5 stars and also... what just happened Cala Scottsdale said "you thought this was JUST dinner?" and then proceeded to turn it into a full production come 9:30 pm. We walked in and immediately it was a vibe -- dim lighting, cocktail dB buzz, indoor/outdoor Scottsdale living. But then, come 9-9:30 pm on a Friday right, there are suddenly sparklers, tables are cheering, our waiter Luca is doing the most. We didn't hate it; in fact, we fed into it. Food held its own too. The Peruvian scallop crudo was fresh, flaming saganaki was cheesy literally on fire in the best way, and penne alla vodka was solid comfort. Also shoutout to the honeycrisp and frisée salad for making me feel slightly balanced through all of this chaos and cocktails. Drinks were IT though. The matcha sour was SO good I had two, and the espresso martini flight was a group favorite. They were full sized cocktails! If you want quiet and intimate, this is not that. If you want dinner with a plot twist in the coolest part of town... this is absolutely that. read more

See all

Made reservations for 7, weeks before. They seated us at a table for 6 with no additional chairs brought. They just loaded up a bunch of conference tables and chairs outside. No misters on a 100+ day. Zero ambiance. Zero care. Tell me you're maximizing seating with no regard for patrons .... Without telling me. As we were walking out, the smell of fish was very strong and not in a good way. Left without eating. All that and 10 minutes of valet was $20. read more

very beautiful restaurant. very picture-esque. food was good. the indoor/outdoor vibe was perfect for a girls brunch. SHAKSHUKA: 3.5/5. good if you like fresh foods and tomato. comes with pita bread. filling! I'd get this again. espresso martini: so strong. does the job. read more

Caitlin is the business at the bar!!! We had thee best Happy Hour experience at Cala. Excited to get out the house we took a trip up to Old Town. This happy hour is fantastic and the bar is vibe is classy and chill. We grabbed a seat at the bar and quickly made friends with others starting the weekend off early at 4pm. For cocktails, my husband grabbed an old fashioned and I got the margarita. These were our cocktails but they had several other classic cocktails on special. On this occasion we did try a few appetizers. A favorite was the meatball and the shrimp was also very appealing and flavorful. The vibe of this hotel restaurant is really unique. Lots of natural colors and eyes pleasing decorations. The patio of this place is prime for a special occasion dinner. Definitely will be coming back here. I can't get those meatballs out of my hair. read more

See all

We had some friends visiting us from Cali and we came here for brunch. The vibe, energy, music was energetic but not too crazy. It was perfect. It was $65 pp and I thought after all we got and cocktails for two hours was amazing.. what a great deal. Everything was delicious, fresh and we had so much fun. So worth it and so glad we came here. read more

Cala - Mediterranean Near Me - Scottsdale, Arizona

See all

What a beautiful restaurant! Walking in felt good vibes! Beautiful atmosphere! Love the way they decorated the place! Welcoming also nice waiters and waitress. Food was delicious so were the mocktails! Perfect place to catch up with your girlies friends and take instagram photos and more! read more

See all

Trendy and fun spot for a date or girl's night. Love the indoor outdoor vibes and decor. I enjoyed everything that I had from start to finish - vodka espresso martini, whipped ricotta appetizer and the scallop risotto for dinner. Service was attentive and timely. read more

See all

Our experience at Cala was outstanding from start to finish. The service was polished and intuitive -- Callie took exceptional care of us and struck the perfect balance of attentive while still giving us space to enjoy the evening. The tzatziki was bright and fresh, the flaming cheese had a beautifully crisp exterior with rich, savory depth, and the pizza featured a perfectly blistered crust with thoughtful ingredient balance. Cocktails were equally well-executed and balanced. Chic decor, vibrant energy, and truly strong culinary execution. Cala absolutely delivers. read more

Cala - Mediterranean Near Me - Scottsdale, Arizona

This spot definitely fits the Scottsdale vibe--stylish and polished from start to finish. The drinks were fantastic and the service was solid, though the food left me wanting a bit more. We tried the $65 brunch buffet, and it's clear you're paying for the cocktails and ambiance rather than the meal itself. The one entrée we were excited about wasn't being served that day, which was disappointing. If they gave their food the same attention they give the atmosphere, this place could truly shine. read more

See all

Showed up during happy hour on a Saturday, and thank god we did - their regularly priced drinks and food were OUTRAGEOUS!!! The drinks were nothing more than average and the hummus appetizer was extremely small and the pita bread was stale - maybe the night life is so "fire" it's worth overpaying - but I'm not young enough nor dumb enough to overpay for mediocrity read more

Cala - Mediterranean Near Me - Scottsdale, Arizona

Absolutely, terrible customer service. Whoever was the female manager on 5/15, she was the most unprofessional and unreasonable customer service person I have ever come across. She had her security make threats against us for entering the restaurant and asking ONE follow question. I will never return to this place until she faces repercussions. If I could give 0 stars I would. Never come to this place. read more

Well, the vibe and ambience probably is the best asset of this place. I stayed here at a hotel adjacent to the restaurant and so I had dinner and breakfast. Tried their 12 oz. New York Strip. Meat good. Seasoned right. Comes with a sauce that I won't try to name or guess. It was good. Want to mention bar scene. Nice positive energy from the bar tenders. Great place to get a drink. Staff attractive and professional. read more

Cala - New York 12 oz. - Mediterranean Near Me - Scottsdale, Arizona

See all

Did someone say bachelorette central? Cala is an excellent spot to host large parties - they're clearly well-versed in hosting big groups and did a great job on timing for our group of 17. Appetizers were brought out for the table to share and there were enough that no one had to elbow anyone else to get a taste of something. The whipped ricotta was my favorite with the flaming saganaki close behind - it's a flashy dish to say the least, but also super tasty! Select entrees were offered including 2 veggie options (roasted cauliflower and a vodka pasta) and 2 meat (salmon and roasted chicken). Huge slabs of a vanilla cake garnished with some berries capped off the meal and included sparklers to celebrate the bride to be. Overall great experience at Cala and recommend for your next big group outing! read more

See all

I've been to Cala Scottsdale several times before and always enjoyed it, so my family and I were excited to try their Easter brunch buffet. Unfortunately, this visit was a letdown. We had a 12:30 reservation but weren't seated until almost 1:00. Service was slow from the start, and our server didn't explain how brunch worked before asking for our entrée order. The buffet had good options, but being outdoors meant flies around the seafood and meats, and items weren't replenished well--everything looked picked over. On top of that, the food was bland and needed salt. The worst part was my entrée. Our server spilled water all over my burger and laughed it off. By the time the replacement came, everyone else was done eating. When I asked to take it to-go due to the situation, I was told no. A manager's "solution" was to wrap it in aluminum foil and hand it to me at the table, which felt embarrassing--especially after seeing others with proper to-go containers. Overall, this experience left a bad taste in my mouth. Really disappointing compared to my past visits. read more

See all

Fantastic experience! Our server, Abbey, was attentive and super nice. I had the tomahawk steak, didn't even need the 2 sauces (although they were delicious) there steak was seasoned perfectly. We also had pasta, pizza and the lamb shank, excellent. Will go back again next time we are in town. So good read more

My husband and I stayed at Hotel Senna and came to Cala for dinner one evening. We enjoyed lots of bread and cheese for our appetizer by ordering the Saganaki and whipped ricotta. It was a lot of bread and cheese and we ended up having left over Saganaki and foccacia for breakfast the next day. For our main, we split the Morrocan swordfish. We appreciated that our waiter offered to have the meal split. We also ordered the harissa honey carrots as a side. The flavors were all so yummy. Overall, it was a great dinner experience and we were happy that we were sat at the edge of the patio because the restaurant was loud and packed and it would have been overwhelming to have been in the middle of all of it. read more

Cala - Saganaki and whipped ricotta appetizer - Mediterranean Near Me - Scottsdale, Arizona

The service here was incredible! The accommodated our large group switching tables because the sun was shining in one of our guests' eyes. They were very attentive and kind. Honestly everything was amazing!! We loved the bolognese, lamb, and salmon. The whipped ricotta was great to start! The deserts were so fun! The espresso gelato was a favorite read more

Cala - "Caviar" desert - Mediterranean Near Me - Scottsdale, Arizona

See all

The servers were super helpful with the cocktail recommendations. It's such a vibey spot too with perfect golden hour shining through. They're known for some good pasta but I really enjoyed their salmon entree too. Love the music and the fake plate hung up on the ceilings too. The space is beautiful. You can't skip out on their dessert! read more

During my stay at Senna House, I came to Cala for a simple late lunch and sat at the bar. The woman who served me was the most inattentive person on earth. It seemed as if she did not want to be bothered with me and half-assed her job as much as possible. I was unimpressed by Cala as a whole. I don't get the hype. It's nicely decorated but the food was subpar at the least, and the drinks were equally unimpressive. Hard pass. If I stay at Senna House again (loved them), I'll only get something from here bc it's free with my AmEx benefits. Hard pass otherwise read more

Cala - Mediterranean Near Me - Scottsdale, Arizona

See all

We had a great night at Cala! The espresso martini flight was amazing. We all surprisingly loved the tequila based option. The pasta was exceptional and everyone was a fan of the salad. Our server "Cam" was really nice and gave us great recommendations. She went out of her way to make our celebration special. read more

See all

I was so disappointed in this restaurant and had very high hopes. Food was very mediocre and extremely overpriced. Service was below average. They were not willing to accommodate very basic requests. I would only consider going back if they significantly reduced their prices. It's not good enough for what they're charging. My shakshuka was almost all egg whites which was extremely disappointing. My friend's Huevos Rancheros didn't come with any salsa, which seemed odd. We requested salsa because we saw that the burrito on the menu came with it, and instead they only offered us Tabasco rather than the actual salsa. Additionally, we requested a side of Greek fries because we saw that they had them at another table and came with an entree on the brunch menu. They wouldn't let us order them because they don't offer them as an a la care side during brunch. They're clearly capable of making them, but were just not willing to accommodate our request. Little things like that would have made our experience so much better. Would not recommend. read more

See all

We chose Cala for our Mother's Day brunch, and unfortunately, it was the worst dining experience any of us in our party of five have ever had. The service was incredibly slow from start to finish. We waited over 20 minutes just to be seated, and once seated, the wait for our food was extremely long. To make matters worse, we were only informed after placing our order that there was a $55 per person minimum charge -- for brunch. This information should absolutely have been communicated by the hostess or server beforehand so guests could make an informed decision before ordering. What made the experience even more uncomfortable was the way our waitress repeatedly reminded us that we were still "$100 under" the minimum. Being told this multiple times throughout the meal felt tactless and unprofessional. The atmosphere also felt completely off for a Mother's Day brunch. Loud club-style music created an environment that felt more suited for late-night nightlife than a family holiday meal. There were also an inordinate amount of flies circling our table. By the end, we simply wanted to leave. We ordered one entrée to go just to meet the minimum and then waited another 30-40 minutes for that item alone. Overall, the combination of poor communication, slow service, uncomfortable upselling, and an inappropriate atmosphere completely ruined what was supposed to be a special Mother's Day celebration. read more

Came here for a bachelorette brunch. Restaurant was beautiful and food was great! However the service has plenty room for improvement. The valet made us feel unwelcome, hosts sat us is in a back and dark corner although reservations were made and restaurant was completely empty. Nikki R was our server and we greatly appreciated her service. She was the only highlight. read more

Forcibly moved us to an outside table in the sun when they originally sat us in an inside table and plenty were available. Claimed that they had no other tables and had other folks move to the table we were originally sat at. Very unprofessional manager (Bree) who instead of trying to solve the situation tried to double down and move us into the outside table under the direct sun. This was for Mother's Day brunch, and restaurant attitude soured the mood. Waitress was good, however, host staff and restaurant manager needs to do better job of handling internally induced mistakes in a way that doesn't compromise guest experience. read more

First time visiting Cala for my husband's birthday last night, and we were really excited to try it. The atmosphere is beautiful, our drinks were excellent, and we ordered three appetizers that were all genuinely good. Our server, Manny, was fantastic--attentive, kind, and did his best to make the experience enjoyable. Unfortunately, things fell short with the main course. My husband ordered the NY strip and didn't enjoy it. We normally wouldn't say anything, but since it was a special occasion, we let the manager know. He ended up trying a bite of our friend's lamb dish and liked it, so we swapped his entrée for that. To be clear, he only had a few bites of the NY strip before it was taken away. When the replacement lamb dish came out, it was noticeably much saltier than the one our friend had. We let Manny know (again, apologizing because we really aren't the type to complain), and while they did offer to bring something else, by that point my husband was over it and didn't want another replacement. He only had a few bites of the lamb as well before it was taken from the table. We declined dessert, but Manny kindly brought out two desserts anyway, which we appreciated. What was disappointing, though, was how the situation was handled overall. The manager was only willing to take 50% off the entrée. We didn't argue, but it honestly felt like a missed opportunity to make things right--especially for a birthday dinner and at a restaurant of this caliber. A gesture like removing the dish entirely would have gone a long way and likely brought us back. Because of the great service and solid start to the meal, I'm giving 3 stars. But unfortunately, due to how the issue was handled, we won't be returning. read more

Get ready to ask for water 3 times in 100 degree weather and not receive it until the 4th, while still being charged a 20% automatic gratuity for a "large party" when you're a party of 3. Based on what I saw on their website, this felt inconsistent, so I'd recommend double checking their policy. The only redeeming quality is the atmosphere and decor. This wasn't my first choice for brunch, but I went for a friend's birthday to try Cala. My food was soggy and tasteless, and the service was very slow. Regarding the buffet, it wasn't restocked much during our visit. Around 1:30pm, I was only able to get one strawberry on a stick, and no additional fruit came out for another 30 minutes. Overall, a disappointing experience. honestly made me dislike brunch for a minute. read more

Rating: 4 out of 5 What I ordered: I came with a large group and had the set menu. I tried the raw scallop with mango salsa, whipped ricotta, a spicy mango margarita, and chose the vodka pasta for my entrée. Highlights: Cala is an extremely lively restaurant and a fun choice for a joint bachelorette and bachelor party weekend. The space is spacious with a main dining room and an outdoor patio next to the bar. For large groups, they offer a set menu, which made ordering easy. The raw scallop with mango salsa was a standout and very refreshing. I also really enjoyed the whipped ricotta. The staff was very diligent and mindful about allergies, which I appreciated. My spicy mango margarita was made exactly how I like it, with a good level of spice. What fell short: When we arrived, there was a fire incident involving a dessert presentation with sparklers, which made for an interesting and unexpected start to the night. For entrées, we chose between wagyu bolognese and vodka pasta. I preferred the vodka pasta, as it was more flavorful and less salty than the wagyu bolognese. Overall: Cala is a great option for celebratory group dinners if you are looking for energy, atmosphere, and solid food. I would recommend it for large parties and special occasions. read more

The service: We booked an event reservation for 10 people, and put down a $250 deposit. The reservation was for 9pm, so we showed up around 8:50. They told us the table wasn't ready and to check back at 9. When we did, we were met with attitude from the hostesses and told the table still wasn't ready, but to wait for them to text me before coming back to the host stand. They made us wait 24 minutes after our reservation time before texting me that our table was ready. Off to a great start. Once seated, our sweet server, Aundrea, helped get us situated, and brought out waters for everyone. I bought a $250 add on package that includes a signature cocktail. When I mentioned the cocktail from the package, the server said it was a mini cocktail. I clarified that I paid for the celebration package, and that it should be full size. She said she would double check on that for me. After coming back, she said the manager said they would allow them to be full size as a thank you for us being patient and having to wait. Excuse me?? No. You should "allow" them to be full size because that's what I paid for. OR update the pamphlet you sent me when I was organizing my event. You weren't doing me any favors or hooking me up as a thank you. Educate yourselves on your own menu, or come out and talk to our table yourself. A little face time feels personal and goes a long way. For that I don't blame the server - she's just a middle man. They did bring out a tray with shots for us at the end- but we watched them do that for every table that was a bachelorette party (at least 3 others while we were there) We are thankful, but I just want to make sure they don't come on here and pretend that was their apology for being so far behind when they took so much of our money. One of our girls is left handed, and accidentally knocked over someone else's drink, and our server graciously replaced the drink for her and brought out extra napkins. The food: The only good thing was the whipped ricotta appetizer. The pasta was okay, but bland and not flavorful. It needed more salt and still tasted vague. The chicken was drier than the desert. The broccolini was under cooked. The salmon still had some bones in it, and everything on the plate tasted the exact same. It was very peppery - like the vegetable not the spice. The "seasonal desert" was a vanilla cake, that was worse than the chicken in terms of dryness. It was as though it had been sitting out all week. And the whipped cream on top was gritty and chalky. Some of the fruit on top was even overripe and squishy. The whole thing was awful. A scoop of plain, value-brand vanilla ice cream would have been a huge upgrade compared to this. The facility: The building itself was okay, the ambience was decent, but the bar was overcrowded and the bathrooms were disgusting. It's close to downtown, and walking distance to the bars. The price: Just No. Additional shots at the bar were more than $26/each!! For a single shot of kettle one. If money isn't a problem and you don't have tastebuds or cleanliness standards, this place is great! read more

Cala - 24 minutes after our reservation time, our table was ready - Mediterranean Near Me - Scottsdale, Arizona

See all

CALA WAS AMAZING! We ordered the bagel and lox tower and had drinks for brunch! The space is beautiful the service was great and the vibes were next level. I cant wait to come back to try more Also it is in the perfect location read more

Cala - Mediterranean Near Me - Scottsdale, Arizona

What an unforgettable experience we had tonight! Cala is a unique and beautiful place in the heart of old town Scottsdale. We went for the Christmas Eve dinner special menu. Chef Clinton is extraordinary! The atmosphere and design is beautiful. The food is completely inspired and absolutely delicious. The service was delightful and we really enjoyed every minute. I can't wait to be back! read more

See all

Service was nice. However, alcoholic drinks were TOO strong; which made them impossible to drink. Some even opted to order other drinks, but the new drinks had the same problem. The food was good. Although, I do order a medium-rare NY Strip but it came out well. read more

Cala - Menu - Mediterranean Near Me - Scottsdale, Arizona

See all

Trendy, hot spot in old town Scottsdale. I sat at the bar with a friend and we had a wonderful time. Food was great and the place was busy so the ambiance was fun and lively. She ordered the mussels and New York steak, and pizza and we shared it all. Highly recommend the mussels because it was such an experience. Come here if you are ready for a crowded and over priced Scottsdale experience. Don't complain about the standard of the area. It's a good time over all and I recommend for girl friends or dates. read more

See all

We stumbled upon Cala just by chance on a brief trip to Scottsdale but OH MY what a great find! It is part of Senna House, a member of the wonderfully upscale curio collection of The Hilton. The mood is cool coastal mid-century modern. The vibe and ambiance are just exquisite with a large bar indoors as well as another as part of their outdoor venue. They featured exceptional handcrafted cocktails. Memorable. We had just had dinner so and next time we are in town we are making a point to visit again to try their modern mediterranean cuisine. We tried The Cala Collection, three espresso martinis: the Rosa Bianca with fresh raspberries, the Sicilian Solstice and the Caf Del Mar. Pure decadent bliss! The bartenders were friendly and expertly attentive. We will definitely be back! read more

Cala - Mediterranean Near Me - Scottsdale, Arizona

We've been to Cala three times now. Overall it's a fair experience. Not great, not terrible. The scene is nice, very lively, and cocktails are good. Food is ok, no standouts but nothing bad. They always seem overwhelmed with the people there, so service suffers greatly. Very slow, very fast during interactions. Sometimes you feel like you're flagging someone down and bothering them . Also the seating situation is weird, no matter what you book you may end up in the bar area or main area, who knows. I'd recommend going for happy hour and skip a date night or brunch. read more

Truly confused on the low reviews for Cala. I enjoyed my meal and experience when I dined here. It's a vibe for sure -- lots of bachelorette/bachelor parties so if you're not a fan of hearing screaming girls, likely not your spot. It's definitely a trendy spot where all the young attractive people hang, but it adds to the vibe. We came on a Saturday evening where they had house music playing. It was loud, pretty slammed, but it's the vibe. You'll easily throw down a pretty penny here. But still think it's worth it. We started off with some cocktails and flaming saganaki which was a large portion - good for sharing easily 3-4 people. I did the braised lamb shank which was excellent - so many unique middle eastern flavors and my husband had the pork chop. Both excellent. He also had the pasta last visit which was excellent. Our server was attentive and kind and definitely kept the drinks flowing. Looking to start off your night? Come to Cala. Especially on Saturday nights. read more

See all

We came across Cala by chance while vacationing in Scottsdale for Thanksgiving. To our surprise, it was open on Thanksgiving and was a wonderful experience. They did an amazing job accommodating a large group with kids. The service was amazing and the decor and vibe inside was beautiful. The food was also delicious. We had the best time! read more

See all

horrible experience. I went over the weekend for a bachelorette party and it was the slowest service I've ever received. We had a reservation at 8pm and they let us know that the tables taking a little bit longer than anticipated and asked us to step to the lounge by the hotel lobby so they can get us when the tables set up. They forgot about us and around 8:20 we had to ask the host and they went to seat us to our table. The waitress took our drinks and pretty sure she forgot about us because she asked what entree we wanted around 9:30 which I think is insane. A girl in our group ended up not even being able to order because she had to catch a flight. I think they should either hire more servers or remove some tables because I don't think they can handle all the volume. The food was okay but the red leaf lettuce was so bitter that it was pretty much inedible. If you are planning to book Cala, I would make sure you don't plan any activities after because you will be here for a long time. read more

See all

Really amazing experience for a 16-person party. Servers were attentive and considerate with food sensitivities, even though the restaurant was packed with lots of other large parties. The food and drink service was amazing. Our group reserved a set menu experience, and the champagne and appetizers arrived at our table shortly after we were seated. Definitely recommend the whipped ricotta. I didn't love the fried cheese...maybe if I had eaten a bite the moment it was delivered, but after that I thought it was too salty and dense as it cooled. The harissa salmon was perfectly cooked! The flourless chocolate cake was surprised hard, making it difficult to cut with a spoon, but the ice cream served with it was delicious. read more

Cala - Menu - Mediterranean Near Me - Scottsdale, Arizona

See all

Mixed feelings about this spot. The decor is really cute, and we genuinely enjoyed the drinks and food we ordered. The main issue was the music--it was extremely loud. We're in our late 20s and definitely enjoy a lively atmosphere, but the volume felt more like a nightclub than a Thursday dinner at 6 p.m. We ended up asking to be moved outside because we couldn't hear each other, but even out there it was still very loud. At that time the crowd seemed mostly 40s and up, so the intensity of the music felt a bit unnecessary. I can understand that vibe later in the evening on a weekend, but for an early dinner it was honestly the loudest restaurant experience I've had. read more

Cala - Whipped burrata, fried squash, meatballs, fries - Mediterranean Near Me - Scottsdale, Arizona

The food was delicious.... However, I decided to write a review because I think this restaurant could benefit from the feedback. Whomever was in charge decided to keep the full restaurant open in temps over 100 F. So, while you're dining, you're sweating and dodging flies buzzing around your food. It's also loud, very loud. I love a good music vibe, but when you can't have conversations with the people you're dining with because the music is so loud, it's a problem. I understand that the restaurant is trying to create a Mediterranean vibe, but this is not the coast of Greece with a cool breeze, it is Arizona! It is hot here! Close the doors in the restaurant and your patrons would be much happier and able to focus on the delicious food and beautiful restaurant. For the price point at Cala, the whole experience should be enjoyed. I was disappointed. So were the women complaining in the restroom that night. read more