Iron Cactus

Food was really good, excellent Mexican Martini, friendly service. We went on a Sunday morning before the big rush. Would recommend it to anyone.

My family and I have been eating at the Iron Cactus for at least three years. I love the shimp enchiladas and my husband often gets the beef fajita plate… it comes out of the kitchen on a sizzling platter. I feel for the atmosphere and the unique food, Mexican yes, but lighter and different, the prices are decent. The margaritas are delicious and I usually share a frozen one with the hubby. The staff is always friendly and knowledgeable and the food is delivered promptly. The riverwalk is a fun and interesting place to people watch in San Antonio and the Iron Cactus is consistently wonderful. By the way, we always sit outside even in the winter.

Ok. Let’s start by saying the food was good. However the service is not. Given the fact that it was a Wednesday night in February with the lightest traffic possible on the river… Service was ridiculous. Lots of open tables with 20 minute wait, slow bar, backed up kitchen, etc.
The river walk sets extremely high standards for service and this place just seems to miss by a mile.
Better plan WAY ahead of time if you’re going to eat here.

I’ve never been too impressed with the food here. I mean, It’s good and flavorful, but not great by any means, to me at least. The drinks were good, but I think they were a little expensive for so early in the day. I try to say that I’m not cheap and I don’t mind paying for good quality product but I feel like the food and drink here is merely mediocre. The ambience is nice and it’ll do in a pinch but it is by no means my favorite place on the riverwalk.

Ordered the table guacamole. It was great!!! Also got the chicken fajitas. They were all right. Portions were great. Service was slow. Wait wasn’t that bad either. Ambience is delightful. One of the better places on the river walk. ⁴⁄₅ from me.

The experience we had at Iron Cactus was nothing short of disappointing. The food was decent, but was probably very good when it was still hot. Unfortunately it had obviously sat around and cooled before being brought to me and my wife. We also waited for 20+ minutes for chips and salsa only to receive what looked like the broken bits at the bottom of the chip bag. The service was very slow and it often felt like our waiter was ignoring us. This was far from the experience I wanted on Valentine’s day.

I had the privilege of dining at Iron Cactus during a recent trip to San Antonio. Despite the fact that it was crowded we were seated pretty quickly. Our waiter was extremely personable and friendly. We got on with him like we’d known him for years.
I ordered the steak and chicken fajitas. The presentation was excellent and luckily it all tasted good too. The meats were well proportioned and seasoned just right. The vegetables and tortillas were fresh too. I’m not the biggest fan of fajitas but these were really good.
I also had a silver (strawberry) margarita which was delicious.
The restaurant is very loud and I thought the seating was cramped but we still had a great time. I’d visit again.

I was in town for work, and the local San Antonio people we were meeting with recommended this as a good option for Mexican food on the Riverwalk that had higher quality food and beverages than the average establishment in the area.
The food was excellent! I started with the iron salad with the lime cilantro dressing; really excellent fresh salad particularly given the $ 5 price! I had a Rustico Chile Relleno for my entrée which was a delicious variation on this dish; it was filled with chicken, cranberries and nuts in addition to the cheese. It was flavorful and a bit lighter than the pure cheese filled variety. The black bean and rice sides were fine, but I would have preferred a bit more seasoning in the beans; they were a little blander than I like. I also tried some of my coworker’s pork quesadilla and shrimp ceviche and both were excellent!
Beverages were very good as well! I had the margarita perfecta which was made with fresh lime juice and higher quality tequila. The complimentary chips and salsa were very good too; they serve both a warm and cold salsa which was a nice touch.
We shared a dark chocolate torte for dessert. It was tricky to split since it had a thick hard chocolate top layer and a frozen middle layer… a sharp knife would have helped here… or since they knew we were sharing even nicer if they would have cut it in half for us before serving… but…we managed to split it with the butter knife, and it was delicious!
There were a few service glitches… we weren’t given a drink menu until after our server came over to take our drink order after we had been sitting a bit… and then realized we didn’t have menus. The propane heaters also weren’t working on the patio since they ran out of propane the night before. We still opted to sit outside though since it was still in the 50’s, and therefore way warmer than the climate we’re used to this time of year up north. Our server also brought the check before asking us if we wanted dessert… lots of empty tables, and not near closing, so no reason to rush us out… but did bring us dessert menus without a problem!

Pros:
Had reservations for 8 people for a bachelorette party that they easily accommodated.
Margaritas are always amazing.
Cons:
Took about 15 minutes to get a server over to our table to greet us and take our drink order.
Drinks took about another 15 minutes before they made it to the table.
45 minutes after placing our appetizer order and about 30 minutes after placing our entrée order, the server made his 2^nd stop of the night at the table to let us know that the food would be out shortly. When we asked about our appetizers, he frantically walked away. He came back and apologized, said they had been taken to the wrong table and asked if we wanted to order different appetizers that wouldn’t take so long to make. We grabbed a manager after about another 20 minutes of not seeing the server, and let him know what had happened, as he has no idea. He had our appetizers out in about 10 minutes, at no charge.
When our entrees came out, all sauces were dried up as if they had been sitting under the warmer entirely too long. They were okay, but would’ve much better if they had been brought out as soon as they were done.
Needless to say, if I ever make my way back to the Iron Cactus on the Riverwalk it will ONLY be to sit at the bar and enjoy a beverage.

We had an interesting experience at Iron Cactus. We were a 14 top in the bar, and service was less that reasonable because the poor bartender had to bar tend, serve us, and take care of walk up bar patrons. After drawing it to the attention of the manager, not much improved. Food was delivered by other servers and was mixed up, things were cold, and the food took 70 minutes to be prepared. Take note large groups.

My husband I went here today and I’d totally recommend this place for great food. It only got 4 stars due to having to wait 10 minutes to be seated in a half empty place and the waiter taking 15 minutes to serve the over priced drinks. But let me tell you, the food was awesome and perfect portions for people who don’t want to lug around leftovers while walking the river.

Slow service waiter didn’t come outside for an hr and terrible management … The drinks were good though

I had the fajitas with some friends. Nothing spectacular but I have had way worse. The salsa were very good though. You get two different styles which the waiter was well versed in explaining — both were very good. I would go again but probably not on my list of favorites.

Went there during Marathon Race. Was busy due to the race crowd.
Great ambiance.
Fajitas and fish tacos were good. Service was a little weak but would still recommend.
Finished it off with their fantastic doughnuts.
A must have.

The food here is just okay but the margaritas were pretty good. I think they are known for making some delicious ones so I recommend you trying at least one drink. I got the fish tacos and they tasted like the normal fish tacos you’d get at a Mexican restaurant. My coworker’s shrimp tacos came with cold shrimp so she had to send it back for warm shrimp. I liked their homemade guacamole and wished it was a liiiiiitle spicier but I guess you have to cater to what the rest of the group wants. Overall Iron Cactus is a nice touristy spot on the Riverside and an easy place to find and eat at if you’re not looking to go to the outskirts of San Antonio.

Went to the Iron Cactus for dinner on the first night in San Antonio. Like everyone else, I was in San Antonio craving the Tex-​Mex that they are so good at. The décor feels upscale. Kind of dark in there. Inside and outside seating. We sat inside tonight.
The wife and I started out with margaritas. They had lots of different kinds of tequillas and lots of different kind of drink options with those tequillas. For our appetizer, we got the table side guacamole after seeing great pictures of it on Unilocal.We were so happy that it was just as awesome as it looked i the picture. The waitress made it right at the table and when adding each ingredient, asked our input to make it just how we wanted it. For our entrée, we got the combination chicken and steak fajitas for 2. It was, of course enough for 3. It came with rice and choice of 3 different kinds of beans. Also, guacamole, sour cream, cheese, pico de gallo and fresh flour tortillas. It was delicious!
There are lots of bad reviews of places on the Riverwalk. And it seems like lots of people worry about whether or not they are going to get good tex Mex. S, if you’re one of those… This place is awesome! I highly recommend it.

I had the most delicious Paella here at Iron Cactus.
Me and my colleagues were strolling endlessly at the River Walk when we decided to have dinner here at the Iron Cactus. I am glad I chose their Southwest Paella because it is arguably one of the best dishes I had while visiting San Antonio for work.
Their chips and salsa (particularly the salsa) we yummy as well. I enjoyed their blackened salsa with its bold, strong flavors.
Now why did I immensely enjoy Iron Cactus’ Southwest Paella? First off, the rice has proper texture. The ‘ginomous’ shrimp is not bland or over cooked and also carries the flavor of the dish. The scallops surfeit in size and portion and the roasted poblanos puts a tingling icing on the dish.
It’s the Texas sausage and the sauce itself the truly separates the past paella’s I had from Iron Cactus’. The second I tasted this dish, I immediately thought Tex-​Mex. I do not truly understand (yet) what comprises a Tex-​Mex cuisine, my good guess this would be it. The paella’s sauce the screams Texan; subtle hints of barbecue while staying grounded on its Spanish roots. And the Texas sausage, need I say more?
Iron Cactus’ Southwestern Paella left me with a strong impression that it would be impossible for me not to come back if I ever visited San Antonio again.

We stopped in for a late lunch while visting the riverwalk recently. This place looked much nicer (tables/​décor) than a few of the other places in the area and the menu looked good. I’m really glad we did, all 4 of us loved our food and really liked the outdoor seating. Service was great too! I would describe this as a slightly upscale TexMex restaurant. The food was definitely more fresh and flavorful than your typical TexMex place. And they have tons of Tequila and some pretty nice mixed drinks. The salsa was really good too!
Recommended Dishes: Chile Relleno Rustico, Stuffed Avocado (but it’s deep fried).
Positives: Nice outdoor seating, good food/​drinks and service. Slightly upscale but not too expensive.
Negatives: None.

Get the Tableside Guacamole!
We were hot after exploring the Riverwalk and decided to stop in to enjoy an appetizer and drinks early in the afternoon. The waiter was polite but seemed to be very busy despite the place not looking too crowded. He was apologetic and we were in no rush so we didn’t mind. We ordered margaritas and the Tableside Guacamole. The drinks were nothing special but I was head over heels for the guacamole. The waiter brought the ingredients to our table and asked how we would like it made while including some of his recommendations. It tasted very fresh and while I feel this place was nothing out of the ordinary, I would go back just to have appetizers and drinks again.

While the locale is right smack-​dab in the beautiful riverwalk area, the reservation rules are a bit sketchy. When my date called on the phone, the establishment said they only served on a first come first serve basis. However, upon arrival at the restaurant, it appeared everyone and their mother had made reservations beforehand. I can only assume that they take on-​site reservations only, and perhaps the diners already there had been determined enough to sit out the humidity for a few agonizing moments before entering the crowded establishment.
Even with an on-​site reservation, it took us over 2 hours to get properly seated and order meals, meaning our food arrived 3 hours after we met at the restaurant. While the Iron Cactus does have a decent bar with some delicious margaritas, I don’t think my hangry self cared at that point.
However, the food was delicious. Definitely go for the queso as an appetizer, though their curb-​side complimentary salsas are pretty fantastic in and of themselves. One is served cold to highlight the tomatos (or perhaps the peppers as well?) and the other served warm to highlight the smokiness. I veered towards the smoky salsa which had a bit more of a kick to it.
In terms of the actual meal, I think I had the fish tacos, blackened. Originally, I had wanted fries but my waiter assumed I wanted black beans… which was an offputting and strange mistake to make. The tacos were served with a creamy slaw and the fish was exquisitely tender. However, due to the amount of chips I consumed prior to the 3-​hour meal wait, I was pretty stuffed. Although, I must say, those tacos were TINY for the price I paid. Plus, a little cup of black beans for the same price as a whopping side of fries? Uh-​uh, oh no no no. Nobody wants that.
This brings me to our waiter. He directed, whistled and yelled at us like a frustrated high school coach, often berating us with the new choices or for our indecisiveness. For a classy restaurant on Riverwalk, I would think he would be a bit more patient with our party. Nonetheless, even the strange theatrics of our waiter couldn’t put a damper on the meal.
The margaritas are pretty killer too. I had a cactus pear frozen one with salt, which really packed a punch, enough to make you feel woozy in the summer heat. I think they’re a little heavy-​handed with the salt, but otherwise spot on with just the right amount of tang and sweetness.
Bonus for birthday-​celebrators: the lucky girl or guy gets a beautiful dessert from the staff! Always a great addition.

Restaurant idéalement placé sur le River Walk.
Pourquoi?
Car il est séparé par un petit muret de l’espace piéton qu’emprunte les promeneurs de la River.
Les plats sont varié, même si, il est vrai, il manquait sur la carte un bon morceau de bœuf texans.
Je me suis donc rabattu sur All Natural Beef Fajitas, donc voici la garniture:
–Mangues, avocats, oignons, champignons, et morceaux de viande (pas assez à mon gout c’est pour ça que je mets 4 étoiles).
L’accompagnement était composé de frites et salade verte.
En boisson, un verre de soda (Co** Co**), et un verre de tap water.
Le service était très bien, les serveurs très sympas n’hésitant pas à discutez avec vous si vous le souhaitez.
Le note était de 14 $ tips compris (~10EUR), ce qui n’est pas cher du tout, car la boisson est a volonté ET il y a le starter offert. Le starter, ce sont des chips triangulaires, avec de la sauce piquante.
Bref: Enjoy your meal.

San Antonio zu besuchen und nicht den Riverwalk abgelaufen zu haben, ist wie ein Rombesuch ohne Petersdom. Und wer dann Appetit verspürt, hat die freie Wahl. (Siehe Foto unten) Wie auf eine Perlenschnur gezogen reihen sich die Restaurants direkt am Wasser aneinander. Die überwiegende Zahl widmet sich der mexikanischen Küche. Alle sind sie gut besucht von fast ausnahmslos Einheimischen und inländischen Touristen. Mit dem Iron Cactus fanden wir ein Restaurant, das sich schon optisch von den anderen abhebt. Alles eleganter, nobler, hochwertiger. Wir wählten einen Tisch draußen (auf den wir allerdings 20 Minuten warten mussten) innen ist es wie so häufig hier mit der Aircon auf Fröstelgrade runtergekühlt. Der Außenbereich ist im Gegensatz zu fast allen anderen Restaurants durch eine hüfthohe, mit Pflanzen bestückte Steinmauer zum Riverwalk abgegrenzt. so kann man zwar den Spaziergängern und Ausflugsbooten zuschauen, selbst hat man aber seine privacy. Für uns heute kein mexikanisches Essen! Wir wählten Hähnchenbrust mit Reis und grünem Spargel sowie Rindermedaillon mit grünem Spargel und Kartoffeln. Beides dezent und sehr geschmackvoll gewürzt. Dazu eine Flasche Zinfandel White (kalifornischer Roséwein), nicht zu trocken, leicht aromatisch. Tacos mit scharfer Tunke gibt es kostenfrei vorab, wie auch Eiswasser, das pausenlos nachgeschenkt wird. Mit $ 63 inkl. den obligatorischen 20% Trinkgeld waren wir gut dabei und fühlten uns ausgesprochen wohl. Im Inneren ist alles kühl gestylt (zur Temperatur passend). An der Bar laufen zwei Fernseher gleichzeitig doch wer sitzt schon drinnen. Vielleicht im Hochsommer, wenn die Temperaturen Rekordwerte in San Antonio erreichen. Fazit: Mexican Grill and Margarita Bar nennt sich das Iron Cactus mit Dependancen in Austin und Dallas. Da die Speisenkarte nicht nur mexikanisch orientiert ist, findet jeder etwas und vor allem Abwechslung. Enttäuschung eher unwahrscheinlich. Vier Sterne. Tipp: Unbedingt abends bei Dunkelheit einkehren, wenn alles romantisch beleuchtet ist.