Cali Kitchen and Bar — Restaurant in Houston

I don't usually go out to way to leave reviews, let alone a bad one. But there's always a moment for a first.

So me and my lady date were rolling looking for our dinner for the night. We were gonna past them and go to Logan's... Keep that in thought as i complete the review. However she remembered a waitress that was really nice from a prior visit and i was under the impression that its a B.O.B. so since i never been we detoured to Cali kitchen to get our libations. The building wasn't busy by any means i must state; there were two other tables with guests and that was it.. Immediately upon entry there was a hostess at the door. Note that this was the only time i saw anything relative to expectations of customer service as a patron of the restaurant... Then everything went downhill from there.

We walk in w smiles and tell the hostess it's just us two. IMMEDIATELY me and my date detected an attitude of some nature, as if either WE bothered her or she was bothered that she was at work. Hesitantly she escorts us to a table and after mumbling some small script she informs us of a qr code to look at menus. She trots off and joins a group of other waitstaff and bartenders at the bar and they simply congregate for minutes while glancing at us periodically but not with intention of coming to serve us. At this moment me and my date notice a menu board w a SATURDAY happy hour ("HH" going forward) special during the time we are patronizing the restaurant, which peaks interest from us but has no explanation of the offer.

So by this point we've perused the online menu and determined what we were having, and about 10 min or so has passed and we still havent seen a waitress yet we're noticing this group of waitstaff at the bar socializing during the whole period and if im correct, one of them was actually having drinks.

Moments pass and a waitress eventually brings us water, makes quick work of asking if we were ready, which we were. We inquire about the happy hour offer and we're told that theres no HH on sat. We dispute that claim based on the menu board but the waitress is steadfast so she calls her mgr off duty to verify for us.. now she still didn't take the order, she just walks off. Also notably is that she kept trying to walk away and talk at the same time as if she was too busy to just sit with us. She walks off and now its probably been over 20 min since we've entered the building. She eventually comes back and again denies the HH request per the mgr even though we show her the board.. i explained that legally shed have to honor that but i moved on from it...Also i was told that we basically place our own orders through the qr code and its brought out to us.

Ultimately we decided that the experience wasnt worth suffering through the treatment the establishment anymore. We packed up and left. Passed right by the group of waitstaff and not one was concerned that they lost a customer and business. We went down a few doors to logans steakhouse (A MAJOR CHAIN) and when i tell you i got a complete 180 degree turnaround from my Cali Kitchen experience. I was seated immediately by nice young ladies, saw a nice server within 10 min and within the same time we wasted with you at cali we had drinks, dinner and a top tier experience.

Certain groups will complain that we spend our hard earned money w the "others" and not the "brothers" .. listen.. no matter who you patronize there is an expectation of a certain level of service and quality of your experience that should be bare minimum to maintain the masses. I wouldnt want to go to a 5 star restaurant co owned by Gordon Ramsay and guy feiti or whatever his name is and see a dirty plate no more than i want to go to my local small business restaurant and see the same.

I think this is a case of management but if management are actually the owners as well i think yall might want to do some restructuring. It was Sat at or around 5/6 during yalls "happy hr" and you had two people in your establishment. Logans was damn near...

I STRAIGHT OUTTA CALI!!

BORN AND RAISED…,

I just wanted to take a moment to rave (I’m just using that word cause I really can’t find a word right now to express the emotional physical mental and business acumen that I experienced while visiting Cali Taste Bar

I had the most phenomenal and outstanding experience with their bartender, NUADIA (I pray I spelled it correctly 😩). I came across the Cali Kitchen Bar in Houston—Nuadia…… ooh LAWD. I am completely blown away by the level of service she provided.

Her infectious spirit made us feel as if we'd known her for a lifetime. Her dedication towards her customers was above and beyond what's typically expected of a bartender. Trust me, I was watching every single thing. And I realize that she was watching every single thing in the restaurant!!!

I am a very huge football fan!! Nuadia was definitely giving me MVP Josh Allen 4th quarter experience in the playoffs!!!

And I’m a CHARGERS FAN!! 🏈💙💛⚡

Whether she was bustling in the kitchen, checking on orders, or engaging with customers in the most personable manner possible, she made it seem effortless. Her initiative to assist the staff and check on the customers' tables going back and forth to the kitchen to check on order is NOT only uncommon but highly admirable.

Real stuff bartenders are not paid to do this👀👀

Her attitude, behavior, and the loving spirit with which she carried out her duties were unforgettable. Even in the most trying situations, she read the room with ease and handled everything with such grace that it warmed my heart.💓

As an individual who's been in the industry for a while…

And if you’re like me in the industry and looking for top talent and and wanting that feeling of that extra shot on top of your double…then you low-key are me 🫣 You want the best for your guest!!

It's rare to come across someone like Nuadia. Her warmth, comfort, and the sense of 'going home' she brings to Cali's Kitchen and Bar is unparalleled.

She wasn't just serving customers; she was making everyone feel special and attending to them IN THIER MOMENT WHILE MAKING MOMENTS for them and whomever guests they were with..,

In this day and age, I’m gonna tell you looking for a good talent is not easy and if you’re in the industry, you already know! So you know, when you come across a golden one, you have to share it!

And yes… I just came there for some wings and tequila and it just got even better..

It was an experience!

If you get a chance to meet the owner, Oscar, and you happen to be in the same industry, I strongly recommend investing a few minutes of your time for a conversation with him. His knowledge of the industry is impeccable; his establishment truly represents the essence of Cali and his love for what he does and who he does it for, and I couldn't be prouder to be a Cali native. 💞❤️🙌 IN HOUSTON I MIND YOU 👀

For anyone reading this…. I am one proud 619 native, my sincerest admiration goes out to Nuadia, Oscar, and the entire Cali Kitchen Bar team. Keep up the magnificent work, guys. Can't wait to visit again soon! 🍻👏👏💯

YOUR VIBE WAS EVERYTHING!! Shout out to the owner, Oscar for literally sitting down and allow me to share my experience with him. It’s not a easy task when you’re in the industry to take time at the end of the evening knowing there’s checkouts , checklist and everything else going on, but he took the time and for me that shows that his life work is not just about serving food, but it’s about...

We are very disappointed in this Cali kitchen place. There was no one there to greet us upon entry, and we had to seat ourselves. We then had to wait over 30 minutes before someone even came to our table to acknowledge us and take our drink orders. Returning with the drink orders took some time as another 30 minutes had passed before we would see them. The shots were not brought out in shot glasses as standard at other restaurants and were instead served to us in plastic solo serve like cups🥤. This was weird, which we had never seen before. We were now ready to order food at this point, but no one was available to assist us with completing this. We asked the guy at the bar if he could take our food order, and he stated to us that he only takes the drink orders and is not a server and does not take the food orders. So we asked him well if he could find our waiter for us to let them know we are trying to order. Finally, the waiter arrived to take our orders, which added more confusion because we were here for their wing special we were told about, and the menu had different quantities of wings than what was being offered on the actual their wing special. This added additional time for staff explanation, which could have been avoided if this informatuon could have simply been stated provided in the menu or if the wing special would simply come in the same wing quantity amounts that are listed on the actual menu. After ordering, it took another 30 to 45 minutes to receive our orders. Now we see the same guy from the bar who told us he is not a server and only takes drink orders and did not take food orders, literally going to tables, taking food orders, and serving. This was alarming since we were the only larger table party thlere with only a few other separate diners in the facility, each dining alone. There was no cause for the continuous delays and increased long wait times. It took so long to receive our order that we just simply asked them to make it to go instead of having to wait any longer. The food was not fresh at all, the fries🍟 were cold, and the taste was bland and mediocre. In addition to dining, some of our party came to experience and participate in karaoke 🎤also, but this never took place whatsoever. They waited and waited, but sadly, it never happened. Nothing was ever done to accommodate for the long wait times or the slow service that was rendered. No apology was offered. No discounting or coupons were offered for the issues we experienced. Cali Kitchen took no accountability for their actions.. This was our first time to this establishment, and as a result of this experience, it may possibly be the last. This is not the way to make a first impression on customers. Cali kitchen, y'all need...