Cactus Cafe in Sussex County

Authentic but very underwhelming. The steak, beef tongue, and chicken taco needs more flavor. Put some Goya, Adobe, anything... Also 5 seconds on grill would help to crisp up the tortillas. The meat falls through... As you enter the building theres a visible mouse trap in the walkway. Also a old refrigerator, cobwebs, thick layers of dust, and just overall dingy on the outside heading in. It will take 20 minutes to clean that walkway. Please do it!

Nice friendly service but food is meh. It’s not cactus cafe anymore it’s new owners

Cactus use to be a great place now is own by El Primo Taqueria , really bad food really bad service we stop last night (08-25-21at 7:30 pm with a friend we order the food , one was wrong we have to wait another 30 more minutes to the correct food also food was cold to me was a disaster this place under cactus cafe was friendly now is not!! ask for a cuban sub little meat and a lot bread , we order milanesa same thing very little meat and a lot bread also we have to ask for fork and knife because nobody bring that to us wen we sit

They were short on cooks, so we were there 2 hrs. But the cold beer & great food made up for it.

We were served rotten food. The refried beans came out luke warm and sour or fermented tasting. Ordered fajitas that had veggies that tasted rotten. Never again.

Terrible food, terrible service, not clean, and no ac on our last visit. Once a great restaurant. No longer under Manuels ownership.

Had a super friendly server named Melanie take care of my Wife and I on our visit. We were able to carry some brief conversation with her and it was refreshing; if you come here - ask for Melanie!The food - 4/5 stars. for the money the food here Id rate as priced as expected being around ~$14 per adult for most meals. And the taste is awesome. Some small touches that made it feel more authentic to me was the fresh chopped cilantro leaves in the salsa to give it a better flavor and not give the feeling like it just gets dumped out of a bottle of pre-made salsa. Also the Guacamole was very tasty and appeared/tasted like it was made in-house as well - still had small lumps of avocado in it like i prefer! As the attached pictures show: I have the steak fajita which came out audibly sizzling and could be heard from the bar over to the far side of the restaurant where we were seated; lots of onion/green peppers/sliced tomatos were included, the guacamole i raved about, beans, shredded cheese, sour cream, & 3 tortillas. Highly recommend if youre very hungry as its a lot of food.The decor - 4/5 stars. Lots of bright colored flags and decorations on the ceiling, walls are painted in different bright colors and textured, lots of smaller knick-knacks like bright colored birds in the hanging plants make it feel alive and cheerful inside.The upkeep - 3/5 stars. At the time my wife and I went to the restaurant it was the end of the business day for them so it was understandable to have some "wear" on things like some missed spots on the table. The only thing that was annoying in the cleanliness dept for my wife and I was the group of flies that followed our food out.Final thoughts: due to the awesome service (thanks again to Melanie), the price being reasonable, the key dishes I enjoy at restaurants in this category (salsa and guacamole!), and overall atmosphere well definitely be coming back. 😎

We have been going to the cactus for at least 15 years. Never had a bad meal or experience. Since they changed people running it this the 2nd time coming and sadly will be our last . We dont mind change but this is not for the best. Food is all different, ordered the steak fajitas and there was no sizzle which is the best part. Staff is over work and everything took forever. Miss the friendly atmosphere. 😪

This place is a find. You want a great atmosphere, lively bar scene, fancy accoutrements? Go somewhere else. You want great authentic Mexican food, attentive friendly service, great price, no wait? This is the place.

The taco salad was the best and my husbands fajitas came to the table sizzling! The staff was super-friendly. The chips and salsa were wonderful... not too much cilantro which we appreciated.

Had 3 $1 tacos, and a Dos Equis beer on taco Tuesday, they were delicious. Beautiful waitress was very nice, tipped her $4 out of a $7.50 bill.

The most disgusting stuff I think I have ever had in my life. I used to love this place and cant believe I wasted my money. It this the same Cactus Cafe that I remember from a few years ago??? I loved their food, I really cant believe it is actually the same place, they would never serve food like this!!!Im so disappointed.

New owners. Didnt like the new menu. we were not offered any of the specials. Noticed the Hispanics were eating things not on the menu we were not offered at allBeen going for over 25 years. Will not go back.

I enjoyed the food; the grill chicken was nice and juicy. The beef fajita was mouth watering with the spicy sauce, and for drinks a salted margarita was just excellent. The business name has changed to "El Primo" and I will visit again. Thank you Joselin for the service.

New to us... December day..it was 63 degrees in the restaurant..everyone working and eating with jackets on. My shrimp taco had 2 shrimp 4 inches round...fish taco was great tasting just super small..cows tongue 👅 taco was a new one for me..wasnt bad.. margaritas tasted like sunny D which seem to have no alcohol.. but the Guacamole was GREAT.. she and I wont be back.. I was wondering why the parking lot is never full.. we know now

Very expensive for the very bland and minimal food choices. Not authentic food. Service was very slow. It wasnt anything terrible, but would not visit again.

I loved the atmosphere and energy of the place and people there. The food was delicious. I would definitely go there again.

Thank you Manuel. Dont judge a book by its cover. Food here is to die for...get the prime rib or fajitas... Manuel is an awesome host and owner...

Simple, clean, great food. Service friendly, prompt, unobtrusive. Great margaritas, cold beer. Do yourself a favor, take a short ride from the beach, and get some great eats.

Best steak tacos, filet trio, scallops wrapped in bacon and jalapeños casino. The owner is the nicest person ever! The staff is always so friendly and make you feel like family.

Service is attentive. Food is not too spicy unless you request it to be. Relaxed and friendly atmosphere. Family friendly.

We had a awesome meal. Service was amazing. We are not local but we will visit each time we are in the area. Definitely recommend.

Absolutely delicious foods and margaritas. Server was amazing with our large party of 7 teens and 5 adults. Owner was present and you can tell he loves his job and the customers that come for his food. Glad our friends insisted on this. I would never have given it a chance because not something that stood out as you drive by... definitely a place only locals would know about!

Love this place. We have been going here every summer and fall since they opened 10+ years and that speaks volumes! Seafood is always fresh, the service makes you feel like family and the atmosphere is relaxing. Its a gem from the busy tourist areas along the coast and conveniently located on Rt113 in Selbyville, DE.....10 minutes from Fenwick Island and North O.C.! Great place to dine and relax!

Visit was early, so not many customers yet. service good, sangrias great. Food prepared fine I just need to know more about what Im ordering

Not 5 star by the looks but what it lacks in looks comes out in flavor. Highly recommend the mango butter over blackened fish. I loved the grouper, with mango butter and mango chunks.

Each and every time I have been there, which is many many times. Always amazingly great food, beverages, service and, staff was always attentive. Very friendly and hospitable familyMy first visit 1994 in the original building.Sal B

Ive never had a bad meal there. Not even an average one. Great people,great food. Do yourself a favor and just go there.

Service is slow an the food is not really authentic Mexican. It is a great place to go if you are drunk or have no standards of service or quality of food. NEVER AGAIN !!!

We stopped at Cactus Cafe this evening on our way back to Virginia via the Eastern Shore Route 113. The eclectic decorations looked equally festive and worn out. The restaurant was empty At 6 pm, except for two men finishing dinner at a corner table. The friendly host/waiter seated us at a high table by a window and brought us ice water. The water tasted like it was straight from the bay; salty with a slight twinge of sewage. So we ordered soft drinks but we could taste the nasty water in the colas as well. The waiter said it was city water and that it tastes better than it used to. He brought corn tortillas chips and salsa. The chips tasted like maybe they were fried in old oil. The salsa wasn’t bad but was very bland missing the fresh acidity of lemon juice or vinegar and lacking any flavors of cilantro, peppers or garlic. We could taste chili powder in it. The guacamole was old and oxidized, I was afraid to eat it so the server said he would take it off the ticket. I ordered the beef chimichanga and it came with black beans and rice. The rice was undercooked and tasted like the nasty water. I could taste the water in the black beans also. The beans and rice were not even warm. The chimichanga had been browned on the griddle but the browned tortilla tasted like rancid oil. I cut it in half and tried to just eat the inside. It was supposed to be refried beans, beef and cheese. It contained a chunk of tasty stew meat but that was the one and only piece of meat in the beef chimichanga. There were no refried beans in the chimichanga, It was just a big hollow tortilla loosely wrapped to look full but only contained one chunk of stew meat buried in a cheesy red sauce mixture. It was served with some kind of pico salsa than was chopped cucumber and onion that looked a few days old. I ordered the small plate of six strawberries from the dessert case and was charged $5 but at least they were edible. My daughter ordered chicken quesadillas asked for the black olives to be left off. Although it arrived at the table covered in black olives, which she removed, she said it tasted pretty good. It was served with a side of sour cream and the old cucumber onion salsa. Less than an hour after leaving the restaurant, we had to stop because the food had made my daughter ill. The cook, a very heavy, sweaty man in filthy clothes kept coming from the kitchen to check the football game airing on the flat screen tv. The owner came over to our table shorty after our entrees were served and asked how we were enjoying our dinner. I told him I was going to pay for it but to be honest, it didn’t look or taste good. He wreaked of stale cigarette smoke as he claimed to switch up the recipes because his customers didn’t like spicy food so that is why he makes the pico with cucumbers and makes bland tasteless salsa. I told him that it didn’t taste Mexican or Spanish and it was inexcusable to serve food that was not fresh. He wasn’t happy and mumbled a few angry words, throwing up his hands and walking away. The host came over and said he was just the server. He didn’t charge us for the drinks or old guacamole and our bill was still 25.00. I’m not sure how people consider this food good or these prices reasonable in their reviews. We tip regardless of how the food tastes. So we got out of there hungry and set back close to 30 bucks. The ladies room was very clean.

Catus Cafe food is authentic and has a diverse menu. The service is beyond, they actual remember you from the last time you were there. Love this local eatery.

My friend and I were on vacation and found this place in August 2018. We were greeted and seated promptly by our waiter, Leo. Salsa and chips were good but the guacamole ordered wasnt tasty. Our food came out quickly and I must say was very delicious. I had the chorizo fajitas and my friend had fish tacos. Leo was very attentive. Leo if you read this, thanks for the Sangria :Oh and there was this cute elderly man at the counter who thanked us for coming. Very nice place. Thank You.

Food was decent. I had the fish tacos and they were doughy and undercooked. My wife had the calamari and seemed to enjoy them, although Im not 100% convinced they were freshly breaded.The corn and crab chowder was the highlight of the meal.

We had a great waitress, Lina! Great food, fun atmosphere and very friendly staff! We will definitely be back on our way to Oc, md beach !!

My boyfriend and I arrived at Cactus Cafe about 8pm for a light meal and were warmly greeted by friendly staff, whom I assumed were the owners.We were immediately seated, pleased that we didnt have to wait. Our approval of the proposed table was requested and given. The restaurant was very cozy and quaint. Only a few tables were occupied, so it was peaceful.We were promptly asked for our drink choices and given menus. I ordered the crab and corn chowder and Keith ordered the fish tacos.Our meal arrived in about 10 minutes and looked delicious. The chowder was incredible, lovely seasonings and fresh crab and corn. Keith shared a taco with me (there were 3 tacos)and it had a nice sized piece of batter dipped fish covered with fresh greens, tomatoes and small chunks of cucumber. They came with a chipotle honey sauce that was delicious on the tacos. We were graciously attended to throughout our meal.Overall the dining experience was great, food was delicious, and the prices were very reasonable. Our total bill was under $18 dollars.On our way out, we were thanked by the owners and grandpa.We will be back!

Went here to dinner 7/14/18. Have been going here for years. This time was HORRIBLE! Waited an hour and a half for below horrible food. 1my sister ordered cheeses enchiladas & it was a tortilla folded in half with cheese sauce poured over it 2con queso was nothing more than a blob of melted cheese. 3my mother, sister & I shared a pitcher of margaritas plus a glass each. My 88year old mother can handle 1 but was totally sober after 3. I came home & blew into a breathalyzer for a .00. 4my chicken enchilada was shredded chicken with sauce poured over it only. After all this my mom went up a few days later to talk to the manager/owner & was ignored & told we were wrong because he never makes mistakes. That’s some big BS. Everyone makes mistakes. We are locals. Not tourist who only support a meal or two a year. After years I will NEVER go here again. Too many better Mexican cafe’s. I suggest try La Tonalecain Millsborough & Millville & Rehoboth.

Great service and the drinks & entrees were delicious! The salsa and chips needed more flavor but I would come back the next time Im in town.

The food was great (fresh-caught local fish was a treatbut the personal, attentive service and kindness that is so rare and lacking recently. Great meals and atmosphere.

First time there. Food was wonderful, staff was polite And enthusiastic. Steak fajitas were awaesone and Frank raved about the Salmon imperial. Worth every bit.

Welcoming, devoted professional service that will draw you in like family. Excellently seasoned meats and fresh seafood, with homemade tasty Sangria! All make for a local favorite for a relaxing cultural meal with with great ambiance!

The staff was very kind and friendly and service was excellent, but 3 out of 4 of us did not care for the food. Definitely worth checking out, because if you like it, its a great place.

Awesome "world" food! Not only Mexican style entrees. Seafood and steaks are to die for! The staff is operated by locals. The owner is extremely friendly.

Been going here for years and have never had anything but the best experience. Feel like Im going to a relatives house for dinner. Great food and folks.

Two locations. I frequent the one on route 113 as it is closer to home. This is a family run Mexican restaurant. Great margaritas. Chips and salsa are home made. Check put the specials before making up your mind about what to order as there are usually a number of good specials. Portions are usually large enough to take some home. I have never ordered anything I didnt like. Prices are reasonable. Service is usually good.

We love this place, and dining here has become one of our beach week traditions, well worth the trip from OC!! The food is excellent, the margaritas are perfect, and the staff treats you like family! Jamie has been our server and she is the best. We are looking forward to coming back!!

Wonderful meal and friendly staff. We will be back even though it is a bit of a trek from Millsboro. Adding carnitas to the menu would be icing on the cake, although the pork frahitas were a great substitute.

This is a great place for Mexican food and very good service. Try their specials for an unexpected surprise of steak and seafood. Weve been eating at the Cactus Cafe since the 90s. Love their fresh salsa, fajitas, chimichangas, steaks and seafood!

Food was excellent. Service was wonderful. Went on a sunday evening and got the fajita special. My wife and i both loved it. The price was great for the size of the portion.

The specials of the day are where its at! Ask your waiter what specials are available, trust me theyre always amazing! The portions are the huge and so filling. The owner even came over to our table and personally refilled our drinks. What an amazing little gem ❤️

The salsa was good Dont order The fajitas because they full of grease, tastless and they add French fries... whats with that? I couldnt think of any reason for doing that,than to use as a filler. Everything on the menu was overpriced most of the items on the menu was $19.95. The the black beans and rice was the smallest I have ever seen. Just a tablespoon of rice and tablespoon of beans.