Cactus Club Cafe

Stopped at the Coal Harbour location while walking around Vancouver as a tourist on a 5 day trip. Had no idea this was a Canadian chain until we attempted to make a reservation while standing in line waiting for a table. The line was long on a Saturday late morning and the sign stated "first come, first serve" unless you pre-reserved. We ended up waiting approx 25+ mins for our table. I don't mind waiting but it was annoying that the hostess seated two larger groups from the back of the line before seating our party of 3 or the people behind us. They actually pointed out the sign to another hostess and then we were seated.

The dining space is massive - tables inside, multiple levels, 2 different outdoor areas, a bar area, and a huge open kitchen. The vibe is vibrant and lively - perfect for groups. The area we sat in had a nice view of the water and lots of light. Our server came over right away with waters then back to take an order for drinks. She was very attentive. I was super impressed with the amount of staff working at this place. It's no wonder they have efficient service.

The menu offers a nice selection of food that'll suit all tastes including vegetarians (like me) and some lovely cocktails. The espresso martini and the whiskey sour were delightful. On the table was a chicken sandwich, a crispy tofu bowl which was really tasty and this awesome avocado kale salad that is one of the best salads I ever tasted! Seriously, my new fave - loved it so much that I went to another location a couple days later and got the same thing b/c I couldn't stop thinking about it. Every bite was like a party in my mouth with the textures and flavors - chopped kale dressed with a lemon garlic dressing, crispy chickpeas, pickled red cabbage, a fennel chili crumb, grana padano, and a lovely grilled avocado. Simply delicious. Also got a side of crispy tofu with a chili sauce which was prepared perfectly. Wish we had this chain in the United States. I actually have to attempt to recreate this salad at home now bc I still can't get it off my mind.

Cactus Club club is a chain restaurant that originated in Vancouver, though they now have 31 locations across Canada.

I visited this location for a late night dinner. It was happening on a weekday evening! Moody lighting, tall ceilings, modern decor.

I sat at the bar and got an espresso martini ("Midnight Hour" - $15.25) and a tofu bowl ($24.25). Prices are high as typical for Vancouver, but portion sizes were generous. They both tasted delicious.

Staff was busy, so they were not the most attentive, but then again as a solo diner I was not the highest paying party. I'm not sure I'd be back now that I checked this off my tourist to-do list, but it seems like a fun place for a date night or girls night out.

We had a good times here
I felt the energy was off. The food was ok. He loved his creole chicken.
My food was ok. Service was cool. I think after paying $175. The to-go brown paper bag with no handles was weird. I think a restaurant like this should have better to-go bags! IJS.

Stopped by in a group of four for Happy Hour on a Friday and got seats on the patio...so a great start. The ambience and energy in the space and patio were excellent...especially being a Friday.

I like that the Cactus Club has Happy Hour food and beverage options but they are not much cheaper than their regular menu items. We ordered several sharable plates. I enjoyed the presentation of the dishes but found most of the food quite bland and tasteless. The sushi had too much rice and not enough prawn...the chicken sliders were all bun with very little chicken. Not really great value for any of the dishes.

I like that they have a hazy IPA on draught and that it was part of their Happy Hour. And the service was great, which upped this review to 4 stars.

It was a positive experience.

This place has a nice interior & ambiance especially at night. I sat in a booth which seemed enough to sit 5-6 people. One thing about coming at night is that it might be difficult to see for those who have a hard time with the dark. Overall, the food tasted good and our service was great!

I got the Blacked Creole Chicken and it tasted great, only downside would be the portion of it as it wasn't enough for the price.

I also got the Kyoto Fizz and man...this was amazing. I would definitely get it again whenever I come back!

Classy ambience without being pretentious. Beautiful restaurant. Warm and friendly greetings from the hostess and servers. Helpful menu suggestions. I tried Aperol for the first time, and this summer drink special is a winner. Not too bitter and not too sweet, it was a nice refreshing change of pace.
The Rigatoni Bolognese had wonderful flavors and texture and made for a very satisfying meal.
My only suggestion would be to add some lighter dessert options such as gelato or sorbet or ice cream to complete the experience.

Great restaurant!! Entree cooked to perfection, appetizers were also on point.
I had their local draft beer which was also excellent. Our waitress Dana was nothing short of amazing. I recommend when you are in downtown for some delicious Canadian recipes and great vibes.

Food was all great, from appetizers to main course. Drinks were good. Server was excellent. Great dinner with friends. Was a little noisy for the patio gut perhaps some very light background music may have assisted with that. Would go back in a second.

=== 1. VERDICT/VALUE
4.5 stars: the price is high for the food and parking may be a challenge for those with a car, but you're getting good food, decor, and service! Note: for those with kids, there is no kids' menu.

=== 2. FOOD
Ceviche ($21)
It's fish and prawns delicately prepared - and it comes with nacho chips to enjoy. I wish more chips were included (especially at this price point), but it's good for one, maybe two people to share.

Lemongrass Noodle Salad ($23.75) with Prawns (+$3)
Rice noodles with greens, avocado and carrot - topped with peanuts - it normally comes with chicken, but you can substitute that with three medium-sized shrimp on a skewer - not a bad choice!

Chicken Tenders ($19.75)
The chicken is deep-fried with a panko batter, making the coating light. Four pieces comes with the fries and honey mustard. Good choice for little ones even if it's a little large for them!

The Feenie Burger ($24.75)
It's really a homemade burger patty topped with bacon, cheese, mushrooms, lettuce, tomato, pickles, and all of the condiments. Served with fries, it's a good thing!

=== 3. SERVICE
Reservation recommended (and you may be limited to two hours of dining at a time). Overall, the service was great, from host/seating to constantly being checked on, served, and checked out.

=== 4. ENVIRONMENT
It's a Cactus (think ladies in sleeveless black dresses) with a high ceilinged, two level modern decor. Booths and tables allow for small and large groups alike. The restrooms upstairs are clean and modern. Those with baby strollers or wheelchairs could work on the ground floor or the outdoor patio. Parking may be a challenge - finding one of the nearby underground parking structures (or if you're lucky, a street stall) is key here!

Amazing steak and prawns and cheese cake! Service good, cheap on the fries though! You would think that a tiny bowl of fries would be for a kids menus...