By 1808Delaware
Nestled in Powell, The Cactus Restaurant has emerged as a beacon for food enthusiasts craving the vibrant and diverse flavors of Latin America with a twist of American flair. This culinary gem, evolving from a popular food truck to a full-fledged dining establishment, now offers a permanent home for its fusion of tastes at 9865 Sawmill Rd. The journey from serving street food classics on wheels in Marysville to opening the doors of a brick-and-mortar restaurant marks a significant milestone for Cactus Latin Food.
Culinary Fusion at Its Best
The Cactus Restaurant’s menu is a celebration of Latin American cuisine, seamlessly integrating traditional dishes with American influences. The establishment prides itself on serving breakfast, lunch, and dinner, featuring a wide array of options that cater to various tastes and preferences.
Breakfast: A Latin American Morning
Morning offerings include cachapas, a delightful dish of corn pancakes blended with cheese and sugar, alongside pabellón criollo and bandeja paisa. These dishes provide a hearty start to the day, combining flavors like eggs, shredded beef, black beans, and sweet plantains, with rice, beans, fried eggs, chorizo, chicharron, beef, and avocado. Notably, the cactus burger, a fan favorite from the food truck, graces the breakfast menu, ensuring that the food truck’s legacy continues within the restaurant’s walls.
Lunch and Dinner: A Journey Through Latin America
As the day progresses, the menu diversifies, featuring arepas, patacon gratinado, and tequeños. These dishes showcase the rich culinary traditions of Latin America, with arepas offering a crispy take on white corn cakes and patacon gratinado presenting a harmonious blend of crispy plantains with cheese, chicken, or beef. Tequeños, Venezuelan fried cheese sticks, offer a crunchy exterior wrapped around a melting cheese core, perfect for those seeking a savory treat.
The Cactus Restaurant Experience
Open from 8:00 AM to 9:00 PM, Sunday through Thursday, and extending its hours to 11:00 PM on Fridays and Saturdays, The Cactus Restaurant accommodates both early risers and night owls. Beyond the food, the restaurant introduces house-made milkshakes, described as a “symphony of taste,” blending classic flavors with innovative creations for a unique drinking experience. Highlights include the chicharrones, promising a crunchy journey to Latin America, and the gratinated patacon, a dish that marries the crispness of plantains with the melt-in-your-mouth goodness of cheese.
Early Reviews
Early reviews on Yelp! have been great, averaging a 4.5 our of 5 stars. One patron shared, “New Latin cuisine restaurant is very nice and clean. Service is prompt and orders come out quickly. The shredded beef cachapas are delicious. Prices are ok. Overall a pleasant experience.”
Image by Edward Jamaed Tuero Góngora from Pixabay
