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    El Senor Cactus

    3.8 (32 reviews)
    InexpensiveMexican, Bars, Seafood
    Closed 11:00 am - 10:00 pm

    Order El Senor Cactus Takeout or Delivery

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    EL SENOR CACTUS ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Moderate noise
    Good for kids
    Outdoor seating
    Happy hour specials

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    Sylvia J.

    REALLY REALLY wanted to love this place. Not sure I'll ever go back. The service was nice but the food was super bland, unseasoned and lacking any real flavor. I got the mole chicken enchiladas and the mole was watered down, the chicken was dripping wet and super bland. My brother got the quesadilla and it had some sort of non-descript flavorless cheese. Maybe we came on an off day (it was cold and snowy) or too close to closing time (we were there an hour before close). The only saving grace was the guacamole.

    Strawberry Margaritas Cheese Dip and tortillas

    This is our absolutely favorite Mexican Restaurant. The food is all authentic and everything is delicious. The staff are polite and all of the service is excellent. The prices are very reasonable, more affordable than other "Mexican" restaurantsaround the area. It's nothing fancy, small and cozy, very comfortable atmosphere. Great drinks, fast service, delicious food and good prices. What more can you ask for?

    Enchiladas Tapatias and side order of Refried Beans on the far side  House Dinner two plates closest

    This was our first visit here and it did not disappoint! Beans are authentic and not straight out of a can! We ordered the house dinner: it had a taco, tostada, burrito, tamale, Chile relleno, beans and rice. A lot of food for $12.99 and it allowed us to sample many items at once. We also ordered enchiladas and a side order of beans. We will be visiting again soon, I am sure. Chips and salsa complementary. Noticed a lunch menu served M-Sat till 3pm

    front of menu 2/17

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    10 months ago

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    1 year ago

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    1 year ago

    This is the best Mexican food restaurant in town. The staff are wonderful and always treat my family well, no matter how busy.

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    3 years ago

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    3 years ago

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    1 year ago

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    2 years ago

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    2 years ago

    Great food and taste, love the enchiladas verdes, quesabirria tacos etc. friendly and fast Service easy to park and plenty space

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    Photo of Jenni H.
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    4 years ago

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    5 years ago

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    3 years ago

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    4 years ago

    Out of all the similar options in IC this one is consistently the best. Friendly staff, quick service, hot and delicious!

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    Photo of Don P.
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    4 years ago

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    3 years ago

    Best Mexican food in Iowa city, hands down! Great service and huge portions! We will definitely be back!

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    4 years ago

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    6 years ago

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    6 years ago

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    6 years ago

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    6 years ago

    Great food. Awesome service. Happy to order pick-up from our favorite Mexican restaurant

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    8 years ago

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    9 years ago

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    7 years ago

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    8 years ago

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    7 years ago

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    9 years ago

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    9 years ago

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    7 years ago

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    Photo of Pat B.
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    9 years ago

    Very very good.. wonderful margaritas. Fried ice cream was delish.. waitress attentive.. just tasty!

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    9 years ago

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    Ask the Community - El Senor Cactus

    Review Highlights - El Senor Cactus

    Great food and taste, love the enchiladas verdes, quesabirria tacos etc.

    $6.99 Enchilada

    Read more highlights

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    Iowa Chop House

    Iowa Chop House

    3.8
    (354 reviews)
    1.1 mi
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    I happen to be driving across the country and was supposed to stay in Davenport, Iowa. But decided…read moreto drive just a little further and explore Iowa City. What a wonderful town Iowa City is. The downtown is very lively and extremely walkable. Iowa Chop House is located in downtown Iowa City. I went there for dinner on a Sunday and had the steak salad and asparagus. Both were excellent. I was served by Grace who was an excellent waitress and I enjoyed talking to her about the town and university. I was pleasantly surprised how good the food was. The only downside was the desert which I had a tiramisu which I'm spoiled and have better tiramisu before. However the steak salad & asparagus side was perfect. I visited only a day when graduation happened one week prior so the university students were away. The waitress explained normally downtown becomes very crowded during the semester. I will forever remember my brief visit to Iowa City. Thank you Iowa City

    This was our 2nd time at the chop house and the first time was much better. The steaks weren't…read morecooked evenly. The pork chop was dry and not very juicy. I can't remember our server's name but it started with a M. She was great! We got sweet potato fries and cheese curds for appetizers. The desserts were excellent. I really enjoyed the tiramisu and crème brûlée. We also got the chocolate cake and ice cream. The beer barn was cool but if you don't pour it right, you get a lot of foam. I feel like since we had a party of 7, it was challenging to get the steaks to our exact temperature but my mother in law got well done and it was cooked to medium.

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    The Turkey Leg Pit

    The Turkey Leg Pit

    1.0
    (2 reviews)
    1.2 mi

    I'm not going to spend too much time reliving the most terrible dining experience I've ever had in…read moreIowa City in my 25 years of residence so I'll bullet point this for both my sanity and the reader: - there was no sign that the inside door was not an entrance - even though there is a blinking OPEN sign next to it - the menu was incomprehensible and the waitress made minimal attempt to decipher it for us. - both of our soft drinks were served with zero carbonation - we waited over a half hour for food (even though there was only one other table seated) - my husband was served $35 worth of freezer burned crab on a plastic plate with oversized gloves and NO wet wipes (Related: Crab Attack in Marion - whose logo is featured prominently in the restaurant and on their socials - is presumably a partner with this business. How is CRAB in your literal name and you have no wet wipes??) - the sauces were salty with zero flavor and a coating of coagulated grease on top - the restrooms were filthy - the only other patrons in the restaurant were loud for no reason, making a terrible dining experience even worse Never again. What a mess!

    My experience at the Iowa City location of Crab Attack and The Turkey Leg tonight began bad and…read morespiraled downward from there. The location suffers from an identity crisis as it seems to be two different restaurant concepts with their own branding awkwardly merged into one (Turkey Leg seafood/bbq and Crab Attack seafood/sausage). The Crab Attack menu is confusing with al la carte prices mostly unlisted and an emphasis on "packs" that read more like to-go meals that add a half cob of corn and two new potatoes to the al la carte items. There for the crab without distraction, I ordered just 1 pound of Dungeness crab, fries, and a soda. The soda was without carbonation so I asked for a tap water instead, and was informed by the waitress that she'd do me the favor of not charging me for the soda (that she removed from the table). Cool? The $35 crab arrived a forever later, presented on a flimsy plastic to go tray (my companion received an actual ceramic plate with her Turkey Leg menu dish). My food was extremely poor. Extremely. The crab meat was devoid of taste, rubbery and grey, and the excessive amount of flavorless "Cajun" sauce lacked any taste besides salt. The meat was very dry and tough, likely not properly frozen and for too long (I'd not be surprised if re-frozen a time or two). I've gotten far better crab from Hy-Vee just down the road and half the price. The burned French fries that came in their own to go style paper tray were like eating crayons and a perfect accompaniment to the meal's symphony of failures. Other amazing aspects in random order: the meal included plastic gloves that might fit King Kong if he was a cafeteria server, wet naps do not exist in this establishment, the rest room had less than a Dixie cup of soap left in the only dispenser and a non-working hand dryer, the motif has dusty wine glasses and bottles randomly attached to the walls, the kitchen staff relied on iPhone alarms for their food prep but were too busy socializing and being loud and obnoxiously to get off their behinds to silence the alarms or otherwise attend to my table or the only other table of people not paid to be there. Look, I want Crab Attack Iowa City to win, especially since there are so few legitimate seafood venues, but it is so poorly executed that I'd wager all of my fingers and toes that this location will not be open 6 months from now - we were one of two tables on a Saturday night between 7:30 and 9:00 pm and absolutely nothing about the food product was redeeming. Avoid. Skip. Forget this place exists. Boil your own crab for half the price and double the flavor. Note - I originally provided feedback to the Crab Attack restaurant in Marion about my experience and they were adamant that this restaurant is not an affiliate. This is very strange because all of the branding inside the restaurant matches the Marion location, including the menus. I was informed that this location is licensed to offer Crab Attack boils, but being that at least 50% of their business is from the seafood menu that matches the Crab Attack Marion's menus fully, it feels more like a smokescreen to avoid negative reviews. Google tells me that the same person owns both locations, so take that for what it's worth.

    Tequila Grill

    Tequila Grill

    4.0
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    2.3 mi

    Dined in tonight at Tequila Grill. The salsa was good and the cheese sauce was creamy. I had a…read moretaco salad, my husband a chimichanga, and both my daughters had tacos; pork and ground beef. Definitely will be back to try other things.

    Tequila Grill is my new neighborhood hang out! I was so happy to see it open just off Mormon Trek…read more (Don't get me wrong, I loved Thai Spice... but I love margaritas more...) It has tons of specials. From daily drink specials to a huge lunch menu -- you won't break the bank at Tequila Grill. For lunch I've enjoyed the Lunch Fajitas Texanas. Which was a trio of steak, chicken & shrimp cooked with sautéed tomatoes, onions & bell peppers. Served with fresh guacamole, sour cream, lettuce, pico de gallo, rice, beans & warm tortillas. IT WAS $11. What a steal. I even brought some home! I've also devoured their chips, salsa and guacamole. Churros are on the menu. Don't skip them! (YUM) And I think my new go-to for dinner is Enchiladas Verdes. Three chicken enchiladas cover with green sauce and served with rice and beans. The margaritas are delicious and the al pastor tacos are a must try. The staff is professional and prompt. There's plenty of seating and they can accommodate larger groups no problem. (Though there is no patio option.) Also, you can get a reservation online. Overall, Tequila Grill is one of FOUR restaurants by the same name. They have their menu down, their prices well thought out, their location is fabulous for Westsiders like myself. Check it out!

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    El Senor Cactus - mexican - Updated July 2026

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