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ZipPicks Awards
Best Seafood in Livermore
Best Middle Eastern in Livermore
Best Mediterranean in Livermore
Master Critic Review
Cafe Calamari
8.2
Mediterranean-leaning seafood and pasta with a focus on crisp, tender calamari and simply grilled fish. Locals use it for relaxed downtown dinners with straightforward flavors and solid portions.
Must-Try Dishes:
Fried Calamari, Grilled Atlantic Salmon, Seafood Pasta
Scores:
Value: 8.2
Service: 8
Consistency: 8.3
Food Quality: 8.5
Atmosphere: 7.6
Cultural Relevance: 7.9
What makes it special: Seafood-forward Mediterranean plates with notably well-executed calamari.
Who should go: Seafood fans seeking casual downtown date-night energy
When to visit: Weeknights after 7 for easier seating
What to order: Fried calamari; seafood pasta; grilled salmon
Insider tip: Ask for daily fish specials—often limited to a few portions.
Logistics & Planning
Parking: Free two-hour street parking along First Street and nearby municipal lots; fills quickly on weekend evenings.
Dress code: Smart casual—jeans and a nice shirt are fine, but many diners dress up slightly for downtown date nights.
Noise level: Moderate—conversation-friendly indoors with livelier bar chatter on weekends.
Weekend wait: 30–45 minutes without a reservation after 6:30pm.
Weekday lunch: Usually no wait; easy walk-in seating.
Dietary Options
Vegetarian options: Yes—several pasta and salad options without seafood or meat.
Vegan options: Limited—1–2 customizable items if you ask to omit cheese or butter.
Gluten-free options: Yes—gluten-free pasta available upon request; some seafood plates naturally gluten-free.
Good to Know
Is this good for a first date? Yes—the cozy downtown setting, shareable seafood plates, and moderate noise level make it a relaxed but polished first-date choice.
Can I get a table without a reservation? Usually on weeknights or early evenings; weekends after 6pm are best booked in advance due to limited indoor seating.
Is it kid-friendly? Somewhat—no dedicated kids’ menu, but families with older children are welcome during earlier dinner hours.
Best For
Better for: Fresh, well-executed calamari and a more intimate, adult-friendly downtown atmosphere than nearby casual seafood spots.
Skip if: You want a large, boisterous group dinner or extensive raw bar—this is more a calm sit-down seafood experience.
Hours
MondayClosed
Tuesday11:30am - 2:30pm, 4:30pm - 9pm
Wednesday11:30am - 2:30pm, 4:30pm - 9pm
Thursday11:30am - 2:30pm, 4:30pm - 9pm
Friday11:30am - 2:30pm, 4:30pm - 9pm
Saturday11am - 9pm
Sunday11am - 8:30pm