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Kalypso is an authentic Greek restaurant on Robson Street serving up Greek classics in a relaxed, lively atmosphere. Enjoy belly dancing Friday and Saturday nights starting at 8:30pm.
We had purchased a dealfind voucher for "25 dollars for 50 dollars worth of food", and decided to try out this restaurant. On the voucher it had stated reservations were required, so we called in earlier in the day just to be sure. On the phone, the person was impatient, and did not even bother asking us for our phone number or name before hanging up. When we arrived at the restaurant at 9 pm, the entire restaurant was empty, except for one table so we did not bother mentioning that we had a reservation. As we sat down and mentioned we had a dealfind voucher, the waitress' face turned sour and replied that we needed a reservation to use. We mentioned that we had made one, and she immediately snatched up our menus and said we can only order off special menus. The "special" menu they had only had 5 items to choose from, all priced exactly at 50 dollars, and with only enough food for two people, to ensure you would have to pay extra money if you brought more than two people. We had checked the menu prior to going, and the prices for souvlaki platters were priced at around $12-$14 dollars per person. For 50 dollars, we could have purchased at least 3 platters on a regular day. It seems for the dealfind menu, they raise their prices, so really in the end, you do not save anything. I brought the voucher out and showed her it did not state anywhere that we had to order off a "special menu". She brought the manager out who was very rude and impatient. They were insistent on only allowing us to order off the special menu, even though he could not find anywhere on the voucher where it stated also. The manager assured us that the two person platter was enough for three people. We agreed and decided to go with the "mixed platter". When the food arrived, it was definitely not enough for three people! The platter itself was about the size of two regular portions at other Greek restaurants. Pita bread wasn't even provided, we were given bread instead! At this point, we did not bother to argue so we quickly ate our food, paid the bill and left. During the entire meal, we could see the two waitresses whispering and pointing at our table, making us feel uncomfortable. Overall, the food was mediocre, nothing special. But for the appallingly rude level of service and belittlement, we will never visit again, and will encourage our friends to do the same. We encourage those who have purchased this dealfind voucher to refund it, as if we had been aware that a refund was available prior to this meal, certainly would have done so!
I love Greek food. However, this restaurant's Greek food is no better than any other Greek places I've been to. It is a nice location on Robson which is the only advantage it has over the other Greek restaurants. Not my favorite Greek restaurant either. Nothing to complain about except the prices.
The food was not very good...I had the calamari dinner...the calamari was frozen, not fresh and quite rubbery, I've had better calamari at a fast food chain restaurant. The greek salad was ok. My husband had the lamb shoulder which was passable, but bland. The potatoes were reheated and definitely not fresh or cooked to order. The rice was mushy and bland. The tsatziki was also bland...I've had better from a grocery store. The only reason we ordered there was because of an entertainment book coupon...would NOT order food from there again...even with a coupon!
Came here Sunday evening for a later dinner after trying to decide which Greek place in downtown we should try.
Weird they had an employee sit outside on the street at a booth handing out coupons for a free appetizer with entree purchase. It's located upstairs.
The place was quiet with a few people scattered throughout. An eldery gentlemen behind the bar greeted us before a waitress seated us to a table by the window.
Although there were hints the decor didn't "feel" Greek and felt like it was made to flow with the look of Robson St. I thought it was cheesy to have the tables lined with disposable paper placemats on top of a clean white table cloth.
Looking for a lighter meal we ordered the Taramasolata, Homous with 2 orders of Pita Bread and the Lamb Chops between the two of us. We mostly had a waiter table us but we felt rushed as he came to take our orders not 5 minutes after we sat down. He really did only give us a few more minutes to decide before he came back and we placed our appetizers first.
My girlfriend felt the portions for the Tarama and Homous was smaller compared to other places we've had. The Homous was fine although the Tarama was not creamy all the way through. The Pita (albeit toasted) was only halved as we would've preferred them to be quartered. Just nitpicking.
Whereas most other Greek places you can split an entree the portion for the Lamb Chops entree was a little smaller. The 5 Chops themselves were a smidge smaller than other places but they were juicy. We asked medium well but we got medium rare. There was some fat that many others would preferred to have trimmed but I liked it attached. The rest of the plate however was substandard and stingy in quantity and flavour. The rice was nicely done but the grain used reminded me of instant rice. The Greek Salad consisted mostly of cucumber and onion. The potato was bland and was nothing more than a roasted wedge.
Our waiter took until the end of our meal to ask us how our food was. We felt rushed with our meal from beginning to end. I'm not sure if they're inferring that constant table appearances consistutes good service.
Prices are several dollars more per dish compared to many other places without the quality (or quantity) to show for.
Maybe for the unsuspecting person who thinks everything on Robson St. is good I probably won't give this place another try unless I wasn't able to head over to Davie St. or Denman for other Greek eateries. Having a great location and charging just a few bucks enough to make people think they're getting something better seems to be popular nowadays. The food wasn't bad but it was far from good. A tourist sucker perhaps. Disappointing overall.
Food: lemon roasted chicken was really tender was just the perfect hint of lemon. came w/ greek salad, rice pilaf, and roasted potatoes. good portion and value. rack of lamb is also of a favorite of mine.
Service: very friendly and timely service.
Ambiance: was a little loud b/c there was a bday party there. as well, we came on a night that there was belly dancing. maybe we just werent in the mood and were extremely tired but it was a bit loud for us altho the other dinner patrons seemed to enjoy to entertainment
Overall: been here a few times and have always left satisfied. will def return when in the mood for greek food downtown. dont forget your e-book coupon for savings!
Terrible restaurant. Bad food. Bad service.
1. The service was terrible. While we did get water as soon as we sat down, it took quite a while to get anyones attention that we were ready to order.
2. My husband didn't get what he ordered, but no one came by to see how it was, nor did they particularly care when it was mentioned.
3. The food was terrible. The saganaki tasted as though it had spent a fair amount of time in a barn, my spanikopita had no flavor, as did the potatoes.
4. For two people for lunch, our bill came to $65, with no drinks. Very bad value for terrible service and worse food.
Food: The food was allright, not bad, but not great.... I found it amusing of how I ordered Homous and it didnt come with Pita. at $6 I assumed it would, and I dont know anyone who ordered homous on their own. For the Homous/PIta it came out to $9, and it wasnt that great...
Service: the server we had wasnt that polite or attentive, and gave off the impression that we were bothering her when we needed anything. Near the end she slow and it took almost 10 minutes for her to bring the bill.
Value: You can get the same quality/quantity from any of the greek places on denman paying half the price, without having to put up with impolite servers... I felt it was ridiculous to pay $9 for homous/pita when it was really tiny.
Ambiance: Good ambiance, especially when they have the belly dancers, but if you're looking for a quiet romantic dinner, try to get a table by the end or edge, so you're not in the middle of it all.
Overall I would probably go again if the food was really good, but it wasnt. That in combination of the rude server and slow service, I dont think I will be paying another visit to Kalypso anytime soon.
This is very nice place to have a relaxing meal in the middle of downtown. Food is outstanding. I had the calamari lunch this time and really enjoyed the tender texture and just-right taste. Service is not exceptional, but friendly and efficient enough. The portion size is very generous. All in all, a solid restaurant all around. Recommended.
I don't usually write reviews, but my husband and I had such a great experience. My husband and I were greeted at the entrance by a pleasant older greek fellow (probably the owner or manager). He asked us if we would prefer inside (air conditioned) or outside on their patio. We chose the latter and were impressed by the great view of Robson Street. Being 30 degrees, however, we changed our minds once our drinks came and the staff were very nice about moving us inside. They even gave us a great window table that shared that same fantastic view of Robson.
Our waiter was a polite and well groomed young greek man. He patiently helped us decide (their menu is enormous). My husband always orders roast lamb when we go Greek and I chose the halibut with prawns. We also ordered some sangria and calamari to start. Fantastic sangria! They sure don't cheap out with the fruit and "other ingredients." Just don't have more than a glass if you plan to drive!
So the calamari arrived to our table with some pita bread and olive oil to dip. It was very fresh tasting and crispy, not chewy like it all to often is. We also really liked the tzatziki sauce.
As we are finishing our calamari and about a third of the way through our potent sangria, here comes a belly dancer! It was fun, my husband particularly enjoyed it.
After all the excitement, our main dishes come out. Our waiter wasn't joking, they were gigantic. I think I got enough halibut for two people, plus the prawns. It was excellent - very fresh and a nice subtle garlic flavor. My husband loved his lamb and so did I (we shared some of each others, it's something we do). The waiter came by to ask how it was (I think he was especially interested because our meals were his suggestions). He politely topped up our sangria glasses and removed the empty pitcher... very professional.
As if we weren't full enough, the waiter brought us each a piece of their homemade dessert! Perhaps is was because we told him how much we love the restaurant and that we will most certainly be coming back. The dessert was so good, too bad I was too full to really eat much of it.
As we left, the nice man who welcomed sat us earlier came over with a big smile, thanked us and shook my husband's hand. He gave us some advice about where to go in Greece since we are planning a trip soon. He is from a small village there which I can't remember the name as I write this. You could tell he is proud of his heritage, and it shows in the quality of the food and the great atmosphere in the place.
All in all I think Kalypso is the best greek restaurant I've been to in Vancouver. It's not as cheap as Stephos, but the food is more of the gourmet category and you don't have to wait in line for hours. The inviting warmth of a family business and the great patio view is also worth a premium in my opinion.
Tried this restaurant just by chance and found it to be a good choice. The initial phase was a little confusing but we were seated within 10 minutes. The food was delicious and plentiful for the price. We were served quickly and the wait staff were attentive and friendly. I found the belly dancing entertaining but the music was too loud.
Overall I was satisfied with the meal and service and would go here again when in Vancouver.
I know its the Olympics and all but having no server come to your table asking you if you need anything or re-filling a glass of water for an hour is absurd. We got there at 5 pm and the place was yet to be busy. No one offered us a drink for 20 minutes and when our drinks arrived our beers were warm. Then no one came by to take our orders for appetizers, we personally had to go and get our waiter to take our order. After all that, we ordered our dinner. It took 1 hour and 45 minutes to arrive. At this point we complained many times and were extremely hungry. Yes by this point they got busy but its no excuse to have to wait an hour and 45 minutes for 4 people course. During that 1 hour 45 mins no waiter even came by to update us on the food, all I received is " It's coming". When we finally got out food, My friend and I had the Chicken Kalypso and it was just awful. The prawns (on the menu it said we were to recieve 4 tiger prawns, we only got 3 per plate) had no flavour chicken was cold and dry potatoes were cold as well as the rice. The only bright spot was the salad. My other friend had the Chicken Marcella, the pasta was just HORRIBLE!!! It was filled with oil and oil. Because they made us wait for so long on our dinner they offered us free Tzatki. But last time I checked tzatki comes as a side for Lamb Souvlaki that my friend had ordered. Way to be slick. This was honestly the worst experience I have ever had at a restaurant and will never be going back for sure.
Cheers,
KevinKouz
Our family went to this Greek restaurant for the first time for dinner on Sunday, June 28/09. When I booked, I was told it was bellydance night and to come at 7ish. It was a hot night so some people were seated on the patio. We opted to sit inside. The 2 seafood platters were excellent, except for the fish...a bit overcooked. We'll skip the chicken pasta salad next time, not so good. Prices ranged from $16+ for platters.
Apparently, it was student night for bellydancers of 2 teachers. It was free and lively entertainment for 2 solid hours: 8-10pm. Special skills like dancing with veil, balancing a glass of water on the head while dancing and some dancing in groups. Two dancing little girls were so cute. The spectacular finale was a girl dancing with wings. Though the bellydancers were considered to be students, most look professional.
It was luck this time that we got to see such great performances and it was free! The seafood was worth enjoying too.
The food here is below average. I am very surprised by the positive reviews. Calamari was good but definitely not fresh. It was luke-warm and obviously reheated in the microwave. The tzatziki was the worst I have had. No cucumber or garlic flavour. Tasted like plain yoghurt. The rice was disgusting – at first I thought it was just undercooked – but then I noticed there were brown dried bits of old rice. I let the waiter know and he apologized - he said the kitchen mixed the old scrapings from the bottom of the pan with the fresh rice. The potato had very little lemon flavour. My spanakopita was fairly good but overwhelmed by black pepper. My boyfriend said his lamb dish was fine but bland. The bread was fresh and tasty but I happen to prefer pita. I would not eat here again. I recommend Taki's Taverna on Davie or Santorini's in Coquitlam for more flavourful and fresh Greek food.
The food is decent, nothing spectacular. I had the roast lamb, and one piece was very tender and juicy, but the other was a little dry. The portions are large and filling. The ambience is OK, it's a little dark, but not in a romantic sort of way. The outdoor deck was closed because of pooled water in the awnings. The manager seemed preoccupied with that so it probably will be fixed soon.
And that's not all that's excellent at this very popular eatery on the bustling Robson strip. The many mouthwatering dishes they offer are prepared with homestyle care and attention using the freshest ingredients [you can actually taste the freshness!]. The staff is courteous and friendly. The owner is a gentlemen's gentleman who greets you with a smile and see's to it that you are comfortable and well treated. The Kalypso is well known [and well loved] by Vancouver locals, as well as the many visitors from around the world who return year after year to savour the Kalypso dining experience. The live entertainment on the weekends which features bellydancing is a bonus.
My second visit to this restaurant had reinforced my previous favourable impression of this Greek Restaurant. From the dishes we ordered, this restaurant has demonstrated again the quality of its foods and service. This time I ordered a seafood entrée with mussels and prawns. Both tasted great, especially with the sauce. I also appreciate the warm and crispy pita bread, with olive oil and vinegar dip. The waitress was friendly and attentive. Overall, it is a very nice restaurant.
Service is outstanding. On a Saturday night with 3/4 full and a large group, they have enough staff to provide service. Great interaction between server and customer.
Ordered the Roast Lamb and Seafood Souvlaki. They were both nicely done. The roast potato is nicely done. It has a bit of a lemon favor. The rice is a bit odd as it is softer compare to other restaurants. The dinner rolls are soft and warm. Having said all that, the price is about $2-3 more than comparable greek restaurant. I guess that's the price you pay to dine on Robson Street.
The decor of the restaurant seems a bit outdated. Raised floor near the window is a good idea as it gives a better view of Robson street. However, not sure about the glass ceiling fit the decor of the restaurant.
Overall, it's a nice restaurant. I would go again if feeling hungry after shopping on Robson street.
Greek food is delicious when it's prepared right -- but the experience here didn't leave much to be desired. It was strange first, that they gave us rolls instead of pita bread, but I didn't think their tzatziki was up to par and I did have a vegetarian meal, which was sort of lackluster.
Maybe it was just an off-day for them, but the server kept approaching our table and rushed us to order. I just didn't find a lot to like about this place.
I admit I am a bit biased about this place due to the fact that the management is always willing to go out their of way to host and promote local musicians, dancers and artistic cultural projects like our dance school for example. They hire local talent for musical & entertainment events as well they use local artists to create their decor and signs and they treat them well. They are generous with their food and hospitality which is second to none. They get really busy so there might be times when you have to wait a little longer to be seated. But its always worth it. Management & staff are friendly, down-to-earth people who make you feel welcome and "at home".
...We have traveled throughout the Mediterranean and have eaten at many Greek restaurants and the Kalypso is like actually being there. The lamb is the finest and the appetizers are huge portions for the price. I will agree that Pita should be served, however, because the rest of the menu is so flavorful and authentic the pita bread is hardly missed.
Then came the entertainment! Let's just say that we sounded like broken records when the belly dancer came out because all we could say is WHOA!!!! I have seen many belly dancers, but I have never seen anything like this. She moved with the most incredible grace while knocking our socks off with hip movements that carried you away to never-never land because you never-never want to take your eyes of her. She is an intoxicating and exotic beauty. I don't think she is from this universe.
The service was well thoughtout as the waiters brought our food in a timely manner without too much "waitering" (if you know what I mean?) One waiter in particular, a very nice young man with big brown eyes was so kind and made sure we were well taken care of. This really is a great place and we will be back and encourage who ever is interested in excellent greek food and astonishing entertainment, to go. This is one not to miss!
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