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I don't know why, but my review for this restaurant keeps
I don't know why, but my review for this restaurant keeps disappearing. Just listing the stats since this will be the third time I've written a review for this place. So here we go again! Date: Thursday, September 28th, 2023 Time: 8pm Party of: 2 Meal: Birthday Dinner Reservation Made: via Tock about 3 weeks prior Californios Tasting Menu - Indoor Dining Room ($307) x2 *Chilapita *Tostada *Flauta *Ceviche *Sopa De Papas *Hielo *Bacalao de Begro *Alfonso *Venado *Codorniz *Asado *Frutas *Luneta De Chocolatl *Memento Mori, Chocolatl ADDITIONAL ITEMS: *Oro En Pz ($24) *Cali-No-Cho Mocktail ($12) *Agua De Piedra Sparkling ($8 ea) x2 *Carajillio ($20) *Corkage ($85) ADDITIONAL 20% Service Fee on all listed above HIGHLIGHTS FROM PREVIOUS REVIEWS: *2 Michelin stars, Contemporary Mexican *Complimentary glass of bubbles at the beginning of meal *Caviar dishes were delish, especially the soup one *Dessert courses were fun with the sparkler *If booking before 8pm, mandatory alcohol (or maybe beverage) pairing
Be the first to ReplyCalifornios was an excellent meal.
I enjoyed every morsel. The service was excellent and the meal well paced. We celebrated a birthday along with several others. My husband is pescatarian and accommodating him was painless. The highlights for me were the sope and the moles. I left full but not sick and the cocktails were a delight as well. I'm not sure the price matches exactly the food, but I was happy and enjoyed the experience!
Be the first to ReplyFantastic service, creative food, excellent ambiance.
Great for birthdays. They paid attention to details and provided a lovely experience.
Be the first to ReplyAbsolutely perfect meal.
I almost want to stop there as I feel like all the other reviewers did such a good job of naming the incredibleness of this place. The space is beautiful, bright, welcoming and the Latin music was fun and set it up so that no one takes themselves too seriously. For me the perfect expression of a 2 star Michelin restaurant. Fortunately, I did not eat all day to prepare for this. It is a lot of food, but in the best possible way. I think compared to other high-end restaurants we've been to in SF, what I appreciated most was that most courses were savory. Sometimes high-end restaurants give you way too many desserts (in some places sweets feel like a manipulation to address other courses that may have stopped short). But not here. Don't get me wrong, the desserts here were incredible. But the meal would have been perfect without it. That said, cotton candy wrapped popsicle? Are you serious? A heaven I could have never imagined. I don't even like popsicles or cotton candy, but I attacked that thing like it owed me money. As others have said, the taco sequence stands out; it's almost life changing. The tortillas here are the best I have ever had in my entire life. They show you the different corns they use and it really shows in how amazing they taste, not over processed, non-GMO'ed-- perfect. One taco was deep fried cod which was phenomenal and one of the other tacos was quail with pineapple and I think a black garlic salsa (?). I actually have never eaten an entire portion of quail ever in my life, as the texture is usually disgusting. But this quail, was seasoned perfectly and the texture was almost like filet mignon. And then soon after we had rockfish served with tortillas, greens, and salsas and a black bean puree that tasted like it had black mole in it. We asked for extra black beans! I could list other highlights (e.g., the potato soup and caviar, OMG; the puffed tortilla and caviar, OMFG), but I think the thing that struck us after we left is we have never been to a place like this and not had a single course that we thought was just okay. In other words, we really did think every single thing we ate was amazing. There was nothing we ate where we thought, "this is was good but okay," or that there was a course we would skip next time. It was that good. Also, the ingredients used are what is really in season, ingredients are we have been seeing in our produce boxes. There sources are mostly local and so fresh. The beverage pairing was incredible and yeah, we got wines from Burgundy to Patagonia, as well as sake and beer. It all worked perfectly. The service felt spot on to us. I did notice a slight slow down after the first 6 or so courses, but I thought that was intentional. Kind of a pause before more substantial servings. I appreciated it and the service was always incredibly attentive. I have written other positive reviews for a couple of places recently, but this really is the best place we have eaten at in SF in a very long time. I felt I owed this place a detailed review after such a stunning evening, but honestly, I could have stopped at perfect.
Be the first to ReplyLoved my experience here, service was great and the dishes
Loved my experience here, service was great and the dishes exceeded my expectations. The whole dinner was almost 3hrs. One minor thing was they used metal straws (not the issue) and there was something stuck inside!! I happened to suck it in before the drink got into my mouth and it tasted like it could have been a piece of old napkin. They gave us a new drink right away and also comped our drinks. But for a 2 Michelin star restaurant you are expecting attention to detail. The restaurant itself is super spacious and has amazing Californian style art and I loved that they played music I would actually listen to. Although it is pricy, I highly recommend trying this place out if you get a chance.
Be the first to ReplyTl;Dr - Incredibly fresh ingredients, with a noticeably
Tl;Dr - Incredibly fresh ingredients, with a noticeably good bar program that elevates the humble Latin flavors to extravagant highs. Service, ambiance, and attention to detail make this a destination for any well discerning gourmand. Given we've lived in Soma for about 6 years, it's a small wonder how we managed to overlook this little oasis tucked into a corner by DNA Lounge. The entrance is a little tricky, next to a large black fenced in area with some small signage. Management should consider a light on that, but alas, we made it. The inside of the place is noir, chic, with modern tones all around. They checked our coats and sat us next to a large frond, which I liked but some may have found it a little dark/shadowy. To me it added to the allure. I also enjoyed the exotic plant bouquet at the table. Starters included a very fresh agua fresca, a glass of champagne (courtesy to my wife and I for our anniversary) and a black corn tortilla bite with caviar that I'm definitely going to steal the idea for. (Tortilla chips + caviar = winning). Their concept revolves around corn and they offer a small intro to the masa and their farm where they source ingredients. I wish I knew Spanish because I feel like those who did speak it engaged with their staff on a much more in-depth level. This place is the only Mexican restaurant in the US with 2 Michelin stars, so it's of cultural significance, and the culture of Mexico is heavily present in every element of the experience from the plates to the Mexican blanket infused silverware. The first 7 dishes flew by, we said maybe we should slow down but thankfully the pace paused a bit midway so we could sit back and talk a bit. All the servers were very friendly, utmost professional. Water, tablecloths, high marks. The standouts from the earlier set was their signature potato soup (Sopa de Papas) which is a number of potatoes and dates covered in creamy broth with caviar and a little half moon fried potato on top. The caviar builds a backbone of flavor that lifts the starch flavors to incredible highs. It's powerful, savory, I could eat bowls of just that, it was delicious, probably my favorite dish of the night. We additionally enjoyed the bright, flavorful shrimp ceviche dish, with a small almost missed spicy calamansi-saffron aguachile it's steeped in. They bring the shrimp head out after, which is tasty as hell. From there they moved on to the taco course, which I was pretty psyched for. I love tacos, I've eaten them in probably damn near every state in the US. If you love tacos, you know the corn tortilla is half the meal. Every time a new taco would come out, I would smell the freshly made tortilla and just get high off the fumes. It really brought me back to some of the better places I ate at in Texas. Don't be shy about cracking a beer during the taco phase, I wasn't. Only time I've done so at this price point, but their selection of Temescal beers from Oakland was absolutely a pairing in this case. It's also worth mentioning they had some of the more memorable cocktails of any Michelin experience in SF. The cocktail my wife had (then I ordered), with mezcal and midori I am still talking about at other bars, that flavor combo tastes like a complex green chartreuse. Bravo to the bar program. Halibut taco was my standout favorite, but my wife enjoyed the al-pastor styled quail taco with pineapple and accompanied broth. The accompaniments provided were also very nice, pickled onion, carrot, lime. They elevated the humble taco, truly. The final round started with a intro on the ingredients going into their white and black 3-day mole. I had never had a white mole before, so I was eager to taste. The dueling moles with the yam were another major standout for me for the night. Exceptional flavors, well balanced with a mild sweetness, and the saltiness of the poppy/sesame tortillas. When they brought out the rock fish, I thought I was full, but when you taste the cook on the fish, with that absolutely sumptuous black turtle bean whip they bring out, we put it away with ease. That black bean was so damn good, I asked for seconds. The dessert course was fairly good, less memorable than the other courses only as so much as I was so floored by the dinner I lost focus. My wife loves chocolate, and I love fruit, we were both given things we enjoyed. Cotton candy with a sour surprise inside? My wife enjoyed it but that was the only dish I ate in spite of it. At the end of the night they gave us some aphrodisiac chocolate (lol) to take home, and some homemade vanilla extract (very nice). Always pleased to get a little extra. While we waited for our cab, we also had the pleasure of meeting the kitchen staff, and head chef Val Cantu. Totally unnecessary (I'm sure they were busy) but nonetheless a nice touch that we truly appreciated. Easily top 3 Michelin experience in SF, thank you to the team at Californios for making it a night to remember.
Be the first to ReplyI don't typically post reviews but this one was worth it.
I've only been to a few Michelin star (s) establishments but the staff and dedication to ingredients and experience was stellar. Get the mezcal it's amazing. Each course was so unique and delicious. Dessert really stole the show. I'd love the opportunity to go again. Thank you for a flawless evening!
Be the first to ReplyI have dined in Californios more than once before, and this
I have dined in Californios more than once before, and this time I chose Californios to celebrate my birthday. I made reservations for "Tasting Menu with an Experience", and I'm glad I did! First, we were invited to the kitchen, where we were given education in Mexican cuisine, greeted with champagne toast, and took pictures with the chef & owner: Val Cantu. Then for the first few courses we were seated outdoor under the heater, and I can say that the ambiance of this outdoor seating is very romantic. We were then moved to the indoor seating to finish the rest of our meal. The food was very good, very well thought out and executed. We had excellent meal from start to finish. We had mezcal and wine pairing, they both are terrific. Service was excellent, we were given education in Mexican cuisine, despite the menu had detailed descriptions of each dish. I had a very memorable birthday at Californios!
Be the first to ReplyLet the tour of Michelin starred restaurants continue.
.. Californios located in San Francisco, has a very interesting take on cuisine. Like most Michelin starred restaurants, diners will be asked for their allergies, etc. prior to the meal so that the restaurant is prepared to make adjustments as needed to the tasting menu. The restaurant is touted as elevated Mexican food, and some of the tasting courses left me wondering how. Let's start from the beginning... Parking is nonexistent, so be prepared. You might be lucky enough to find a spot on the street but they're few and far between. The restaurant itself does not really have proper signage, if any at all, and the exterior is not lit, making it difficult to locate at night. Once inside, the small host station is located next to their rather small bar area, neither of which is overly inviting. The art on the wall is what initially became confusing because in the bar area, there's a beautiful sugar skull painting, and in the dining area the rest of the art is abstract. Ironically it works. We both found service to be rather clumsy, and the wait staff seemed confused as to what they were serving us. The initial item on the tasting menu was almost immediately presented to us when we were seated, not allowing us to become comfortable. I will say that the first bite was tasty, and we were both excited about the impending experience. Different staff members will come out and serve the next item on the menu. It wasn't clear if this was something that they had prepared, or if they were simply delivering to the table. It would've been nice to have been able to offer compliments for those dishes that we enjoyed , we had known if that was the chef or simply someone dropping the item off. We both found the food for the most part to be delicious, but in many regards, the food was not seasoned properly. It either was far too citrusy, which drowned out the actual bite, or with some items it just lacked the level of flavor that one would expect at a Michelin starred restaurant. With all the dishes that were presented, the Wagyu threw us off the most. Wagyu is not an item found with this type of cuisine, and it left us both wondering if this was presented to justify the cost of the meal. The crispy duck served with a mole sauce was interesting, but the server that presented it to us, shared that the mole sauce was made with only a few ingredients. As a lover of mole sauce, and an accomplished home cook, this left me confused since most mole sauces have at least 20+ ingredients in it. It was still enjoyable nonetheless. The palate cleanser, which is a cilantro ice of sorts, is absolutely horrible. There are no other words to describe it. No one wants to cleanse their mouth with ice and cilantro. I don't know who came up with this, but for the love of all that's holy, please remove it from the menu. The other item is sadly the cotton candy portion of the dessert tasting menu. The cotton candy itself doesn't have a lot of flavor to it which is interesting since it's spun sugar. We were told when it was served, to take a full bite to the core of the cotton candy. Upon doing so, there is some sort of hard white chocolate that is filled with this harsh tasting citrusy stuff that will make you cringe. It definitely is not a way to end a meal. Neither of us were able to finish it because it was so bitter, and quite frankly horrible. The gelato/churro portion of the dessert tasting menu was also interesting. Again the gelato portion was fairly bland, and we've been instructed to dip our churros into the chocolate sauce that had been poured over the creamed dessert. We personally would've liked to have had the option to add more of the chocolate sauce to our bowls, but the wait staff removed the chocolate before we even started that portion of the dessert service. The best part of the dessert tasting menu, were the little tiny buttons of chocolate. Three different flavors, all of which were exceptional. The salted caramel being, both of our favorites. It's rare to find a balanced, salted caramel, and the chef that prepared this, hit it out of the ballpark. Diner tip: we had ordered the non-alcoholic pairing for both of our meals, and we were both disappointed. The flavors were all over the place, and none of them were drinkable. The wait staff would remove our drinks, and yet did not question why the glasses were still full. The pairings were fairly pricey, for what was offered, and there was not one time that we were told what food would be matched with the pairings or vice versa. The ambience was interesting, because seating is ironically, fairly close to other diners, and the expected din, was a variety of music that was not indigenous to the cuisine or anything else that made sense. I've never had a dining experience where the music ranged from 60s to rap, and went from rather loud, to something closer to a more enjoyable listening tone.
Be the first to ReplyNice ambiance and OK service.
The food presentation was beautiful. The dishes itself were a hit or miss....some dishes were good and a few were a bit salty which overpowers any other flavor. The desserts were a bit disappointing, had better desserts at a mediocre restaurant. Overall not what I would expect from a 2 star Michelin restaurant and the price.
Be the first to ReplyThis place still knocks it out of the park in terms of
This place still knocks it out of the park in terms of creativity, execution, presentation, service and ambiance. The only dilemma is that the pandemic has seemingly forced many restaurants in SF, especially the high end prix fixe ones, to raise their prices by 50%, pushing these sublime experiences outside the reach of even more people. I know that if this place offered a la carte (in addition to the tasting menu), I would come every week, instead of only once or twice per year.
Be the first to ReplyWe dined at almost all Michelin star restaurants in the Bay
We dined at almost all Michelin star restaurants in the Bay Area, including three Michelin stars restaurants multiple times. We visited Californios to celebrate our anniversary. Our take: (a) Food: In terms of food, it was average for the price we paid. Not a single dish really stands out honestly. (b) Service on the day of was rather reasonable. Friendly. (c) Booking experience: Worst of all. For fine dinings, it's reasonable that all reservations are final, as stated on Tock. What it DOES NOT say is that, rescheduling of an existing reservation is considered a cancellation. We needed to reschedule our reservation because it conflicted with the chemotherapy appointment for my dog. After a few emails, the Director of Service (Justine Hwang) was able to move our reservation but stated clearly that she did this by exception a few times. The tone of the email was rather uncaring, for a two Michelin star restaurant. I hope that the management of the company can learn from how customers are treated at Quince, Singlethread, Benu, Saison and Sons and Daughters - not only they are great restaurants, we were treated with care and heart. I would say...take your money and dine at a place with a heart.
Be the first to ReplyChef Val and Carolyn Cantu have worked so beautifully
Chef Val and Carolyn Cantu have worked so beautifully together to create Californios that is unlike any other place I've ever been! My loving partner and now fiancé planned a proposal dinner for us and it also happened to be Californios 10 Year Anniversary Celebration! The Californios Team was incredible from the planning beforehand, thank you Justine Hwang, to the on-site dinner! I was told how Justine helped curate our very special moment and each and every team member played a huge part in making it all happen. Captain/Assistant Sommelier Naomi, was incredible and brought forth so much rich knowledge of the history of Californios and the food journey we were on. On this special night of celebrating Californios there was the option for a cocktail pairing by Mo Hodges with our 14-course dinner. It was stunning and each pairing elevated each other! Incredible mixology that really spoke to us paired with the art form of food! Carolyn Cantu, the incredible designer that designed the interior of Californios, stopped by our table and also made us feel welcomed into the space and celebrating such a monumental moment for us. It felt like this team was fluid and able to take on all tasks while making every guest feel special in their gorgeous restaurant. I loved getting to meet the different chefs who invited us into every bite and told us more of the history around each dish. We had many ratatouille moments where we could taste and see the smells and colors! I even welled up with tears at different tasty moments in the night because my own heritage was being recognized and uplifted in such a beautiful way that we are so often overlooked and dismissed.The proposal went perfectly and I felt like I was in a movie! They gave the cue to my partner, which was so subtle I didn't even notice. A few minutes later our song started to play in the restaurant and my partner began to clink their glass and began their speech. Then they were on one knee asking me to marry them! I said yes and sparklers came out, glasses of champagne, and I melted for the rest of the evening. Justine then asked if we would like a tour of the kitchen and we felt so honored! Seeing each chef work together and smell all of the magic happening in there was amazing. You all made our night one that we will tell the tales of over and over again!Thank you to everyone who helped make this the most memorable moment of my life! We are so grateful to you! We cannot wait to visit you all again!
Be the first to ReplyThe food is amazing w, we had the 14 corse tasting , paring
The food is amazing w, we had the 14 corse tasting , paring with non alcoholic drink menu .The services is no less then amazing .The tasting menu is great it's many small dishes but u won't leave this place hungry be sure .All the food is super smart and unusual stuff that you don't see in eveyday restaurant
Be the first to ReplyI've eaten a lot of food in my life, but what I ate tonight
I've eaten a lot of food in my life, but what I ate tonight at Californios...no words. Just kidding, I have words. From the personable service, to the perfectly timed delivery of entrees, to the instagrammable decor, TO THE FOOD. Seriously I'm in my car on the way home from Californios as I type this. My favorite of the 15 courses were three tacos- served approx. during the middle of the experience. They should be called something other than tacos though because they were so elevated. "Jesus-crafted tortilla wraps", perhaps? A later course of Wagyu beef tasted as if the cow was hand fed olives by Greek gods and read a bedtime story each night. Just. So. Good. I will be back (gotta wait for the next paycheck lol)
Be the first to ReplyOur second time at Californios was as exceptional as the
Our second time at Californios was as exceptional as the first one. I particularly loved the ambiance- there is something very comforting about it. Our server David was fantastic! We opted for wine pairing this time and it really hit the mark. So good.Can't wait to go back!
Be the first to ReplyNo allowance for early, reasonable cancellations or
No allowance for early, reasonable cancellations or modifications to your reservation is completely ridiculous for $300+ a person.
Be the first to ReplyCalifornios is the best restaurant I ate at in 2022.
It is also one of the best restaurants in California, and it's two Michelin stars undervalue the creativity of the cooking and the quality of the ingredients.The new location (I last ate here in 2018 when they were in a smaller spot) is brightly lit and decorated in a fantastic dark palate with pops of color. I sat at the bar, but looked through the dining room (elegant) and the outdoor patio (it was too cold for me). The bar was great and interactive for a solo diner.The walk up a ramp beckons you into a fantasy world of cooking that excites the senses. Highlights for me included a seaweed-cured cold-smoked hamachi - perhaps the best hamachi I have ever had in my life. It has been several weeks, and I'm still thinking about the shock of flavor. Californio's most famous dish, a grilled banana topped with caviar, did not disappoint. But the back-half standout was a perfectly-cooked quail breast. The wagyu is mind-blowing (and most excitingly, wasn't the Miyazaki every high-end restaurant is serving, but an olive-fed cut from Shodoshima Island in Kagawa). Desserts could be improved, but I suspect my dairy-free restrictions may have impacted them. I still adored the spicy cotton candy.Don't sleep on the non alcoholic pairings - I'm not one for pairings but this was the best pairing I've had (and far beyond what Single Thread or The French Laundry are doing with their N/A pairings).Overall: nearly a month later I'm still head over heals for this mea
Be the first to ReplyEasy 5 stars for this 16-course super high end prix-fix
Easy 5 stars for this 16-course super high end prix-fix restaurant. Play in advance when you make the reservation for a very special occasion. It's $400 per person without drinks. Budget 3 hours and enjoy a highly refined menu where everything is explained in detail. If you want a private conversation, do not eat here. Because there are 16 courses and they explain in extreme detail everything they have done, they keep interrupting your meal. I think they could leave some papers with the info. Sometimes I just want to eat food, or spend time with my guest and the food preparation detail is not important to me.
Be the first to ReplyCalifornios is an experience.
Amazing food that is beautifully presented. And the flavors were delicious. The waiters were all so kind and friendly. The wine pairing is a must. They recommend some truly complimentary wines. My husband didn't do the pairing and had the bartender make drinks of their choice and they were all really good too. Highly recommend this dining experience.
Be the first to ReplyIntro: Friend and I decided to treat ourselves and go on
Intro: Friend and I decided to treat ourselves and go on a food adventure! As expected with popular restaurants, reservations are made on Tock with payment ahead of time. The manager was kind enough after to give us a tour of the wine cellar and kitchen. Food: The food was absolutely amazing. Since it is a tasting menu, it is expected to change but the dishes really pushed the envelope of Mexican cuisine. The portion sizes were perfect, the service was spot on, and the flavors were absolutely amazing. The stars for me were the wagyu steak and the fish tacos. Final Say (tl;dr): This was definitely a hit for me and would be recommending to anyone who wants to celebrate an occasion. My personal rating: 10/10
Be the first to ReplyI thoroughly enjoyed this place and want to go back! The
I thoroughly enjoyed this place and want to go back! The food was amazing as well as presentation and service. The restaurant is beautiful. We were dining for my birthday too and they made me feel special.
Be the first to ReplyIt's amazing to be alive and it this good! This is
It's amazing to be alive and it this good! This is definitely a special occasion dinner and you must come hungry. Yes, it's pricy, but totally worth it. Everything is perfection and you just have to let yourself ride the waves of flavor! See photos of everything we ate on this particular day. I can't wait to return to sample a different menu!
Be the first to ReplyLATIN.
Mexican tasting menus in swanky dogs for sure. 20+ course delicacies with a sophisticated twist. If you want a proper San Francisco food scene experience, book a reservation. You will be mesmerized by how incredibly beautiful the creations each are in their own right. The attention to detail is like no other. Check 'em out if you haven't already. Top notch for sure.
Be the first to ReplyFood and ambiance were incredible.
All of the dishes were creative, flavorful, and memorable. Many other reviews have been written about that so I don't need to add anything else, but I need to comment on the value of the wine pairing (for both the restaurant and for people considering it):We asked to split the wine pairing between the two of us, and our server offered a "1.5" wine pairing option as a way to split a single pairing between two people more easily. To me, this is a way for the restaurant to make more money (can't fault them for that), but if you're going to talk people into spending 1.5x what they intended to pay, then we expect actual pours of wine, not a few droplets into each our glasses. They were so egregiously stingy with the pours that when the final bill came to charge 1.5x wine pairing + 20% mandatory tip etc. we definitely felt taken advantage of, and it dampened our experience overall.I've never had this experience at other restaurants of similar caliber (in fact, generally I walk away feeling that, while the pairing is expensive, I always get a lot of it). I understand you're trying to run a business but please consider being more generous with the wine pours, especially when you convince people to pay significantly more for the 1.5 wine pairing option.
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