Calliope was AMAZING. You can immediately tell how much care goes into their food. The in-house made pita bread was unreal: warm, fluffy, and easily some of the best I've ever had. The whipped feta was creamy, perfectly seasoned, and completely addictive. The vibe inside was very easygoing, chill, and cozy. I ordered the chicken shawarma with hummus and it was flawless: tender, flavorful, and perfectly balanced. Every bite felt thoughtful and fresh. This is the kind of place that makes you want to come back just to try everything on the menu. Highly recommend! read more

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So disappointing ... I love these flavors and this type of food. Having spent a not insignificant time in the Middle East (mainly Egypt and Jordan), I had high hopes. The space is lovely. The service is attentive. The menu was diverse, creative, and exciting. However, the actual food was mediocre at best. My husband and I shared two classic dishes--whipped feta and falafel. The feta was fine, but about a quarter cup for $15 felt excessive. The falafel meant well, but it was dense and dry. Plus, the sauces served on top, while tasty, were overwhelming. Again, $12 for three golf-sized balls was too much. Finally, the zataar pita was approaching burnt and much too crispy. I've heard the chef can be mercurial, so perhaps it was an off-night. read more

Calliope - Pita, whipped feta and falafel. - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Chattanooga, Tennessee

Calliope is fine, but it didn't wow me. Hummus was very good with the pita bread was also very good, but maybe a bit overdone. Falafel was very dense but the sauce was excellent. Broccolini was good and I really appreciated the nuts on top. Tiramisu was average. Staff was a bit pretentious and the prices very high. It was fine, but nothing stood out as I must have this again. Probably wouldn't come here again. The space was very nice. read more

The spot to enjoy the flavor of middle eastern environment with all the goodies on side ! read more

Calliope - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Chattanooga, Tennessee

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We've visited Calliope a couple of times now and have really enjoyed it. Dishes outside of the sofra offering are small, tapas-style plates. The service is casual and friendly, and the space feels cozy and inviting. Most of the dishes were very tasty, with rich savory spices and flavorful sauces. While the crab fried rice was a bit disappointing and the portions run on the smaller side, the rest of the meal was delicious and impressive. We especially recommend the grouper, beef, and lamb. This is such a welcome addition to Chattanooga's restaurant scene. read more

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Cute restaurant with delicious and fresh food. Lots of seating but still gets busy - make a reso! Ordered the chicken shwarma hummus, tomato and fig salad, niman ranch beef, and knafeh for dessert. My favorites were the hummus and salad. The pita bread is super delicious warm with the flavorful hummus. Salad was super refreshing and enjoyed the textural contrast between the fruits, candied walnuts, and burrata. The perfect summer salad. The niman ranch beef was a ribeye and it was just ok. Texture good and medium rare, but couldn't help but remind us of a hamburger patty flavor wise. Felt like we were eating a cheeseburger, maybe it was the spices. Dessert was knafeh which I enjoyed but couldn't finish because it was too sweet for me. The service was painfully slow - we don't drink so there wasn't much to keep us occupied between dishes besides chatting. Def expect to spend at least 2 + hours there, maybe because it was a Saturday night. Overall would recommend to try it especially if you are looking for something different and an elevated experience. read more

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One of the best restaurants in Chattanooga! Adam is a fantastic bartender and conversationalist. If you enjoy small plates with middle eastern flair- you'll love this culinary adventure. Large and diverse wine list and great ambiance. read more

Calliope - Bar - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Chattanooga, Tennessee

Calliope was an amazing experience. The food was flavorful and well-crafted, and the atmosphere felt both stylish and comfortable. Our waiter, David, really stood out--super attentive, friendly, and gave great recommendations. Definitely a place I'd come back to. read more

Food service and ambiance amazing every single time we come to Calliope! The chef/owner puts together the perfect blend of flavors and the servers are well versed In helping you to select a wonderful meal. Do not hesitate trying something new- it is all delicious! read more

Birthday dinner celebration with a party of 4! Great ambiance. Excellent service. Our server literally told us about the goals of the restaurant, the chef, and described the menu in great detail. The chefs 'sofra' was just incredible with the starters in a beautiful 8 section bowl filled with whipped feta cheese, olives, marinated veggies.... many different choices and we tried them all... served with warm fresh pita bread. Roasted Lamb Shank was our main course with veggies, salad, meatballs... all OVER THE TOP DELICIOUS! We were so in awe and enjoying ourselves, we forgot to take photos. Our son who lives in Atlanta said this was better than their best similar restaurant there... we will definitely be going back. Oh and they brought a nice champagne toast for our special birthday girl to go with our dessert. 5* read more

The best restaurant in Chattanooga!! The gulf shrimp and burnt carrots are incredible, but you can't go wrong with any of the dishes. Seriously the best food around!! read more

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We've heard they hype and finally tried Calliope out. We went on a Sunday afternoon, since it wasn't an especially busy night, the vibes were chill. We went with the waiter's suggestion and started with hummus and pita and ended up ordering a second pita because the fluffy, fresh bread came straight out of the oven. The cantaloupe gazpacho was new to the menu and AMAZING. So bright, and I loved the little kick of spice. For two, we shared the sea bass, beets, lamb meatballs & octopus (not my favorite of the dishes), blackened carrots, gazpacho and hummus. Needless to say it was plenty of food (we took some home) , and I'm ready to go back as soon as possible to see what they do next. read more

If I could get 4.5 stars, I would because some things were amazing and some were just good. I'll start from the top. Chicken shawarma hummus was phenomenal. Probably the best chicken shawarma I have had. Whipped feta dip also very good. We ordered three of the mains- the chicken, the sea bass, and the shrimp. Chicken was definitely the star of the show and well worth the money with the portion that they give. The shrimp was also very good, but the sea bass was just okay in my opinion. I order sea bass at many restaurants, so I have a lot of comparisons. The potato side was just okay as well. Oh, but the bread was so good. They have another bread option for $4, but don't bother. The free bread they give is better. The service was fantastic and the restaurant itself is very pretty. Overall, a really good meal! read more

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Parking is on the street. The ambiance is chill. The service is outstanding with friendly and helpful staff. It's similar to Tapas or shared plates. We ordered the Spanish octopus, with black lime, plumbs, honey labneh and smoked oil. Perfect! From 4-5:30, they offer Manaquish, similar to a puffed bread with some amazing toppings. I recommend the Lamb lardon. It's crispy with fig jam and buffalo ricotta for sweet and savory in every bite! If ever in Chattanooga again, we will be back! read more

Calliope - Roasted Squash Manaquish - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Chattanooga, Tennessee

We left Johnson City, TN and headed southwest to Chattanooga; a city I definitely want to come back and visit when I have more time. For dinner, we stopped by Calliope, a modern Levantine restaurant and bar. Levantine cuisine has its roots in Jordan, Cyprus, Lebanon, Israel, and other countries in the region. Calliope's chefs are from that region, so you know the food is legit. I started with a mocktail, the Lemonana. It's like a fancy lemonade made with mint, lemon, and salt. A fantastic drink between bites. The menu is set up tapas style; small plates meant to be shared. We started with some Spanish Octopus. Chargrilled octopus tentacles with diced plums, honey labneh, and black lime. I've had my fair share of a variety of cephalopods, but this rendition was fabulous. It hit all the right notes of sweet, sour, tangy, savory, and texture. A perfect dish. Since it was happy hour when we arrived, we tried a couple of manaqish varietals, only available between 4p-5:30p. Manaqish is a flatbread, usually spiced with zatar. Calliope makes it their own with how they top it. We got the roasted squash made with a miso-goat cheese, torshi (pickled veg), and peanut dukkah. We also got the lamb lardon made with buffalo ricotta, fig jam, chili, and herbs. Both manaqish were fantastic, but the consensus favorite at the table was the lamb lardon. Crispy lamb paired with the ricotta and fig jam was simply irresistible. Give me a bowl of that and I'd die happy. If you're ever in Chattanooga, definitely check out Calliope. read more

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This might be my favorite restaurant in Chattanooga. The food is unique and delicious with unfamiliar flavors and reasonable portions. The wait staff are the best in the area and the service is impeccable. The ambience is nice as well. I've been several times, and the drinks were very good, but seemed a bit weak the last time. This restaurant is expensive for Chattanooga, but probably worth it more than other similarly priced restaurants. I honestly wouldn't mind going once a week. read more

The food and drinks are great here. The lamb shank was super tender and the rice that came with it was delicious. The fresh pitas and dips were a hit too. The dessert was just ok, not really what I prefer personally. The service started off great but got slow throughout the night. Overall great dinner, would definitely come again and try other dishes. read more

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Colorful, flavorful, and engaging. Calliope is a wonderful spot that puts in your new happy place the moment you step in the door. Our group of five were warmly welcomed and seated. The menu bends toward neo-middle eastern faire with innovative takes on fish, hummus, falafel, rice and potatoes. It's delicious with a spicy range that moves from medium to spicy. The desserts are fantastic too! Make your reservation today! read more

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We were visiting from out of town and were so glad we changed our dinner reservation to Calliope. Everything was delicious. You cannot go wrong with anything on the menu as the sauces and spices are amazing. If I had to pick one favorite, I'd choose the chicken shawarma hummus. The chicken entree comes with rice, which we didn't realize when ordering. Also, the potatoes are super tasty but a have a little bit of a spicy kick. The restaurant itself has a cool vibe but is chill. Our food took some time coming out, but everything was hot and we appreciated the lag as we ordered a lot. read more

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One of the best meals in a long time. We ordered so many favorites & loved it all. I do think the cocktails could b less sugar/juice forward. read more

It was a wonderful evening celebrating a birthday with a group of 7 people. They accommodated a party size and our waiter was very helpful in selecting menu items and small plates to feed the group while also allowing us to try the best dishes. It was peaceful and just great overall. read more

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Went here for my friends birthday was his friends! It was all our first time here! Wonderful service! Loved the whole cozy atmosphere and great news they have plans to expand! The food was amazing! Simply superb! My friend and I are foodies and we split the sofra! So worth it! It's a total must! All the dishes were super delicious! But you must get the couscous, beets, burnt carrots, mushrooms. The chicken leg was a little hard to share with the table so not sure if they could debone that. And i ordered Turkish coffee I was hoping to get more than 1 cup but they don't serve the little pot with it. I can't wait to come back and check out their expansion! read more

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Everything about the this place is incredible! The food was delish, and so unique to experience the flavors of multiple places in one meal. Service was wonderful and atmosphere was nice but not stuffy at all. The short rib hummus, braised greens and burnt carrots were our favs, but I can honestly say everything we had was absolutely delicious. My husband kept laughing at me b/c I couldn't stop making yum noises with every bite. Such a unique dining experience! read more

Calliope's was a completely random find for us while we were in town, and I'll be forever grateful for all the stars that aligned to bring us here because it's been - by far - the best food I've had in Chattanooga. The restaurant serves up modernized plates of Middle Eastern and Mediterranean fare, with the menu changing up to feature seasonal ingredients. Since we didn't have reservations, we ended up sitting at the bar which turned out to be a fantastic choice as we chatted it up with the friendliest bartender in town (who also happens to dehydrate his own citrus garnishes for the cocktails - see pictures for details). He was also a helpful guide as we picked over the menu trying to plan out our meal. The tapas-style menu is organized by courses, with each plate intended as shareable bites. Each plate came out far faster than we expected, especially considering the 'wow' factor of each one. Our fattoush, or roasted beet appetizer, was a delicious start. As I'm not a terribly big fan of beets, I was surprised at how much I enjoyed these. The ruby red beets were coaxed to a rare sweetness that were beautiful complemented by the bed of herbed goat cheese underneath. Our pasture chicken entree was another winner, with a crackly coating of fifteen mysterious spices that shattered under our knife. The clear highlight of our dinner was the spread so nice we had to order it twice - the chicken shawarma. Throw out everything you know about chicken shawarma, because this plate will defy all your preconceptions. Only God and the chef knows what they did to this chicken, but it was so tender and rich that we peered at it closely, trying to confirm they hadn't accidentally given us pork. The hummus underneath was also rich and beautifully speckled with all the shawarma seasonings. We wiped both plates clean with our pita bread, and still wanted more, even as we exited the restaurant. Service was fast and friendly, and we enjoyed lingering at the bar where we could most fully enjoy the festive holiday ambiance. read more

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A bright, bold, and unforgettable meal! We were excited to try Calliope for its unique take on Levantine-inspired cuisine--and it absolutely delivered. The dishes were fresh, vibrant, and packed with flavor from start to finish. We loved the family-style setup, which made it easy to try a little of everything (and trust us, we nearly did!). The falafel is a must--crispy on the outside, soft and herby inside, and totally crave-worthy. Every plate felt thoughtfully prepared, and the atmosphere matched--warm, welcoming, and just a touch adventurous. Calliope is a standout spot for anyone looking to explore something new and delicious in Chattanooga. Can't wait to come back. read more

This was my first time trying Levantine cuisine and it was absolutely phenomenal! We had the whipped feta (our FAV), flank steak, potatoes and leg of lamb. We quite literally licked the plates clean. Although I'm not a drinker, they had an extensive and interesting drink menu with many cocktails to choose from. Their non-alcoholic choices were also superb! We ordered the pomegranate lemonade and a mixed elixir for $7 each. If you like tart, you'll like these two drinks! The portion size is similar to tapas, made to share and it's honestly not too pricey, I would categorize it as mid $$ range. Our waiter was knowledgeable, friendly and attentive. Can't wait to go back! read more

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If you ever pondered, "what would perfection taste like?," please, jump in your car or put on those walking shoes and be ready for a one way ticket to a higher dimension. Every single plate we ordered transported us on a flavor journey, each destination flawless. Every plate seasoned and spiced with careful thought. We ordered the labneh (comes with fresh pita bread), grilled eggplant, falafel, the whole branzino, and the olive oil cake to top off our breathtaking meal. There is no rice as a side on the menu, although if you do a "sofra" meal experience it is included. I asked if there was any way to do a side of rice and they made it happen. My boyfriend and I shared everything and it was exactly enough for the two of us. For drinks I ordered the "kiralyudvar kings court" and my boyfriend ordered the "pullus" (definitely will change your perception of Pinot Grigio. Service was top notch, the ambiance was great. Definitely high class dining experience for Chattanooga. No where comes in comparison. As someone born and raised in Chicago, this has been by far my favorite restaurant I have wined and dined at. You can taste the hard work, love and passion Chef Khaled has. We are so grateful to have had the opportunity to try such an incredible restaurant, with outstanding dishes. After the first bite I was messaging friends and family that they had to come, after dessert I knew I wanted catering. I am blown away. I had an amazing experience, I absolutely loved our waitress (and all those who had assisted were amazing as well), I appreciated her recommendations - as they were all fantastic. I was so appreciative that our food container was labeled, more places should do this! This place will forever hold a special place in our hearts and we cannot wait to be able to be blessed with the opportunity to try again. For being open for a year, this establishment has it ALL together. Standing ovation, BRAVO! Thank you Calliope. If after all of this you still don't buy it- go on their website on their about page and read about the phenomenal team. Once again, you all are a blessing for raising the bar and creating a new community for the new and improved food scene in Chattanooga. You all have most definitely played an integral part in bringing the food scene to life, we solemnly thank you. (If I could give 100 stars I would. If I could give them an award I would. If I could move right next door and eat here all the time, I definitely would) read more

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Calliope offers an incredible dining experience that you definitely don't want to miss. Everything we ate was spectacular, the falafel, lamb, NY Strip, burnt carrots, and drinks. All of it was amazing. This is the best we've ever had! Our waiter was so good, he was very skilled, attentive, and observant. read more

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Sat at the bar as a solo diner, what an amazing experience. Food and service is top notch, truly a culinary experience. Bartender Manuel was very attentive and informative, excellent service ! Highly recommend. Among the best of the best restaurants in Chattanooga. read more

Fine dining here. Laid back atmosphere. Had a table beside the glass where they make their pita bread. Neat to watch this. Staff is awesome. Food is great. Portions are not small. Would recommend the lamb! read more

I have no idea what people find good about this place. My only thought is they've never had actual good food from a solid restaurant. This place is all hype no substance. Whipped feta was meh, and pita was overcooked and burnt on the bottom. Could've used olive oil to help. Beets - get rid of that from the menu. Couldn't be more underwhelming. Falafels - dense and taste like store bought. My advice, go to NY and taste actual falafel. They should be light and airy. Not a dense ball. Also, the mango sauce makes zero sense. The rice dish - just a bunch of ingredients with no thought into it. The taste was fine I guess. Have had better from food trucks. The grouper - overcooked and bland The wine is mediocre. Overall it's expensive just for the sake of being expensive. Never mind the service - we ordered 5 dishes, 2 arrived and we never saw another dish for two hours. Try it if you want but I'd recommend Sidetrack for a way better experience. read more

I really enjoyed my experience here! Let's start with parking: found parking right out front (free after 6pm). We didn't have reservations, but when we arrived at 5:45pm, there was plenty of seating (started to fill up as got closer to 7pm). They had happy hour with drinks ranging from $9-11. I got the pharaoh's tea and it was good and refreshed. The right amount of booze and right amount of refreshing and flavorful. My homegirls got the Aperol spritz and the hanging gardens and enjoyed them. Food: we got the falafel, blistered tomato hummus, batata harra, gulf shrimp and chickpea pilaf. All of it was very flavorful and delicious. The service was great and the menu was explained perfectly. They were attentive and friendly. I'll definitely be coming back here! read more

Calliope - Hanging gardens, aperol spritz and Pharoah's Tea - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Chattanooga, Tennessee

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Finally some great food in Chatt! I had been in town for almost 3 days and wasn't wowed by most of the other places then i convinced my friends to eat dinner here after some rock climbing and we all loved it. It's on an artsy street with an energetic vibe and the place is decorated so nicely. We called in advance and they had a table waiting for us, our server was nice and knew the menu very well. I love that it was sharing-style, as we all ordered a bunch of plates and got to try it all. For starters, we had the chicken, Shawarma hummus, whipped feta, and falafel. They came with fluffy, fresh baked pita, hot and delicious, although I wish there was more for the amount of dip - just 1 pita per dip. But they were delicious, so authentic. And Those 3 little falafels went fast at our table haha. The branzino was delicious, the sauce was creamy and unique, full of flavor and they prepared it well for you by removing the main spines. The lamb kibbeh was also incredible, super savory, but my favorite of the dishes was the sautéed shrimp. Just amazing. Can't wait to come back to Chattanooga and eat here again! read more

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We made a reservation at Calliope for our weekend in Chattanooga, and this will not be our last visit! Everything about this restaurant is incredible - the food is unique and delicious, the vibes are great, and the service is incredible! We had Evan helping us, and he was so kind and thorough when explaining the menu. We decide to do the tasting menu for 2, and no regrets at all - the appetizer sampler was a great mix, the lamb was 10/10, and the dessert was the perfect ending. Couldn't recommend it more! read more

To be honest I can't remember all the things we got in the photos. We did the 2 person shared experience and all the food was really good! If you don't like spice then I don't recommend this unless the other person you're with does. I thought it had enough variety that you won't be left hungry. Our waitress was very friendly and answered all our questions. I loved the decor! The lighting was dim and it had an eclectic feel to it. read more

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We came and celebrated our 8 year anniversary on a Sunday, and it was half price bottle night. What a nice surprise! The atmosphere is Incredible - beautiful bar, plants, natural wood. The service was great, and both Armen* and Calvin* (so sorry if I've mistaken the names) were wonderful hosts. The wine list is pretty eclectic, and we selected a Chenin blanc. We were brought a Grenache blanc from the same winery, and we decided to drink it anyway. It was yummy too! The food here is beautiful! I will say that I wasn't the most impressed, but it was good. We did not care for the mushrooms which were recommended, but we nearly cleared every other plate! Definitely get the mujadara and chicken small plate! Overall I would come back, but probably an early reservation when the kitchen wasn't closing, and try other things! read more

Calliope - Mujadara - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Chattanooga, Tennessee

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Stopped by for a drink and appetizer. The food was delicious! I can't remember exactly what it was but think it was chicken swarma on a bed of hummus with a big warm flatbread on the side almost like naan. read more

Came here with my colleague Deltone. He spoke highly of the chef, Somalia, and food. I was visiting for work from Orlando and he insisted we go here for dinner one of our nights. It did not disappoint! We ordered one of everything. The server was a nice red headed guy who gave us detailed insight into each plate and what paired well with it. The mushrooms was from a local farm and were to die for. I don't even normally like mushrooms! The vibe is very modern with Edison lights and sleek furniture keeping with the design. We ate upstairs ate had a nice view of the city outside. They also have an outdoor area but we stuck with inside since it was a bit cold. I will be back when I come to Chattanooga again. read more

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Hands down our favorite restaurant. Everything is flavorful, the service is always on point and the ambiance is perfect for date night or night out with friends. We love this place and end up coming here whenever we have friends in town. The menu changes and each item is modified over time so it's always fun to see how our favorite dishes are being morphed (usually for the better)! read more

My husband heard of this place and wanted to try it out... all I can say is that it was a 10 out of 10!! From ambiance, service and food, 10 stars all the way!! You get slapped in the face with amazing flavors!! We tried The shawarma chicken pita, the local mushrooms, pasture chicken, lamb neck, carrots, patatas and then the milk cake for dessert... WOW. Absolutely Recommended!!!! read more

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