My boyfriend was feeling under the weather and craving gumbo, so we ventured out hoping to find something decent. We hit the jackpot! The gumbo at this place was phenomenal – perfect texture, rich flavor, and you could really taste the time spent slow-cooking the chicken and sausage. Nowadays, so many restaurants cut corners, but this place delivered a gumbo that restored our faith
Visited this place for the first time for lunch today and I must say they did not disappoint AT ALL. I ordered the large Shrimp Poboy. Poboy was loaded with shrimp they are not stingy with it like most places I have purchased poboys from and the shrimp were seasoned and fried to perfection and most importantly IT WAS NOT DRY. This will definitely be my go to spot for Poboys from this day forward. I will be paying them another visit before this week is over to give their soft shell crabs a try. The daquiris are fire as well. If you haven't yet give them a try because you are missing out
I recently paid a visit to Calliope's at 7590 W Bellfort Blvd aiming to satisfy my craving for a genuine NOLA-style hot sausage poboy. Despite the homey vibe of the spot, I was slightly taken aback when it came time to order. With the understanding that a "small" usually implies a smaller portion at a smaller price, I opted for the small hot sausage poboy, expecting a fair deal. The price, however, gave me a start. At $10.30 for a 7" poboy, the value question inevitably crept in, particularly in comparison to the regular 9" offering. A bit of market awareness tells me you can snag a small bucket of Patton's hot sausage patties – roughly 10 of them – for a mere $9.99, which benchmarks the expectation for what one might consider a reasonable price for sausage in bread. When it came to assembly, I discovered to my disappointment that a single patty, bifurcated for the purpose, was the sum total of filling gracing my sandwich. This portion, while neatly prepared and tasty in its own right, left me pondering the economics of appetite versus expense. It's a challenging balance for any eatery, and on this occasion, I fear Calliope's scale may have tipped a little too much towards the latter. Taste-wise, the poboy did inherit some redemption. The flavors were good, with the distinct zing of the hot sausage rousing the taste buds effectively. The quality of ingredients, though hampered by their scarcity within the confines of the bread, was evident, and a nod must be given to the kitchen for their food preparation standards. Admittedly, it's tough to match the price to portion of homemade or store-bought alternatives, particularly when dealing with a dining establishment. Overhead counts for something, after all. Yet, as a customer, the eye judders inevitably to what seems like a mismatch – a divergence from an unspoken standard of sandwich economics. In the crowded arena of Houston's diverse food scene, Calliope's finds itself at a crossroads between tradition and expectation. While their hot sausage poboy could be a delicious nod to NOLA goodness, the experience is somewhat marred by the price point and the meager serving. For Calliope's, the potential for greatness is there, shadowed closely by the good. They stand three stars affirmed, but with ample room for growth – perhaps starting with a reconsideration of their value proposition. For now, I'd recommend future customers temper their appetite or be willing to pay a little extra for a taste of Calliope's culinary culture, served up with a side of sticker-shock resilience.