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Californios San Francisco Reviews
Californios has flashes of brilliance, but the experience
Californios has flashes of brilliance, but the experience isn't consistently polished. Service was hit and miss, while some staff were attentive and knowledgeable, others felt undertrained, which showed in the pacing and flow of the evening. Timing was the biggest issue: courses took too long to arrive, and the kitchen didn't adjust to our dining pace, which made the meal feel drawn out. On the positive side, when the food landed, flavors were very good and showcased creativity. Still, the execution wasn't seamless, with a couple of dishes missing the mark. The space itself is stunning, almost like dining inside a modern museum, which I really appreciated.
I went there for my graduation and it was a dream! Being
I went there for my graduation and it was a dream! Being from Mexico means I have high expectations when it comes to Mexican food and Californios did not disappoint one bit. The lobby/bar area is immaculate and features elegant decorative pieces that capture the essence of the country. Guests are greeted with a glass of champagne and soft latin music plays throughout your meal. The tasting menu will take you through a world of flavors and textures that include ingredients mostly sourced in California. Their dishes are mainly a unique recreation of Mexican classics with a history of their own. Their staff are friendly and very knowledgeable. You will get thorough descriptions of each course and the ingredients used in your food. You will also be given a small surprise to take home at the end of your meal! Overall, it was an amazing experience and wouldn't hesitate to go back.
Beautiful experience in every aspect! Celebrated my
Beautiful experience in every aspect! Celebrated my birthday recently. It was a memorable birthday celebration! The staff, the food, presentation, the music were phenomenal. A magnificent Michelin experience without being boring and stuffy! Will certainly be back!
At over 400 after tax, Californians are by no means cheap,
At over 400 after tax, Californians are by no means cheap, but in the Bay Area, with its rapidly inflated prices, the presentation is considered conscientious. The first few bite-sized dishes were quite large and solid. The tostada tortillas were thin, generously topped with tuna and thinly sliced serrano. The spice was just right. The aquachili was hot and fresh, with a scoop of citrus sorbet. Everything that followed was delicious, except for the sope, which was a bit salty... but that outweighed the benefits. Between courses, the server even displayed the ingredients on individual plates, and each plate was quite attractive. The dessert was a pleasant surprise. The fruit sorbet had an orange creamsicle feel, very refreshing and layered. I always thought pre-dessert sorbets were a rip-off, but I really enjoyed this. Then there was dessert, rum ice cream, which I even made into a flambe, paired with an apple empanada. The ice cream was delicious, but I couldn't finish the empanada, haha. The meal took a little over three hours, but it was a satisfying one.
A very unique fine dining experience with Mexican touches
A very unique fine dining experience with Mexican touches and modern techniques. I enjoyed most of my meal at Californios. The restaurant has a story about corn to tell, and you will have corn in almost every dish, in many different forms. Some dishes I enjoyed a lot were the roe on thinly sliced serrano peppers on crab on a chip, the peas with caviar, and the sweet potato. The dessert was also excellent. The sashimi dish was very strange to me -- while there was a slight mexican element to it, in the "not soy sauce" (it was basically soy sauce but made with Mexican ingredients instead, and smokier), the dish didn't really fit in with the others. In general I felt that there were not enough meat dishes, or dishes that were pure veg that could have benefitted from some meat. The few times that you have meat, I felt like there should have been more. E.g. the rockfish at the end, for 2 people to share, is a bit disappointing. And I wish I got more mole sauce, since it was so tasty, and there was a lot of effort put into making it. Service was good all around except we had a random 15 minute break between the tacos, which was strange, since most of the meal was very on time. We also felt that the somm was pretty checked out. 9:30PM is late so I get it, but there lacked some enthusiasm and attentiveness on the wine recs and service, whereas the rest of the staff had it. The wine list itself is a bit lacking as well, especially for the cuisine offered, I felt that more Tempranillo and more spice like wines would work well. Ended up balling out with Dujac anyway, which was fun. But with costs in mind, would not recommend the average person do that. In general the wine list is very friendly in terms of markup, hovering in the 1.5-2x range rather than 3x+ that you find at most 2 star establishments.
This was my absolute favorite michelin star and fine dining
This was my absolute favorite michelin star and fine dining experience ever. I was excited about the food and ingredients especially after the servers would explain the context and tradition before the dishes came out. This helped me understand the value of the ingredients and reason for the flavors. I can't even begin for list my favorite dishes because that would be all of them. Every single dish knocked it out of the park! From the first few small bites to the last dessert, every dish had exquisite and complex flavors while also making it a very simple and humble experience. You really felt the beautiful mexican origins in each dish. You can taste how genuinely fresh all of the ingredients are, especially since they're locally sourced and according to seasons, as per servers knowledge. Also they were very helpful for any dietary restrictions or preferences as well as allergies! And they didn't make the dishes any less flavorful or exciting with these requirements, they were creative and made them equally as delicious! The ambience was also great! Some fine dining places have extremely dark moody atmospheres where you can't even see your company while dining and chatting; however this place has beautiful colorful paintings on the walls and great lighting to be able to actually see your company (and the food!). The music was also great and I enjoyed the vibe with some spanish music - fusion and also some traditional. Every server was amazing, they were so kind and helpful and soo informative! It was my husband and I's anniversary and they treated us so special even with a full dining room. Incase it wasn't apparent already, I cannot wait to come back! :)
Absolutely gorgeous and memorable meal.
Save this for special occasions and come hungry!! An overly detailed review: Service: 12/10 they are Michelin-level attentive but not a single person comes off as judgy or pompous. I would genuinely like to be friends with all of them?? Extremely positive energy all around. Ambience: 12/10 the restaurant is a rare place in the Bay that forces you to dress up and makes you enjoy it. Everything is either deep, moody black or vibrant, joyful color. If you get a wall table, be selfish and take the bench seat so you can enjoy the art. (Only asterisk is the music, see below) Food: 12/10 this is a feast, but in such a refined and delicate way it sneaks up on you. You start with a few beautiful little caviar/roe dishes--the spicy crab salad tostada with serranos is killer. The "ham flan" sounds weird if you translate it, but it is one of the best things I've ever experienced. Pops of bright snap peas over a custard and caramelized ham juice. It's so good; ignore the words. The two fish tacos are outrageous, one fried, one with a mix of salsas that make you want to get into pickling onions. Because there is SO MUCH food, save room on the bean and mushroom "bocol" (earthy but heavy) and "nixtamalized" sweet potato mole (delish but filling). The dessert is epic--never have I ever had almond ice cream, let alone THAT ice cream--and the strawberry empanada/crumble (for us GF folks) makes you wish you skipped the sweet potato. There are several other dessert treats, the hot chocolate and cotton candy beat the others. Amidst all of this, they are super accommodating to dietary restrictions and make us celiacs/gluten-free folks feel like queens. Music: ?!/10 the music was an eclectic shuffle, going between experimental jazz, Mexican hip hop, Taylor Swift, and Chappell Roan. Any of which is fine, but the vibe shifts track to track were a bjt distracting.
this place set the bar pretty high as my first michelin
this place set the bar pretty high as my first michelin star restaurant highlights: caviar potato soup, fried halibut, rock fish everything was prepared super fresh and meticulously, all the flavors blended rly well together we even got to tour the kitchen afterwards and take a pic with the chef!! only downside was that the whole experience took 3.5 hours definitely would come again !!
We loved our experience at Californios, an excellent
We loved our experience at Californios, an excellent example of elevated Mexican cuisine done right. Dishes were simple but tasty. We liked that they did not shy away from spice when spice enhanced the flavor profile, and overall felt the dishes were well balanced both in texture and flavor. We especially loved the quail taco. The desserts were more of a miss for us - the petit fours were overly sweet - but all in all a good experience.
Great food, but otherwise some room for improvement
This is by far the best Mexican food I have eaten and frankly, it was delicious and special alike. The space is modern and the decor modern Mexican. Staff are friendly and attentive and once seated, the tasting menu started. For me the highlight was the third dish, namely the tostada with tuna. Not sure how they managed to make a tostada that does not fall apart when being eaten. Astounding. The second highlight was dessert. But overall, the food was really good. Now to the few items that could be improved: First, at times the meal felt rushed. More than once did servers try to take away a plate before it was finished. Not acceptable for a two-star place. Even worse, putting down the check together with the petit fours is just tacky. This needs to be changed asap. The nonalcoholic pairing was, at times, a little on the weird side, too. Finally, having some tech bro in shorts and a tank top sitting in a two-star restaurant just begs for a minimal dress code. I know this is San Francisco, but have some respect for the culinary art! A tour of the kitchen and a brief chat with the Chef and team were absolutely amazing. Thank you! Would I come back? Not until the aforementioned details are fixed. Ah, and then there is the price, too... very very expensive...
One of the best food and dining experiences of my life! The
One of the best food and dining experiences of my life! The food is mind blowing, the drinks both non alcoholic and alcoholic are amazing- Patrick is a magician of a mixologist, the service was perfection, the vibe was unpretentious and beautiful! Everything you could ever want from a Michelin star experience!! Can't wait to come back!!
This is was an extremely unique Michelin restaurant for its
This is was an extremely unique Michelin restaurant for its Mexican and Texan heritage. It definitely blew my mind away on their potato soup and fish taco course. The amount of food given in the course is INSANE! You will NOT leave hungry. The food was excellent! Ambiance is fantastic! It felt like a lovely speakeasy that I could've spent hours at. The reason for 4/5 stars is compared to other Michelin star restaurants that I've had the privilege of experiencing. I felt that the service lacked and the meal pacing paused randomly between courses without notice. Plus, service was not as consistent as what I've experienced in other restaurants. Definitely recommend to make a reservation here!
The food here was incredible.
I loved the explanation and presentation of the ingredients ahead of the dishes. The colors and flavors were so unique and familiar at the same time. The service was impeccable and everyone was so friendly and welcoming. I would absolutely come back again. One of my favorite Michelin experiences to date.
First time I came here (to their old location) I had one of
First time I came here (to their old location) I had one of the best meals of my life. When they expanded, the quality of the food and the intimacy of the experience definitely suffered. I suppose how it goes, but took it from a 100000/10 to a 7/10. Still giving them five stars because that original experience will stick with me forever! Wish they could find a way to replicate the early times.
Not until recently has dining at Californios become an
Not until recently has dining at Californios become an actually possibility for me, during my undergraduate years I recall seeing chief on eater as being labeled at the time the only 2 Michelin star Mexican restaurant. Since then I have made it my goal to hit all the fine dining experiences with my partner that I highlighted on my YouTube page. Californios had this very modern ambiance that felt right, the environment fits the restaurant perfectly and the service was amazing. We showed up early but Patrick at the bar took exceptional care of us and even worked up some amazing drinks that were out of this world. Each course was amazing in its own way and all the flavors were similar but elevated from what I was accustomed to growing up, chief of you read this your red mole almost brought me to tears as it tasted exactly like my grandma Alma's mole. She unfortunately isn't able to cook now but the taste brought me back to a time period when i would be in her kitchen and she would prepare it by scratch. The experience was amazing and i plan on sending my mom here for her birthday with my partner this year, i wish nothing but success to Californios and hope to see them get a 3rd star in the future.
best meal i've had so far in sf.
the flavors mixed so well in each dish and the way they integrated corn was so thoughtful and innovative. you will be stuffed!!! we unfortunately didn't finish many of the later dishes. only small complaint is that some of the staff seemed to be struggling during some of the explanations for each dish? as if they forgot what the dishes were
Loved my meal here.
Beautiful space, great service team, dark accents inside but still well lit through skylights. A really delicious menu from start to finish, nice kitchen and cellar tour after, good pacing throughout. Great salsas and tortillas that rivaled anything I've had in CDMX. Will definitely return to try future menus
A unique experience undoubtedly.
Ambiance lovely. Service amazing. Each plate is like a little work of art that you want to hang upon your walls. The flavors of these miniscule treats are incredible, even maybe arousing. Or is something else going on? I arrived hungry, and I'm now becoming aware that these beautiful tiny delights are only teasing my biological needs. I'm an average, 70kg, Latino male with a high metabolism as I run regularly. Upon the conclusion of the dinner, a mostly joyful evening with old friends, I became keenly aware that I was unexpectedly very hungry. When finally home that evening, I heat up an emergency can of soup. At that point, this simple soup tastes equally exquisite and much more satisfying, and it saves my life. So the counterintuitive bottom line is... don't go to Californios hungry.
And I want to review my 100th here at the special
And I want to review my 100th here at the special restaurant for my birthday. Californios is the only 2 Michelin stars Mexican restaurant in the USA if I'm right. Really excited to come here to celebrate. You will find their restaurant with the black wall and walkway into the restaurant. Greeted by the people there. Feel very welcoming and the restaurant was so beautiful inside. Come here you can learn about their culture and food that makes it so special. All 15 courses are different flavor , texture and temperature. They were all amazing. From the first bits to last. Even the candle is like fireworks. Thank you to all team californios to make this dining experience so memorable for me. If you are planning to celebrate, I would recommend this restaurant and you will feel so special like I was.
Embark on a culinary odyssey at Californios, a
Embark on a culinary odyssey at Californios, a Michelin-starred haven where creativity and sustainability converge to redefine the essence of contemporary American cuisine. From the moment you step foot inside, prepare to be transported on a journey of unparalleled flavors and culinary innovation that will leave an indelible mark on your palate. The experience at Californios begins with an exquisite Agua Fresca, a refreshing blend of flavors from Yerena Farms strawberries, Song Tea's Gold Guanyin White Tea, Buddha's Hand Mousse, and Sorrel--a tantalizing prelude to the gastronomic marvels that await. Each course tells a story, a narrative woven with precision and passion, showcasing the bounty of California and the Bay Area's finest ingredients. Indulge in the Chilapita, a regional delicacy from Guerrero, featuring Black Masa from Tierra Vegetable Farms, Jalapeño & Smoked Sturgeon Mousse, and Golden Reserve Caviar from Tsar Nicoulai--a symphony of flavors that captivates the senses and sets the stage for what's to come. The journey continues with the Salmon Taco, a miniature masterpiece encased in a Bolita Azul Masa Shell, adorned with Habanada Vinaigrette and Shinko Pear--a harmonious blend of textures and tastes that delights the palate. Standout dishes such as the Tostada Bolita Velatove, featuring Maine Lobster poached in Sun Dried Tomato & Chile Puya Butter atop a crisp masa tostada, elevate the dining experience to new heights with their depth of flavor and culinary finesse. Expertly curated wine pairings, including the 1985 Jacquesson Champagne Grand Vin Signature Dégorgement Tardif and the 1990 Domaine de Marcoux Châteauneuf-du-Pape Vieilles Vignes, complement each course, enhancing the dining experience and tantalizing the senses. As the evening unfolds, guests are treated to a symphony of desserts, including the Raspberry & Tomato Raspado, a delightful concoction of shaved ice with Queso Fresco Ice Cream, Nixtamalized Sun Gold Tomatoes, and Fresh Golden Raspberries--a sweet conclusion to a culinary journey of epic proportions. With each bite, Californios invites you to savor the moment, to indulge in the artistry of Chef Val M. Cantu and his team, and to revel in the joy of culinary exploration. From the first sip to the final bite, Californios leaves an impression that lingers long after the meal has ended that transition to the tour of the kitchen and celler--a testament to its status as a culinary destination unlike any other.
Great food experience that is complemented by the ambiance,
Great food experience that is complemented by the ambiance, service, and dishes presentation. This is a premium service that i wish i could afford more often, but it is only for very special occasions. However, it is totally worthy.
Really good food and drinks
Californios is really good. The Mexican restaurant is amazing. The food is delicious. The drinks are too. The small batch wines are awesome.
Mexican food at its finest
Great spot. Mexican food which is unique and creative. Californios has delicious food. Amazing time here with family and friends.
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
Californios 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!
Fantastic service, creative food, excellent ambiance.
Great for birthdays. They paid attention to details and provided a lovely experience.
Absolutely 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.
Loved 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.
Tl;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.
I 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!
I 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!
Let 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.
Nice 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.
Simply SUPERB in Every Way! A Must Visit.
I can’t wait to visit Californios a third time. It was so good the first time in 2022 that on a trip last month I invited a friend to join me. From start to finish WOW! We were both super impressed. Creative, fresh, visually stunning and above all TASTY food, with superb drinks pairing and exceptional service, who could ask for anything more. My favorites were the ceviche, potato soup with caviar and, once again, the unmatchable trio of tacos. If you’re in or visiting San Francisco, this restaurant elevates Mexican food to an culinary art form and is a must for any foodie.
Spectacular
My husband and I celebrated our wedding anniversary at Californios last night. It was hands down one of the best meals I can recall enjoying. Every single course was very delicious and creatively and beautifully presented. The service was outstanding. There were 15 courses and I was worried whether I would be able to finish it all--I am a small person--but the portions are just right and I made it to the end with a smile. I particularly loved the cod taco, the potato soup, the quail, the venison, and the chocolate dessert. We had eaten before at their Mission location, which was cozy and dark, so this new space was unexpectedly fabulous. High ceilings, colorful paintings, large plants, comfortable seating, very spacious. Absolutely loved the vibe. I honestly enjoyed this more than the French Laundry. It is pricey but for all that we received it felt like an excellent value. Definitely going to come back.
Overpriced
My wife and I went for our anniversary to celebrate the occasion expecting a Mexican cuisine. As far as I could taste, the main touch was Latin American not Mexican as they are presented in their website. They introduce Ceviche in the menu which is Peruvian, Arepas which are Venezuelan/Colombian and the main dish is Japanese Wagyu just to give few examples. On top of that, pairing comes with Spanish, French and Italian wines which was not expected for a Mexican menu. However, tacos were delicious. We were expecting more from a two Michelin star restaurant at 1,400$ price for two.
This 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.
We 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.
Chef 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!
The 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
I'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)
Our 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!
No allowance for early, reasonable cancellations or
No allowance for early, reasonable cancellations or modifications to your reservation is completely ridiculous for $300+ a person.
Californios 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
Easy 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.
Californios 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.
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