Calliope

The worst meal I have had on 40
Years. Stupid. Dumb. Awful. Not actually edible. Horrible… and I am a chef… Hideous.

ERIC KORSH — chef of Calliope left in January 2014 and the menu and food has declined severely.
My recent experience here was in April 2014. The menu is short but seems like it would be decent. The waitress had no idea what she was talking about when we asked questions about certain dishes. They were also out of the first beer I requested, and then out second beer I requested.
When the food arrived, it was extremely tiny portions. I am OK with small portions if the quality is top-​notch, but not the for price here at Calliope.
We ordered the Raw Tuna appetizer — the tuna was just off. It didn’t have a good flavor and I’m a big fan of any kind of tuna. We also got the mussels which were just as raw as the tuna although they should have been cooked. It was like eating oysters, not mussels. The other dish we got was the Mullet. It was so incredibly tiny and had so many bones in the fish.
The menu and quality of food has declined because of the chef /​kitchen change. I do not recommend eating here until management makes the necessary changes.

A really charming restaurant minus the thick air of snootiness Abe Froman had the displeasure of encountering (Snooty? Snotty. Snotty?). The staff is super down-​to-​earth and very accomodating. When we ran out of bread for our Rabbit Rillettes (back to that in a minute), 3 different servers who saw that we were sad and breadless asked if we would like more bread for our rillettes. Also, kudos to the server who gave my boyfriend and I our correct dishes after we played a round of musical chairs.
So in addition to the rabbit rillettes, we ordered the Spicy Marinated Mackeral with Black Sesame, Lamb Neck Pappardelle and Black Sea Bass. I really liked the mackeral and whatever vinaigrette the avocado and scallions it came with were doused with. I ordered the Lamb Neck because our server said it was her favorite and they’re actually taking it off the menu for Spring. It was good but much heavier and creamier than what I was expecting. My boyfriend loved his Black Sea Bass and said it was perfectly cooked. I got a few bites in and it was pretty good.
Ok, so back to the rillettes. I had zero problem with the rillettes itself but brah… come on. It came with 3 tiny pieces of bread that would barely satisfy a mouse and cleeeaarly was not enough for our rillettes. We got 2 refills following our original serving and each were the same…3…ant-sized…pieces. The experience was comical but note for the future, Calliope: Mo’ bread, less problems.

Such a lovely charming place.
Had a bottle of Ganevat there, one of my all time favorite wines.

I’m not sure why Unilocalers don’t like this place… maybe I came prepared for the sticker price, but the food is top notch (and really, not that much more than other places in the ‘hood). We came for brunch and it was completely empty at 12:30. My friend and I split the scones, which were clearly fresh out of the oven, topped with their clotted cream. These were maybe the best things we had, but their scrambled eggs were also nice (could have been runnier, but not everyone likes their eggs that way, so no complaints). We had plenty of unlimited coffee, and managed to have a pretty nice celeb sighting – think aging child actress/​recovering addict/​current star of OWN. All in all, what more do you want from a NYC brunch?

My friend and I came here on a whim because she was craving oysters. Even though happy hour was over, the server and atmosphere really made up for the extra cash we had to dish out.
(ATMOSPHERE)
The restaurant is a huge room with a very open and «hang-out”/chill type vibe. The space is huge and is emphasized by the aged vintage mirrors surrounding the back of the restaurant. There are some small tables that seat ²⁄₄ people, but there is a large wooden long table in the center a large group. Definitely an enjoyable atmosphere to chill with friends, grab a drink and chat.
(FOOD)
We got oysters that our server recommended and it was so fresh and perfectly paired with the acidity and sweetness of the sauces that came with it. The other dish we got was another appetizer (we went past 9pm). We ended the meal with the flourless chocolate cake which was absolutely delicious. It reminded me of the Gotham Chocolate cake they offer, but with sweet brandied cherries and a light dollop of whipped cream.
(SERVICE)
Our server was THE BOMB. He was super nice to us even though most of the people in the restaurant were much older (we’re students). When we asked for recommendations, he gladly helped us pick from the choices we had in mind. His recommendations were given very enthusiastically and you could tell he really loved those dishes so we had confidence ordering them.
Definitely coming back here to try the brunch menu (so many reviews raving about the German pancakes)

Came here over the weekend for brunch.
First impression: We were harshly greeted by the rude hostess w/​red hair. I understand it was a busy weekend, but this woman glared at us and was very hesitant in allowing us to sit near a window –even though the restaurant was half empty. Not sure what this girls problem is, but If i were the owners I would look at replacing her or moving her to the back of the restaurant where she doesn’t have to interact with customers.
Brunch options: While the food came out fast, and the portions were huge there was nothing overwhelming about the brunch. There is only ~5 options and none scream –ohh this looks great. I think they need to get more imaginative and take a good look at other spots for brunch inspiration.
Service: in addition to the rude (un-​kept) hostess, our waitress was sweet, but very slow –we had to ask for more coffee and more water. She seemed flustered.
This place may be fantastic for dinner, but their brunch experience was not great .
SERVICE, SERVICE, SERVICE. Work on your service.

3.5 Stars.
Came here for a friend’s birthday brunch in the dead of 15 degree weather. Place was pretty lively, even though there were quite a few empty tables. Our large group was seated very promptly, and the hostess was very good about keeping the curtain at the door closed, so as to keep the cold out.
Service overall was very attentive, as we got our drink orders and meal orders in very quickly. There weren’t a lot of options on the menu, but the options they did have were pretty unique. I wasn’t feeling breakfast food at the time, so I went for the burger. Other people in the group ordered the mussels, German pancake, Arnold Bennett, and the normal 2 eggs breakfast. There was a bit of gawking when the German pancake came out, since it was a huge portion and looked appealing in the cast-​iron skillet, likely due to the weather outside.
My burger came out a more well done even though I had asked for medium rare. Dry as it was, I just piled the house-​made mayo and mustard and ate it anyway. I was incredibly hungry, so I decided to just let it go. I did appreciate the fries being cooked well and that the portion was pretty substantial. Not thrilled that they messed up a pretty basic dish, but I was able to try the other dishes and they were all delicious. Mussels were cooked well, the German pancake was fluffy, and the Arnold Bennett was an interesting flavor, and not too fishy.
Overall, it was a very pleasant experience and I would recommend this place as a basic place for brunch, if not on the more unique side. The tripe stew with egg seemed intriguing, although I don’t think I’ve ever had tripe served in a non-​Asian manner. Regardless, given the endless choices for brunch in East Village/​LES, this is a place where you will get a quality experience, no matter what you order. Just get that burger right, son.

It used to be that sleepy french bistro but new resto has moved in but they basically kept the décor exactly the same which initially confused me, but apparently there is some sort of buzz/​hype, so wanted to check it out.
Super foodie spot with an authentic french menu. Tables are all jammed together with one large communal table so opted to sit at the bar, which was unfortunately equally pretty jammed on this particular occasion. Once settled in we were greeted with anchovy toast with radishes. Not the best way to start a date but adventurous and creative. Fois gras was predictable. Highlight was the Tete de Porc (terrine), which was sliced paper thin with shallots, cornichons, parsley and light dressing. This was outstanding — it’s worth going back and enjoying just the terrine with some nice burgundy wine.
Calliope is a nice change from all the cookie cutter faux french bistros. We weren’t blown away by any means but the menu is creative and we left wanting to go back just for the Tete de Porc. Service was very frazzled when we visited but hopefully it’s calmed down since. I didn’t like being that close to people sitting next to me, it’s to the point where you can’t tell who is with whom and you can hear everyone’s conversations (and they will chime into yours as well) which can be annoying.

Friends and I had a wonderful dinner experience. We ordered several small plates to share. the mussels, beef tongue and Tete de Porc were outstanding. The dry aged NY steak was also amazing.
We ordered a Macon-​Fuisse as a white starter and it went well with the mussels.
My friend and I brought some older Bordeaux bottles to taste throughout the evening — 1970 Ch Haut Bailly, 1978 Ch. Palmer and 1986 D’Issan. They went well with the pork and beef dishes we had.
Lovely place. I would love to come back and try other items on the menu.

Heck yeah I get to be the lucky 100^th reviewer! (Hopefully no one is furiously writing a review right now after seeing they have the opportunity to be the 100^th reviewer as well…)
Came here with a buddy and it reminded me of the standard French bistro. The lighting was nice but not overbearing, and the tables were all packed very closely together. In fact, throughout the entire dinner, I could hear pretty much every conversation within a 5 foot radius around me, how Joe and Kelly were now going out, how Ashley slept with two dudes in one night, how Matt just transferred schools, etc… my friend and I griped a lot about our jobs, so it was actually sort of awkward just how close in proximity everyone was.
Anyway, the food was OK. I got the spicy braised tripe topped by a sunny side up egg. Have never had tripe in Western cuisine, so was excited to see how this would turn out. Liked the chewy texture of the meat, and the spicy sauce was more so sour than numb spicy. The egg on top provided a nice flavor tempering to the main dish, especially as it soaked up a lot of the sauce. For dessert, I got the chocolate tart with almond cream — it was pretty disappointing since it came pretty dry and the portions were tiny. When it got brought over, I first thought it was a complimentary sample!
Overall, pretty average place. Calliope won’t wow you, but it’s not bad for standard food. I’d go for the tripe dish and get dessert at some other place near St. Marks.

Although my friends and I did not have reservations (highly recommended by the way), the staff at Calliope were extremely friend and found us a table immediately. The staff were, from beginning to end, super friendly and very helpful with the menu!
If this is your first time at Calliope, may I STRONGLY suggest their «hot and sour braised lamb neck with mascarpone agnolotti. Agnolotti, by the way, is a type of ravioli from the Piedmont region in Italy. Don’t worry, I had to look it up. ;)
This dish SHOULD be Calliope’s staple! The broth is delicious and has a kick that’ll punch your face and a bite that’ll nom your cheek off. But, it’s not TOO spicy, it’s JUST the right amount. It worked super well with the agnolotti and the lamb neck.
Ah, as for the lamb neck. I posted a picture of my plate as well but don’t let the angle fool you, the dish was filled deeply with lamb neck meat (already taken off the bone) and it was SO tender. It melted in my mouth. This was truly my favorite. I HIGHLY recommend this plate (especially if it’s your first time).
The prices are a bit up there but it’s definitely worth it. It’s one of my new favorite bistros in NYC.

What a wonderfully charming restaurant!
We started off with some delicious toasted sourdough bread with anchovy spread. Luckily I had no idea it was anchovy spread beforehand because I was not paying attention to our waitress, otherwise I probably would not have touched it. If you’re like me and don’t like anchovies, just give it a try! It was served with a few chunks of raw radish, which I wished were seasoned or cooked in some way. It’s hard to eat raw chunks of radish!
To start, we sampled the spring onion, leek, and goat cheese tart. I cannot even begin to tell you how delicious this was. The greens on top were perfectly spritzed with a light lemony dressing of sorts that went so well with the goat cheese.
For our entrees, I had the hot and sour braised lamb neck with mascarpone filled agnolotti and he had the strip steak. A steak aficionado, he very rarely says that non-​steakhouse steaks are great, but he was sure raving about this one! As for my dish, I also loved it. I really enjoyed the unique presentation of the braised lamb and agnolotti sitting in a hot and sour broth, which I think contributed to the extra tenderness of the lamb. It was especially great to cut open the agnolotti and scoop up the mascarpone with the broth — such a fab flavour combo!
We also ordered a side of the fingerlings with raclette cheese and holy shiznit was this good. The potatoes were so buttery and soft and the raclette cheese smothered on top just took it to a whole other level. I love when restaurants put as much thought into their sides as their main dishes!
Unfortunately, we didn’t end on the best note as the salted caramel chocolate cake we had for dessert was not great. The caramel sauce was wayyy too salty and the cake itself was a bit dry. I wouldn’t have been able to tolerate more than a couple of bites if it wasn’t for the vanilla ice cream it was paired with. Definitely stay away from this dessert!
Service here was phenom from the moment we walked in. It’s a smaller space and the tables are really close together, but the staff always pulls the tables away for you to scooch inside. I also really appreciated that our waitress also told us the prices of the specials when she was describing them — I’ve never experienced that before and thought it was a really considerate touch.
Quite pricey (dinner for the two of us with a glass of wine each and all of the above came out to $ 150 with tax & tip), and it can get kinda loud, but still a really cute date spot!

Food was well prepared – seasoning and technique. A little stuffy atmosphere though.
Recommend if you’re trying to impress your girlfriends folks, but it can get loud so don’t expect an intimate date.

Totally forgot how much I enjoyed Calliope until I returned for a second visit.
German pancake, divine. Don’t be a fatty and dig right in as this dutch baby comes out piping hot, cast iron skillet and all and you will sure burn your taste buds off.
Granola with greek yogurt and apricot purée that is made to look like a runny egg. Kitchy.
My actual server, when she was around, was just ok. I didn’t get my coffee that ordered upon immediately being seated until 5 bites into my food. All others though, especially the savior l that brought me my coffee and the kind gent that sat me were very attentive.
The patio was the perfect choice for seating on a sunny crisp fall day.

Cute place. Food was solid but not memorable. We had the spicy marinated mackeral with avocado, the lobster and leek terrine, the rabbit papardelle, and the halibut with mussel and chorizo broth.
The marinated mackeral was the favorite out of everything we ordered, and was extremely flavorful with a nice kick without being too fishy. Everything else was fine but nothing special, not even the infamous rabbit papardelle, which to me was a little on the bland side.
Portions are huge! Come hungry or you wont’ be able to finish your plate.

Unfortunate things that happened this brunch:
1. I misheard our waitress explain the Arnold Bennett omelette, which led me to think it had morel mushrooms, as opposed to sorrel, aka the poisonous (only in very, very large quantities) plant and bane of my existence. I also did not realize she was referring to the other omelette, leading me to panic order.
2. It rained intermittently. Of course, Tiffany and I had chosen to sit outside.
In spite of these two things, I’m both excited about returning for dinner in the future, and pleased that I was able to eat brunch here before the hordes descend (The New Yorker just wrote a ‘review’, and Pete the Punisher is due to weigh in by the end of the week). I should elucidate.
Calliope — it should be noted, and in spite of what Unilocal will tell you — is a French restaurant. Predominately rustic, what the food lacks in flash is more than made up for in taste. The raspberry scones were buttery, moist, and borderline decadent. The apricot spread that accompanied them was equally sinful. In spite of my general unease at the thought of consuming fish, eggs, and a prodigious amount of cheese together as breakfast, I was sold after my second bite; haddock and all. My only regret is that my dish did not come with the same light smattering of greens that my partner’s did. It would have done wonders in breaking up the heavy bites. Her eggs benedict were as textbook as could be, and I mean that in the best way possible. Her country ham and pommes Anna were also simply but tastefully executed.
As word of mouth about Calliope becomes more prominent and more favorable, it is hard to imagine its relative lack of popularity persisting. On a weekend afternoon, we were two among less than a dozen patrons in the restaurant. I hope for Calliope’s sake that this changes. Surely purveyors of food this good deserve better, even if the average frequenters of the neighborhood do not.

What a gorgeous restaurant!
The complimentary garlic toast brought to our table as we perused the menu was amazing and perfect since we were starving!
We decide on a few apps, octopus salad and ricotta/​chard dumplings in sage butter. Both were phenom!
My halibut on romesco toast was mouthwatering! And the portion was generous — I didn’t even finish my plate, regretfully!
Chocolate cake dessert was the perfect texture and just the right amt of sweet. And to top off the stellar service, our guy brought us complimentary madelines, still warm with a light powdered sugar dusting. Amazing!
This place is beautiful.

arrived for a solo brunch on a particularly hot summer Saturday
I ordered the Fine Herb And Sorrel Omelette (sans cheese) and the somewhat pricey strawberry scones. And to celebrate turning 27 (and who cares if it’s only 12pm?), I ordered a glass of my favorite sparkling red wine.
The food leaned more on the heavy side — the omlette, I discovered, came with a center full of gooey cheese. The omlette was tasty but not something I was wow-​ed. However, their homemade strawberry scone was fantastic, but very buttery.
The restaurant was really peaceful and décor didn’t change much from the former restaurant.
I don’t know if I’ll be back for any meals… brunch didn’t WOW me as much as I hoped it would. However reviews for dinner have been great

I live nearby, so have now been a few times — let’s just say this is a very welcome addition to the block. The location has always been good but the current occupants have created a much more hospitable vibe.
My favorite appetizers are the Provencal tomato tart, for it’s very light, flaky and rich pastry and the Bibb lettuce salad with scallions and feta soft cooked vinaigrette is a great combination of those big loose, delicate greens topped with bright but creamy flavors. The black sea bass entrée has been perfect both times, as was the grilled turbot I had last time. As a pescatarian, my comments are somewhat limited, unless multiple personal observations of my partner happily partaking of head meats and grilled lamb with braised artichokes count. I’ve also heard him repeatedly tell others that their meat terrines are excellent. Service is wonderful, like other reviewers have mentioned, attentive without being overbearing.
If there’s one complaint, I also wish the prices were a little lower. That said, the wines by glass are $ 8-​$ 10, which is lower than any of the other restaurants on that stretch… Also, I’ll freely admit that I feel almost everything in NYC is too expensive. Hope they stick around!