Bubba Garcia's
Category: Restaurants Mexican Mexican [Edit]
200 Redfern VillageSt Simons Island, GA 31522
(912) 634-0073
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
- Takes Reservations:
- No
- Take-out:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- Yes
- Good For:
- Dinner
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Noise Level:
- Very Loud
- Has TV:
- Yes
16 reviews for Bubba Garcia's
15 reviews in English
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Review from David P.
Flovilla, GA
5/16/2012 1 Check-in Here
This place was pretty cool. It had a good atmosphere for adults and the waitress was really nice.
The food was reasonably priced and they had a wide variety of plates. I had the chicken fajitas and the wife had the fish tacos.
If I were in the area, I'd go back again. The only reason I'm not giving a 5 star was the seating and the party factor. Too cramped outside. Other than that, it was pretty cool. A little more of a party scene than I wanted to be around as well. I don't know that I would feel comfortable taking my kids there. If it was just the wife and me, I'd visit again for sure. -
Review from Herman W.
4/6/2012 1 Check-in Here
What a dump! (That's a compliment, btw!) Service was good, food was great, margaritas, so-so. They took good care of our 7, with good gooey queso, solid guacamole, and great mains! Blender was out of order- really? Walmart has 'em cheap, so I hear! Didn't care for the margarita mix or the cheap tequila anyway. Guess I'll have to see if they have sangria next time.
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Review from John R.
Warren, NJ
6/21/2011 2 Check-ins Here
A good Mexican place in St. Simons Island? Yes, it does exist and here it is. First, the idea of being able to choose your own 'meat' for nearly all of the dishes is great. And for Bubba the word 'meat' includes the following:
cheese only, shredded chix, grilled chix, pulled spicy pork, grilled fish, ground beef, tofu, grilled shrimp, grilled steak, grilled chorizo (spicy sausage), grilled veggies (zucchini, squash, portobello mush, onion, and bell pepper), black beans
Beyond that simple factor the food is just darn good. Been there two times for lunch and the plain burrito with shrimp as my 'meat' is simply awesome! -
Review from Natalie K.
Atlanta, GA
11/3/2010
I love this place! Mexican food is my fav! It's definitely not authentic, but I enjoy the way they have Americanized/modernized their menu.
I recommend the cali club tacos, buffalo shrimp tacos, and the nachos. The margaritas aren't as strong as I'd like but I love the way they are served in jars with a heavily salted rim.
I definitely look forward to eating here every time I visit St. Simons!! -
Review from maureen a.
Virginia Beach, VA
2/21/2011
We had dinner here over President's Day weekend. It was fine. Service was fast and friendly. The margaritas were good & generous. The food was pretty good too. The chips & salsa were indifferent. The guacamole was good. Our main dishes - salmon/goat cheese/spinach quesadilla & blackened fish tacos were good - generous portions. It was busy & friendly. I'd go back.
Just don't trust the directions from the mobile Yelp app! We wandered down some neighborhood streets before finding it. -
Review from Dana K.
Suffolk, VA
8/9/2008
While visiting my hometown, I had lunch here with a friend. We had spent several hours at the beach and needed a little food before we headed home. She suggested Bubba's and I was game for something new.
We sat outside because we were, honestly, pretty nasty and covered with that weird salty/sweaty film and felt that it would be a health hazard if we ate inside. It was a nice patio area and the interior is super cute.
For an appetizer, we had the queso blanco (I know, I know...not so traditional mexican, but I LOVE it and this did not disappoint). I had the tacos de pescado for lunch (my friend had chicken strips - don't ask - I don't understand, either). The pescado was a surprisingly large portion of perfectly seasoned tilapia filets. The tilapia was in two rather large soft tacos with shredded cabbage and a "chipotle" cream sauce.
I could have lived without the cabbage (especially the huge chunks which they should have pulled out during prep work) and the cream sauce could have used some more kick. However, the fish was delicious. I ended up just eating the fish from the second taco.
I definitely think Bubba's is worth trying. I'll go back the next time I'm in town to see if my review needs to be adjusted. I have heard good things about the drinks...but my liver was on sabbatical after my previous weekend in Key West, so I just had sweet tea. -
Review from Lauren S.
Smyrna, GA
7/13/2010
Ate at Bubba Garcia's while on vacation in SSI last weekend, and really enjoyed it! The food was delicious, and was worth the long wait for a table. I ordered the nachos, which were HUGE, but very good. I'd recommend sharing with at least one other person.
If you try out Bubba's and are waiting for a table, try the Cantina upstairs (our hostess came up to find us when the table was ready). The drinks were great, and people-watching was even better. Interesting crowd in there... -
Review from Erik K.
Boston, MA
5/10/2011
Cheap, family owned and full of atmosphere. Place is an island fixture. The burrito is the size of Texas. You won't be disappointed.
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Review from Jessica M.
San Francisco, CA
9/24/2008
I visited Bubba Garcia's twice in one weekend - having never been to St. Simons before and getting a recommendation from an outdoor guide for a good margarita. I was initially worried that after kayaking - we couldn't sit for a (well-earned) drink, but upon arrival - saw outdoor seating and felt a nice casual vibe - so why not? (Incidentally - our tour guide showed up moments after us.)
A bottomless basket of chips and salsa, a beer, and a top-shelf (Patron) margarita set me back $10. Yes, total. Wow - living large in GA! I tipped $5 just because.
The margarita was great. I normally wouldn't mix Patron with other "stuff" - but I was on vacation and not about to drink rail tequila. The best thing about the drinks? They serve them in Mason jars ! Too cute.
Would definitely go back to try some real food and have more drinks -(the guacamole I got the day after wasn't much to write home about). Wish we didn't find this at the end of the trip. -
Review from Taylor G.
Atlanta, GA
6/1/2010
Great cheap mexican restaurant. I didn't do any drinking as this was the Monday of Memorial Day weekend before driving back to Atlanta, but as for the food, it's delicious.
We started off with standard chips and salsa with some guacamole on the side. Decent guac, pretty good salsa and it's decently spicy.
Main dishes were an assortment of chimichanga's, taco's, and a quesadilla shared by all. Chimichanga's were definitely the best. I avoided ordering them because fried tortillas didn't sound like something I needed after the long weekend..but I ended up eating one anyway that my friend didn't want. So delicious and juicy.
The menu is mostly mexican staples with a little twist here and there (chipotle salmon, a few buffalo flavored items, calimari tacos) that make things interesting.
Definitely will be coming back here during my next trip to Sea/St. Simon's Islands. -
Review from John W.
Greer, SC
6/30/2010 1 Check-in Here
Nothing not to like here. Great staff (especially the manager, the owner's daughter)/ambience/pricing/food. A great value and well worth the 45 minute wait (a group of 5 with the restaurant's limited seating didn't help, although it looked like the average group was 5 or more).
Especially liked in our group were the fish tacos (sautéed not fried) and shrimp tacos. Even our picky grandson #2 ate most of his enchiladas (and that says a lot) while #1 cleared his plate. Mango margarita could have had more mango taste, but still very good.
We have one more week in vacation, so I know that we'll be back. 5 stars for the type of casual restaurant that it is. Hasta pronto, Bubba! -
Review from L. F.
Waco, TX
8/15/2011
Good atmosphere, friendly staff, BUT the food was defiantly not authentic. My enchiladas looked like miniature burritos, made with flour tortillas, (not homemade, like you would normally find in a Mexican restaurant) with sauce poured on top of them. Honestly all they need to do is use corn tortillas, and actually bake the enchiladas with the sauce on them. BAM you have a way better, more authentic flavor. I'm sure the reason they don't bake them together before hand is because you have the option to choose your own meat, and they have too many choices to bake each kind of enchilada. However, not baking them ( meat inside a corn tortilla, with sauces on top ) makes them more of a smothered burrito, not an enchilada. There is room for improvement here for sure. On another note, the salsa was fantastic! Over all I would seek out a different spot if I was in the mood for mexican, this is definitely an ameri-mexi-can place. I am a Texan, so I may be a tad critical when it comes to mexican food ;-)
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Review from Guerry N.
Saint Simons Island, GA
1/24/2010 1 photo
Bubba Garcias is a Mexican Cantina located in Redfern Village near Gnats Landing. Both restaurants and owned and run by "Boz" Bostock. Bubba Garcia's has about 10 specialties they offer from Chipotle Salmon to BBQ Chicken Quesadillas. They also offer about seven specialty tacos on their menu. One of my favorites is the Fried Fish Tacos which is two flour tortillas stuffed with fried talapia, fresh cabbage, chipotle cream, fresh jalapeno, pineapple, and pico.
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Review from Lesley B.
The Upstate
4/13/2009
This is our "go-to" place for a casual dinner. The margaritas are amazing and so is the food. If you're looking to seriously chow down, get anything made with the grilled steak or chorizo. For a little bit lighter, (but still totally filling), meal order the ensalada pesca (taco salad with salmon). Try the chipotle ranch & the cilantro vinaigrette. This is my favorite salad in all the world! Dress is anything goes.
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Review from Kris D.
Savannah, GA
2/10/2011
If they're "on," the food here is unbeatable. Unfortunately I've also been on a few "off" days, and was left pretty disappointed and kind of bitter. The service is hit or miss, too. But the corn nuggets are awesome, and the shrimp tacos are some of the best when the kitchen staff isn't stoned/hungover/MIA or whatever it is that happens on the bad nights. On the good days, it's an easy five stars, and on the bad, a sad two.
