My favorite restaurant in NWO. Salads are cold and crisp, great blue cheese dressing. The bread bites they bring out are amazing, just pace yourself or you wont be able to finish your dinner. Wine is good but affordable, and you can pick it our yourself in the little wine shop on the ground floor. Lasagne is fantastic here, great portion, very good sauce. I've also enjoyed a few of their pizzas, but my main go-to is the lasagne. Servers seem like a rotating cast of students, but I've never had a bad experience, and it's a very casual setting. Please don't ever go to Olive Garden as long as this place exists!
(5)
Jim M.
Really nice mid-market neighborhood Italian restaurant especially for those of you tired of Olive Garden. Great service (Thanks Nicole & crew!). Solid Italian food. House wines were very good. Maybe next time I'll save room for dessert. Great place for a date or family gathering. We'll be back.
(4)
Jess J.
Prices are outrageous and the lasagna doesn't even come with meat unless you order it and pay extra. That being said, portions are generous as they should be for the price and the food is perfect. 1 of my best dining experiences in Toledo thus far.
(4)
Amy N.
One of my favorite Italian restaurants in the Toledo area. I've only tried their pasta once but their pizzas and strombolis are always on point. Atmosphere is cozy for a date night or small group of friends to wine and dine. Reasonable prices from $8 - $15.
(4)
John M.
For Toledo, this place is hard to beat. I recommend the Greek pie which is very unique to the area, but very tasty.
(4)
Tracy M.
My office is close to Calvino's so this has become our place to take out of town visitors. They're always impressed. It's unique, and unpretentious while still having fantastic food. I've only ever been served by one person, I don't know if it's just my luck or she's truly the only person working there but she's great! Pizza & Stromboli's are the favorites and have now turned into the office take-out favorite as well. Makes long boring meetings much better when everyone is munching on pizza.
(4)
Sarah K.
We went here for a birthday lunch around 12:30 on a Saturday. Very friendly and quick service, especially for a large group (9 people). I shared a Greek pizza and garden salad- both were delicious. Many others had Stromboli and they were good... Good balance of meat, vegetables, and cheese. The wine was reasonably priced too. They also let us bring in a birthday cake. Will definitely be returning when we are in town again. The complimentary bread was a nice touch too!
(5)
Candace B.
We ate on the first floor. The smells were great and the food so delish! I had chicken Alfredo and hubby had pizza. Very yummy. And I like how they have all types of wines out to purchase and either drink there or take home.
(4)
Edward J.
Amazing food. Ginormous portions. Wine shop attached to match perfectly. What is not to like? Sausage is fresh and flavorful. Pesto sauce is plentiful but not overwhelming. Marinara is hearty and substantive.
(5)
Jim I.
5000 lbs. Thats what I would weigh if I had Italian Food as often as I want. I love Italian, but do not get to enjoy it as often as I would like. I still manage to nail a Pizza every week to 10 days. So I am Jones-in for some and I wanted Pizza and Lasagna at the same setting; a setting that is boasted by many to have extraordinary ( the best in Toledo) Lasagna, while claiming the Pizza is no slouch either. Calvinos appeared to fit that bill. And if it is good enough for Mike P. (and others) ... well then I just have to try it. So wifey and myself ordered Lasagna and Pizza cuz we wanted both and we... "Cross-Eat." I don't know if the Lasagna is the best in Toledo because I haven't had it at many other places around the Glass City. After Calvinos, I may not need to. If there is Lasagna this good around, I may need luggage to get there. The Pizza. Very good. Not the best... but it holds its own and was worth our time and money, and I judge a Pizza in 2 parts. A) How it tastes fresh and hot, and, B) how it tasted microwaved the next day. This Pizza came through excellent on Part B as well. Commendable. Beer and Wine only at this place.
(4)
Matt C.
Good Greek pizza, great prices, and a fun little connection with the neighboring winery allows for a creative and perfect pairing. It's Nice cozy casual spot.
(4)
Rieale L.
Friends and I headed to Calvino's last Saturday to catch a bite before a play. We were greeted and seated immediately in the downstairs bar area. Although the restaurant is in a strip mall, the inside has a cozy feel. The complimentary garlic knots were liberally doused in butter, garlic and Parmesan which quickly disappeared. I ordered the tomato mozzarella salad which was the only disappointment at the table. The ingredients were fresh but the mozzarella was shredded and there wasn't enough basil to even out the massive amount of tomatoes. The calzones - as others have stated - are simply amazing. I only had two bites of my boyfriend's ricotta, capicola and spinach calzone and those bites alone earned the four stars. I will be back and will order my own calzone.
(4)
Ann Y.
We're from NC and just ran across this place. Wonderful! Ate ravioli and the chicken parm pizza. Both were delicious. Be careful on the steep stairs if you sit upstairs.
(5)
Kevin N.
Really really good food. Your table comes with garlic bread so if you can't eat that and another appetizer, don't order one. I had lasagna with sausage added. So good. Even though the waitress made a small mistake with our ticket, she made up for it in the long run with her outstanding customer service! Go go go!
(4)
Mike L.
Calvino's is the best! For midwest style pizza Calvino's can't be beat. We usually get the greek pizza and add chicken to it, so good. The service is always very good and they always have incredible specials too. Whenever friends visit from out of town we always recommend they try Calvinos. The fresh bread they bring out is to die for as well, doused in butter and parmesan cheese, how could that be bad. If you have't yet, you must try Calvino's.
(5)
Douglas P.
Outstanding food, reasonable prices, great wine.
(5)
Shawn M.
A Neighborhood Favorite but a place that has room to grow both in service and cleanliness! I have eaten at this Neighborhood Italian eatery a number of times...I am comfortable giving them a 3 star review because of various good and bad experiences I have had here...If YELP would allow a 2.5 star review I probably would have used it just based on our last experience. They have a solid Italian menu with everything from pastas to hand tossed pizzas. Their house bread is buttery and taste great. We always share the lasagna when we go which is a large enough portion for 2...There is a wine bar downstairs that is attached. You can purchase a bottle of wine and take it upstairs to the dining room but remember the is a minimum $10 cork fee. One of the big disappointment's this last visit was a side of ranch was served with a bug in it. The staff apologize but didn't take any action to compensate for the salad and still charged it to the bill which is my opinion is bad protocol. I will update after the next trip there.
(3)
Mike P.
Calvino's has a lot of things going for it... LASAGNA: For my money, Calvino's has the best lasagna in town. You get a nice sized portion and it's topped with plenty of mozzarella cheese that's been cooked to golden brown perfection. The marinara sauce is just a little spicy, AND, it's tangy at the same time. Like Gino's/Amie's pizza sauce, Calvino's marinara is a little on the sweeter side. (If you don't like this kind of sauce, they'll top the lasagna with any of their other sauces.) The pesto was OK, but not nearly as good as Ciao's. I haven't eaten much of the Alfredo, but my son loves it on fettuccine. STROMBOLI: Does Calvino's have Stromboli? Is the Pope Catholic? Does a bear defecate in the woods? (Is the bear Catholic? Does the Pope...?). HELL YEAH THEY HAVE STROMBOLI!! I've (over)eaten a ton of this stuff and it's always been great. You won't get bored either, because Calvino's has about 10 varieties to choose from. PIZZA: The pizza crust is of medium thickness. It's fluffy and crispy at the same time. The finished pies are pretty darn good. Nice variety of specialty pizza, as well. It's not the best pizza in town, IMO, but it's still well worth the calories! Good service: Our waitresses and hostesses have always been super friendly, fast and accurate. The kitchen's fast, too. Good location: Calvino's is easy to reach from any part of town. It's located pretty much in the dead center of the Toledo metro area (in Cricket West). Good atmosphere: I like the feel of the place; I like eating upstairs in the loft. The decor is understated, casual and kind of hip, nothing fancy, mind you, but it's a pleasant place to eat. It's noisy enough that you can take your kids there and not worry that they might disturb anybody. Oenophiles take note: down stairs is a wine bar. I'd probably be thrilled if I knew more about wine. To sum it up, nobody is going to mistake Calvino's for Seven Hills or Marea, but, eat here anyhow.
(5)
Chirjiv A.
Good pizza! great food! I loved the kebabs they had! Not enough lighting in the place I felt!
(4)
Shawn N.
Every meal here has been wonderful. We were pleasantly surprised to find such a good restaurant in a strip mall. From the bread to the Stromboli to the pizza, everything is top notch. The prices are also very affordable for the quality of food provided.
(4)
C M.
Food is reliable and delicious. Simple italian fare. The wine bar is a great hang out.
(4)
Kevin N.
The pizza here is really amazing, my favorites are the Mediterranean and the greek. Great service too, one of my favorite go to spots.
(5)
B F.
The Pizza was Great, Chianti was Excellent, and the service was exceptional. But something that was beyond words was "The God Father Stromboli" it was by far the best I've ever had. We were in town from Michigan and I begged the owner to open up a place near us. This is a must stop if you are in the Toledo area. This is now our new favorite place to stop at when we are in town!
(5)
Betsy C.
Stumbled on this restaurant on the way to the symphony. The first impression was the smell which was fabulous. The bread basket had nuggets of dough drenched in olive oil and herbs. Very good. The spinach feta appetizer was terrific, as was the marinara with it. DH had a club Stromboli which was very good. He had the original size. A mini would have been plenty. The smoked ham in the sandwich was excellent. Blue cheese dressing on the salad was good. The butternut squash ravioli to die for. I had it with garlic and olive oil. YUM! No room for dessert, and we took 3 boxes home. Next time ( and it will be soon even though I live 50 miles away) I will order less so I can try dessert. The turtle chocolate cake looked good, and the tirimisu (sp?) was recommended. They were busy, but we were served quickly. The waitress was friendly and helpful.
(5)
Brittany P.
The food is always amazing !!! My husband & I used to love the husband & wife who ran the wine bar part of this place .... ( but haven't seen them in the last couple times ) We went last night sat at the bar no one waited on us so we went back to the hostess & asked to have a table .... Took the flight up those steep stairs ... Sat for 10-15 minutes watching 2 other tables get sat after us get a waitress & drinks still nothing .... Went back down to the hostess & she apologized for not telling our waitress she had a table .... There were only 2 waitresses upstairs with only 10 tables that were not even filled ..... Finally got some service but wow talk about not excited to get us anything ..... Thank gosh they have awesome food because that will be the only reason we go there from now on !!!!!
(3)
Raymond G.
Good portions, but the food was not great. I had the linguine with fresh mushrooms. I chose to add sausage with the Alfredo sauce at the recommendation of the waitress. Kind of bland and they forgot the mushrooms. My girlfriend had the penne with marinara and meatballs. The sauce was so sweet it was closer to ketchup. I have no idea how this restaurant has 4 stars overall.
(2)
Jacob L.
Loved it! The wine was good, we had the Pinot Noir. We got a Stromboli which was excellent. Nicely prepared and cooked to perfection! Also, the free bread was very very good and like most places, don't fill up on the bread! I will most defiantly be back for more and to try more! Our waitress was also very nice, very personable, and was great at recomendations.
(4)
Samantha J.
Let me just say, my favorite part of this meal was the bread they give every table! But I'm a little biased, as bread is one of my favorite foods. My girlfriend and I went in right after opening and the place was almost empty. I loved the feel of the place, even if we did have to climb narrow stairs to get to our seats while she was wearing 5 inch heels.
(4)
Connor K.
Good food, Not Exceptional Service. The Hostess was Very nice, But our server seemed to be a bit out of it Maybe it was an odd day for her, Doubt it though Good Place for a First date, Drink were expensive Ehh, Stromboli was huge and delicious, Overall, Ok Place to eat
(3)
Stephanie J.
Calvino's is my favorite pizza place. They have pretty much ruined all other pizza joints for me. Their bread is magical. It has great flavor, perfect chewey-ness and its still crunchy and tender at the same time. They make their pizzas super fast too. Most of the time when I get one to go, it only takes them 8 mins to make one. Their greek pizza and fresh tomato are my favorites
(4)
D S.
I really like Calvinos. The house bread (which I think was ripped off by Dominos) is a great starter. The food is good and they will let you split the huge portions of pasta. Staff is incredibly friendly.
(5)
D S.
Some of the best local pizza in Toledo. We are in love with the White Pie. Crust is amazing as well. We usually pick up as it is pretty crowded and noisy in the restaurant.
(4)
Nick K.
Perfect for college students and families alike. Best pizza I've had when visiting family in Toledo. My brother loved his Stromboli too. We'll be going back next time I visit
(4)
Z R.
The other reviews prompted me to take my wife for Valentine's Day. We like casual, but enjoy good food. Menu is basic, but we had a difficult time selecting. We decided to share a salad and Stromboli. The Stromboli was great without bogging you down. The dough somehow was light. Typical Stromboli is heavy on the dough, light on the toppings. This was a nice tango. Atmosphere was cool. Small. Loud. Regulars. Everyone enjoying an adult beverage for the most part. It's hard to explain. Just cool. The fact that it is also close to our house is dangerous. We will take out of town visitors here, and once our kids get a little older, we will soon become regulars like the regulars we are already jealous of. We have been fortunate to travel, so we have learned to appreciate the dining experience, however, our American impatience and on-demand attitude would have appreciated a more attentive wait staff. We'll chalk it up to ambiance.
(4)
Nicholas H.
Great local restaurant! Food is fast and fresh. Staff is knowledgeable. Owners have found the right balance of socializing and personal attention to the food they are serving. Wine bar downstairs always filled with friends from the neighborhood. We have been visiting for many years and hope to for many more.
(5)
Justin G.
I've been here a few times and I've never had a bad experience. The food outstanding as well as the service. The tomatoe sauce is a little sweet for my taste, but still very good. All in all highly recommended.
(4)
Kate M.
Really good food, good quality. You get what you pay for. If you go to a cheaper Italian restaurant, it may cost less but it's not worth the money. Calvinos is! The owner is really nice, and they have the best wine selection by the bottle in town, and the best prices. The service usually isn't very good, but the food makes up for it.
(4)
Michael M.
There is no better pizza. Period! I like Chicago style. I like New York style. But Toledo style tops them all! We are not local. We are from NE Ohio, and every time we travel to Michigan we stop here. The bread is awesome. I'd love to try the rest of the menu, but then I'd need to forego the pizza and I simply will not do that. The Greek is amazing! Eat one!
(5)
Saad A.
Never had a bad experience here! Stromboli is amazing, pizza is amazing, and the house bread is phenomenal! Check it out!
(5)
Michelle M.
I read many mixed reviews about this place and will say we loved it! I have eaten there twice now and had great food both times. I would happily eat the Greek pizza everyday. It has a perfect combination of flavors. My partner loved his Stromboli of spinach, ricotta and Canadian bacon. We also had a roasted vegetable salad - zucchini, peppers and eggplant drizzled with light dressing and run under the grill. And who doesn't enjoy a complimentary basket of tasty little garlic squares? Do not go for ambience! This is a simple institution. Go for a good casual meal. (And if you want wine, they have it.)
(4)
Ashley V.
I go here fairly often with friends and usually get a Stromboli. I've also had a pasta dish. Both were very good and the portions are decently large too. However, it seems like they skimp a little on the Stromboli toppings. The staff are always friendly and the prices are fair. Service is probably on the slower side of average
(4)
Amanda B.
The food is hard to beat! The Greek pizza is my favorite. Service needs to be step it up, we get the same waitress every time and she always seems to disappear when we need her.
(4)
Diana S.
My husband and I visited Calvino's for the first time this weekend. I'd heard that Calvino's had some unique and healthy options for pizzas, so we decided to give it a try. The dining room is small -- about a dozen tables -- but the fact that it's upstairs with a railing overlooking the downstairs makes it seem larger and less cramped. My husband and I were seated right by the railing, which gave us a pleasant view of the restaurant, but also put us right in some sort of draft. We spent our entire meal fighting the chilliness -- but that's my only complaint about the experience. We weren't expecting the complimentary house bread: large bite-size pieces of soft garlic bread, sprinkled with Parmesan. The Primavera pizza we ordered was fresh and not greasy at all, and the whole wheat crust we requested was surprisingly wheaty (in a good way). To top off our tasty meal, we split a piece of tiramisu (we saw someone else in the dining room order it, and we couldn't resist!). There are plenty of other different pizza options on the menu, and we definitely plan to return and try a few more... just not until the spring.
(4)
Faith C.
The prices are a bit more than a commercial pizza would cost, but the pizza is fresh and doesn't leave you with a heavy, greasy feeling. Usually we get the pizza to go, but yesterday I ate there for the first time. The service was fast and the portions were big. Three of us (girls) shared a large greek pizza with chicken, herb fries and a tomato, feta and cucumber salad and we had more than half the pizza left! They also give you tasty bread with parmesan cheese on it to munch on while you wait for your food. Cute, casual place to go for a meal.
(4)
Christopher B.
Can't speak to much of the menu here as I have Celiac, but I love the gluten-free pizza. Thin crust, stretchy cheese, fresh basil; it's great! My wife usually gets a salad and seems to really like them, as well as the bread. Has a friendly, neighborhood feel to it. We go there at least monthly.
(4)
Hank's Dad R.
This place works on a variety of levels. The food is great, it's an independant quite different than what you normally encounter, and the service is very good. Their pizza became my favorite (I consider this the best pizza in NW Ohio) soon after we started going here. I'm from the east coast, so finding good pizza here is hard, but this place does it right. We both order large ones, so at least half of it gets taken home, as it warms up extremely well. The pasta's are good too. The atmosphere is very nice, a hip feel to it, with great background music.
(4)
Winston C.
This is kind of an odd little restaurant. First of all, it is in a shopping center. This is usually off-putting to me but I've noticed it is not particularly uncommon in Toledo. Second of all, the main seating seems to be on the second level. There's a hostess stand but so far I haven't witnessed anyone sitting there. (It's possible they only have a hostess at dinner time?) The lack of a hostess or sign makes it a little awkward to know what to do when you first visit it. My wife and I just walk upstairs. I'm not sure if we're supposed to wait or not but no one has ever said anything to us so... The atmosphere is...interesting. It's kind of blah looking. The walls are kind of dirty and there are random seeming pictures on the wall. They're usually playing The Rolling Stones which I suppose is fine...if you like the Stones. I was impressed with their food. We ordered some garlic bread as an appetizer but that was unnecessary. They actually give you a little basket of bread, olive oil, and cheese. The first time we went we ordered pasta, which comes with a good sized house salad (with black olives and hot peppers). The second time we tried their pizza. They have a lot of good pizza options and they crust was fantastic. We've been getting pizza ever since.
(5)
Ryan B.
The Gluten-free crust here is fantastic! Try the Greek pizza with it. Calvino's also serves some of the best Stromboli in the city and has a killer wine selection to boot. Pick up a bottle in the store and take it to your table. Great atmosphere, great service, great food.
(5)
Daniel F.
This is my favorite Italian restaurant in Toledo. Their pizzas are the best in town and I would recommend it to anyone confidently. The restaurant it set up very weirdly, but the food is delightful and is one of the best in town.
(5)
Deb L.
My husband and I like this place for quick, local Italian. The pizzas are pretty good, very fresh ingredients. I like the Hawaiian and the Pancetta best. The roasted veggies are a good way to start your meal. They are lightly seasoned and tossed with pine nuts. The Greek salad is loaded with feta, and the tomato mozzarella is good. The wait staff is quirky. Once, we ordered the butternut squash ravioli and were given regular ravioli instead. We didn't send it back (it wasnt a big deal because both are good) but the waitress realized the issue and we were not charged for the entree. The beer and wine selection is good and prices are typical for the area. The dining room is small and located up a rather steep flight of stairs. If you've had a couple drinks or are a little clumsy, hold onto that railing!
(4)
JoEllen H.
The pizzas are great but the rest of the menu fell short. You can select a wine from the connected wine store to have with your meal, which is mice. I would suggest sticking with the pizza for the best experience. The uneven stairs to the dining area are also a problem.
(3)
John W.
I'm writing this based solely on take-out food. The staff is very friendly and chatty, which I'm a fan of, I ordered the white pizza and an order of fries to go. The food was hot and fresh as can be. The fries were marginal, at best, but the white pizza was out of this world amazing. I'd suggest not eating this pizza on a first date, or if you plan on getting close with someone, as it does have a ton of garlic on it. I'll be back, possibly as early as tomorrow night.
(4)
Elizabeth H.
Calvino's is great. The pizza is amazing, my favorite being the eggplant. I love the roasted vegetable salad with pine nuts too. The have a small wine shop too, which offers only good wine available in each price range. Since the just charge a corking fee of $10 for the restaurant or $5 for the wine bar, and sell wine at state minimum, they have the best restaurant wine prices in town, and the best selection. The owner always takes time to talk to me and does a little something special as well. The only reason I give this place 4/5 stars is that the service is inconsistent. I have had everything from great to bad service from the servers here.
(4)
Jillian F.
I love Calvino's! It's hidden in a strip mall and I never would've found it without a friend's recommendation. The starter bread is delicious. It's covered in butter and parmesan, but don't fill yourself up on bread. I typically order pizza and the Greek pizza is my favorite! They also have gluten friendly crust. The Strombolies are huge; and I recently ordered pasta dishes with friends and those were good. I really liked the tortellini. My favorite part is the wine! There is a wine store downstairs where you can purchase wine and bring it into the dining room for a $10 corking fee. Depending on your waitress, I've had a few who are extremely knowledgeable and they'll find a great wine for your in the store versus ordering the house wine. However, not all the waitresses are the same but it's worth asking. I only gave them four stars because the service can be fairly slow and it can take a while to get your bill. However, I'm usually not in a rush.
(4)
Heidi S.
The only thing I would change about this place is the location/building. The stairs you have to walk up to get to a table are tiny and at a funky angle. Their food is to die for. Never have I had such good food every time I go. The stromboli is my favorite but everything is good.
(5)
Kathleen M.
What happened to our little neighborhood place? Went in to get the Greek pizza for takeout and every table was full...and a line out the door. It is so good, but expand or staff up to handle the growing business.
(4)
Tommy T.
I had the chicken creamy tomato tortellini. It was dry, pasta wasn't covered with sauce and chicken was tough and full of fat. Stick with the pizza which is ok and make sure u order a FULL bottle of wine to choke it all down. Only go if u must. I will give it one more try. I had two bites of my meal and didnt take it home. Waitress didnt offer to take it off the bill either after i told her it was disgusting. Place seems dirty as well.
(2)
Eric S.
I've eaten at Calvino's off and on for years. Their pizza and stromboli are consistently good and they have some delicious and creative combinations as standards on their menu. My family decided to eat there for dinner on a busy Friday night and we were not disappointed. After a manageable wait, we ordered pizza for the kids and even though it's hard to not order pizza there, I picked their lasagna, my wife ordered the butternut squash ravioli. It was probably the first time I've ever ordered an actual "dinner" that wasn't pizza. When our orders arrived a gigantic slice of lasagna and sauce covered the entire plate. Not thinking I could eat the entire thing, I knew once I dug into my first bite, I'd lick the plate clean. I proceeded to consume what was one of the best slices of lasagna I've ever eaten and that includes my Italian wife's home recipe. I got the sauce and added Italian sausage and I couldn't get enough. My wife also raved about her ravioli. It's been a few years since I've eaten there and I came away impressed. Our service was attentive and friendly. The ambiance in the small restaurant is pleasing and you can't deny the warm, puffed bread bites that they offer diners. I was so impressed, I'm thinking about suggesting we go back next Friday, I'm craving the lasagna again.
(4)
Eric L.
this restaurant has some amazing bread and the greek calzone is to die for . Family friendly? Hah. Beer signs. Wine. No changing table in the restroom. Decor marginal, but good food.
(4)
Alana E.
Toledo has a lot of restaurants, let's face it. But calvinos is great for a few reasons 1. Casual and kindof a hidden gem. A perfect place for a date 2. Great quality food, always hot 3. Wine bar downstairs, easy progression from dinner to drinks 4. Hard to find those "one of a kind" independent places in toledo 5. Ample parking
(5)
Mark P.
Not much seating and not very cheap, but the food comes out hot, it comes out tasting good, and you get a lot of it. No skimping on the entrees here. The cost of this place, especially considering that it's Toledo, is really kind of high though. It's good for "every once in a while," but you certainly couldn't and shouldn't do it regularly. Four stars for the food alone.
(4)
John V.
This is a local place that gets by on local traffic - but its service and quality of food is below average. The hostess/hosts do not know what their reservations are for and they do not communicate with the wait staff. If you are not a regular here, don't bother trying it out. Also, the food is no better than what you can have at home from the freezer. Nothing is fresh and there are no outstanding items like most local places offer. Despite having a wine store attached, the wines are mediocre at best. I have tried several times hoping to find an alternative to the chain Olive Garden but the fact is the Olive Garden beats them in every way. I have given and will no longer try this place. If I want something unique in the way of Italian, I will drive to Ann Arbor and experience Gratzi or Palio - which are far superior to this average local eatery.
(1)
T M.
Ugh.. Calvino's. Very few places would I list as 1 or 2-star dining, but this is one. Not sure how this place is standing at 4 stars. Perhaps palettes have been decimated by McDonalds? Does food that comes out hot, fast and just good deserve 4 stars people? Please... My first experience there (7 years ago?) was ok. Nothing great, but nothing bitter. The last time I visited, which was about a year ago, was anything but ok. The salad was full of knuckles. For me, knuckles are the white portion of any stalk that most places would throw away. They certainly didn't make waste of the stalks, and were thrilled to include many of them in my salad. +1 for recycling, -100 for serving me such a s**t-piled salad. The stromboli (how dare they call it that!) was equally bad. I'm a stromboli/pizza nut, and I really haven't found any stromboli to match the quality and taste of the stromboli I had at (now defunct) Bubba's Roadside Inn in Flint, MI. Bubba's stromboli was like a whole pizza covered with another pizza shell, and then served with a massive side of dipping sauce. MMMMMMM.... just the thought makes my flab quiver. Now, I don't expect Bubba's stromboli -- although I would love to open a restaurant called Bubba's Gourmet Truckstop -- but I do expect something more than a HotPocket. And, if I'm going to be served a HotPocket, then I don't expect the price to be over 4$. Yes, I know HotPockets cost ~2$, but I really don't think the operating cost of Calvino's microwave should add another 4$ to the purchase price. Perhaps Calvino's strombolies are homemade, but I would be even more depressed by this notion. Unfortunately, I didn't like Calvino's HotPockets... err.... stromboli. So, I decided to hijack my wife's lasagna. Usually something is hijacked for the contents. For instance, the mafia hijacks a truck for the valuable TV's or cigarettes. Hijacking my wife's lasagna made me realize why I would never be a good criminal. Nothing about that slop was valuable. If you like microwaved lasagna and other food, then Calvino's might be your savior. Perhaps you don't expect anything unique or interesting when you dine out, then Calvino's might be for you. If you only expect good, par-for-the-course food, then Krogers would be a better stop than Calvino's.
Takes Reservations : Yes Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Dinner Parking : Private Lot Bike Parking : Yes Wheelchair Accessible : No Good for Kids : Yes Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Ambience : Casual Noise Level : Average Alcohol : Beer & Wine Only Outdoor Seating : No Wi-Fi : No Has TV : No Waiter Service : Yes Caters : Yes
The immense popularity of Italian cuisine globally isn't unknown. You can find an Italian Pizzeria around every corner of almost every city in the United States. Not to forget that in every house, people enjoy mac and cheese as comfort food. But it would be wrong to believe that Italian food starts with pizza and ends with good pasta as this Mediterranean country has much more to offer other than these two dishes. In Italian Cuisine, there is a high use of fresh tomatoes, all kinds of herbs, great quality of cheese, all types of meat, seafood and fresh handmade pasta. Many find it hard to believe that Italians have been making noodles long back.
Italian and Greek cuisines are always mistaken to be same, but they are poles apart. The primary difference between the two cuisines is the use of cheese in most of the Italian dishes. Italians love to cultivate their own cheese and process them as per their food requirement. It is believed that some cheese is so expensive that cheese producers secure them in lockers.
If you are bored eating the same old pasta or pizza, you can try some of the authentic Italian dishes like Risotto, Polenta, Ribollita, Lasagna, Fiorentina Steak, Bottarga, Ossobuco, Carbonara, Focaccia, Arancini and Supplì. Another item which Italians love to relish every morning is a good cup of Italian Coffee. Once you taste a freshly brewed cup of Italian Coffee, you might not visit Starbucks ever again. Authentic Italian food is made with heart and soul, so go find a restaurant where you can relish Italian cuisine in your city.
Pizza
Pizza is a famous Italian dish savored around the world. The entire credit for the popularity of Pizza in the United States goes to the chain of pizzerias all over the country. While the base and the texture of Pizza remains same across the globe, it's the toppings that differs from country to country. In the United States, you will find the top pizzerias serving pizzas with the toppings of mainly beef, bacon, chicken, ham, and sausage for the non-vegetarians. Other than these famous meat options, Pizzas with veg toppings such as mushrooms, pepperonis, garlic, tomatoes, spinach, etc. are also famous in most restaurants in the United States.
Irrespective of your locality, you will find a variety of different restaurants in your cities offering pizzas of all different types. Pizza is hot favorite among people of all ages in the United States. A large size pizza is enough to feed a family of 3 or 4 at large. Pizza is also the most preferred food whenever a group of friends is hanging out together. Pizza gained popularity in the United States after the American soldiers stationed in Italy returned from World War II.
Over the years, different pizzerias in the United States have developed their own respective regional variations. Pizza gained popularity as the iconic dish in the United States in the second half of the 20th century. Whether you prefer thin or thick crust pizza, you can find a pizza of your preference at the best pizza restaurants in your city.
Stephen J.
My favorite restaurant in NWO. Salads are cold and crisp, great blue cheese dressing. The bread bites they bring out are amazing, just pace yourself or you wont be able to finish your dinner. Wine is good but affordable, and you can pick it our yourself in the little wine shop on the ground floor. Lasagne is fantastic here, great portion, very good sauce. I've also enjoyed a few of their pizzas, but my main go-to is the lasagne. Servers seem like a rotating cast of students, but I've never had a bad experience, and it's a very casual setting. Please don't ever go to Olive Garden as long as this place exists!
(5)Jim M.
Really nice mid-market neighborhood Italian restaurant especially for those of you tired of Olive Garden. Great service (Thanks Nicole & crew!). Solid Italian food. House wines were very good. Maybe next time I'll save room for dessert. Great place for a date or family gathering. We'll be back.
(4)Jess J.
Prices are outrageous and the lasagna doesn't even come with meat unless you order it and pay extra. That being said, portions are generous as they should be for the price and the food is perfect. 1 of my best dining experiences in Toledo thus far.
(4)Amy N.
One of my favorite Italian restaurants in the Toledo area. I've only tried their pasta once but their pizzas and strombolis are always on point. Atmosphere is cozy for a date night or small group of friends to wine and dine. Reasonable prices from $8 - $15.
(4)John M.
For Toledo, this place is hard to beat. I recommend the Greek pie which is very unique to the area, but very tasty.
(4)Tracy M.
My office is close to Calvino's so this has become our place to take out of town visitors. They're always impressed. It's unique, and unpretentious while still having fantastic food. I've only ever been served by one person, I don't know if it's just my luck or she's truly the only person working there but she's great! Pizza & Stromboli's are the favorites and have now turned into the office take-out favorite as well. Makes long boring meetings much better when everyone is munching on pizza.
(4)Sarah K.
We went here for a birthday lunch around 12:30 on a Saturday. Very friendly and quick service, especially for a large group (9 people). I shared a Greek pizza and garden salad- both were delicious. Many others had Stromboli and they were good... Good balance of meat, vegetables, and cheese. The wine was reasonably priced too. They also let us bring in a birthday cake. Will definitely be returning when we are in town again. The complimentary bread was a nice touch too!
(5)Candace B.
We ate on the first floor. The smells were great and the food so delish! I had chicken Alfredo and hubby had pizza. Very yummy. And I like how they have all types of wines out to purchase and either drink there or take home.
(4)Edward J.
Amazing food. Ginormous portions. Wine shop attached to match perfectly. What is not to like? Sausage is fresh and flavorful. Pesto sauce is plentiful but not overwhelming. Marinara is hearty and substantive.
(5)Jim I.
5000 lbs. Thats what I would weigh if I had Italian Food as often as I want. I love Italian, but do not get to enjoy it as often as I would like. I still manage to nail a Pizza every week to 10 days. So I am Jones-in for some and I wanted Pizza and Lasagna at the same setting; a setting that is boasted by many to have extraordinary ( the best in Toledo) Lasagna, while claiming the Pizza is no slouch either. Calvinos appeared to fit that bill. And if it is good enough for Mike P. (and others) ... well then I just have to try it. So wifey and myself ordered Lasagna and Pizza cuz we wanted both and we... "Cross-Eat." I don't know if the Lasagna is the best in Toledo because I haven't had it at many other places around the Glass City. After Calvinos, I may not need to. If there is Lasagna this good around, I may need luggage to get there. The Pizza. Very good. Not the best... but it holds its own and was worth our time and money, and I judge a Pizza in 2 parts. A) How it tastes fresh and hot, and, B) how it tasted microwaved the next day. This Pizza came through excellent on Part B as well. Commendable. Beer and Wine only at this place.
(4)Matt C.
Good Greek pizza, great prices, and a fun little connection with the neighboring winery allows for a creative and perfect pairing. It's Nice cozy casual spot.
(4)Rieale L.
Friends and I headed to Calvino's last Saturday to catch a bite before a play. We were greeted and seated immediately in the downstairs bar area. Although the restaurant is in a strip mall, the inside has a cozy feel. The complimentary garlic knots were liberally doused in butter, garlic and Parmesan which quickly disappeared. I ordered the tomato mozzarella salad which was the only disappointment at the table. The ingredients were fresh but the mozzarella was shredded and there wasn't enough basil to even out the massive amount of tomatoes. The calzones - as others have stated - are simply amazing. I only had two bites of my boyfriend's ricotta, capicola and spinach calzone and those bites alone earned the four stars. I will be back and will order my own calzone.
(4)Ann Y.
We're from NC and just ran across this place. Wonderful! Ate ravioli and the chicken parm pizza. Both were delicious. Be careful on the steep stairs if you sit upstairs.
(5)Kevin N.
Really really good food. Your table comes with garlic bread so if you can't eat that and another appetizer, don't order one. I had lasagna with sausage added. So good. Even though the waitress made a small mistake with our ticket, she made up for it in the long run with her outstanding customer service! Go go go!
(4)Mike L.
Calvino's is the best! For midwest style pizza Calvino's can't be beat. We usually get the greek pizza and add chicken to it, so good. The service is always very good and they always have incredible specials too. Whenever friends visit from out of town we always recommend they try Calvinos. The fresh bread they bring out is to die for as well, doused in butter and parmesan cheese, how could that be bad. If you have't yet, you must try Calvino's.
(5)Douglas P.
Outstanding food, reasonable prices, great wine.
(5)Shawn M.
A Neighborhood Favorite but a place that has room to grow both in service and cleanliness! I have eaten at this Neighborhood Italian eatery a number of times...I am comfortable giving them a 3 star review because of various good and bad experiences I have had here...If YELP would allow a 2.5 star review I probably would have used it just based on our last experience. They have a solid Italian menu with everything from pastas to hand tossed pizzas. Their house bread is buttery and taste great. We always share the lasagna when we go which is a large enough portion for 2...There is a wine bar downstairs that is attached. You can purchase a bottle of wine and take it upstairs to the dining room but remember the is a minimum $10 cork fee. One of the big disappointment's this last visit was a side of ranch was served with a bug in it. The staff apologize but didn't take any action to compensate for the salad and still charged it to the bill which is my opinion is bad protocol. I will update after the next trip there.
(3)Mike P.
Calvino's has a lot of things going for it... LASAGNA: For my money, Calvino's has the best lasagna in town. You get a nice sized portion and it's topped with plenty of mozzarella cheese that's been cooked to golden brown perfection. The marinara sauce is just a little spicy, AND, it's tangy at the same time. Like Gino's/Amie's pizza sauce, Calvino's marinara is a little on the sweeter side. (If you don't like this kind of sauce, they'll top the lasagna with any of their other sauces.) The pesto was OK, but not nearly as good as Ciao's. I haven't eaten much of the Alfredo, but my son loves it on fettuccine. STROMBOLI: Does Calvino's have Stromboli? Is the Pope Catholic? Does a bear defecate in the woods? (Is the bear Catholic? Does the Pope...?). HELL YEAH THEY HAVE STROMBOLI!! I've (over)eaten a ton of this stuff and it's always been great. You won't get bored either, because Calvino's has about 10 varieties to choose from. PIZZA: The pizza crust is of medium thickness. It's fluffy and crispy at the same time. The finished pies are pretty darn good. Nice variety of specialty pizza, as well. It's not the best pizza in town, IMO, but it's still well worth the calories! Good service: Our waitresses and hostesses have always been super friendly, fast and accurate. The kitchen's fast, too. Good location: Calvino's is easy to reach from any part of town. It's located pretty much in the dead center of the Toledo metro area (in Cricket West). Good atmosphere: I like the feel of the place; I like eating upstairs in the loft. The decor is understated, casual and kind of hip, nothing fancy, mind you, but it's a pleasant place to eat. It's noisy enough that you can take your kids there and not worry that they might disturb anybody. Oenophiles take note: down stairs is a wine bar. I'd probably be thrilled if I knew more about wine. To sum it up, nobody is going to mistake Calvino's for Seven Hills or Marea, but, eat here anyhow.
(5)Chirjiv A.
Good pizza! great food! I loved the kebabs they had! Not enough lighting in the place I felt!
(4)Shawn N.
Every meal here has been wonderful. We were pleasantly surprised to find such a good restaurant in a strip mall. From the bread to the Stromboli to the pizza, everything is top notch. The prices are also very affordable for the quality of food provided.
(4)C M.
Food is reliable and delicious. Simple italian fare. The wine bar is a great hang out.
(4)Kevin N.
The pizza here is really amazing, my favorites are the Mediterranean and the greek. Great service too, one of my favorite go to spots.
(5)B F.
The Pizza was Great, Chianti was Excellent, and the service was exceptional. But something that was beyond words was "The God Father Stromboli" it was by far the best I've ever had. We were in town from Michigan and I begged the owner to open up a place near us. This is a must stop if you are in the Toledo area. This is now our new favorite place to stop at when we are in town!
(5)Betsy C.
Stumbled on this restaurant on the way to the symphony. The first impression was the smell which was fabulous. The bread basket had nuggets of dough drenched in olive oil and herbs. Very good. The spinach feta appetizer was terrific, as was the marinara with it. DH had a club Stromboli which was very good. He had the original size. A mini would have been plenty. The smoked ham in the sandwich was excellent. Blue cheese dressing on the salad was good. The butternut squash ravioli to die for. I had it with garlic and olive oil. YUM! No room for dessert, and we took 3 boxes home. Next time ( and it will be soon even though I live 50 miles away) I will order less so I can try dessert. The turtle chocolate cake looked good, and the tirimisu (sp?) was recommended. They were busy, but we were served quickly. The waitress was friendly and helpful.
(5)Brittany P.
The food is always amazing !!! My husband & I used to love the husband & wife who ran the wine bar part of this place .... ( but haven't seen them in the last couple times ) We went last night sat at the bar no one waited on us so we went back to the hostess & asked to have a table .... Took the flight up those steep stairs ... Sat for 10-15 minutes watching 2 other tables get sat after us get a waitress & drinks still nothing .... Went back down to the hostess & she apologized for not telling our waitress she had a table .... There were only 2 waitresses upstairs with only 10 tables that were not even filled ..... Finally got some service but wow talk about not excited to get us anything ..... Thank gosh they have awesome food because that will be the only reason we go there from now on !!!!!
(3)Raymond G.
Good portions, but the food was not great. I had the linguine with fresh mushrooms. I chose to add sausage with the Alfredo sauce at the recommendation of the waitress. Kind of bland and they forgot the mushrooms. My girlfriend had the penne with marinara and meatballs. The sauce was so sweet it was closer to ketchup. I have no idea how this restaurant has 4 stars overall.
(2)Jacob L.
Loved it! The wine was good, we had the Pinot Noir. We got a Stromboli which was excellent. Nicely prepared and cooked to perfection! Also, the free bread was very very good and like most places, don't fill up on the bread! I will most defiantly be back for more and to try more! Our waitress was also very nice, very personable, and was great at recomendations.
(4)Samantha J.
Let me just say, my favorite part of this meal was the bread they give every table! But I'm a little biased, as bread is one of my favorite foods. My girlfriend and I went in right after opening and the place was almost empty. I loved the feel of the place, even if we did have to climb narrow stairs to get to our seats while she was wearing 5 inch heels.
(4)Connor K.
Good food, Not Exceptional Service. The Hostess was Very nice, But our server seemed to be a bit out of it Maybe it was an odd day for her, Doubt it though Good Place for a First date, Drink were expensive Ehh, Stromboli was huge and delicious, Overall, Ok Place to eat
(3)Stephanie J.
Calvino's is my favorite pizza place. They have pretty much ruined all other pizza joints for me. Their bread is magical. It has great flavor, perfect chewey-ness and its still crunchy and tender at the same time. They make their pizzas super fast too. Most of the time when I get one to go, it only takes them 8 mins to make one. Their greek pizza and fresh tomato are my favorites
(4)D S.
I really like Calvinos. The house bread (which I think was ripped off by Dominos) is a great starter. The food is good and they will let you split the huge portions of pasta. Staff is incredibly friendly.
(5)D S.
Some of the best local pizza in Toledo. We are in love with the White Pie. Crust is amazing as well. We usually pick up as it is pretty crowded and noisy in the restaurant.
(4)Nick K.
Perfect for college students and families alike. Best pizza I've had when visiting family in Toledo. My brother loved his Stromboli too. We'll be going back next time I visit
(4)Z R.
The other reviews prompted me to take my wife for Valentine's Day. We like casual, but enjoy good food. Menu is basic, but we had a difficult time selecting. We decided to share a salad and Stromboli. The Stromboli was great without bogging you down. The dough somehow was light. Typical Stromboli is heavy on the dough, light on the toppings. This was a nice tango. Atmosphere was cool. Small. Loud. Regulars. Everyone enjoying an adult beverage for the most part. It's hard to explain. Just cool. The fact that it is also close to our house is dangerous. We will take out of town visitors here, and once our kids get a little older, we will soon become regulars like the regulars we are already jealous of. We have been fortunate to travel, so we have learned to appreciate the dining experience, however, our American impatience and on-demand attitude would have appreciated a more attentive wait staff. We'll chalk it up to ambiance.
(4)Nicholas H.
Great local restaurant! Food is fast and fresh. Staff is knowledgeable. Owners have found the right balance of socializing and personal attention to the food they are serving. Wine bar downstairs always filled with friends from the neighborhood. We have been visiting for many years and hope to for many more.
(5)Justin G.
I've been here a few times and I've never had a bad experience. The food outstanding as well as the service. The tomatoe sauce is a little sweet for my taste, but still very good. All in all highly recommended.
(4)Kate M.
Really good food, good quality. You get what you pay for. If you go to a cheaper Italian restaurant, it may cost less but it's not worth the money. Calvinos is! The owner is really nice, and they have the best wine selection by the bottle in town, and the best prices. The service usually isn't very good, but the food makes up for it.
(4)Michael M.
There is no better pizza. Period! I like Chicago style. I like New York style. But Toledo style tops them all! We are not local. We are from NE Ohio, and every time we travel to Michigan we stop here. The bread is awesome. I'd love to try the rest of the menu, but then I'd need to forego the pizza and I simply will not do that. The Greek is amazing! Eat one!
(5)Saad A.
Never had a bad experience here! Stromboli is amazing, pizza is amazing, and the house bread is phenomenal! Check it out!
(5)Michelle M.
I read many mixed reviews about this place and will say we loved it! I have eaten there twice now and had great food both times. I would happily eat the Greek pizza everyday. It has a perfect combination of flavors. My partner loved his Stromboli of spinach, ricotta and Canadian bacon. We also had a roasted vegetable salad - zucchini, peppers and eggplant drizzled with light dressing and run under the grill. And who doesn't enjoy a complimentary basket of tasty little garlic squares? Do not go for ambience! This is a simple institution. Go for a good casual meal. (And if you want wine, they have it.)
(4)Ashley V.
I go here fairly often with friends and usually get a Stromboli. I've also had a pasta dish. Both were very good and the portions are decently large too. However, it seems like they skimp a little on the Stromboli toppings. The staff are always friendly and the prices are fair. Service is probably on the slower side of average
(4)Amanda B.
The food is hard to beat! The Greek pizza is my favorite. Service needs to be step it up, we get the same waitress every time and she always seems to disappear when we need her.
(4)Diana S.
My husband and I visited Calvino's for the first time this weekend. I'd heard that Calvino's had some unique and healthy options for pizzas, so we decided to give it a try. The dining room is small -- about a dozen tables -- but the fact that it's upstairs with a railing overlooking the downstairs makes it seem larger and less cramped. My husband and I were seated right by the railing, which gave us a pleasant view of the restaurant, but also put us right in some sort of draft. We spent our entire meal fighting the chilliness -- but that's my only complaint about the experience. We weren't expecting the complimentary house bread: large bite-size pieces of soft garlic bread, sprinkled with Parmesan. The Primavera pizza we ordered was fresh and not greasy at all, and the whole wheat crust we requested was surprisingly wheaty (in a good way). To top off our tasty meal, we split a piece of tiramisu (we saw someone else in the dining room order it, and we couldn't resist!). There are plenty of other different pizza options on the menu, and we definitely plan to return and try a few more... just not until the spring.
(4)Faith C.
The prices are a bit more than a commercial pizza would cost, but the pizza is fresh and doesn't leave you with a heavy, greasy feeling. Usually we get the pizza to go, but yesterday I ate there for the first time. The service was fast and the portions were big. Three of us (girls) shared a large greek pizza with chicken, herb fries and a tomato, feta and cucumber salad and we had more than half the pizza left! They also give you tasty bread with parmesan cheese on it to munch on while you wait for your food. Cute, casual place to go for a meal.
(4)Christopher B.
Can't speak to much of the menu here as I have Celiac, but I love the gluten-free pizza. Thin crust, stretchy cheese, fresh basil; it's great! My wife usually gets a salad and seems to really like them, as well as the bread. Has a friendly, neighborhood feel to it. We go there at least monthly.
(4)Hank's Dad R.
This place works on a variety of levels. The food is great, it's an independant quite different than what you normally encounter, and the service is very good. Their pizza became my favorite (I consider this the best pizza in NW Ohio) soon after we started going here. I'm from the east coast, so finding good pizza here is hard, but this place does it right. We both order large ones, so at least half of it gets taken home, as it warms up extremely well. The pasta's are good too. The atmosphere is very nice, a hip feel to it, with great background music.
(4)Winston C.
This is kind of an odd little restaurant. First of all, it is in a shopping center. This is usually off-putting to me but I've noticed it is not particularly uncommon in Toledo. Second of all, the main seating seems to be on the second level. There's a hostess stand but so far I haven't witnessed anyone sitting there. (It's possible they only have a hostess at dinner time?) The lack of a hostess or sign makes it a little awkward to know what to do when you first visit it. My wife and I just walk upstairs. I'm not sure if we're supposed to wait or not but no one has ever said anything to us so... The atmosphere is...interesting. It's kind of blah looking. The walls are kind of dirty and there are random seeming pictures on the wall. They're usually playing The Rolling Stones which I suppose is fine...if you like the Stones. I was impressed with their food. We ordered some garlic bread as an appetizer but that was unnecessary. They actually give you a little basket of bread, olive oil, and cheese. The first time we went we ordered pasta, which comes with a good sized house salad (with black olives and hot peppers). The second time we tried their pizza. They have a lot of good pizza options and they crust was fantastic. We've been getting pizza ever since.
(5)Ryan B.
The Gluten-free crust here is fantastic! Try the Greek pizza with it. Calvino's also serves some of the best Stromboli in the city and has a killer wine selection to boot. Pick up a bottle in the store and take it to your table. Great atmosphere, great service, great food.
(5)Daniel F.
This is my favorite Italian restaurant in Toledo. Their pizzas are the best in town and I would recommend it to anyone confidently. The restaurant it set up very weirdly, but the food is delightful and is one of the best in town.
(5)Deb L.
My husband and I like this place for quick, local Italian. The pizzas are pretty good, very fresh ingredients. I like the Hawaiian and the Pancetta best. The roasted veggies are a good way to start your meal. They are lightly seasoned and tossed with pine nuts. The Greek salad is loaded with feta, and the tomato mozzarella is good. The wait staff is quirky. Once, we ordered the butternut squash ravioli and were given regular ravioli instead. We didn't send it back (it wasnt a big deal because both are good) but the waitress realized the issue and we were not charged for the entree. The beer and wine selection is good and prices are typical for the area. The dining room is small and located up a rather steep flight of stairs. If you've had a couple drinks or are a little clumsy, hold onto that railing!
(4)JoEllen H.
The pizzas are great but the rest of the menu fell short. You can select a wine from the connected wine store to have with your meal, which is mice. I would suggest sticking with the pizza for the best experience. The uneven stairs to the dining area are also a problem.
(3)John W.
I'm writing this based solely on take-out food. The staff is very friendly and chatty, which I'm a fan of, I ordered the white pizza and an order of fries to go. The food was hot and fresh as can be. The fries were marginal, at best, but the white pizza was out of this world amazing. I'd suggest not eating this pizza on a first date, or if you plan on getting close with someone, as it does have a ton of garlic on it. I'll be back, possibly as early as tomorrow night.
(4)Elizabeth H.
Calvino's is great. The pizza is amazing, my favorite being the eggplant. I love the roasted vegetable salad with pine nuts too. The have a small wine shop too, which offers only good wine available in each price range. Since the just charge a corking fee of $10 for the restaurant or $5 for the wine bar, and sell wine at state minimum, they have the best restaurant wine prices in town, and the best selection. The owner always takes time to talk to me and does a little something special as well. The only reason I give this place 4/5 stars is that the service is inconsistent. I have had everything from great to bad service from the servers here.
(4)Jillian F.
I love Calvino's! It's hidden in a strip mall and I never would've found it without a friend's recommendation. The starter bread is delicious. It's covered in butter and parmesan, but don't fill yourself up on bread. I typically order pizza and the Greek pizza is my favorite! They also have gluten friendly crust. The Strombolies are huge; and I recently ordered pasta dishes with friends and those were good. I really liked the tortellini. My favorite part is the wine! There is a wine store downstairs where you can purchase wine and bring it into the dining room for a $10 corking fee. Depending on your waitress, I've had a few who are extremely knowledgeable and they'll find a great wine for your in the store versus ordering the house wine. However, not all the waitresses are the same but it's worth asking. I only gave them four stars because the service can be fairly slow and it can take a while to get your bill. However, I'm usually not in a rush.
(4)Heidi S.
The only thing I would change about this place is the location/building. The stairs you have to walk up to get to a table are tiny and at a funky angle. Their food is to die for. Never have I had such good food every time I go. The stromboli is my favorite but everything is good.
(5)Kathleen M.
What happened to our little neighborhood place? Went in to get the Greek pizza for takeout and every table was full...and a line out the door. It is so good, but expand or staff up to handle the growing business.
(4)Tommy T.
I had the chicken creamy tomato tortellini. It was dry, pasta wasn't covered with sauce and chicken was tough and full of fat. Stick with the pizza which is ok and make sure u order a FULL bottle of wine to choke it all down. Only go if u must. I will give it one more try. I had two bites of my meal and didnt take it home. Waitress didnt offer to take it off the bill either after i told her it was disgusting. Place seems dirty as well.
(2)Eric S.
I've eaten at Calvino's off and on for years. Their pizza and stromboli are consistently good and they have some delicious and creative combinations as standards on their menu. My family decided to eat there for dinner on a busy Friday night and we were not disappointed. After a manageable wait, we ordered pizza for the kids and even though it's hard to not order pizza there, I picked their lasagna, my wife ordered the butternut squash ravioli. It was probably the first time I've ever ordered an actual "dinner" that wasn't pizza. When our orders arrived a gigantic slice of lasagna and sauce covered the entire plate. Not thinking I could eat the entire thing, I knew once I dug into my first bite, I'd lick the plate clean. I proceeded to consume what was one of the best slices of lasagna I've ever eaten and that includes my Italian wife's home recipe. I got the sauce and added Italian sausage and I couldn't get enough. My wife also raved about her ravioli. It's been a few years since I've eaten there and I came away impressed. Our service was attentive and friendly. The ambiance in the small restaurant is pleasing and you can't deny the warm, puffed bread bites that they offer diners. I was so impressed, I'm thinking about suggesting we go back next Friday, I'm craving the lasagna again.
(4)Eric L.
this restaurant has some amazing bread and the greek calzone is to die for . Family friendly? Hah. Beer signs. Wine. No changing table in the restroom. Decor marginal, but good food.
(4)Alana E.
Toledo has a lot of restaurants, let's face it. But calvinos is great for a few reasons 1. Casual and kindof a hidden gem. A perfect place for a date 2. Great quality food, always hot 3. Wine bar downstairs, easy progression from dinner to drinks 4. Hard to find those "one of a kind" independent places in toledo 5. Ample parking
(5)Mark P.
Not much seating and not very cheap, but the food comes out hot, it comes out tasting good, and you get a lot of it. No skimping on the entrees here. The cost of this place, especially considering that it's Toledo, is really kind of high though. It's good for "every once in a while," but you certainly couldn't and shouldn't do it regularly. Four stars for the food alone.
(4)John V.
This is a local place that gets by on local traffic - but its service and quality of food is below average. The hostess/hosts do not know what their reservations are for and they do not communicate with the wait staff. If you are not a regular here, don't bother trying it out. Also, the food is no better than what you can have at home from the freezer. Nothing is fresh and there are no outstanding items like most local places offer. Despite having a wine store attached, the wines are mediocre at best. I have tried several times hoping to find an alternative to the chain Olive Garden but the fact is the Olive Garden beats them in every way. I have given and will no longer try this place. If I want something unique in the way of Italian, I will drive to Ann Arbor and experience Gratzi or Palio - which are far superior to this average local eatery.
(1)T M.
Ugh.. Calvino's. Very few places would I list as 1 or 2-star dining, but this is one. Not sure how this place is standing at 4 stars. Perhaps palettes have been decimated by McDonalds? Does food that comes out hot, fast and just good deserve 4 stars people? Please... My first experience there (7 years ago?) was ok. Nothing great, but nothing bitter. The last time I visited, which was about a year ago, was anything but ok. The salad was full of knuckles. For me, knuckles are the white portion of any stalk that most places would throw away. They certainly didn't make waste of the stalks, and were thrilled to include many of them in my salad. +1 for recycling, -100 for serving me such a s**t-piled salad. The stromboli (how dare they call it that!) was equally bad. I'm a stromboli/pizza nut, and I really haven't found any stromboli to match the quality and taste of the stromboli I had at (now defunct) Bubba's Roadside Inn in Flint, MI. Bubba's stromboli was like a whole pizza covered with another pizza shell, and then served with a massive side of dipping sauce. MMMMMMM.... just the thought makes my flab quiver. Now, I don't expect Bubba's stromboli -- although I would love to open a restaurant called Bubba's Gourmet Truckstop -- but I do expect something more than a HotPocket. And, if I'm going to be served a HotPocket, then I don't expect the price to be over 4$. Yes, I know HotPockets cost ~2$, but I really don't think the operating cost of Calvino's microwave should add another 4$ to the purchase price. Perhaps Calvino's strombolies are homemade, but I would be even more depressed by this notion. Unfortunately, I didn't like Calvino's HotPockets... err.... stromboli. So, I decided to hijack my wife's lasagna. Usually something is hijacked for the contents. For instance, the mafia hijacks a truck for the valuable TV's or cigarettes. Hijacking my wife's lasagna made me realize why I would never be a good criminal. Nothing about that slop was valuable. If you like microwaved lasagna and other food, then Calvino's might be your savior. Perhaps you don't expect anything unique or interesting when you dine out, then Calvino's might be for you. If you only expect good, par-for-the-course food, then Krogers would be a better stop than Calvino's.
(1)Mo P.
The best Italian in Toledo. Food is always hot and fresh. The bread is great. The wine selection and bar downstairs is spot on. Entreés are around $12 and are huge. If you wanna eat and spend less I recommend one of their excellent sandwiches for half the price. The place is small and clean. One of Toledo's best kept secrets. Great place to bring a date, or eat with friends.
(5)