Cascal

Have not tried Pan-Latin cuisine? Go to Cascal

Last night, we and another couple, Rain and Peter, had dinner at Cascal.

For us, it had been some time since our last visit. Why? Check "Adventure in Maui" post and you will know.

Always a long line

If you pass by Cascal often, then you know there is always a long line waiting. If you want to dine at Cascal without a reservation, you must be prepared. You may end up waiting with an extremely hungry condition.

Designer restaurant

I did not know Cascal was a designer restaurant until I read an article in San Francisco Chronicle. Cascal's creator is Don Durante. Apparently he is famous. His past successes include the award winning Le Mouton Noir, and the Silicon Valley icon, Birk's. Don wanted to create a restaurant where he would enjoy spending an evening lingering with friends over exotic cocktails and enticing foods with bold flavors and personality. This was his version. He and Chuck Thompson together made the version came true.

Who is Chuck? He is Cascal's designer and architect. Chuck also designed San Francisco's Boulevard and Palo Alto's University Cafe. Chuck designated a fun, stylish interior for Cascal. Chuck used bold colors, faux Moorish archways and handsome hardwood floors to construct the theme. Cascal's dining room is big enough for 150 people. You see a long expensive bar along a wall. Once you enter Cascal, you hear upbeat Latin dance music. The music enriched the pan-Latin theme. You see an outdoor patio area adjacent to the waiting area. The outdoor patio is equipped with 10 dining tables and heat lamps. So, customers can sit in patio area and enjoy Castro without getting a cold.

How nice.

About the food

We ordered three things: Spanish tapaz sampler ($22), Paella a la Marinera (large $42), and Moroccan Lamb and Cous Cous ($19).

The tapaz sampler has Serrano ham, eggplant tian, seafood salad, marinated shrimp, Serrano ham wrapped stuffed dates, tuna escabeche, mussels vinaigrette, Spanish tortilla, paella roll, chicken liver mousse, fried almonds, olives, anchovy tapenade, Spanish chorizo, deviled eggs, and Manchego cheese & quince.

The paella has fresh fish, clams, mussels, shrimp, calamari, scallops, octopus, peas, piquillo peppers, fideo noodles with garlic-tuna aioli.

The lamb cous cous has slow braised lamb shoulder in Moroccan spices, cinnamon cous cous, grilled vegetables.

All of us were super hungry. So, when the tapaz sampler was served, everyone quieted down, ferociously grabbed food from the plate, and put it to the mouth. Vivid?

We ordered the large paella. Peter asked the waiter if a large paella would fit our needs. The waiter gave us a positive answer: the large would be fine for 2 ~ 3 people. But, when the paella was served, the paella size looked so small from hungry people's eyes. But, it turned out the size was fine. We did feel full after the paella. Many shellfish and vegetables were all over the plate. Totof warned us not to order a paella with squeeze ink. It was a good idea. Otherwise, you would see four people with black teeth and black mouth smile with satisfaction in the end. It would be creepy. We were not in Halloween mode yet like what Rain said.

The lamb dish was a hit. You could see the beauty of the slow cooking. One kind of vegetables looked exotic to me, I did not know what it was. But I did not do research on it, I was good as long as it was tasty. The lamb dish was well prepared. I would remember to order it next time I go back.

Babo tea as desert, why not?

We did not try Cascal's dessert. We went to a Babo tea place on Villa. I never thought about having milk tea after Spanish food. In turned out the idea was marvelous.

A nice hangout. A marvelous night.

Cascal's location: 400 Castro St, Mountain View, CA 94041