Squid Ink Eclectic Eats and Drinks

After trying really hard to find a restaurant that wasn't a chain in Mobile, I came across this one. The food and view were amazing! It was literally the highlight of our trip to Mobile! The Spanish SOS was a great appetizer with plenty! I got the Damn the Torpedos drink, which was very very good. She said that normally they light the toothpick on fire, but just didn't have a lighter that night, which was fine. My entree was the tuna poke bao. It was perfect flavor and pretty light. My husband got the Cadillac burger Viva la France. It had a really good flavor. Overall, very impressed and would go back if I ever went to Mobile again, but probably won't.

We stopped for an early dinner while over in Mobile recently. Food was all good, and the service good, but our table was really dirty when we sat down. Nothing was particularly memorable about the food, but the place has a good vibe. One really unpleasant thing was that we sat under the upstairs seating area and as people were moving chairs and tables and things around up there it’s crazy loud underneath, like startlingly loud. Definitely worth a try if you’re in the area.

Good quality food, but menu way smaller to what is published on line and all over the place. Some pasta dishes, hamburgers and sandwiches. Hamburgers made with fresh ingredients but affected by shrinkflation. We asked for a desert that was a pleasant surprise made with squid ink and ice cream. Just delicious.

Yikes. The best part of this restaurant are the swing tables outside, however while we ate our dinner, a drunk man came and sat at our table, bothering us. The food was blah and our server, although sweet, had not tried much of the food and had very little input. I didnt finish my meal because it was not great.

This place was really good. I got their fish and chips. My best friend enjoyed her meal as well. She got the seafood pasta.

Absolutely amazing experience. Staff was very kind, drinks and food were on point. Food was a little slow to come out but it was well worth the wait! We will definitely be back. Edward and Jamie were amazing!!! Thanks guys!

Solid vibe here. Amazing happy hour specials, solid (albeit small) beer selection, and a great, welcoming vibe. All I can really ask for. Mobtown chicken bites with Bleu cheese spread were out of this world.

Chairs with swing seats on sidewalk/street. Kid friendly. Burger, fish and chips and ahi bowl (small portion) all good.

This was a stop on the Boo Brunch Tour and it did not disappoint. We sat outside. There are swings with tables or tables and chairs. Service was awesome! We had a really good breakfast bowl. Highly recommend!

I normally enjoy the food here, so last night I ordered delivery. I opted for a shrimp po'boy. BLUF, I am a shrimp snob. But I thought if I was currently buying 16/20 from my local shrimp guy for $4 a pound, surely PP would be serving some decent shrimp too. WRONG!! The shrimp in my sandwich were the size of a quarter, previously frozen and God only knows from what country they were harvested. But the most egregious culinary error was those shrimpettes had not been deveined. Yes, I was sold a poop po'boy. It had never occurred to me to call ahead and ask if their shrimp were local, and properly prepared, ie, feces-vein-free. My past experiences dining at different PP establishments had lulled me into a false sense of security. Will I go back to squid Ink? Absolutely!! The burgers, fish and chips and power poke bowls are all excellent. And they mix a fine cocktail. I will go back, but I won't be ordering anything with shrimp! Come on Pete, clean dem shrimps!

Decent spot on a lively street in downtown mobile. Definitely need to be in the mood for fried food or bao buns here haha! Drink service was a little slow but the food came out relatively quickly. Everything tasted great!

We stopped in for a drink and tapas on a Wednesday night. The menu is very interesting but sadly the restaurant was dead. We ordered the SOS calamari. The concept seemed good the sauce as tasty but the calamari, while tender, had an old fishy taste. Bummer! We also tried the fried deviled eggs. Nothing to wow you. We ended with a shrimp po boy with fries. Hot, crispy tender shrimp on a great bun. French fries were hot and crispy. Definitely the best food of the night. Service at the bar was good.

On the way to my hotel, my Uber driver warned me to stay clear of Squid Ink bc it was too "funky." I guess he doesn't like eclectic; but I do. I thought the menu was the best of the downtown restaurants we ate at during our stay in Mobile. And, the food was very well executed. I also like the atmosphere and the friendly service big thumbs up from me. Sorry Uber-guy

I have been here probably at least a dozen times and it's never disappointed! LOVE their mob town fries. Very spicy, but so worth the heat. And their burgers are amazing! Baos are great. Honestly, all their food is great.

Literally, stopped here during a road trip just to try the famous calamari, which really was tasty. Perfect crunch with a nice seafood variety. Not sure how I felt about the squid ink sauce but the orange sauce was kickin! Ordered togo although the service I received made me want to go back! The bartender was so incredibly hospitable and sweet. She addressed me by name and made me feel welcome and appreciated for coming in. Also, it was my first time visiting the city of Mobile so Squid Ink really left a great impression!

Met with co-workers here for dinner on a Thursday evening. The location was busy, there were no seats available outside so we ended up being seated upstairs. The upstairs space is relatively small and our table was being hit directly by the air. I would recommend bringing a jacket if you get cold easily! Our waitress was knowledgeable of the menu and were able to provide recommendations and answer any questions we had. The food was served in a timely manner and everyone was pleased with their selection. Overall we had a pleasant experience.

Loved the atmosphere!! Such a cute place . Service was great . We sat at bar and had the arancini balls they were very yummy . Also the southern viper burger was incredible!! One of the best burgers I've ever had !! Definitely would return and eat and drink there again !!

Came in for a drink and a quick dinner. Grabbed a high top. Service was good, server was friendly enough. She was juggling the bar and me, so I'm not going to knock how quickly she came around. Had a lot of people to juggle. Only mention it because if you want to get in and out in 15 minutes that may be tough. Food was solid, menu was exceptional for what is essentially a bar. I would go again.

Delicious, generously portioned food with excellent service and cocktails. The market/ mahi mahi grilled sandwich was a nice thick cut of fish with just a light spread of remoulade. The fried pork chop sandwich was also a huge portion and went great with the pickle and other veggies. The fries were crispy but a little underseasoned. They were hefty portions though and were good when dipped in their house made ranch. Pretty much all the condiments are made in house. The cauliflower appetizer was yummy with the cojita cheese but this was surprisingly not a very big portion compared to the rest of the meals, so can only share between 2 people at best. Our bartender Caleb knew the menu in and out and had great recommendations. He told us a lot about the history of Mobile and gave us suggestions of where t visit in the area. They had a handful of local craft beers on draft. The eight arms, no legs cocktail was outstanding, a little on the sweeter side,and it was kinda cool trying the squid ink. The bar top was a little sticky. They have a lot of out outdoor seating, with some cool swing style seats.

wow, this is just a very cool place. had the special hamburger of the day which was quite good. what made it great was the cook. ordered medium. so often you will get a overcooked burger when ordered medium. not here, pink in the center. excellent margaritas were the bomb. highly recommended.

Service and atmosphere was great. I had the seafood pasta. The calamari was rubbery at best but the shrimp was perfect. I would go back.

Great local place. Excellent, relaxed vibe and the food was great. Had the Shrimp Po-Boy - flavorful shrimp in a crunchy batter with tasty remoulade - well crafted, nothing overwhelmed, everything blended well to form an excellent and abundant sandwich. She had the American Burger and enjoyed it. We will be back!

Enjoyed lunch today before going to the boat show at the Waterfront Convention Show. Haley was our waitress and she was friendly and made our dining experience great. My husband and I both enjoyed the delicious Cadillac burger.

Stopped in for lunch after the original spot I was going to was closed, was definitely a sign since this place definitely hit the spot!! Ordered a little bit of everything, all the food came out hot, staff were very friendly and helped with my selections. Inside was a lot bigger than it seemed from outside. Calamari was definitely a good choice, wasn't overcooked and not too salty, really enjoyed the squid ink sauce. Banh mi was pretty tasty too, it did rip easily when trying to hold it but probably user error. The hot chicken sandwich!!! At first I thought it was greasy when I cut into BUT IT WAS THE JUICES FROM THE CHICKEN!! It was so freakin good!!! 11/10 would order again!!! FAT BOI APPROVED!!!

Very unique options for drinks! Fun atmosphere and the food was really good! One of my favorite spots in downtown Mobile!

Ate here during Mardi Gras, so I have to take that into consideration on the wait time. Ambiance was a vibe. Waiter was great! I had the chicken pasta - it was good, but not life changing.

Main reason this place is missing a star is because they messed up badly with happy hour pricing such that we ended up paying $12 more than we should have. Very frustrating to be overcharged by that much. The headliner here was the happy hour tuna poke bao. Marvelous flavor with nice, soft bao and plenty of tuna in each taco. It is ridiculous how good these were! A must-try by my standards - I wish I ordered more of these. Chicken Banh Mi Bao - These were delicious too but not as much of a standout to me, but they were good and also filled with a lot of meat! Can't go wrong with this item either. Mobtown Chicken Bao - Okay well, this is the last bao and guess what it's also good. There's a delicious sauce on these that really helps them out and although these aren't as packed with meat as the others were, I was still very happy with these baos. Chicken Bites and the Mobtown Hot Chicken Sandwich were both average quality items that I wouldn't really get again. You can do much, much better with a hot chicken sandwich than this. I wouldn't even call it a hot chicken sandwich, it's just a normal chicken sandwich in my eyes. These weren't great. Tuna Poke Bowl (not pictured) used the same poke that was in the baos (of course) but there oddly wasn't a lot of tuna in the bowl, despite it being a much more expensive item. I wouldn't get this again mainly because it's not a good value vs. the tuna poke baos or any poke bowl establishment. We had two orders of fries for our table and one of them was piping hot while the other was cold. Not a huge fan of that happening, but the hot fries were super! Other than that, we had paloma which was about what you would expect and our server was very nice despite the large price disparity (which we didn't point out because we just wanted to take off).

While searching for a venue with vegetarian options, I discovered SI and was pleased with my find. Although I arrived at the end of happy hour, I was able to take advantage of their beer and deep-fried deviled eggs, which were delicious. Next, I ordered the avocado toast, which was somewhat disappointing due to the subpar bread and lack of freshness and abundance of avocado. I concluded my meal with the cauliflower starter, which was satisfactory. It was enjoyable to sample their small plates in a pleasant atmosphere with friendly staff. I'd happily return

We were quickly greeted and seated. Staff was friendly. My wife asked our server which she preferred, the tuna poke bowl or the tuna poke Bao buns. The server recommended the bowl so that's what my wife ordered. (Our server said it was her favorite thing on the menu and eats it several times a week.) I chose the simple green salad with shrimp for myself and our daughter ordered the simple green salad. The shrimp on my salad was only ho hum. It had no flavor. It wasn't bad, just no flavor. The chickpeas, according to the menu were supposed to be crispy, however they were soft. My wife's tuna bowl was the major problem. She assumed the rice would be warm/hot as that is normally the case with most poke bowls she has eaten (from the east coast to the west coast and everywhere in between). (We also know that rice has a large chance of bacteria growth if not keep out of the "danger temp zone".) The rice is this bowl wasn't just cold. It was rock hard and congealed in shape. It was impossible to eat with the chop sticks as it was stuck to the plate. The only way to break it up was to stab it repeatedly. When we asked the server about it she said that it was "sticky rice" but wasn't supposed to be quite that hard. (Of course it's not!!) The server told us she would remove it from our check and she could order something else. (This is kinda humorous considering we weren't comped anything.) My wife got the Bao buns as a replacement. The tuna was decent but the Bao buns were brittle and broke. The fries were excellent...but needed salt. Our table didn't have salt so we had to get it from a nearby table. The fries would have been great with ketchup but it was never offered or provided. All in all, we were not impressed. There's plenty of great restaurants in this area...We won't be back to this one.

Really big space, large bar, large dining room and you can even in the outside if you want. I'd say the service on our visit was absolutely spot-on. She was just learning the gig but was really on it by checking in on us and the other tables she had as well. I would recommend getting a lot of appetizers as they do give you quite a wide variety of options. Butte the bartender they got on hand really shakes up a great cocktail but you do have your drafts on top as well if that's fancy.

The restaurant was too cold for me. Tables a small and chairs are heavy. When crowded, it's super loud. Daniel the server was just ok. The cauliflower appetizer was delicious but served room temperature. It would have been better hot, in my opinion. I had the classic burger and it was delicious and cooked a perfect med rare. Fries were good but also not hot. I would not go back, unless it was the only place open.

I ordered the English Fish & chips. When I asked for some Malt Vinegar they brought more Mayonnaise Aioli sauce. The waitress insisted this was Malt Vinegar. I let it go but was charged 50 cents for this. I also asked if there was a charge for credit cards and she said no. There was a charge for credit cards on my receipt..

This was so good! The ambiance is so much fun but bring a jacket because we got cold sitting by the air conditioning. They were busy today but the service was good they checked on us a lot and got our food out pretty quick. I got the avocado belt and it was sooooo good! I loved the bacon jam on it it made it sweet. The bread was moist and it was perfect.

Fun find. Really cool vibe. Dropped in for some drinks. I didn't eat, but the food looked really good. Service was just a touch slow, but the server was still really nice. Definitely worth another visit.

Was great food, friendly service. I would definitely eat there again next time I am in town.

Checked out this place after Bellingrath Garden. Had the calamari with squid ink aioli. Not bad. My wife had the fish and chips but the fish was mahi mahi. Not really a good fish to do the dish. It was too thick and not as juicy as a cod. My daughter had the shrimp scampi. She said was ok. Her fried had the viper burger but not spicy enough. I had the Cadillac burger and the bread was too soggy to hand hold. Overall just an ok experience. Service was good. Parking was ok for downtown Monday night.

We decided to stop here last night (a Thursday) for drinks and a bite, we sat outside because how can you pass up the swings on a beautiful evening?! The prices are affordable and just right in my opinion. The food is yummy!! Drinks are great!! Zero wait time, everything was brought out in a great time manner. BUT the staff.. is what really stands out to me in any place. We had Kayla as our waitress (I believe that was her name..), she is the most sweetest friendliest girl EVER. We talked for a good minute as if we have always known each other, so so nice! My boyfriend ordered the tuna poke bowl, we didn't think about it being raw tuna (LOL.. a texture thing) we laughed about it, and they had no problem taking it back and cooking the tuna for him! Absolutely recommend this place from the atmosphere, to what they have to offer on the menu, and definitely to the staff!!

Fish and chip- crispy and cooked perfectly... zero seasoning. *Note they do not have salt and pepper on the table. *Server - fantastic. *Fly's and Gnats- tolerable. *Roaches in the bathroom- ZERO EXCUSE!!!! I do not have photo of the bathroom roach extravaganza. I do not have a habit carrying my phone to the bathroom. But I went immediately to our severe and reported the situation.

Their happy hour menu is the best! $5 for two bao buns is my favorite and their Paloma is pretty good too. Good variety on the menu as well.

What a neat place. With a comedy tour in town we knew dining might be a challenge. The wait wasn't too long but we were lucky enough to snag a place at the bar. Our bartenders were 5 stars all the way! They make some great drinks. My favorite was the old fashion. We also enjoyed some hot chicken bites, a tuna poke bowl and the avocado BLT with a side of fries. Sorry the chicken didn't make it for a pic but trust me, they were good. Just make sure you like spice and flavor when you try them because it's packed with both. Definitely planning a return trip to try some other menu items but once again.... Pete and his team knock it out of the park.

This place had such a cute aesthetic! Well I can't speak for the inside because when I saw the swings outside I was obsessed and just had to be seated there! My friend and I stopped by here on a Saturday around 11am and was able to get seated immediately. We ordered an orange and strawberry mimosa. We also got the paella fritters to start with and it had an interesting taste. I did like the sauce it came with. I ordered the Spanish scramble without tomato or avocado. The scramble came with chorizo, bell peppers, onion and cheese, served on top of some fries. The fries were hot and crispy but my scramble was warm when I received it. It was still delicious and very fulfilling. I have a small appetite so I only ate about half. Would come back to try other things on the menu!

Need better appetizers. Hot fries were good but not hot. We had a flounder sandwich and shrimp poboy. Not as good as some other restaurants nearby. Good atmosphere but it had an odor just inside the door.

It was pretty good. The options sound more interesting than they taste. The menu is really varied and fun. I do love sitting outside on the swing in nice weather. Car fumes and noises aren't perfect but it's nice to eat outside sometimes.

I think I've found my new favorite burger, Cadillac Burger with bacon and the spicy fries. John tasted mine but he had the classic burger, in his words "it's good but yours was over the top". The atmosphere was awesome, the swing seats out front were cute.

Cool location near the Renaissance--walkable. With outdoor swing seating. Great sushi! And happy hour specials

Stopped by because honestly there was a lot of people both inside and outside. It wasn't extra loud, the tables were spaced very good, the waitress was nice, the wait was short. The food was ok. We were expecting a nice size plate of nachos with tuna on them. It was only three chips. They were a bit hard to me. The calamari was very good.

Late review, but great spot to swing by to grab a quick drink and have a quick chat with some friends.

Fun decor. Friendly staff. Hamburger was good. Fries were refreshingly thin, hot and tasty. The Mahi Mahi sandwich was misrepresented. That piece of fish was too delicious to be hidden on a sandwich. It belongs on a plate, standing on its own with some good sides. After one bite I pulled it off of the bun and ate it with a fork. The vegetable sandwich I was left with was also flavorful and a good combination of items.

Stumbled on this place for lunch while traveling for work. I liked the decor and vibe. Felt very casual and welcoming. There are a lot of interesting items on the menu. I started with the fried deviled eggs..not a fan. Breading wasn't crispy enough and it tasted like seafood batter. I had the Buffalo and honey chicken sandwich and it was fantastic! The chicken was very flavorful and moist. It's a pretty big sandwich that came with crunchy, hot fries. Also tried the fried pork skins...loved them. They came to the table still sizzling. They offer outdoor dining and there are swings instead of stationary chairs which I thought was pretty cool. Worth a return trip when I'm in the area again.

Stopped by while downtown for an early lunch/brunch. They open at 10:30 so that was perfect. Walked inside and noticed that it was decorated cool and had a nice atmosphere. We were sat upstairs overlooking the lower level which was neat. Service was good. I Ordered a burger and my son ordered a pork chop over Gouda grits with hollandaise sauce. He is a typical picky teen who usually only likes chicken fingers and tacos and had never had hollandaise. He loved it, and everything was cooked perfect. I had the "loaded" fries as my side and could have ate a bucket of them as they were fantastic with just the right amount of heat (viper sauce). This is now my go to place when downtown. The prices were also very reasonable and actually on the low side compared to similar places.

Got the cauliflower as an appetizer and it was amazing. But in my opinion the tuna tostada was even better. Will be back for the great service, food, and atmosphere!

Cool little place, friendly staff, fair menu selection. It does get packed. I opted for the fish n chips which was good. The only problem is downtown parking.

We were visiting Mobile and decided to make Squid Ink our 1st stop because we thought the name and graphics were cool after a quick Google Search of restaurants in the area. So glad that we did!!! The food was amazing. Our server recommended the Cadillac Burger (add bacon). It was fantastic and the skinny fries were nice and crunchy. Decor was neat - especially liked the bathroom tattoo motif.

Pastas and baos are good, as are the appetizers. Good plate set up dining in and the togo prep is good. No complaints. Last time I sat at the bar waiting on togo and the staff seem pretty cool.

We decided to eat at Squid Ink for lunch while we were visiting Mobile from the Eastern Shore. The restaurant caught our eye because it is one of Panini Pete's establishments, and he always delivers great food with on-point service. We elected to eat outside at the tables that they had on the street. It looks like many Mobile establishments are able to place tables for service on the city's immediate surroundings. Kudos to Mobile and Mayor Sandy Stimpson!!! We ordered the fried deviled eggs and calamari for our appetizers. Wow. Both were EXCELLENT! The Calamari was soooo fresh and the dipping sauce was delicious! For our entrees, we ordered the Tuna Poke Bowl and Pressed Spicy Tuna Sushi. Both were very tasty! The service and atmosphere were tremendous, as well. Great job Squid Ink! We will definitely be back again!!! HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!

Prefacing - Lundi Gras (Mardi Gras season). Walked in at 3, looking for a pop and a sandwich. Ordered the poptail from the happy hour menu, after a wait of, oh, four or five minutes. (But it's three p.m. Maybe five tables (two tops) filled, and one outside in the wind.) Seven servers, plus two bartenders. To be honest - maybe nine servers... Drink came after six minutes, and the waitress bailed, i guess. At 3:20, gave up, paid for the drink, and went across the street to Dumbwaiter, where we had both drinks and pretty tasty grub by 4:00, including the time spent getting out of Pete's place. I reckon Pete and Nick are ultimately responsible for the terrible local management. That's two strikes, guys. Happened a year ago too. Maybe there is worse service in Mobile.. and if so, give me a bone so you're not in the cellar?

Don't let the name scare you off - there's barely anything on the menu that actually has squid ink. Which for me, as a fan, was a little disappointing. Though not as disappointing as the poke - it was not good. The rice was cold and hard - like when you've got leftover Chinese in the fridge for a few days, you know? And they didn't even attempt to rehydrate it. Blech! To their credit, the manager did make amends and handled it really well, and my waitress couldn't have been nicer! Also, the calamari toast was FIRE! So so good. It doesn't come with the squid ink aioli but they did me a solid and added it. So while im not running back any time soon, I'd still say it's worth a visit for the ambiance, service, and at least some of their menu items.