Loading...
- Hours:
Mon-Thu. 11:30 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.
Mon-Thu. 5:00 p.m. - 10:00 p.m.
Fri-Sat. 11:30 a.m. - 11:00 p.m.
Sun. 11:30 a.m. - 10:00 p.m.
- Parking:
- Street
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Good for Kids:
- No
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Delivery:
- No
- Take-out:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- Yes
- Good for:
- Dinner
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
79 reviews for Cactus Restaurant
Review Highlights
Loading...
This 5 star rating is based on the great experience I had from the staff at Cactus this last Friday.
We decided to treat ourselves and give in to the Cactus craving we've had for quite some time. We first were sat in the main dining area and began perusing the menu. Within a couple mins, a couple with two very obnoxious, loud children sat right next to us (the tables int he middle of the dining room are about a foot apart). Given our lack of patience for misbehaved children, we politely asked the hostess if we could be seated in the bar. They delightfully accommodated us in the bar, the place we should have sat in the first place. This was our first great experience of the night with the staff.
We then ordered our drinks and food. It was a Manny's Pale and Seafood Enchilada for me. A Margarita and skillet of nachos for the lady. The drinks and food came out in no time flat, and was fresh, and well presented. Unfortunately for me, my enchilada was covered in whole kernel corn, and had whole kernel corn in the filling. Long story short; I can't have whole corn... It turns out I missed the mention in the menu where it said there was corn in this dish.
The manager came over and asked what he could do to get me something I could eat. I apologized and asked if I could have the same dish, sans corn. He said no problem, and went on his way. He brought my new dish back out to me in another flash, and thanked me for being so polite about the deal (apparently that's not the norm with his usual customers).
The seafood enchilada (sans-corn) was unbelievably tasty. Chunks of seafood goodness in a rich sauce under a soft tortilla and cheese. I'm already craving another, and after we were treated so well despite our high maintenance issues, we'll be back for sure.
It used to be that about every other weekend, a trio that consisted of myself, a very rich and sexy friend, and a pompous, hot-headed friend would frequent the Kirkland area in search of good, Americanized Mexican food. Yes, I am referring to "the Man" Bill G., and the enemy of all chairs, Steve B. The "Elite 3" we were called, finally stumbled upon the cactus.
Oh, the Cactus, how I love thy Seafood Enchilada. Normally, I don't eat fish skin, but it was prepared so well that I had no choice but to consume this exquisite offering. The delicate balance of cheese and small hint of herbs that surrounded the enchilada brought forth manly, acidic tears of satiety that no other seafood Tex-Mex dish has managed to achieve. The Navajo Fry Bread with Amber Honey dip appetizer also elicited a strange sound from my mouth that could only be eloquently transcribed as "nom nom".
Eventually, the spirit of generosity that fills Bill G.'s heart guided him to dedicate his efforts towards the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. In his absence, Steve B. has filled his shoes and stepped up his efforts to lead the Resistance against the evil empire that is Apple and Google. Understandably, they no longer frequent the Cactus as often, and the Elite 3 dissolved. I was determined to band together a new trio, in order to dine the Cactus without appearing like a desperate, single, and lonely loser.
I brought about 2 other friends to the cactus, one of whom managed to surpass Bill G.'s sexiness (though not quite as rich), and the other, having an ego even larger than the Windows Mobile organization (though not bald). One of my comrades, who generally dislikes Mexican food, became enamored with a grilled shrimp dish of some sort that she ordered. And, just like old times, no one really paid attention to the pompous friend or what he even ordered, but he was very satisfied with his meal.
The environment is very clean, but a little cramped. The service here is excellent and friendly. In fact, even though I was with 2 other friends, the waitress still recognized me as part of the original Elite 3. I was able to tell the fine waitress, "I'll take the usual", of which she was able to correctly respond "Ah, yes, the Seafood Enchilada. The one you usually get with Bill." (Forgetting about Steve, naturally)
I'm not a big fan of Mexican food, in fact I try to avoid it at all costs. Convinced by a manipulative friend who claims to be buddy buddy with Billg, we decided to give it a try. Rumor says Billg used to dine here, rumor also says he used to hang out with my friend here at Cactus. Well, I was skeptical. When the waitress took our order, my friend indicated that he would like to have the 'usual'. To my surprise, the waitress seemed to recognize my friend. I don't remember what that 'usual' is, but it's yummy(Despite the fact that my friend gave me a big piece of fish skin and I am paranoid about fish skin). The waitress would come by and ask my friend how's the 'usual', and I hate to admit that I did feel special because I was having delicious fry bread and spicy shrimp with Billg's BFF.
Later I found out, my manipulative friend went to talk to the waitress on his way to the bathroom right after we were seated, and told her to put up this show with him. Manipulation nicely executed, my friend.
OK. I wish I could do 3 1/2 stars. So Cactus, Barrio, and Matador have similiar type foods. My fav of the 3 is still the Kirkland Cactus. It's small on the inside, but I love the cosy, festive, and fun environment. The food is a toss up. It depends what your ordering. I think that there are some items I like better at Matador. I like the salads best at cactus though and the chips & salsa. Also, my husband would say the drinks are better at Bario. Plus, bonus is that its close to home. They also have a lot of items with goat cheese which is a plus for me as I cannot have cow dairy. So more options here for me to choose from.
Really like this place. It's upscale mexican food and the price tag goes with it but the good atmosphere and delicious drink make it worth it. Great service staff who are friendly, honest, and prompt. Try the prickly pear margarita.
Why o why did you take away the original el diablo? The new version is NO comparison and it's not very mexican. I believe it tastes more like PF Changs than good mexican.
Please bring it back!!!
As usual, this place never fails! Excellent service, excellent food. One of my top favorites in the Seattle metro area.
1 Previous Review: Show all »
-
9/20/2009
This place never fails me! It has an excellent vibe, great staff, and good patrons.
Last night, I… Read more »
Simply packed on a 90 degree day in Kirkland. My friend grabbed a table in the bar, but sitting outside. Great people watching!
Even though it was swamped, we didn't have too much trouble tracking down the staff and ordering. The server did a pretty good job of getting us everything.
After a couple of mojitos, we broke down and had the prawn tacos. Nothing spectacular but good enough on a day when you're sitting in the sun enjoying some beverages.
Parking is not fun around here. My friend tried to save me a spot but I couldn't get to her in time and I ended up circling around the area like a vulture for a little while.
2.6 stars.
I always find myself torn on cactus. It is convenient, the service is (almost) always excellent. The drinks are good. Unfortunately, the food frequently disapoints.
4 star service (20%)
3 star drinks (20%)
2 star Mexican food (60%)
=2.6 Stars overall
It is still a fun place to grab a drink and catch up with friends at the bar, but the food is not worth the high prices or long wait on a Friday or Saturday evening.
I've heard a lot about this restaurant and was afraid that because of all the hype that it would be a letdown, but it wasn't! Woot!
I came on one of the first nice days of spring. We all know how Seattle people are.. it's been gloomy, rainy, and overcast all winter and we get SO excited when the sun finally comes out that we all get off work early, cause traffic, and go to the beach or park. Well, I am one of those people.
I knew this place had outdoor seating, so we decided to give it a shot. The traffic on the one lane road that goes into Kirkland downtown was killer, but worth it. We found some street parking and walked to the restaurant. There were quite a few people waiting outside so I was worried we might have to wait for a while, especially for patio seating, but we were in luck! There was one two-person table available outside and we were seated immediately.
For appetizers, we ordered the coconut prawns and the chorizo queso fundido. The prawns were yummy, but predictable.. nothing out of the ordinary or particularly special. The fundido (what does that even mean?) was filled with cheese, house made chorizo, roasted poblano peppers and basil, rolled up in corn tortillas. It was very good and full of flavor.
For entree, we split a skirt-steak fajitas. They were SO good. My boyfriend and I have both had our share of fajitas, but these were really good. The steak was juicy and smoky, the tortillas were light and warm... it was very good. I could have definitely eaten a whole portion of these if we hadn't ordered so many appetizers and wanted to save room for dessert.
I am happy to say that Cactus lived up to the hype! I also heard they have very good drinks.. I will have to try one, the wild mushroom quesadilla and, ceviche out next time!
I really do like this place. We came on a beautiful day and were (pseudo) able to sit outside. The windows open like sliding glass doors, so even if there's no room on the patio, ask to sit by the window. It's just as good.
The wild mushroom quesadillas were AWESOME- we actually ended up getting an extra order after we finished the first ones. They had a tomato, mozzerella, and pesto salad on special that was recommended by our server, and that was great as well. I was only drinking beer (of course), but my companions were downing mojitos like there was no tomorrow, so it's safe to say that they're probably pretty freaking good. Would love to come back for happy hour if I was in town just a little longer.
Service: Friendly, Fast and good. (Actually makes you want to tip the waiter)
Presentation: Pretty
Location: Semi-Trendy. Great for warm summer nights
The food: Not bad
I am more of a traditional type of mexican food kinda girl. I love the spicy, tasty food of the mexican sort so when i first tried this place I didnt expect anything less.. Well, although it was tasty, it wasnt up to MY personal standard. It was a little more southwestern style, which is good, but i wasnt necessarily looking for that. I don't remember what i ordered but i remember that i did order it with chicken and got a weird mix of beef and chicken... I returned it and pretty much right away got a new plate. I didnt know what to think of this... But, it was better and still hott so i was okay with it.
i had 3 different drinks and they were all great! very original... and the place was very crowded...
this place is okay, i'd go for the atmosphere rather then the food
Hmm not my style of Mexican food. I call this Yuppie Mexican food. Everything was weird to me, I couldnt find one thing I liked on the menu. I ordered calamari and barely got any. The salsa was weird and my food had a bunch of funky flavors in it. They have good drinks though, if thats any conselation.
When I went I was there with a bunch of friends who knew the waitstaff so my experience was a bit weird. They didnt come to us, we went to them when we wanted things. I was definitely annoyed by that but felt obliged to grin and bear it.
If you like non-traditional mexican fare this place will probably be more up your ally. The bar gets a bit crowded so get there early.
I've been here six times or so, the last time for lunch today.
The menu is fun, the food is usually excellent, and the waiters without exception have been exemplary. Somewhat pricy for Mexican food, but many of the dishes are unusual.
The tables are near the large window out into the lane of cute stores and restaurants, which makes a lively scene, as does the good bar on one side of the restaurant. The music can be loud, but is not so loud as to preclude conversation.
My sole complaint is that in the evening, lines can develop, they usually move quickly.
Been to both Cactus and Jalisco Restaurant. I realize not the same, but if you want Mexican, try Jalisco Restaurant immediately next door instead. Wonderful customer service, larger portions, better prices.
Good salsa...but I got the enchilada and didn't realize it had goat cheese...I absolutely HATE goat cheese...but I tried to pick around it and I think it would have been amazing. I'm definitely planning on going back and trying something without the goat.
P.S. Plan on a wait unless you come super early!
Cactus is my favorite restaurant in all of Washington. They have amazing mexican food. I love their salsa that comes with the nacho chips as soon as you sit down. I also enjoyed their buritos and chimichanga. I highly recommend the Mexican lemonade. Make sure you make a reservation on the weekends. The lines can be be quite long.
Not the best Mexican food in the world but some of the best Mexican food in Seattle.
Sometimes you can't help it, you simply crave Mexican food and when I get that craving I visit Cactus. The menu offers a good selection of food including entrees that range from southwestern to traditional Mexican. The food will leave you feeling satisfied and the margaritas are a nice treat to wash everything down.
Now, for the bad news. Cactus is usually VERY BUSY. Even @ 5:30p it was a 60 minute wait, I guess this indicates that the food is worth it... Lastly, I feel that Cactus is a bit on the pricey side, the food quality is good but not on par with their prices. Not break the bank but a dinner with drinks for two can add up quickly.
DCP Suggestions:
Don't forget to try the Cactus margarita.
For the longest time I thought this was called "iCactus!" (eye-Cactus!). lol! Totally fooled by the font. Oh well...
I go there for lunch on the weekends. Usually get the Seafood Enchilada which is excellent. The Chips and Guac is a great appetizer. Salsa very good also.
Service is fine. Slightly higher prices than a typical Mexican place. Definately a different "feel" from standard Mexican places. (I don't consider this to be in the same category for that reason.)
Parking can be a bear if the corner lot is full.
I was here for Happy Hour and it was supper busy so was impressed with how good the service was. I had a chicken quesadilla that was quite good. Chicken was moist and the sauce they used over the top was yummy -could have used a little more. I was a good time and I would go back.
A friend of mine was in town, on summer vacation from law school. She wanted to hangout and she had a list of places she wanted to eat at. She had Cactus on her list and since it was just down the road in Kirkland from my place we decided to try it out.
This place was packed and there was a 30 to 40 minute wait so we grabbed a small table in the bar. We started off with some drinks, she had her foo foo drink and I stuck to the basics with a couple Dos Equis XX. I wasn't awfully hungry so I just ordered an appetizer, the Crispy Coconut Prawns with
Mango-pineapple mojo and a swizzle of tangy chimichurri. They sure looked fancy and tasted great, I was satisfied. My friend ordered a Butternut Squash Enchilada and she enjoyed it thoroughly. For being so busy our server was quite attentive and we never had to wait for a drink.
It seemed a bit spendy for me but when the bill came my friend paid so that wasn't a factor that night. She insisted and since she is working at a law firm making tons of cash I politely let her.
If you like fancy Mexican food and being with the "hip" crowd then this place is for you. I don't know if I'll be back anytime soon but I did enjoy myself.
Yummy!!!!!!!!!!!!
House Chimichanga - Very good, not just the average fried chimi
Green Enchilada - Very good, not the average rolled enchildada...it was stacked with plenty of cheese, chicken, and green chili sauce that went perfectly with the black beans and sour cream.....so good!
Service is very good too!
I came back to Cactus with some coworkers for drinks and appetizers. I'm upping my rating from four to five stars because our waitress was AMAZING! She treated us like we were kings and queens, she recommended drinks and appetizers, and she even gave us an appetizer for FREE because she was convinced that we were going to love it, even after some protesting on our part (we did end up loving the chicken flautas)! When she carded me, she noticed that my birthday was a few days away and surprised me with some birthday candle-lit flan to share with my coworkers!
This is what customer service is all about, people!!! It was a fantastic experience!
1 Previous Review: Show all »
-
12/7/2008
If you come here looking for typical Santa Fe/Mexican fare, go elsewhere. Cactus has a unique menu… Read more »
Why did I bother? Because I always see this place PACKED, at all hours. I had only tried lunch there. Maybe dinner would be better....?
Thursday night, and it's pretty busy--we waited for a table in the bar. The manager told us it would be about 5-10 minutes. We found seats at the bar, and I ordered a Diet Coke, my husband ordered a Bud Light. Both drinks were bad. The Diet Coke was off--I could taste remnants of something odd--alcohol? I don't know if the glass was dirty or someone spilled liquor on the ice, but I'm allergic to alcohol and I can taste it immediately. My husband tasted it before he tried his beer, and agreed it was off. When the bartender gave us the bill, my husband mentioned that the Diet Coke was off...so could we get something else instead?
The bartender gave us a "???" look (fine). He grabbed a glass, poured some Diet Coke for himself, and took a big, theatrical swig. He said, "tastes great to me!" I was pretty shocked--that was a first. I'm not sure if he wanted to throw down or what, but I was speechless. Right then, the manager tapped us--our table was ready. The bartender was delighted.
We were seated, and chips and salsa were delivered quickly. This was nice, and both were good. We checked out the menu....I was still reading when our waitress arrived.
Ah, the waitress. She served me and my friends last time. She's a consistent and aggressive upseller. Tall, big Julia Roberts in the 80's hair, fake eyelashes..I'd say about 50. No attempt at a smile. She offered us guacamole, which I skipped. I said "ahh, no, we'll skip it." My husband heard it.
A server dropped a bowl of guacamole on our table. We waited for the waitress to return. My husband said, "oh, hey... we actually said no on the guacamole...?" The waitress bristled, and turned to me, saying that "I heard YOU say you wanted it." A little scary. I shook my head no. She grabbed it off the table (again, with great theatrical flair) and put it aside.
I asked for a different soda, explaining that the Diet Coke tasted really odd, almost like there was alcohol in it--on the glass or the ice, or something? She interrupted me with "OHHH, there is NOOO WAY that has alcohol in it!!!!" And looked at me like I was insane. I was taken aback, and I just told her that it tasted off, regardless, and the bartender had been a bit rude about replacing it. No response. I asked for a different soda, and she said "....Fresca." I ordered Fresca and a chimichanga. My husband ordered, or, attempted to order, before the waitress interrupted with "...so any tortilla soup or anything to start, for you two???". Jesus. We're ordering entrees, perhaps the appetizer upsell would have better placed prior to that. I noticed this during my last visit. Upselling is lame. I can deal with it, but enough''s enough.
The drink that was slammed onto the table was the best liquid manifestation of "F---K YOU" that I've ever seen. IIf there was ever a way to tell a customer to shove it, this was it. It was in a shorter water glass, dripping wet, half full. I tasted it, and it was nothing like Fresca. I drink a LOT of soda. I know the flavors. I guess they'd mixed it at the bar, which is fine, except it tasted off (again). My husband tried it, and again, he agreed it was weird (and not Fresca). He is far more tolerant of so-so drinks, and usually, he's OK with a less-than-perfect drink. But this time, he agreed, it had the same, odd taste.
She wore me down. I give up. I accept my punishment, tap water. My husband asked me if I wanted to go, since the waitress was so rude and this was becoming more unpleasant than necessary. I said, no, I'm sure the rest of dinner will be fine....
Then, it happened. The waitress breezed by, looking at the FUF (that's F---K U Fresca), which was barely touched. Instead of asking me how it was, she chose to ask my husband if he wanted another beer. His glass was still half full. That was the dealbreaker. We got up to leave. My husband couldn't believe that she'd bothered to ask about another beer but NOT say a thing about the FUF.
On our way out, we wanted to let the manager know that we were leaving, and why. I explained the FUF story to him, and he said nothing. He started to say "I'm sorry you had to deal.." when the waitress popped in. "Are you guys leaving?!!!" TIming is not her forte.
We walked across the street to Zeek's. We've been there three times, and the hostess recognized us and smiled. "Hey, I remember you two! Did you want the cherry bomb pizza again?" The Diet Coke was completely normal, and my husband said the beer tasted much better (less watery) as well.
I was planning to go to Cactus for Happy Hour next Monday. If my friends insist on it, I will stick to my guns (this time).
1 Previous Review: Show all »
-
9/4/2007
Santorini's was closed, so we let out a heavy sigh and walked down the street. Cactus seemed OK.… Read more »
While the food here TASTES great, it always leaves me with that dull, gross feeling. Not food poisoning sick, but quite uncomfortable. I thought it was just a one time thing, but I'd eaten here a few times and it didn't sit so well.
That being said, I have fond memories of coming to Cactus for drinks, and would highly recommend the mango mojitos. It's a fun, energetic place and it's close. Definitely a place to see and be seen, so don't go in jeans and a sweatshirt unless you like the condescending stares of the rest of crowd!
Great Mexican restaurant! I went to the Kirkland one on a sunny day. Great atmosphere, seating outside which was perfect, amazing menu which made me have a hard time deciding. The food was on point, the service was excellent and the margarita was just what I needed! They have a few locations but Kirkland is where I will be :)
Lavender Margaritas?!?
Butternut Squash Enchiladas?!?
This is quite a twist on the standard Mexican cuisine I am accustomed to. But change is good for the soul and this was a very very good change! Cactus will never take the place of the Mexican food served food served from a truck or converted bus but it's good for a day where I am feeling a bit fancy and want some tequila! Our server was quite the cutie and super duper helpful!
Note to girl in brown shirt sitting at table next to me who told me to go with the Butternut Squash Enchiladas - Great Great Recommendation!
Word is the happy hour is amazing and for this I will be back! Also they serve tasting flights of tequila. One more call from the Subaru dealership today working on my car with another number to add to my ever adding bill and I will be back for a couple of those flights today!
Great salsa. My pick for all-time favorite salsa is from my local farmers market but Cactus's salsa kind of surprised me. This quaint part of Kirkland was decorated with an abundant (and wide assortment) of restaurants. Cactus is a Tex Mex place that's comfortable with a friendly staff. The waiter even cracked a few jokes. My dish was alright - huge portions. I didn't know all the Tex Mex lingo and decided to order a chicken dish. I wish I ordered something more in line of traditional Mexican and play it safe that way. The dish was covered in sauce which I was not a fan of. It had a bit of kick at the end which made it interesting but I would not order this kind of dish again.
The food was great. The service was nice as well. The waiter advise us how large the appetizers were going to be so we didn't have to order too much.
I wish they have a real indoor seating, not just indoor tables but are open to the outdoors. We got mosquito bites by sitting at a table inside of the restaurant on a summer night- so while the food was pretty great, it was not so great to have bugs around when you eat...!
"Can you smell the affluence?"
That's what my husband said when he met me here after work one Friday recently for drinks and happy hour.
I realized that he was very correct on this point, but since I have been working and going to school in Kirkland for the last three years, I guess I have become desensitized...
Basically I can say that the food here is delicious and the happy hour pretty darn good, especially their mojitos, but the service is what prevents me from giving them five stars.
When I am here on business lunches etc during the week and dressed more professionally etc, I find a definite difference in the way I am treated by the staff than when I am in jeans or sun dresses on the weekend.
Unfortunate, yes. Surprising for the area, no.
I have been here twice so far and I have been impressed, mostly with the service! I am extremely happy with the food, don't get me wrong, but being served by a knowledgeable, funny, but not over the top (oh and kinda cute, but that is a personal opinion here) server kinda overrides some flubs the cuisine might have.
But, lets get this part straight, I have to work pretty hard to find flubs thus far. This particular night, I had the nachos and grilled asparagus...yummdiddy yum yum! The asparagus was grilled perfectly (this is my preferred method of preparing asparagus) the tips were crispy and had a light smoky flavor, and the Aioli sauce served atop the asparagus was delight in itself. The server said he would eat anything with this sauce on it, and I can see why...me too!
The nachos were pretty good. They were served in a hot "pan"--for lack of not knowing a better term--and they were HOT, as in jalapeño hot, however I liked the fact that the jalapeños were not stuck in the cheese, I could easily pick them off if I had had a bit too much the bite before. I mean, they were nachos, not the best I've ever had, but certainly not the worst--I would order them again. FYI: We ordered the half size to split between 2 people. It was MORE than enough.
We originally came in for happy hour, but their happy hour is strange. It ended at 5pm...really? down a star or two because of that for sure! How annoying! But, on the other hand, we did end up staying because the prices for appetizers are reasonable. That says something doesn't it?!
It was also nice eating in the dining area when not a ton of customers were not there...I could actually see the place. Very cute, very artsy, but not in a make you wanna puke retro/art deco/ sante fe style--yucky! Very tasteful, high end, and cozy!
I can't wait to go back for happy hour--whenever it may be! lol!
I suggest calling before 2pm to find out ;-)
The menu here is very interesting. I've eaten here twice now and both times I was pretty surprised by the seemingly strange combinations and how good that actually turned out.
I would suggest being adventurous with their menu as you're not likely to find something overly "normal" on the menu. It seems like a pretty safe bet to gamble a bit here as well as the food I have eaten and my friends have eaten has all been excellent.
It is pretty crowded, almost always.I wouldn't bring a date here, or someone you are trying to have a personal conversation with. But if you have some friends, who don't mind the noise and like good food then this would be the place to go.
Cactus is one of the first places on my list for taking visitors. Great atmosphere, always good food, and friendly people.
My favorite item on the menu (to the point of teasing by my wife) is the Navajo fry bread (appetizer, with honey) and corresponding Navajo torta (sort of an open-face taco). Wonderful, though I should really branch out more. Their spiced cable car (rum & sugar is always a good mix) is also delicious.
egad! I go to the 'Cactus' restaurant only to find out they don't serve cactus! Anyway, I order the Green Enchilada instead and it was particularly tasty; much better than the polish dog I had consumed earlier that day at Costco. Seriously, 'Cactus' is the place to go for great ambiance and excellent Tex-Mex cuisine. I will recommend this restaurant to close friends.
I found the food to be very good and pretty unique! A house salad came with pine nuts and a few other different things to make it more tasty and different. If your a nacho lover like me, Definitely try them!! Just a half size was enough to fill me and my boyfriend!!! They're never skimpy on the cheese either which is a huge factor in my book!! Great environmet and ok service, sometimes I think they get a little too busy and forget time management! But a great little place to go if your having a mexican craving!
I had the Ceviche De Scallops Y Camarones appetizer and a few beers. Very different from any ceviche i've ever had and it was delicious. Great presentation as well. Not expensive, great service even though they were packed. Their large glass doors open out to Park Lane. Great place to chill on a hot summer day.
Happy Hour is a great deal here: $4 mojitos and margs, $4 apps, from 4-6, M-F.
I had marg and mojito and they both tasted great: not too sweet. The ceviche was OK, not the best, but I've had much, much worse. The guacamole was delicious though. YUM! Who needs chips with guac, really? That's what your fingers are for.
The atmosphere was pretty relaxed for Kirkland. I thought it would be a lot more pretentious. The service was great all around, from the waitress to the busser.
I'd go back for more if it wasn't all the way on the Eastside.
I heard so much about Cactus. A close friend said the food was good and you get kind of NW celebrity sitings of Bill and Paul. I finally got around to eating there today. I would have to say, the food was not very impressive. I got the Tacos Gallo and it was nothing special. I had a bite of my friend's Fried Chicken dish and it was alright. My Sangria was ok, but I've had better.
The service was good though. The waiter was very helpful and seemed very knowledgeable in all the various dishes. I guess we were lucky because it seems we beat the dinner rush.
All in all, nothing too spectacular.
Been here a few times - always busy and never disappointed me. I love their carne asada and I've tried other dishes as well and I've always liked everything I had here. Also they have great drinks - margaritas and mojitos especially. The wait is worth it imo! Nice in the summer too if you're able to sit outside =)
This restaurant fully represents the part of downtown Kirkland that scares me. It kind of reminds me of a frat party, and that makes me feel uncomfortable.
Food was fine. The tamale special on the menu sounded really good, but they were out of them, so I decided on the recommended butternut squash enchilada (I kept thinking "ravioli") instead and it was pretty good. The sauce had some flavor to it, and the dish is something that I don't see everywhere. My dining companion had enchiladas with chorizo and found it to be bland and really overpriced. The good luck I had with my entree makes me put this place slightly above the mediocrity of Cheesecake Factory.
Four stars for food (this time...), three stars for atmosphere, and I'm rounding it down to three because the popular kids were mean to me in school.


