Large portions and friendly service make Calypso’s a great addition to Calgary’s food scene.

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Calypso Taverna

Calypso is enchanting, with a combination of traditional, flavour-packed Greek dishes and personable, friendly service. Named for the mythological seductress who, for seven years, captured and bewitched Odysseus, visitors will find themselves beguiled by the cozy taverna’s accessible pricing and generous portions.

Located in the former Curry House space, this northwest Calgary eatery has been gutted and transformed into a mid-scale restaurant, complete with candles, tablecloths and Greek busts.

Our friendly server, suggests the exotic stuffed calamari ($13) and the not-to-be-missed saganaki ($12). Arriving at the table with a triumphant Opa!, the sizzling pan-fried saganaki (kefalograviera cheese) is doused with ouzo, flambéed and then extinguished with freshly squeezed lemon juice. The result is a melt-in-your-mouth, crispy cheese masterpiece and one hell of a start.

The stuffed calamari isn’t your garden variety deep-fried, battered squid. It’s actually the opposite. Served in a distinctive cayenne and champagne sauce, whole squid are stuffed with a mixture of pine nuts, leeks and ground chicken. It all comes off as unexpectedly savoury and unlike any calamari I’ve ever tasted.

Calypso’s entrees are filling — so robust that you could skip the first course and dessert and still be thoroughly satiated. But after those great starters, I couldn’t imagine doing so. Each entree comes with a choice of Caesar or Greek salad.With rustically chopped chunks of onion, cucumber, green pepper, tomato and feta, this lightly dressed side Greek salad peppered with oregano and a smattering of Kalamata olives is a standout and, once again, the portion size is substantial.

The house-special, kleftiko ($18), is a roasted lamb dish whose name translates to stolen meat. Served on the bone, the meat is juicy, tender and complemented by perfectly golden roasted potatoes.

The Hirono pork tenderloin souvlaki ($18) isn’t as impressive as the lamb, but delivers on flavour with tender cubed pork, a lovely tzatzikti and your choice of roasted potatoes or rice pilaf.

Calypso’s dessert options include a house-made cheesecake, baklava or bougatsa ($6). We choose the bougatsa, a dish consisting of custard and myzithra cheese in layers of phyllo pastry. Warm, flaky and topped with icing sugar, the strudel-like dessert is light and not too overwhelming after this big ol’ Greek feast.

Calypso is a good addition to Calgary’s Greek cuisine scene. If you’re looking for a genial dining experience that offers hearty portions, you should do as their menu suggests and “spoil yourself, drink ouzo.” Have a shot, yell Opa! and undo your top button.