I've also enjoyed the Mixed Grill which includes a skewer of veggies, ribs, pulled pork, and fajita chicken, goddddddddd what else? It is a mountain of food. Scroll through my photos and just see! While you are drinking and/or dining, feast your eyes on the gallery of art that encompasses the walls of this establishment. All art is open to buy. And if you are an artist, give them a call, show 'em what you got. Your piece may reign on their wall one day soon!
(5)Chantel V.
I had high expectations based off of the heavy foot traffic and wait but the best part of my experience was the atmosphere. I enjoyed the art work on display on the walls and even the unique lighting in the bar. The outside area is very cutesy with a fountain and dim evening lighting. Service was satisfactory, no complaints there, but the food...for me, was dismal. I ordered the enchiladas plate. For my sides I had the black means and rice. The enchilada was dry and lacking in flavor. The beans were a bit runny and I don't think the had any relative or identifiable flavor. I was famished so I ate about a fourth of my food but the rest was a waste. I know Im accustomed to California mexican cuisine so perhaps my expectations are a smidge higher but this was not what I expected.
(3)Kristen V.
Great atmosphere! Loved the mango in the quesadilla and the jalapeño in my margarita. One downside: spotty service. To be fair I went when they first opened. Looking forward to giving it another try!
(3)John G.
If not for the great service, margaritas and atmosphere I would give The Velvet Cactus only one star. I have been four times since it opened, and as much as I love the concept - I hate the food. The guacamole is chunky and chock-full of onions. Burnt roasted tomato salsa - yuck. The Tex Mex Eggrolls are greasy. The Smoked Pork Tamales are tart and strange. The "Exploded" Fajita Burrito is a sloppy mess. The Steak and Chicken Fajita was tough with mushy onions and bell peppers. Great margaritas but expensive. After living in Southern California for many years, I can tell you that this is not good Mexican Food. I feel that the owners and chefs are trying to hard to do something unique with the spices and flavors, but it doesn't work. If they were to have more authentic flavors and textures to their food - I think this would be the perfect place to go for a nice evening out.
(2)Jona G.
They don't take reservations so if you go on the weekend with a large party expect to wait. The restaurant seems about the same size on the inside as the patio seating so it seems rather small. I went on a Saturday night got there around 7 with a party of five and they quoted a 1-1.5hour.. It took over 1.5hrs. The one fault I would rate poorly was the host. Firstly, our alert holder went off to let us know we were going to be seated... Then to find out they messed up and it was for a party of two...So we waited, got margaritas, waited, and waited. I went to let him know it'd been over 1.5hrs and he says "well we can't make people leave" in a unnecessarily harsh tone. He's right...but he needs to learn how to speak to clientele in a conductible manner. The frozen margaritas were yummy. They have top shelf, house, and a sugar free one.. The main two are made with agave and I like agave. I originally bought a house margarita because the top shelf frozen machine wasn't working. I tried the top shelf next and it was pretty good hard to tell the difference. They are only two dollars difference in price, house was 7.46$ and top was 10$ish I think. The chips and salsa were good although I was really hungry after the wait and had already had a margarita... My boyfriend didn't like the salsa. To me it was more a chipotle dark salsa. They told me they have a verde salsa too, but my boyfriend doesn't like that. I'll have to try that next time. So we got queso it was a white cheese and I liked that too. My boyfriend and I shared fajitas that were good, but I was mostly already full from chips and margaritas. The strips of meat were longer and bigger than normal but may have worked out better since I usually overstuff the tortilla. I wanted chicken or shrimp and I let my boyfriend choose another. He said steak but after he got it he told me he had wanted chicken not the steak. I knew I wouldn't like the steak...beef is always too chewy to me unless it's filet mignon. My boyfriend said the chicken was better than the steak and he wouldn't get the steak again. For our sides we got refried beans and the other borracho? Beans that my boyfriend wanted to try. The borracho ones were pinto with dos Equis, chipotle and other stuff. We liked both of the sides. The refried beans were fantastic since they had hidden cheese in them ;). Highly recommend this restaurant. I want to try their brunch too because they have shrimp and grits and I was able to try the cheese grits from my friends side they were yumm I forgot to take a pic of their mon-thurs drink specials list. If I remember correctly Wednesday was buy 1 margarita get two and Thursday was 5$ house margaritas. I think... I don't remember the other two at all. I'll need to update my review after my next visit to see if the wait/host has improved. I'll keep y'all posted!
(5)Kurt B.
Top shelf on the rocks was good. I got the large first and a regular second. I poured the small ones liqueur into the large glass with no ice and it filled it back up so don't bother paying for the large unless you want to pay $3 more to rent a larger looking glass. Got the cabo quesadilla, shrimp mix filling was ok but too much liquid and since the tortilla was not cooked enough it was a mushy mess. Salsa is served steaming hot. It has no flavor of spice to it. The good thing is you will not fill up on chips and salsa waiting for your meal. The only real bright thing was Victoria, our waitress, she was very friendly and on top of things.
(2)Wendy R.
WARNING!!!! THERE IS NO BRUNCH ON SUNDAYS! The website and their facebook says they open at 11 and have a whole brunch menu. In fact when you drive up to the restaurant, it is suspiciously closed with a sign indicating they open Mon-Sun at 4:30. Don't cry at the gate- there is no one inside to make you brunch. Don't try to talk other disappointed patrons into starting a drum circle in the parking lot- also does not beget brunch. Lastly, do not try to talk the local birds and squirrels into opening the kitchen and rustling up some brunch- they are still a gun-shy from the recent construction and the sounds of patrons enjoying this restaurant for dinner. And also, you guessed it, still no bruch. With a broken heart and many tears- we walked across the street and had a lovely brunch at Beausoliel.
(1)Mabyn S.
Other people love what they consider a "high end" Mexican restaurant. If you want a fun atmosphere, this is a good choice. I can see where folks will enjoy being in the bar and we sat outside which was nice. The food was not something I'll ever go back for. I didn't even care for the menu to be honest. It was hard to order. We have lots of Mexican places in this city and I'll stick with those. The service was okay.
(2)V. E.
Fun atmosphere! Drinks all looked good. Our food came out very fast but wasn't super hot which was surprising. Maybe their heat lamps weren't on. Didn't matter because the food was still very good. Our server checked on us several times. We will definitely be back to try more!
(4)Karen A.
YUM-my! We has passed by this place a few times, and didn't have time to stop and go in then. Now, I'm glad we made the time this weekend to check this place out. I really enjoyed my meal. I had more than my share of chips and salsa they bring to the table as soon as you sit down. It's interesting, the salsa is served warm, which I think enhances the flavor of the roasted peppers in the salsa. The chips are very light and not too salty, so that was a good start. I ordered this mango and citrus salad, and asked to substitute the normal dressing for this very yummy cilantro-mango vinaigrette dressing. Had a side of plantains, which were perfectly cooked. The only buzzkill was we started sitting outside, and ended up having to move indoors because of Mother Nature and her penchant for afternoon rain showers :-/ Otherwise, an excellent experience.
(5)Tiffany V.
Got ours to-go, even for the first time. Food was decent.
(3)Lisa T.
Went here yesterday for lunch for the first time to celebrate mine and my nephew's birthday. The food was excellent, the atmosphere is fresh and funky and this review would be a 4 star or better if we hadn't experienced the worst service ever in my 48 years on Earth. I have never in my life left a restaurant without tipping until yesterday. I may give them one more shot, but after posting on Facebook I had several friends say they had experienced similar service issues at the same location. Seems like they need better management to come in and clean up their mediocre wait staff.
(3)Caroline H.
Wow! What a hidden gem in BR. Incredible atmosphere, outstanding service, and delicious food. I sat on the patio in the dead of summer (usually a big no no). To my surprise, the huge fans kept me cool enough to be able to enjoy the beautiful patio area. There's nothing like it in BR. I loved all of the art displayed inside. The bathrooms were nice and tidy. And I was impressed with their music choice for the night - along the lines of Fitz and the Tantrums as well as Foster the People. Our server's name was Zoe. She was very knowledgable about the menu and had plenty of great suggestions. As for food, I'm impressed. We started with chips and salsa. The salsa was served warm and was actually a nice surprise. Then we moved on to the dip trio (not sure if that is what it's called) - guac, bean dip, and queso. Highly recommend it. I make a mean guac so I'm a tough critic, but I really liked the texture and flavors of their guac. Then we moved on to ceviche... Not impressed. I've definitely had better in town but the presentation was nice. For our main course, we had two taco plates. I tried the chef special and the shrimp taco with a side of chicken tortilla soup. Best tortilla soup I've had in a while!!! Very hearty which is a nice change from the broth-y soups I've had around town. Lastly, the margaritas were great too. I started with a strawberry margarita but switched to plain frozen. It was pretty hot outside so they melted quickly, but all around tasty. Can't wait to go back and bring some friends! What a great place!
(5)Heather D.
The service was great even for a busy sunday! The hot (temperature) salsa was interesting because I've never been served that ever! But after three bites, I grew to really enjoy it. It's really unique. I loved the sweet plantains & cole slaw. They accompanied my pork taco very well. The atmospheric is cool and hippy dippy. A place Salvador Dalà would gladly get an absinthe drink
(4)Rebecca T.
Big patio. Great ambiance inside and out with lots of art. I've tried the the chicken enchilada, pork enchilada, crunchy taco and soft tacos so far -- they were good. I've been here twice with friends who like this place a lot and they always get the burritos "exploded" which means covered in queso. Salsa and chips on table tasted freshly made. They offer unique side dishes. Cheese grits and borracho beans were tasty as sides and there's also Mexican corn and creole cole slaw. Fried plaintains were good and they also offer the usual refried beans. Next time I'm trying the flautas and pork tamales, which is what usually seals the deal for me on a favorite Mexi place. This place has been busy both week nights I've eaten there. Parking lot gets full.
(4)Tommy T.
This place is Super Fun. Took my wife on a date there and we were both delighted with our evening. Food's very good, the drinks were perfect for a hot evening and our server couldn't have been more attentive. We'll be back!
(4)Jonathan S.
LOVED IT! We've been trying to venture out to more new age foodie destinations and this place is it. With their twist on the traditional Mexican menu like Jalapeno Cucumber Margaritas or the Tex-Mex Egg Rolls, this place has it going on. If you want to try a new place with a creative menu in an eclectic setting this is it. I walked up and I felt like I was thrown right into the Art District of New Orleans. I loved the warm feel of the aged looking setting. I feel like an interior designer ripped off the leash and dove straight into this place. From the doors to the floors this place is awesome. The outside seating area is so much fun it almost makes you want to beat the heat for it. However, we had to check out this inside to peep all the cool art work everywhere. Literally I just kept looking around and finding pieces I wanted to buy. Soon very soon. We sat down and Darren our waiter right off the bat was awesome. He knows this menu like the back of his hand and honed in on exactly what we were looking for. In addition, he was exceptionally friendly and quite honestly one of the best waiters I've ever had. That's saying a lot considering how much I eat out. The salsa was awesome. As mentioned we ordered the Tex-Mex Egg Rolls and were blown away by the raspberry sauce it was paired with. They were full of meat and a big enough portion to probably make a meal out of...for most people. There were so many good things on the menu, and of course we always like to try just about everything when we go somewhere new. Luckily, this place catered to us perfectly. They have the Family Platter ($50) with steak and chicken fajitas, ribs, grilled gulf shrimp, creole cole slaw, cheese, garlic butter, grilled red peppers and onions, and four sides of your choice. We got two veggie skewers, borracho beans, and Mexican yellow rice. It was all really good. Ironically we had asked to substitute the chicken for the steak fajitas, and the chicken fajitas were probably both of our favorites.Even more ironic was we had been eating seafood all week, and I didn't want the shrimp but they were definitely my favorite. The jalapeno cucumber margarita was good, but I think I'd get something else next time. My girlfriend got the Blood Orange and something, and it was pretty good as well. Too sweet for me though. We did our best, but after we were full there was quite a bit left over. I'll be attaching a picture after this, but let me tell you when they say feeds 3-4 they mean it. I felt ashamed with how much food we had left, but my stomach felt happy just now as I ate my left overs for lunch. The price for as much food as we got along with the quality and service made the whole trip well worth it. Honestly, it wasn't that expensive considering for $50.00 you could feed 4 people. I'll definitely be going back again, and I suggest you give it a try.
(5)Cody E.
Second trip, completely different experience. We got the queso, but added ground beef. It was awesome. I ordered the chipotle chicken BBQ taco which was really good, then the chicken tinga taco which was better than any other restaurant taco I've had. I got to drink this time. I had the grand margarita and enjoyed it. The painkiller was fresh and delicious. Our server was Kaycee, and she was the most enjoyable waitress I've had in a long time. I'm glad I gave it a second chance, I'll be back.
(4)Brittany B.
Definitely one of the better tex mex restaurants. The parking is a nightmare though. But the atmosphere is nice. Said they had a 25-30 min wait for first available so we sat at the bar which wasn't crowded. We ordered a drink and within 10 minutes our buzzer went off. When we sat down I noticed all of the cool art work is for sale--too expensive for me though. The menu had enough variety. The salsa is absolutely amazing. We got the eggrolls as an app---- it was so good like best thing ever to put in my mouth. I ordered combination enchiladas with cheese grits & plantains. The dish was big enough to split with one of my girlfriends & the enchiladas reminded me of taquitos. I wasn't a big fan. But the cheese grits & plantains were amazing!! The margaritas are good. Belini wasn't too great. Service was pretty good nothing to complain about! Our food came out super fast & it Was super busy. Very impressed
(4)Bob L.
Although they took forever to build this place, it was worth the wait. I went on a Saturday and it was PACKED. I thought the wait was going to be forever, but it actually took only about 10 minutes to get seated. The patio is a great spot and even in February it was comfortable with the gas heaters well spaced around the tables. Service was prompt and attentive (although it seemed every item we ordered had an optional upcharge our waitress seemed required to offer). The salsa is a rich dark red and very different and very good. We ordered the three dip appetizer which is separate, good sized bowls of guacamole, queso, and bean dip. It was all tasty, and the guacamole was especially good with creamy chunks of avocado. I ordered the Chef's Taco which I understands constantly changes with the chef's imagination. The night I went it was seared tuna, pickled onions, and a few other delicious ingredients. Definitely try it out if you haven't been.
(4)Hilary A.
This is a fun new place for the Baton Rouge restaurant scene (it's becoming legitimate enough to call it that, right?). Mostly I love the atmosphere - there's about equal indoor and outdoor space, colorful lights, garage doors that open to the outside, folk art and related decor, etc. The drinks are also great, especially when happy hour priced. As for the food, I would say I actually like Rum House tacos better. BUT I love their queso, and the fajitas were great (steak and chicken combo was enough for two people who have had an appetizer and lots of chips, although we did need to order extra tortillas for $.49). The meat was tender and well-spiced. Their complimentary salsa is different than at most Mexican/Tex-Mex places I've been to - kind of smoky, I guess? The fried plantains were very sweet, and the refried beans were pretty typical. Our wait for the table was long, and the bar had questionable service, but our actual waiter when we were seated was very personable and funny. Hint: Part of the outside space is actually the bar and first-come, first-serve (all the black topped tables), but you can only order drinks and appetizers there.
(4)Andrew B.
The best Mexican food I have ever had! From the white sangria margarita to the shrimp quesadilla with mango and bacon I was blown away. Not to mention the excellent service from our waitress Kellye. I also really enjoyed the atmosphere. The way the restaurant's interior was designed was very neat. I will definitely be back! I would give this place 10 stars if I could.
(5)Paul N.
Good Mexican food! Went here a few weeks ago for lunch with a colleague. The place was slammed. Luckily we didn't have to wait to be seated. Parking is limited. The staff were so friendly and courteous. I had the shrimp burrito without the tortilla. The salsa for the chips were also flavorful. Definitely worth visiting if you are in the area.
(5)