Cactus Mexican Restaurant

The wife and I visited Reid's Apothecary for our 46th wedding anniversary which is a cute little…read morerestaurant in downtown Brunswick. Because the restaurant is downtown there is plenty of free street parking spaces right outside the door. There is a bar, with bar seating, The other seating consisted of normal table with hard back chairs, and couches that ran down the side of the wall with tables, and hard back chairs on the other side. Overall, the service was adequate, not good, and certainly not great, but good enough not to stop us from enjoying our night out. I started with what was supposed to be a cup of Tomato Bisque but received and paid for a bowl. Somewhat my fault for not realizing that my serving and what I paid for was large and more expensive than the cup I ordered. With that said, I thought the flavor of the bisque served with, Garlic Buttered Crostini, and grated Smoked Gouda was outstanding. The temperature could have been a bit warmer, but again the flavor was sport on. The wife and I split a very large bowl of PEI Mussels. The Mussels were served in a white wine broth with Shallots, Garlic, Roasted Tomatoes, and Bacon. Honestly, I could and did finish the broth off as a soup. There were quite a few Mussels that did not open, but the bowl was so large, we wouldn't have eaten them anyway. The wife's main dish was the Pan Seared Sea Scallops, with peach and bacon risotto, and fresh Spinach. The dish was finished with an amazing Bourbon Peach Brown Butter Reduction. The scallops were large, the Risotto was great, but the brown butter reduction was the absolute star of the dish. For my main dish I had the Curried Lamb Lollipops, served over Cilantro Basmati Rice, and roasted Tomatoes with an excellent curry sauce. The chops were of good size and cooked to perfection. And please don't even get me started on the fired Garlic Butter Paratha which is some of the best bread I have ever had. My mistake was ordering a side of the Peach and Bacon Risotto similar to what was served with the scallop dish. Without the Bourbon Peach Brown Butter Reduction however, the risotto ate a little dry and had little to no peach flavor. I finished my meal with a bourbon , Mascarpone, bread pudding, which was amazing. The dish was loaded with bourbon which both my wife and I agreed was not completely cooked off. Great dish to finish an outstanding meal. Even with a few minor missteps, the overall flavor of the dishes were so good, I still must give it an overall 5.

How this place doesn't have a Michelin star is beyond me, been here about 6 times since march, i am…read moreimpressed by the food and service every time. Are they slower sometimes due to the amount of people and drinks? Sure but still amazing experience nonetheless. My last meal would be from here

Bouillabaisse

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Mocktail

Little Zooks

4.6(13 reviews)

Came in on Valentine's Day for love music and wasn't disappointed. The drinks were made perfectly…read moreand the vibes were immaculate. Service was also quick, especially for a busy night like V-Day. That's always a plus when the quality of service and food/drinks isn't affected by the big crowds. Theres a pool table and darts for anyone interested.

fun for young crowds on weekends, very fast attentive service & fun atmosphere! cute porch and…read moreplants too,

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The Study at Reids Apothecary

4.8(6 reviews)

A really cool speakeasy. The fact that you have to get a password and enter through the back makes…read moreit very authentic! I also liked that they provided some table games to play. Can get busy on the weekends and the line for the bar takes a while. The drinks are good but I wish their cocktail menu was bigger. They have live music which is cool, but unfortunately it's just too loud. The area is small and there's no way to get away from the music and you can barely hear each other talk. I would appreciate it if they would either turn down the volume or pick a style of music that fits the speakeasy theme better, like jazz or acoustic.

Nice atmosphere and live band. Love the chocolate infused bourbon. It was first Friday and Fourth…read moreof July!! Crazy busy outside.

Menu

Mary's Bramble

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Floyd's Mistress

Tipsy McSway's

4.4(237 reviews)

Nice place with great food and service. Came in for a an early dinner and was not disappointed…read more Pork chop sandwich was excellent. Looking forward to our next visit.

Saturday afternoon- group of 5. Place was busy but found a table no issue…read more Here is what we liked: * The appetizers were good. Had the loaded blue cheese fries. Loved the sauce. * Wings were solid good. * Service was nice, like genuinely nice. *The pickle chips had a perfect crisp to them * decent selection of beers and cocktails What could of been better: * The fries could have been crisp. A little soggy or limp. But they were good. Just had a fun visit and enjoyed the place. Will come back.

Brownie skillet with ice cream

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Happy Cold Drinks

Woodside

4.7(38 reviews)

6.9 mi

Cannot speak highly enough of this excellent establishment. From top to bottom this place is five…read morestar. Every dish we had was exquisite, the wine perfect, cocktails on point, and service second to none. Coming from New York City, we have come to expect a lot from restaurants, and Woodside would stack up against any restaurant in the five boroughs .

EXCELLENT EXPERIENCE! Been searching for a decent brunch in…read morethe area and my wife suggested Woodside. My experience is that many places just don't deliver the quality expected and I'm often disappointed. I'll have to say, Woodside delivered! This place is clearly elevated, elegant, and the food is prepared with culinary skill. From the moment we stepped inside, I could tell the atmosphere was classy and quaint. We were greeted by our server Buddy and the bartender. My instincts were that this was going to be good. I was still cautious. Buddy seated us appropriately and brought us menus and filtered water. We both started with coffee and to my surprise Buddy brought a large urn of French press coffee, whole cream and sugar cubes, I absolutely love French Press coffee but rarely see it. I make it at home but on occasion see it offered in a restaurant. Definitely a step above. We looked at the brunch menu and found it hard to decide as there were so many interesting selections that I wanted to try. My wife ordered the Eggs Benedict and I ordered the Croque Madame. As I deliberated, Buddy suggested that I'd stick with my first impression and that I would not be disappointed. I thought it was very classy the way he presented that and it makes sense that sometimes one should go with their first instinct, rather than wonder if they made the right choice later. Again, there were just so many things I wanted to try. When our meals came out, we were both pleasantly surprised at the quality and taste. This was not ordinary breakfast, but I had a good price point for what you get. It was really about the same cost as most breakfast places on the island, but such higher quality and sophistication. I can honestly say this was the best brunch experience I've had in many years and we've frequent a lot of places. The Croque was so tasty, complex and abundant and even the french fries were excellent. My wife's Benedict was also very special as it was rich, fresh, and absolutely clear it was prepared by a chef. The Latkas were a tasty complement. Overall, this was an outstanding experience and I just didn't want to leave. I can't wait to return for dinner to experience it. I believe the menu changes daily and I would definitely recommend Woodside as an elevated dining experience. I am happy to rate this a true 5.0 as it is the best food I've had in the Brunswick/SSI area over the past 6 months. Buddy was great and clearly understands service etiquette. Thanks so much for helping us enjoy a truly nice experience.

An intimate New York style restaurant in the Golden Isles

All desserts are made by our co-owner and pastry chef Ryanne Carrier

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Sunday Brunch

1509 Brunswick

4.1(64 reviews)

Arrived at 5pm (opening time) on a Saturday…read more Promptly seated at bar (our preference). Staff was energetic and fun. We got to see their preparations for the evening rush. Shared appetizer of Beef Carpaccio and entrée of Snapper with Pea Risotto. Everything was good. The risotto was a bit "crunchy" but edible with excellent flavor. Will be coming back.

At first this was hard to find. It sits on the second floor of the building. What a nice place…read more They provide indoor seating and a full bar. They also offer an outside covered patio seating. Then you can go to the rooftop with some decent views and nice seating. The staff was wonderful. Not sure they could be any better. What a great experience. Food was fabulous. Not sure you can get anything that would taste bad. The starters were great. The bread was delicious. The cauliflower was sweet and delicious. The meals were fantastic and the desert was amazing. If you're in town you need to stop here.

Patio!

Bone-in Prime Rib, Ceasar Salad, Rolls, Mashed Potatoes, and Brussel Spouts. We both shared this meal.

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Rooftop lounge. They also sell cigars to smoke on Rooftop.

Porch

4.4(597 reviews)

5.8 mi

I ordered a shrimp salad which is not what you'd expect to order from a place whose main dish is…read morechicken but the spinach salad was amazing! You can get any meat on it. The salad has a great balance of sweet and salty with the dried cherries and blue cheese. I went on a Sunday and even though the line was long, the service was quick. You stand in line to order at the register and you can sit anywhere you like. They also have outdoor seating. It's located in a neighborhood so it really feels like you're just eating over at your friend's house. Awesome place to check out if you find yourself in St Simons!

Gr8 food , Gr8 service, peaceful outdoor home style Ambiance !!!! Love it will be back !!!!!!…read more Gr8 food , Gr8 service, peaceful outdoor home style Ambiance !!!! Love it will be back !!!!!! Gr8 food , Gr8 service, peaceful outdoor home style Ambiance !!!! Love it will be back !!!!!!

Hot chicken on the Porch #chooseyourheat

Fresh shrimp served off the boat daily!

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Three Jumbo Tenders and Waffles, Porch Corn and Collards

Jinright's Seafood House

3.5(106 reviews)

1.6 mi

Seafood the way I like it-Every Time. Fun to eat at the bar as a solo traveler. I've always felt…read morevery comfortable here. My waitress was a Sweetheart. Recommend-Again

Very nice service staff! Sunday close time vary. Although, it says 3pm online. They still were able…read moreto accommodate us. Food was okay. Edible, but the environment is one of locals and people passing through. Mostly seafood on the menu. Fried and broiled options. Lacking a little flavor for my liking but everything was fresh. Nice size portions for the money and they offer specials too.

Delicious side salad with homemade ranch dressing.

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Menu options

Driftwood

5.0(4 reviews)

This was our first time here, and we had a fantastic experience. The atmosphere is incredibly…read morerelaxed and inviting. The staff is exceptional, especially the bartender. She crafted some incredible drinks and was incredibly friendly and welcoming. We're definitely planning to return.

My girls and I came here to hang and grab a drink . The vibe was super chill ! The bartenders were…read moresuper nice as well .

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Jekyll & Tide

4.3(42 reviews)

6.2 mi

Wish this place was still open!!!!! Such amazing food, will miss eating here while visiting Jekyll.read more

Can we stop and talk about how awesome Jekyll and Tide is. Listen, it's no question that the island…read moreis known for seafood and classic southern American cuisine, but Jekyll and Tide takes that and elevates it with a twist. The only island on the restaurant that offers Asian versions of the classic shrimp and grits, using coconut curry and coconut infused grits. I sat at the bar and started with a cocktail. It was fantastic. Ordered the catch of the season, which happened to be halibut. Expertly prepared with a piri piri sauce and roasted veg. Javier recommended the key lime pie which he said was made in house. I'm telling you, as someone who grew up in Key West, this is better. This place is a real destination restaurant and I will make sure I come back here next time I'm on the island.

Front of Restaurant

Cheese and Onion Fondue'

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Steak and eggs hash

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Kevin H.

0

1

0

4 months ago

My wife & I are traveling from NC to our home in Florida. I searched "Mexican restaurants in Brunswick, GA." First, the name Cactus "grabbed" me. It's cute. I read 7-8 favorable reviews of the restaurant--only complaint was parking. BTW: NOW you can park on 3 sides of Cactus! Our Server, Daniel, was fantastic. Smart; immediately grasped my weak Spanglish. He has a subtle, yet sharp sense of humor. We were off to a superior start when he confirmed the sign in the window: $3 Mojitos. My wife and I are Gringoes in our late 60's who like Mexican food. On this occasion we got "daring" and ordered 2 entrees we've never had: sopes & huarache. (both pollo). Daniel served us promptly. I spied a (Mexican) Coke in their cooler and had to have one! Bottom Line: superior Server, excellent food at fair prices. Mandatory stop when we go back to NC via I-95. Tip: ask for their sauce selections. read more

Dean R.

0

2

0

5 months ago

Food is delicious and service by V is exceptional. Margaritas are amazing! Cactus Burger is the best burger in Brunswick. I'm embarrassed to order the burger at a Mexican restaurant, but man it's amazing. Shrimp fajitas are to die for-great tasting and plenty of shrimp and veggies/tortillas. A great place to enjoy some authentic Mexican food and burgers!! read more

Ashley F.

0

14

20

5 months ago

New & super nice. Firstly being a woman with any restaurant that has sanitary pads available with a large walk in bathroom for easy diaper changes is a huge plus! Both waiters were exquisite and amazing. The food... delicious! We had wings, burritos, burger and the enchiladas and all highly recommend! Family of 5 with 3 children we highly recommend read more

Cammie H.

0

1

0

2 months ago

Omg this place was amazing! Food was so good and so fresh. Better than the "popular" Mexican restaurant in town! Margaritas 10/10 as well. We had the chimichangas and the shrimp burrito. We will definitely be returning! read more

paul v.

0

1

6 months ago

OMG hands down the most authentic Mexican restaurant in Brunswick, GA. The drinks are balanced and the food is amazing. You need to try it it yourself you wont be disappointed. The service is excellent! read more

S K.

0

1

0

4 months ago

You get much more than what you paid for ! Taste and quality of the food is unmatched in Brunswick ! The staff are polite and friendly ! Great place to try and keep going back ! read more

Lisa M.

0

1

0

6 months ago

Food is very good, and the service is great! Saturdays evening, they have nice Spanish music, a good family environment for all ages!

Stephanie V.

0

1

0

6 months ago

Everything about this place is fantastic! Food, drinks, service, ambiance ...all of it! A true gem right here in Brunswick, GA read more

Brandon F.

0

1

6

13 days ago

The food and service is always great! Our favorite Mexican restaurant! Don't forget 2 for 1 margs on Tuesday!

Cactus Mexican Restaurant - mexican - Updated September 2026

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We were driving back to Florida from South Carolina and decided to stop here for some lunch today…read more It was a great decision because it is right off the exit from 95 and it was great. It is somewhat of a sports bar with good food. The menu offers appetizers, salads, handhelds and burgers, and several entrees. I went with the Philly cheesesteak with a side of steamed broccoli. The sandwich tasted great with plenty of steak, onions, peppers and cheese. My husband had the ale house burger. It had bacon, mushrooms, cheese, onions and guiness sauce on it. He also chose onion rings for his side. He enjoyed both his burger and his onion rings. Service was fairly quick.

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