Colectivo

After reviewing various reviews on both Yelp and Google, my wife and I finally had the opportunity to eat dinner at Colectivo. Based on those reviews, there seemed to be a sentiment of "good food but slow service"; however, I am here to say that there is much more to highlight about this wonderful restaurant. Firstly, Colectivo's space has a modern design with bright and interestingly-shaped light fixtures: the overhead lights are in the shape of clams and the overall decorations create a "hip" yet welcoming vibe. The energetic greeting from both the hostess and waitress also made for a great first impression. Deana, our waitress, was incredibly friendly and gave a detailed breakdown of the specials, made some recommendations, and was attentive throughout our entire meal. We ordered two margaritas, the potato taquitos, the cochinitia pibil (pork), lamb barbacoa, and guacamole, which were all fantastic and served to us very quickly. Perhaps there might have been some type of "service issues" in the past but I can confidently say tonight was one of the best service experiences I have had in Charleston. In terms of the food itself, the potato taquitos were very flavorful between the spices, queso, and the use of blue corn tortillas. Similarly, both the cochinita pibil and lamb barbacoa had a nice blend of classic Mexican flavors but with a more modern presentation. I personally loved the lamb barbacoa the most but the black bean combination with the cochinitia was also special. When we go back, we will likely get the same order or maybe switch the cochinitia with a seafood dish. Our only complaint was with the tostadas that came with the guacamole: little bit too hard for my teeth but didn't take away from our experience. If you are looking for delicious Mexican food and high quality service in a very cool space, Colectivo is the perfect place for you!

Food was AMAZING. We got the con Cochinita (Yucatán pulled pork) and meatball. Very generous portion and the flavor was on point. Also, the flour tortillas is the best tortilla I’ve ever had at a restaurant.

Gingerbug (Monday's ONLY). If you have not been, then you are missing out. Great staff, service, THAI food, ambiance. This is a bloodline from my fav restaurant in Charleston (Xiao Bao Biscuit). Support local food on our Island! Bonus - Colectivo is amazing as well. This is coming from someone who despises expensive Hispanic food.

Eh. Didn’t love it. It’s cute and clean and the service was good. The food was weird and just okay. We got the “Loco Fruit: seasonal fruit, chamoy, goodies”…..which turned out to be watermelon, jicama, a smoky tasting sauce all over, and literally a handful of colorful, sugar-coated gummy candies thrown on top. I don’t know how well that translates when reading but this was the first thing to come to our table…..not really an ideal way to kick off the dinner meal. The watermelon and jicama alone would’ve been much better. My friend ordered lamb and I had beef. When the runner came out with the plates, my friend asked which one was lamb and he gave her the plate with the lamb. We both tasted our meat and both plates were good. When the server came to check on us, it turned out we had the wrong plates….she’d gotten my beef and I’d gotten her lamb…..the whole food part was just weird. The server told us three times that it’s a very fun atmosphere (for those dining) so I kind of felt like they’re aiming for fun but they’re trying to convince us rather than actually creating an authentically fun atmosphere. It was a totally acceptable dining atmosphere, but I wouldn’t categorize it as fun. I was really excited about Colectivo opening. I really wanted it to be part of my regular restaurant rotation but unfortunately, it will not be.

We waited all summer to get an email from Colectivo announcing their opening. It's been open for a month now and we've already been twice. The suadero was a true showstopper - we got it with flour and corn tortillas and a side of papas con queso (which I added to my suadero tacos - so so good). Of the other things we tried, the tamales stood out as authentic, but with a southern twist of collard greens and a tomato caldillo. Truly amazing. Even though there are some glaring issues with parking, and I completely disagree with the sponged wall decor...the food was so good and consistent over both of our visits, I give a solid 5 stars, and I'm sure we'll be back with family and friends.

This place is an incredible Gem. Ventured over from Mount pleasant and was blown away by the atmosphere, the service and the FOOD! Between the four of us we ordered about half of the menu and everything was incredible. Also a killer selection of mezcals, tequilas and cocktails, nice wines and good beers. The giant windows and tucked away atmosphere and John’s island laid back vibes also a huge bonus.

If you don’t enjoy the food at Colectivo … it’s more than likely that you’d be more comfortable at a Taco Bell. The cheese crisp, guacamole, meatball sopes, and street corn fritters were all standout appetizers. The tuna crudo and the ceviche were as good as I’ve had at the fanciest restaurants in the Lowcountry. The Yucatecan pulled pork, barbacoa, and chicken mole were all spot on authentic and delicious. They even did a mole sauce on the side chicken entree for one of our picky eater kids at the table. The margaritas and craft cocktails … all delicious. It was a little odd that our waitress didn’t offer us any dessert or coffee at meal’s end but she was otherwise nice enough. The whole meal was wonderful from start to finish and we’ll definitely be back. Why anyone would complain about Colectivo, its setting, or the food simply boggles my mind. A+ … 5 stars … run don’t walk to eat here if you enjoy Mexican food and Latina cooking.

Cool atmosphere, great service, but literally the worst Chips(Tostada) and Salsa I've ever had anywhere. Decided not to try anything else and was really underwhelmed by the menu.

WOW! we absolutely loved everything! The manager Chris and his staff were so helpful and super nice. the margarita was perfect with so many good tequilas to try. you get to pick the tequila you would like to make your margarita with. nothing tasted pre made ...my husband really liked the house white wine. which is usually not the case. We started with the tamale...so so good. Next the pork and the lamb dish. Both were very good. highly recommend. both dishes came with homemade tortillas that were so fresh and warm.. We both saved room for the dessert. Oh!! the best ! pecan ice cream with strawberry jam over a crispy waffle. .Sounds like it doesn't go together but trust me. Magic! we fought over the last bite. If you love Mexican food this is the place! We are looking forward to going back and trying everything on the menu. We both enjoyed the vibe in the restaurant..low key, not rushed with great service. And that food!!! So So good!

Colectivo is an interesting addition to John's Island. On a Friday night, there was a 45 minute wait at a popular trendy Mexican restaurant down the street, but we were able to walk right in and get table service at Colectivo. I have mixed feelings about the overall experience to be totally honest. There are so many great Mexican joints on the island, but Colectivo is a little ~different.~ The vibe of the restaurant is impeccable and you can tell they put a lot of time and money into the decor and ambiance. The menu is eclectic with a mix of small plates and shareables. My mother and I ordered a few different items- the guacamole, ceviche and beef carpaccio. I also ordered the sparkling agua fresca cocktail special. Instead of regular tortilla chips, you get big blue chips with the guacamole, which I enjoyed. The ceviche was somewhat fishy and not the most appetizing. The beef carpaccio was good but nothing to write home about. I love the idea of a tequila bar, and I have been trying to become more knowledgeable about tequilas this summer. However, the tequila menu is overwhelming to a novice and I feel like they should have more creative tequila cocktails on their menu aside from the typical margs and palomas. I think next time I would sit at the bar to get the bartenders opinions of what to order. My drink was the seasonal special of yellow watermelon agua fresca, which was pretty good overall. I am always rooting for new businesses to be successful on Johns Island, and I hope Colectivo is. I feel like the staff could do a better job at really selling their menu and cocktails since it is different than your typical restaurants in the area. I am excited to come back and try again soon!

Enjoyed a beautiful meal here last night. What a great spot on the island! Their take on barbacoa is lamb with cracked corn that caught all of the drippings from the meat. Yum! The ceviche was different than what I expected but a bright, flavorful surprise. Cheese crisp speaks for itself! Melty cheese, get in my face! Snapped a pic of their happy hour menu while there because I'll be back! Margarita was fantastic and our server was a delight.

Again: A great experience with a wonderful and attentive server Deana. Great cheese crisp for an appetizer. NOTE: Next time, a cheese crisp without an entrée (unless split 50/50) would be enough for dinner, plus a margarita. Enough, great taste to the agave and the Arizona style cheese crisp. The food is top notch, more of a gourmet Tex-Mex, making this a place to return to, over and over. Downside? The restaurant is a bit noisy to say the least, as the concrete floor echoes voices and noise. Yeah, and slightly pricey also, but none of the downsides keep me away!

First i have to say heck yeah they have mocktails, n/a beer options and levity spirits which makes me so happy! And of course a full bar of mezcal and tequila too. The food was amazing, the service was exceptional, and the atmosphere was comfortable. My favorite though was the authentic art from Mexico! I love every unique piece they selected. It was decorated so nicely and had great lighting too. Can't wait to come back and try more!

Waited all summer for this place to open. Finally tried it tonight. It was my daughter's birthday and she wanted to give it a try. The restaurant sits back in a wooded area, just off of Maybank Hwy.Beautiful building, very nicely decorated. The staff was friendly and attentive. The mexican food is much different than I ever had and it's served family style. Everything we had was absolutely delicious and cooked to perfection. The restaurant has a full bar and the drinks were strong. The food was a little pricey but worth giving it a try. I would go back again to try some of the other things on the menu. My favorite dish was the big wings and the cheese crisp.

Mmmm, not sure yet - may have to try once more. The concept is great and love a shared plate space. They also share their space with Gingerbug (so be sure to check hours they are open) - but sharing with another restaurant is an excellent use of space. The cheese crisp was delicious, but lots of cheese grease dripping down your arm. Would have liked more poblanos.. Next, we had the Shrimp Tacos with the Cesar dressing drizzle. This one was very tasty and the dressing was so delicious. We had the pork carnitas for our shared plate, and added a side of the Mexican rice and some black beans to round it out. A miss here - the rice was awful, definitely needed some salt at least and the meal came with beans so we had a full order of black beans we did not need. The server was not very helpful with what was offered or going to be on the plate. Once she took our order that was it...we were served to by the kitchen or the bartender, so maybe they are shorthanded. The pork had more fat bites than not, which can happen in pork, however, whoever plated could be more mindful as it is very clear the fat from the meat.

Came for the vibe, stayed for ..the vibe! Such a fun and relaxing atmosphere, for either a full meal or just drinks at the bar. We came on a Friday night - no reservation - and were seating right away. Staff was friendly, attentive and helpful with recommending things to try. Margarita was lovely. Happy for this new Johns Island spot!

We ordered the cheese crisp to start, and then Barbacoa lamb and the Cochinita Pibil pork, both with tortillas and sides that we used to build our own. The cheese crisp was like a cheesy pizza except on a tortilla shell. Delicious! The single order of lamb and pork fed four of us so they definitely provide a lot of food with each dish. Everything was absolutely full of flavor, and everyone was completely happy with the choices, and we were all satisfied and full. It's a very nice space, interesting how it's situated on a long and narrow lot. Inside it's light and airy and not cramped. Service was on point, especially considering this was the first week.

I visited Colectivo to celebrate my daughter's birthday. This is a much awaited addition to John's Island.Colectivo is centered around a traditional family style experience. The vibe is upscale and warm and cozy. The indoor seating area is small, so it's warm and inviting. Colectivo is open Weds-Sat, 4-9pm. Reservations are suggested. Colectivo has a fully stocked bar with Mexican beers and house margaritas. Our hostess and waitress were very friendly and provided exceptional service. We had the cheese Crisp, which was a spicy open - faced cheese quesedilla. It was crispy, spicy, and delicious. We also had crispy shrimp tacos. They were seasoned to perfection and served with delicious salsa on flour tortillas. We also had spicy chicken wings. They were fried with a delicious, spicy, dry rub. Then we had ceviche veracruzano. This was a raw local fish with capers, tomatoes, olives, and pickled jalapeños. Next we had Barbacoa. This was Adobe lamb, cracked corn, onions, and cilantro. We shared Suadero- roasted beef belly, onions, salsa and cilantro. And we toasted the birthday girl with house margaritas. The food was unique and very delicious. We enjoyed the family style experience and hospitality of Colectivo. It is a must try and a beautiful upscale compliment to John's Island. I recommend Colectivo.

We had a great meal at this New Mexican spot on James Island. One draw back- not enough parking. We were there on a weekday early evening so a lot of people probably arrived from work in multiple cars. The room is long and sort of narrow with a very high ceiling- exposed ductwork. The acoustics held up ok- given all the glass (one wall is floor to ceiling window) and hard surfaces. We got the cheese crisp for a toddler with us and this was a success- it's essentially a quesadilla served on an elevated pizza tray. The ceviche tostada was my favorite- I would get that again. The suedero was also yummy. They do a nice job with the warm tortillas in a basket, and the staff were great!

Finally tried this new restaurant out last night and think it's just "Okay" right now. To start, we arrived at our reservation on time and had to wait an additional 15 minutes before we were seated. Not too big of a deal for us, but worth noting. We ordered the Pineapple Swing Tea and Spicy Marg (rocks) for drinks. My friend enjoyed the Pineapple Swing Tea, the Spicy Marg was "eh". Not a lot of flavor happening and wouldn't order again, but they did mention they have some fruit flavors you could add, such as peach or passion fruit if that's your thing. The food was probably the only highlight of the night worth talking about. Multiple staff members are running food and everything came out fairly quickly. Together, we ordered the Cheese Crisp, Potato Taquitos, Coctel, Bone Marrow Sope, and a side of Mexican Red Rice. The Cheese Crisp was thin and didn't have too many toppings, but good. My favorite item was the Potato Taquitos. They were VERY delicious and being a vegetarian, probably the closest thing they have to a vegetarian entree as the menu severely lacked those options. My friend said the Coctel was a little "too" spicy, but flavorful and raved about the Bone Marrow Sope. As a few other reviews stated, service starts really good and fast and just died off mid-meal. Not the longest wait, but we did make a comment to each other on "Where did our server go?" when ready to get boxes and the check. The lady hostess-ing was nice, but also slow, so don't come to this establishment if you're not willing to be there for a while. All in all, the food was good, the drinks were alright, and the service was a bit slow. We'd probably try it out again, but have other places on our radar we would try out first before coming back to this establishment.

The food and flavors felt different than others mexican restaurant in the area and we really enjoyed our meal here tonight. What we loved: - homemade tortillas (the flour ones were delicious) served with all their carnes options - fresh ceviche and salad (love a mix of lighter options to pair with heavier ones) - great mezcal and tequila cocktails - decent portions for price

Cool looking place with delicious food. Great handmade margaritas. One very odd thing: six of us were dining and we had a little leftover guacamole after all the chips were eaten. I asked for one more chip and the server said we would have to buy a whole order. Someone in our group managed to procure just one - that's a story in and of itself! - and we were charged two dollars for that one chip. The chips themselves are hard and not particularly enjoyable. They are very thick, dense and salty. The artwork in the bathroom is awesome!

We were lucky enough to attend the soft opening of this spot & it is such a great new addition to Johns Island! With a unique food & cocktail menu, they offer a wide variety of authentic Mexican eats. We especially loved the cochinta pibil - a marinated pork cooked in a banana leaf - and pastel imposible - flan topped with chocolate cake (yum!). All the staff working were super friendly, communicative and attentive. Once they work out all the kinks that come with any new opening this spot will be at the top of Johns Island's must visit list!

Bad- My wife's heels kept getting stuck in the parking lot pavers because they didn't use polymeric sand. The joints were visible and they shouldn't be. Ceviche is made in a Cuisinart in advance and not made fresh to order. Lime juice was stale. Menu is odd. Reminds me a chic city menu that would be better suited in a gentrified place with lots of foot traffic than on a rural island. "Liquor de naranja" sure sounds a lot flashier than triple sec Tall, skinny building that has a draft and feels chilly because the heat rises and there's no fans. Music selection was awful. Needs upbeat music that attracts women, and therefore, men Good It's clean, decorated nicely, and the service is good and likely will be. Lighting was great. No cool blue tacky bulbs. Menu is unique. Might come back for a drink.

We were so excited to dine at this eagerly anticipated new restaurant on Johns Island! Our party of four was greeted warmly and service was kind, knowledgeable and efficient. The wonderful woman who took care of our table knew the menu inside and out! She answered our questions and made great recommendations. There are many cocktail, tequila, beer and wine options. We were most excited to see the non-alcoholic options! I really enjoyed a margarita made with alcohol free tequila. My husband enjoyed a non-alcoholic beer. We ordered the tamales for an appetizer and they were delicious. Our friends enjoyed the freshly made guacamole and chips. For main entrees, we each ordered Carnes - a beef dish, a lamb dish, a turkey dish and a pork dish. All were served with a very generous amount of house made tortillas (flour or corn). Favorite dish on the table was the Cochinita Pibil - Achiote pork, black beans, pickled onions, with habanero salsa. Everyone enjoyed their entrees! We really didn't have room for dessert, but we had to try the house made Pastel Imposible - flan topped chocolate cake. It was so moist and delicious! This was a wonderful meal and we are thrilled to have this delightful restaurant open on our island.

Once again, while the food is good, unless you enjoy the sound and movement of a vacuum cleaner next to you, do not make a reservation after 8pm. They should not say they are open later, and seat people at 8:30 if they are planning to lock the door at 9:30. We literally had to guzzle our cocktail we had JUST been served before the vacuum hit our feet. Manager had to unlock front door to let us leave. Unbelievable. Food good. Vibe decent.

Excellent service, stylish casual ambiance, super yummy eclectic menu. I give two thumbs up and five stars Can't wait to go back.

Meh. My husband liked it. I am apathetic. It was fine but I wasn't blown away or anything. I like the interior. Concept is interesting. Service was great. Food wouldn't be the thing I would come back for if I did. It was okay.

Some of the best Mexican we've had in Charleston and we've tried a lot! Originally from Arizona and California, we have found it difficult to find anything close to what we'd get back home. This place surprised us. Good food, good ambiance, good service. We had the masa meatballs, cochinita pibil, and the carnitas ribs. I would recommend all.

We met some friends for dinner to give this a try! I will admit out of the gate that the menu didn't thrill me as the options were not abundant with things I enjoy relative to Mexican food. So to start, our server was lovely but she was busy so we spent a lot of the night waiting on her. That aside, we got the wings and chips & salsa to start. The wings are not flats and drums, but the whole wing. Getting past that, they were good but the dipping sauce made no sense. All it was was frothed cream it seems. No taste. Maybe they were going for texture but if they had a different sauce I may have liked. The chips are very thick so you would need to like that style. Not for me, but everyone has a like on their chips. I ordered the shrimp tacos as again, not many other options that I'd like. The shrimp had the antiseptic taste so I had one bite, managed to swallow it and didn't bother with the rest. My husband got the pork as did our friends and they all liked it. Not sure I'd go back due to the limited menu. And one of my most favorite things when in the mood for Mexican is the chips and salsa or guacamole and as I didn't like their style of chips that's game over for me. I'd say give it a try but avoid the shrimp unless that antiseptic taste doesn't bother you!

Loved the atmosphere at Colectivo, its very bright and open floor plan! The bar is tucked in the back and it's very nice, that's where we sat. I had the butterfly southside gin cocktail and it was a 10/10! I had been wanting to try the tamales and they were delicious. It would be so nice to see a variation or another type of tamale on the menu someday. We also had the cheese crisp because they were out of the ceviche tostada I wanted to try, it was very yummy. We got a side of the tok-sel, which are butter beans, I wasn't expecting them to be as spicy as they were but they were soo tasty. The service was great, even though we came in kinda late, we weren't rushed! I will definitely be back to try some of the meat dishes, and the menu isn't huge so after a while it would be soo nice to see it change, especially since everything was soo flavorful!

Authentic w/ chefs flare! I can't rave enough about the food and homemade tortillas! What a treat! Mezcal Margarita best I've ever had!

Did not enjoy the food or the ambiance. The service was good but lost on me given the food that arrived. I was very disappointed and I was excited to find a new place quite close to home.

Food is not Mexican but a different variety of takes on Spanish dishes. Many are very spicy while others are more tame (my preference). Sara was our server-sweet and attentive. Ambience is nice although high in decibels with an open ceiling. Pricing is reasonable. We will go again.

Food was okay. Nothing special. Very small portions. Very disappointed that bartender Jamie I think was more interesting in picking up my girlfriend then working

Solid food. Great service. Relaxed atmosphere with shareable plates. I'll be back next time I'm in the area.

Cannot say enough good things about this restaurant. Food was absolutely amazing. One of the best meals I have ever had. Service was excellent, we loved Chris. He was so knowledgeable and super friendly! The atmosphere was amazing as well, the inside of the building is beautiful. It felt like a little tree house. We will be back, just what our island needed!

Food was very fresh! Cheese crisp was amazing. Great service from very attentive bartenders who gave awesome suggestions for food and cocktails. Definitely pricey but items all tasted great. Recommend if on Johns Island.

We have been excited to try this since we saw them building on the lot. Overall, there were a lot of delightful surprises. The margaritas, while small, were delicious. The rum drink was a pleasant surprise. The tostadas were thick and slightly under seasoned, but the salsa (warning: spicy!) and guacamole were fresh and yummy. The cheese crisp was really good - but large and rich (would be a good app for 3-4 people). The wings were crispy, but whole - which didn't bother us but may surprise people. The mains we tried were the Coctel (really, really fresh and tasty, but spicy! Keep an eye out for the slided jalapeños mixed in) and the Cochinita pibil. Both could have been shared between 2 people. Black beans were amazing and just as good as we've had in the Yucatán. However, the highlight was the bunuelo con nieve. Sweet, salty, and perhaps a little limey? It was addicting and we could have all split another bowl. Small things to nitpick - the chairs are a bit small and will be a tight fit for anyone with wider hips and were overall a bit uncomfortable. It's also noisy (although we didn't mind), but some people might have difficulty with this. Highly recommend reservations - we saw many people come in to be turned away as there were no open tables. The place is surprisingly on the smaller side. Finally, it is not a place for people looking for "American" Mexican, but a place to go to experience creative, authentic Mexican food.