The Velvet Cactus

PJ Nicho 3 months ago

Holy cow. This restaurant is amazing! Great atmosphere for all ages. The kids can play and the adults can grab a margarita. Excellent tacos. Fantastic queso!

Brent Reynolds 4 months ago

I was taught to clean my plate as a young boy, it is very difficult for me to leave food but I have paid for. But it was well worth the $25 to just leave. Everything had an awkward flavor except for the horseradish dip which was very good. Yellow rice was off, black beans had a strange tang to them and the beef inside the chimichanga tasted like the air circulating inside of a refrigerator. Lastly the chimichanga was so thickly wrapped that the inside layers were not cooked and they were very doughy. I saw my waiter twice, when they took my order and when they refilled my drink for the first time as they brought me my ticket. A different way to brought me my food. I only saw mine twice. I've eaten a lot of Tex-Mex in my life and this is not it. I hate to leave bad reviews and it's rare that I leave one anyway, but I couldn't let this one slide. It's just not worth it

C. T. a year ago

The Velvet Cactus on Harrison Avenue is a must-visit if you’re in the Lakeview area. I had the street tacos. Really good. The tamales were equally good and tasty! Queso and chips were fresh and the charred salsa was unique, as I’ve never had salsa prepared that way. The service was great! Everyone from the hosts to waitstaff were very friendly, attentive, and genuinely welcoming. The atmosphere is cozy and energetic, with colorful decor and a relaxed vibe that makes it easy to settle in and enjoy. I highly recommend The Velvet Cactus for casual dinner or meeting friends for drinks and small plates.

Abhishek Trivedi 3 months ago

Good food and lot of drink options with nice ambience. Lovely outdoors with play area for kids. Would have loved more vegetarian options.

Nick Cagle a year ago

Food, service, and staff were all excellent. Sad they did away with the warmed salsa. So much so, I asked our waitress just to heat me up some in the microwave, and she kindly obliged. Our adult beverages were great. Even after requesting something not on their drink menu, the bar staff pulled it off effortlessly. We'll definitely continue to fancy the Velvet Cactus. Maybe one day, they'll turn the pot warmers back on.