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Gina's Cantina
Rating Details »
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Takes Reservations:
- No
- Delivery:
- No
- Take-out:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- Yes
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
6 reviews for Gina's Cantina
Gina is the Regina de Funky! If one is expecting fine dining or authentic Mex food... forget it.. she'd get 1 or 2 stars at best. If you are looking for a laid back place to eat, drink, and relax.-- 4 stars,--- for value-- maybe 5!
It's basically an old time u-shape bar in the middle of an open dining room with picnic tables for seating and wildly colorful & creative decorations that Gina obviously spent very few $$ on. Good for Gina -- I think maybe she spent a bit more money on the food and kitchen.
Good tortilla chips are on the table! (no Sysco sh-t) Salsa ain't bad either.
Tacos are really a good deal. I have become a fan of the "pelican briefs" -- their version of Tacos de Pescado. Entrees are good too. The fried stuffed avocado is to die for (don't remember what they call it).
Beer and spirit selection is very good and the house margaritas are on the fringe of deadly and addictive.
Crowd is eclectic and fun. We even bring the 5yr old granddaughter, she loves it too. Bar patrons range from professionals to bikers. And we keep coming back!
People thought this was:
- Useful (1)
- Cool (1)
My wife and I have been here more than a few times in the last month.
I've been delighted every time I've been there, so far. The service has been exemplary, and the food is reasonably priced, delicious, and amply portioned.
There are a ton of options for vegetarians, but my father-in-law can get an awesome burger.
The decor is pleasant and the inside feels really open -
Specials that I hope make the regular menu - Drunken Shrimp Tacos. Soft tortillas, grilled shrimp, standard taco toppings, and a sweet bourbon sauce that brings it all together.
The Brunch is really my favorite time to go - Less crowded than friday night at a bar (who'd have thunk it?), and the "Hair of the Dog" is fantastic "lumberjack breakfast" done Tex-mex style. A fried flour tortilla topped with scrambled egg, refried beans, hummus, lettuce, salsa, sour cream and jalepenos. Just what I need to launch me on a Sunday!
I imagine live music might work for the location, but the place always has something spiffy playing in the background.
People thought this was:
- Useful (2)
- Cool (3)
After living in San Diego for 5 years and treking back and forth across the Mexican border for fun and mayhem, I've compiled a list of rules for good Mexican food. Notice that Taco Bell meets none of these guidelines.
Rule #1 of good Mexican food: you must leave so full you feel like the food ate you and not the other way around. If your nachos don't look like they're growing off your plate, leave immediately.
Rule #2: Tortilla chips worth consuming NEVER come from a bag.
Rule #3: Margaritas must be made with REAL agave nectar and decent tequila. None of this Jose Cuervo crap. Patron is not as good as marketing has lead you to believe, and Casaderos is actually a better quality tequila which costs about half as much as Patron.
Rule #4: Mexican food should come with the option of being served outside or at the bar. It's a food meant to be eaten on a hot day even when it's spicy, because dammit, it's hot in Mexico and people like to drink there.
Gina's meets 4 out of 4 on these guidelines. Their food is not what I'd call "authentic" Mexican food, but they've certainly put a fun twist on the traditional options. A rarity in these parts, their house-made margaritas are ORGANIC (I know, right?), and their dressings and chips are also made in-house. There are vegetarian options and I even saw a kid in a high chair, which tells me that both kids and hippies are welcome.
It's clean, it's got great character, and if they had a location in San Francisco, I'd be a regular.
People thought this was:
- Useful (5)
- Funny (2)
- Cool (4)
Well where do I start with Gina's Cantina. The food is great, starting with the Avacado Boat one of my favorites. Also the crab dip is really yummy too. Now to the bad parts. It seems that at Gina's they work more on their siesta than their customer service. I've gone in more than a couple of times and the service just sucks. They are so.....SLOW and that's on a day with hardly anyone in there. So if you don't mind slow service and want to try out their food, then you should definitely check it out. Don't go with small children, you will go crazy waiting for the food to keep your children quiet.
People thought this was:
- Useful (2)
This is one of the finest casual dining spots around. Don't show up if you are looking for linen tablecloths, professional waiters, or a quiet atmosphere for an intimate dinner or a business meeting with a client.
DO show up, however, if you are looking to relax, eat really fresh, well prepared food, and hang out with an eclectic crowd (business suits to bikers and everything in between) in a fun, funky, atmosphere. The menu isn't necessarily all "traditional" mexican (you can get really good chicken wings, a reasonable hamburger, etc), but it's all really good, and there are some incredible values. Try the fish tacos, the avacado boat, the flatbread pizza, or build your own chimi or burrito.....beer is ice cold, sangria is pretty tasty too. The service ranges from outstanding to a bit pokey, but if it gets a little slow, its ok, since it's the kind of place that makes you want to linger
People thought this was:
- Cool (1)
This is a nice, quaint place to come for Mexican food. They have a wonderfully nice staff who are very laid back and down to earth. Gina's is a good place to go and relax after a hard day's work and have a margarita.
When you're sitting inside, it feels as if you're sitting outside (not temperature-wise). I know this doesn't sound like a nice thing to say, but it really helps in getting into the authentic southern mood. They have a jukebox here as well. They have a full service bar and they have a decent selection of beers to choose from.
Don't be afraid to try this place as it has the potential to be a mainstay in your restaurant rotation.
People thought this was:
- Useful (2)
- Cool (2)