Comal — Restaurant in Berkeley

I found at the beginning of this week that I got tenure promotion to Associate Professor from UC Berkeley. To celebrate this once in a lifetime achievement with my lab, I chose Comal. I have had relatively good experience with this establishment before and upon finding out about the downstairs dining place, I thought it would be the perfect venue for this very special occasion. However, I was absolutely wrong in my assumption.

We arrived in small groups shortly after 5:30 and for a period of less than 1 h, our group was 28 people + 2 toddlers. Our server, who looked extremely anxious and expressively overwhelmed, told me and a several of my guests that she did not know that we would be larger than 22 people and that we can’t stand up. I mentioned to her that I communicated over email and that the ”over the 22 people” limit was okayed and that it would be temporary. I also mentioned that she doesn’t need to worry about formality as we were hoping for a casual experience rather than a strictly sit-down formal dining. Not to mention that one of the little ones was a little fussy as he wanted his parents to carry him standing. The server repeatedly complained about this to a point that the family left even before the main dishes arrived, followed by 2 other people who had later plans, leaving the total number of people to 24 adults and one toddler for the remainder of the time. Witnessing my disappointment early on, the server suggested that I talk to the manager ( I can’t remember his name), who was decently accommodating. I mentioned to him about the transient state of crowdedness. Shortly after talking to him, the general manager Zack came downstairs to talk to me. He was patronizing, rather rude and condescending, where I felt completely humiliated. He noted that even if people leave, we are not allowed to accept anyone downstairs and that I signed an agreement for 22 people and that it was mentioned it’s against the rules to be over capacity (btw I can’t see this statement in the application that I filled). In fact two people came by later after we were down to 24 adults and a toddler, but I met with them in the patio and politely told them that they can’t come downstairs, which was quite upsetting.

I ended up paying a bill of 2341$ (dinner for 28 people and drinks). Honestly, I don’t care much about the cost even though I think it’s an unreasonable charge given that 4 people didn’t get to eat main course or dessert and 2 of the guests were little kids. The part that upsets me most is the treatment we received and the restriction we felt about enjoying the evening- people were literally scared of the server and I was scared of her + Zack, who I felt threatened by.

As a nearby restaurant to UC Berkeley campus, I have been to Comal many times before- never had anything remotely close to this terrible experience. In fact I have a group dinner with f on Monday. However, after what I’ve been through last night, I just emailed my colleague to cancel. I don’t think I’ll step into Comal ever again as this has been an absolutely traumatizing night, rather than a pleasant and joyful experience as we...

Comal is a vibrant and modern Mexican restaurant located in Berkeley, California. The moment you step inside, you're greeted with a warm and inviting atmosphere, complete with colorful decor and lively music.

The menu at Comal features a variety of traditional Mexican dishes with a modern twist, all made with fresh and locally sourced ingredients. One standout dish is the carne asada, which is tender and flavorful with a perfect char on the outside. The tacos are also a must-try, with a variety of fillings to choose from and handmade tortillas that are fresh and delicious.

The cocktail menu at Comal is impressive, with a variety of unique and creative drinks that are expertly crafted by the talented bartenders. The margaritas are a crowd favorite, with a variety of flavors and levels of spiciness to suit any taste.

The service at Comal is friendly and attentive, with knowledgeable servers who are happy to help you navigate the menu or suggest a drink pairing.

Overall, Comal is a fantastic restaurant that offers delicious food, great drinks, and a lively atmosphere that is perfect for a night out with friends or a special occasion. It's definitely worth a visit if you're in the Berkeley area.

One of the standout features of Comal is its commitment to sourcing locally and using sustainable ingredients. The restaurant works with local farmers and purveyors to ensure that their ingredients are fresh and of the highest quality, while also minimizing their carbon footprint.

In addition to its delicious food and drinks, Comal also has a beautiful and spacious outdoor patio that is perfect for dining al fresco. The patio is adorned with colorful flowers and plants, making it a lovely place to enjoy a meal or a drink on a sunny day.

Another notable aspect of Comal is its dedication to supporting the local community. The restaurant frequently hosts fundraisers and events to support local charities and organizations, and has even partnered with local artists to create murals and other artwork throughout the restaurant.

Overall, Comal is a great restaurant that offers not only delicious food and drinks, but also a commitment to sustainability, community, and creativity. Whether you're looking for a casual night out with friends or a special occasion, Comal is definitely worth...

Walked in, girls at the front booth were giggling and carrying on and had to stop their conversation to acknowledge us. Then the manager or someone came over to chastise them, within the first few moments of our arrival. It seemed from there forward the whole staff was new and being trained. Our waitress was very helpful when she was around but never was, she would be off talking to either someone at the bar register or waving her hands around and pointing at things with another staff member while I was trying to raise my hand to get service for each individual movement, appetizer, our entrees', our chicken hearts that they cook blood raw with char on the outside which honestly is fine for people who know, but there wasn't a * or anything indicating such an unusual thing. So when I suggested it was undercooked, she forwardly corrected me, and gave me a schpeel about it, but honestly, I just didn't know and didn't want my GF to feel uncomfortable so I said something and sent it back. Then I asked her for the check at the same time. She then didn't bring the check, she went to talk to the person who cooks it or something, but instead brought back the schpeel, then walked away and never came back. I had to wait like 15 minutes almost or more each time. I wasn't drinking... maybe this was the problem, geez... At any rate, I finally walked up to the bar register in the back and asked her, then still had to wait like 5 minutes so I just walked up to her with my credit card. Then I was going to give a garbage tip when I realized they don't tip, they automatically put it on the bill... which is so Berkeley of them, but wow... the tip... Don't ask me not to give you advice through financial reward, just keep doing what you are doing... I just won't be back. This place was epic and the service ruined it completely. The food was ok. My quesadillas were cooked fine. Tasted fine. Nothing great, kind of bland and oily. I was really looking foward to many possibilities here but nope... nothing was even good, just ok or bad. Shame... its so pretty. ...