Order Up is a recurring feature about a staff member’s visit to a local eatery.
My son and his fiancee first told me about this yummy Mexican place at the beach. They said it was on 11th Street between Atlantic and Pacific avenues.
I immediately perked up. Could it be in the space of my former haunt, Phil’s Grill?
Sure enough, Side Street Cantina has been operating out of that same location since 2010. Obviously, it’s been awhile since I ventured out to the Oceanfront’s South End for dinner. But back in my younger days — we’re talking the late ’90s — my friends and I would hit up Phil’s Grill for delicious nachos, libations, live music and foosball in a laid-back setting.
Side Street Cantina is no Phil’s Grill, but it’s not trying to be. The restaurant showcases a vibrant Latino flair, even before customers enter the doors. The exterior walls and the windows feature Day of the Dead skeleton paintings. These colorful symbols are used in the Mexican celebration of Día de los Muertos to honor deceased loved ones by remembering them and celebrating life.
Inside, the walls are also flanked with spirited artwork in bright, contrasting colors. While the layout has changed, the bar’s still in the same spot and will give some hardcore locals flashbacks to Phil’s Grill. It spills into an adjacent space, and according to regulars in some online reviews, it’s a cheerful local watering hole.
Side Street Cantina, at the Virginia Beach Oceanfront, features Day of the Dead skeleton paintings on the exterior. It’s on 11th Street, where Phil’s Grill used to be. (Stacy Parker/The Virginian-Pilot)
My husband and I took a seat in the dining area. Our attentive server barely gave us time to scooch in our chairs before taking our drink order. He told us happy hour was still going strong — it’s from 4 to 8 p.m. daily, a wide window compared with nearby restaurants’.
The menu boasts 10 margaritas, served large or small, including a smoky margarita with Sombra Joven mezcal, lime juice and agave nectar. Only the traditional margarita is discounted during happy hour. I ordered the small on the rocks, with salt, for $4.75 (regularly $7.49). Its crisp, citrusy flavor complemented each salty sip and paired well with the thin tortilla chips and smooth, cantina-style salsa served promptly upon seating.
It was a somewhat chilly evening so we started with chicken tortilla soup ($11.99) and asked for a cup each or to split an order. Just a few chips later, two large bowls showed up, but we were charged for only one. The broth took a backseat to diced red onions, tomatoes, green peppers and chicken. Avocado chunks and long tortilla strips sat on top. If the strips were crunchy when added in the kitchen, they gave up by the time they were loaded on my spoon, having absorbed the steamy, savory broth, which left them with a mushy texture.
Within a minute or two after bringing out the soup, our server presented the main course. Juggling the large dishes on the table was a bit of a dance. I would have liked more time in between the appetizer and dinner, but on the flip side, waiting around too long for the meal would have been a turnoff. Families in the room with little ones seemed happy with the brevity.
My hubby ordered the dinner combo ($13.49), your choice of two items served with rice and beans. He picked a chicken enchilada and a ground beef hard taco and left with a full stomach.
I chose the Quesadilla Atlantica ($14.99), a generous grilled tortilla loaded with large, plump shrimp, spinach and mushrooms. It comes with salad and a choice of rice or beans. I picked rice, which was soft in a good way but without much flavor. The salad was essentially shredded lettuce, a few chopped tomato pieces and a dollop of sour cream and creamy guacamole.
Inside Side Street Cantina, at the Virginia Beach Oceanfront. (Stacy Parker/The Virginian-Pilot)
Speaking of guac, on a second visit to Side Street Cantina, my friends and I ordered the tableside guacamole ($9.99) made in front of guests. It was super fresh, chunky and served in an oversized molcajete bowl. I switched it up that evening and ordered grilled shrimp tacos ($17.49 for three). The soft tortillas were overflowing with luscious bite-sized shrimp, red onions, green peppers, tomatoes and cheese. They were served with lemon wedges, which, when squeezed generously on top of the mound of ingredients, gave each bite a refreshing, zesty edge.
If you’re looking for a fast, satisfying Mexican-inspired dinner for a reasonable price, Side Street Cantina’s a sure bet. And if you just want to drum up old memories about good times at Phil’s Grill, it’s also worth a visit.
Stacy Parker, 757-222-5125, stacy.parker@pilotonline.com
If you go
Where: 205 11th St., Virginia Beach
Hours: 5 to 11 p.m. Monday through Thursday, noon to 11 p.m. Friday and Saturday (winter hours)
Prices: $5.49 to $14.99 for appetizers; $12.49 to $20.99 for dinner specials; margaritas $7.49 to $21.99; daily happy hour 4 to 8 p.m.
Parking: On-street metered parking. The meters are not enforced on 11th Street from Nov. 1 to March 31.
Details: sidestreetcantina.com, 757-962-9993
https://www.pilotonline.com/2025/11/26/side-street-cantina-order-up/
