Calavera

The food was absolutely amazing. You should definitely give this place a try. This is the perfect place to have lunch, and then call in sick to your office for the remaining half of the day, while you have a few more drinks. The vibe is very relaxing as well. Super casual and great for a get-together.

Rolled up on this place and so glad we did. Exceptional food, great cocktails and fun atmosphere. Definitely get the guacamole verde, pulpo asado (octopus), quesabirria with lamb, and the carne asada and cochinita pibil tacos. The flavors were incredible and our family loved it all. Wash it down with a margarita or other tasty cocktail. We’ll definitely be back the next time we’re in Oakland. 🤙🏼🤙🏼🤙🏼

An overall great place to go for some good Mexican food, a casual yet fun vibe, and friendly service. The quality of food was pretty good, but at times lacking some flavor that you usually hope to find in authentic Mexican cuisine. Margaritas were delicious and on point, definitely recommend going with the spicy option! Would come back here especially with large parties as they are very accommodating and flexible to seating arrangements and bringing out food in a timely manner.

Stopped by for lunch on the hottest day of the year. Guac was fresh, chips were thick and crispy. Both sets of tacos were divine. Mushroom tacos were very flavourful with pineapple. Chicken tacos were a bit spicy.

What a wonderful and lively place! I could spend every afternoon here enjoying delicious food and drinks. The margaritas are to die for, the guacamole comes with yummy chips--none I've ever had before 🥑 I ordered a Mexican salad and added shrimp to it and it was fantastic. It does have bacon, so you can opt out if you want. Everything was fresh and the dressing was perfect. Every team member that I met was even nicer than the first. I look forward to returning. 💛

Very nice Mexican food experience, with good variety of dishes and (very importantly), delicious tortillas. Tinga tacos and refried beans were by far the best choices that we made, highly recommend. The main dining room gets quite noisy, but the terrace is a good alternative if you'd like to have a conversation while you eat (nicely heated too!)

It's really expensive for what you get. Not much food. If you're really hungry I would go somewhere else. The fish tacos are really small. They had a decent taste but they put a sauce on it. That's overbearing. So you really only taste the sauce? You don't even taste the fish

Really good and delicious Mexican cuisine with lots of options to choose from. Portions are quite filling and drinks pack a huge punch.

Not sure why the reviews are on the lower side but we had a wonderful time here! We did a private event here and everything went perfectly, from the communication with Sarah (events manager) to the food, it was divine! The atmosphere was very rustic, lovely, and I loved the decorations on the walls. There's a full fledge bar and also you can peep inside the kitchen too. The servers were wonderful! Since every dish is made fresh, it does take a bit of time to come out sometimes. We came at 5:30 and didn't get out until about 8:50ish. But then again, we had alot of food! It was served family style We had a prefix menu of food and drinks. The food was probably some of the best Oaxacan food I've ever tasted. I'm going to try to list all the foods we had by memory: Appetizers: Mushroom ceviche with peaches: 9/10 - it was so wonderfully tart, citrusy, a little kick at the end, and oh so refreshing. One of my favorite appetizers by far! It went along with their house made corn chips! The corn chips were outstanding! They were fried to the perfect crisp, salted just right, and a little bit of char at the end. I had like two bowls of the corn tortilla chips alone. Guacamole: 9/10 - fresh, creamy, and also had a bit of of a kick at the end. I enjoyed the guacamole very much so. It also came with dipping sauces (Verde sauce and a red sauce and some cotija cheese). Limeade mocktail: 6/10 - It was super tart, too tart in my opinion as I made a face each time I drank this. The flavors were good and it came with a dried lime but I probably won't get this again. It was just way too sour for my taste. Courses: Fried octopus: 9/10 - the octopus was tender, crispy, and reminded me of a great calamari. Octopus can be very tough and chewy if not cooked correctly, but this one was done just right. Ensalada: 9/10- we had a fresh salad that had some type of lime dressing on it. It was essentially like a deconstructed salad with tomatoes, lettuce, fresh avocado, and corn I believe. It was one of my favorite things to eat! The salad was so fresh, all the flavors went together, and I found myself coming back for more. Carne Asada tacos: 6/10-the beef was tender, smoky, and cooked well but it was way too salty for me. I didn't enjoy it as much to be honest and only picked out the tortilla and ate it. Steamed cod with butter, fungi risotto, and bone marrow salsa: 9/10 - one of my favorite dishes! The fungi risotto was decadent and creamy. The server told us that it was a type of fungi that grew on trees. It was very earthy but warm and inviting at the same time! I loved the risotto but the bone marrow salsa was the star. It was meaty and the little hint of spice at the end really set it off. Combined with the perfectly cooked cod, it had my eyes rolling in the back of my head. The cod was steamed perfectly and melted like butter in my mouth. I added additional butter and I found myself trying to eat all the cod!!! This dish was simply divine and the flavors all danced around on my palette. I never had cod before and this was quite an enjoyable experience. I can't explain how much I loved this dish but try it out! You won't be disappointed. Chicken enchilada with mole sauce: 6/10: this wasn't for me. There was a flavor in there that I did not like. It had a weird aftertaste for me, kind of like star anise and I don't like star anise. If you like star anise or similar flavors, then this is for you. The mole sauce is okay, not my favorite. Pork chop with sweet potato puree, orange chipotle glaze, and dijon mustard: 10/10 HOLY COW was this the best porkchop I've put in my mouth. The pork chop was so tender that I literally mouthed the words "WOW" while eating it. The tanginess of the mustard and orange chipotle glaze went perfectly with the meatiness of the porkchop. It provided that hint of acidity that was needed. There were so many flavors and dimensions to this pork chop that I could not believe what I was eating. I would 100 percent come back for this dish alone. At least five other people at my table were exclaiming how wonderful this dish was. I probably missed like two more courses, but lets move on to dessert: Churros with passion fruit curd and chocolate dipping sauce: 8/10- I expected it to be the tube shaped churros but it was in a ball. No biggie. It tasted like a fried, cinnamon sugar donut (in the best way possible). I loved the passionfruit curd that came with it because it added that pop of brightness on something fried and dense. The chocolate dipping sauce was rich, creamy, and smooth. You can tell it wasn't cheap chocolate because of how smooth it tasted. I had like three churro balls and don't regret it one bit. Flan: 7/10 - It was silky and smooth and had a good caramel taste but it wasn't my favorite. The flan itself reminded me of a very light pudding. Overall, great place, good vibes and atmosphere, friendly service, and great food!! I would try this place at least once in your lifetime!

This is a sad post for me because my husband and I actually love this place and it is closing. I read in the paper that they were closing on New Year's Day, and immediately made a reservation for Friday so that my husband and I could have a proper date night here. it was our first time being here on a Friday and the food is pretty good. We discovered it after a horrible Sip and Eat event next-door. While I was watching a woman prepare our free drinks while eating a sub sandwich my husband went to Calavera and he ordered a drink. I joined him because I didn't want any deli sandwich in my free drink and was blown away at the quality and their selection. I also thought that the restaurant was very cute. So my husband and I went there and had a great time and we've been there four times since then. Each time I've gotten something and have absolutely loved it. So why the three stars? I ordered the Carne Asada for this year and the first time I ate it it was amazing! I would actually say it was the best I've eaten it was that good. I went to a place in Washington state with a really good steak and was disappointed at their Carneia saw that because it was not as good as the one I ate at Calavera. My problem is that what they served me last night was not what I ate the first time. Hot peppers were overrepresented on the plate, the steak was already pre-cut and I don't know why I needed a serrated knife. My husband actually cried, and he's Mexican and loves hot spices and he had tears from the space. And he joked that food doesn't make him cry. It was the cauliflower and the cheese dish that turned this into a three star review. It really saddens me that my last meal at a restaurant that I really like a lot was not as great or special as I wish it were. I wish the folks who worked there. Good luck as they go forward and into their futures, and if they have another restaurant, I'll give it a go and try them out. But I was hoping that my last meal with them could've ended with a bang and it was much more of a bust.

Solid Mexican place for brunch. Not too hard to get reservations. MUST GET: Mexican baked eggs with mole and masa. Interesting texture with masa with smokiness from mole. Loved it SOLID: Guacamole - with a bit of kick Mexican french toast - very big. Best to share. Ask for whip cream on the side Mushroom ceviche - my toddler loves the mushroom in here Carnitas quesadilla - flavorful. Put some salsa on We also liked the passion and ginger limeade which is not too sweet. Great drink for a little one

Finally got time to check this place out It's big, they went all in with decor. Service was attentive, food was okay. The chicken taco was the best. Ordered the chicken salad and the chicken was moreso boiled than grilled. The green rice reminds me of Liberian check rice so I liked it. LOVES THE DRINKS. Would be back off the strength of the drinks and because I would've already been there for drinks would have to get something to eat like the tacos. Adding to my rotation of a nice space, roomy and strong but good drinks. Thank you to who I assumed was management for helping me get that order to the gentlemen, that also swayed my decision of coming back. Food is 2.5/3 out of 5 stars Drinks 4.5 out of 5 stars

Food was just ok, nothing special and probably wouldn't come back. It was missing something that makes authentic Mexican food, authentic. The location and vibe of the restaurant is nice, and the drinks are good, i also think the staff were great. Shrimp taco, was on a jicama wrap which is cool, but literally fell apart in your hands. Fish taco was better tasting but again, nothing out of this world.

Great vibe and lovely spot for any occasion. I specifically went for my 1 year anniversary and because my sister Amanda (People's Barber Shop right next door) always raves about the service, great staff, amazing drinks and delicious food. She was absolutely right. The choices are authentic and innovative. For me, each bite was like an orgasm for my mouth...haha. My taste buds were in heaven. Honey and I plan to come back every 6 weeks (he will get a trim next door) to try something new!!!!

This place is great now! Drinks are fantastic! Chips, salsa & guacamole, fabulous! Shrimp tacos are the best! We have come here a few times in the last couple months. Sorry I don't have food pictures. Their food is served beautifully! Very pleasing to the eye, as well as the palet! Come, drink, eat & be happy! Thank you Calavera for hanging in with Oakland through it all!

Really good "modern Mexican" with an absolutely stunning dining room and vast selection of tequila, plus mezcal, raicilla, and sotol. Quality: 4.5 Value: 5 Ambience: 5 Service: 5 We came here for dinner before an event nearby, and I fully expected it to be overpriced but inauthentic food - we were super wrong. The dining room itself is worth coming in for: huge, high ceilings, a literal wall of mezcals, and the coolest, trippiest skull wallpaper you've never seen before. They had altars with many candles and skulls, and the coolest skull/art shot glasses. They also have a heated outdoor patio - very doable even in cold weather. The waiters were all super friendly and knowledgeable; I had a bunch of questions about raicilla and they answered them all and offered tastings. We had La Venenosa raicilla, the Sierra del Tigre and the y Los Gigantes. Los Gigantes was floral but also cheesy and smoky. The Sierra del Tigre was awesome - so floral, and sweet, but also nutty and carameley / toasty / smoky. The food was awesome (except the chicken, see below). We started with masa-atole and the sweetbreads tamales. It was my first time having sweetbreads - and it was phenomenal, almost like buttery gnocchi. The masa-atole was very mild, almost like a comfort food - think polenta, with extra broth and crumbled white cheese. We also had the potato flautas, which were incredibly starchy and carby and indulgent, topped with mango salsa; adding spicy carrot-habanero salsa on top really made them sing. My main was the shrimp tacos, and they were some of the best I've had. It's common for restaurants to overcook shrimp but these were done just right - and there were like, 6 shrimps per tortilla, which was more generous than most places. The spicy aioli on the shrimp tacos was phenomenal; it took it right up to the edge of being too spicy, made you sweat a little, but then you could go back for more. My wife had the chicken quesadillas, and everything but the chicken was good. The chicken was just overcooked and basically unseasoned - not even salt or pepper on it. If you doused it in salsa it was alright, but not good. All in all, it was a fair price for what we got, and we'll definitely be back. Honestly, it is worth going here just for a drink at the bar, to enjoy the ambience and selection of agaves spirits. ------- NOTE: Apparently the original owner stole workers' wages and there was a 250+ person class action lawsuit. It seems that there is both a new owner and new management.

So glad this spot survived the pandemic - they have been my go-to when I want fancy chips and guacamole. They use heirloom corn for all their masa - and you can tell, super flavorful and beautifully textured. The chips are so thick and delicious. Wonderful presentation - even after the 20-25 minutes of travel. Every dish is detailed and perfected. Can't go wrong with anything on their menu. One day I will get the nerve again to order the chapulines and finally try the chicatanas!

The weirdest experience! The place was sort of full, but people seemed miserable.... And the ambiance was no music or chill peeps? We sat at the bar and ordered drinks.... It took forever to get to order. Thought it was because it was busy buuuut the server gave "go away vibes" and eventually took our order. I don't know if she forgot about our food?!! But it was nasty cold congealed cheese! Made me feel grossed out! But by the time we got food, we were hungry..... we tried to eat.... Ugh!!! I hate wasting me food n worse, wasting money!!! Great liquor selection. Limited beer n wine, but I'm sure no one comes for those... lol. Worst server ever!!! Mediocre food!!! Waste of time to order food! Go for a few drinks, but don't waste $$$ on food! Street parking. Barely clean restrooms.

Calavera is delicious and will definitely be going back!! The shredded tinga chicken was so soft and flavorful, definitely a great filling for the quesadillas. The corn tortillas are absolutely a delight. The grilled octopus was cooked to perfection and the curry sauce was a great add. While they have a very well decorated indoor seating space, we sat outside on their spacious patio to enjoy the beautiful Bay Area weather.

Closed. For good. And for the good of the community. "Ryan Dixon, a general managing partner for the restaurant, told SFGATE in an interview last September that frequent break-ins, coupled with the Bay Area's hypercritical perception of Oakland, were causing sales to plummet." Yeah, I disagree. It was the way guests were treated that caused tables to be empty all evening. Mr. Dixon, you never really tried.

It's a beautiful space. Cozy enough for a date night but open and spacious. We sat at the bar and the servers & bartender were all wonderful. The fish and shrimp tacos were pretty good but idk if they're $20 for 3 kind of good. The spicy citrus margarita was great.

I got to come here thanks to a dinner reservation with Justice Outside. We had a private dinner party on the patio with a lot set up for us to eat. Everything was so delicious! I loved the ceviche, variety of tacos, and mole. One thing that would have been nice is to have a server come by every once in a while, to let us know when new things were brought out, as there wasn't that happening. We also had a cart set off to the side for drinks and I wasn't clear on how to get refills for things like margaritas. Overall, it was a great environment and atmosphere to get to know some people more.

Popped in here for an afternoon snack. Please get the Tinga de Pollo tacos. 10 out of 10! Highly recommend. These are the best tacos in Oakland. Someone's abuela taught them I'm sure of it. I paired this with a spicy margarita and boom! A perfect snack. I say snack but getting three of these and you will be full as I was. This restaurant is spacious and enough seating. The bar tenders are quick and it's a nice afternoon vibe with the door open. Sit on the patio or inside, I seat is a bad seat. Great service. I'll be back!

Well, color me impressed! Didn't know that Calavera was gettin' down like this, but I can definitely dig it. I've been wanting to stop by this spot for years, but for some reason, I've not made it there until recently. It was one of the rare occasions where I actually had to work on a Saturday. After I got my work done, I decided to hang out and have a late lunch while I was still in the area. It was a gorgeous day out and I just couldn't let it go to waste. I initially went to Nido's Backyard but they were slammed with a ridiculous wait time. I headed near Uptown and passed by Calavera. It didn't look too crowded, so I dropped by and snagged a seat at the bar. That bar... it truly is unique. Sitting there watching the bartenders scale that narrow ass latter was kind of... scary. Intriguing. And oddly entertaining. I love how they have their bottles lined up on the walls like books in a bookcase. That's it! Their bar reminds me of some sort of unique bookcase (especially with that unique latter). The bar area is pretty small but still super lively. Their interior space is an open and airy layout with communal tables and high ceilings. They also have a lovely heated and covered side patio that's pretty spacious and popular. Service at the bar wasn't super attentive to begin with, but the bartenders warmed up as the day went on. They have a daily happy hour drink menu from 3-5 (including weekends too! Woo hoo!). I got there right in time to happily indulge in it too. I'd clock Calavera as more of an upscale Mexican style restaurant. Normally I'm not really into upscale Mexican spots, but Calavera seems to have a very different vibe. I ordered the Margarita de La Casa, Mezcalera, Las Nachas, and fish tacos while I was there. Everything tasted absolutely wonderful! The drinks are simply amazing here. The bartenders are really in their bag when it comes to crafting up cocktails and it was so fun to watch them whip up their magic. The Margarita was dynamite! I feel like this is a must if you're coming here for drinks. Nachos sound like a basic dish but they elevated the hell out of these! They're served on a skillet and still piping hot upon arrival. The cheese was perfectly melted and the chips were nice and crispy. You can tell that they bake them in the oven for a bit to get the cheese all melty and the nice char on the chips. These ain't no fake cheese movie theater nachos. Nope! These are the real deal. AND hella filling too! Almost didn't finish my tacos because I got so full off these bad boys. It's a great shareable app if you don't mind diggin' in the plate with someone else. The fish tacos were scrumptious! They're served Baja style over handmade white corn tortillas and topped with fresh slaw. Nicely crispy and lightly battered. They don't overdo it with this, and I so appreciate that. This place ain't cheap by any means, but I feel like the high quality food warrants the price. Plus, the low key vibes are very attractive. It's a fun hang out with friends/date night/after work night cap kind of spot. It serves many purposes but still has that slightly fancy appeal to it. But you can also come here to watch the games on their moderately sized TV. A Jack of all trades, if you will. I can definitely see myself coming back here again. It's a total vibe and a great Oakland hangout spot.

This place is a perfect Mexican restaurant. The food was delicious and warm and served right on time. Even with the mini tacos, the portion sizes felt filling. The ambience was great. Weirdly I think my favourite part is the way you order. You scan on a qr code and everyone can add to the same tab from their own devices so there's none of that passing your phone around or not knowing who ordered what. Very efficient!

Enjoyed for a group dinner. Atmosphere is good, food is decent. My favorites were the "flaming" cheese appetizer and the guacamole. The mussels with chorizo were a bit salty. My enchiladas mole entree was good but I probably am not used to the sweetness of mole. Overall, service was friendly, atmosphere was fun, margaritas were, and they accommodated our cake-cutting (for a fee) for dessert. Can't complain!

Easy 5/5! I love Mexican food and always like finding new places. The service was exceptional, we came with a large group of people and they were so accommodating and patient with us. The food was so delicious. It had amazing flavors and great quality. The ambiance is also nice. Great place to come with friends, large groups and date nights. The only thing to keep in mind is that parking is a bit tough. You have to street park or park in a small lot across the street. Highly recommend this place!

I don't think I've ever had a surprisingly delicious and healthy food experience at an airport, until now. I ordered the shrimp tacos at Calavera and was pleasantly shocked when they arrived on thinly sliced radishes as tortillas! They were so dang good. This is a local restaurant in the Oakland airport and it serves it up! My friends chips and guacamole had like 6 chips for a heap of guacamole, so I'd suggest adding a few more chips to even that out, but I highly recommend the shrimp tacos! Healthy. Tasty....but expensive.

This place caught our attention as we walked by, most likely by the Latin hits. We dined in and showed our vaccine cards but weren't asked for ID, so really, we could've been using other people's if we wanted. But we ain't like that. This place stressed me out because there's no interaction with your servers. You order from the QR code and pay on your phone. There's no one you can ask questions to regarding the menu. Need more napkins? Need a water refill? There's no one to ask. Drinks are overpriced at $20, so I didn't bother. My al pastor vegetarian taco had good flavor but the tortillas were cold, mushrooms were room temp. Carnitas plate was maybe lukewarm but that's being generous. The tinga tacos, same. Cold tortillas. Room temp meat. Should've returned all the dishes. The queso was how it should be but after a while got tough. It came with tortillas but they were too thick in my opinion. We ordered chips which took a while to come out. Dk why, they're just chips! They were hot! (Weird) We were never checked on to see if we needed anything or how everything was. The only time we saw someone was when they took away our plates and were offered a to-go box. We needed another box for the chips and I literally got up and grabbed it myself from the shelf and a bag bc how am I gonna walk out with 2 boxes. Again, no one to ask! I did like their hand washing station with that beat copper look. They're better off operating like a fast food joint, go up and order. Get your food when they call your number. Go sit down. That's basically how this place is. I won't be returning any time soon.

Came for a simple birthday dinner. I liked how their interior looked - they had many unique decorations. Food - 4/5. Drinks - 5/5. Their drinks were very good BUT do not get their Rose drink - it taste like a cologne and I had to mix up with other drinks

The service was wonderful. The food was almost there but not quite. The enchiladas weren't quite hot enough and the flavors weren't big enough. The flautas were better than expected and the mango salsa was bright and a great compliment to the creamy dish. The drink was spicy and strong but missing just a tiny bit of flavor. Overall good and a great spot for a small group to have a nice, relaxing dinner after a long day of work.

Overpriced, fancy, limited menu. I'd come here again for their drinks. This place def has some curb appeal but their food just didn't cut it. The chicken was seasoned well and had a nice kick, but that's literally all I tasted. It's not your traditional street taco with bunch of flavor and different textures. More like a knife and fork kind of place. Their drinks are $12-$16 and are pretty. We didn't spend much time here because we didn't find anything on the menu or yelp pics that were appealing for us to order more. Try it at your own risk and open minded, I guess.

From the moment I walked in, to the moment I left -omg!!! I loved the experience.. the service and the friendliness has Been AMAZING! I Had queso fundido... AMAZING and La Princesa de la Maracuya... OMG this drink is sooooo amazing! Besides the amazing food... the personalities I engaged with were so powerful, I highly rexommend this spot to everyone!

Service - 3/5 Food - 4/5 Drinks - 4/5 This is a self serviced restaurant. You order through a QR code and pay on your phone. I found this to be efficient, but you don't get the same experience as having a waiter make recommendations. Food overall was decent. I ordered the flautas and bloody Maria. I enjoyed the dish but there was nothing special/memorable about it. This was consistent for every dish that was ordered for our party of 5. Therefore giving them a 4. The restaurant is beautiful with an ofrenda and tequila bar so definitely worth visiting if you appreciate a good ambiance.

*Open for indoor dining, outdoor dining, and takeout* This post is a combination of my four visits. The first three times I came here, I would have given this place 2 or 3 stars based on the service. Although the restaurant wasn't packed, the service was very slow and tables in the outdoor dining area were waiting a long time for their food and drinks. I think the secret is to eat indoors, or to order on your phone (an option that wasn't available during my first three visits) as this most recent visit was a much better experience. The food tasted better, the service was quicker, and the staff members were nicer. Food and drinks: - The fish tacos are something I've ordered the last two times and they continue to be delicious - The spicy margarita is sure to wake you up. If you don't like spicy drinks, do not order this. - The Arroz a La Mexicana was tasty as well. For someone that doesn't like cilantro, I was surprised when I finished the bowl. Miscellaneous: - Good for groups, dates, etc. Dimly lit, so maybe not the best for small kids - Parking is whatever is available on the street (Broadway or surrounding side streets) - Can pay individually or as a group via the QR code provided to place orders

This place is in the hip Hive in Uptown. It's a mexispanish genre. It is really kind of a sleeper at breakfast time. Walk right in. The choices are elevated Mexican and are very good. It's a great Boozy Brunch spot. Roughly $30 per person.

I've been wanting to try this spot for months, given it's one of the closest restaurants within walking distance to me. Walking past it, I always see tons of people inside, and it looks like they're having a blast. To credit this establishment, the ambiance inside (or outside, if you prefer to seat on the patio) is great. I enjoyed the service and staff as well. The ONLY problem was the food. It just wasn't tasty/flavorful enough to justify the price point. I tried the Tinga de Pollo tacos. I only ate two of the three, as they were quite filling, but I also didn't have any interest in the third taco. Perhaps the other menu items are better, but I doubt I'll be back anytime soon to find out.

Date night! Reserved a table for two for my s/o and I, to give us a break from the packing/moving efforts and go on a nice date! Enjoyed some sips of mezcal, a round of cocktails, and some delicious entrees. Server was attentive, friendly and conversational. The meal felt a little pricey, but I didn't mind as one of our last evenings our before leaving the Bay Area. Thanks for having us.

This was my second time coming to this restaurant. It's located in downtown Oakland nestled between other great food establishments. Featuring an amazing array of tequila and mezcal there is a wall of cascading bottles. They have a great menu featuring tacos, plates and shareable smaller plates. I came during the brunch run so I couldn't order my favorite dish from my last visit which was the mussels with a drunken sauce. Its on the appetizer list but easily can me the entree. Nachos and guacamole was appetizer. I decided to try the carnitas plate which included beans and rice with tortilla. The carnitas were moist and crispy with lots of flavor. I decided to get the Michelada which was really refreshing as well. Service was attentive and friendly. Nice place to grab some appetizers and indulge in a few shareable plates. Great bar selection with a few nice drinks !

We came here to celebrate our friends birthday! We had 7:30 reservations. Once we walked in we got seated right away! One of the staff noticed that we had a cake with us, and he offered to take it to the fridge (that was so sweet of them). For my first drink I got a "Corazon" and for food, I got the shrimp tacos and I'm so happy I did because they were so good!!!!!

Walked in and the host/hostess was not at the stand. Several what looked like mangers looked our way and clearly saw us but didn't acknowledge us. Being in the industry all it takes is an easy "be right there" to feel welcomed. A gentleman who I am guessing was the manager came to seat us since the bar was full. Wonderful table by the window. The ambiance is superb, the tequila selection is top notch and the whole vibe of the place is great. Cons: VERY overpriced. You can only order tacos in 3's. I get it, would bring check totals lower if you could order Al la cart. $113 for 4 margs, guac, two plates of tacos. $18 for a Mexican style salad with no protein. $20 for 3 shrimp tacos. Yikes. Pros: It was delicious! Our sever Ebraham (spelling) was lovely and so so was the food runner (sorry didn't catch his name). We noticed he had quite a few tables but was calm and attentive to us. Our drinks were perfectly made and pretty. Takeaway: if you want a nice date spot and don't care about price go here. It's very lovely and brings all the vibes you are looking for. If you're looking for a simple spot for happy hour and a happy hour price point, skip it. All in all, good experience. Just be ready to spend. Only doing 4 stars and not 5 due to the first impression at the host/hostess stand.

This place is simply amazing. I went here with some family and I really enjoyed myself atmosphere. Great food, great service, great alcohol, friendly staff. I haven't been to Oakland in a while but visiting this place in the middle of downtown really amazed me. Keep up the good work Calavera.

very popular place for lunch on a weekday! the passionfruit drink was pretty sweet and tasty - there was a passionfruit cream at the top that was good but a bit too much of it. the fish tacos were not bad, but a little pricey for the quantity and quality.

great ambience, welcoming staff, fantastic drinks and food. This place has everything!

I have dined at this restaurant several times for both lunch and dinner. The ambiance is good, with happy festive vibe. Service is good and friendly. The food: the quality of the ingredients is good, the taste is also good, there is some creativity expressed with some of the dishes (especially with variety of tortillas e.g. jicama tortillas) although it is not always consistent. Margaritas and drinks are really good!

My friend and I went to Calavera for lunch on a Saturday and really enjoyed our meal and drinks. Our server was kind and answered all our questions about the menu. I loved the decor of the restaurant and the overall ambiance. The only thing I would have changed would be that they spread out people a little bit more. They sat a couple right next to us and I felt like they were just a little too close, especially when there were plenty of open tables around. On to the food, I had the potato flautas and the elote and would order them again. I liked how the elote was not piping hot and it was cut into small pieces so I could eat it easier. Every other time I've ordered elote at a restaurant it's been too hot and too big of a piece and I've made quite a mess, but not this time. My friend had the shrimp ceviche ( she said it was a little spicy for her) so she ordered some guacamole to cool down her palate. We both had the house margaritas and two other drinks that were excellent. I don't remember the name of my other drink but it had the most delicious foam with Tahin on top of it and my friend had a drink with marigold petals and a big ice cube in it. For dessert we had the banana bread pudding dish (although I don't think they called it bread pudding) and we had the churros ( egg shaped rather than sticks) which came with a passion fruit sauce and a caramel sauce. I did enjoy the passion fruit dipping sauce however I think they could've asked if we wanted passionfruit or caramel and we would've both said caramel and gotten a tiny bit more sauce. Im recommending this place to friends and I'm eager to return to see what's on the dinner menu!

The decor is beautiful and the food is delicious. I would love to see more thoughtful service. We politely inquired about a specific ingredient in a dish due to a serious food allergy. The server did not know and did not offer to check with the kitchen. We had to ask him to check...perhaps his lack of response is not representative of the entire staff...? Overall, I would return for the delicious food and keep an open mind about service.

Departing from Oakland during the holidays and needed a health but indulgent bite to eat (hard to come by, let alone at the airport!) I stopped by Calavera and the woman at the register was lovely - I got the chicken Ceaser Salad and it was one of the best I've had! Creamy but flavorful dressing and very tasty chicken on top!

This is a lovely bar & restaurant in the heart of downtown Oakland! My friends and I came here for a weekend get together full of wine and shots. This review is for their bar & snacks! The full bar is awesome and has a functioning ladder--super cool and makes me feel like I'm in beauty and the beast! First order of business for me and my friends was a nice mixed drink pitcher. We got both the spicy and non spicy version. I did like the spicy version, but it was for sipping, not for drinking! We also got a round of shots which were pretty good. Our snack was guac and chips. Overall a great place to meet with friends over drinks. The only downside here is it is quite expensive! You can order directly from the app and the drinks will be brought to your table. I love that!

Yet another uptown Oakland gem. Food is a little pricy but nothing outrageous. The drinks are gorgeous and they don't skimp on the alcohol. We sat on the outdoor patio which is perfect on a warm summer evening. The inside of the restaurant had a really nice ambiance and I'll be back to dine indoors on a chillier day. Last but not least, our server was super friendly and service was quick.

The food was three stars, I hate to say. But our server, Ebrahim, was on it. He took pains with my wife's fussy order and was focused on all his tables.

Such a sweet place...great food...great service...wonderful craft drinks! What more can you ask for? It tends to get cold inside due to the high ceilings, so bring a jacket.

Finally got to try this place. Went with no reservation and there was no wait. We were seated right away. Good customer service. Cocktails were great. The food was excellent. Everything was so delicious especially the mole. And the donuts for dessert with the sauce Chef Huerta even came by to ask how we were enjoying the food. Great experience. We will definitely come back.

Another 5 star experience! I've said it before and I'll say it again! This is my favorite restaurant. So of course I had to take my mom for an early Mother's Day. We sat outside which was glorious. The breeze on the hot spring way was amazing. The service was incredible. For anyone who was b*tching about having to mask when the servers were around, they said most of there staff is vaccinated now. So they're not as concerned. Literally nothing to complain about. (Not that there ever was) I'm addicted to the tuna tar tar tostadas. We got the chicken tinga tacos and they were the perfect level of juicy and spicy! Straight up amazing. I love you Calavera.

Yummy!! The spicy margaritas were so very tasty! Then we had the homemade guacamole and chips. Delicious! Super thick chips held up the chunky guacamole. I ate the Carnitas tacos. Yummmm!!! Huge chunks of meat. Good sauce. The chicken tacos had too much sauce on them that buried the chicken flavor. I was too full to eat the fish tacos, which means I must go back here next weekend! Gorgeous restaurant, festive ambiance and absolutely delicious. Our waitress was so delightful and managed service of twelve at our table with such expertise. Great place to visit. I give a thumbs up for sure.

Went to this place after coming from the city! Quick last minute reservations so we got right in which was awesome! Didn't really know what to expect coming here. Took awhile for someone to come to the table and greet us and start our order but besides that service was good. They had a covered outdoor area which allowed us to sit outside without getting too hot. Their adult drink menu had some really good choices. The food was actually very very good and surprising. It's in a really good location too. If you like ice cream they have a little ice cream place right across from the restaurant.

We came here this evening because we received a Christmas gift certificate from a family member who knew that - in the past (pre-Covid) - this was one of our favorite restaurants in Oakland. Thank goodness we have had this AMAZING reawakening to Calavera's cuisine and ambience as we navigate this eating out stage... Simply put, Calavera is BETTER than ever. The food was delicious. Everything at Calvera felt new...the food, the ambience, the community. Something new - Community? - was is in the mix and on the horizon. We felt it in the room. Starting with Chef Omar Huerta's creative take on the appetizer...mussels, corn tortillas, and chorizo. It took our breath away. What an absolutely unusual and creative rendition on mussels...something new and delicious! Thank you to the Chef for introducing us to a dish we will revisit again and again. We MORE than enjoyed the food... Our main courses were incredibly delicious, and, our celebration of the food at Calavera was bolstered by learning that some of the staff members had purchased the restaurant from, Chris, the original owner. How incredible is that??? A producer cooperative... WHO couldn't celebrate that??? A TRUE Oakland home place!!!! I encourage everyone to visit Calavera. In addition to Chef Omar Huerta's work (A truly heroic person doing amazing work with his involvement with Conscious Cuisines, which supports communities in need) I hope you meet Martín...the most attentive and joyful waitperson ever...Ryan, the manager (one of the new owners!!) and Marianna, our additional, wonderful server...and Summer, the Host...we were SO happy with the service, given by Calavera, and we cannot wait to return again.

My husband got a recommendation from someone and so we came here for an early dinner with family and I was so pleasantly surprised. The inside was rustic and charming and they had a wall full of tequila that I'll be back to try. We sat outside in the covered patio and it was perfect with the nice weather. As for the food, everyone who knows me knows that I can be a picky eater lol. I was floored by the food! We started with guacamole and queso, both were good but the queso could have been a bit hotter. That being said I ordered the cochinita plate and it was delicious, definitely some of the best I've had. My husband had the mole enchiladas which were equally flavorful as were the rice and beans we shared. I forget what everyone else got because I was too busy devouring my food. Definitely recommend, we will be back!