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Name: Calamari Italian Seafood
Address: 3540 Main Hwy, Miami, FL, 33133
Telephone: (305) 441-0219
Price range: Under $11
Rating: 3.40

Calamari Italian Seafood

3540 Main Hwy, Miami, FL, 33133

(305) 441-0219
Store is closed

Calamari Italian Seafood Menu

Appetizers

Mozzarella Burrata

Tuna Tartare

Fritto Misto

Cozze Posillipo

Carciofi Alla Giudea
Soups

Lenticchie

Pasta Fagioli

Broccoli And Zucchini

Zuppa Mare E Monti
Salads

House Salad

Di Cesare

Portofino

Pear Salad
La Pizza

Margherita

Speck E Gorgonzola

Pizza Piccante

Barbeque Chicken Margherita

Capricciosa

Pepperoni
Meats

Grilled Ribeye

Veal Ossobuco

Filet Mignon "diana"

Veal Chop

Lombata Parmigiana

Healthy Meal suggestions for Calamari Italian Seafood

Appetizers

Mozzarella Burrata [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Tuna Tartare [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Fritto Misto [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Cozze Posillipo [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Carciofi Alla Giudea [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]
Soups

Lenticchie [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Pasta Fagioli [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Broccoli And Zucchini [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Zuppa Mare E Monti [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]
Salads

House Salad [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Di Cesare [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Portofino [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Pear Salad [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]
La Pizza

Margherita [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Speck E Gorgonzola [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Pizza Piccante [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Barbeque Chicken Margherita [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Capricciosa [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Pepperoni [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]
Meats

Grilled Ribeye [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Veal Ossobuco [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Filet Mignon "diana" [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Veal Chop [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Lombata Parmigiana [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

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Write An Anonymous Review

Ess B.

Classic Italian fare. The menu offers an intimidating number of selections, but don't fret...you cannot go wrong so the pressure to make a wise decision is alleviated. Everything I've ever ordered at Calamari's in the years I've been going there has been delicious. The patio is lovely, night and day, and the service is some of the best in Miami. The wait staff is attentive without being cloying, and friendly without being phony. Calamari does not disappoint!
(4)
Alfredo H.

We have had dinner here a few times. This past dinner we had a spaghetti carbonara which was pretty good but the snapper francais was below average. It's not a bad restaurant for family dinners but don't expect excellent food. Service is very good.
(3)
Rossella F.

They have quite an extensive Italian menu. They bring you complementary focaccia with cherry tomato when you sit at the table. I am not sure how to rate the food. We had octopus carpaccio which was ok. Then I had linguine alle vongole which wasn't bad, but definitely full of garlic....really a lot!! My bf had the risotto with frutti di mare and it was not good at all: overcooked and with no taste. The service was not friendly nor efficient. I asked for wine when I arrived and I got it only with the entree. The restaurant was so noisy that my ears hurt when I left.
(2)
Belinda B.

Calamari is a decent restaurant. We were invited there for Sunday Brunch..There are some quirks that work...and others that do not! The food is basically good....the service was respectful and mostly timely. The manager walked around and would venture very close to tables..but not say anything. It would have been nice to have her speak..ask about our meal..make us feel comfortable..bring a glass of mimosa over!! Mimosas should be bottomless..period..up charge me a little! Go see Carlos and Alberto - get a waffle or an omelet...and enjoy their gentle banter and smiles before you enjoy the tasty food from their station. Children enjoyed the dainty desserts! I will return..I'm sure!
(3)
Michael C.

#CoconutGrove Located at the tail end of the Grove commercial area, about two blocks past the playhouse, Calamari always seems to have a decent mix of local to tourists. I've been three times and on each visit the host/hostess has always been welcoming with none of the pretension that can sometimes be found in the area. As vegetarian, it is always welcoming to see dishes on the menu that seem tailor made to my food choices, even if in fact they aren't. I'd recommend any of the three main vegetable pasta dishes, and highly suggest the eggplant appetizer. The wait staff has been decent but not spectacular during my visits, but the support staff (bussers) have always been at the table promptly with water and drinks refills. Seating can be in the dining room, the bar area or outside. While I prefer to sit near the fountain in the open air, some people can't take the Miami humidity while eating hot dishes, for those people the interior is more than adequate. You won't go wrong by eating here , especially if you like a modern, fresh take on Italian food.
(4)
Carmenaida T.

Calamari is the best option for food in the groove. Outdoor seating is exquisite and food is delicious. The chef in the kitchen is named Alex and he does an excellent job at executing the menu. Tomato sauce is made real authentic and they use carrots which give it a sweet flavor.
(5)
Margot B.

I used to love this restaurant and in fact has been our go-to place for my GNOs (girls night out) for many years. But to be candid, it's just gotten way too expensive, especially for the quality that you are getting. The food is good, not great (for example, I won't order their lasagna nor eggplant Parmesan again). But that's not the issue. The prices of both the food and the wine have just skyrocketed. I love the staff - the service is very friendly. But I just can'[t spend $70+ for dinner with the girls anymore. I'm already searching for alternatives
(2)
Mark M.

Enjoyed a nice dinner here after a nearby shopping trip. We opened with a tuna tartare appetizer -- quite delicious, though I would have preferred the accompanying garlic toast to be a little crisper. Calamari also serves complementary bruschetta, which is quite nice, with chunky fresh tomato -- I'd be happy to make a meal of that alone. My main course of veal scallopini siciliani was delicious, with the eggplant a nice companion to the veal. My companions' entrees of lobster ravioli and sea bass napolitano were similarly well-executed and tasty. Wine by the glass selection was not extensive, yet the offered choices covered the bases well. A closer of tiramisu wrapped things up quite nicely.
(4)
Marqus R.

I stumbled onto this place when attempting to locate the UYE for the King Mango Strut. It has a really nice outside patio area, very clean, nice blue sun umbrella seating with cloth table covers and napkins. I also experienced some very good service, a well crafted martini, and my glass of came full measure. I started with the Carpaccio, which I found to be very good and for an entrÃ©e decided upon what in English would be their Fruit of the Sea pasta. That too was good, but not nearly comparable to what I have had elsewhere, as there was nothing distinctive or unique to the preparation and the flavors were at best bland. It was rather mediocre but the prices were on their menu were much less than I would have anticipated for the general appearance of the restaurant. In short, a nice place to go for the ambiance, general pleasantness and quality of service, but not the type of place I'd go out of my way for when it comes to food.
(3)
Henry L.

THEY RUINED A GREAT PLACE. This was one of my favorite places. Used to sit outside by a fountain with a table with table cloths. Enjoyed the grove atmosphere. They used to have a great feature, free valet parking...gone. But we just went. They got rid of the table cloths and now its just plastic top tables with holes in the middle. The have terrible speakers and now play radio stations. It is pure noise and ruins the ambiance. They had a car right in the center of the tables for a raffle. And the fountain was leaking water all over the outdoor floor. Between the noise of the "music", lack of table cloths, car where people eat, water all over the place this place has gone from a favorite to a "will not return." This is now any other calle ocho restaurant. Bye, Bye Calamari (unless they fire the manager and return it to its former status).
(2)
Meredith F.

Italian seafood is exactly the right description of the restaurant. This place has street parking and a very nice outdoor patio with a fountain, lights, plants, etc. Before the meal, the waiter brought out some bread (foccacia?) and flavorful, large-chunk bruschetta which was very good. I ordered a seafood medley over pasta (shrimp, mussels, scallops and that mystery fish I always forget) which was pretty good (well-cooked seafood) but the sauce was more buttery than marinara-y which I'd hoped for. My boyfriend ordered a very filling meatball appetizer and a risotto dish for dinner which he said was "pretty good" but thought our homemade risotto had a better flavor. We also ordered wine and I asked the waiter which of the two sparkling wines was sweeter and he may have indicated the correct one, but it definitely wasn't a very sweet wine (yes, I'm picky and prefer sweet wines, so sue me). It was a bit too on the dry side for me. Overall pretty good service.
(4)
Lauran Childs C.

* For the original review see my site at LoveMiamiBlog.com . Calamari's is one of a chain of restaurants that include Villagio's at Merrick Park and Dadeland Mall and Carpaccio's at Bal Harbour. This chain has a lot to recommend it - attractive locations, good menus, some good cooking, the complimentary bruschetta they provide at your meal. And then it has it's drawbacks, like service that tends to be not too good and overcharging on drinks. I'll keep my comments to the Villagio restaurants and Calamari - it's a long time since I've been to the Bal Harbour location, Carpaccio's - and I think they have a Boca location too, whose name I don't recall. I've had problems with being overcharged for drinks at both the Villagio restaurants and at Calamari's. A few days ago I went to Calamari's at 3pm, fresh off a job (painting a mural) and ravenous. A major reason I keep going back to this chain of restaurants is that I love the Amalfi salad - a mix of seafood on salad - despite the fact that this chain of restaurants is not fussy about giving you tired lettuce in the mix. Etc. This is my experience of my last visit - lackluster, slow, unsmiling service. Except for the nice older man who served the water. Not unusual for Calamari's. I had to go prompt them to get me a drink and to get my bruschetta. The salad when it arrived was smaller than I expected and kind of boring, with large calamari rings, a few shrimp, mussels and clams -not the marinated squid with tentacles that I'm so fond of. I told the waiter that the salad looked unusually small and he took it away and brought it back telling me it was bigger. I don't think it was. Calamari have put up the price of their cocktails from $5.95 when I first started going there - cheap - to $9. I ordered a vodka martini and when it came to the bill I found they'd chosen to put in a premium vodka that they hadn't bothered to ask me about - but they did remember to charge me for. I paid up uncomplaining, but I do remember that when I ate at Villagio's at Dadeland for the first time a couple of weeks ago I had a couple of martinis and they did this too - charge more - after expressly asking did I want premium vodka and I said no, so I did refuse to pay the additional bill. Calamari's and the Villagio locations are annoying - they have spacious, attractive locations (particularly at Merrick Park) that are nice to hang out in, but they don't bother to give you perfect salad as I said - oh yes, I forgot to mention, when I went the other day they put an old piece of lime in my drink and the pieces of lemon that I asked for with my salad looked old too. They have lackluster service generally and they like to overcharge. Still, they do have a nice menu and they will probably continue to make the bucks. Forewarned is forearmed?
(3)
Mary e.

The place is very pretty. we sat outside and it is very romantic, but there is a bit of traffic noise. Food was ok, but not great. And a bit expensive in my opinion. Wait staff was not on top of things. There was nothing here to make me return except for the nice outdoor setting ( they have indoors too). I will give them another chance since maybe what I ordered was not the chef's specialty. They have valet which is a plus in the grove.
(2)
Marisol S.

We went for my cousin's 40th birthday-party of 10. We started our evening with the fire alarm being set off, which was obnoxiously loud. (By the reaction of the waitress, it seemed like this was pretty common.) The waitress insisted on attempting to take our order, as it was sounding off. Common sense would have told you to come back after the disruption, so we had to yell to ask her to come back. Off to a great start! The ambience was very cozy and warm. The restaurant has a wine market, allowing you to pay retail price and only a $15.00 corkage fee. It definitely comes out more inexpensive. That was about the only perk! The service, however, was - meh! The menu did sound delicious and because we had purchased a Groupon, we ordered a few different items. And so the strike outs and foul balls began... As she was in mid conversation, one of the servers came and took my mother's half eaten delicious burrata appetizer without asking if she was even done (the forks were not indicators of anything) They just snagged it. When we called him out on it, the server didn't even offer to bring her another. As we finished with our first course, no one came around to pick up the plates. Ugh - dirty cluttered plates are unnecessary. The water was scarcely refilled. The meals were nothing impressive. We tried the grilled calamari, fried calamari e zucchini, the bruschetta and the burratta. My favorite was the burrata and grilled calamari - very fresh and grilled well! We continued with the champagne risotto (okay), the cesar salad (no wow factor), the scampi di scampi, bistecca cimpriani, and some other dishes. The steak was not a homerun, but maybe a double. The dishes did have a nice presentation, but lacked in overall flavor. They served the steak with a butter knife. Everything wrong about that, but what was worse is that by the time the gentleman returned with a steak knife, but meat was already cold. When we let our waitress know we had the Groupon voucher, she proceeded to just remove the price I paid from the total bill. After explaining to her a couple times how the voucher worked, she still did not grasp the concept. I asked to see the manager, Niko, who took 22 minutes to return to our table. Although it was a long wait, and we were ready to go, Niko was very prompt and helpful. He made the necessary adjustments, and we were on our way. I give it a 4 out of 10. Definitely wouldn't return.
(2)
Jason P.

We tried about five different dishes, and every single one of them was excellent. Can't wait to return. From the service, to the ambiance, to the food it was a top notch experience.
(4)
Elie R.

Ordered 2 entrees with meat that was foul tasting. Both the manager and chef tasted it and agreed with me. The waitress told me. Nobody apologized. Later saw the manager go to the bathroom and not wash his hands after he was done. Incredible.
(1)
Peter V.

Great restaurant. I started with the Burrata; a mixture of creamy mozzarella, fresh tomatoes, and proscuitto di parma. Delicious! My my entree, linguine alle vongole in a red tomato clam sauce, was also delicious. The clams were plentiful and the sauce was thick and contained the right amount of garlic. Needless to say, I did not have room for dessert but did have an expresso served with a little biscotti to satisfy the sweet tooth. Another pleasant surprise was the attentive wait staff. From the time I walked into the restaurant until I left, I was never neglected or felt like I was just another customer. Kudos to the staff.
(4)
Christine M.

A lovely place for a leisurely sophisticated dinner. The patio is gorgeous, especially after dark. The service is professional, attentive, and unobtrusive. The menu is impressive-- and very ambitious. This is not a "red sauce" joint. Portions were generous. Yes, prices were high. But the food was exceptional and wonderful! We started with the Fritto Misto -- we almost always do when eating Italian. This one was as good as any we have ever had! Piping hot, crispy on the outside, sweet and tender inside. The sauce was spicy and the plate was more than enough for two to share. The variety of shellfish was unusually wide and varied. This is an old classic "stand-by" dish taken to serious and exceptional heights. Loved it! Husband and I then shared two pastas: the stuffed calamari (stuffed with crab and Italian seasonings) and the lobster ravioli. The stuffed calamari was simply unforgettable. A brilliant combination of fresh ingredients, deft seasoning, and restraint in the preparation. I would eat this every day if I could. The lobster ravioli was not as thrilling although, to be fair, we were running out of appetite from the richness of what had come before by that stage of our dinner. We couldn't do dessert -- we couldn't even think about it and we were grateful for the 3-block walk back to our hotel near Peacock Park following such a rich and abundant dinner.
(4)
Steve T.

Since my last visit I have noticed two things; the free valet parking is now $6 and the prices on the menu have gone up overall. For example, the Lobster Ravioli which was approximately $13 is now approximately $19. While the menu has not changed very much the prices have and Calamari is no longer the bargain it used to be. The food is still very good. The service is adequate but nothing special. I still love the menu which has many seafood options, many more than the other restaurants owned in this chain at Merrick Place, Aventura Mall and Bal Harbour. The Eggplant Parm appetizer was stellar, great Lobster Ravioli, decent White Clam Sauce and a good Coconut Flan big enough for two. I am not sure why the prices have climbed here in such a relatively short time. Add to this the hassle of eating in the Village, having to pay to park, etc., there are probably better places to have dinner, but the food is good.
(3)
Mike S.

I had dinner at Calamari before and the food it's always excellent, in the past month I have been there at least 5 times and I have no complains so far, but my dinner tonight was excellent but the service was superb, my server Pablo not only was superb, he was also a great host, I enjoy my time there so much that next time I'm going to ask for him, he is great and I'm in the business too but he gave me the kind of service that I only had at the mandarin hotel when I worked there
(5)
Grey S.

My wife and I came here with a Living Social deal. The food was decent enough, although definitely not worth the price paid ($65 with the LS deal.) Still, it was an overall pleasant experience until the waiter felt the need to point out that we had to tip him. Thanks buddy, I think I know how eating out works! After the meal, we wanted to get our car back from the valet parking and the valet staff ignored us for a while, which irritated me some more. All in all, the restaurant has all the trappings of being high-end (nice atmosphere, good looking menu, etc) but they would benefit from hiring more professional staff. I won't be back here.
(2)
Vincent F.

I've been to Sunday brunch here several times and have to say that it's pretty good food and ambience for the money ($30). It's a buffet, with a lot of offerings: breakfast basics including omelette and waffle station, Italian meats and cheeses, various cold salads, smoked salmon with all the accompaniments, peel n eat shrimp. Mimosas were $5 a piece. My one minor gripe: the buffet maybe a year or two ago was under $20. I think they raised the price because demand was so high at first. There would be easily an hour wait for a table. Today we were seated as soon as we showed up.
(4)
Jonathan X.

Calamari's is within walking distance of Coco Walk (about 5 minutes of walking; or if you drive, there are a lot street side parking). Unlike the Coco walk restaurants, it is quiet and not so crowded. We didn't have a reservation but was greeted and seated prompted. There are indoor and outdoor seating. The servers are very attentive through out the dinner, checking in from time to time to see if we need anything without being annoying. We ordered fried calamari (what else) for appetizer; and for main entries: jumbo shrimp with crab (scampi scampi) with linguine; Steamed mussel. Before the appetizer, they bring us some bread/butter and pie with dipping to get started, The fried calamari was very good. The two main entries are a little salty. Both have big portions, The price is reasonable, $15-25 for main entries; $8-$10 for appetizers. Overall, a very nice dining experience.
(4)
Arek G.

Great dining venue, delicious food, and excellent/fast service. Reminds me of a calm and relaxing restaurant in Europe.
(5)
Carolina M.

The ambiance of this restaurant is great. Nice outdoor seating, a fountain in the middle of the patio, a wine shop in the premises. A little too big for my liking, i am not usually a fan of big chain restaurants but Calamari did not disappoint. When we got there though, even when we had made reservations before hand, we saw the Manager coming over to the hostess and telling her something, they looked stressed out and she proceeded to tell us there was a 20 minute wait. No biggie, we waited at the bar over some drinks but it struck me rather odd that they take reservations and not hold them. What iss the point of a reservation then?. Luckily, it didn't take long to get our table so we were seated at a cozy table by the fountain. We got a bottle of red wine which was good. For appetizer we got the tuna tartare which was delicious!. Main courses were champagne risotto with seafood for me (yummy) and pasta with veggies for hubbi (his dish was way better than mine). For dessert i wanted to order a grand marnier souffle but they were out of, then i switch to do the white chocolate souflfle and they were out of too, and then i said the pannacotta and they were out of that also!!!!. Lastly i settled for tiramisu, which was just ok. The place was really crowded with big groups of people at the tables so i guess the kitchen were either understaffed or they just cannot handle large crowds. The food however, did not come short. Everything we had was tasty and the service was good.
(4)
Jessie Z.

We found this restaurant from yelp while staying at Coconut grove in the recent Miami trip. It is located on Main hwy which was away from Cocowalk but still within walking distance from the hotel. (Mayfair hotel and spa). We ordered fried calamari and zucchini for appetizer which was pretty delicious although I didn't like the sauce very much. The complimentary bruschetta and bread came before that were both good. For entree we tried Zuppa di pesce which was heavy broth with mussels, fish, clams, shrimps etc; and Scampi di Scampi (jumbo shrimp stuffed with crab meat over linguini). I was a little disappointed about the zuppa di pesce because it was rather bland. The linguini tasted much better. I gave the food 3 stars and 1 extra star for environment and service. The servers were all very attentive without being aggressive. They refilled my glass within seconds and always checked with us to see if everything was alright. The outside of the restaurant was very pretty (please check out my pictures) and inside was equally nice. Overall a great place with reasonable priced food.
(4)
Rolando P M.

The food was up to par, cesar salad was wilted did not taste fresh. The sea bass was extremely cooked and tasted fishy. No effort from the server. The locatin is good the bar is good and drinks at happy hour are well priced.
(2)
Ale R.

The Food is outstanding.. The service was terrible. I went on a night that were about 3-5 tables with people and about 20 people flying around..and we could not get decent service to save our lives.
(3)
Nicole H.

Came here with a LivingSocial deal - two appetizers, two entrees, two desserts, and a bottle of wine, all for $65. This doesn't include tax or the 20% tip that is automatically added to your bill, but it does provide you with a good amount of food for your dollar. I loved the atmosphere here - it is classy and upscale, with options of gorgeous outside seating near a water fountain or a hip bar-focused inside area. It's an ideal place to split a bottle of wine and relax over dinner. The LivingSocial deal came with an option of white or red, and we went with the red Chianti option. Excellent bottle of wine - no complaints. We were provided with complementary warm bread and bruschetta with a salsa-vinegar sauce upon arrival. My Caesar salad tasted exactly how I would want a Caesar salad to taste. It was possibly the best Caesar I've ever had, and I wished it were twice as large. My husband's eggplant parm appetizer was soft, smooth and delicious as well. Our entrees, however, were nothing to rave about. I tried the chicken and veal options, and both were mediocre in my opinion. There's nothing in particular that I can point out as flawed, but the overall taste combination wasn't anything special. I ate it, it filled my stomach, but I would have been just as happy with a dish from many chain restaurants. In contrast, the desserts, coconut flan and tiramisu, were well-made - not too much sugar, and a perfect portion for the end of a meal. I'd definitely return for wine and tapas, but I'll be skipping the main courses here from now on.
(3)
Steve C.

Until recently my only feedback on this place would have been that they have outstanding martinis and fabulous bartenders. It always smells fragrant, tasty and delicious (GARLIC!) when I walk through, on the way to the bar. The place always smells of fragrant food fantasies. This visit I had the 3 meatball dinner for under ten bucks. It came with warm toast squares and a bruchetta-ish side that is fab. Home run. Can't wait to go back and try something else.
(4)
Andy D.

It's not the food or service that spoiled my Sunday Brunch, oh contre mon fre, the service here is excellent, the staff waits on you hand and foot with a smile. We went to the Sunday brunch, I think next time it will be something off the menu instead. The rest of the critique is dedicated to those who have been on a cruise and have endured the cruise buffet. It's not standing in line waiting to try something that you've possible never had before, but standing in line with people who apparently think armageddon is on it's way and this is there last meal. You have those " load up's " and " may I get in your way, I am a princess you know ". The load up's as you wouldn't be surprised take so much food, it's embarrassing and the may I get in your way, well just like it say's, you see them darting in and out, reminiscent of those little bacterial fish that remove bacteria from the gills of larger predators. So, I guess they have an annoying purpose. I soon became transfixed on a woman that apparently had both abilities, she was eating for all of Ethiopia and had the class to step in front of everyone, pick at the food finding items she liked and then move on, truely a Bedouin in her past life. The other one both me and the G/F commented about was the one who had curlers in her hair and face cream on her face, toting around a 4 year old (I swear), all she needed was a bathrobe and a cigarette dangling out of her mouth and I'd swear I was in the hills of West Virgina. See why I lost total thought of even what I ate, or where I was. I don't think buffet's work. It's a nice restaurant. I like it there mid week when I can sit outside in the early evening and eat a pizza, and listen to Frank Sinatra. Sunday Brunch eeehhhhhh three stars, will subtract one for the customers and one for cruise ship memories.
(3)
Hannah S.

It takes a lot to let me down when it comes to my all-time favorite meal (brunch). But a combination of the following lame circumstances put the damper on an otherwise stellar Sunday afternoon: 1. Our waiter was clueless. Totally. And not particularly friendly. We still had to pay 20% gratuity, however. 2. No more bottomless mimosas, which was the primary attraction for their brunch spread. 3. Food is mediocre - nothing more. It's reasonably priced, but nothing about the buffet selection was compelling or unique. So yeah, Calamari won't be seeing the likes of me again. There are so many spectacular brunch establishments in our fair city - I won't waste my time, money and appetite here again.
(2)
Candice K.

My son and I arrived about 8 PM and were seated immediately at a lovely outside table with linen cloths and lovely lights, ferns hanging, and fans to keep things cool. Quickly served water and we both had Chianti - two glasses each and the second glass tasted differently than the first - a little disconcerting. The appetizer Fritto Misto - excellent light and fresh tasting - shrimp, calamari, fish and scallops gently fried. Agnolotti del Magnifico - excellent ravioli type dish with cream sauce and Scampi di Scampi - both dishes very nicely done, came out of the kitchen quickly and were tasty and hot. Scampi di Scampi large serving to feed the hungriest diner. Dinner reasonably priced (check $92.00 before tip), service great .... and I left my phone on the table and was delighted when I returned to find it in the care and custody of the Host! This is a lovely restaurant - much quieter because it was a bit farther down Main Hwy. Sweet and special evening.
(4)
Neyda V.

I was at Calamari on Saturday night. We bought a groupon deal for 4, which was a great offer. I have previously visited the restaurant in two other occasions, and Overall the food and service has always been good. Saturday night we made reservations for 8:30 and arrived a little late, so they accommodated us outside because our reservations were for inside sitting but they gave our table away due to our tardiness. I had the breaded pork and would rate it good not excellent. Because the ambiance and service was good I gave them four stars, it is not the best but it is not bad in any way. My sister had the steak in the brandy sauce and left it, not because it was bad, it just did not appeal to her, the waiter insisted on bringing her another dish without her mentioning anything and quickly packed a Hawaiian pizza for her to go at no additional charge.
(4)
Jordan N.

3.5 Stars. I came for the Sunday brunch. The food didn't 'wow' me out, but it was very decent - slightly above average, I'd say. And that's a very good thing, considering that the price was just $15 for a brunch buffet. Yup, you read that right - an all-you-can-eat brunch buffet can be found here for the price of an entree elsewhere. Delicious croissant, and they have the typical italian breadsticks and crackers too. There was an egg station, two chicken dish (masala & lemon), lemon tilapia, paella, chorizo, pastries, an assortment of salads, chicken carpaccio, zucchini pizza, regular pizzas, and desserts (coconut flan, tiramisu, chocolate cake, almond cookies, etc). And mimosas are a decent $5. I wouldn't mind coming back for brunch - it's a good find for someone on a budget and wanting a nice atmosphere.
(4)
Elizabeth S.

I have been coming here since it opened. There has been a lot of change in management, concept, and service. Overall, their tuna tartare is my favorite dish on the menu. It sells as an appetizer but its a meal. It comes with truffle infused baked toast. The tartare is a tower of tuna, avocado, and mascarpone. It has cucumber slices and grapeseed, olive, and some other unidentifiable delicious taste. I try and venture to something else on the menu but always go back to this. Wednesday is half price selected wine bottles. Selection used to be better and is now limited. Waitstaff its fickle. Some days they are great others lost. La Botega, their wine bar, serves gourmet tapas sized food. Its outdoor patio area is a welcome distraction. If you want a nice meal at reasonable prices, go here.
(3)
Betty A.

My boyfriend and I attended a fundraiser in one section of the restaurant. They served chicken and steak skewers along with crab cakes. Yum! Also they had an open bar for guest who paid for the fundraiser. However, after the event was over we were still hungry and my boyfriend wanted to eat somewhere else. Luckily, I convinced him to stay since he already paid $5 for parking nearby and did not want him to pay more if we go somewhere else. Calamari serves Italian food which we both liked therefore we stayed. Once we got seated, were were served a nice amount of bread and flatbread wtih brushetta. Very nice b/c I had some drinks in me that I wanted to wear off. LOL! I was fine with my bread but my boyfriend wanted an appetizer so he ordered the Baked Clams Oreganato which is topped with seasoned bread crumbs, garlic and oil. It was something interesting that he tried but nothing out of the ordinary. It was good for him. We also ordered the Pizza Margherita topped with mozzarella cheese, tomato sauce and basil from the wood burning brick oven. It took about 10 minutes but it was worth the wait because it was pipping hot and crispy. It was soo hot that I had to wait a bit until it cooled down. What a treat. Now dessert was a bonus: we ordered a white chocolate covered shell with Vanilla Ice cream and dulce de leche spread on the side. He and I truly loved it. He even stated that it was one of the best desserts he has ever tasted. Definitely we will be coming back!!
(4)
Ashley M.

We were looking for a great weeknight restaurant place in the Grove with a nice atmosphere, but not too pricey. We happened upon Calamari while walking around, and I'm sure it will turn into one of our regular places to eat. The restaurant is beautifully decorated, and a great place for a romantic dinner on their outdoor patio. The service was attentive, but not overbearing. We ordered the fritto misto as an appetizer, which was lacking some flavour, but the marinara sauce served with it was excellent. I ordered shrimp scampi, which was really fresh and tasted authentic (light sauce, some julienned vegetables, al dente pasta). My husband had the calamari pasta with marinara sauce, also very tasty. We haven't tried their desserts yet, but we are looking forward to it! We also saw that they have a wood burning oven, so I can imagine their pizza is really good. We'll keep you updated!
(4)
Meg H.

4 Star for Food and 5 Stars for Ambiance! Ate here on Saturday night after a movie in the Grove. I've passed by Calamari on Main Hwy numerous times, and have always intended in stopping by but was never really compelled to do so. (I was DEFINITELY missing out!) If you like people watching and dining al fresco, but aren't a fan of the cheesy and touristy Lincoln Road then you need to run, not walk, to Calamari. I had the Farfalle with Salmon with a very lite and tasty tomato cream sauce as well as the Caesar salad and Calamari fritte. All was very good and some of the best Italian I have had in Miami thus far. I can't wait to go back!
(5)
Idy F.

Food deserves a trip back even if three out of five visits the service has been mediocre. The servers at least try to correct their mistakes (forgotten appetizers, wrong sauces...) Still good /fresh fried calamari and yummy pasta dishes (clam linguine, frutti di mare and lobster ravioli) keep coming back with an appetite and of course patience!
(4)
Andrea S.

Last night, my husband and I took 4 of my cousins from Boca Raton to Calamari for dinner. We had made a reservation the night before. When we arrived at the restaurant, they did not have my reservation listed. Nevertheless, the hostess was extremely polite and gave us a wonderful table. Everything went down hill after that. One of our guests ordered a Mojito and the other a Coconut martini. The bar was unable to make either of them. Another guest ordered a beer and the waiter forgot to bring it. I ordered the fried calamari to share with my husband. When we received the dish, it had a few calamari. It also had fried shrimp and some other assorted fish(who knows what???) Thank goodness I realized there was shrimp in the dish before my husband ate any. He has a severe shellfish allergy and could have become extremely ill. I asked the waiter about the appetizer and all he could say was that he was sorry. I ordered broccoli with my dinner and I received sauteed spinach. Another guest's meal was over 30 minutes late arriving to the table. The waiter offered us free desserts to make up for the issues. However, the entire situation was embarrassing. The manager never came to our table to apologize. As a grove resident, I like to support our restaurants. However, I doubt I will be returning to Calamari any time soon.
(1)
MICHELLE C.

I went there on there second night of opening and have been back about five more times. I am a huge fan of this restaurant because the prices are excellent!!! The food is very good!!! The wine list is decent and I adore the courtyard setting.There is a fountain with lights in it and when you sit out there at night it's refreshing hearing the water and it feels like your on a romantic vacation. Lunch is also great here, smaller portions at a better price than dinner and sometimes they bring you a free mimosa. The service is good and most of the staff seem to be freindly. It is just a nice place away from South Beach and tourist, and away from the Grove's crazier side of town. Inside is also a nice atmosphere!!! Looking forward to visiting soon.... They are also part of Luna Cafe on Biscayne which I love as much!!!
(4)
Christopher G.

I have been here twice now for lunch for work, so my review is not based on the dinner menu. The highlight of my meal both times was the complimentary bruschetta brought to the table. It is well seasoned with plenty of garlic and fresh basil, and the tomatoes are fresh and juicy. It is served with crusty flatbread that is baked with olive oil. The bread brought to the table also has a nice crust but is sliced too thick. On the first visit I had a salad with mixed greens, goat cheese, walnuts, and grilled chicken, tossed in a honey vinaigrette. The flavors were fresh and subtle, but lacked boldness. The chicken on the salad was fine but slightly dry. On my second visit, I ordered the pollo paillard, based on a recommendation, and was happy with the outcome. The chicken breast is topped with sun dried tomatoes and sauteed mushrooms and served with a side of potatoes and steamed veggies. Everything on the plate was flavorful and balanced, but again the chicken was dry. Prices were reasonable on the menu, which was a nice surprise. The location is pretty, being on the verdant side of the grove, and the large courtyard will be nice for an afternoon snack and wine during the fall. The interior is loud due to the concrete flooring and the fishnet ceiling is a little hoaky. Service has been good during both visits. Overall, Calamari has a lot of potential and I imagine it will work out some of the kinks in the near future.
(3)
Jessica E.

Best place for a party. Had my baby shower and graduation party here. Food is amazing, service is great and place is beautiful. Gaea is an awesome party planner!
(5)
Eugene R.

How La Bottega and Calamari ruined my birthday... I'm giving the restaurant two stars: one for the ambience, and one for the food - the two bites of which I had were very tasty. And this is why they completely failed on the other three.... Bread came out...with no bread plates...we had to ask for them several times... They didn't bring out wine list despite asking for it...twice! We had to ask for menus after not having any more than 30 minutes after sitting... We had get up to get the manager so he can tell us the specials b/c waiter never did... When they finally brought menu...they brought the Calamari (adjoining restaurant) menu, but not the La Bottega menu which is the only reason we sat in that section anyway...then we had to wait a while until they brought those... The A/C starting dripping over one of our party guests and the waiter didn't know what to do...until we finally suggested moving the table over just a bit.... All of this time - no manager/head waiter etc ever came to see if all was okay, etc, despite us having to get him to come to the table to tell us about the specials... When the waiter comes, I order one of the specials the manager had mentioned, and the waiter looked at me like I was an alien...he had no idea what the special was or what it came with.... Finally the food came out....but we didn't have silverware...so we waited a little while longer for that.... At this point it was 9:40 - my reservations were for 8:30 - we still hadn't had a bite of our appetizers...much less our entrees.... We got through the appetizer course...then come the entrees....the few bites I had were great...until the A/C completely gave out...and a non-stop steam of water started falling onto ANOTHER party guest....and additional drops started falling all over the table... THAT WAS ENOUGH....I got up and looked for a manager....their response is "sorry...we don't know what you could do".... So after telling them they ruined my birthday dinner, made me late to my birthday party (had 60 guests waiting at adjoining TAURUS bar), I told them it was just unacceptable....my dinner party got up mid-meal and we left (not paying because I refused, not because they offered to comp ANYTHING....even a new table and bottle of champagne could've done the trick)....unfurtunately, we didn't even get the chance to bring out the birthday cake we had made for the dinner party....NOBODY SEEMED TO CARE and just looked completely dumdfounded....like a bunch of amateurs... NEVER AGAIN - my birthday dinner was ruined, and they embarrassed me and my partner in front of all of our guests who clearly were not enjoying dinner constantly having to ask for things, and constantly having to clear away from falling water...just unacceptable...
(2)
Anne-Marie B.

I visited this restaurant for the first time with a friend who had been there before. I was very happy with the recommendation. The food was very good, although the portions just seemed enormous! We shared a salad and I had the mushroom risotto. I was hoping for a little room for dessert, but no such luck. The servers were extremely attentive and friendly. The patio is very nice and offers a semi romantic setting, although it can get a little loud. I saw they also have a reasonable brunch, I am definitely going back to try it out. By the way, valet is no longer free. (I read that it was on previous reviews)
(4)
Liliana D.

Calamari has made perfect use of a charming location in Coconut Grove, especially the courtyard garden setting, with its ample umbrellas, is more intimate but just as lively as that of a sidewalk cafe. Calamari is part of the family of restaurants that include Il Villagio in Merrick Park and Carpaccio in Bal Harbour. The menu concentrates on Italian seafood favorites (hence the name) but goes beyond it to include everything from pizza to steak. The portions are abundant, and the prices are economically-correct, which is a top consideration when it comes to value. Another great value is that they have free valet!
(5)
Masie R.

Very good Italian! I've gone a few times and every time has been great! The atmosphere is great, the outside area is gorgeous and the inside is as well. Make sure to bring a thin sweater because inside the restaurant is super chilly! Valentines Day is always nice here as well, last year they had a dessert bar with a chocolate fountain, etc. So romantic!
(4)
Michelle G.

What a disappointing experience all around. This place is nothing like what it was 3 years ago when we are their at least once a week. The atmosphere is stuffy. The staff is rude! The food (pizza to be exact) taste like it is from a box. We will never be back and if I could give NO stars I would.
(1)
Vanessa D.

"Easter Brunch" Beware of false adverstising...We decided to go there because they adverstise $19.95 buffet brunch on their web site with the heading reading April 24, 2010. Once we arrived we did get a nice table and the food was fair. If you are looking for a brunch with lots of breakfast items, this is not the brunch for you. There are only 2 ...waffles and an omelette station the rest was pasta and antipasto. FYI.. the quality of the salads and the vegetables isn't very good. There is only romaine lettuce (forget spinach or baby greens)& several of the veggies are canned!! I distinctly remember looking at the greenbeans...they were very sad looking and almost brownish. The rest is pretty ok... not delicious. However the food is the least of my issue with this place. Its the attitude we receieved from the manager and our waiter is what we found offensive. When we arrived the waiter offered us bellinis and mimosas and said it was included. We did order a few (on the website it does ready $5 each, I found that a little confusing that he would say it was included, but i didn't pay attention to it) I figured he may have made a mistake and we would just pay the $5 extra once we got the check. Once the check did arrive it was $35 pp. We called our waiter over and nicely explained to him that the bill was not correct and we were here for the $19.95 pp brunch and he argued with us that we were wrong etc etc. We then asked to speak with the manager. He arrived at our table with a very poor attitude. We showed him the online menu that clearly stated 4-24-2010 $19.95 pp brunch. He still continued to argue that is was "Easter "and that meant that it was $35 pp not $19.95. We were polite, we were very clear that it was not our fault that the website was incorrect and we feel they should honor the $19.95 price. He finally agreed and said "well... you have to pay for the mimosas!!!" which we didnt have a issue with at all. No one at our table was looking for a free ride. Honeslty, the place/atmosphere is nice the food is fair, but the attitude we received was not called for. We will not go back there again.
(2)
Elias G.

Calamari is Villagio's sister restaurant in the Grove. The menu items are similar but with a seafood twist to them. The restaurant also has really nice outdoor seating when the weather is nice, and the inside is also nice. It's also located next to where the Taurus used to be and away from CocoWalk and the touristy areas. It's more of a locals' place, like Greenstreet. We had really good service and really good food that night. I ended-up having the special that night, which was lamb. I love it when you pull the bone out and it comes out clean. Awesome. Oh, and there's free valet parking, too. Parking in the Grove always sucks, so that's a huge plus. Definitely going to keep Calamari in mind.
(4)
Gregory N.

I have only been here for the weekend brunch, and each of the four or five times, I really enjoyed the food, the atmosphere and the service. Even though they can get pretty crowded, it never seems like you have to wait for food, unless you're waiting for a custom omelet. It's spread out, and people move in and out, and it all seems to work. Let's talk about the food. They have so much of it, and I have never had anything I didn't like. The hot food area has Italian favorites like sausage and peppers, lemon chicken with pasta, fresh pizza...and I love Italian food. There are salad items, there are breads, and there is a carving station. Oh, and save room for the fifteen foot long table of desserts! It's a sampler's paradise! Previously we struck up a conversation with the manager, who was a friendly guy. We asked him how they could afford to serve all this food for only $14.95 a person. He said "volume". They have since raised the price but it's still a great value! I say get your brunch-loving self down to this place and enjoy!
(4)
Olga G.

Great restaurant to be taken advantage of. I have to admit that the food is consistently good, however, they overcharge you in one way or another each and every time, hence the one star. I won't go back only because I don't like to be surprised with add ons on the bill. I ordered a a $5 Bloody Mary which was part of their Saturday brunch special, only to be discover on the bill they charged me $13.95. Really?? 3 times what you advertise it for? Really? They don't do it with food items but always, always do this trick with drinks. The same thing happened at their sister restaurant next door - the wine bar. Anyway... it seems to me how they make their money because their food is very fairly priced.
(1)
S K.

Three times eating here - three great meals. Excellent service. A little loud inside but we could have chosen to eat outside.
(5)
Manrique A.

Had the blackened lobster with pasta and scallops. The lobster was rubbery and the pasta, although tasty and al dente, was drenched in oil. On the good side, the server was nice... and so was the tiramisu...
(3)
Benjamin Z.

After being a loyal Villagio customer and dining at Carpaccio a few times I decided to give Calamari a try. Big mistake! Let's see, first of all, I sat down with my roommate for a relaxing dinner at Calamari. While sitting waiting for my roommate to return from the bathroom, about three different waiters all asked me what I wanted to drink. I said water was fine. Finally our real waiter comes over and asks us once again what we would like to drink. Once again I say water is fine. We decide to place our order when the waiter returns. I order the Pasta Fagioli soup and Lobster Ravioli. My roommate orders the Caprese salad and some baby calamari pasta penne dish. Our appetizers take about ten minutes to arrive and I ask myself, how long does it take to heat up soup and slice mozzerella and tomoatoes? Finally our apps arrive and we dig in. The soup and salad were pretty tasteless. We then wait about 45 minutes and our entrees are still not at the table, nor has the waiter come over to check on us. By this time we call him over and ask him what the deal is and why the food is taking so long, he replies that he doesn't know. 10 minutes later our entrees arrive and the manager is walking by and asks how everything is? I say I lost my appetite since it took so long to come out. I also told him I was never coming back since Villagio and Carpaccio can somehow seem to get it right with the same amount of staff. He gave us free glasses of cheap wine and a tiremesseu dessert. This was not enough to settle my stomach about this horrendous experience. I am never going back to Calamari again. My advice to you fellow yelpers is to ask where your food is at this place if you think it's taking too long.
(1)
Ivette A.

Italian tonight honey? Calamari it is. I am in heaven w the tuna tartar appetizer. My 5 year old loves the pasta, hubby any steak dish delish. We go atleast 2x a month and always leave happy and satisfied with the food and amazing service.
(5)
Armando H.

DO NOT BUY the livingsocial or Groupon deals. The very limited menu is a joke and the service is disappointing. The wine included in the deal is HORRIBLE.
(1)
Jamie C.

I had been looking for a place to have my sisters baby shower, and someone recommended Calamari. So we had lunch here for tasting purposes of course. It is such a pretty place the entrance is a courtyard with trees lit up in white lights, and a fountain in the middle, it makes you forget that you're in Miami. Very relaxing and the service was impecable. We were greeted with their signature focaccia bread served with brushetta, it was delicious. We all ordered something that was to be on the menu the day of the shower, and lets just say I can't wait for that shower because it was delicious. The portions were huge and everything was perfectly seasoned and flavorfill. I loved it, can't wait to go back again.
(5)
Paula E.

My mother finally dragged us to her favorite lunch spot for a family lunch yesterday. Enter Calamari, the bastard child of restaurateur Tom Billante who has take over that quaint corner in the grove and revamped it alongside The Taurus. Meh what can I say? I mean I can see the allure, specially for suburban housewives like my mom. Its a great place to sit with your PTA mom types and enjoy some martinis after a long day of shopping at Coco Walk while the kids receive their education a block down at Ransom (am I hating too much...so sorry). As far as the food is concerned, nothing I haven't seen before. Everything was pretty tasty, I don't think any of the parties involved had anything out of the ordinary. I shared their endive, pear and Gorgonzola salad with my sister which was good (perhaps a little less Gorgonzola...and I love cheese), and then for an entree we shared their Porcini risotto.. well made, the mushrooms could've used better marinade. I like that they served it on a fried cheese cone, probably the most original part of the meal. My mother swears by their mussels in tomato sauce, I'm pretty sure we've had better. An upside to the meal is that they treat you to complimentary slices of Focaccia bread with their homemade bruchetta. The service was slow, and I've never seen a hostess look like she hated her job/life more than the one standing there...perhaps the holidays were getting to her, I fell really bad for her. The restaurant itself is beautiful, specially the outside dining patio, very Italian Rivera-esque. Good restaurant, nothing out of the ordinary, probably good for birthday meals, family gettys, or like my mom, lunch with your girlfriends.
(3)
Gary K.

As always their service was polite and professional, and their food consistent albeit never really great. Their desserts aren't good enough to be worth the calories. This is a great place for a fast meal and having valet parking (although it hasn't been free for a while now) makes it so easy.
(3)
Michael B.

It took me a long time to finally visit this spot. For some reason, I was not inspired to go. However, yesterday was a gorgeous day and I felt like trying someplace new and dining al fresco. Calamari really came through. I am very familiar with Calamari's sister restaurants Villagio and Carpaccio and like them both very much. Calamari continues their tradition of authentic Italian at reasonable prices. This location (like the others) boasts beautiful outdoor dining, and if you're lucky, you can sit right next to the relaxing fountain in the courtyard. On Sunday, they have a extensive buffet "brunch" and is only $19.99. I found this to be a great value. The selection is vast and you'd be hard pressed to find a value like that elsewhere. The service is always extremely friendly, but can be very slow at times. The slow service isn't always such a bad thing as you might want to relax there, and it is Italian tradition to not be too overbearing on guests. The kicker is that they provide Complimentary Valet parking. The Grove can be a very tricky place to park sometimes, and the complimentary parking puts your mind at ease when you're considering dining there. Although I think the food is still slightly better at Villagio, I would recommend coming here on a beautiful day to dine outside in a calm and beautiful surrounding with some great authentic Italian.
(4)
Krystle S.

Service was great, the atmosphere is great and their appetizers and deserts are delish, but their main entrees were mediocre. I had the linguini with mixed seafood and my husband had the stuffed baby calamari and both were okay in taste. Nothing outstanding. I expected better tasting food from this place. I would definitely come back for their appetizers and desert, but that's it.
(2)
Andrew S.

Food was very good, and the wait staff was very friendly. The price was a little high ($25 for Sunday brunch) for what was offered. But overall a very nice place to eat!
(4)
Janelle M.

Great brunch, reasonably priced. We also had great service, and free valet parking is a plus.
(4)
Sabrina Anna C.

Dear Calamari's, I have had a really hard time writing this review. It's actually taken me a whole week just to be able to BEGIN to write it. I guess I just don't know where to start... The atmosphere is really nice, classy, and nautical. There seemed to be a small Happy Hour group at the inside bar and I love the huge, tall windows that make the restaurant seem so open and welcoming. Our server was very friendly and outgoing, quite knowledgeable on the menu and even made a couple of suggestions. We had a hard time deciding what to order, and in the mean time we chose red wine (Pinot Noir). We started with the Grilled Calamari appetizer, based on our server's suggestion, but I have to be honest, I didn't really like it. I found it rather rubbery and hard to swallow because of the texture. The flavor on the other hand was absolutely phenomenal. I don't know what it was marinated with, but it was truly delicious. So I dipped the bread in the sauce instead of eating the Calamari. The BF on the other hand, really enjoyed this. And speaking of bread... The complimentary brushetta is amazing. It is served with a flatbread that is seasoned just right and the brushetta mix is just delicious. Later our server brought us a regular sliced loaf bread, which is what I used to dip with Calamari. I'll agree with Christopher G. in that the loaf is sliced too thick. We finally decided on what to order and the BF went with the special, which was a Risotto with Langostini. I also ordered Risotto but with a mix of mushrooms, truffle oil, and I had them add a breast of chicken. Neither of us were really pleased with the Risotto. On the contrary, I think we were both rather disappointed. Also, my chicken breast (which I had them add, it's not part of the dish) was kinda dry and lacked flavor. We took home the leftovers and neither of us touched them. Which NEVER happens. I guess we left a tad disappointed, although we did enjoy our overall experience. Thank you for the great service and atmosphere. Perhaps we just ordered the wrong dishes. I would definitely be willing to come back and try something else. There was a lady sitting outside of our window who was eating a steak that looked like it would melt in one's mouth! Oh, and the complimentary valet is a very nice touch. :) Thanks for understanding, SabrinaAnna* Additional Info For the Readers: Our hostess explained to us upon seating that Calamari's is who bought the Taurus. So they are one and the same. You can start at Taurus and make your way here or vice versa. I thought that was pretty neat. And she also explained to us their specials and said we could start with drinks there and then come over. Although we chose just to stay at Calamari's. :-)
(3)
Yeleny S.

After learning the failed Cefalo's is now Calamari and most noteworthy, owned by Tom Billante, also owner of Villagio, one of my favorite Italian venues in town, I had to visit. Like Villagio, meals start with a delicious basket of warm bruschetta, a perfect bite while we perused the menu. We went on a Friday and sat outside in one of the many tables surrounding a fountain. They also offer inside seating in addition to an energetic bar but the weather was cool and we wanted to people watch and take in the fresh air. One refreshing thing to note is the parking is complementary, a big plus for a Grove venue where parking can be quite a drag. We started with a large enough to share fresh house salad including romaine, green and red peppers, cucumber, tomatoes and avocado in a light cilantro lemon vinaigrette which we loved. All the veggies were fresh and the dressing was not overpowering. We also tried the baked calamari, marinated and served with red and yellow sweet peppers. We found the calamari was a bit overcooked which made the meat a bit rubbery and tough to chew. For dinner we split the spaghetti with special tuna Bolognese sauce, so good we had to dip our bread. On the service, the waiter was very helpful and friendly. He even took a couple pictures of us and joked on who looked better in the shot.
(4)
Ashley R.

I am big fan of this neighborhood spot. Upon me and my husbands arrival to Coconut Grove from Austin, TX our new neighbors invited us to a birthday party at this charming restaurant. Although the service was not as good as it could have been, we had a wonderful evening and very much enjoyed all the dishes we tried (Tuna Tartare Appetizer, Lamb Shank, and of course the complimentary Bruschetta!). I was a little disappointed in the Caprese salad, as the tomatoes were not ripe. Since that first visit to Calamari, my husband and I have been back many times. It's walking distance from our house and we know for the price we can't go wrong eating at Calamari. And Taurus is next door (favorite local bar)! I wish this restaurant great success so I can keep coming back!
(4)
Amy S.

Boyfriend's uncle was in town and he likes seafood and he likes Italian, so we figured we would try Calamari. We went for dinner, decided to sit inside since it was really windy outside. What a mistake - the a/c must have been at 50 degrees because it was freezing and blowing directly on me the whole night. However, the experience got better after that. Service was great, very attentive and the food was good. We started with the tuna tartar, which had a layer of something resembling cream cheese on the top - it would have been better without that but otherwise good. Came with warm toasted bread rounds which was a nice touch. Dinner was veal marsala (4.5 stars) pizza Sophia (4 stars) and cappellini with vegetables (4 stars). We ate alot and had lots to take home - the pizza was also loaded with seafood so big plus there. Asked for mozarella to be added to the capellini and it made it much better. The quality of food and service was great for the price - entrees were really reasonable. Good ambiance, good food... the fountain and the vines make you feel like you're not in the grove, rather some exotic destination. And the best part, free valet!
(4)
Gloria U.

We've been to Calamari on several occasions. We like the location, the outside seating and the food, but unfortunately the service has always left us with a lot to desire! Still, we decided to take yet another risk and we invited some friends from out of town for dinner there. We were a group of ten. First of all we ordered our drinks. Two of us ordered a Mojito. Being from Miami, I know exactly what a Mojito should look like, taste like and how it's made. When the drinks were brought to the the table I immediately noticed that both Mojitos contained many slices of lime but no mint leaves at all. I took a taste and although it had a "minty" taste, it wasn't even close to what a Mojito should really taste like! I asked the waiter and he replied that they had no mint leaves! This was no Mojito so we turned them back and ordered something else to drink. When our food order was taken, the waiter took each of our requests and I noticed he numbered each one of us, but when the food came out, whatever those numbers were for did not work at all! One by one the dishes were called out and we each had to raise our hands to show who's plate each dish was for! It was funny, almost like playing Bingo! My 14 year old daughter's dish did not come out with the rest of ours. The waiter said it would only take a "couple" of minutes but it actually took another 15-20 minutes before she finally got her food! We were told that there had been a "misunderstanding" in the kitchen. When we were done eating, we were asked if we wanted dessert and we ordered a couple of them. An extra Tiramisu was brought out and it was given to my daughter as a "courtesy" from the restaurant. She wasn't even given a choice of dessert and she doesn't even like Tiramisu! Last but not least, a 20% service charge was automatically added to the check! This is commonly done with big groups, I can understand that, but considering the service we received, a 20% tip was out of the question! Calamari is a good restaurant overall but they should really pay more attention and work harder on their service. I've held back from writing a review before but I really feel that last night was the drop that spilled the cup!
(3)
Larry N.

I have to go with the earlier comment that said it was a disappointing experience all around. Having read that comment I probably wouldn't have gone but a friend insisted the food was good. Wrong. Since I am visiting from the Northwest where restaurants go out of the way to serve farm fresh veggies I assumed that in south Florida the tomatoes would be farm fresh. Not so, the tomatoes at Calamari must have come from a cheap supermarket: colorless & tasteless. Then I ordered a mixed seafood dish. The various pieces of fish were all tasteless and the consistency of cardboard. Even the small shrimp were tasteless. How do you take all of the taste out of a shrimp? I can't imagine. Also the sauce was thin & water; like thin chicken stock but without any discernible taste. Finally, the service was extremely slow. I ordered a glass of wine and it finally arrived as I was finishing my tasteless meal. How anyone could give this restaurant a 4 star rating is beyond me. Need I say more.
(1)
Ryan G.

Love the atmosphere at this restaurant. Definitely eat outside - there are lights in the trees and a great fountain. Unfortunately the food is average at best and the service was terrible.
(2)
Rainer L.

I do not write letters to Restaurants very often. Most of the time I will just not visit again a restaurant after a bad experience. But I like your food so much that I want to give you a chance. I have eaten at Calamari 4 times. Every time I loved the food, as Italian as I remember from my annual visits of Milan and Florence. The simple dishes are my favorites, that is what I love about the Italian cuisine. The service has been ok every time. Yesterday I asked my friend specifically to go to Calamari, I was hoping to have your Lasagna, one of my favorite dishes. We arrived at about 7 and were seated in the bar area, not my favorite area, a little too simple. We were sitting and waiting for over 15 minutes there, a busboy got us Pelegrino and than NOTHING. Nobody asked us if we wanted a drink ( the lady in the bar was chatting with friends); nobody brought bread, none of the waiters even acknowledged us. % to 6 waiters were having a great time outside at the sliding glass doors, the main dining room seemed to get some attention, a large table in the bar area got some food, us - NOTHING. We left after the 15 minutes, the valet person asked what happened and offered to talk to the manager, but at that time my evening was ruined and I just wanted to get out of there. We ended up going to Jaguar, there the manager is always on the floor and service and quality of the food is fantastic. I would love to keep you as my favorite Italian restaurant in Coconut Grove, so I'm writing you to let you know how bad my experience was. I do not want you to apologize or offer a free drink, all I hope for is that you fix the problems with the service and that next time I come I get great food and good service.
(3)
Anne K.

Was invited to lunch to this nicely located establishment. Coming from Chicago perhaps my rating is harsh... I don't know, but I don't think it deserves more than a "okay". For lunch it was what it needed to be. Quick service, decent food and a locale that you would come back to. The staff really tried, but I think something was missing. Perhaps inadequate training, but that would be the fault of the management and not the staff... my guess. I ordered a fish which was a little too oily for my taste and the veggies didn't quite balance the meal. Just like with the wait staff, something was missing. I think this restaurant has lots of potential, but it still needs to grow...
(3)
Frank M.

Ate dinner here on a Travelzoo coupon and it surpassed my expectations! The food selection was really good, the wine suggestion was excellent and the attention to detail by the wait staff was commendable. Highly recommend for seafood lovers.
(5)
Seth H.

Came here while on vacation w my girlfriend a few months ago and had a fantastic time! She went to U of Miami and had been to every place in the Grove except this one (it's relatively new) The food was excellent (the biggest and best tuna tartar I've ever had) and their outdoor seating is perfect for a warm night. I highly recommend it!
(4)
Rachel P.

Ok, time to update my review. My husband and I went tonight and were SO overly disappointed. First off, valet now charges $4, it is no longer free. Secondly, they have bums hanging out right outside harassing you to allow them to shine your shoes, or buy flowers. One wouldn't even let me walk by! What we ordered, came out wrong! My husband got a dish he didn't even order! He sent it back and got what he did order, "an encrusted salmon" which just seemed like fish with a little breading thrown on top. It wasn't cooked all the way through, nor had any flavor. It was served with 3 small potatoes, 2 carrot sticks, and 1 brocolli flower. As for my meal, I ordered the seafood special. Yes, it was huge, but the seafood was all overcooked and tasted like it had SAND all in it. I had to spit it out so not to choke. The clams were the size of my pinky nail, lobster overcooked and rubbery, mussels full of sand, so I sent it back. It was terrible. I then asked for a basic salad w/ chicken. My salad came out w/out any chicken and our waitor would no longer attend to us. Our drinks were some of the weakest drinks you can imagine....all watered down...for $12 a piece, we do expect alcohol in our drinks! Is that too much to ask?! What a rip off. I can't say we will ever be back and this was one of our favorite places!! What's happened????
(2)
Larry A.

Reliable food. Nice atmosphere. Easy to park: valet, $4.00. Service friendly, but a little slow.
(4)
chrissy f.

Outstanding! I had my Bday party here this past weekend! The ambience, food, prices and service are spectacular! They love kids also! Go, go , go! Vanessa is the party planner! Guiseppe and Mario are wonderful!!!!!!!!!!!!
(5)
Brad S.

This place had a great atmosphere with outdoor dining in a lush tropical setting. The indoor bar was bustling on a routine Tuesday night, and the doorman offered us a free glass of proseco to try to get us to try his place. So, we did. I had very high expectations because I noticed that the prices were very reasonable for the overpriced Grove, and this looked like the best restaurant in town. Someone spent a lot of money here, converting it from the gourmet grocery that it started out and failed as about three years ago. I ordered a Malbec, which was the cheapest red, for $28, and was disappointed to see that it was same bottle I can get at Publix for about $5. Still, it wasn't too bad, but that markup jarred me. Next came a very decent crusty bread, baked on premise. Good. The entree was the pasta boulognese, usually a very reliable simple dish of meat sauce atop pasta. The pasta was al dente, which I prefer, but the sauce, while looking tasty, lacked a very strong flavor, thus the entire meal was built on a somewhat tasteless dish. Disappointing. Also, service, while attentive, somewhat annoyed me because two servers kept topping off our glasses, making me feel hustled to order another. I might try this place again, but only after sampling others nearby.
(3)
Korinne J.

A friend of mine told me about this restaurant and I decided to give it a try. Located in Coconut Grove next to the historic Taurus Bar. You will notice a very clean open air atmosphere as soon as you walk in. there is a nice bar and open kitchen. It happened to be a very chilly week night otherwise dining on the patio would be very nice. The service was swift and the prices were extremely fair. The bread came out immediately and was drizzled with chopped tomato's in a nicely aged balsamic vinegar. I ordered a mixed salad, it was light and fresh with avocados and tomato's. A delicious branzino fish was my main course. It was prepared very simply with olive oil and came with vegetables. Dessert looked divine but I had to pass. I had a nice espresso instead. Overall great food and service I would definitely return.
(4)
Dayron A.

What a birthday celebration at this place. The atmosphere is great and the service is excellent I recommend the spaghetti with tomato sauce and seafood, excellent!.
(5)
Quinn L.

This italian bistro was excellent. Very good food for everyone in my party. Exquisite carrot cake as well, so save room for dessert. I definently recommend it.
(4)
Juan D.

U need to try the crab tortellini in lobster sauce. Luigi Bosca wine is a great suggestion for this dish ;)
(4)
Tom G.

Food is good, service is exceptional! Brunch can be fun. Always sit outside...
(4)
Penelope d.

I do want to give credit to the fact that Calamari does have excellent outside ambience, but beyond that, everything about my experience here was terrible. It was my spouse's birthday and decided to go here because they had a happy hour menu and it is near where I live. Upon arrival, I discover you can do the happy hour literally only at the bar. That meant the group of 12 had to huddle around the bar and touch it, in order to get discounted cocktails and bar food. I could not understand this business decision as I have been to other restaurants in the area where happy hour applies to the entire restaurant, not just the people sitting on bar stools. We sat down for dinner and since it was my spouse's birthday, I told the waitress immediately while ordering that it was my spouse's birthday and wanted to know if they do a dessert or something for the birthday person. She said yes, but you had to pay for the dessert. At this point, after the rudeness of the happy hour situation and then being told that I have to pay for a dessert, I knew I would never return. I did speak with the manager and he alleged that our server was incorrect and the dessert was free; however, should I really have to go to these lengths to get a celebratory dessert for someone's birthday when I brought 12 people to the restaurant? Lastly, on Tuesday they have a special in which one of their pizza's is the cost of the time in which you order it. Well I ordered mine at 7:15 and yet it rung up at $10.95 (full price). So when I asked for a refund, the manager told me it was too difficult to cancel a credit card transaction and then gave me $2 cash. I guess somehow, 11-7 = 2 at this restaurant. The food itself is fine, but as another yelper commented, it is mediocre at best and the service is lousy. I will never be eating here again, but that is just my two cents.
(1)
carl c.

For a place around for two years in the Grove I was beginning to wonder why I had never visited this Italian spot. Free Valet? Time to check it out, so I pulled the car over. As my car was whisked away the hostess, (host in this case), had his head buried in paper work so I had to announce our arrival. "Er, Hello table for two please". Yes he replied and led us to a table inside facing a fountain and a great view of outdoor seating. What would you like to drink, beer wine etc.?; he announced the moment our butts hit the chairs. Just water we replied. A bottle of sparkling water? No just plain I replied. He disappeared. A waiter delivered the menu's an disappeared. Did he have a name? Were there any specials? Who knows. Came back and took our order and we enjoyed the fine food served. My advice. Teach the waiters to be more personable when meeting new guests, like "My name is Fabio how are you doing this fine evening?". Stop "Pushing" items from the bar or do it carefully with class like, "We feature a fine Chianti that goes well with our delicious brick oven pizza" Finally, after a meal arrives to a table and you have tried a bite, inquire if it tastes good and if you need any thing else? Why can't restaurant managers train their staff with bare minimum expectations? Poor service can ruin an otherwise great dining experience.
(3)
Joshua C.

The decor is a little sparse, however the food is solid quality. As the name implies, this is (primarily) a seafood place, however they do have some pasta and chicken dishes on the menu. The calarmari is quite good, and I've enjoyed a nice salmone here. Judging this on value, this restaurant is excellent. The entrees are generally under $20, and the quality is quite good. I believe this is owned by the same group that owns Rosalia in Aventura Mall and a few other Italian-style places around town. They clearly know what they are doing because the menu is diverse enough, the pricing is good and the service is strong. I wouldn't come here for a special occasion because it can get loud, but as a regular dinner place it is solid. When the weather cools down the outdoor patio they have will be fantastic.
(4)
Marc M.

Finally found a great place for both, business and personal. For business, the atmosphere is great: good service, good valet parking, always have a table, quiet, tables far apart and good food. It is also not expensive at all, so I don't feel obligated in any way. For personal, same thing, great food, great prices, great atmosphere. More importantly, because I've been there like 8 times in 2 months, by now, since I am a regular, I get good tables, fast and very professional service and the lovely hostess is all smiles (she always is, anyways) I strongly recommend it for both.
(5)
Andrew F.

Awesome, front beginning to end, service, food, atmosphere, pricing, just a really great place for dinner, especially on the weekends.
(5)
a a.

i've only visited once. the food was ok, but just ok. service left a lot to be desired. the outdoor setting is very nice. in our case, the waitress wanted to take our order before telling us about the specials. they mistakenly brought grilled lobster instead of 'steamed'. and they made no attempt to correct this. the linguine was slightly firmer than al dente. dover sole was good. and (unfortunately typically) the busing staff tried to clear one diner's plates while the other was still eating. i think that if you order carefully, and get lucky with the wait-staff, it might be worth a try.
(3)
Manny M.

Good all around. Will definitely come back.
(4)
Joey L.

This is my new favorite place. Went for a casual dinner with a friend of mine who lives in the Grove. I didn't want to go because of the parking in the Village but they have free valet service and she wanted to eat there because she had been there before and said it was good. Wow! Amazing is all I can say. This place is excellent. They started us out with bruschetta; not the best but tasty. We then had the Clams Oreganato appetizer which was with large whole clams; again not the best I've had but satisfying. The main courses is where they excelled. The Lobster Ravioli in Lobster Cream Sauce was one of the best things I've ever eaten. Hunks of lobster meat in pasta in the richest most wonderful tasting cream sauce you can imagine; I'm still dreaming about it. My friend ordered the Filet which was perfectly cooked and delicious; the asparagus was smoked and quite wonderful. The server was nice but a very slow. The seafood entrees were also extremely reasonable. Highly recommended; I can't wait to return.
(4)

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Address : 3540 Main Hwy
Miami, FL, 33133
Phone (305) 441-0219
Website https://calamarirestaurant.com/
Click To Get Directions

Opening Hours

Mon :11:30 am - 11

Specialities

Takes Reservations : Yes
Delivery : No
Take-out : Yes
Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Good For : Dinner
Parking : Valet
Bike Parking : Yes
Wheelchair Accessible : Yes
Good for Kids : Yes
Good for Groups : Yes
Attire : Casual
Ambience : Classy
Noise Level : Average
Alcohol : Full Bar
Outdoor Seating : Yes
Wi-Fi : No
Has TV : Yes
Waiter Service : Yes
Caters : Yes

Claim Restaurant

Italian Cuisine

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.

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Calamari Italian Seafood

3540 Main Hwy, Miami, FL, 33133

Calamari Italian Seafood Menu

Appetizers

Soups

Salads

La Pizza

Meats

Healthy Meal suggestions for Calamari Italian Seafood

Appetizers

Soups

Salads

La Pizza

Meats

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Alfredo H.

Rossella F.

Belinda B.

Michael C.

Carmenaida T.

Margot B.

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