Best restaurant on Earth. The staff is always incredibly nice, and the food is amazing. I always order the seafood paella (the small is big enough for two), and all of the starters I have tried have been equally awesome! The drinks alone are worth stopping in for, with the added bonus that they have an incredibly generous happy hour. :)
I'm told it's the best/only real tapas place south of SF. I could be wrong. That being said, it's very solid. the pork belly and the mushroom empanadas were quite good. The scallop ceviche was very interesting and octopus didn't really impress me, but certainly, the overall quality and service was good enough that I will be back to try more stuff.
(4)
Denise L.
Food and drinks: 5 stars, Service: 1 star = 3 stars overall. I desperately want to give this place a much higher rating, but I just can't do it with such inconsistent service. But the food! It's just so amazing if you're ready to try some new things as a group. That's what tapas are all about! Here are my favorites... TAPAS: ---------- - Wild Mushroom Empanadas - With manchego cheese and truffle oil, these empanadas are off the CHAIN. - Cuban Wrap - Tasty marinated adobo pork tenderloin is one of my favorite food styles a restaurant could possibly have. Win. - Roasted Scallops - This dish is small and I am always disappointed when the last scallop is left on the plate. However each scallop is so savory that to me it's worth it. LARGE PLATES: ---------------------- - Paella Cascal - This paella blew my mind. It was a delicious surprise and we ate the entire thing! The ingredients melded together really well: Saffron rice, chicken, pork, chorizo sausage, shrimp, mussels, clams, smoked paprika sofritto, peas, piquillo peppers. If that doesn't make you salivate right now, I don't know what will! And most importantly.... DRINKS: ------------ - Red Sangria - The sangria is divine when it is made correctly. A few times I've had a watered down version (with which I was wholly unsatisfied), but for the most part the sangria has been strong and perfect for a night out. - Premium Mojito Martini - Bacardi Limon rum gives this drink a nice citrus flavor, topped off with fresh mint. Shaken, not stirred. :) - Cascal Ultimate Agave Margarita - Whew! This drink is tasty and strong. May I have another? LIVE SALSA MUSIC & DANCING! --------------------------------------------- Every Friday and Saturday night, Cascal has live music and a small dance floor is available near the bar. I wish they'd clear out more of the restaurant so there could be more room for dancing! The live bands are pretty fun and it's nice to see people of various ages/cultures up there groovin' to the beats and having a sexy time! SERVICE: -------------- Time to get down and dirty. Service is totally inconsistent here. I've had waiters that were awesome, had great recommendations, and made the experience a total success. Then I've had waiters that neglected our table (even when we wanted to pay the bill!), and were curt and not very friendly. It's a toss-up which kind you'll get. Personally, I like the first kind. TIP: There is high potential for a sexy date if you're ready to dance!
(3)
Tani P.
I came here for dinner with a friend on Sunday night. The decor is colorful and vibrant, a good place to go for a fun lunch or dinner with friends. We ordered the Peruvian fish ceviche to start and it was fairly different from other types of Ceviche I've had in that the fish was cut into large pieces and there were very few additional garnishes aside from sliced jalapeños. It was very fresh and the lime juice had a hint of ginger that wasn't overbearing. We also ordered the shrimp coquettas, Mexcian gorditas, and the albondigas. The Albondigas were lamb -based and went nicely with the yogurt sauce they were served with. The gorditas were a little dry, but the coquettas were nicely done. The servers were very attentive and knowledgable throughout our meal - I would definitely go back to try the paella.
(4)
David E.
This place is about a 3.5 star affair... This review is copied from my travel blog: After our brief flight from the John Wayne Airport we grab a rental car (2014 Nissan Sentra) and meet Bella's cousin and family and head to Cascal ( cascalrestaurant.com ) in Mountain View. This is a "spirited pan-Latin cuisine" restaurant per their site. The food was above average but definitely not spectacular. There is a nice vibe on the patio albeit a lack of protection from the sun. We ordered a tomato shredded beef dish and a fairly typical Cuban pork shoulder with sweet potato mash and black beans. The beef was a tad dry and the pork dish didn't compare with the more traditional Bella Cuba restaurant in Costa Mesa. The best thing here was the flan which was soft, tasty, creamy with an airy appearance. There was a nice orange flavor via sliced miniature pieces of fresh orange (on top) with juice rolling over the edges of the dessert. The service was adequate but even on a Saturday I don't recommend bringing young children here. You could tell on the staff's face (right out of the gate) that they weren't thrilled with having youngsters in their establishment. You could sense the impatience on the server's face as the mother and father were distracted several times catering to the demand for attention from their children. My assumption is that they are much more accustomed to serving corporate clientele given their location. The worst thing here was the seating. The chairs were oddly shaped similar to a triangle albeit not pointy at the end. Unbelievably the small portion of the chair is where your "posterior" was supposed to fit. Truth-be-told my gluteus maximus isn't the width of an MTA bus but "baby got back" would be a very accurate statement. As a result, I was never comfortable and wished I could temporarily be as petite as the Asians I was currently dining with. Downtown Mountain View looks way more appealing than I recall but I only recall visiting this area twice during my college years. There are some great looking condos and lots of restaurants and cafes nearby.
(3)
Allister D.
Finally came back weeks ago with a friend and dined with drinks. I had the squid salad which was refreshing. The meat squid/octopus wasn't too chewy either. The sangria was on point. The pitcher was a bit pricey but it filled me about four glasses. Not bad. Once again, Cascal did an amazing job. The experience with sitting at the bar with dim lighting and a Moroccan style band playing is just great. This is a nightlife I'm totally into.
(5)
Anila Y.
Came here for a birthday dinner. It is definitely unique, and a gem of local "downtowns." The ambience is fun and perfect for after work happy hour/dinner. I really appreciated the extensive vegetarian menu. As a party of 7 we ordered pretty much the entire vegetarian menu. However, the only two items that stood out to me were the mushroom empanadas (and these I REALLY enjoyed...REALLY!!!) and the brussel sprouts. Nothing else really stuck out. I would like to say that I didn't particularly enjoy the vegetarian paella but when my dad went there, he said he really liked it, so I guess its just a matter of taste. Special mention for the Sangria. I prefer not to drink any alcoholic beverages simply because I never acquired the taste. But this Sangria was refreshing and delicious! It WAS difficult to get a reservation. I called at 11am and was unable to get a reservation for 7pm that night. However, we went in at 6 and were able to have a table by 7:15. Overall, worth a try.
(4)
Janet H.
Oh. My. God. The food here is soooo yummy that I couldn't stop eating.... seriously. I kept eating and eating even though I was full... it was pretty bad; to the point where I was still full at dinner time. #FirstWorldProblems Anyway, I had a team lunch with my coworkers today and Cascal was such a great choice! The food was scrumptious and so flavorful! Partway through the meal, I already told myself I'm coming back. Like other Yelp reviews have mentioned, service here is horrible! They were super slow (seriously took 10 minutes before my coworker got her soda) and the server didn't even check up on us when we got our food... on top of that, no one refilled our drinks! The restaurant wasn't even packed, so there's no excuse for that. Hrmph. I also attempted Happy Hour last week, but there was no where to sit by the bar so my friend and I went off somewhere else.... so get here early if you'd like tapas after work. Otherwise, totally worth it for the food. I recommend: - Paella! We had a party of 6 and a large was the perfect amount. Someone in our group was allergic to seafood so we got the one with lamb, chicken, and a bunch of drool-worthy ingredients... soooo yummy. Definitely reminds me of my study abroad days in Madrid. - Queso fundido: This is more of a Mexican dish but who doesn't love gooey cheese with peppers? One of my coworkers scraped the dish clean and ate it alone towards the end. - Chicken with banana leaves: So flavorful and tender. Overall, I recommend any of their meat dishes because they were so juicy and flavorful. - Tortilla espanola: A classic Spanish dish. A must order! - Beef Taquitos: savory, and with guacamole... anything with guacamole always receives bonus points. Other highlights were the pollo andulucia and the sizzling shrimp. The menu is pretty overwhelming.... I think I'm going to come back here to try one of everything! And of course, you gotta get the sangria! Of course I would come back in a heartbeat. My main gripe is the service... terrible.
(4)
Ss S.
gret happy hour selection of drinks and appetizers. It gets pretty packed so the noise level is high wgere you have to almost yell or speak super close. Ordered the fried potatoes that were sprinkled lightly with semi spicy ingredients. I could have done without that. The 3 dip chip platter was very good! id do that again... guacamole, black beans and baked cheese. Croquets- delicious!
(4)
Scott F.
Public service annoucement: The tres leche cake sold at Safeway, for $2.50: yelp.com/biz_photos/safe… Is vastly superior to the tres leche cake sold at Cascal ($7.75), and the Safeway version is double the size. In particular, the tres leche cake at Cascal is overhyped and downright bad: yelp.com/biz_photos/casc… The meringue sauce on top has a very pungent lemon flavor, almost like limoncello, that obliterates any nuance to the underlying cake. The soaked cake texture itself is meh. but, some things are very good: - Wild Mushroom Empanadas with manchego cheese and truffle oil - very good. *super* savory crust, and also very filling. yelp.com/biz_photos/K6Id… - Fresh corn and goat cheese arepa with red onion-tomato chutney: very good. a bargain for $4. yelp.com/biz_photos/K6Id… - Caipirinha - excellent. The secret: great muddling technique. yelp.com/biz_photos/K6Id… Here's a tip: ask for your caipirinha a little sweet, and "well shaken." They use Leblon Cachaça. - The complementary bread and basil dipping sauce is great. yelp.com/biz_photos/K6Id…
(4)
Vivan T.
This is my go too spot for girls night during a week night after work. The foods is decent. We usually order: -Sampler appetizer platter- good, would order again -Paella Cascal- good it does the trick esp. cause there chorizo in it, but no crispy bottom. I would order again. -Braised Pork Belly- good I would order this again. Make a reservation here, it gets crowded.
(3)
Todd M.
Great music and good food! Cascal is my favorite Tapas spot in the south bay. You have to start with the mushroom empanadas. For the main entrees you can pick between small or large plates. I love their paella, its bursting with Spanish flavors. Along with your Spanish meal you need the perfect Spanish beverage... don't be shy order that pitcher of Sangria! They get very busy on weekends and sometimes service is a little slow depending on how many dishes you order. They have live Spanish music and along with the food you'll think you've been transported to Spain.
(4)
Timothy B.
This place is full of unexpected mixes of different cuisines. A bit pricey, but very tasty.
(5)
Grace G.
The large paella is HUGE! The seafood mix paella had various fresh seafood in it - a huge plus. It is the best I have had in the South Bay, but not necessarily the best I have had in the bay area nor the world (Spain still wins). We made reservations 2 hours in advance and waited at least 10 minutes to be seated. The staff was very friendly. I loved the Latin vibe of the restaurant.
(3)
Tulsi M.
The food is quite good and there happy hit drinks are the best. The portions aren't bad considering its tapas but still a little to $$$ for what it is. The server was super distracted by his phone when I went. He wasn't attentive and seemed very annoyed at our presence. It was just me and a friend and we ordered quickly and ate peacefully. Worth checking out for happy hour!
(3)
Anna F.
Delicious tapas/small plates! I had the sparkling sangria here which was great, but if you want something stronger I suggest getting the red sangria. For an appetizer, I tried the Peruvian ceviche which was delicious! The beef short rib adobo was AMAZING...literally melts in your mouth like butter and was paired well with the croquette/cornbread. We also had the Paella a la marinera which had a good combination of fresh fish, clams, shrimps, mussels, calamari, scallops. etc. The plate was big enough for 2 people. It was delicious! Our server was nice and very attentive. Excellent food and service overall! I'm definitely coming back to try the other small plates!
Takes Reservations : Yes Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Dinner Parking : Street Bike Parking : Yes Wheelchair Accessible : Yes Good for Kids : No Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Ambience : Trendy Noise Level : Loud Alcohol : Full Bar Outdoor Seating : Yes Wi-Fi : No Has TV : No Waiter Service : Yes Caters : No
Ashley M.
Best restaurant on Earth. The staff is always incredibly nice, and the food is amazing. I always order the seafood paella (the small is big enough for two), and all of the starters I have tried have been equally awesome! The drinks alone are worth stopping in for, with the added bonus that they have an incredibly generous happy hour. :)
(5)Edna C.
Trivia to impress your friends with: it's called Cascal because it's on the corner of Castro and California. [BACKGROUND] I've lived in Mountain View for over 10 years and never came here despite its immense popularity, because it looked so pricey. I cringed. Then one day my co-workers dragged me here. It's still pricey and I still cringe, but I must admit, it's good food. [FOOD] They have lunch specials, which all look quite meh and something that you can make yourself--mostly sandwiches and omelettes. (+) Complimentary bread: warm focaccia with garlic-pesto dip. It was so good that I thought someone ordered it. (-) Hummus, $8.5 (house made hummus, oven roasted Roma tomatoes, EVOO with grilled olive bread): tasted pretty much like your typical hummus, with this spicy oil and a dash of cilantro on top to make it pretty. The olive bread looks like one of those rustic signature baker breads, but wasn't super amazing. Overall tasty appetizer, but definitely not worth that much. (-) Ceviche (couldn't find description and price on online menu): very lime-y like most ceviches, nothing special. (++) Braised Pork Belly, $12 (slow roasted pork with an Oloroso sherry glaze served with a fresh green apple papaya salad): the pork belly was delicious! I've never had a piece of meat so flavorful and cooked to perfection. The salad is a rip-off though--it's essentially a few skimpy pieces of colorful vegetables topped off with a few pieces of microgreens. It looks great in pictures, but amounts to no more than half a bite. (++) Beef Taquitos, $10 (shredded flank steak, sautéed onion, chile arbol, guacamole and crema): Very hand-made. The steak quality and seasoning is excellent, and the tortilla is crispy. I don't know what crema is, but basically the dish comes with shredded cabbage and guacamole, which seemed a little watered down to me. (++) Mixed Mushroom Oloroso, $9.5 (wild mushrooms marinated in herbs and garlic, roasted with butter and sherry ): has a nice kick. Fairly small though, so not sure if it's worth the $9.5; that could get you an entire meal at most restaurants. [AMBIANCE] Outdoor seating is calm and classy with rather simple patio furniture. Indoor seating is more festive with the bright, colorful decor, high ceiling, and fiesta music. [SERVICE] Our server looked angry the entire time. Maybe he was just trying to be manly, but I like friendly servers who smile :/ [TIP] It's always packed, especially the outdoor seating. I would definitely suggest making a reservation to be sure. [CONCLUSION] Expensive, but a satisfying culinary adventure. Try to find some excuse to celebrate something, and try Cascal at least once in your lifetime. [DISCLAIMER] Sorry, no pictures since I went with co-workers--can't look like immature taking pictures of all my food and rudely asking everyone not to eat yet.
(3)Kim D.
Came here on a Friday night with a party of 8. I made reservations ahead of time which I would recommend if you have a larger party because it did get crowded when we where there. And Cascal was very accommodating with my changes in reservation. The service was great. Live music so expect a loud environment. We all ordered tapas style and thoroughly enjoyed the food. Had the Seafood (Paella A La Marinera) and Meat/Seafood Combo (Paella Cascal) Paella. I loved the Seafood one more. We ordered two Small plates of each and they were more than enough to share. I can only imagine how large the Large sizes are. MedAlbondigas (Spicy Moroccan lamb meatballs), It tasted okay. Just okay. Was a bit unforgettable. Could have done without. Queso Fundido (cheese fondue with tortilla): delicious. definitely a hit. Who doesn't love melty cheese? Mussels Pimenton: The mussels themselves were just ok but the sauce did taste pretty delicious. Pescado Marbella: HUGE hit. Ahh the brown butter sauce. This even converted some fish haters. Was recommended by the waiter and thank-you waiter. It was de-li-ci-ous. Sizzling Shrimp: Good but not particularly memorable Spanish Tapa Sampler: It was...interesting. Good to try but nothing on it stood out as awesome for me. We didn't order it but the waiter personally recommended the Cuban Wrap. I'll try that next time. Tres Leche Cake- A hit. The cake was soft and fluffy and was a great partner with the fruit. Spanish Flan- forgettable. It was the last dessert finished. Not bad but not that great. Warm Chocolate Soufflé Cake- The coffee ice-cream was the star in this dish. The cake was very rich so I only wished they had more ice-cream to accompany it. We actually had to get another scoop of coffee ice-cream. Pumpkin Spiced Bread Pudding- I enjoyed the vanilla ice-cream. I don't particularly love pumpkin but others did enjoy this dish. And lastly the sangria. Total bomb. So have at it. It was a great experience. Also, enjoy the view of a few "Stiffler Moms" rocking the made up dance floor by the bar. Hilarious.
(5)Jonas C.
I'm told it's the best/only real tapas place south of SF. I could be wrong. That being said, it's very solid. the pork belly and the mushroom empanadas were quite good. The scallop ceviche was very interesting and octopus didn't really impress me, but certainly, the overall quality and service was good enough that I will be back to try more stuff.
(4)Denise L.
Food and drinks: 5 stars, Service: 1 star = 3 stars overall. I desperately want to give this place a much higher rating, but I just can't do it with such inconsistent service. But the food! It's just so amazing if you're ready to try some new things as a group. That's what tapas are all about! Here are my favorites... TAPAS: ---------- - Wild Mushroom Empanadas - With manchego cheese and truffle oil, these empanadas are off the CHAIN. - Cuban Wrap - Tasty marinated adobo pork tenderloin is one of my favorite food styles a restaurant could possibly have. Win. - Roasted Scallops - This dish is small and I am always disappointed when the last scallop is left on the plate. However each scallop is so savory that to me it's worth it. LARGE PLATES: ---------------------- - Paella Cascal - This paella blew my mind. It was a delicious surprise and we ate the entire thing! The ingredients melded together really well: Saffron rice, chicken, pork, chorizo sausage, shrimp, mussels, clams, smoked paprika sofritto, peas, piquillo peppers. If that doesn't make you salivate right now, I don't know what will! And most importantly.... DRINKS: ------------ - Red Sangria - The sangria is divine when it is made correctly. A few times I've had a watered down version (with which I was wholly unsatisfied), but for the most part the sangria has been strong and perfect for a night out. - Premium Mojito Martini - Bacardi Limon rum gives this drink a nice citrus flavor, topped off with fresh mint. Shaken, not stirred. :) - Cascal Ultimate Agave Margarita - Whew! This drink is tasty and strong. May I have another? LIVE SALSA MUSIC & DANCING! --------------------------------------------- Every Friday and Saturday night, Cascal has live music and a small dance floor is available near the bar. I wish they'd clear out more of the restaurant so there could be more room for dancing! The live bands are pretty fun and it's nice to see people of various ages/cultures up there groovin' to the beats and having a sexy time! SERVICE: -------------- Time to get down and dirty. Service is totally inconsistent here. I've had waiters that were awesome, had great recommendations, and made the experience a total success. Then I've had waiters that neglected our table (even when we wanted to pay the bill!), and were curt and not very friendly. It's a toss-up which kind you'll get. Personally, I like the first kind. TIP: There is high potential for a sexy date if you're ready to dance!
(3)Tani P.
I came here for dinner with a friend on Sunday night. The decor is colorful and vibrant, a good place to go for a fun lunch or dinner with friends. We ordered the Peruvian fish ceviche to start and it was fairly different from other types of Ceviche I've had in that the fish was cut into large pieces and there were very few additional garnishes aside from sliced jalapeños. It was very fresh and the lime juice had a hint of ginger that wasn't overbearing. We also ordered the shrimp coquettas, Mexcian gorditas, and the albondigas. The Albondigas were lamb -based and went nicely with the yogurt sauce they were served with. The gorditas were a little dry, but the coquettas were nicely done. The servers were very attentive and knowledgable throughout our meal - I would definitely go back to try the paella.
(4)David E.
This place is about a 3.5 star affair... This review is copied from my travel blog: After our brief flight from the John Wayne Airport we grab a rental car (2014 Nissan Sentra) and meet Bella's cousin and family and head to Cascal ( cascalrestaurant.com ) in Mountain View. This is a "spirited pan-Latin cuisine" restaurant per their site. The food was above average but definitely not spectacular. There is a nice vibe on the patio albeit a lack of protection from the sun. We ordered a tomato shredded beef dish and a fairly typical Cuban pork shoulder with sweet potato mash and black beans. The beef was a tad dry and the pork dish didn't compare with the more traditional Bella Cuba restaurant in Costa Mesa. The best thing here was the flan which was soft, tasty, creamy with an airy appearance. There was a nice orange flavor via sliced miniature pieces of fresh orange (on top) with juice rolling over the edges of the dessert. The service was adequate but even on a Saturday I don't recommend bringing young children here. You could tell on the staff's face (right out of the gate) that they weren't thrilled with having youngsters in their establishment. You could sense the impatience on the server's face as the mother and father were distracted several times catering to the demand for attention from their children. My assumption is that they are much more accustomed to serving corporate clientele given their location. The worst thing here was the seating. The chairs were oddly shaped similar to a triangle albeit not pointy at the end. Unbelievably the small portion of the chair is where your "posterior" was supposed to fit. Truth-be-told my gluteus maximus isn't the width of an MTA bus but "baby got back" would be a very accurate statement. As a result, I was never comfortable and wished I could temporarily be as petite as the Asians I was currently dining with. Downtown Mountain View looks way more appealing than I recall but I only recall visiting this area twice during my college years. There are some great looking condos and lots of restaurants and cafes nearby.
(3)Allister D.
Finally came back weeks ago with a friend and dined with drinks. I had the squid salad which was refreshing. The meat squid/octopus wasn't too chewy either. The sangria was on point. The pitcher was a bit pricey but it filled me about four glasses. Not bad. Once again, Cascal did an amazing job. The experience with sitting at the bar with dim lighting and a Moroccan style band playing is just great. This is a nightlife I'm totally into.
(5)Anila Y.
Came here for a birthday dinner. It is definitely unique, and a gem of local "downtowns." The ambience is fun and perfect for after work happy hour/dinner. I really appreciated the extensive vegetarian menu. As a party of 7 we ordered pretty much the entire vegetarian menu. However, the only two items that stood out to me were the mushroom empanadas (and these I REALLY enjoyed...REALLY!!!) and the brussel sprouts. Nothing else really stuck out. I would like to say that I didn't particularly enjoy the vegetarian paella but when my dad went there, he said he really liked it, so I guess its just a matter of taste. Special mention for the Sangria. I prefer not to drink any alcoholic beverages simply because I never acquired the taste. But this Sangria was refreshing and delicious! It WAS difficult to get a reservation. I called at 11am and was unable to get a reservation for 7pm that night. However, we went in at 6 and were able to have a table by 7:15. Overall, worth a try.
(4)Janet H.
Oh. My. God. The food here is soooo yummy that I couldn't stop eating.... seriously. I kept eating and eating even though I was full... it was pretty bad; to the point where I was still full at dinner time. #FirstWorldProblems Anyway, I had a team lunch with my coworkers today and Cascal was such a great choice! The food was scrumptious and so flavorful! Partway through the meal, I already told myself I'm coming back. Like other Yelp reviews have mentioned, service here is horrible! They were super slow (seriously took 10 minutes before my coworker got her soda) and the server didn't even check up on us when we got our food... on top of that, no one refilled our drinks! The restaurant wasn't even packed, so there's no excuse for that. Hrmph. I also attempted Happy Hour last week, but there was no where to sit by the bar so my friend and I went off somewhere else.... so get here early if you'd like tapas after work. Otherwise, totally worth it for the food. I recommend: - Paella! We had a party of 6 and a large was the perfect amount. Someone in our group was allergic to seafood so we got the one with lamb, chicken, and a bunch of drool-worthy ingredients... soooo yummy. Definitely reminds me of my study abroad days in Madrid. - Queso fundido: This is more of a Mexican dish but who doesn't love gooey cheese with peppers? One of my coworkers scraped the dish clean and ate it alone towards the end. - Chicken with banana leaves: So flavorful and tender. Overall, I recommend any of their meat dishes because they were so juicy and flavorful. - Tortilla espanola: A classic Spanish dish. A must order! - Beef Taquitos: savory, and with guacamole... anything with guacamole always receives bonus points. Other highlights were the pollo andulucia and the sizzling shrimp. The menu is pretty overwhelming.... I think I'm going to come back here to try one of everything! And of course, you gotta get the sangria! Of course I would come back in a heartbeat. My main gripe is the service... terrible.
(4)Ss S.
gret happy hour selection of drinks and appetizers. It gets pretty packed so the noise level is high wgere you have to almost yell or speak super close. Ordered the fried potatoes that were sprinkled lightly with semi spicy ingredients. I could have done without that. The 3 dip chip platter was very good! id do that again... guacamole, black beans and baked cheese. Croquets- delicious!
(4)Scott F.
Public service annoucement: The tres leche cake sold at Safeway, for $2.50: yelp.com/biz_photos/safe… Is vastly superior to the tres leche cake sold at Cascal ($7.75), and the Safeway version is double the size. In particular, the tres leche cake at Cascal is overhyped and downright bad: yelp.com/biz_photos/casc… The meringue sauce on top has a very pungent lemon flavor, almost like limoncello, that obliterates any nuance to the underlying cake. The soaked cake texture itself is meh. but, some things are very good: - Wild Mushroom Empanadas with manchego cheese and truffle oil - very good. *super* savory crust, and also very filling. yelp.com/biz_photos/K6Id… - Fresh corn and goat cheese arepa with red onion-tomato chutney: very good. a bargain for $4. yelp.com/biz_photos/K6Id… - Caipirinha - excellent. The secret: great muddling technique. yelp.com/biz_photos/K6Id… Here's a tip: ask for your caipirinha a little sweet, and "well shaken." They use Leblon Cachaça. - The complementary bread and basil dipping sauce is great. yelp.com/biz_photos/K6Id…
(4)Vivan T.
This is my go too spot for girls night during a week night after work. The foods is decent. We usually order: -Sampler appetizer platter- good, would order again -Paella Cascal- good it does the trick esp. cause there chorizo in it, but no crispy bottom. I would order again. -Braised Pork Belly- good I would order this again. Make a reservation here, it gets crowded.
(3)Todd M.
Great music and good food! Cascal is my favorite Tapas spot in the south bay. You have to start with the mushroom empanadas. For the main entrees you can pick between small or large plates. I love their paella, its bursting with Spanish flavors. Along with your Spanish meal you need the perfect Spanish beverage... don't be shy order that pitcher of Sangria! They get very busy on weekends and sometimes service is a little slow depending on how many dishes you order. They have live Spanish music and along with the food you'll think you've been transported to Spain.
(4)Timothy B.
This place is full of unexpected mixes of different cuisines. A bit pricey, but very tasty.
(5)Grace G.
The large paella is HUGE! The seafood mix paella had various fresh seafood in it - a huge plus. It is the best I have had in the South Bay, but not necessarily the best I have had in the bay area nor the world (Spain still wins). We made reservations 2 hours in advance and waited at least 10 minutes to be seated. The staff was very friendly. I loved the Latin vibe of the restaurant.
(3)Tulsi M.
The food is quite good and there happy hit drinks are the best. The portions aren't bad considering its tapas but still a little to $$$ for what it is. The server was super distracted by his phone when I went. He wasn't attentive and seemed very annoyed at our presence. It was just me and a friend and we ordered quickly and ate peacefully. Worth checking out for happy hour!
(3)Anna F.
Delicious tapas/small plates! I had the sparkling sangria here which was great, but if you want something stronger I suggest getting the red sangria. For an appetizer, I tried the Peruvian ceviche which was delicious! The beef short rib adobo was AMAZING...literally melts in your mouth like butter and was paired well with the croquette/cornbread. We also had the Paella a la marinera which had a good combination of fresh fish, clams, shrimps, mussels, calamari, scallops. etc. The plate was big enough for 2 people. It was delicious! Our server was nice and very attentive. Excellent food and service overall! I'm definitely coming back to try the other small plates!
(5)