I'm surprised I've never reviewed Bertolone's before, I've visited quite a few times! Tucked in the…read morecorner of a shopping center in calera, this family owned restaurant is a real gem. When you walk in, you come face to face with a big cooler full of all sorts of heavenly cakes and desserts. I like to size them up before I sit down so I have an idea of what I want when the meal is over. I usually get the Lasagna Bianca. A bertolone's original, this delicious dish boasts chunks of Italian sausage, a creamy, cheesy sauce, and turnip greens. Rich and satisfying, it can't be missed!! The tables are stocked with chunks of bread and bottles of dipping sauce made onsite. The interior is warm and inviting, with one large wall dominated by pictures of the family that founded Bertolones and Joe's Italian. Please check out this great spot!

Update for 2026: I have visited this restaurant once each year for the past three years, and the…read morefood is always first-rate! The lasagna is awesome, the ravioli is flavorful, and all the ingredients are fresh and delicious. However, the service this year, provided by Amanda, was less than stellar. My dining party was one of only two in the restaurant at about 3pm, and Amanda was terribly impatient with all of us and seemed irritated. Her unfriendly, rushed manner is why I'm updating this review and reducing the rating by one star. So, if you go, expect great food but you might have a poor experience with your server. Original review from 2024: "Stopped at the restaurant after seeing advertising on the highway. This visit was absolutely perfect! Our waitress was helpful answering questions about the menu and food. She even allowed me to try a sample of the soup before ordering. That was awesome! I tried the lasagna and I absolutely recommend it! The sauce is delicious! Also delicious was the oil/pesto blend served at the table with bread. That was so tasty, we ordered a bottle of it to take with us!"

Better than bar food. Healthy options and great staff where they know your name. Good choices for…read morekids meals and grandkids were happy.

Love stopping in and getting a totty and a bite to eat. The Pimento cheese burger is yummmmmmo!!…read moreAnd it's big! Charity is the best bartender. Very attentive and so nice and funny. Don't get no better!!! The vibe is laid back but jumps at night!

The atmosphere is a busy one. ALOT of folks. Happy people. Ordered tacos. Delicious. Gotta have a…read moreshot of tequila. It was a pleasant evening.

The food and service are always good at Zapopan in Calera. We visit often. Tonight was a Monday and…read moreit was surprisingly busy. There is nothing to complain about here other than the single narrow entrance to parking. You need to be cautious going in and out.

I'm super glad my visit went excellent yesterday. Our server was our personal favorite because he's…read morebeen there a long time, he's friendly to anyone, and he does a damn good job. Why he got tipped $40.00 ! We appreciate good service ! They have new menus and a drink list now. My husband and son both got new dishes -El Pastor tacos (they were really good) and my son got birrara tacos . I got combination 3 which was also excellent. Our drinks were good and We even got flan for dessert (It's hard finding flan anywhere discounting a grocery store) Las Mesas has always had great food . It was just the service that was lacking. It seems they hired new waiters who were on point and friendly! So glad I can visit you again. I would have taken pics but I just came b from Biloxi so We were hungry ! I'll have to come again to posts pics!

Always a good time when dining here. It's like a party all day, every day. The staff is friendly…read moreand welcoming, service is quick and food is great. The inside is very festive, colorful, yet a little dark on the lighting. The music is louder than expected and you need to talk loud when holding a conversation sometimes. But still love it here. Tonight's dinner was chicken and rice, simple and delicious. Had a watermelon margarita and highly recommend if you like sweet... It tastes like a watermelon jolly rancher. Dinner was served quickly and food was hot. Never disappointed with this place!

Great birria tacos, fajitas, and sopes! First time I've been here in a while and it will definitely…read morebe added into the rotation.

We have driven by this place several times and always said we need to try it out... It always looks…read morebusy, so must be good. Well, we finally stopped and here are my thoughts... Upon entering the restaurant, I noticed how noisy it was, not from patrons or music, but the kitchen was on the other side of the wall and you could hear everything. It's dimly lit, without too many windows. What windows they did have, don't allow much light in at all. The color on the wall is on the darker side, which doesn't help lighten it up. We were seated by a large party that was so loud, it would drown out the music overhead, and the music wasn't set low, but low enough you could hear the person across from you. The staff was quick and friendly... I wish I remembered the waitress' name. She went above and beyond. As for the food, we were brought out chips and salsa when we were seated. The chips weren't thin but warm and fresh. The salsa wasn't spicy, but still good. We ordered a small queso, a little milder than I expected, but you can order it with chorizo. The margaritas were strong but refreshing after a hot summer day. I went with the old standby to compare to other places... Chicken chimichanga. It was tasty, not overly seasoned, and not dried out. I did add a little spice to kick it up a little. The rice I really enjoyed, simple, not overly flavored, something to cleanse the pallet after biting into something with spice. My dinner was very fresh tasting, nothing tasted as if it was sitting around. Overall, a great new addition to Calera!

We love Ichiban Express. I've been a semi regular customer for the past four years since I moved to…read moreCallera and my kids and I really enjoy the food here. Everything is always hot and fresh, and the sushi is very good. I usually get the steak hibachi dinner or a special dragon roll. Both are delicious options. My daughter normally gets the chicken hibachi and loves that as well. I'm not sure if they have indoor dining anymore. I know it had closed for a while during Covid but it may be back open now. The service is always really fast and efficient, and we've never gotten a wrong order. The prices are a little higher than other restaurants in the area, but I think it's well worth it given the portion size and the quality of the food! Go check them out!

Ichiban is always quick and good. Definitely not a place you want to dine in despite having a few…read moretables available. However, they are consistently quick about preparing To Go/Pick Up Orders and the food is consistent. Keep in mind that it's not open on Mondays.

I've been here a few times, but this is my first time reviewing. It's right next to a laundromat…read more It doesn't look like much but the interior is beautiful and the food and the drinks are really good. The way they have it decorated. It's like from that movie Coco from Disney. They also have another restaurant in Vestavia that I frequent since it's closer to the movie theater, but they're both equally good. Tonight I had the grilled chicken chimichanga , frozen strawberry margarita, chocolate, martini, and churros Everything was so delicious and our server was so sweet. She said it was her first day serving as she is usually the bartender there. I cannot remember her name, but she had long black hair and she was so cheerful I'll definitely be back sooner than later

MAMA COCO... Cantina in Calera, Alabama, is an absolute gem! From the moment you step in, you're…read moregreeted with warm, inviting ambiance filled with vibrant Disney Coco animation art and a rich cultural atmosphere. It's the perfect family-friendly spot with a strong sense of community, and the service is top-notch. I had the Durango Steak--a ribeye medium cooked to perfection, paired with 5 jumbo shrimp on top of the steak...that were grilled just right. The plating was gorgeous! It came with a side of steamed vegetables smothered in their famous cheese sauce and authentic Spanish rice. To top it off, the steak was served with a savory fajita butter that elevated the whole dish to a whole new level of amazing. My daughter had the most flavorful quesadillas she's ever tasted--super fresh ingredients and the best slow-cooked Mexican beans with bits of tender, slow-roasted pork. My mother enjoyed the Pollo Loco, with sliced juicy chicken chunks grilled with peppers, laid on a bed of that mouth-watering rice and cheese sauce. The service was incredible! Our server was a cool, professional mature boxer who told stories of his fights recent fights in Mexico (cool guy) .... and he was very knowledgeable about the menu, with a great sense of humor and obvious respect for the restaurant and its owner. While it wasn't packed during our visit on a weekday, I've heard weekends are full of energy with karaoke, half-off drinks, and some seriously great music! And the Texas Margarita? Hands down the best margarita in town, top-shelf liquor all the way! Whether you want it on the rocks or frozen, it'll have you dancing in your seat. If you're in the area, don't miss out on this incredible spot. MAMA COCO Cantina is definitely worth a visit for authentic Mexican cuisine, great vibes, and fantastic service. Me and my family Highly recommend it!

Had lunch there today headed out of town......excellent experience.....server was Bri....or…read moreBre'....or B'ri....... I mean. She wasn't wrong.....but she wasn't right....if you know what I mean. Great place to eat.

I came here on a Saturday night for an early dinner with some friends…read more Since it was Mother's Day weekend, I figured it was going to be busy but when we got there at 4 PM, we were able to get a table right away. I was originally seated at a high top, but then realized that one of my friends had back issues so I had to move to a different table. Our servers name was Alexander. He was a very nice gentleman and was also very attentive to our table. I started off with a Margarita on the rocks. This is their signature. Margarita and I usually get it when I come here. It is delicious. I highly recommend it. I was undecided on what I wanted to get to eat, but our server recommended the garlic Parmesan chicken. I got that with a side of loaded baked potatoes and a side salad with blue cheese dressing. The only issue was that the chicken was a little on the dry side, possibly overcooked, but still delicious I visited the restroom several times because I was drinking a lot of water and the bathroom facilities were quite clean. The lighting was perfect for an evening dinner. It is definitely a sports bar vibe. Definitely a great place to come watch some college football. Since this is pretty close to my home, I probably will come here more often.

We enjoy it. The food is always ready when you call in ahead of time to pick up at drive-thru…read more The food is your run of the mill American-Asian style. The portions are large. Both lunch and dinner menus are offered.

Food and service here are always good. We mostly do delivery but have eaten in the restaurant. It…read moreis a simple environment for quick eating. Overall would recommend for both Chinese and Japanese options.

This is a hidden gem in Alabaster! They are consistently delicious, have great service and great…read moremenu options. I went with the Crispy bowl during this visit and it was a work of art. It came with an orchid! The food was delicious. The sauce and rice were perfect. We got crap Rangoon's for the app and they were delicious and the dipping sauce was delish. On a random note... it was hot inside when we got there and I'm one to ask for comfort... they immediately turned on the AC for me. They're the best.

Wasabi Japanese Sushi is a hidden gem in Alabaster. I was immediately greeted by the friendly and…read morehelpful staff as soon as I walked in. I ordered various things to go and it was hard choosing because it all sounded so good. I ended up going with a volcano bowl, Hawaii bowl, Columbus roll, and two sushi tacos (spicy tuna and ahi tuna). The Columbus roll was fresh, and tasted so good it was gone quickly. The volcano bowl was amazing. The yuzu wasabi sauce tied everything together. The bowls are all one size but it was a good amount of food. The sushi tacos are unique, and you won't find anything like it in the area. The seaweed shells weren't my favorite because the texture was a little crunchy yet chewy at the same time which made it hard to take bites. However they were still tasty, just paled in comparison to the other options! All in all, this was a 10/10.