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Cactus Club Cafe
Category: Restaurants Canadian (New) Canadian (New) [Edit]
575 Broadway WVancouver, BC V5Z 1E6
Neighbourhood: Fairview Slopes
(604) 714-6000
- Hours:
Mon-Thu, Sun 11 am - 12 am
Fri-Sat 11 am - 1 am
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street, Private Lot
- Attire:
- Casual
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Good for Kids:
- No
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Delivery:
- No
- Take Away:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- Yes
- Wi-Fi:
- Free
- Good For:
- Dinner
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Noise Level:
- Loud
- Has TV:
- Yes
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
21 reviews for Cactus Club Cafe
Review Highlights
20 reviews in English
-
Review from Brian S.
4/28/2012 1 Check-in Here
Our First Choice at 7pm on Friday was Kalamata not seating till 8pm. Stop Two Martini's line was out the door. So we Walked West on Broadway till we came to Cactus Club.
The Hostess said it would be 20 min's but we were seated in 10. We succumbed to the Martini special although tasty I prefer their Cesar's instead. We both had the Salmon Bowl with Veggies and Brown Rice. Its a tasty & light meal if you have the sauces on the side.
The Restaurant was packed but the service & meal were good. I had orded the Salmon Bowl once prior its was better prepaired last time. Ended the meal with a Peanut butter Chocolate bar dessert that was dense a maybe a little frozen but still mighty tasty. Overall this Chain Resturant was able to seated and served us a meal in a timely manner when other restaurants in this area were over capacity. -
Review from John R.
3/27/2012 1 Check-in Here
Stopped in for lunch on a Friday. Had the grilled albacore tuna club - fresh oceanwise albacore tuna with tarragon tartar sauce. It was quite good and as another reviewer said the restrooms are nice to the point where they seem to go above the rest of the experience.
They do have parking available in the back, a bit tight on spaces but at least it is there. -
Review from Jeff F.
3/26/2012 1 Check-in Here
Later at night... was thinking of going to a burrito place... Ooops... it's closed. Maybe this other place (look up the closing times...)... nope... closed. Oh well, Cactus Club is right there... let's go in there...
We waited for a little bit... the hostess told us about 15 min... and it was about 15 min (good marks for timing calculations there). The place was pretty busy... but not crazy busy... loud... always loud in a Cactus Club.
We were attended to really promptly by a bubbly energetic server who asked about drinks, mentioned the specials, and promised us to come back in a second to get that drink order out of the way... she did... we ordered (they had a 3 course menu option with about 2-3 options per appetizer, main, or dessert). After that... we didn't see our bubble energetic server again... we got a very frantic seeming, no time to chat, or check in.... or anything person. She was ok at getting us the food, and drinks and all that.... but there was really no waiting around to see if anything could be done.... the wife was going to order some tea.... she came by to clear up a few plates right as the wife had a bite of dessert in her mouth... and she felt compelled to swallow it down as fast as possible because she knew if she didn't speak up right away, the server would be gone like a shot again.
Ok... enough about the server switch... on to the food.
To start, I had spicy chicken bites with crispy wontons. It was a very similar dish to one I had at Joey's a long time ago.. it was tasty. The wife had a tuna tataki with yuzu vinaigrette. She really enjoyed it as well.
Mains... I had a sirloin with mushrooms, and some sort of gravy with mashed potatoes and some spears of asparagus. I normally don't care for asparagus, but I ate a few pieces (guess they must have been good) ;) The steak was asked to be medium rare, and it was pretty close to medium rare... maybe a touch to medium... but better than a lot of places can get it (if you look back at my review for Player's Chophouse.... you'll note that I didn't ask them to 'Chicago' my steak....).. the mashed potatoes were nice, and the gravy and mushrooms went well with it. I'm not a bit sirloin fan.... I much prefer striploin or ribeye... but with the sauce it worked out ok.
The wife had a seared salmon on a bed of veggies and barley. The salmon was beautifully cooked, and was very light tasting (her words.. I'm guessing not too greasy/oily). She quite enjoyed it, and she normally doesn't order salmon... so good work.
The dessert was a key lime pie slice for the wife, and a chocolate peanut butter cake thing for me with caramel sauce, and ice cream. Both were quite tasty (quite small too... but at this point, that was about all I could handle... so it was a good thing).
With the meal I had a glass of a Argentinian malbec... it went quite nice with the spicy chicken, and the heartyness of the steak.
Not a bad night out... not stellar, but definitely better than the Player's Chophouse experience we had a few nights ago. -
Review from Brendon D.
2/19/2012
There are a number of these in the city.
We came here to kill some time before going to another restaurant. We only sat at the bar. The bartender and hostess were super nice. We had a solid cocktail and were on our way. The vibe was just fine. It's very much like a Daily Grill on the inside, but just a bit cooler.
Don't half step. Stop in for a cocktail and you'll be glad you did. -
Review from Simon K.
9/13/2011 7 Check-ins Here
When you talk about the corridor of Broadway and Cambie, one restaurant sticks in most people's heads, and it is this Cactus Club. Probabaly as it was the first of the bunch from the chain that opened is such a lavish style, from the floor arrangement to the relax in the washroom's downstairs cause there is a reason (or a couch in the shroom!), this location has always been the measuring stick for this chain, and this type of food in my opinion, back then.
Fond memories when I use to work around this neighbourhood and had 'straight-up' gin martini's at lunch still provide a smile when I think back, but times and taste change in ones self, and also in their menu and prices as well. As much as I like coming here for the nostalgic value, Vancouver has come a long way in regards to food, and the price range here can garnish much in this city. If you are in for the trendy, then this is the place for you, with the all inspired 'RF' on the menu (Rob Feenie) that now they can ask for a higher price may make sense to some, but you are not fooling me, as I use to work in this sort of establishment!
The food is ok, across the board, but if you have been to one of these restaurants, you have been to them all. I usually come for the daily drink specials, just know them by heart. This place has a narrow, but nice patio that wraps around the building, and also the trip to the washroom downstair does take a little longer as it feels more like a lounge, even to this day. I have taken a quick shut eye on the couch a yesteryear! -
Review from Trudi C.
I wanted some noodles across the street, but the boyfriend was paying, so we went to Cactus Club. Am glad I wasn't paying! My spiced chicken with mashed potatoes was nice sure, but it all seems a little pricey to me. Ahh well. Oh, free wi fi!
Like everyone else says here, the bathrooms downstairs are amazing! Super clean, luxurious...leather seating to lounge around in the toilets? I dunno about you, but I prefer to be in and out of there ;) The foot flush was unique, though I still prefer the Jedi hand wave for flush. -
Review from Patrick H.
7/29/2011
Good service. Good drinks.
Why the bump to four stars? The men's restroom downstairs! This was one of the nicest I've seen. Spacious, clean and a couch and a fireplace!
Good job! -
Review from Joshua N.
2/17/2011
This is a Cactus Club; beyond that there's not much more to say about the food, the prices or the decor. In Vancouver there seems to be a big market for this style of restaurant that is caught somewhere halfway between a White Spot and a Granville Street dance club.
But I will say this: this particular Cactus Club has THE NICEST BATHROOM I have ever seen. I'm not sure if anyone's ever chosen a restaurant based on their bathroom, but if it becomes a trend, this location has set the bar pretty high. -
Review from Kyrsten J.
New Westminster, BC
2/5/2011
Ah, Cactus. You are like the Tommy Hilfiger of food. Always decent, sometimes, though rarely daring, and you really know what you'll get. Though, this particular location is special - it's where they test out the good stuff. The korean bbq lettuce wraps are spectacular, as is the tuna tataki & the grape-goat cheese flatbread - I think other locations have this now, but...
...your prices. What happened? I know this location is next to the Vancouver Coastal Health/Provincial Health Services Authority, and the union workers there can afford more, but really? $16 for the bbq lettuce wraps, and $3 for an iced tea - $19 for lunch? Even the salads, when once reasonable in price, are now higher than $13 in most cases, with some topping out at a whopping $17.
Yes, the food is decent, but this is one of those places that just isn't as affordable - especially with a Milestone's just around the corner with a real view and similar food. -
Review from David W.
Vancouver, BC
2/17/2011 1 Check-in Here
Just had drinks.
new age, modern chain, cross of a restaurant and bar.
Good music, drinks were reasonable price.
Great looking staff........terrible service though!
No personality / atmosphere in the place.
I dont understand why people come to these chain restaurant bars.
Surely people of Vancouver like some originality on a friday night????? -
Review from Foley L.
Vancouver, BC
10/7/2010 1 Check-in Here
I'm so conflicted about Cactus Club. I used to love to hate it, but now I'm running out of love.
The prices have gotten silly. I'd understand if they made the decision to go upscale, but they haven't. It's elevated pub food.
In terms of this location, they've recently redesigned, and taken away all the cool bits. No more neon non-sequiturs, no more gigantic Lichtenstein-inspired canvas. Nothing quirky.
The sad part is that I think they're starting to take themselves seriously. That really sucks. -
Review from Doris L.
Vancouver, BC
5/10/2011
Cactus club. Upscale prices that doesn't match the food. Two burgers/sandwich and two beers cost around $45 after taxes and tips.
Well, let's start with the stuff I liked. The atmosphere was good in a dark pub sort of way. The seats were comfy and they definitely use some sort of environmentally UN-friendly napkins. They are good quality napkins but they were disposable and way too thick and good quality for me to ever imagine that the impact of them were good. Wait, I was suppose to start with the stuff I like. Oh yeah, the washrooms were really very nice.
So let's go straight to stuff that I didn't like (aside from those napkins) the food was not very spectacular. The burgers were flavourless cajun and the short rib sandwich was very dry and under seasoned. The fries were just OK. They just weren't hot enough.
As for the beer, it was refreshing but again un-memorable. It seems like the food is catered to "playing it safe" crowd.
The service was friendly but by no means spectacular. Most of the time there's no service and waiting for someone to finish eating seems to be a hell of a lot to expect these days from servers. Why does it seem that every pub waitress has the need to ask if I've finished with my food when clearly I still have food on my plate and a fork in my hand? Do they think my eating companion will get bored if I don't give up eating the moment that they are done? Anyway, seems like the norm in Vancouver.
In anycase, I've experienced better. Even the cactus club downtown has better service (and if memory serves correctly, slightly better food). -
Review from Jessica O.
Vancouver, BC
7/27/2010
What the heck is going on here?
I had a 25 dollar gift card for Cactus Club, and I walked in with a bit of a patronizing attitude, not being a fan of chain restaurants, finding them useful only when in the suburbs and not knowing where to go. The BF and I had had a good veggie experience in the 'burbs while visiting family and were happy to have a mostly free supper.
When the menu was placed in front of me I nearly spat out my water. The prices were, well, laughable. I have absolutely NO problem shelling out big bucks for great food, but it baffles me that anyone would spend 25 ++ on a pre-fab cookie cutter entree.
That said - the new menu, with some options by Rob Feenie, is nice and cohesive and his options look good. We started with the Tuna Tataki, served with a nice crunchy salad of daikon, avocado and mango and a lovely yuzu dressing. The sear on the tuna, however, was abysmal. I either want it completely raw or with nice cooked edges, and this was somewhere in between. Also, we noticed that while our plate had 5 pieces, the other tables around us who ordered got 7 slices. :(
We then moved on and shared the portobello mushroom fajitas. We have had these before and really liked them, but this time the veggies had not been blackened enough with cajun spice and were kind of soft and bland. Not yummy in a tortilla! The toppings were paltry - literally a tablespoon each of salsa, cheese and sour cream, and we ran out less than halfway through the meal. Iceberg lettuce was the only other topping. For 17 dollars of just veggies you would think that they could jazz it up a little, no?
The service, though friendly, was awful. We literally had to wait 15 minutes for drinks, and then when our fajitas arrived and we asked for hotsauce it didn't come....until we were finished our meal. We also waited a ridiculous amount of time to get some extra tortillas (which still arrived before the hot sauce did).
All in all, we left feeling a bit smug, surveying the packed restaurant and thinking "Good! Stay here! Leave the good restaurants for us! :)" -
Review from Jason S.
2/14/2011
I like the vibe and feel in here; waitresses know what they're doing, good service at the bar, food is great. What's not to like?
Have been sat next to a famous Hollywood name at the bar, it definitely carries that kinda feel. Unfortunately, also carries those kinda prices.
Overall, thumbs up. -
Review from Christine K.
Vancouver, BC
8/6/2009
I end up going here quite a lot for lunch as reps find it the place to go in my neighbourhood! I like the decor, the booths are comfy & the washrooms are great!
The only thing I can rave about is the Ahi tuna poke appy, it is so yummy! I order it everytime we go though I see it is no longer on the menu now.
I last tried Feenie's short rib sandwich & found it pretty good. Tasty, but not enough to make me go out of my way to go back to have it again. We also saw Feenie walking around the restaurant that day. I don't know why but I felt embarrased for him.
I also one time had a great NY steak with mashed potatoes, but on most occasions the steaks have just been ok. I would never, personally, pay to eat here...I don't find any value. Burgers have always been just average, salads are not bad...
I have probably been to this location 20 times, but for sure at least 10 times....and as long as the reps pay, I guess I'll be back again! If I'm paying, you won't see me here! -
Review from stan s.
Vancouver, BC
2/13/2010
Cactus Club's Flagship restaurant last night, was very pleased with my experience.
Cactus has done it right, with nice seating, and a very positive atmosphere. There is parking in the back of the restaurant and this Cactus has the best washrooms in town.
I have one request for Rob Feenie, please add your world famous calamari sandwich to the menu!! -
Review from Stephen Y.
Vancouver, BC
1/2/2009
Been going here since my days of training in the great institution across the street...
Kinda darkish decor...
Wait for lunch can be crazy long so often time we just head off to the Pho place
However, when there's a table we always enjoy the meal- The rice bowl is pretty decent and filling as are the burgers
Went back again this week- the BBQ duck sandwich was pretty westcoast fusion'ish good but I especially liked the Szechuan green beans- they were soooooo fresh and yummy and spicy..... Like one gets at a good Szechuan restaurant- kudos to the kitchen staff -
Review from M P.
Toronto, ON
5/14/2010
I just recall having burger sliders and a rye with ginger.
The atmosphere was good and the service was not bad. Convenient street parking is always good!
It's a-ok!! -
Review from Raquel L.
Maple Ridge, BC
9/6/2011
Great service, excellent food. The prices have gotten a little high, but the food is worth it. The waitresses are always friendly and attentive. Good atmosphere, would recommend.
-
Review from Dave H.
Vancouver, BC
1/10/2010
Atmosphere is nice, washrooms are great, food is good. I had the short rib sandwich, a bit messy but tasty. I also had the duck club sandwich and it was tasty, but a bit salty. Will definitely go back. I like Cactus Club a lot better than its competition of Milestones and Earls.
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