Cala - Permanently Closed

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1. s

   stephanier

   Orange County

   1 review

   5.0

   1 review

   Dined on March 15, 2020

   overall5food5service5ambience5

   Amazing and delicious! I recommend to everyone! I will return!

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2. GK

   GKnox

   1 review

   5.0

   1 review

   Dined on March 14, 2020

   overall5food5service5ambience5

   Cala has an amazing food and atmosphere. I would definitely recommend coming here!

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3. AS

   AllisonS

   San Francisco

   1 review

   vip
   5.0

   1 review

   Dined on March 12, 2020

   overall5food5service5ambience5

   Truly one of the best meals we’ve had in San Francisco - everything we tried was amazing! Our favorite food was the lingcod sopas, and drink was the Mandarina Mezcal. Service was outstanding- so helpful with recommendations and always attentive despite being busy. Couldn’t recommend more highly!

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4. T

   Todd

   Jacksonville

   15 reviews

   vip
   4.0

   15 reviews

   Dined on March 12, 2020

   overall4food5service4ambience4

   Lovely, interesting food. nice staff. I will go back but must warn that it is expensive- We were just two of us in our party. We ordered 1 1st course, 2 mains. and total of 3 drinks. The portions are quite small. No dessert, The bill came to $174. We left hungry and had to go elsewhere to find desserts.

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5. A

   Andi

   San Francisco

   36 reviews

   vip
   5.0

   36 reviews

   Dined on March 12, 2020

   overall5food5service5ambience5

   Cala was fabulous! The recommendations from other Yelp reviews were very helpful on what to order. We had the sweet potato (to die for), the Pork Tamal (also fabulous!) and the trout and hamachi tostadas (another winner). Our server was fantastic and really helpful in my decision to try Mezcal for the first time. Overall it was a great experience and I will definitely go again.

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6. BD

   BrianD

   San Francisco

   1 review

   vip
   5.0

   1 review

   Dined on March 12, 2020

   overall5food5service5ambience5

   We had an amazing dinner! The food was delicious and approachable. Most of the offerings were new and fresh takes on old favorites - sopes, tacos, ceviche and more. Certainly not an inexpensive meal but a great value for the overall experience.

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7. L

   Lena

   Nashville

   3 reviews

   5.0

   3 reviews

   Dined on March 10, 2020

   overall5food5service5ambience5

   I love this place. The food is exceptional and the service is really lovely. It’s expensive but worth it!

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8. N

   N1diner

   London

   13 reviews

   vip
   5.0

   13 reviews

   Dined on March 9, 2020

   overall5food5service5ambience4

   Excellent food and service. A little quiet but it was a Sunday night. I would return.

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9. RS

   RaulS

   New England

   1 review

   5.0

   1 review

   Dined on March 9, 2020

   overall5food5service5ambience5

   Absolutely an amazing dining experience! The service, food (what a variety!) and all aspects of Cala are superb. We would definitely go there again and highly recommend it to anyone who wants a special dining experience.

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10. RE

    RachelE

    San Francisco

    3 reviews

    vip
    5.0

    3 reviews

    Dined on March 7, 2020

    overall5food5service5ambience5

    Absolute favorite restaurant in SF! Wonderful, friendly service and the food is incredible - so authentic.

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11. FD

    FannyD

    San Francisco

    4 reviews

    4.0

    4 reviews

    Dined on March 4, 2020

    overall4food5service5ambience5

    I don't speak a word of Spanish and know nothing of Spanish cuisine but staff was really patient and helpful; they answered all our questions and recommended us plates and cocktails. The food was amazing - I highly recommend the ceviche. We were a party of two and had each a main plate and shared two appetizers; it was enough. 👌🏻 My only critic goes to the cocktails:I found them a bit bland and not worthy of the food.

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12. OT

    OpenTable Diner

    San Francisco

    2 reviews

    4.0

    2 reviews

    Dined on March 3, 2020

    overall4food2service5ambience5

    I had high expectations in terms of flavor but was only half satisfied with the flavors. The roasted yam and bone marrow was excellent. Rest all were okay. Not sure how I feel about it. I had very high expectations that were only half met. I might give it one more try in the future.

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13. EG

    ElleG

    San Francisco

    4 reviews

    vip
    1.0

    4 reviews

    Dined on March 2, 2020

    overall1food1service3ambience4

    Shocked by how bad this “fancy food” was. The environment is obviously very chic, but the food was the most disappointing food I’ve ever had in San Francisco. Maybe this was just me but I found the food bland and trying to be fancy too hard when sometimes basic, classic flavors are the way to go. Really wanted to like this place so super bummed. I would not go back.

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14. m

    mopehead

    San Francisco

    8 reviews

    5.0

    8 reviews

    Dined on March 2, 2020

    overall5food5service5ambience5

    Food was exceptional and although we had to sit at the bar the service was A+++. I highly recommend Cala!

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15. T

    Twan

    New York Area

    9 reviews

    vip
    5.0

    9 reviews

    Dined on February 29, 2020

    overall5food5service5ambience5

    Everything was dope. Keep making America great

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16. SF

    chriSF

    San Francisco

    63 reviews

    5.0

    63 reviews

    Dined on February 29, 2020

    overall5food5service5ambience4

    Superb dinner fare, helpful and professional staff. Returning. Again.

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17. C

    Calivisitor

    Orange County

    37 reviews

    5.0

    37 reviews

    Dined on February 29, 2020

    overall5food5service5ambience5

    Wonderful experience at Cala! Our server was amazing, he suggested several food and drink options, and all of them were delicious!

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18. S

    Sarah

    San Francisco

    7 reviews

    vip
    5.0

    7 reviews

    Dined on February 29, 2020

    overall5food5service5ambience5

    Great bartender

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19. f

    foodluv

    San Francisco

    18 reviews

    vip
    4.0

    18 reviews

    Dined on February 28, 2020

    overall4food5service5ambience4

    Food was amazing. Service was amazing. It is expensive, not sure would go back because of the high prices (even for SF).

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20. C

    Ceres

    Cumbria

    15 reviews

    5.0

    15 reviews

    Dined on February 28, 2020

    overall5food5service5ambience5

    The food was delicious and the service was attentive without being overbearing. We got excellent recommendations and had a lovely dinner. I am not sure I am fan of the kitchen policy of ordering everything at once, though. It would have been better to be able to play it by ear and order more of those delicious tostadas, understanding that they might have come at the same time as the entree.

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21. CG

    CooksieG

    San Francisco

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on February 26, 2020

    overall5food5service4ambience5

    Food and Drinks were excellent and love the atmosphere!!

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22. OT

    OpenTable Diner

    San Francisco

    2 reviews

    vip
    5.0

    2 reviews

    Dined on February 26, 2020

    overall5food5service5ambience5

    From the manager Jeff, to the trout tostadas — this place is worth every penny. Since I tried it the first time, I’ve eaten there three times in two weeks. Sit at the bar, or grab a reservation and enjoy some of the best food in the city. Also a goldmine for gluten free humans!

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23. R

    Rarely

    San Francisco

    11 reviews

    vip
    5.0

    11 reviews

    Dined on February 25, 2020

    overall5food5service5ambience5

    This place is insane in the membrane A close friend (whose opinion I trust regarding food) recommended Cala to me… i ordered the first couple of items he recommended, and then went absolutely nuts. we ordered at least 10 appetizers ) All I can say is I will be back, and I’ve already recommended this restaurant to at least 10 people in the last 24 hours. Cala, keep doing what you’re doing

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24. PW

    PW2001

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on February 25, 2020

    overall5food5service5ambience5

    This place is a favorite...and once again it not only "did not disappoint"—it was "beyond expectations."

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25. h

    hellokittyinsf

    San Francisco

    16 reviews

    5.0

    16 reviews

    Dined on February 25, 2020

    overall5food5service5ambience5

    came on a monday night with friend from out of town. the place buzzed all night. service was super friendly, helpful and on the mark. i’ll be back!

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26. GP

    GordonP

    San Francisco

    26 reviews

    vip
    5.0

    26 reviews

    Dined on February 25, 2020

    overall5food5service5ambience5

    How is it that I have worked no more than two blocks from Cala for over two years and I had never dined here before?! Better late than never! I grabbed an early (5:30) "high-top" reservation on Monday. My dinner companion and I opted to sit at the bar for drinks and dinner -- what a delight! We were very happy with our menu selections -- the food was refined, tasty, and artistically presented. The bartender was our waitress and despite being kept busy with lots of drink orders from the restaurant, she still found time to converse with us and make us feel special. The crowd was interesting and diverse -- a beautiful cross-section of the city.

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27. TD

    TravelingDiner

    San Francisco

    8 reviews

    vip
    4.0

    8 reviews

    Dined on February 24, 2020

    overall4food4service4ambience4

    Very imaginative take on Mexican food with a focus on seafood. I've never seen mussels in a tamale before, shells and all, but they were great!

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28. s

    syd1919

    San Francisco

    4 reviews

    5.0

    4 reviews

    Dined on February 24, 2020

    overall5food5service5ambience4

    Food was excellent. A little difficult to figure out the menu, translation not withstanding. Wine list was way to pricey so settled on beer instead. The coconut flan was outstanding!

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29. AB

    AndrewB

    Dallas

    1 review

    2.0

    1 review

    Dined on February 23, 2020

    overall2food3service1ambience3

    Worst service I have had in San Francisco in a long time

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30. KT

    KatherineT

    1 review

    4.0

    1 review

    Dined on February 23, 2020

    overall4food5service2ambience5

    I love the food and the cocktails at Cala, they are really outstanding. This is my third visit and the first time I encountered what I would call aggressive service! 1) we were told up front that we had to order everything at one time - Chef's new rule! This is a little challenging when you have a larger group and the are so many delicious bites on the menu - we always order seconds of the trout tostadas. Bottom line: why is it necessary? We had given ourselves 2+ hours for dinner before a show at SFJazz and were not in a real rush deliberately! 2) plates and glasses were being collected while people were still eating food and consuming the beverages. This is a pet peeve of mine but this was excessive and several of my guests commented on it! We felt rushed from the moment we sat down, which is not OK! I expect better Cala, particularly because your food and drinks are so delicious!

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31. j

    jdmjdm

    San Francisco

    44 reviews

    4.0

    44 reviews

    Dined on February 21, 2020

    overall4food4service3ambience4

    My boyfriend and I took a friend to dinner as a treat since she had never been to Cala. Drinks were ordered first, and as I arrived a little late I ordered my drink after the others had theirs. Then we ordered food. The food arrived before my drink. We started with the trout tostadas, which are incredible. If you go these are a must. We also had ceviche, which was a little disappointing as the serving was very small and not much fish. Ceviche should be mostly fish, and this was not. (Our guest for dinner was Peruvian, and commented to that effect). We also had black cod which was just ok. Another delight is the sweet potato with bone marrow. It was spectacular, and is also a must have if you go. The outside was charred and carmelized to perfection.

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32. s

    s1moore

    San Francisco

    23 reviews

    vip
    5.0

    23 reviews

    Dined on February 21, 2020

    overall5food5service5ambience5

    Cala is a treasure. We have so many great restaurants in this City but few where you think "Wow, that meal was original...and amazing." Guided by our outstanding server JD (S/o Juan Diaz!) we could do no wrong. Grilled oysters like you've never tasted. A flan on JD's recommendation that I am still dreaming about. Service that was friendly and warm yet still exceedingly professional. A vibrant scene where you can still hear everyone at your table thanks to some great restaurant design that considered acoustics. This spot deserves every accolade it gets. This is likely my 7th visit here and I come away delighted every time. Thank you Team Cala!

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33. p

    pacificagirl

    San Francisco

    9 reviews

    vip
    5.0

    9 reviews

    Dined on February 21, 2020

    overall5food5service5ambience5

    Service, food, and drinks at Cala always amazing! Fresh well balanced ingredients and service that aims to please.

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34. OT

    OpenTable Diner

    San Francisco

    15 reviews

    vip
    5.0

    15 reviews

    Dined on February 21, 2020

    overall5food5service5ambience5

    So sad this place closed. Great food, beautiful atmosphere, and attentive service. Not to mention delicious drinks. Please come back, Cala!

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35. V

    Vaneseq

    San Francisco

    4 reviews

    4.0

    4 reviews

    Dined on February 19, 2020

    overall4food5service5ambience4

    An innovative twist on Mexican cuisine. Loved every plate but especially the mussel tamal, such burst of flavor.

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36. a

    all4food

    San Francisco

    34 reviews

    3.0

    34 reviews

    Dined on February 19, 2020

    overall3food5service2ambience4

    Not our first visit, and food was as good as expected. However, service was strangely sup-par. We sat at our table, very near the entrance to the dining room, for 15 minutes before we decided to wave down a server, who was very surprised and apologetic when he realized our problem. From that point onward, things went smoothly, but I wonder how such an obvious lack at the table nearest the entrance could have happened. I would think that servers were assigned tables to watch, but...perhaps not.

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37. SM

    SanMateoan

    San Francisco

    9 reviews

    4.0

    9 reviews

    Dined on February 19, 2020

    overall4food3service4ambience4

    I ordered the Opah but didn't realize, nor was I told, that the meal would be lukewarm. The fish was good but just warm and the "sauce" was cold. Disappointing meal.

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38. S

    Sfsnob

    Phoenix

    26 reviews

    vip
    5.0

    26 reviews

    Dined on February 19, 2020

    overall5food5service5ambience5

    Excellent food (make sure you order the sweet potato), great ambiance and impeccable service. Best place to go in the theater district.

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39. OT

    OpenTable Diner

    San Francisco

    7 reviews

    5.0

    7 reviews

    Dined on February 17, 2020

    overall5food5service5ambience5

    Great experience overall. The food, sevice, and ambiance was excellent! A little on the pricey side but definitely worth trying.

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40. s

    stu415

    San Francisco

    48 reviews

    vip
    5.0

    48 reviews

    Dined on February 17, 2020

    overall5food5service4ambience4

    Everything we ate was fantastic. Very creative food. Here's the rundown of what we ate: Hamachi tostadas with salsa macha, trout roe and cured yolk - what a great way to start. The tostadas were about the size of a large cracker and there were four of them per order. The fish was delicate and the roe provided a nice brininess to each bite. It came with some habanero pickled onions that we just kept getting more of throughout the meal! Squid, new potatoes, roasted bell pepper and herbs - grilled squid with potatoes is a taste that I love, This version didn't disappoint. It came with a habanero emulsion that sneaks up on you. Quesadillas with mushrooms, nettles and requesón - Requesón is a type of cheese. These looked more like empanadas than what many people familiarly know as quesadillas but they were insanely good. Black cod en pipián with grilled onion - Served with tortillas so you can create your own fish tacos. We brought the pickled onions back out for this course! Sweet potato with bone marrow salsa negra - eating this dish reminds me of the first time I saw The Matrix. I was like "wha? how? did they?" This dish will blow your mind. Order it.

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