I think this place is like 3 and a half stars. I have come here a couple of times now. I really like that the food is creative, and you can definitely get some Mexican food that is harder to find. The service is also pretty good, no complaints. The downsides...the layout of the restaurant; I love the ambiance, but the setup just does not seem very practical to me. Also, the portion size you get is pretty small for what you pay for! Most importantly is how the food actually tastes...good, but not mind-blowing. The first time I was far more impressed, but the second time, I got a tamale in mole sauce (which is my favorite food), and it just didn't cut it. My boyfriend is actually Mexican, and so he gets the final say; he thought it was decent, but again, not amazing. But I would definitely come back, it was good enough to make me want to return, and I will give it another shot. read more

Good food but not a good dining experience: - The booth benches are really uncomfortable hard wood - They charge $3.00 per person cake cutting fee. In other words, this place is not celebration friendly whatsoever. - They also charge an 18% automatic gratuity on parties of 6 or more. We understand this is relatively standard practice and I still don't like it. read more

I kind of cringed when my wife asked to go back to this place again, but decided that trying to remind her of our previous disappointments wasn't the best use of time and energy. I have to say I was pleasantly surprised, relatively speaking. The appetizers have taken a step up, and the chicken was actually outstanding. Wife and kids enjoyed their meals, which had more flavor and were better prepared. Service remains the high point - really good! The salsas are still utterly bland, and the chips very greasy. And I'm sorry but $10 for a margarita in a standard sized drink glass with the standard-shelf tequila is just silly, as is including the gratuity for a table of 4. But at least we're up to "Oh, alright I guess we can go" from "Oh, no, not again!". read more

Five star atmosphere. The back "patio" area with bar and fire pits is unbeatable. The cocktails are also made very well. I loved the grapefruit and mezcal (smokey tequila) drink I tried. YUM. The best thing I ate all night was the guacamole. Totally fresh and paired with homemade fried chips that come out hot. Yes please. Everything else I didnt enjoy. All the salsas were too hot for me to eat. How do they not have a mild salsa?? Almost all the food was too spicy as well. The duck enchiladas were good, but the mole tasted too strongly of cloves. Service was just ok. It felt kind of rushed and our food came out literally 5 minutes after we ordered it which was so strange. Overall, I would come back for a delicious drink on the outdoor patio, while chowing down on the guac. read more

Really cute restaurant, awesome patio space and bar in the back (one of those sort of indoor/outdoor spaces) with gentle lighting and a relaxed vibe. We only ordered chips and salsa and drinks but all of it was tasty and the cocktails were fancy crafted bevvies made with fancy tequila and other fancy ingredients. :-P The staff was friendly, the space was cool and the cocktails were tasty I'd be back. Definitely a great little 'upscale' find in a college town. read more

We ordered two of their family meals for curb-side pick up. The rotisserie chicken was delicious, as were the sides, and the veggie enchilada was also super tasty. I was very impressed and will be ordering from them regularly! The only note is that their food was a bit too spicy for my kids, so they ended up sticking to the tortillas and beans. You can order directly from them on comalberkeley.com read more

Went here for a later evening Day of the Dead meal. It was just fine. Atmosphere nice. Looks like SF. Hosts and wait staff were a bit hipster-refugee, but nice guys. The crowd was very normal, but I think this may have been due to CAL game. I used to live in Oaxaca, so I can see where some of these dishes started out, but it had an american feel. I had mole enchiladas, but although the waiter warned me about the plate being very hot, the insides of the enchiladas were barely warm. I was hungry enough at that point that I'd rather eat it than complain. But, it was not good. Jicama and cucumbers were over seasoned, but it's nice to have jicama. Chicarrones were quite good. But it's deep fried pig skin. How can you go wrong? I was surprised by the price on the mescal shot. 9 bucks sounded great. When it came to the table though, I got it. Small shot. I'm used to shots of mescal in Mexico where they're really a double. A big double. This seemed silly, but at least it wasn't 16 bucks. When I left I felt sad. Pale in comparison with the real thing. Good to have a place that celebrates southern Mexico, but a small, cheap mescal bar would have done it for me. read more

Very attractive space, great patio. The food is good, above average, like 3.5 stars. Nothing bad, some things prepared well, just nothing super special. Satisfying with nice touches. In that sense, food is good but seems spendy but not unreasonable. Now if you're there for drinks, a date, catch a vibe, I can see that because of the patio. It fills a need in Berkeley...a surface-y-glossy need. That's right, Berkeley needs some surface-y-glossy places too, damn it! Diversity means more than college eats and hippie funk! The 3.5 star aggregate is probably right when keying on food, but 4-stars overall with the patio and the drinks. Call it a pleasant place with some sex appeal and v. good food. p.s. The time to come here is after a drink elsewhere and after smoking a big fattie on the walk over and an appetite, around 9 p.m. 5 stars...dropping $300 bucks on post-420 munchies was never better. read more

Huge, airy and chic space. Interesting food, absolutely outstanding drinks. But they threw us out at 11:30 p.m.! And last call for food and drink had LONG since passed. Not one but TWO trendy bars, and yet they roll up the sidewalk that early? Someone suggested Berkeley is to blame, somehow, but I'm not buying it. Bec's, Jupiter, Shattuck Down Low... are they shuttered well before midnight? No. I will return to Comal, and I expect to be treated like a grown-up when I do. If they want to close early, they may as well mothball all that great booze and operate as an upscale family eatery. read more

I like this place. Have eaten there four times. Menu can be hit or miss at times. You kind of need to know what to order. Cocktails are well crafted but priced high. I think it's the design and the great feel of the space that brings me back. read more

We had my Retirement party here & the pre fix menu was delicious with healthy servings of an array of dishes! The desserts were terrific, and a must to complete your meal. The manager Sebastian, was so accommodating. We sat inside, and would love to go back and enjoy the outside area as it was very welcoming. A lively place for a Friday evening dinner! read more

Wow, what a great experience at Comal last night! Seamless service from many different wait staff, without anyone being intrusive. Great cocktail (I ordered the tequila with cacao, cardamom, and lime--really flavorful and well balanced). Best homemade tortilla chips I've ever had, anywhere. And the trio of salsas that came with the chips were so ridiculously good we ordered a second basket of chips so we had vehicles for the salsa. I like salsa, but I'm not usually a raving fan, spooning it onto chips. That was me last night. By the time my taco dinner came, I was happy and full. The tacos (one pork, one grilled cod) were tasty and moist enough, but 4-star not 5-star on these for me. I will definitely be back! read more

The food is good, overpriced but tasty. The service is atrocious. Bland, rude, inattentive host and wait staff. We arrived for a reservation of 7 people which we made a week ago. The man taking the reservation was rude over the phone when my assistant called to set it up. When we arrived we needed 8 instead of 7 for people in our party. The place was empty and they were so annoyed by our need to add one more. They said we could sit at the communal table if we had 8. The communal table had high backless stools and we had 2 elderly people with us so that wouldn't work. They didn't even try to set up a new table for us but squished is into the tiny booth they had reserved for us, which was tiny for 7 people and 8 people was absurd. I asked numerous times for another table and they said this is what they had. Again, it was 5:30pm on a Thursday and the place was empty. Then they all stood at the host desk and stared at us and whispered to each other about our party. We should've left but the elderly people in our party didn't want to search and walk for something else. Big disappointment. We will not be back. read more

This place is awesome. I've been here twice - once to sit at the bar with a girlfriend, and last night for a birthday. The service is excellent - in that attentive we see you but we also don't want to interrupt to make sure you're doing OK because we can tell - kind of way. Great options if you're not doing carbs right now too - I love the simple yet refreshing jicama and cucumber spears - great alternative for salsa and guac instead of chips. They'll make you something fun if you don't see anything you like out of the drink menu. I really like sitting outside instead of in - the setting and seating are comfortable, they have heat lamps, and it's never too loud. read more

This restaurant has terrible customer service and rude wait staff. A 20% tip is added automatically to all bills which is the root of their fucked up incentive structure. If I could give a zero star review, I would. read more

One of the best Mexican places around. Amazing service and the chips are bomb. You get 3 different salsas with your chips and everything is made fresh to order. Tons of Mezcals and Tequilas, and the drinks are great too. We always take family visiting from out of town when they're feeling Mexican, and they never disappoint. read more

Fancy but friendly, lots to like here. We sat on the patio, very romantic although wasted on me and my book club! I had a Comal Swizzle after a lengthy conversation with the bartender, and it was delicious. I tried the chips and trio of salsas, all fine if not spectacular, and the fries with chipotle aioli, ditto. My friends also had the beet salad and ceviche with no complaints to be heard. Overall a fun spot! read more

Probably a great place to come grab some drinks and maybe a few tapas (appetizers). They had a nice outside patio which was closed not available to us because we came close to closing and wanted to order food. I had the rabbit quesadilla. I was not overly impressed with it and it was a bit pricy in my opinion. The chips and salsa/guac were really good though. I would probably only come back for drinks and chips. read more

The cocktails were greatly crafted, a good mix of alcohol and fruity flavors. The chips were hearty while the salsa added a light kick of spice, the guacamole is fresh and made every few minutes but could use some more flavor. The food has very exotic and unique choices but lacked in wow factor for taste. We had the lamb Barbacoa quesadillas, rock cod tacos, chicken tamale, and duck enchiladas. The different proteins were interesting but again, could use more spices, flavor, or salt. read more

Comal has an amazing menu and ambience. You will always wait and you will always pay up when the bill comes. With that said the patio is magical and the wait is worth it. It's a popular spot on weekends and on evenings when there are events at the Greek so check the schedule before hand. Try to go early and always scope for seats at the bar... which unfortunately won't land you on the patio. I've been coming here for years and I always bring out of towners... definitely more of a special occasion than a regular stop, especially if you get cocktails which are pretty great but overpriced just like everything in the Bay Area. Keep this place open and get a margarita. read more

Worst customer service ever I felt discriminated and humiliated by the general manager of this restaurant . Zack the general manager needs to take some cultural sensitivities clases. I was with a group of 12 with a reservation. He was very rude and disrespectful with us just because we are hispanic. I have to put one start but this place deserved 0 starts. At the same time I felt really bad for the other staff members apologizing with us with the attitude this manager show to us. read more

This place is $$$, but good guacamole and chips. Atmosphere is great with the outdoor seating but the back bar can get a little crowded and bartenders aren't very attentive. I'd like to see lower prices and more prompt back bar service. read more

Hipster hot spot with decent food. So, the downside of my spontaneous nature is that Friday nights at 6:30 I turn to the bf and decide what trendy restaurant to check out. What I really should do is plan, ahead, make reservations, and make adequate time to get to the restaurant without starving. Alas, it is my fault for showing up to a packed restaurant on a Friday night assuming they could seat me. That being said, our hostess said it would be 30 minutes for a table for two and it was a little over 50. Parking in the area can be tricky but we parked at a garage on Addison. There's nowhere to really chill while you are waiting for your table to open up. I think most people go to the back patio which reminds me a lot of El Rio or Zeitgeist. They even have a lady pushing a cart around selling chips and guac (for $8- yikes!). Our server was pretty nice and we ordered some dishes to share which came all at once, which can be a bit overwhelming when the table space is limited. I could kinda tell he was just trying to turn his tables quickly which was a bummer since this WAS my Friday night date night. It's also awkward when you pass your server on your way out and he's standing there talking to his co-workers and they don't say thank you. I know, it's the little things though. For drinks I ordered the Palomaesque and holy crikey is that drink strong. I actually had to wus out and ask for a shot of grapefruit to water it down. Guess I'm not used to a stiff drink :/. BF had a Mexican coke. For food we had the watermelon-pepper salad which was great. Really refreshing on a hot Friday night. We also had the beef cheek tacos and the fish tacos which were OK. Lastly, we had the pork enchiladas which were just all right (I mean.. how can you f*&k up an enchilada?). So, our bill with tip came out to $80. For the money we spent I don't know that I'd be back. I didn't see any information about a happy hour but I'd love to know if they have one. That back patio is pretty nice. read more

We were so excited to finally try this locale that people have been talking about. Great atmosphere, busy on a Saturday night- yet we're able to get a great table in the corner (actually what we wanted because of the noise level). Great cocktails & food. Definitely did not disappoint- what lacked was the service. We were met by the RUDEST server. After a misunderstanding over a cocktail order we then received the most cold shoulder approach ever. I get that the 20% tip is included so the care of actual customer service isn't there. But for a $70 tip for doing nothing, is ridiculous. End of our meal, we waited 30 mins before anyone approached us about our bill. Server didn't even ask how we liked our meal. If a restaurant is going to add 20% for automatic tip the service should reflect that. What a huge let down. Not coming back - be warned of rude service staff. If you can get beyond that the food and cocktails are great. read more

Besides the usually scene for poor art students, and poets.... Comes a place made for sexy people and poets. Berkeley...I feel like I know like the back of your left-frontal lobe. Always full of delights, many I have tried many I haven't, yet have you ever we came across a little gem such as Comal? Not for those will shallow pockets, (or lint for that matter) the place offers real Meixcan food, Enough to make (Johnny depp go into the kitchen a shoot the chef over) The usual chips are far from average here, they taste different, but in a good way...as for the salsa, um I had better out of a jar. The ambiance and interior a lovely, It's uber stylish in a 20s-30s year old Ikea design type way. Great place for me to take your Girlfriend on a date..Ohhh lalala! It's reminds me of a "Chipotle" with a sexy make-over. The squash blossom quesadilla..is to die for,. The Fish tacos are kinda pricey, and kinda small...Ummm. The Flavor was good enough for me not to be totally dissappointed, But! You have to admire a place that has duck enchiladas and chicharrones! The salmon ceviche a friend of mine ordered and it was pretty good. What really tricks me is the the yucca fries, always seem to throw me off because they aren't potatoed fries but still a disgustingly delish snack. Bonus for the black beans and fresh rolled torillas. As for the conversation regarding alcohol as far as drinks. Get the "El Burro" It's lush and refreshing. I saw a neighboring table drinking some "purplish-lavender" drink, It looked magical I think the good food and curioucity shall bring me back, especailly on days I want to spend on overpriced Mexican food :) I want to come back for the dessert and for the Patio... Somebody tell me please where I can get some "tres lecha cake"!??! read more

We had an impromptu dinner here after seeing "Blue is the Warmest Color" at Shattuck Cinemas. I had this spot bookmarked for a while and when we passed it, it looked packed. I didn't realize, though, that this place is huge and they have ample seating out back in the patio. Can't remember everything but we had enchiladas (pork), carne asada tacos, and a dish with duck. Everything was fresh, however, and the dishes came out fairly quickly in spite of the crowd. The only down side is that it's a bit on the pricey side. When it came down to it, I'd imagine I'd get a little more in portions and quality from what we paid. But this is a solid spot in Berkeley. read more

This place goes to show that restaurants are a combination of many things, including ambiance, food and service. So first, the ambiance. The renovation of what used to be (I believe) the other change of hobbit is quite amazing. The open rafters and rough architecture were done very well, and I understand they have banquet rooms downstairs which will open in the future. The back patio is an especially inviting space considering that summer is rolling around and who doesn't like to drink tequila outside? I thought that the communal hand washing sink was a nice choice, but my boyfriend thought that it was 'weird'. Food is not wow and not blah. The guacamole is fresh and delicious and the fish tacos are good, but nothing I ate made me want to come back to eat it again. The sequil pak was not half as good as the one that made a guest appearance on Sea Salt's menu. Their tequila selection is awesome for a novice tequila drinker like myself but I would definitely come back to try others. They have flights of both tequila and mescal and both are served with a palate cleanser which has a technical name I can't remember. The red version that came with our tequilas was a potent mix of tomato, tamarind and a lot of other exciting flavors. YUM! We also sampled the grapefruit and mescal cocktail which I think I would have loved had I loved mescal. The smokyness of the liquor is not my thing but I might love it if I could substitute tequila. Service was good both times that I've visited although our waitress looked like she'd been up for 4 days and we did overhear her telling another table she was tired. She was attentive and we had everything that we needed over the course of the meal. The only other petty comment I can make is it doesn't look like they have a uniform policy and the staff is a hodgepodge of casually dressed busboys and well dressed servers. I'll be back this summer for tequila on the patio! read more

Sweet porch/patio area. The place has a great ambience in general...if you can, definitely get seated outside. Also, do NOT miss out on the tripe appetizer. All the food we got was just mediocre, but the tripe...i would be back just for that. Couldn't get enough. Chicharrones were pretty good for a snack with their house made hot sauce that just keeps burning. Pork al pastor taco was a disappointment, skip. Rabbit quesadilla doesn't really bring out the flavor of the duck and is a solid quesadilla, nothing special there. Honestly though, how can you screw up a quesadilla? Bonus of this dish is that it's huge. We ordered a mezcal cocktail and didn't love the smokiness of the mezcal. For those of you who don't know, mezcal is like a smoky version of tequila...not as clean of a taste and doesn't go down as smoothly. But, to each their own. Just a word of warning, they serve their drinks pretty stiff. read more

Comal is top notch. Incredibly good service, probably because they have a really interesting and efficient team service model. Their menu changes daily so we have had a variety of dishes here, always excellent. The flavors are amazing, and they also make incredible non-alcoholic agua frescas, which aren't on the drink menu, but they will make one for you if you ask! We wish our budget allowed us to go here more often. It is busy, though, so go early or plan on waiting a bit. read more

+1 Star, Ambiance +1 Star, Cocktails +1 Star, Service -1 Star, Food -1 Star, Prices I'm a tad confused about Comal, and I think they're confused themselves. The menu is rather odd in that it goes from $9-12 a la carte main courses to $40+ entrees for items I'd never dream of ordering at a Mexican food restaurant. I appreciate the quality cocktails, and the attempt at homemade chips and tortillas. The cuisine could use some refinement, while the cocktails could stay as they are. We ordered: shrimp - the tomatoes were clearly canned and could have used another hour to cook out the aluminum flavor chips, 3 salsas & guacamole - chips were too thick for my liking, salsas were under seasoned, but guac was a highlight. large chunks of avocado were great al pastor tacos - pineapple flavor with a bit of heat. they were so-so, but not the most memorable. enchiladas - under seasoned chocolate budin - very yummy. the seasalt on top was really great! strawberries and creme - highlight of the meal, i think! Despite being 2 blocks from my house, I'd still trek over to Rockridge for Restaurante Doña Tomas. You may catch me back at Comal for that Satan cocktail though. It was pretty darn good. read more

First time there. I would definitely go back, but some criticism. Positives: - Atmosphere and energy are great. We sat in back indoor section, and place was packed. Music and sound excellent. -Service was exceptional. Our server was very friendly and knowledgable. No bullshit, "I like everything on our menu." She clearly had tried everything and had poignant opinions and advice and was quite cheerful. - drinks and wine satisfying. Started with Jack Satan, wonderfully spicy tequila cocktail and a good dry rose. Prices were what one would expect at new, hip establishment. - tripe was tasty - olive oil-poached albacore with gypsy peppers was great - mexican chocolate ice cream was delicious. Just right amount of sweetness and creaminess. Not so great: -The lamb barbacoa quesadillas were fairly good, but too little meat. The flavor of the lamb was barely present. -The ese, which were filled with bean puree, cheese and an aromatic herb were quite pedestrian. THe herb was a nice new flavor for me, but this felt like something i would make myself at home. Some complain about price, but I was o.k. with spending $90 for two. Two glasses of wine, a mixed drink, dinner and shared a dessert and we were full. Although, food was a bit uneven this place is worth checking out and I'll be back. read more

Really it is a great cocktail and small bite place. If you are hungry, and looking for more your local authentic taco place, then you are in trouble. Cocktail are $9-11, really strong and following the current cocktail trend. This along set this place to be my cocktail place. Food offering is okay, really small portion. Service is good, slightly towards the pushy side by constantly ask you like more stuffs, like drinks and deserts. Well, lady, if we want more stuff, we would order more, but don't ask us everytime you walk by. Decor is nice, it is a bring your date for a cocktail kindna place. The back has a very nice patio. Walked out spending $30 to share some gauc, and for one drink and two SMALL tacos to myself..... still hungry. read more

Great, large space with open patio in the back where on nice nights you can wait for your table if they're crowded. Food was good, but I was hoping for larger portions. Huge selection of tequilas, if that's your bag. read more

Came here for dinner during Berkeley's restaurant week and tried quite a few things on the menu. Food wasn't outstanding and just A-OK. Tried the fried chicharrones and tacos and wasn't blown away. I did love the outdoor patio/bench/fire pit area though. So I'd come back for a drink and a hang out but not for dinner. read more

Comal - Outdor area firepit - Mexican Near Me - Berkeley, California

"Oye como va" was playing as my family and I walked in. I dont care, that gets a star. Energetic atmosphere, looks like it can get pretty crowded at night but not too noisy. The thing that struck me about this place was the hosting system. When you check in, (and you can only check in with your full party, which is a brilliant choice to expedite turnaround), you give the host your number and receive a text message just before your table is ready. So if there's a long wait you can catch a drink or poke around Berkeley. Our server Pam was very friendly, knew her stuff, very professional -- Thankfully not the over-the-top constantly checking in type of server. My visit was some time ago so I can't remember everything we had, but I can give some recommendations from memory. Cocktails -- Abuelo Sucio, and the Jack Satan Food -- Guacamole (ALWAYS gotta have good guac), White shrimp ceviche (perfectly balanced, wasn't drowning in citrus), Sikil pak Desserts -- Arroz con leche. Holy crap, do they do this right. The Oaxacan chocolate mousse was also very tasty. Going the next time I find myself in Berk. read more

I didn't try the food here just the drinks. It seemed like a nice little restaurant. Semi-fancy. The patio on a Tuesday night was empty and the fire pit with drinks and twinkly lights ambiance was just perfectly intimate. The bathrooms were also very clean. I'll definitely go back for the food sometime. If I can find parking. :P read more

So 'delish' Mexican food...I've been here a few times with friends and love it! The food is very good and different from bland Mexican American food...not your Chipotle. Happy Hour on Friday is very busy yet the conversations and patron gives off an intellectual vibe. read more

Went 2 times in one week. Excellent fresh cooking and wonderful service. This is really a first class tequila/ mescal bar with great food. Be prepared to spend 3/4 of your bill on their drinks! read more

Given the hype surrounding Comal right now I had to try it out. The restaurant has a weird reservation policy. They offer reservations once a night, at 5:30 PM, when they open for dinner service. After that it is first come first serve. I snagged a 5:30 reservation on a Saturday night and was seated promptly when I showed up. FYI . . . when I was checking in for my reservation some ladies next to me were putting their names down on the list and told that they would be seated between 6:30 - 7:00 PM. First the cocktails - they were surprisingly good. I'm not a fan of tequila (a bad night in college still haunts me to this day) but I loved the Comal Swizzle. I wasn't as much of a fan of the Palomaesque but my distaste for that drink was due primarily to the fact that it contained mezcal. In terms of the food, the chips with salsa and guacamole was good, but they had to be since Comal charged $8 for them, as was the papas fritas and the ensalada picada. Sadly, I didn't get to try the much talked about hen of the woods mushroom quesadilla. I did, however, try the famous roast chicken. The flavor of the chicken was exceptional (in fact, it tasted better eating it cold the next day). The chicken was moist but its skin was flabby and soggy - not too appetizing. Comal was good but not worth the immense hype it is receiving in my opinion. I'll be back to give it another shot . . . at some point. read more

I went back the other evening, and darn if I didn't nail it the first time around: great place to go for drinks, but forgettable food. This time out I had a couple of margaritas and a Jack Satan (tequila and hibiscus) with chips and guacamole and a bowl of sikil pak - a pumpkin seed & eggplant mixture. All of this together was delicious, and I should have left it at that. But instead we ordered some (overcooked) chicken, a bowl of unremarkable tripe & beans and a bland quesadilla. Must learn to stop at drinks and chips. For that, this place deserves five stars, and more. read more