After attending an event in the area, we stopped by Cactus Tavern for a late night bite to eat and…read morea drink on a Saturday night. Located on Cave Creek Road, I had passed by this bar several times and was excited to finally try it out. While I parked across the street at the venue where I was for my event prior, I did notice that they had a decent amount of free parking available.
Ambiance (4/5): Cactus Tavern is a dive bar with some Arizona flair. Given the name of the bar, I expected some cactus decor. It did not disappoint...including square lights with cactus cut-outs above each table. There are several high top tables as well as seating at the bar. It's not a huge bar, probably fits 50 people or so, and it was about 90% at capacity when I was there. They also have one pool table. Seems like the type of place where regulars come, which is always a plus in my book.
Service (4.5/5): Our waitress did a great job taking care of us despite being quite busy. She was friendly, efficient, and made some recommendations when I asked for some. Pro tip: they give you a cash discount, so if you'd like to save a little bit, make sure you bring cash.
Drinks (4/5): With it being a dive bar, the options are going to be on a simpler side. They had eight or so beers on tap, so not a large selection, but I ended up going with a WOW Wheat. A few local beers, plus some usual suspects like Coors Light, Dos Equis, Modelo, etc. While the selection didn't blow my socks off, the prices are reasonable. That counts for a lot.
Food (4.5/5): According to Yelp, Cactus Tavern is known for their quesabirria tacos. Since quesabirria is one of my favorite Mexican foods, I couldn't say no. I'm glad I didn't. You get three quesabirria tacos (birria meat, cilantro, cheese, and onions), fresh off the griddle, served with a green salsa and consommé. These were hands down some of the best birria tacos I've ever had. They were served right off the grill, the meat was flavorful, and the oozy cheese was delicious. With a side of elote (on the cob), it made for the perfect meal. This is not your typical bar food, y'all. It's a notch or two above. I was pleasantly surprised. And like the drinks, the food prices are affordable too.
Pro tip #2: if you're looking for deals beyond the cash discount, they have daily discounts on various items including a burger and a pint, Philly cheesesteak, etc. depending on the day.