Food: decent, tastes like there was something missing flavor wise Salad was good, could've used more chicken. Pulled chicken was sweet. Price point good Seating is not size friendly, but they have their own parking lot. Not really near anything, location wise. read more

Calypso Cafe - Seating - Caribbean Near Me - Nashville, Tennessee

The restaurant reopened long ago for takeout, but recently reopened for dine-in. No one was more excited about them once again offering full service than me, but what a disappointment. The re-do of the interior looks okay, but unlike the 100 Oaks location, and the Charlotte location prior, you now have to go through a cattle chute to place your order at the counter. No servers, no table service whatsoever, except when they bring your food. You have to go up to the counter for refills, napkins, everything. I ordered the half chicken, white meat, with black beans and sweet potatoes. The food was good, but the 2 pieces of chicken were pitiful (see picture). Looked more like pullets than grown chickens. For the same price, at Martin's BBQ, the breasts are huge. I have no reason to return whatsoever. read more

Calypso Cafe - Sweet potatoes, Black beans, Baby Chicken, and Jamaica Curry sauce. - Caribbean Near Me - Nashville, Tennessee

I'm not sure what they have done to the black bean dip or if it's nonexistent but I just got 2 containers of cuban black beans that was supposed to be black bean dip .$20 on black beans ! read more

Great staff, fun environment, ok food ------------------------------------ I genuinely liked this place and would come again, but wasn't all that impressed with the food. It's well priced, which is great, but could use some more flavor and kick--at least on their veggie stuff! This time I ordered the beans and three with Cuban style black beans, st Lucian rice, spiced sweet potatoes (the best of what I got), and mustard greens. I'll be back to try other items. I'd expect that their meat items are probably where they put the most focus. read more

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I was a bit pained to see that the Calypso on Elliston had closed. I have been going there for years! However, I am very excited that they opened on Charlotte and stopped in on their second day open. The space is MUCH larger and you can tell that they have tried to cater to the employees at the new HCA HQ that is being built. It felt rather like a cafeteria, and had plenty of seating! The staff was friendly and quick as always, and I grabbed my to-go order in about 5 minutes and was on my way! What I love about Calypso remains; a healthy and versatile menu for all dietary needs. My favorite sides are the black beans and sweet potatoes! Also, the BBQ sauce is the perfect sauce to use to dip the chicken into. mmmm. I still love Calypso and look forward to many more visits at the new location! read more

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I came here with a friend who suggested Calypso as an option for me and my unique diet I'm currently on. It was great suggestion. There are many homemade and healthy options for meat and plant eaters alike. I got a chicken salad with a side of the greens. The greens were a little too acidic for my taste but I enjoyed the salad and the vinaigrette I asked for since I couldn't eat the ranch. Chicken was plentiful on the salad. Overall a nice option for those of us trying to eat healthy. read more

Calypso Cafe - Chicken and Veggies Salad (no cheese) with mustard greens and added side of "Our Famous House Vinaigrette." - Caribbean Near Me - Nashville, Tennessee

Calypso is a nice choice in Nashville for affordable and decently healthy fare. Unique food for the most part. Nice sized salads. The muffins are yummy and or course the chicken is great stuff. Most items can vary greatly if they're not fresh, though. This location suffers from a bit of a death-trap entrance and bizarre one-way (kinda?) alley exit route. They have a small lot that's clumsily shared with a gym, and general visibility sucks all around. Their move to the Sylvan-Everything vicinity made perfect sense, but this spot seems awkward and forced. During COVID-19, they've been inexplicably closed when others have still done takeout and walk-up. Makes no sense, and doesn't communicate good things about their condition as a business. They're either not hurting for cash and can afford to do this (which makes their already-affordable menu seem overpriced all of a sudden), or they're truly screwed and have no idea how to come out of the downturn, which would be a shame. read more

Calypso Cafe has quickly become one of my favorite food spots in Nashville - consistently good, well-priced, and healthy. I eat here at least twice a month. It's super busy at lunch time, but don't let that deter you. The wait staff is friendly, hospitable, and extremely efficient. They are great about getting your food to you quickly, without affecting the quality. I have never had a disappointing meal here. Lucayan Salad - light and flavorful. The chicken is always tender, the oranges fresh, and the toasted almonds are plentiful. Comes with a light tasting dressing. On days I don't work out or have a big breakfast, it's easily two meals. It's also great to-go. Rotisserie Chicken - always fresh tasting and tender. I like to order their Jamaican curry sauce on the side. It's outstanding, but I like the flavor of the chicken without it too. Black beans - served with onion and sour cream (make a request if you don't want it like that). I'm not a huge onion girl, but love the proportions they use. It's not too much. Sweet potatoes - light and slightly sweetened with coconut. I often order these as an additional side to the Lucayan salad because they are so fresh tasting and that slight sweetness really puts them over the top. read more

The Calypso Cafe is a great place for lunch. The service is always fast and friendly. My favorite dishes include the black beans, jerk chicken, curry chicken and black bean salad. I am also a fan of this place because they have meatless options and the food is always fresh. A must try is the black bean nachos as well. Great servers and friendly staff is definitely a plus for this location! read more

Calypso Cafe - Curry chicken with black beans and cole slaw - Caribbean Near Me - Nashville, Tennessee

Calypso is a true Nashville gem. It feels homey and comforting as soon as you walk inside and the staff are always so kind and accommodating. The food is fresh, healthy and delicious. You really can't ask for more. The staff is efficient and likes to get food out to customers beyond quickly. Love this spot! read more

Yes, we all know that this place was voted as the best cheap eats according to the Nashville scene. That is pretty much accurate. Per the food to cost to volume of food consideration, this place does deliver. I mean the food is indeed healthy but nothing that has really wowed me, but for a sit down - non-fast food place, it really serves up options that normally go for double the price in any other establishment. The ambiance is also open airy spaced yet modern so you feel like are in the 21st century with lots of space. read more

Yummy, healthy food! Excellent service! Even offered us pop and water to go when we left! read more

Always fresh and quick. Roast chicken, choice of sauces, the only "greens" I will ever eat and fun side orders. Lots of vegetarian options too. Awesome salad dressing. In the fall and winter they have soups and spiced tea and spiced coffee to warm you up. read more

Calypso has always been one of my favorites, and I'm plum delighted they moved to this location even closer to my office... and significantly less stressful to park than Elliston Place was! The Black Bean Salad is my "go to," and try it substituting the barbecue sauce for their Creamy Dill dressing if you want something extra delicious. The fruit tea is amazing, really amazing, but often I have to decide between enjoying the sweet fruitiness of the tea or having a productive afternoon... so I am just as likely to opt for water. They are so kind to offer you a "to go" cup, which I can't refuse, and then you know how you get basically "sweet belly" in the afternoons? Yea.... that. So glad I got to introduce three co-workers to this location earlier this week for their very first time ever. As I told them, I've never had anything I didn't like here, so just trust me and go visit. read more

OMG! Sooo yummy. I ordered the 1/2 rotisserie chicken with two sides. The chicken was incredibly moist and delicious. I wasn't sure what sauce to choice, so my waiter brought all three. They were all wonderful. One of my side choices was the spiced sweet potatoes. They tasted like Thanksgiving (a good thing!) I only ate half of my chicken. The rest I am having tonight for dinner. read more

Calypso Cafe off of Charlotte rests on the lower floor of a nondescript building next to a fitness studio. While the upstairs storefront is up for sale, Calypso is definitely in business for good reason (not just the fantastic choice in bright aquamarine paint--it pops!). The staff is prompt, polite, and ready to serve in a matter of seconds. As I was rushing off to observe for my studies, I lept into the to-go area. There was no line during noontime rush! Imagine my excitement. The server was patient with me as I looked over all the sides and the selection of refreshments. I settled on an Island Burger (w/ cheese) with a side of cole slaw and a fruit tea. The total came up at about $10.50. I paid in a minute flat, rushed out the door with my order, then rushed back in to get a fork and napkins, then back out again to eat. I was a bit confused as to why they have a self-service station for forks and napkins, but perhaps this just goes to show how generous the management at Calypso really is--take all the forks! Use all the condiments! During my lightning fast wait, I took a quick peak around the dining area. Patrons looked satisfied and intent on conversation - no one looked peeved or angered by a wait. It seems like the staff here is doing an awesome job in keeping people happy. I imagine it also has something to do with the large amount of seating, no line waits, and open kitchen. Definitely worth a second try in my book! read more

This is my kind of place! I will be a regular - Fresh, healthy food which also tastes good - A nice variety of healthy options - Great prices (though if you're a big eater you may want to order a second side - and it'd still be cheaper than most spots) - Friendly staff and welcoming environment - Bright and clean inside, and a nice patio outside The only thing that would make this better: use of local ingredients... read more

I come here often due to the healthy menu selections. This is food that I don't feel bad about eating. The Cuban black beans are out of this world! Great for lunch or dinner any day of the week! The staff is also super friendly and super accommodating! read more

Service was good, food was fast, but what's with regular lays potato chips as being the only option? I am not a fan of regular lays potato chips and personally prefer anything else so lack of options is why I took a star off. Food was good, but not great, so took a star off for that too. I ordered the lite tuna and it was just "ok". I will return at some point but it's not at the top of my list by any means. read more

This place and its food is absolutely not my cup of tea. We had a lunch catered in and I hated everything except the black bean dip and even that was only tolerable. The corn coconut muffin was not only a bad combination of flavor but it was soooo dry that I couldnt swallow the bite I took without almost choking. The rice was sweet and watery and the peas were so squishy and yuck. The pulled chicken wa so bland and dry - felt like it was the kind from a can but it wasn't. The ketchupy sauce that moistened it up was not at all good and there were several small bones in the small portion I attempted to eat. There was some sort of kool-aid lime flavored pie that was soupy upon delivery and therefore the tiny taste I took was as much as I could handle. The catering order didnt come with plates and most of the containers leaked and were poorly packed in flimsy aluminum trays. I truly couldn't eat from this place again. It is quite possibly the grossest place I have ever ate. And I tried Krystal once. Just sayin' read more

This is a great place for a quick, easy, mostly healthy meal. I picked up takeout of pulled chicken with black beans and salad and it was all great. Their big salads are also great. You can get all kinds of chicken dishes and other sides - something for everyone. read more

This is the location I frequent most. It's handy and familiar like an old slipper. I like the waitstaff on Charlotte but all locations are identical. The formula is simple, delicious and easily replicated. At least they make it seem so. The menu is executed flawlessly and it's the fastest fresh meal served in Nashville in my experience. Plenty of steam tables in Nashville but that ain't fresh baby. No mam. This is a love story. I get a little verklempt just thinking about it. I've been eating Calypso Cafe since its inception. Actually I don't know when they started but I probably predate them. This is my thirtieth year in Music City. Imagine that? And "I can hold my breath longer than I can listen to country radio." (Credit Amanda Shires with that quote.) It just occurred to me, I can't think of one bad order, not one incorrect or poorly made dish in all these many years. Could my mind be failing? Certainly. Do I exaggerate? Quite possibly, but that would needlessly tarnish this otherwise flawless relationship. I've honed my favorite rotation of dishes down to an art form. A little extra this, a little extra that and I'm "in the pocket." (Musician speak.) One of life's true pleasures is knowing exactly what you want, where to get it and knowing it'll be served exactly as you expected. THAT is a satisfying meal. 1) Black Bean Dip with Orzo Basil Salad (green peas, carrots, celery in a basil vinaigrette) (sheah) 2) Black Bean salad with beef or chicken (Get the BBQ AND the Tangy sauce.) 2) Black Bean Nacho with beef or chicken (Get the BBQ AND the Tangy sauce.) 3) Tropical Curried Chicken Salad - KA-POW! (This is a sweet one but don't sleep on it.) Fruit Tea, capital F, capital T. I'm ambivalent about the rotisserie chicken and the burger is more like a meatball. Just sayin'. Love you guys. read more

This is food that I feel good about eating! Everything is super fresh and healthy. I'm very picky about eating chicken -- I don't like dark meat, gristle, or fat on my chicken and this is one of the only restaurants I feel comfortable eating chicken. You can actually specify if you want dark or white meat when you order. The side dishes are really good too; you won't find French fries or onion rings here! More like sweet potato casserole, salad with homemade dressing, fresh fruit (summer), Lucian rice, basil orzo salad.... The list goes on. Another plus is -- the staff is always friendly and food is ready SUPER fast.... SUPER FAST! Great for take-out! Restaurant is clean. read more

Awesome healthy and filling spot for lunch. We ordered and less then 5 minutes later, they brought us our food. It's so nice to find a spot that doesn't take an hour to get food in the middle of a work day. Oh and for those of you thinking its one of those hippie, vegan, all you eat is rabbit food places.... It's not! They have options that are hearty and able to satisfy everyone's needs and the price point is right on. Don't forget to try their famous fruit tea, it's sweet but it's refreshing at the same time. read more

Solid lunch spot. Calypso is consistently quick, healthy and affordable. If you call in a to go order, it is ready within 10 minutes. If you go for a sit down lunch, your food is generally to you within 5 minutes. I recommend the Black Bean Salad (with white meat chicken!). This salad is basically nachos. The black beans are legit, and the tangy barbeque sauce dressing brightens everything up. I also love the Quarter White Chicken with the Jamaican Curry. This comes with two sides. As previously mentioned, the black beans are bomb. Always order these. The other side is up in the air, but I like the caliloo greens, boija muffins, corn salad, and sweet potatoes. For dessert, I love picking up one of their carrot cake bars up by the register. It's a great pick me up for later in the afternoon with yummy white chocolate chips. Service can be hit or miss, hence 4 instead of 5 stars. read more

Not much to write about. Chicken was pretty standard rotisserie chicken. Jerk sauce was tangy, and not really spicy at all, more sour than anything. The Jamaican Curry sauce was decent, if you like sweet sauces for your chicken. The corn muffins were a little dry, but tasty. The rice was dry and a little crunchier than I'd hope for rice. The corn and bean salad was okay. Best item was definitely the nachos. But not worth going back for in my opinion. Would like to note, that the waitstaff was very kind and helpful. We had a toddler with us, and the server checked in with us several times and was sure to get the kids meal chopped up extra small for the tot. Special thanks to our server! read more

So super excited to see a calypso cafe in the neighborhood. And literally right around the corner from our house, which is a huge plus for us. We've been waiting a while for a healthy cuisine restaurant in this area that won't break the bank. The service was friendly was the food was fresh and fantastic. I had the chicken and veggie salad and could barely put my fork down (pile on the sprouts-yum!). Husband had the barbecue chicken plate with sweet potato and orzo sides and was indeed a happy camper! Lots of parking is also a plus! We will be back.... Weekly! read more

Calypso Cafe - Caribbean Near Me - Nashville, Tennessee

I left Nashville 18 years ago and one of my fond memories of the city is coming to Calypso frequently for dinner. I had the opportunity to come back recently and my first meal in the city was at Calypso! I had the black beans & rice salad (my favorite), a bowl of seasonal fruit, their homemade fruit tea and a slice of key lime pie. It was exactly how I remembered it and I loved every bite. There's a lot of variety on the menu for vegetarians and carnivores. Hope to hit this great place up a few more times before I leave again read more

ALL THE STARS! Calypso Cafe gets all of the stars. I've been eating at calypso for ten years at least and I've never had anything less than a five-star experience - every location, every time. This location on Charlotte is my most frequented, and before that it was the Elliston location that moved to Charlotte. The food is fresh, healthy, and unbelievably delicious. Everything on the menu is great. My go-to's are the black bean salad and the "beans and three" plate (their famous black beans with three additional sides). You have to get the black beans, and you have to get the sour cream and red onions on top. The service is impeccable. No faster service in Nashville - your food is brought to you immediately. My husband noted at lunch yesterday that he was telling me the same story when we ordered and when our food arrived! It makes for the quickest spot in Nashville for a work day lunch. And the servers are just the sweetest people. I often call ahead and order food for pick up - It's always ready when I get there, and I'm usually only 5 minutes away. Can't sing it's praises enough - Calypso... I love you forever. read more

Nice food, they usually get the order correct; a rarity these days! Nice staff from what I've experienced, clean place. Good prices. Convenient location, parking is OK, not too bad, not great either. Would go back for sure. read more

Calypso Cafe is a hip, inexpensive place with excellently flavorful offerings. The music is old school. Don McKean was playing Bye, Bye Miss American Pie. The ingredients are clean and fresh. The staff is friendly and efficient. I had the veggie melt with a side of black beans and a cup of barley bean soup. Everything was perfectly seasoned and the hot spice tea warmed the soul on a rainy night. read more

Nashville restaurants are consistently raising their prices, and trying to keep up with the growth of the city- but the quality of their food is decreasing. I ordered what was once a favorite salad from Calypso, to go. The salad was smaller than I remember it, the chicken which is usually shredded was in huge, chewy chunks and had a strange aftertaste almost fishy in flavor- blah. Won't be rushing back here anytime soon. read more

Best service. Always friendly. Food is always great. Best lunch in town. I love their fruit tea. And I am having my favorite black bean nachos today. read more

Y'all...I'm so disappointed. The food was terrible ...we ordered nachos. First off, they were pre-made and our order was to go. Most restaurants would package the chips and topppings separately for to go orders. I didn't complain too much because they looked good and just asked for some extra chips in case those were soggy before we got home. We tried them in the car and there was something sweet about them. They were the black bean nachos with rice so I'm assuming the black bean dip is sweet but the flavors didn't mesh well. We ate about 10 chips total and just couldn't eat anymore. That was my wife's food. I ordered the bean and three with rice, cállalo, and muffins. The rice was hard. It either wasn't cooked well or they scraped it from the bottom of the pan. The beans didn't taste like anything which was shocking since they are a signature item. The greens...just no. We also took a few bites of thhos meal and just said never mind. Needless to say I spent $24 with a tip and we're still hungry. And that was my first and only time patronizing this establishment. read more

A fruit tea and a half of chicken with their Jamaican Curry sauce is never a wrong way to enjoy lunch at Calypso. I first went to the Calypso by centennial park about 6 years ago and I've been coming back when I'm in town ever since. The fruit tea is definitely their thing. It's tasty, refreshing and in plentiful supply. I like to pretend it's healthy because it's fruit tea, but I don't really know if it's healthier than other drinks. The pulled chicken BBQ plate is great if you don't want to get your hands dirty. You get a good amount of chicken pulled off the bone and two sides. As I said before, the Jamaican curry is great on a quarter or half chicken. The sides are not just filler either. The St. Lucian rice is always cooked perfectly and the sweet potato with shaved coconut is a desert masquerading as a side. Needless to say, I tend to get that combination. I recommend the mint brownie for dessert, you should probably get two. The decor is nothing to write home about. You sit on plastic outdoor chairs in a room that is painted in colors that evoke thoughts of the Caribbean. Everything is clean and you can see them cook your food. The service is quick and the people are friendly. In conclusion, great food at a great price. read more

My favorite restaurant in Nashville. The food is always fresh. The staff is always friendly. They have THE best fruit tea I've ever had, and the vegan options are delicious! read more

Fast and fresh! Great service and good flavors. Can't beat the price. Really enjoyed the nachos. The veggie melt wasn't very filling but it was still good. Enjoyed the cleanliness of the place. Very modern. read more

Calypso Cafe - Caribbean Near Me - Nashville, Tennessee

Was contacted by management to address the issue. the world is not perfect, and obviously the management cares about their customer perceptions. read more

Really like this place for a quick light lunch or dinner. The chicken is delicious and i love their corn muffins. I like the jerk chicken with slaw and muffins. read more

I am so so very bummed to have to write this type of review. I normally love everything about Calypso. However, tonight I opened the box in which my Lucayan salad resided, and I found a slimey dead fly smashed into a piece of lettuce in the corner of the box. I was super bummed, I was so ready for a tasty Lucayan... read more

Calypso Cafe - Fly hangin out in my salad... : ( - Caribbean Near Me - Nashville, Tennessee