Tried this with the kids.... Started off good.... Some "regulars" came in and we were promptly ignored for the rest of the meal. Sure....we are not regulars but we do pay same as anyone else. Gave two stars because the meal had potential until we were "bumped" by locals. read more

Best bar ever. The drinks are great and the food is so much better than what you would expect at a bar. Fine ingredients, imaginative menu presented in a gourmet fashion, yet down-to-earth staff and atmosphere. It feels warm the minute you walk in, even when it's blistering cold outside. Have the sangria margarita! read more

Really good food. Our party had onion soup, yucca fries, steak tips, and a salad with sweet potatoes and maple vinaigrette dressing. Everyone was happy with their meal, and everything was very tasty. The service was excellent...friendly and efficient. We found it on Yelp, and we're glad we stopped. read more

What a great place! The atmosphere is great, the menu is simple, but very tasty, and our servers Jena and Alison were phenomenal!! This was our second time going there and will definitely be back!! read more

The food here is very solid, and it has a cozy atmosphere. I like their fish and chips, and their burgers. My husband likes their seafood stew, which I don't think they offer at the moment due to take-out only. In normal times, this is the place we go if we're taking people out to eat, since it would be hard not to like it. read more

I've been to Cala's a bunch of times and have always been very pleased. Great food, fun decor and friendly people. Some reviews have stated that the staff had "attitude" and that the place felt cliquey, but I honestly just don't get that. Hip interior? Sure, but why would that be a downside. Try the salads... all really creative and yummy... or anything with seafood which they do really well! An all around winner! read more

A group of 7 of us went for a somewhat early dinner on Saturday night and were pleasantly surprised that there was no wait. The odd part was we called 10 minutes earlier and they said there was an hour wait, but oh well! Rather have it happen this way than the other! We were seated at a hightop table in the bar area right by the window and were treated by a very friendly, attentive waiter. Service was consistently great throughout the meal. Overall we sampled a few if their different meals, tacos, and salads and were all very pleased! I had the grilled caesar salad and it was amazing! The char on the romain lettuce really spiced it up a bit and made me feel more excited to eat "another dang salad". It was a great experience in the picturesque downtown Manchester-by-the-Sea. Would definitely come back! read more

Ambience: Good bar, someone is a college lacrosse fan! Nice staff. It's a little loud, probably because it's a smaller space. Drinks: Well priced, bartenders do a good job. Food: Thai muscles are fantastic, I wish they would bottle that sauce. Food is good. read more

Went here for lunch. Butternut squash arancini was great, burger was best I've had in a while. Super nice waitress/hostess. Good beer list. Intimate ambiance. Good stuff! read more

Cala’s - New American Near Me - Manchester, Massachusetts

We live around the corner and have been here a few dozen times. I love this place, reliably good food in town. Of course, unless you go at an off time, you have to wait for a table. That's the downside of it's success. We often sit at the bar. There's a group of regulars that are always there, so I like to see who I recognize. The bar tenders are great. -Pain killer: tall, good mix of ingredients -Beer and pumpkin spice martini all quite tasty -Baked haddock sandwich: nicely cooked, nicely spiced and just really good, I often find myself wanting to go there just for this. -Cole slaw: creamy but not too much, flavorful -Fries: nicely cooked, always extra crispy as I request, solid -Beet salad: nicely mixed w various ingredients, quite flavorful, really good -Arugula salad: as always, request light on the dressing, which they did well, comes with sweet potato spears that I like but am not sure they match the salad, lots arugula, good -Fish tacos: good mix of ingredients, good fish, nice flavor w all together -Beef chili: well flavored, a little bite, good -Fish'n'chips: good amount of fish, fresh, crispy, solid -Oatmeal cookie dessert: like two pieces of cookie-shaped oatmeal cake, not super sweet. Held together by a glue-like cream, which wasn't super sweet either. Overall not bad. Would be much better w ice cream. read more

We found this place after taking the commuter rail to Manchester-By-The-Sea to go to the beach. It's conveniently located very close to the commuter rail station. We hadn't heard anything about this place prior to coming there, but it seemed like the best option in the area, so we decided to head on in. Starting off, the bread that they bring to the table is very good. It's a focaccia style bread with herbs and cheese on top, and the waiter comes along and gives you a spritz of olive oil on your plate to dip it in. Next were appetizers. I got Cala's fried calamari, and my dining companion got a special hairloom tomato salad. The calamari was done up in a Pan-Asian style and was very tender, yet crispy. It was moderately spicy and had a seaweed salad topping which helped cool the palate. The salad had a wonderful eggplant paste and tasted fresh. For the main course, I had the lobster risotto, and she had the pan seared scallops. Both were delicious. The lobster was well cooked, and the double smoked bacon added a wonderful smoky flavor. The risotto was also well cooked and had a great tangy flavor, with a little bit of asparagus and edamame added to the mix. The scallops were also well cooked and had a nice flavor Overall, it was a nice experience, with the bread and olive oil dip, the appetizers, and the main courses all being excellent. Everything was well cooked and had a great flavor. However, there were a few negatives that I won't neglect to mention below: The desserts don't seem to be a strong suit of this restaurant, and at $8 each, they should be a bit better. The peanut butter and chocolate terrine that I had was just OK, while the Tahitian vanilla creme brulee that she had was considerably better, and is the dessert that I'd recommend. The wine we had wasn't very good, and was fairly expensive. I had an $8 glass of Riesling that was listed as being organic, and had a strange metallic aftertaste. I've gotten much better Riesling at a better price than that. Price wise, this place is pretty expensive given the location. Overall, it's definitely the best restaurant in the area, and I'd recommend eating here after going to the beach, or if you live in the area. read more

We had a Groupon for Cala's so we stopped by for dinner on Friday night. We arrived around 7pm and it was busy, but we were easily seated. Take note: By 7:30pm this place is packed and there wasn't any seating in the small dining space. The menu is mostly American/New England fare. The sandwiches are cheap but the entree options are a little pricey. We ordered the Scallops w/ Mushroom Risotto and the Orecchiette w/ Spicy Sausage. Both dishes were great! Wine selection was very good and affordable and the margaritas are surprisingly tasty. With very few options in Manchester, Cala's has a little bit of everything as a slightly upscale pub with great food and a fun atmosphere. Oh - and I should mention that we also had the previously mentioned "short-haired waitress" who was friendly and appropriately attentive. read more

Went in on a whim.really nice ambience and vibe Had nachos...delish! Clam chowder tasty per hubby. Had a lovely blood orange cosmopolitan which was well done Service unhurried and courteous Had baked haddock which was excellent Hubby had lobster roll.said it was very good but more chopped up and he prefers chunks Definitely worth the trip! read more

Stopped by for dinner after leaving Singing beach. Perfect location. Sat at the bar for faster service and it was awesome! Bartenders were attentive. Great food menu. For drinks, I had the "sangria margarita" and it was so DELICIOUS. Nachos for an appetizer, and steak tips for my meal. Big portions, decent prices. Can't wait to stop by again! read more

Love the staff, the food and the beer. I'm a local that frequents the bar 2-4 times a month

Spectacular experience - we are big fans of several other Serenitee Group restaurants (notably TWK in our hometown of Winchester) so we sought out Cala's for a new dining option and it didn't fail our expectations! Really inventive drink menu, terrific waitstaff (we loved Lauren), 50 cent wing special the night we went, and delicious food from a varied and provocative menu! It was quiet when we arrived at 7:30 but quickly filled up - def got the vibe it was a place for neighborhood regulars and we were happy (and lucky) to be among them! We will be back for sure! read more

Me and my girlfriend were looking for a place where we can have a lunch before go back to Boston from Manchester. We accidently stopped by in Cala's, and it was a great experience. Waiter was one of the best I had in a long time: polite, friendly, and knows the menu really well. As for food, I advise to take fish tacos, they were amazing. read more

Cala’s - New American Near Me - Manchester, Massachusetts

We love Cala's! The manager Scott runs a top-notch establishment and makes everyone feel like a regular. A family-friendly neighborhood restaurant/pub! read more

What's not to love? Great bartenders and wait staff, consistently good food, usually a seat at the bar, and some of the best fish around. There is never a down side to drinks and dinner at Cala's. read more

Sat here for half an hour watching other people who came in after us get served. Finally a waiter comes by and says "your food will be right out. Um, remind me what you ordered again." Talked to the bartender who looked into it and reported back the waiter had completely forgotten to put the order in and let us sit there for half an hour. We walked out. I would avoid this place if you want to actually be served what you ordered. read more

Drinks were good and so were the appetizers. After that the entrees took an hour to come out and were wrong. What I ordered was also cold. My partner's needed to be remade. I suggest to go here on the nights they have specials or just to order appetizers with drinks. read more

Whenever I am in Manchester by the Sea I always look forward to lunch at Cala's. Their menu has a wide variety of choices for all, such as the grilled eggplant sandwich. Their service is great and everyone is very friendly. I have nothing bad to say about this place. If you're in Manchester by the Sea, be sure to stop into Cala's for a bite to eat. read more

Love this place, eat here at least once a week! Sangria margarita are the best, and they always have great specials. The staff is a great team! And they are always so nice and kind to everyone in my family. read more

Really impressive food. Cute area. Solid decor. We had an impromptu stop here on our way to Salem and I'm glad we did!

Passing through Manchester by the Sea after a day of NorthShore Coastal exploration. Absolutely lucked out! The place was brimming with lively conversation & yummy food. I recommend the mussels & they served Miraval, my favorite Rosé read more

I am so surprised that this was rated so high by others! We eat out 4 nights a week, and this is the first time that I can remember when my husband could not eat his meal. I ordered the scallops with mushroom risotto, and not only was the risotto tasteless, but the entry without any sides was $26 for four scallops...NOT worth that at all! (I certainly would be happy to pay double that if it was tasty, but it was not in the least.) The brussel spout appetizer was so bland. My husband did say, if asked, that he liked the orange juice. We certainly will not return...actually feel "taken". read more

Visited Cala's for the first time and it definitely will NOT be our last! Loved the ambiance of the restaurant, friendly service, and menu options. I had the Fish Stew Medley and husband had the Fish and Chips. Everything was cooked and seasoned deliciously! Cala's is a little on the pricey side, but we definitely left full and even had leftovers. read more

Cala’s - Fish Medley Stew at Cala's. Absolutely delicious! - New American Near Me - Manchester, Massachusetts

Cute spot in beautiful Manchester. We went after a lacrosse game and enjoyed all of the lacrosse memorabilia. We ate at a high top in the bar for lunch. I had clam chowder (very good) and Caesar salad. Salad could have used a smudge more dressing but it was probably good to save the calories. My husband had the Cobb salad which he enjoyed. The kids menu had steak tips which were perfect for my daughter. The kids cheese pizza was enjoyed by my son. Prices were reasonable and we enjoyed our meal. read more

My summer go to. Feels like the closest thing to real life cheers. Everyone knows everyone. Best bartenders around. Fish tacos, Cobb salad, pizza, all amazing. read more

Five of us went on a late Sunday afternoon. Parking was easy, service was great, food was delicious. Our selections included fried calamari, polenta fries, quinoa salad for appetizers. Our entrées Fish stew, fish tacos, half pound hamburger, pulled pork sandwich, turkey club and I could find not one thingthat would allow me not to do it all over again. This is an adorable little restaurant. Christine our waitress just four days on the job was the best. I suggest you go if you are in the area. read more

My husband and I went on a Sunday night to grab an appetizer. We sat at the bar, as there was open space, and there was a line for tables. Big mistake! The bartender, Mike, had 2 patrons who were sitting next to us. I felt like I was in a frat party given the ongoing stories he told his "friends." It was all about drunken driving throughout Manchester and housesitting and hoping there were no cameras due to his activities. We will not be going back. Very disappointing! read more

Really great spot whether you are a couple going for cocktails or family for lunch. I was pleasantly surprised at how family-friendly it was. Good portions and great quality for very modest prices. I got the pulled pork sandwich with coleslaw and sweet potato fries, it was delicious! My daughter got chicken tenders and carrot sticks which was a big meal for a kid and she was so excited to bring her leftovers to school the next day. Very friendly waitstaff and casual atmosphere. We will be back! read more

Probably the best fish (baked haddock) sandwich I've ever had. Fish tacos were great too. Cute place and very friendly service.

It's a casual place. Usually busy. Not too loud. Food is delish! I had dessert first cause I knew from the description I wouldn't want to be too full to eat it. Everything I've had had been cooked well and full of flavor. I don't have a favorite yet cause I keep trying new things. And they also have friendly staff too. All around great! read more

went there yesterday on recommendation of a local.....when visiting area..Well that local must not eat there at alll It was lunch time and they had music playing loudly and the lighting was just to little we could hardly see the food...the blonde waitress was not that friendly.....When we said that we had four flys flying around us..she seemed not to care...I would have wallked out but my friends would have been upset if i did.... my friend had a rueben sandwich..he said it had to much mayo on it.....my next friend had fresh fish ...but the waitress said they did not have mash potato or vegetables that it came with and had to have french fries with that...common on where they to lazy to make the veggies at 1130 when we arrived as the first customer..... I had fish and chips.....The fish had no real taste and the batter was bland...the colesaw had great potential but was lacking in taste..the home made french fries made the meal though...When i asked for ketchup in a bottle she brought out a little silver cup....and did the same when i need extra tarter sauce to kill the fish....For 2.25 dollars they charge for a soda that was filed with more ice then soda they could have at least offered a free refilll.........Then dessert was seven dollars for a slice of pie or cake...we passed on that.... The total bill was 45 dollars...i would not have left any sort of tip had i not been with friends ...the food and service was awful!!!!.......if this is place is packed on a friday as renee says in her review then these locals dont know what a good meal is.........phanton gourment not approved....... read more

THe food here is truly terrfic...atmosphere casually perfect, however after going there at least 15 times....will not go back anytime soon...Bartenders extremely attitudal ..which affects the service.. and affects the pleasantness of the experience. Owner would be wise to call in a consultant to shape this staff up and sometimes it is better to hire new and start fresh. read more

It wasn't the best beach day so we decided to brunch instead. Why stay skinny and hungry for your bathing suits when you can fill your bellies instead. We ordered the nachos, calamari salad (which comes with scrumptious grilled calamari), tuna tartar, the chowder of the day was clam and we also got the burger. We all couldn't get enough of everything! Throw in a few bloody mary's and you have started your day off right. Deliciousness and leisure...that's what summer road trips are all about. read more

Oh goodness, I don't want to downgrade them to one star but holy cow, this place is still so hit or miss! Just had a chicken sandwich and it was truly terrible. Not going to even delve into any additional complaints on this particular visit. I've ordered this same sandwich in the past and it's generally better than this. Went in really hungry, was looking forward to some decent food but am leaving still hungry. Wow. Gotta really rethink going there again any time in the near future. Hate spending money on crappy food! Pissed. The place was busy cause of a function but come on, it's a friggin' chicken sandwich, how bad can you screw that up? read more

Lobster roll was just OK, but fries were unedible. I told waiter that chef, or really the cook should check them before serving. They were partially rotten and very poor quality. And why have a "sports " bar with 3 tv's on sport channels on in the downtown of a lovely New England town? At lunch there were 90% women having lunch. I miss the previous fine Italian dining restaurant. With any competition no female would go here now. Plus bar tables are very ugly and uncomfortable. read more

Totally annoyed! I must say that I'm a fan of most of the establishments owned by this group. Great food and good hip factor. With that said, I keep wanting to love Cala's because we live close by, but unfortunately the hit or miss food and lousy attitude by the staff has me completely dissatisfied. 15 Walnut and Maggie's Farm are great these days, Cala's needs a redo of both the concept as well as new service staff. For starters, there is no Verizon service there, can't really hit them on that as its a Manchester thing, but its reason alone not to go when we all need to be connected. I bring it up because the last time we went in, I actually purchased a Groupon Now and as a result decided to go spontaneously, unfortunately my iPhone couldn't bring up the coupon while there due the cell service issues so I was unable to use it. When I brought this to the staff's attention their attitude was like "oh well yeah, if you can get it to show let me know". Really? The only reason I came that night was because of the Groupon, thanks for your understanding! How about stepping for a Verizon router so we can get some service, instead of acting like I'm an alien when I bring up the fact that I can't get a signal with the most popular carrier in the nation! Anyway, just pointing out the initial tone of service staff for reference. Beside the local who was annihilated in the corner dropping f bombs and high fiving every 2 minutes it was an average night with a fair crowd, but still some open tables. We've had this same server before and I must admit it's one of the reasons why I say I can't really like this place. I could easily describe her but if the ownership can't easily figure out who the way too cool server with the attitude is, then they aren't trying hard enough. Anyway skipping a bunch of details which all sum up to an average experience, I come to the issue which will make me never spend a dime in there again. We ordered a bunch of apps and a couple of entrees (4 people). The food and presentation were all decent enough, nothing actually good though. I couldn't help but comment to the server that the nachos were actually awful. They had no cheese at all, just a pile of guacamole (mind you that was an adder) and a bunch of hot peppers in a pile on the side. It was the the absolute worst presentation I had ever seen. Definitely not consistent with expectations from this Serenitee Ownership Group. By the way the nachos at Maggie's rock, just saying! What annoyed me the most is that that when I told the server that we're big fans of this group's restaurants and are regulars at most of them, but the nachos were awful and I must say the worst I ever had. She actually got pissed with me and said "we're our own place we have different cooks and stuff so that doesn't matter" "that's pretty offensive for you to say that" as she grabbed all our plates and started to walk away. I said no harm intended just giving feedback as a good customer, I'm happy to still pay for them. She snapped at me "that's a terrible thing to say, I'll take them of the bill if you really want me to, I mean I know they had no cheese on them but the worst ever?" At that point, totally appalled that this server is actually bitching me out for giving her legit feedback I responded to question and affirmed yes "the worst ever" asked for the bill, told her to leave them on the bill and I paid and left her twenty percent on all food and cocktails. She deserved no tip at all, trust me! Since she couldn't comprehend what my message was, I can only hope that ownership takes corrective action (hence my post). I will never go there again. It's a place of complete unmet potential. So disappointing! Food is average at best (from good to awful, very spotty), not even one great dish! Atmosphere is good, Hostess is very nice, but some of the service staff can be so annoying! I find myself aggravated every other time we go. None of us need to spend money and put up with attitude! Go to Cygnet, great food, classy yet cozy atmosphere. Go to 15 Walnut (same ownership), great food and great service, lively and hip, go to so many other good spots on the North Shore! Wait until they close this place and reopen it with new servers and better food! Or at least hold off until they teach all of their service staff to appreciate good customers!!! read more