Cantina 18

Outstanding service, food is very tasty, nice decor and music. They have private seating area for groups, and they have plenty of eating options and drinks. Prices are affordable. I would highly recommend this place to anyone looking to get some Mexican food and have fun. They are not an exclusive Mexican food place, they have seafood and other menu options. Decor is not Mexican, it's modern, open and clean!

The place is so good! Kristen waited on us and was so fun and polite!! The short rib tacos and shrimp tacos were so delicious! Even the chips and salsa are fresh and prices are so fair! The best tacos we have had- better than Competitors in the area and better than Salt and Lime!! We will be back!! Place is also immaculate!!!

Cantina 18 was recommended by a friend. So glad to have the opportunity to try them out. Great experience, great staff, wonderful service. Clean space. Stop by for a nice relaxing meal. The Nachos and Queso Rolls are highly recommended!

My cousin and I just popped into Cantina 18 for a quick snack and the service and food was so good. My cousin and I agreed on how cute the restaurant was. Can’t wait to come back for a full meal! The churros are the best I’ve ever had btw!

This place is fantastic! Very clean, great atmosphere, great food. We will definitely be back!

It was a rainy Friday afternoon. We were in the mood for some Mexican food. Had decided to give this place a chance. Upon arrival the place was slammed, we were greeted by what appeared to be the owner. He helped us get seats at the bar. The menu had plenty of options. We were given water and chips and salsa quickly. But were waiting for a long time to get our order in. The place seemed to be understaffed and rather than help customers waiting for orders the owner/chef was chatting up customers. The bartender and servers seemed slammed. The food was decent, but definitely not authentic. It was seafood/southern imitating to be texmex. I would come back to give them another chance.

Wow! I’m a small business owner visiting from Florida and I was blown away by the hospitality AND food! I was here with my elderly parents and eating out can be a challenge. The owner, Jason Smith, went above and beyond to provide a great dining experience (even securing a quiet table upstairs so my dad could hear and enjoy the outing— I’m sure this section was likely closed and I truly appreciated it). Charlie, our server, was incredibly responsive and very attentive! I was SHOCKED to find that this place only has 4.3 rating and I can only guess that the happy folks didn’t take time to leave a review… that happens far too often! Thank you, Cantina 18, for a special family meal! Well done!

Was here for a group lunch with coworkers. I ordered the vegetable burrito. Nothing to write home about. But our seating and view was nice for our socializing. I would not go on my own due to parking in the Villages and the demeanor of some of the people that patronize stores & restaurants in that area.

We ate here a couple nights ago with family. The tables are crammed in so tightly that there's no way they would allow for a wheelchair. It was uncomfortable and claustrophobic. The food was good. I had the salmon with the adobada glaze. It was very good. Cooked to perfection. The service was very attentive and patient with our indecision. Parking is plentiful.

Stopped in this cute cantina for lunch with co-workers. They offered both indoor and outdoor seating. Based on the menu I got SoCal Mexican vibes, light, fresh and unique dishes. Let's start with the chips and salsa because for me the salsa makes the first impression and yes, I was impressed! I ordered a mushroom and corn enchilada which was just ok. I wanted to love this dish because I am always looking for more vegetarian options, I enjoyed it, but I wasn't WOW'd. One coworker got a burrito and said it was great. The other ordered fajitas with no peppers. Our server seemed annoyed by this request and said he'd see what he could do. Unfortunately, her fajitas arrived with ONLY peppers, she expressed her confusion and a gentleman whom I assume was the manager overheard and quickly stepped in to correct her order. On top of the order mix up, our service was also just ok. Our server seemed off his game and rushed us to order and then out the door. This would be understandable if it was busy, but the restaurant was pretty empty at that time. This was a convenient lunch spot so there is a chance I will return but I'm in no hurry.

We tried four different tacos and all were terrific. The chips and queso was warm and tasty on a cold day. The owner came to our table and checked on us, which is a very nice touch. Overall a really great experience. But the winner was the Emily Martin cinnamon rolls!!!

Cantina18, Village District - Your Passport to Taco Bliss From the instant you step inside Cantina18, the relaxed, lively atmosphere sets the stage for a great time. The team greets you with genuine warmth and keeps the service friendly yet efficient, striking the perfect balance between laid‑back and attentive. The food steals the show. One bite of the chicken taco or the standout swordfish taco sends a wave of layered flavors--bright citrus, subtle spice, and perfectly fresh toppings--that burst to life with every chew. Each taco feels thoughtfully composed, proving that simple ingredients, handled well, can be extraordinary. Pair those tacos with a crisp house margarita, and you've got an effortless escape: whether you're meeting friends, taking a quick lunch break, or just craving tacos for dinner, Cantina18 is the spot. Consistently welcoming staff, a vibrant vibe, and food that keeps you reaching for the next bite--this place deserves a permanent slot in your rotation.

Food, Service and Ambiance! Such a great place. They also have wi-fi so it's great for a meeting or to catch up on work. They have large portions so you could share. Got the calamari and it's more lightly battered and flash fired with peppers. a salad and pickled onions! It was incredible!! I Got the chicken quesadilla and my son got the short rib quesadilla. Both were very tender. Tip, you can each order a different Sid and ask them to split them. So you get to perfect size sides with your meal. Also the short rib comes with this lime sauce on top, so if you aren't big on sauce, ask to leave it off. It's in a shopping center so you can walk around to other shops as well.

We enjoyed a nice dinner with friends sitting outside. The food was good, though the menu is very streamlined. That's different than most Tex-Mex joints with hundreds of choices. Our server may have been stretched a bit thin as it drink orders and food delivery took a while.

Cantina 18 was recommended by a friend. So glad to have the opportunity to try them out. Great experience, great staff, wonderful service. Clean space. Stop by for a nice relaxing meal. The Nachos and Queso Rolls are highly recommended!

Last night we held a 70th birthday party for my husband at Cantina 18. The food and service was outstanding! A special shout out to our servers James and Isabell- so responsive and helpful to our needs! Shout out to Ashley, event coordinator for her help as well in putting it all together! Fantastic group of people to work with!

Nice setting in an outdoor mall but I wasn't impressed by the welcome or the food. I was curious who was in the kitchen making this "Mexican" food since it was so bland. Our server, James, was fantastic and made my experience at least tolerable. Then we ordered 2 slices of cheesecake. One came out quickly and the next slice took close to 15 minutes to come out and it was partially frozen. NO BUENO!

One of my better ratings! Service was on point. Brought out chips and salsa unlimited without even asking for it. Food was delicious and great quality and there were great choices for vegetarians.

We stopped in for dinner with friends and had a fun time. I started off with a beer followed by the top shelf margarita. Our table started off with a few small orders of guacamole, we tried the goat cheese, pineapple-habanero and cantina 18. The pineapple-habanero was my favorite. For our meals it was the veggie burrito with black beans for my husband and the she crab soup and a spicy braised short rib taco with black beans for me. The soup is on a special limited menu that features a few of the favorite dishes that were served at 18 Seaboard. We both enjoyed our food and drinks. This is a good dining option in The Village District.

The food was made quick & we just got take out. Everything tasted good but was nothing too special. Good for quick Mexican! Did not get full vibe since we just got takeout. The outside area looks nice to enjoy the meal & get a margarita!

Such a cute spot in Cameron Village for some healthy Mexican food. Love the variety of options for tacos and quesadillas (was really eyeing the black bean quesadilla)! They have daily specials and, if you can drink, a tequila flight if you want to try different tequila types! The catfish tacos were okay. The fish itself was only the drier side and not very flavorful. The slaw was supposed to be spicy, according to the menu, but I did not taste any spice. And honestly, all the spice was in the salsa they provide you when you're seated. The cilantro crema was pretty tasty though! My hubby had the limited time birria tacos, and were disappointed when it did not come with the birria sauce. The tacos themselves were full of the flavor, but then the tacos became too soggy to hold together. Maybe another layer of taco to help? 7/10 - a good spot if you're in the mood for Mexican!

Great spot for Mexican food with awesome indoor and outdoor dining in the Village. Fresh chips and salsas and the main dishes are delicious. Love the ambiance! Highly recommend.

Full disclosure, this review is for an event held upstairs and not a regular dining experience (although we have eaten here before). Stopped in for a professional event on a weekday night and was pleasantly surprised to see the chef/owner welcoming people at the door. I was walked upstairs to their event space for our event. The restaurant provided apps and we went in the next room for drinks. The atmosphere was energetic and fun, and the apps were delicious. I remembered that they had a map in the downstairs dining room showing some of the local farms and purveyors that they get their food from, and on my way out I saw it was still there. Good stuff.

Got the calamari and quesadillas. Calamari was just okay but the quesadillas were amazing - well portioned, well priced, and unique. Service was great and the spot wasn't too crowded on a weekday dinner.

"Mexican-inspired food not far from NCSU" Came here on a Friday evening to give my son a break from on-campus dining. We arrived at around 5;15pm, and the place was already hopping-- I will note there was a group of people waiting for a table by the time we finished just after 6pm. We were keen to eat here given there are outdoor tables-- the interior area looked rather dark (in part since painted black even though quite open-air), but the outdoor tables were fully covered (good for sun or rain) and airy, even though a bit close to the cars parked in the parking lot. Our server was very friendly and SUPER attentive-- she checked on us many times even though the place was HOPPING by the end. I ordered the 2 Carolina catfish tacos with a side of purple southwest slaw. After eating dinner, we ordered and split bread pudding and one other cake-like dessert (I forget what it was since I didn't have any). The food came out pretty quickly, and it was delicious. The catfish tacos was many small battered pieces of catfish, slaw, a couple radish slices, and what looked like a creamy avocado salsa, all in soft flour tortillas. They were "appropriately" filled for eating-- not overfull such that they fell apart from biting, but not underfilled with just a bit of food. That was great. The southwest slaw had a little bit of a kick to it, which was lovely. And the bread pudding reminded me of a tasty cinnamon roll. It wasn't the cheapest Tex-Mex food by any means, but it was tasty, and a fair price for the quality and quantity of food we got. I'd happily go back.

Rarely do I give a 5 Star Rating but the waitress won us over and the acknowledgment twice from the Chef or owner made it a win! Today heading home from church my daughters commented again on the cheese dip and it was so good! We are cheese dip lovers and this one is the best I have had in NC! My taco was Devine and the rosemary fries perfection. I'd like to go again, today! The price was even on point!

Food: good every time. Chips and salsa are first rate. Service: they recognize regular customers. Never f'd an order. Ambience: nice outdoor seating and in the afternoon shade. A bit pricey for tacos but everything is too exptin Cameron Village.

Staff was great, our waiter was very helpful! The food was great. We ordered soup and it never came out but we weren't charged for it so obviously we didn't mind. Will be coming again soon!

Always an amazing experience at Cantina 18. Very knowledgeable and helpful staff. Hats off to this management team for having this restaurant dialed in. Love it

Tacos are always a win! The art in the restaurant was so cute! The food was hot and fresh. The drinks were as great as pictured service was sufficient. Order: Hibiscus Marg, Fish tacos (grilled/fried) Rating: 8.5/10

Went here for lunch with coworkers. There were 8 of us and we were trickling in one by one because we're nurses and can't leave for lunch until our patients are gone. At first the waiter didn't pay us much attention, probably because he was waiting for the whole party to arrive, but after we explained to him that we were on a time crunch and needed to order and that we would go ahead and order for the people not there he quickly took our orders. One side of the table received their food several minutes before the other side. The waiter apologized, said he didn't know how the order got split. However we all received our food in time to get back to work. I ordered the ACC. Delicious. We also ordered a side of queso which was really good as was their salsa.

The ONLY reason I am giving them 2 stars is for the excellent service from our waitress Christin. Other than that. The food, the drinks-LACKED big time. Stopped in with my brother for a catch up lunch. I was really hopeful for an amazing experience because I've been here before but this time was a major let down. I ordered the Peach Sangria. Tasted like water. Let our server know and she insisted to switch it out for something else so I did the Margarita which was much better. For lunch I ordered the Chicken Tinga Quesadilla. Yall, it tasted like someone took some bland chicken. Pulled it apart. Got a tortilla with some cheese and sprinkled a FEW pieces of the chicken in the tortilla, toasted it and sent it out with the Red Rice that was tasteless as well. I am still disappointed by this experience. I reached out to management but no response just yet. Hopefully others will have a better experience than we did...

This is not Mexican food. This was better before Covid, like everything else. I had a small beef burrito with a half cooked tortilla. Not very tasty. There was not one Latino person in the front of the restaurant. Staff was friendly though. If you go to THE Village on Saturday, get there at 11am for good parking. Check out the wine store in back. Good prices.

It's definitely a smaller menu than I like at a Mexican restaurant. I'm certainly not authentic but if you like American Mexican, the quality was decent in the atmosphere is great.

I enjoyed the salsa and chips. I loved the she crab soup. I was also happy to learn that the owner of the restaurant used to own 18 Seaboard. That was exciting news. The restaurant was packed. From the plates of food that other customers ordered, the food appeared to be authentic Tex-Mex food. The servers were friendly. I will return again.

Cantina 18 is awesome. Great Food Great Service. Always a good experience every visit!

Fun place! The service was really friendly. I sat at the bar and had the shrimp tacos. So flavorful! The bartender was attentive even though he was pretty busy for it being lunchtime. Highly recommend this restaurant.

I've been here a few times and this place is always fine but not spectacular. It's a good location in the Village District and parking is usually not bad, so it's got that going for it. If you order food, they do bring you free warm chips and salsa which is nice. The time I got drinks at the bar they did not give us those. They have daily drink specials during the week that are solid depending on your preferences. I got the chicken tinga quesadilla on my most recent visit and for $14 I was a little underwhelmed. Based on the name I thought it'd be flavorful but it was kinda bland. Just tasted like chicken and cheese. It also wasn't a huge portion but I was fine since we had the chips. It comes with a side, such as refried beans, black beans, fries, rice, or salad.

Cantina 18 is part of the 18 restaurant group chain that own Harvest 18 & 18 Seaboard. I always end up getting the same thing at Cantina because it is so good. I'm talking about their Spicy Braised Short Rib tacos. The short rib is moist and has a little kick to it. Just enough to kickstart your flavor pallet. The tacos come with a pickled corn relish and chipotle crema. I usually get their southwestern slaw as the side. It's made from red cabbage and has a sour ting to it. The best thing I like about Cantina is that you are always surprised with a sample of an appetizer or a dessert or both almost every time. It's not a lot but the gesture makes a difference!

Chips are good, salsa is just OK. I did enjoy the avocado and black bean nachos for lunch. Lots of avocado on them, and the cheese was melted perfectly on the chips. We were hanging out for awhile, and our server brought over a small sample of complimentary blueberry pancake dessert. Thought that was a very nice touch! Service was great! This is a kid-friendly spot. We went for lunch on the weekend and there were lots of little kids and babies.

Had a great quick lunch. I ate inside near the bar, service was spot on. The food came quickly and I was looking to just have a relaxing lunch out and read my book a little. It was delicious and delightful. I had the short rib nachos and I have to tell you, you can't go wrong with those. A lot of nachos for one person so I took the rest home for lunch the next day!

Came here looking for Mexican so maybe my review will be a little bias bc it's Tex-mex. But started off good with the chips and salsa and the pineapple jaelpeno pitcher. Then our food came out and I was very surprised, the ground beef tacos weren't even seasoned and the cheese looks like plastic. The short rib burrito was okay...still not worth it. All in all this place had a decent atmosphere but was not worth the price whatsoever. If your looking for a good margarita and Mexican GO SOMEWHERE ESLE

By far the BEST short rib burrito!! Would recommend this restaurant for a little twist on Mexican

Tis place has no clue howcto make acdecent fajita. The beef was like rubber. The flavor blah. No rice, no refried beans. , trendy is no substitute for good food. But then i am used to great tex mex fajitas from la hacienda in dallas. I recommend that the owner go try those fajitas to learn about real fajitas. The service was prompt so no issues there.

I cannot say enough positive things about this place. It is our go to for events. They have hosted everything from my mom's Celebration of Life, company parties, and last weekend, my daughter's Sweet 16 party. The management and staff are incredible. Jason always takes care of us and Brandon and Jenna were great behind the bar catering to both the younger and older crowd and every time I saw Thomas he was running around making sure everything was covered. In a post COVID world where people seem to be struggling to find the motivation to work, these guys are on top of their game. Thanks Cantina 18!

Meh. Nice atmosphere but the drinks are terrible, Stale chips and salsa from a can. (Or so it tastes) the guacamole was tolerable. We decided not to order food as everything else was substandard. Bartender was nice and attentive tho.

Good atmosphere but the food is pretty bland. I don't recommend the mushroom and corn enchiladas.

First up: I felt weird when I realized that there were no people of color working here. I got the pork and duck tacos, which were just too rich and unlike actual Mexican tacos- one of them came with blue cheese, for example. Should I have noticed that they said 'blue cheese' on the menu? Maybe. But it's still a pretty strange choice for a taco. Both of them were really, really rich and I couldn't finish them. The sangria only came in flavored versions (I went with strawberry) and it was small, tasted watery and the wine they used clashed with the strawberry flavor. I always like queso and ordered the queso fundido. It came with a microscopic dollop of chorizo and pineapple salsa on top. A vegetarian in our party got straight-up queso and they brought out something that looked almost exactly the same, just minus the chorizo- they didn't have chopped chilis or tomatoes or anything, unlike what most people expect in a queso. There were some people in our party who complained that the queso was made from processed cheese. I guess at a place that tries to be gastronomic it would be nice to get a queso made from cheese and cream. This place calls itself 'chef-driven', and feels like they're trying to put too much of a 'spin' on Mexican food. I'd have preferred it if they respected their source cuisine more and just did good Mexican-style street tacos. I'm sure they could stay 'chef-driven' and do that if they wanted to. As I was leaving there was a lady sitting on the patio who was just STARING me up and down (I'm a trans woman). I gave her a puzzled look and when she didn't stop I told her "it's rude to stare" which sent her and her husband into a hushed tizzy. It wasn't a member of staff, but I would definitely keep this in mind when thinking about what kind of clientele this place attracts.

The best part about Cantina 18 is the chips & salsa. The service is always great but the food never wows me. I've had the Grilled Chicken Burrito, Southwest Salad & most recently the Beef Nachos- overall, it's very meh & not worth the money. I'd recommend if you want to sit outside & grab a drink

Sat at bar tonite and was virtually ignored by the staff Folks came in after me and were taken care of Awful

The staff was pleasantly and friendly, the food being bad wasn't their fault. I ordered wood fire steak and it was so bad I couldn't eat. It looked and tasted like it was expired. Highly do not recommend.

New favorite spot! When we first entered for lunch there were two men at the hostess stand who were so excited to greet us and immediately tell us about their special of the day (it was a meatloaf that I still regret not ordering!) The service and food were delicious. The waiter even brought out a new queso dip they were testing for us to try. I'm a total hot sauce addict so when the waiter told me they had a housemade hotsauce I knew I was in the right place. It was habanero and absolutely delicious! If you like spice and flavor, ask for it! All of the tacos were good, but you have to try the buffalo cauliflower taco! I crave it everyday and can't wait to go back for more.

I recently ate lunch here and really enjoyed it. It was crowded, even on a Monday! My mom and I shared a "create your own" salad and the ACP, and both were delicious. The complimentary chips are addictive! The service was friendly, and I remain a fan of the 18 Restaurant Group!

"Super fresh" - those were our words after our first bite of the chips and salsa. I had the ACP minus onions, my wife had the chicken quesadilla- both really good. Service was quick and friendly. We'll come back soon.

First let me start with the positive: the customer service is amazing! Both bar tenders were very helpful, nice, and quick. The hostess was friendly with a great smile, EVERYONE spoke and thanked us for coming in. The prices are also very good! And the decor is beautiful and clean and neat. Now the food.... it just wasn't Latin/Mexican/cantina/Spanish at all. The Spanish rice was bad, the avocado paste is an odd color and didn't make my food look very appealing. The flour tortilla for my tacos were too soft/uncooked so it made my taco taste gummy. I wish the food was better because everything else was great.

Love this place every time we go. It's wonderful that there is a menu from 18 Seaboard available in case you don't want Mexican. Connor was our waiter and he was Exceptional. There is a reason we keep coming back and that is because food and service is top notch.

I hadn't been to Cantina 18 in a couple of years so when my boss suggested this place I was excited to try it again because I couldn't remember what it was like. The restaurant is inside of a shopping center. But the parking can be difficult Cameron village is always packed so prepared to walk a short distance if you can't find a park near the front. When I first arrived the hostess seemed kind of checked out so I walked pass her and found my boss. She was sitting in a corner in a booth which was great because my son was with me. Our server was okay too. He didn't seem very enthusiastic. We ordered immediately. I had the shrimp tacos (we both did) with rice and one with salad and my son had Mac and cheese with fries. Those tacos were phenomenal. My sons Mac and cheese was good too. I was pleasantly surprised. I would definitely be back. Overall great food, okay service.