Cabo’s Island Grill & Bar

Their food is fresh and tasty, great margaritas, great selections from burritos to burgers. We always enjoy the great feeling of an independent restaurant with superb staff. So happy we have this choice instead of chain restaurants that are over priced and not good. Love you Bobby, Mike and staff

The menu had crusty food on it. The salsa had the entire core of a green pepper in it. Everyone’s sandwiches and tacos were smothered in mediocre sauces. The service was fine.

We were seated at a booth for about 10 minutes before anyone came to our table. The waitress offered to take our drink order and we said that we were ready to order. She apologized saying that she could not because she was just the hostess… we left… ridiculous…terrible customer service!

Full disclosure is in order before I begin. My husband and I had our first date here. Eleven years and counting later, we are still going back to enjoy the menu together.
Cabo’s is locally owned and the food is fresh! We love the tuna tacos and the black bean dip. The brunch is legit.
This is a place that does not disappoint — whether for burgers, an omelet, or a margarita. I like to head here before shows at The Moon and for business lunches.
Years ago one of the Cabo’s chefs introduced my husband to ceviche at a catered private party. Dave has been a ceviche devotee ever since.
Other dishes of note include their wraps, their burritos, and most any special on the white board when you walk in the door.
I know the owner complained bitterly when he had to create a separate bar for smokers up front but I am so grateful to have a smoke free Cabo’s dining room to enjoy the delicious food.
While I have attended the annual Customer Appreciation Party I have yet to make it into one of the group photos. That photo is a bucket list item… one day!

This is a must stop and eat place for those coming to town. This place has character. Check out all the surf boards used by the owner. The tuna tacos are out of this world. Even Their bugers are fresh and delicious as well.

This is the best place to go for any number of dishes, but Cabo’s Island Grill has the best Mexican food, the best burgers, the best seafood and the best wraps in town. On the weekends, things get ‘fancy’ with brunch and great specials.
For the past 20 years, a bunch of us from work eat at Cabo’s at least once a week. The prices are good and the food even better. The wait staff are always friendly, accommodating and helpful. In the years when people could smoke in restaurants, they were are always careful to seat me as far away from any smokers as possible (I have asthma). This is the best place to go for any number of dishes, but my faves are the Mexican dishes, the wonderful burgers, the fresh and perfectly cooked seafood and the inventive wraps. When we want Mexican food, we go to Cabo’s!

My friend and I are trying to go to a new restaurant in Tallahassee every time we go out so we decided to give Cabos the good old college try. I ordered a Margarita, an enchilada and queso. Upon receiving my marg and givin it a good stir i took a healthy sip and nearly cried as I experienced freshman year PTSD flashbacks of drinking Everclear. Silver lining, it cleared my sinuses. The salsa that came with my enchilada tasted like straight up Heinz ketchup and the queso oddly tasted like lobster bisque. Not bad, just… unexpected. Overall, the surfboards and vinyl seats were cool in a one horse, never actually been to Cabo or out of the state kind of way, and the menu was as haphazardly strewn together and executed as my bowels will inevitably be later.

Bottom line: Cabo’s is ALWAYS packed, and delivers a consistently good and diverse set of brunch, lunch and dinner dishes.
Cabo’s gets the star upgrade for its collective positives — and not for anything in isolation. It’s the total experience. Here goes, point by point:
1. Length of service to the community is indisputable. When I lived in those apartments behind the moon — 25+ years ago — I remember coming by once. That length of time underscores a strong two-​way dedication between restauranteur and patron.
2. Theme. This is a living documentary of a man’s passion for surfing, with evidence in each surfboard suspended from the ceiling to the looped surfing competitions on the screens about the room. It’s often difficult for national chains with far deeper pockets to develop thematic restaurant décor that is ¼ as meaningful and well coupled to the cooking as is evidenced here at Cabo’s.
3. Speaking of the cooking… There is an apparent pride in the kitchen seen in thoughtfully prepared, assembled and plated dishes. The genre lines up squarely with the theme mentioned in the above paragraph. Dishes from the sea mingle with those paying homage to surfside destination points in the gulf as well as in the pacific.
4. Service. The front of the house operates like a well oiled machine. No matter how slammed this place gets, they’re on their game. Sure, there’s an occasional gaff here and there (like any restaurant), but this team handles those incidences graciously and professionally. That said, I can’t remember the last time (if ever) my order got mixed up. Our server this evening was gracious, smiling, friendly, and she was definitely «in the weeds» — she was great!
If you’re already familiar with Cabo’s, none of this comes as a surprise to you. If you’re unfamiliar with Cabo’s and you’re interested in the parts that make TLH an awesome place to live, then you owe it to yourself to come once. It’s worth it.

There are several great restaurants in Tallahassee but I’d have to say Cabos’ is our favorite based on consistency of quality and value. Cabo’s mexican style fare is fresh and flavorful. I call it «Best Mex» We’ll make it there at least once a week but usually more often that that. Great lunch, dinner or weekend brunch, and always a friendly staff.

Fun place to eat in Tallahassee. If you are looking for a quiet place to eat, this is not your place. It is very loud but very fun. The decoration are really cool and the food is really good. I think it is where more locals eat. It is a must have for lunch or dinner if you are in Tallahassee!

Local gem that never dissapoints. This establishment has been a staple in town for years and there is a reason. Great food and the service doesn’t suck. Diner style Mexican food with a carribiean atmosphere. Tucked out of the way, but with the adventure.

Cabos is one of my favorite local spots. I love coming here at all times of the day but their brunch is my favorite. It is so good and reasonably priced; it can’t be beat! I like to get a black bean and rice taquita (more like a burrito if you ask me) and, just because I can, a pancake on the side. Another awesome part of their brunch is BOGO mimosas!
For dinner I usually get their fish tacos and they great too. If you’re veg this is a great place to come. They have several delicious options.

No ambiance here, unless you prefer a 70’s surf theme. But the food is darn good. Plates are served full… Large omelette, a healthy serving of grits or home fried (more like skillet sauteed) potatoes, a biscuit (or toast/​muffin) and some fruit. Eggs done perfectly, my corned beef hash was tasty and the cheese grits looked darn good to this Yankee. The potatoes were the only weak link, and certainly not a problem.
Oh, and any place that serves two for one mimosas in beer mugs gets my everlasting appreciation.
Cabo’s is a winner.

Let me start with I have known Mike Ferrara for going onto 25 years now. We met where I have met so many locals. In the water surfing. The first thing I will say is he’s pretty good too. The place, I have to start with the entrance is around the corner on the side. Not the Island Bar that is on the front of the strip center that it sits in. But, the inside is full of some old surfboards with a little snippet about each board. The place was packed when I went in and I got seated right away. My server was nice and racing around like a chicken with… She got me everything that I wanted and did a fine job. I ordered the (I hate to say it) the Seminole Sammich. It was chicken cordon blue on a hamburger bun. The chicken was a smidgen over but the mayo made up for that. You know per cooked and re-​heated to order. The ham was that ham comes in a big roll and either it is sliced already or you have to slice it yourself. The sandwich had lettuce, tomato, raw white onions, and bean sprouts for my health. That’s why I ordered it for my health. The place does like a good eatery and might be a place I would come back to. Maybe next time there will be a Mike sighting.

I have fond memories of this place from high school. I recently returned and was disappointed. Perhaps like other things from childhood (oatmeal crème pies), my memory is better than the reality. I ordered the fish tacos and was rather sad by the topping less pieces of fish that came out. My mom got the cobb salad, which was plentiful but apparently not all that great.
Drinks were on the brink so our options were beer or water. Service was pretty dreadful as our waitress disappeared for long stretches, including when my mom asked her to replace the silverware which was dirty when we sat down.
I’ll hold tight to my memories of its greatness and hope when I come back again after another 10 years it’ll be restored to its former glory.

A local gem! Awesome seafood, Mexican food, and sometimes even unique dishes. Best chips and salsa in town, both their hot (not too hot to eat either) and mild salsas are sweet and taste fresh and homemade. Their Sunday Brunch is pretty good too, but the service can leave something to be desired (we have only had this issue during brunch). They do serve 2 for 1 mimosas which are delicious. One year I hope to make their appreciation party/​the photo on the wall.

Hole in the wall hidden gem. Nothing fancy, but that is just fine. This place has been there for years and has a following. Servers seem to know most folks and while not out to impress or provide 5* service they provide drinks and food quickly and with a smile. It won’t break the bank. .. we had 2 draft beers, 2 bottled beers, (3) tacos ala carte and (1) green salsa chicken enchilada supreme and it was $ 25 with tip.
More for the locals then college kids.
Enjoy!

The local neighborhood bar and grille brings island flare and fare at a relatively inexpensive price to you. Whether you’re craving an All-​American burger or a classic island favorite, fish tacos, Cabo’s always delivers. Surfboards occupy the ceiling above you, reminding you of those long-​lost beach memories. A friendly wait staff, in addition to 2−4−1 drafts on a daily basis, will bring you back time and time again.

So Cabo’s is your neighborhood spot for a quick bite to eat. The bar side is definitely a dive type place. One of the best things about it is that you can let your hair down, relax and not worry about judgement. If your looking for fine dining this may not be your place. Its a «cheers» type bar and a island themed restaurant that has many regulars. They offer great healthy options like sweet potato fries and whole wheat buns. They have food for any mood. I frequently have the wings with the sweet chili lime sauce. This is also a great place to get a burger! I highly recommend trying the fish tacos or the fresh crab cake sandwich. Servers are competent, friendly and get the job done. This place is definitely a Tallahassee gem. Its no surprise that the owner «Bobby» was a commercial fisherman for so many years cause the food is fresh and right every time.

I can’t post a review on the actual restaurant because I’ve never been, but the bar is Absolutely horrendous. The people who hang out at this bar are the trashiest of the trash. To put this into context the bartender was over 200 pounds wearing a Mini skirt and a tank top with her stomach exposed. I almost puked before I even received my food.
I had the fired fish sandwich which was delicious. But the service was slow and once again I couldn’t her over the fact of how trashy this place was. Halfway through my meal I was heckled by one of the local drunks as he sat next to me and starting touching me. Would not shut up and leave me alone to the point where I had to get violent with him. I pulled this old disgusting creeps arm off of me and walked out of this establishment. I will never return and I advise you don’t as well.
Overall the bar is total garage. Fat ugly bartenders with their stomachs exposed and local drunks bothering people minding their own business. I give this 2 stars only because the food was amazing, but I will never return.
UPDATE:
Upon reading your comment I took it upon myself to visit the actual restaurant. As expected service was slow. So slow that it took 15 minutes for a server to take my drink order. After that it was another 30 until the good arrived and after my meal I say around and waited another 15 minutes just for my check to be delivered. This is a prime example of piss poor management. Your workers are terrible and suck at their jobs.
The fact that you accused me of judging your bartender is laughable. Nobody wants to see that when they’re trying to enjoy a meal. If you had decent managers they’d enforce a dress code which they clearly do not.
After visiting the real restaurant I am changing my review from 2 stars to 1 star. This is one of the worst dining establishment I’ve ever ate at. Here’s a tip HIRE NEW MANAGEMENT BECAUSE THEY ARE RUINING YOUR BUSINESS.