Cascal — Restaurant in Mountain View

Cascal in Mountain View provided a decent dining experience overall. While there were some highlights, there were also a few areas that left room for improvement.

The atmosphere at Cascal was vibrant and energetic, creating a lively ambiance that added to the overall dining experience. The restaurant's decor and layout were visually appealing, and the lively music created a pleasant background.

The menu at Cascal offered a diverse selection of dishes inspired by Latin American flavors. Some dishes truly stood out, showcasing bold and delicious flavors that delighted the palate. The ceviche and tapas, in particular, were noteworthy and showcased the chef's skill in creating authentic Latin American cuisine.

However, there were a few instances where certain dishes fell short of expectations. Some lacked the desired depth of flavors, and a few seemed overseasoned or underwhelming. Consistency in taste and execution would greatly enhance the overall dining experience at Cascal.

The service at Cascal was friendly and attentive, with the staff making an effort to ensure a pleasant experience. However, there were moments where the service felt slightly slow and disjointed. Improvements in timing and coordination would contribute to a smoother dining experience.

Pricing at Cascal was reasonable considering the quality and portion sizes. The value for money was decent, and the menu provided options for various budgets.

In summary, Cascal in Mountain View offers a decent dining experience with a vibrant atmosphere and some standout dishes. While there were inconsistencies in flavor and service, the overall experience was satisfactory. With some refinements, Cascal has the potential to provide a more consistent and memorable dining experience for...

I’ve eaten here over 30 times, and tried both in person and takeout. They’re busy, so you absolutely need a reservation. Lovely polite staff, and consistently delicious food. Great for work team dinners, date nights, or catch-ups with friends. They have great sized dishes for group dinners, and plenty of cocktails and wines to choose from.

Dare I say…I’ve had my fair share of paella in Spain, and I find Cascal’s to be comparable and the rice/stock very flavorful.

Personal highlights: Grilled octopus. A must. It’s a tapas dish, and I often get this as my personal entree paired with the Hearts of Palm salad because it’s so delicious. The salad is also fab.

Paella, obviously - they have 3 versions including a vegetarian one. I prefer the Marinera.

Limited dessert menu, but I’ve always enjoyed their tres leches cake

Their bread is really, really fresh and the mojo dipping sauce is wonderful. When I get take out, I actually save some of the sauce to put on my eggs, toast, or other savory foods.

Any of their ceviches— it’s a good dish to share

Seasonal dishes to grab while they’re on the menu: -short rib with red wine sauce -watermelon mint feta salad -charcuterie sampler dishes, especially if you’ve got a bigger group or just want a classic dinner of cheeses and cured meats.

Not a fan of their steak— it’s seasoned well, but the cut is odd and a bit like chewy cartilage in some places, and I’ve had it at least five times. Go for...

All my prior meals at Cascal (at the intersection of CAStro & CALifornia in downtown Mountain View) have been tapas, which were great and thoroughly enjoyable, usually paired with Sangria. This time, my sweetie Tess and I split a salad, a starter, and entre and a a bottle of wine, and it was fantastic! We started with the heart of palm, arrugula, sugar snap pea, red onion & avacado salad, which was beautifully split and bright and delicious with a great viaigrette. And shared the delectable tuna tartar, served in a fried tortilla shell with avacado, pineapple, and very mild jalapeno (Tess is quite capsaicin-intolerant, and she LOVED this dish). Paired with a lovely dry Argenentinian chardonnay (Filena) tasting of apple, citrus, and mineral, with appropriate acidity to stand up to the both the viaigrette and the ahi cerviche. And only $36/bottle! Our split entre was the roast Atlantic salmon with crema sauce, asparagus and corn poblano - absolutely delicious! The service was delightful and attentive, we were seated at the window overlooking the patio on Castro, the meal was presented beautifully and absolutely delicious, and the total for 3 courses plus a bottle of wine was only $107 (pre-tip). Our new fave on Castro - Cascal is more than good tapas, it's also fine dining at...