El Calamar — Restaurant in Santa Ana

The food here is great, SHRIMP TACOS ARE BOMB! My co-workers and I come here during our lunch break at least 5x's a month (for over a yr now). HOWEVER we have all decided not to come anymore. The last couple of months we've notice new faces (waitress etc)- we always let the waitresses know that we only have an hr lunch- WE LITERALLY WORK 5 MINUTES AWAY FROM THIS PLACE- we always know what we are going to order since we come here often... today we went in ready to order and the waitress totally ignore us, she walked away for at least 15 minutes (feels like if she did it on purpose because we had advised her of our time). Finally one of my co-workers waive at her to grab her attention. We tell her our order and request that we get it on time before our break is over, she replied in Spanish "no les puede prometer nada, la comida si se tarda" OK- that is WHY we were ready to order and you decided to walk away. This has happen at least 3 times now... reason why we've decided not to come here anymore.

*PLUS--- there were a lot of empty tables, meaning it was slow NOT busy at all, what is the reason for NOT taking our orders right away? Then taking for ever to bring the food out... seems like it was done on purpose. The food is good BUT the workers have issues (w/their attitudes, at least 3 different faces- like who do you think you are? The food isn't free, we are paying for it...) EVEN IF THE FOOD IS GOOD ITS NOT WORTH IT TO CONTINUE COMING, JUST RUINS...

This review is long overdue. I’ve been coming to this restaurant for years, even through the Covid restrictions when they set up tarps for outdoor dining. Every experience here has been exceptional, and I’ve always left satisfied. The service is consistently outstanding—staff are attentive and genuinely care about providing a great experience.

The food quality is top-notch, full of flavor, and never disappoints. One thing I can’t get enough of is their green salsa. I’m not sure what they put in it, but it’s absolutely addictive—I could put it on everything! I always ask for extra, and even when ordering to go, I request at least 10 servings of it, even if it’s extra cost.

The restaurant is on the pricier side, so it’s not the best option if you’re trying to stick to a tight budget. However, I believe the quality of the food justifies the higher price. The dishes are always fresh, well-prepared, and served warm. They even make handmade tortillas, which adds a special touch to the meal.

Additionally, their Micheladas are fantastic—refreshing and flavorful, perfect for pairing with any dish. I’ve never had to send a plate back, and I can confidently say this is one of my go-to spots for consistently great Mexican food. Highly recommend if you're looking for a satisfying meal with...

If I could give them negative stars, I would! This place has absolutely garbage customer service. The last time we came here, we had a very rude waitress. We asked her, more than once, for various things, and every time she would pass right by us without bringing it to us. When we'd ask her AGAIN she would give us a bad attitude. When we complained to the manager, she changed her attitude right away, which got her no tip. We decided to come back today and AGAIN horrible service. They sat us down and took our order (which was a glass of water...it was only 2 of us) people were sat next to us right after and they got their drinks before they brought ours. We decided to get up and leave, before even getting our water, since we were sitting there for over 15 minutes. Instead we went across the street to El Gran Sabor (Carnitas Sahuayo) and their service doesn't compare. We got our chips, salsa and drinks within the first five minutes of being there, which is no excuse since there was the same amount of people dining at both places. Getting up and leaving was the best decision we made. Not only are they way over priced, but their service sucks!! El Gran Sabor has reasonable prices and delicious food. I highly...