Cafe Calamari

Cafe Calamari reviews from people who’ve dined at this restaurant. Based on recent rating.

Review summary

1. R

   Ravali

   San Francisco3 reviews

   5.0

   Dined on May 10, 2025

   1. Overall 5
   2. Food 5
   3. Service 5
   4. Ambience 5

   Great food and service, and will definitely come back
   

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2. S

   Sue VIP

   San Francisco44 reviews

   5.0

   Dined on May 9, 2025

   1. Overall 5
   2. Food 5
   3. Service 5
   4. Ambience 4

   The food and service at Café Calamari are first class. This was our second visit to this family owned restaurant with Mediterranean food that includes fresh and tasty ingredients. The signature appetizer of fried calamari was cooked perfectly, crisp and not greasy. Between the four of us, there was not a crumb left on the plate. We savored the three-appetizer combo which includes sauteed eggplant, stuffed artichoke hearts and red beets with strained yogurt. The main courses of calamari steaks, char-grilled branzino, and wild mushroom raviolis were delicious and plentiful, with each of us taking a portion home to save room for dessert of kunefe (fried pastry on top of cheeses and a sprinkle of pistachio. The Turkish wine, Yakut, pair perfectly with the meal at an approachable price. My only regret is not taking more photos. Our server, Levent, made excellent suggestions on menu choices. We look forward to returning to Café Calamari to explore more on the menu!
   

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3. T

   Tina VIP

   San Francisco18 reviews

   4.0

   Dined on March 30, 2025

   1. Overall 4
   2. Food 4
   3. Service 4
   4. Ambience 3

   Overall excellent. I did ask for my lamb chops to be cooked medium but they came back well done :-( and the rice was a bit buttery. Otherwise, excellent. The staff was very nice and welcoming.
   

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4. R

   Ray

   San Francisco14 reviews

   5.0

   Dined on March 27, 2025

   1. Overall 5
   2. Food 5
   3. Service 5
   4. Ambience 4

   First time there and we were impressed with the quality of the food overall. Especially the Calamari, it was the best we’ve ever had!
   

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5. I

   Igor

   San Francisco5 reviews

   5.0

   Dined on March 24, 2025

   1. Overall 5
   2. Food 5
   3. Service 5
   4. Ambience 5

   Great food, excellent service, great atmosphere . Thank you
   

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6. P

   Peg VIP

   San Francisco65 reviews

   5.0

   Dined on March 17, 2025

   1. Overall 5
   2. Food 5
   3. Service 5
   4. Ambience 5

   Always a great meal with great service and a great location. The octopus is fabulous, calamari excellent, and the cheesecake very good. calamari
   

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7. LT

   LawrenceT VIP

   San Francisco6 reviews

   5.0

   Dined on March 13, 2025

   1. Overall 5
   2. Food 5
   3. Service 5
   4. Ambience 5

   My wife and I recently had an unforgettable dining experience at Cafe Calamari in Livermore, CA. We arrived and discovered the restaurant had closed, fully expecting to be turned away. To our surprise, the owner graciously invited us in and immediately made us feel welcome and comfortable. He went above and beyond by preparing an amazingly delicious Mediterranean lunch for us. The flavors were incredible, and every dish was fresh and beautifully presented. The owner's attentiveness and loving passion for his craft truly made our meal special. We cannot recommend Cafe Calamari enough! It's a hidden gem that exemplifies outstanding hospitality and exceptional cuisine. We will definitely be back!~Lawrence Treat
   

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8. S

   Steve

   San Francisco3 reviews

   3.0

   Dined on February 15, 2025

   1. Overall 3
   2. Food 3
   3. Service 4
   4. Ambience 2

   We made our reservation 4 days in advance of Valentines Day. At that time there was no mention of a special set menu on their website or Opentable. That was the reason I picked this restaurant. When we got there we were given a special menu for that night at $85 per person. That is way more than the regular menu. At that point all I could is go with it. The dinner they served was not worth $85.
   

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9. P

   Pam

   San Francisco8 reviews

   3.0

   Dined on February 15, 2025

   1. Overall 3
   2. Food 3
   3. Service 3
   4. Ambience 3

   We wanted to try a new restaurant, yet it was not distinct enough to inspire a return visit anytime soon. The food was average and overpriced.
   

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10. J

    Jessica

    San Francisco1 review

    5.0

    Dined on February 14, 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5

    Delicious food! We ordered the octopus, branding, and fettuccine and everything was outstanding. Service was very attentive. We've discussed going back to try the Turkish coffee and share a dessert. We were too full at the end of our meal to try anything else though we were very tempted.
    

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