Don Durante, the venerable NorCal restauranteur, got the idea for a pan-Latin tapas restaurant while tasting the small dishes that his kitchen staff would make behind the scenes at his other successful Bay-area restaurants. After spending a few years working on the concept, Durante has turned this dream into reality with his newest restaurant, Cascal.

Cascal’s name comes from its location at the intersection of Castro and California streets in Mountain View, while its menu draws inspiration from both Spanish tapas and the traditional flavors of the Americas. Executive Chef Antonio Flores Lopez oversees a kitchen that serves up dishes like spicy paella a la marinera, slow-roasted Cuban pork, and char-grilled asado steak. Don’t have time for dinner? Don’t worry; Cascal is also a very popular happy hour destination thanks to reduced prices on mojitos, sangria, and margaritas, as well as bargains on tapas plates from 3:30 to 6:30 p.m.

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