Side Street Cantina
205 11th St, Virginia Beach, VA, 23451
Side Street Cantina Menu
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Address :
205 11th St
Virginia Beach, VA, 23451 - Phone (757) 962-9993
- Website https://www.sidestreetcantina.com
- Click To Get Directions
Opening Hours
- Mon :12:00 pm - 12
Specialities
- Takes Reservations : Yes
Delivery : Yes
Take-out : Yes
Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Good For : Lunch, Dinner, Late Night
Parking : Street
Bike Parking : Yes
Wheelchair Accessible : Yes
Good for Kids : Yes
Good for Groups : Yes
Attire : Casual
Ambience : Casual
Noise Level : Average
Alcohol : Full Bar
Outdoor Seating : No
Wi-Fi : Free
Has TV : Yes
Dogs Allowed : No
Waiter Service : Yes
Caters : Yes
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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Erika D.
My husband and I tried the Side Street Cantina for lunch this past Sunday on a lark, They have not one, but two coupons in the Entertainment book, so we thought we would take a chance. We were not disappointed! The service was professional and personable. The el pastore tacos were FABULOUS! The pork was tender and flavorful. The combination of the sweetness from the pineapple and the heat (not searing heat just some spicy flavor) from the homemade tomatillo sauce achieved wonderful harmony. It was a recommendation from our waiter and lived up to our expectations. My husband had the fish tacos which were also great. The fish was fresh, flaky, and firm. The home made pico de gallo gave it a nice texture. The most notable thing about our meals was the freshness of the ingredients. I am pretty passionate about food - I enjoy dining out and trying new items. My husband tends to stick to what he knows and enjoys. We were both very pleased with our meals - we actually almost wanted to switch mid lunch, but just decided to change it up next time. We both enjoy eating out, but like everyone we are selective with our recreational dollars. So we chose wisely and when we find something that is worthy, we tend to repeat our business. Locals - I would encourage you to support this small area business! While it is not a large establishment, it was BIG on taste, service and value! GO TO SIDE STREET CANTINA - you will be glad that you did :)
(5)Marty Y.
Go here every time we are in Virginia Beach and we always have an awesome experience. Very tasty authentic Mexican food. Great margaritas. Good service. Tiny little hole in the wall place off the man drag. Probably seats only 40 people but they do a great job of accompanying large groups. Two thumbs up
(5)Kirstina C.
I was looking for some good food and drinks, so I decided to try this place out with my boyfriend. I tried a jumbo frozen mango daiquiri, and it was delicious! I probably shouldn't have gotten the jumbo because I was so full at the end of my meal that I felt I was going to explode! The chips and dip were typical of your Mexican restaurants. Our food didn't take that long to prepare. I ordered the fish tacos, which was pretty mediocre to me. I was not impressed after having better fish tacos at the oceanfront. Overall, I was pleased with the quick service and drinks, but I don't know if I'd want to come back here for food.
(3)Amber R.
One of my favorite stops for tacos in VA Beach!! Before I was vegetarian I would get the chicken tacos, now it's shrimp! Both are great! The refried beans are some of the most flavorful I've had! Salsa is some of my favorite! Nice and chunky with plenty of onion and cilantro! Pico is spicy with japs! Good atmosphere too! Server was good and food came quickly. They make the meal to order so it doesn't come out as fast as most Mexican restaurants but it's definitely worth the very minor wait! Got my free taco for checking in also! Margarita was good! Tequila is good quality. I didn't try the house tequila.
(5)Nicole R.
I was craving Mexican food and it was 1 block from my hotel. Kind of a disappointment. The margarita was waaay too sweet. The enchiladas were just lackluster. The staff was excellent - attentive and helpful. Too bad the kitchen falls short. Would not eat here again. Food is better at taco bell.
(2)Eric S.
Best place at VA beach... Best Mexican.. Any dish bar none... Quality and cleanliness are supreme....!
(5)Steven P.
We can here for a Mexican lunch and were not disappointed. They had lunch specials on the menu which we ordered from. It may not look like a great place from the outside but once you get inside and past the bar, the dining area was fine. They immediately provide chips, salsa and white creamy jalapeño sauce which was tasty. Service was prompt and we enjoyed our meals. Would go back when the craving for Mexican food comes back.
(4)Cara T.
We stumbled across this modest Mexican restaurant while walking down the street. While it doesn't look like much from the outside, the inside is large, clean and colorful. Our waiter was super nice and our margaritas (both frozen and on the rocks and in a variety of flavors!) were strong and delicious. The highlights were: -The salsa was unique and flavorful -Beef taco....it was classic -The steak fajitas....yes yes yes....I loved mine! My mom was with us and said her steak fajitas had a tad too much fat for her taste. -Cheese dip...melted REAL cheese. No fake stuff here. We ordered churros for dessert which were standard. Next time we're in the area, we'll definitely stop by. There was no wait for a table and the service was top notch!
(4)Paul B.
Thought it was sketch at first, but this place is awesome. Margherrittas are fantastic. Food is off the hook and prices are really reasonable. You need to check it out.
(5)Heather M.
Firstly, let me just say I feel guilty for giving this place only 2 stars. the bartender was seriously the NICEST and most attentive. he was so great! so the employees are not the reason for the less than stellar review. We didn't have any food besides the complimentary chips and salsa, so for this review I can't speak to the food. my boyfriend and I decided to check this place out to get out of the the rain. plus being that it is st. Patricks day, we figured a Mexican bar/grill wouldn't be too crowded. I ordered the giant flavored margarita (28 oz for $15 bucks) in strawberry, on the rocks. oh my god it tasted like suntan lotion. it tasted like they took the frozen mix (super syrupy and THICK) with the tiniest amount of tequila, even if there was ANY, because I couldn't taste it. it was syrupy, thick, and gross. I seriously only drank it because of the fact that it was $15. I am so disappointed. my boyfriend had originally ordered something called the Tropical Storm or something? the bartender came back and told him they were missing an ingredient for it so he recommended the Paloma. it was even worse than my margarita! I think it was supposed to be a clear tequila, grapefruit juice, club soda, and a splash of lime juice but it absolutely tasted like syrup and salt. it was so salty it tasted like sea water! and we checked the menu twice and it didn't list any ingredients that would make it salty so I don't know what was going on but EW! and we are not usually the type of people who will send things back or tell the waiter/bartender but we agreed that it wouldn't do any good because it seems like that's just how their mixed drinks are. maybe we should have stuck with beer! the worst part is that the bartender was just so sweet and kept asking how everything was and we just faked smiles and kept eating our chips and salsa. and this is more of a side note, but the decor was awful, and definitely not family friendly (even though the bar is also a restaurant). there was a sign that said "new drinking game: you drink enough to sleep with me" and the mural on the wall was a 'voluptuous' woman in a thong bikini with some underboob. definitely not a place to take your kids because I don't think you want them starring at ass while trying to eat their tacos. I wanted so badly to like this place and the drinks because the bartender was just so sweet.
(2)Audrey P.
Come here with my coworkers and friends after work. Full service bar with the sweetest bartenders. They are attentive. Drinks aren't over priced. The DJ's here aren't half bad either. Like that it's a small place, especially if you're trying to avoid tourists. Free parking on the side of the street. It's always a good time when we come.
(4)Tom G.
Five star with out a doubt, I didn't eat in I got take out my son wasn't feeling well and the food was fantastic. I ordered take out at the bar and had a margarita while I waited. Definitely an authentic place and wish I could have ate in. The Fresh Rita margarita I had was awesome in fact I had two. The bar tender was outstanding, I asked for the same margarita non-alcoholic to go for my wife (who is pregnant) and he made it perfect. We had the chicken nachos, buffalo shrimp, supreme enchiladas, and shrimp tacos. Everything excellent, if your in the mood for great Mexican food in VA Beach this is the place.
(5)Mark L.
I think this might be my first review on Yelp, but I can't think of a more deserving restaurant. In summary: run away! Don't ever visit! And below are details why. I'll start by saying I used to be in the restaurant business as a part-owner, waiter, and chef. I think most in the industry are under appreciated. But Side Street Cantina ranks up there with crappy service, food, and management. We were a party of 9 and we came in during a rush. As expected, we waited and did so patiently. However after a longer than anticipated wait time we learned they gave away our table to another party and that extended our wait. I learned this after we left the establishment. Then came time to sit down. They were busy and after 2 baskets of chips for all of us, they told us they ran out of chips. Seemed odd for a restaurant like this. So we waited. After a long delay they slowly brought out the food but not to all of us. Our youngest received her food 5+ minutes after everyone else. My fajitas came in 15 minutes after that. They admitted to us they gave away my order to someone else. Nobody came to explain the situation. No apologies. In fact a member of our party got up and had to get that info herself. It was then they apologized and offered to comp the meal. So I ate most of it while everyone else was done. When it came time to settle the bill, they brought out a check that excluded those fajitas as promised. We had a split check with the other party and our total was $42 and change. I whipped out three twenties and waited for the change. The wait staff certainly wasn't deserving of a 40% tip. They brought it back with no change (they kept it) and added in a second check for those fajitas. I asked why they were charging me for those and they said because I proceeded to eat them. I ate them after they said they would comp them. I asked for my change and they continued to say no and wanted more than $60 to cover those fajitas. After going back and forth I decided to come to Yelp. I will never eat there again and would strongly suggest others avoid them. As a side note on the other dishes, two of the kiddos in our party were served beans and rice as their kids' meal mixed with jalapeños. Probably not the best for most young palates. One ordered nachos. Remember they said they had no more chips? They served it with flour tortillas. Hardly makes it a nacho plate. In summary, stay away from Side Street Cantina in Virginia Beach.
(1)Kat P.
This place was seriously excellent! Vacay with my fiancé and he loves Mexican food. I can take it or leave it...I like a few things, but decided to go for the happy hour margaritas. Let me just say the food was EXCELLENT! I got chicken quesadillas and I thought the "side quesadilla" would be too small and got two....only ate 1.5. They were super filling. My fiancé got tacos and some burrito thing (couldn't tell you what it was lol) but he enjoyed it as well. Drinks were great price for happy hour. My margarita was too much tequila for me, but I'm sure for most people this is a plus! Haha pink lemonade was delish! Our server waited on our entire side of the restaurant. He worked his tail off. We were seriously impressed. I would def go here again (my fiancé is already wanting to go back!)
(5)Brook H.
Our first evening in Virginia Beach and we were looking for someplace good and close to the hotel. This place popped up so we decided to give it a try; turns out it was a good choice! Don't be fooled by the location or the decor. It really is a bar/restaurant on a side street, and some of the characters hanging around were a bit seedy. Even then, we went inside with our toddler and teenager children and had no issue whatsoever. Even with a bar, this was a nice, pleasant family dinner with good staff and clientele. The food here was pretty good Tex-Mex fare, even by someone who ate New Mexican cuisine regularly. Good sized portions, nicely cooked, and full of excellent flavor. In fact, the food was good enough that for once we devoured it all and had no leftovers! They also have a good selection of seafood, although I'm more of a beef or chicken kind of guy. We will definitely be back next time we're down this way. In fact, maybe next time I'll try the Side Street Challenge. A 9-lb. burrito that costs $35... but if you finish it in 45 minutes or less, it's free!
(4)Karlie S.
My husband and I were looking for a good place to eat late one night Thursday. A lot of the other places out here were closed and we found this little cantina. We arrived ten minutes before closing and they were great. Jesus we freindly, the food fast and supper tasty. We were the only ones there and they made us feel like family, not rushed to leave so they could close. We will definitely be back.
(4)Mike M.
Quick, food was good. Menu ok. Quite atmosphere, we were here between 4 and 5 in a Friday off season. However, beer in the middle of the restaurant so, image it could get loud. Only ones in the dining room. Prices are compared to quality. Kids loved the fried icecream and churros. Waiter was friendly and attentive. Cost added up quick though.
(3)John R.
Good food big portions good friendly helpful service. Recommender by Hampton inn employee (nice hotel but no outdoor pool great location though.) had shrimp and chicken very good picture of sangria made us happy. We will be back ! Good value for your money.
(4)Kylie G.
Just went here for dinner and it was fabulous! Best strawberry margarita I've ever had! California burrito is huge and delicious and the shrimp quesadilla was so yummy! The staff was awesome and everything was well priced. We will definitely be back next time we are in Virginia Beach!!
(5)Phil C.
Meh, what can I say? Oceanfront Mexican food... Nothing against Side Street Cantina, I just think the restaurants and businesses near the beach get away with subpar food and service because of their assurance of visiting tourists... I had beans, rice and a soft taco. All of them were as advertised, but certainly nothing to write home about. We also ordered "standard" guac, not the $1Million table-side variety...Let's just say, I wouldn't recommend it. In my opinion, this restaurant is received more like a place that you might LOVE if you had cocktails at the beach all day and then happened upon them.
(2)Juan C. R.
The food was excellent. My steak was good, the tacos great. HOWEVER, if you want to be completely and absolutely ignored by the waiters, then come here. They never came to ask if we needed it something. They were on the telephone or just sitting. How sad.
(3)May B.
The host seemed irritated and the tacos weren't that good. But our waiter was really friendly.
(2)Phung H.
Best customer service, amazing food, great atmosphere! I love the Dragon Ceviche and table side guacamole! Come here at least a few times a month! Pretty reasonable prices and great happy hour specials! I highly recommend getting the ceviche, just watch out for the habanero chili!
(5)Billy S.
Service was really bad. We had Vincente wait on us. He greeted us promptly at the front door. Walked us to our table, tossed down our menus and walked away without a word. He did come over shortly after to get our drink order. I specifically ordered a margarita without salt. My wife ordered the same & I made a point to ask "without salt?". She said yes and he walked away. Guess what? They had salt. He only offered to put them in a new glass. Not make new ones. I drank it and later had to ask for another(without salt). The food was pretty good. But the waiter never asked how everything was. Never asked if we wanted desert. Just brought the check. It wasn't even busy. On a side note, the bathroom was filthy and even had graffiti on the walls. All I really ask for, besides good food, at a restaurant is provide what I ask for, ask me how everything was & don't make me wait a long time to pay. I really wanted to like this place but the service and bad attitude ruined it for us. I would definitely not recommend.
(2)Jordan H.
BEST Mexican around. I have traveled around a lot and this is by far one of my favorites. Definitely the best in town! The Cali Burrito is enough to share!
(5)Kristina Beltran G.
Best Mexican Restaurant down at the beach. Service was so welcoming and fast. The bartender was awesome!!
(5)Joe B.
Guy at counter more interested in Facebook on his phone than my business. Wouldn't let me use the yelp coupon for the free taco even after I ordered 17.00 in food. Said was for eat in only. Who the f cares if I eat in or take out I spent 17.00. Oh well won't go back after this.
(2)Daniel M.
We came by based on reviews and for the first time in a while Yelp failed us. BBQ bacon warped shrimp tasted of BBQ sauce only. Not a good app. Kids taco was soggy. Fish taco was bland. Bland shrimp soup. The only excellent bite was the shrimp taco. Would not return. Service was so-so.
(2)Lauren N.
My friends from out of town came here looking for some mexican food after staying at the beach (they had not consulted me first). So I met up with them and grabbed some drinks at this place. The beer menu had crappy prices for crappy beer. The waitress actually gave me a different beer than I ordered and failed to mention it cost more than the one I had originally ordred. My friends ordered food & not a single one of them thought their food was good. A couple said it was decent. It didn't even look appetizing and mexican food is my favorite . I've had better and cheaper "mexican" food. Also, the cook or food runner or whatever threw the plate down in front of my friend out of nowhere. Service left something to be desired. I wasn't feeling the scene at the bar either . 11 pm and some T-Pain was playing- rather blasting. Crappy music. I guess this just wasn't my scene.
(2)Cristina P.
Was here on Sunday July 20th.... Even though I was a bit skeptical about this place I decided to give it a try because of some of the good reviews on Yelp and because I was craving Guacamole! Well, I was not disappointed. This is definitely an authentic Mexican place and the prices are the best. We were there right before happy hour.... The drinks are great for the price. If you go definitely try the Chorizo con Pollo Tacos. They were delish!
(4)Jess P.
Placed an order for take out and the food comes out outrageously fast. No joke. I was told that the food would be ready in 10 minutes and I placed an order for 6 people so we ordered quite a few things. The condo where I'm staying is a few minutes away so we left right after I was done placing the order and our food was ready BEFORE we got there. I was a little hesitant to try the food just because it was ready super quick and the area was a little seedy, it really is located on a side street. My fiance made a comment that this might have been the place from 'Bridesmaid' when they got food poisoning. But you should never judge a restaurant by those things because the food here was really, really good. As a shared appetizer we got Bacon wrapped in BBQ shrimp and for me there was too much BBQ sauce in the dish which overpowered things quite a bit but nonetheless it was tasty. My entree was their dinner combo which came with a few choices like burrito, taco, enchilada, etc. I opted for a chicken taco and a chicken taquito. The chicken was marinated wonderfully. Lots of great flavor combinations that made the chicken taste great. The combo came with rice and beans and the rice was definitely something that made the meal for me. I've had rice from plenty of tex mex, Mexican, and Spanish restaurants and I especially liked this rice because they didn't add any crazy flavors or really anything to it. It just tasted nice on its own. The beans are standard refried beans that are probably from a can. Still tasty but not as good as the rice. I don't know what secret magic they're using to get the food ready at such a crazy speed and still have it tasting delicious and I think I'm better off not knowing. Check this place out if you're in the area, really solid Mexican food for decent prices!
(4)William Q.
The service at this restaurant is okay but not the best. The horchata was bad I would not recommend it , and the nachos are simply chips they give you for free before ordering with some cheese on top. I do not believe this restaurant is worth it all the food was sub par and I would rather go somewhere else even mcdonalds.
(2)Andrew O.
I was down in Virginia Beach visiting friends of mine from the area. Since we did not want to leave the boardwalk and pay for parking again we decided to eat somewhere close. So I looked on yelp and side street cantina came up as a 4 star place to eat nearby. Once we got inside the biggest red flag was the beer menu. The ONLY beer on tap was Bud Light, and dos xx, corona, and models were considered PREMIUM beers. I thought this was a Mexican restaurant, it made no sense. On to the menu. The food selection is meager, it's your normal range if tacos burritos quesadillas but the choices of filling are basically just beef chicken pork and fish. No lengua pork belly chorizo or other proteins you would expect. Since I was leery i decided to play it safe and order nachos. I mean how can you mess up nachos. The nachos. I had to help some people joining us find the restaurant so I told my friend to order the nachos for me. When my plate finally arrives I have no idea what it is. As one table companion told me, "your nachos look like the suck" (Reference picture). When I talked to the server about my food she showed the menu and mentioned that toppings (lettuce tomatoes pics de gallo sour cream etc) was $2.50 extra on top of the $8 for my nachos. Even though it was my fault for not noticing that I find it absurd that anyone could serve something called nachos and not include the toppings. I have never experienced a dividing nachos and it's toppings at any restaurant I have ever been too. Everyone else seemed to find there good sub par at best. The service was nice. My friend ordered a mojito that she ended up returning and getting refunded. I had a blackberry frozen margarita that was pretty good. Wouldn't recommend ever going back to this place. Just get pizza or hit one of the all day breakfast spots.
(2)Cristin E.
My husband and I love trying New Mexican restaurants. This one was very disappointing. I ordered the Tina tacos, which on the menu are described as using "fresh tuna." I expected some nice seared tuna, pink in the middle. What I got was tough and overcooked. The presentation was nice and the passion fruit mango chipotle sauce on the side was good but that's it. The pico was way too spicy; I couldn't even finish my third taco. The margarita was mostly mix; not very strong at all. Service was dismal at best. Despite my obviously charming personality and winning smile, he did not smile at us until well into the meal. They were busy with only two servers for the restaurant area. Overall not impressed, I don't recommend, and I won't be back.
(2)Chad Y.
I cannot begin to express how much I love this restaurant. My wife and I enjoyed the fresh Rita is was clean and refreshing. The table side mango sea dip was phenomenal. Then the real treat. ..Peruvian ceviche and fresh tuna tacos. .. Nothing can prepare you got how good this ceviche is. I have had ceviche countless times but never this good. Add some sea dip to the ceviche or the tacos and you might need to sign a taste buds waiver because nothing will ever taste this good again in your life. ..
(5)Karen B.
The staff is not super friendly. While the white Sauce is really good, they are quite stingy with It. The French fries were under cooked and the tuna was very overcooked defeating the purpose of fresh tuna in the first place. Check in free taco was limited to chicken or beef. The waiter was highly irritated that I wanted to practice my Spanish. (it's not horrible so that's not the issue) I'll go someplace else next time.
(2)Kent G.
Great service. Salsa and chips were fresh. We had fajitas for two and our kids had a combo platter. All very good. 4 of us ate for $54 including two margaritas ($4 each from 4-8)
(4)Bri J.
I freaking love this place! Food was excellent, the ceviche was Amazing. Their margaritas are strong and taste great! And at night the fun really begins with a DJ and dancing! The bartender MC is fast and on point. Definitely going back there the next time I come through Va Beach!
(4)Martin E.
Great service... The staff works together to ensure you are well taken care of. .. and food is yummy.
(5)Day K.
The complimentary salsa is fantastic, perfect level of spice and garlic! My husband had carne asada, puerco, pastor and pollo con chorizo tacos and after his first bite he said: "I lived in Houston for a year and these are some of the most authentic tacos I've ever had in the States." They are served with cilantro, onion, and lime - highly recommend! We also had the passion fruit pitcher, delicious and very refreshing.
(5)Sandi S.
Sorry to say, but whoever gave this place a good review needs their head examined...I got the cheese enchiladas, as did both of my kids, and it was mediocre at best. My husband got beef tacos, and was served what looked like Old El Paso taco dinner. Then several hours later, all four of us were rushing to the bathroom...if you like to eat laxatives, this is the place for you...
(1)Tony M.
Service was great. They gave us a free taco because a mistake on their part. Honored Yelp 1 free taco deal immediately as well. And mostly the food was awesome. Highly recommend the Burrito California w/ steak.
(4)Bill T.
We found this place on a previous visit to VA Beach and loved it. Food is very good (wife orders the ceviche every time). Service has certainly gone down over the years. We like the table side guacamole, but the server obviously wanted to be somewhere else. We ordered two draft beers from a local Virginia brewery, but our server brought us Shocktop. When I pointed out we ordered the local microbrew, he told us they were out; I was surprised we charged in full for the two beers (though they were lefty mostly untouched). Everybody has a bad day; this was likely theirs. Maybe next time, but only 2 stars for this visit.
(2)Troy S.
This places makes me sizzle! Their motto is Sexy Hot Beats, Even Better Eats...yea-yeah! One of my faves to go to in all of 757. No, this is not your typical mediocre Mexican restaurant. This is great quality food and drinks and a lot of nights they will have a band or some sort of entertainment later on. When you go in, the dining area is on the left and the bar side is on the right. Start the night out right with the "Fresh Margarita"! It is the freshest of fresh...crisp with a perfect blend of top shelf tequila, fresh lime juice, and agave nectar. Now I love all the food that I have ever eaten there...like the fish tacos or the chicken and chorizo tacos (served on corn tortillas-the way they should be), but let me give you my ideal meal there. First, hook yourself up with the tableside mango sea dip...this is phenomenal guac they will come make for you at your table and it is a lovely mix of avocado, tomatoes, cilantro, mango, shrimp, jalapeno, hint of garlic, onions, lime juice, and sexiness. If you order this at the bar, they just make it in the back but no biggie. I could eat this everyday. Now, for the second half, make sure you bring someone that is willing to split with you because the ultimate meal there is made for two--behold the Mexican Parrilla! Meat, meat, meat--meat sweats are coming! So this is a flaming hot lava stone bowl filled (and I mean filled!) with steak, chicken, shrimp, grilled asparagus (damn these are huge!), smokin' grilled jalapenos, sausage, all sizzled up with white cheese and chipotle sauce. Whooo, you feeling the heat? This is an experience and I get it every time. Check it out. Just go for the good eats or hang around for drinks and Cheap Thrills. Lots of good happy hour specials too :-) FYI, there is a parking lot behind the building you can get to on 12th street or just ride your bike over. They now also deliver to the whole oceanfront...I have been trying to get them to deliver to Ghent :-D
(5)Elizabeth W.
Not sure what happened here, but we had a totally different experience than many described. Food: The table side guacamole and was awesome- and the only reason for more than 1 star. The dinner combo was a lame amount of food for the price and was eh. The buffalo shrimp appetizer tasted really fishy and kind of suspect- didn't trust that the shrimp had been kept the correct temperature and based on my walk to the restroom nothing is kept properly. All kinds of food uncovered, on the ground, not in fridges. Service: AWFUL. No one smiled. No one said hello. Our waiter screwed up our order and we had to ask multiple times for water. Never came back after food was delivered and he just couldn't have been less pleasant.
(2)Joe D.
The 3rd stop on the 'Ocean Front Bar Crawl' What's not to like about this place? Nothing. When you enter you walk into the bar which also veers off to the right. Dining area is on the left. This place has a lot of atmosphere and a strong local crowd. It reminds me of the old days of the ocean front (for me anyway) back in the 90's. Great vibe for sure. We all piled into a 6 person table and ordered some food. I went with a Corona and the dollar taco's and ordered 3 of them. *** Note *** if you do a Yelp check-in on your smart phone you can get a free taco. So I ended up with 4 tacos which perfectly hit the spot. The food came quickly, was good and we were all eating in no time at all. Great visit!
(4)Laura R.
Ground beef was like finely ground grade D meat with added spices to try to pass it off as edible. Salsa tastes like grocery store, bottled, mass-produced salsa. Chips are good. Everything else is over spiced to hide bad flavor.
(1)Judy R.
Love this place spacious and great bartender (Walter) love this place best for your buck. 1.50 tacos. Chips made fresh and guacamole as well. Love the tacos top noch. Drinks awsome.
(5)Michael W.
Daycare or restaurant? Food was average, service was terrible. Sodas were flat, waiter talked to us about 2 times, kids were running all over the restaurant. Waters never got refilled, and I saw the waitress who made our guac put her fingers down her shirt. Come here if you want to be ignored and see multiple Mexican children run around and scream at each other. Not sure if it was more of a restaurant or a daycare. To top it off, everything was overpriced ($40 for five tacos, guac, and no alcohol). DO NOT COME HERE.
(2)Dave H.
This was my second time here... Was here two years ago while on another vacation. Decided to go back because I remembered the food to be particularly good while not being expensive. I was pleased to have the same results. The service wasn't bad, but it wasn't great either. If you're on vacation and have high expectations in a vacation town, you may be disappointed here... However, as said - the service was not bad. The drinks are reasonably priced and flavorful. You get complimentary chips and salsa. The table side guacamole is worth it (coming from someone who typically doesn't like guacamole). The food is fresh, tasty, and prepared quite quickly. The side street cantina is quick and convenient while still being delicious. Great if you are trying to fit in a GOOD meal between your vacation activities.
(4)Bob L.
Staff was excellent, margaritas superb. Had beef tacos and enchiladas. The filling was bland and boring. A friend had the cheese enchilada and it was delish. Can't say for sure I'd go back and have the tacos....
(3)Kristina F.
I went here with my family, and It's absolutely the best mexican food ever tried! The guacamola is fantastic!
(5)Nick D.
Not a big Mexican food eater, my wife loves it. Have to admit this was some great food. Try the Mexi-Jap Roll it was great.
(5)Kara G.
Good food. Friendly staff. The food came out so fast and was good and everything tasted fresh. The margs were excellent too.
(5)Amy E.
I LOVE this place. It's a nice mixture of Mexican, Peruvian and Southern Cali style food, so it isn't your typical place. I haven't found another restaurant like it in Hampton Roads (and I've lived here most of my life). The ceviche is great! Fresh and flavorful. Their Margaritas are delicious and I have to get one every time I go. The only thing I'd watch out for is the service. The people are nice, but more often than not I feel like there's only one server taking care of the entire restaurant and it takes a lot longer for someone to come take your order and get your drinks/food to you. I definitely recommend this place to friends if I know they like this type of food (can be on the spicy side, so watch out if you aren't into spicy), but I be sure to warn them that they are often understaffed.
(4)Jennifer T.
Seriously the best guacamole I've ever had ever! Fantastic fish tacos! My boyfriend really enjoyed his burritos rancheros. We had great service at the bar! Awesome relaxing casual lunch spot with super on point food! Must go if looking for a good lunch while chillin on the beach, reasonable prices too!
(5)Lily F.
If you're looking for strong margaritas.... This is the place to be! I tried their ceviche and it was very very good (beware- it's super spicy) I had a pleasant experience while dining here, and we also got a FREE taco for checking in on yelp.
(3)Deborah N.
The Sidestreet Cantina is such a treat. We walked over from our vacation condo one evening when we were craving Mexican and we're so glad we did. It's off the main drag, a tiny spot that looks a little dive-y from the outside, but don't let that fool you. The service was quick, the servers were pleasant and helpful, and the food, delicious. Also? The best Mojito I've had in a long time. If you're looking for awesome Mexican without breaking the bank, make your way over to the Sidestreet Cantina. I promise, you won't be disappointed.
(4)Matt F.
Came here during the week with three kids. Great for family's with reasonable price food and drinks. The staff was great and quick service. The waitress was great my margarita was a little weak and she brought over a healthy shot to make it better. Overall great place for a quick lunch or places for groups. Definitely a must for Va beach
(5)Lorena W.
Authentic Mexican food and reasonable prices. I got the carnitas and they were delicious!! My husband got the fish tacos also a hit. VERY fresh? Try the guacamole!!!Great service. I would have given this place 4 1/2 stars but the authentic atmosphere made it 5. Spanish music playing in the background and soccer on the Latino channel on TV. Excelente!
(5)Bill P.
Best. Mexican. Food. Ever! This place is great. Their food is simple and fresh. The margaritas are tasty and strong. The service is quick and courteous. The place is quaint. We loved our entire experience and will definitely be back.
(5)Xerxes N.
Just like the name this joint is on a side street off of Pacific Avenue. A few Yelpers and I crashed the place while bar crawling and annihilated their $1.50 tacos. Even better, check in on Yelp on your mobile device and you get a taco for free. The place is divided into two sides: a restaurant area and a bar area where the party would happen and the booties would shake. My guess is that this place draws a younger crowd for nightlife which is fine with me because I still like to kick it from time to time. This is the type of place where I'd rock some fresh Air Force Ones, a white t-shirt and chill for the night sippin' on a beer as the DJ whips up some beats that take you back to 1994.. A definite spot where the young'ns come hang out for the night. Tacos were just okay, though. Hard or soft they're decent. My only gripe is that they didn't come with tomatoes. Who wants to just eat lettuce and cheese on some sort of meat? I need some juices! Might throw it back this summer and crash this place hoping to catch a young crowd. I wouldn't go there if you had kids unless it is early in the evening. Then again, I did see a baby at a bar the other night. Might as well get them started early.
(3)Amy H.
Best Mexican food I have had in years! Very very fresh and delicious. I had the pork soft tacos.
(4)Hayley S.
Their California burritos are delicioussssss omg! They're huge too!! Pickup service was super quick and the bartender who handled our order was really nice and he was super cute too.... The atmosphere was really comfortable, and the places smelled like fresh limes. Wish I could have tried more. Will definitely come back next time we're here!
(5)Maria M.
Never had Mexican food as good as Side Street Cantina. I eat a lot of Mexican food and this place tops my list. From the service to food. I went on a weekday for late dinner and it was somewhat empty but that's usual at that time. It's bright colors and top hits music was a plus. Good for family as well as get togethers with friends. Definitely for food I recommend the Mexican parrillada. It's a real good price for what you get. It's made for two but enough for three. I absolutely loved this. Will be coming back to eat this again. However the tacos weren't so good. Didn't have much taste to them.
(4)AJ K.
Once you get your order in, and once the food actually gets delivered, the fare is actually pretty good, and a good value. On this Tuesday evening, however, a couple of large groups were seated when we arrived, and must've backed the works up. Food was delivered 30 minutes after ordering, which is understandable. But a number of tables seated after us were served first, and some even completed & left while we're still waiting for a check. Why is that so aggravating? Our glasses were only filled once, and we weren't advised about the happy hour or other specials. Just got the wrong guy on the wrong night, I guess. Sigh.
(2)Jason E.
Awesome spot with great mexican food and a friendly staff! I frequent this spot often in the summer months for a margarita and some grub, in the winter its pretty slow and uncrowded. I always have had good experiences here with both food and drinks. A friendly reminder that this is not a romantic destination for couples, if you want to eat and have a good time this is your spot. At 9-10pm it turns into a more a bar/nightclub with a Dj which is great for most. Try it out you wont be disappointed with the quality of the mexican food, the margiritas are sure to make you enjoy yourself regardless. Enjoy
(4)Adina D.
Excellent choice, I'm glad I found this place. My boyfriend and I decided to check it out on a Sunday night during the off season. It was pretty empty but I'm sure they get packed during the summer time. Open really late, even on Sundays which was a nice surprise. My boyfriend and I decided to opt for the chicken, steak, and shrimp fajita for two. I was a little skeptical that it would be enough since my guy eats as if it is his last meal every time but boy, not only was it enough to feed me and my overly hungry man, we also had enough to take home! Great food, affordable pricing, and they have great happy hour prices from what we could see. We'll definitely keep this on our list of good places to grab some quick Mexican.
(5)Megan S.
Love it! 2 days in a row for drinks and then food. Chill atmosphere, creative, rat fink is a nice touch. Our server was the same both trips, super friendly, informative and conversational. Awesome vibe and absolutely delicious, non-cliche food. The margaritas are completely on point here, nice selection, they don't taste like a generic heartburn concoction. It's refreshing to see a place expressing it's own style and pulling off a great menu. We're definitely huge fans that will frequent this place repeatedly when we visit the area. I can't say enough about how much we enjoyed this place, I'm on the road often for work and this is the top of my list through the states.
(5)Joanne C.
Only place we go to eat Mexican food at the beach! We have been going since they opened. LOVE their happy hour(s) food and drink specials. Dennis the owner makes a point to walk around and talk to everyone. I love the tacos, large sized steamed shrimp and the Cuban sandwich! Service is quick and friendly. Late night the locals know it is the place to go to party! I enjoy introducing Side Street to friends and family from out of town.
(5)Lisa R.
This was our first food stop in VA Beach after getting settled in our rooms. It was your average Mexican restaurant in menu offerings and atmosphere and we enjoyed our food and drinks and had good service. Our favorite item was the a guacamole-like mixture from the appetizer menu (prepared table-side) with avocado mango shrimp and all the typical guacamole mix-ins. Very good! my fresh margarita was decent as well. I am partial to drinks made with fresh squeezed juices so was happy to find this on the menu. The rest of the food ordered was pretty standard Mexican fare. I would eat here again just for the mango shrimp stuff!
(3)Nathan C.
We stumbled in here as a second choice, because there was a 30-40 minute wait at our first choice. The word "serendipity" comes to mind. As does the word "terrific." Short version: go here, eat and drink, and you will be happy. Long version. The ubiquitous chips are served with both a middling-to-good salsa and an intriguing, delicious white sauce made from sour cream, milk, sugar, and whatever else the cook's grandmother put in there. It's tangy and great with the salty chips. We regretfully skipped the tableside guacamole; it looked awesome but we had a feeling we'd need the room. My wife had the ceviche, which is done Peruvian style with shrimp, fish, calamari -- terrific, spicy, and lime-y. My mom and I split the parrilla, which is made for two and has grilled chorizo, steak, chicken, shrimp, and asparagus; served in a lava stone bowl. The bottom is filled with creamy queso fundido. Don't miss this; it's crazy good. There us a small but complete kids menu - one had the quesadilla and the other a chicken enchilada. Both excellent (they vanished quickly) Oh yes - drinks. Between us we killed two mojitos, a margarita, and two caipirinhas. All were great; the bartender knows what he is about. Dessert - their flan is good; the fried ice cream is HUGE so plan on splitting it. The staff, servers, and owner Dennis are all very knowledgeable and talkative. You can tell they really want this place to expand and maintain its quality. Do them a favor and stop in - order something besides "standard Mexican" and enjoy the ride.
(5)Megan M.
Looks like a hole-in-the-wall, but never judge a book by its cover. Great food, authentic flavor. A little pricey, but the portions are big and it's yummy. Recommend coming here!
(5)Ellen D.
Side Street Cantina & Taco Shack is located in the same spot where Phil's Grill used to be. The same parking applies as back when it was Phil's Grill- there's metered spots along the street & there is a small free lot across from the 7-11 on the corner of 11th (Lake Dr) & Pacific. The 1st time I went to Side Street it was late night & we were there for drinks w/ friends. I was kinda leery about going there for dinner b/c I thought of it more as a late night bar. However, I've now been there for lunch & dinner several times & I love the food! It seems more fresh than other Mexican restaurants & their menu is more diverse. My husband loves their fresh ceviche & the mango sea salt. My favorite is the Burrito California (see pic) & I also really enjoy their fish tacos. You'll have a great meal whether you're just going for margaritas & appetizers or for dinner & drinks. So glad the South End finally has a good Mexican spot (& fun late night bar) within biking distance!
(4)Katie K.
This place is awesome. Great service. $3 well drinks on Fridays. Great dips! They gave us a free taco for checking in here! Awesome!!!
(5)Alicia W.
So on my quest for the best fish taco in the Virginia Beach area, ill have to say that this place rocks! The fish was tasty. I wish it was served on a corn tortilla, but that was my fault for not asking. Great service and food! We will be back again.
(4)Lance F.
I wanted so badly to love this place, to find another Mexican place to add to our list of go-to's. And after reading the previous reviews, I had high expectations going to dinner recently. Unfortunately, I walked away disappointed. When we arrived, it was rather warm inside the place. What is up with places that have no air conditioning in the middle of July? I have been to several places recently where the air temp ranges from somewhat warm to freaking hot. Yeah, I know the word "Beach" is in the name of the city but you still need some air conditioning unless you are open air and right on the water. Yes, I am THAT guy. I need my air. But, that is another gripe for another day. Back to my story here. It was warm inside. So warm that my wife, who is cold when it is 80 degrees outside, commented on it. My kids, who always need their jackets when we go eat, never once asked for them. That's too warm, people. We were seated and greeted by our server, who did a nice job with the service. The chips, salsa, and ever present white sauce was brought out. We also ordered some queso, which was quite good, though a little overpriced for the small little bowl. In fact, we needed to order another before our meal arrived. We will return to this point later. The salsa tasted like something from a jar. The chips were hit and miss as some were fresh and some were a little on the stale side, another point to which we will return later. Not off to a great start. My youngest son ordered a hot dog and fries and liked it. But, how hard is that to get right? My oldest son ordered three crispy beef tacos. When they arrived, the meat was cold. We told our server and he promptly brought replacements. The meat on these were a little warmer but still questionable. The shells were all stale. The crispy tacos were quite disappointing. My wife ordered chicken and cheese nachos and she quite liked them. She did comment on the portion size, however. She NEVER finishes her food. Ever. She finished these nachos which is both a testament to the good taste and the smaller portion. I ordered carnitas, which were quite tasty. But, for the price the portion was on the smaller side. For the first time perhaps ever, we left a Mexican restaurant without a to-go container. We aren't huge eaters (well, I am and my waist line shows it) but the portions were smaller than you might expect from a Mexican place. If the quality had been outstanding, then no big deal. But, it wasn't. The chips and taco shells were stale. The salsa was underwhelming. Overall, it wasn't a terrible experience. It was definitely hit and miss. I might go back to try again because maybe this was just an off night for them. But, it won't be added to our list of favorites.
(3)Dawn M.
Taco Tuesday: BOGO AWESOME FISH TACOS and $2 Tecates = $5.25 food/drink bill. DJ's or live bands on most nights/weekends. Great happy hour specials EVERY DAY until 8pm. Bar area, dance area, and dining area. Friendly staff. Great food, always. Been going nearly weekly for 2 years.
(5)Jay D.
I visited this location with my mother and sister and we both thoroughly enjoyed our dining experience! Our waiter Victor was extremely polite and very helpful. He helped recommend menu items and answered any questions we may have had about the food. My mother and I had the Burritos California while my sister had the Spaniard. The flavors were very good and everything tasted fresh. The overall experience was very nice and we would definitely visit again.
(4)Meagan G.
My friend and I stopped by the Side Street Cantina on a Sunday night around 9:30 PM for a late dinner. There wasn't much going on- a few people at the bar and maybe three or four tables worth of diners. Our waiter was not overly friendly- he sort of gave me the impression that he just wanted to get out of there for the night and our arrival was delaying his plans. I ordered a margarita, the Side Street Rita, and my friend ordered a beer. Someone brought out chips, salsa, and white dip- correction- a huge basket of chips, probably four ounces of salsa, and literally a tablespoon of white dip. My friend and I had to laugh at the fact that they dirtied a dish to put what seriously was about a spoonful of white dip in it. The salsa was okay- the dip was not, so maybe it's better they didn't "waste" it on us. Our drinks came; my margarita was okay- a little sweet for my preference. I later had the traditional margarita and thought that was much better. I showed our waiter the free taco coupon (you receive it when you check in through yelp on your smartphone) and he seemed sort of annoyed we were asking for it to be honored. He brought us a soft chicken taco that we split- and it was really good. The chicken was very moist and it had the perfect balance of cheese. For our entrees, I ordered the fish tacos and my friend asked the waiter if they could do carnitas tacos. The waiter said it would be no problem. The fish tacos were pretty good- I especially liked the passion-fruit mango salsa served with them. The "carnitas" tacos, not so much. They ended up just serving us the tacos de puerco, which were more like pork chops rather than carnitas. They weren't bad, just not what was expected. We both enjoyed the beans, however we found that the rice was rather dry. Overall, it seems they are trying to serve a more authentic style of food, but it just isn't executed correctly. SIDE NOTE: The one thing that really turned me off was that one of the waiters starting cleaning up on the other side of the dining room (I get it- it's late)- but he got up on a ladder and starting cleaning/dusting the ceiling fans.. while we were eating. Could he not wait until we were finished with our food to start sending dust flying around? Maybe start by wiping down tables and chairs or vacuuming? I wouldn't say that we had a horrible experience- it just was disappointing considering all of the fabulous reviews we had read for this place. Maybe it was the timing- again, we arrived kind of late on a Sunday night, but I believe that if you are going to be open, you should still provide your best quality service. If you do not want to be "stuck" there until 11 on a Sunday night, close your restaurant at 9 PM. Their prices are high for the quality of the food we received. It's possible that I would return to Side Street Cantina, but I would definitely go for lunch or early dinner- most likely during happy hour to receive better deals.
(2)Mat E.
I left virginia about 5 years ago and had forgotten how much I missed this place. The Ceviche is a must, but there is nothing here I'd recommend against, except the burger. Not because it's bad, but because you're at the cantina. If you can't make up your mind ask your server for a surprise, you won't be disappointed.
(5)Ed P.
While on vacation in Virginia Beach I had a couple of good dining experiences. I found most of the food on the boardwalk to be average at best, but one day my wife and I stumbled into Side Street Cantina just a block or two off of the boardwalk on 11st Street. I have to admit that I'm not much of a seafood eater, so perhaps that's why I had my best dining experience in a Mexican style restaurant. The service inside Side Street Cantina restaurant was very quick and efficient. Within seconds of sitting at our table, a server quickly dropped off a basket of chips along with two different sauces. First was a standard but freshly prepared salsa. The other sauce was a secret white sauce that I was not such a fan of. The sauce was a little too sweet for my tastes. I almost took them up on their table side prepared guacamole, but my wife and I decided to keep our lunch on the lighter side. Again keeping our meal light, we both ordered from the lunch menu. I went with the chimichanga, which is a fried burrito that I had filled with chicken, then smothered with nacho cheese and red sauce. The menu indicates it is served with rice and beans, but I opted to have it with a side of guacamole instead. The guacamole looked much too good to pass up on completely, and it was really good. The chimichanga wasn't as deep-fried as most of the others I have had from other restaurants, but the cheese sauce on top added a nice element that I'm not used to. My wife put together a lunch combination plate of a quesadilla and a chile relleno. We made a bad assumption that the chile relleno would just be cheese filled, and instead it came filled with beef, which neither my wife or I eat. We were too hungry to complain though, so we just dug the meat out and enjoyed the very spicy shell of the relleno. I also received a free taco for checking in on Foursquare, which could have been the highlight of the meal for me. They have a rather large section of the menu dedicated to tacos, as they should. I should also mention that the margaritas were also good. They weren't too sweet or too sour, just right in the middle. They were more refreshing than anything. Overall we had a great dining experience and will definitely return should we be back in Virginia Beach in the future.
(4)Elliot N.
Tucked away just off the main strip if you blink you could easily miss this place and that would be a great shame. The table-side gauc is great, the chips tasty and the 'Mexican Parrilla' was fantastic both in flavour and value. It was pretty busy but we did not have to wait for a table at 7 on the Saturday evening of a holiday weekend. Lots of families and kids so probably not the place for a quite romantic dinner. Would definitely go back
(4)Joanne P.
Had the fish tacos last night.. Very well seasoned, would definitely get them again. The rice was also excellent, I could eat a huge bowl full.. Would recommend this place to Virginia Beach visitors.. yum!
(4)Ashlyee D.
My husband, son and I stopped by here for my birthday around lunch time. Being from New Mexico, I've been craving good mexican food lately. Unfortunately, I was hoping for a better experience. The food was okay. (I had the lunch enchilada plate) the chicken was a bit dry though. The biggest disappointment for me was the service. When the food was brought out, my son's plate was completely overlooked and we had to wait for it to be made while we already had our dishes. I felt the waiter was rude. Every once in a while I have come across a male waiter that seems like he has some kind of issue with talking to the females at the table, and this guy was definitely one of those. Every time I asked something or even said thank you for bringing something, he barely acknowledged me and always turned to answer/speak to my husband instead. That is incredibly frustrating. At the end of our meal, I paid in cash with a fifty, the bill was $24.71. When he finally came back, his response to me was "Well, it was pretty much $25, so here's your change." I understand he only shorted me $0.29, but I don't consider that good business. Very disappointed with what I thought was going to be a good place to eat.
(2)Josh S.
Fyi, they deliver! I'm a local in Virginia Beach. I work at a hotel nearby on the oceanfront and its actually part of my job to send people to great places like this. The food is outstanding. My best friend is actually Mexican and she hates most Mexican or southwest restaurants saying they aren't authentic, but she loves this one, as do I. I found out about them first because they were on a list of restaurants that delivered. How glorious is that? If you are looking to go out to a relaxed place and eat great food made efficiently and also have a somewhat budget you need to stick to, this place is perfect. I couldn't tell you what not to get, because everything I've had is great. As far as apps, try the chori dip or crab and shrimp dip, both great! Also the mango. Mmm..now I'm hungry. As far as noise level, it just depends on the time of day. Later is a little louder. Look up their menu online. You must go.
(5)Matt B.
Rather slow service on a Saturday in early March. The food was average at best (tried a chicken taco, chicken enchilada and beef enchilada). The pictures I saw ahead of time made me quite excited but I left rather disappointed.
(3)Heather W.
My husband & I were sadly disappointed with this place. It has a very Mexican/surfing/skating atmosphere. We waited about an hour for our food (understaffed kitchen during Neptune festival-yet it wasn't very busy), our fish, chicken and beef tacos were sort of warm and just not good. The fish was very fishy, too, and not in a good way :( the staff was, however, extremely kind and apologetic about the wait. Maybe we just had that one bad experience, the other Yelp reviews are quite good.
(2)K D.
Came here with a groupon deal and had the tacos and the quesadila. The food was ok, nothing special. I wouldn't come here again. Or maybe I would and just try the drinks.
(2)Megan K.
After reading several Yelp reviews, I ended up here with two of my girl friends on a Saturday evening for dinner and drinks. The staff was AWESOME and all three of us had a great time. We initially chose this place because of the recommendations for Margaritas. We ended up going with all of the recommendations and got the fresh margaritas, fish tacos, guacamole, and the fried ice cream. All were good, but the margs deserve a special shout out. I'm not a margarita aficionado, but I've had several of them in my day, and this is the best I've ever had. The "fresh margarita" is just Tres Agaves tequila, agave nectar and fresh lime juice--nothing else. It was AMAZING. They were plenty strong, but weren't sour or boozy like margs sometimes are with cheap tequila and sour mix. I loved this margarita. Everyone liked their food. The fish taco was a standout. After we'd finished eating, our waiter came over with free shots of tequila for us, and asked us to come back later for drinks and dancing. We were more than happy to come back! The night started out great with a kickass 90s R&B playlist. The dance floor never got too crazy when the DJ showed up, despite assurances from all the locals and regulars that Saturday nights were usually packed. Even so, we had a great low-key night chatting around the bar and sneaking in a few dances here and there. Highly recommended, would definitely go back.
(5)Sherri R.
Vacationed in VB in June 2013 while visiting family. Usually we go to Guadalahara's but they moved off the strip. But that's okay, we're now hooked on Side Street Cantina! Staff was great, food was awesome and I'd recommend it to everyone! I got the chicken and chorizo tacos and they were very authentic (and spicy too). Loved them! The only thing I'd recommend to improve it ... upgrade your air conditioner! LOL
(4)Rebecca P.
Really? The only reason I can think that this place has a 4 star rating is because all the other food in Virginia Beach is terrible and Virginia Beach is for the tourists so food taste plummets. We ate here for a late lunch and when we arrived we were the only folks in the restaurant - that should have been a sign. The food is standard chain-style Americanized Mexican food. Nothing more and nothing less. The gold margaritas and the service were the only decent things about the whole restaurant.
(1)J F.
Good apps... Mediocre entrees... one of our tacos was a bit off. 1 app 1 beer and 2 entrees $33 meh...
(2)Matt Y.
Wow...probably some of the better mexican food I've had outside of the southwest. Very good guacamole, with diced(not mashed) avocado, made tableside. Excellent drinks, good seafood dishes(according to co diners...I don't like seafood, but they said that their ceviche and tuna bites were amazing) and very very good street tacos. Also I would say probably the only good carnitas I've had since leaving Texas were here...crispy on the outside, well flavored and moist on the inside. Really the only thing keeping this from 5 stars is that every time I've gone in here(3 times), a waiter has tried to pick up a female at the table. Amusing if its a friend, alarming if its a girlfriend. It seems to be a company policy. That notwithstanding, its an excellent place for the food and drinks.
(4)Valerie H.
Oh Sidestreet. I love you, with your cholo-chic decor and wait staff. The food is deeeeeeelicious, I highly recommend the fajitas, but they also make a kick-butt margarita. Sidestreet has great food specials during the day on weekends and it's nice to come into some place cool and shady when it's hot out. It turns into a night-spot if you're out too late, so unless you've got your dancing shoes on you might want to get out of there before 9:30 or so. Yay Sidestreet!
(4)Bree B.
An unexpected, seaside gem! As out of town guests, we were searching for good Mexican food in the VA Beach area and were delighted to come across Side Street Cantina. The service was quick and friendly, the food was made-to-order, reasonably priced, and fresh. As a bonus, Tuesday is 2 for 1 Taco Night-- do yourself a favor and try the shrimp tacos!
(5)Caryn B W.
Eaten here twice now when visiting VA beach. Good food, reasonable prices and love the tableside guacamole! Be sure to "check in" on yelp while you are there for the free taco!
(4)Jenny D.
Great dinner, thanks to yelp reviews! This place was .03 miles from our hotel. The waiter was super friendly and helpful. The owner checked if everything was ok. The dinners were great and taste. Perfect size portions and the fried ice cream was amazing.
(5)Felix A. R.
Unfortunately, I didn't get to eat here so I can't give them a higher rating. I went during lunch and I hung out at the bar. Friendly atmosphere and good music. At night they clear away the tables to create a club type scene. I do have to mention the jerk male bartender who worked last night (8-21-10). Besides the fact that he was taking forever to take the drink order he was trying to rush me and my friends and to top it all off he tried to serve me a sprite with no Absolute Mandarin it. When I told him about it, he got upset. Other than that, it's an ok spot.
(3)Brandon C.
I've had a lot of Mexican food but this was extraordinary. We went there one day and the food was so good we rearranged our day just to go back the next day. Had the chicken shrimp and steak fajitas both days and they were phenomenal. The only reason they get four and not five stars is just a little too much seasoning on the fajitas...I told them to back off the seasoning the second day and they were perfect. Their seasoning is similar to a Cajun seasoning or blackening seasoning. The steak was thick not some puny little flank steak, this was juicy tender and ABUNDANT. The prices are a little above average...the dinner size fajitas were 16.00 but enough to share for two people for lunch (we had leftovers). Also that white dip you may have read about...excellent, mayonnaise and horseradish based dip you just have to try to understand how good it is...and that salsa, very fresh. Only surpassed overall in quality by Cactus Cantina in DC.
(4)Kurt B.
The service was really bad. When we asked about the happy hour specials our waiter told us happy hour was over when there was still an hour left. On top of that they forgot to bring us our appetizers. Our main dishes were below average. We checked in on here for our free taco and they still tried to charge us for it.
(2)Kathy O.
This was an ok break from the sea food we've had here. To their credit, the tamale I had was great, but they ran out of avocados at 6:30pm. After our waiter told us that they ran out of avocados we saw another table get table side made guacamole; our waiter said they wanted it with not ripe avocados. How can a Mexican restaurant run out of avocados?! Enchiladas were very average...
(2)Jennifer J.
Friendly staff. Family friendly. Delicious delicious delicious.
(4)Sam P.
Tried this place based on Yelp reviews. So happy that we did. The guacamole made tableside was awesome. Steak fajitas delicious!! Prices were so reasonable will be eating here again before we leave.
(5)Vanessa G.
Food was good, service was kind of slow and my husband never got the sour cream he ordered. It was extremely loud to the point where everybody had to repeat what they were saying. They were very busy for a Sunday evening and their credit card machines were down. My family will go again but more than likely for an early dinner.
(4)Desirea V.
The staff was very friendly and attentive. The food was served quickly and was absolutely delicious. I ordered the fish tacos and was not disappointed. I could drink the passion fruit, mango chipotle sauce through a straw. I would definitely make this a must eat restaurant.
(5)Holly P.
The food wasn't as good as I had hoped. Got three different tacos, and while the mango chipotle sauce was delightful, the tuna taco it went with was extremely overcooked. It was also pretty bland, and not worth the chewing it required. I want to give this place a "meh", but the service was outstanding.
(3)MNscratch Z.
Tacos al pastor! Real Mexican.
(4)Todd H.
We really enjoyed our dinner here. The natural margarita was one of the best tasting margaritas I've ever had. We got the table made guacamole and thought it was fresh and delicious. Wife got a dinner and was happy the beef was not overly salty as it tends to be at Mexican restaurants. My fish tacos were fresh and flavorful.
(4)Deirdre W.
I probably should give it 3 stars for the food, which was good, but nothing truly special. But the whole experience--food drinks and spectacular service pushes it up to a 4--particularly in a resort town full of overpriced crappy options. The kids had burgers and chicken fingers, which were fresh and good, and the chicken fingers appeared housemade. Mom had the shrimp fajitas and said they were excellent. My husband reports that the ceviche was very good and fresh. My bean burrito was nothing special, but fresh and satisfying. The "fresh rita" was awesome--fresh lime juice, not very sweet, just perfect. The kids had virgin ritas which they loved. The queso dip was different that what we were used to but quite tasty. We will definitely go back when in town.
(4)Paul C.
Stopped in for lunch and enjoyed the table side guacamole. I had their house margarita and some tasty puerco tacos. My wife had the enchiladas, which she said very very good. My son is a connoisseur of cheese quesadillas and approved of the all-Jack rendition here, though he was half full from the warm basket of corn chips.
(4)R W.
Awesome food and service (this was the second time in a year that we ate here). The margaritas and food were outstanding (ordered the carnitas and fajita taco salad). Restaurant was not busy for 5:30 on a Friday night; our server was very attentive and the food arrived quickly. Good times- definitely plan to return.
(5)Robert I.
This place is really great. The fresh guacamole is as GOOD as it gets. Even better than the place we go to in South Florida. The waitstaff are extremely helpful and personable and do their best to insure that your visit will be the best that is possible. They have a good happy hour 4-7. If you like margaritas be sure to order the one made with all fresh ingredients. No bar mix, fresh lime, etc. Extremely good. It is a family owned restaurant and I prefer supporting those vs chains. The decor could be fancier, however, I don't go to a restaurant based on decor I go for the quality of food and the overall dining experience. The bathrooms are clean. The place is appropriate for families with children should that be a concern.
(5)Valerie R.
So, tonite was like the 6th time we have been to sidestreet, and we do not have anything good to say. No one working was even remotely friendly and they gave us the wrong food. It was dark at the bar and in the kitchen. Definitely will not be going back. Worst expirience in a long time.
(1)david j.
This place always impresses me with the overall consistency. The food is delicious and the servers are attentive and personable. Another added plus is that the manager always takes notice of how things are going etc. A must try is the homemade Sangria! We all loved it! At the end of the meal the manager offered a shot of tequila on the house, that was a cool gesture. We will be back! Keep up the great work!
(5)allie d.
authentic, solid cuban inspired food. their ceviche was excellent. relaxed, comfortable bar and grill atmosphere. very clean kitchen that you can see from the bar. i would go here again.
(5)