Calavino’s Oakhurst

I have never eaten here, and I never will. I was about to walk in for my first meal here when I was totally put off by a sign they had hanging on their front door. I have never seen anything like it in all of my days of dining. The owners actually had the audacity to ask for donations via paypal so that they can stay in business!
The sign said that unless they received enough donations by Dec 27^th, they would have to close their doors permanently. Am I the only one that thinks that this is outrageous? If your business is struggling you don’t ask people to give you money. How about asking people to have their Christmas party there or give an incentive to bring a friend or some sort of creative marketing idea? How about running some attractive specials? I am new to the neighborhood — hang a flyer on my door — invite me to dinner. Send me a menu in the mail… do something.
I just think that a restauranteur threatening to close their doors if they don’t get donations is the epitome of laziness, no-​class, no creativity, no business sense… and anyone with those characteristics doesn’t deserve my business.
A lot of restaurants are struggling right now and those that innovate will survive. Earn my business… don’t beg me for money.

Maybe I’m still bitter because I really hated to see the Oakhurst Grill close down, but my wife and I had a very average experience here. My wife tried the chicken parm and I had the porkchops off the soulfood menu. Everything was ok, but just not worthy of what we paid for it. I felt like I could have made everything that was brought out myself, and I’m not even a good cook. I know they are going through some tough times and fighting to stay open, but nothing we experienced warranted a return visit from us anytime soon.

A lot of people were saddened (me included) when The Roman Lily Café decided not to renew its lease. But folks will be happy to know that the chef and owner, Calavino Donati, has re-​emerged as Calavino’s At Oakhurst, serving Italian cuisine. I had the pleasure of dining here a couple of weeks ago during their Soul Food Fridays and I have to admit I was hesitant at first because I thought, what Italian place serves southern food? But the menu looks promising so off we went. And boy, were we totally blown away…
Calavino’s
Located in downtown Oakhurst Village in Decatur, the place is nice and comfortable. With a huge bar area separate from the dining room. It was also packed during our visit. Perhaps because Doria Roberts (the Doria Roberts) was performing that night. We were greeted warmly by Calavino, one of the sweetest persons I’ve ever encountered. She was busy expediting, greeting, busing tables. A true hands-​on chef. And owner.
After being settled into our table, with a good view of the stage, we decided to start with the Fried Green Tomatoes topped with goat cheese and caramelized onions. The tomatoes were huge and crunchy. I really liked the goat cheese topping and caramelized onions. We also had the Wild Mushroom Brushetta made with grilled baguette rounds then topped with a generous amounts of wild mushrooms and goat cheese. The toasted walnuts in the topping made this appetizer quite interesting, and very enjoyable.
For mains, we had the famous Turkey Meatloaf (a mainstay at The Roman Lily) and the Duck and Waffles. The turkey meatloaf was delicious and very moist. It was slightly spicy from the poblano peppers and the onion, garlic, and corn really helped with the flavors, which broke the monotony of an otherwise ordinary-​tasting dish. I also loved the creamy tequila gravy it came with. For sides, the rosemary mashed potatoes were tasty; and the dill-​havarti mac and cheese was really cheesy. The spicy collards were great — not bitter at all; and the black-​eyed peas with charred tomatoes were very flavorful. Overall a great dish that became even more perfect with the chosen sides.
The Duck and Waffles was another winner. The duck breast was a good portion. It had a thick, crunchy batter of spicy cornmeal which was nice. The whole wheat macadamia nut waffle could have been bigger but it had great texture and was very good, nonetheless. It was already sweetish so the molasses on the side wasn’t necessary at all. The cinnamon butter was a nice touch, but the Jezebel Jam made with blackberries and jalapeños elevated the waffle (and the dish) to a new level. It was fantastic.
For dessert, I had a bite of the Roman Lily staple banana cake drizzled with homemade caramel sauce served with vanilla ice cream and fresh bananas. The banana cake was dense and moist, not too sweet, really lovely; the caramel sauce was a tad too sweet for my liking but easily scraped away. I love the fresh bananas with it.
Talking with Calavino, I was told that she is totally going southern in the next weeks to come and will abandon the Italian menu altogether. Great move, in my opinion. Her southern offerings are really solid. Calavino’s is a true hidden gem in this part of town. The great music and full bar are an added bonus. Go if you haven’t. You won’t be disappointed.

I’d heard about this place but had no idea where it was, but went during the Oakhurst Arts Festival and loved it. I searched the Unilocal reviews on my iPhone and decided to get a salad and the lamb tenderloin. The tenderloin was juicy and the risotto was excellent. The patio is perfect during the fall weather that we’re enjoying right now. The prices are right and I’d definitely go back.

I like to think of myself as fairly equanimous, but let’s face it, when my boyfriend and I finally arrived at Calavino’s last night, I was downright cranky. Checking out at IKEA in the 15-​minutes-​before-​closing madness took forever, neither of us new Atlantans knew precisely what would be the best way to join friends for an impromptu gathering in Oakhurst and my boyfriend *clearly* chose the wrong way (i.e. the long way; not the way I suggested) to get there, and we were driving with a truckload of IKEA Ivar shelving, including seven 89″ side units stacked between us. I was hungry and thirsty and tired, and as we pulled into the Oakhurst parking lot, I didn’t even feel like going out any longer.
And then we walked into Calavino’s. It was dark and cozy, our friends had already snagged a table (and finished their meals, for that matter) with a great view of fantastic singer-​songwriter Doria Roberts doing her thing on stage as part of Calavino’s «Soul Food (and Music) Fridays». Immediately upon sitting down, owner Calavino Donati came over and greeted us… and then immediately wanted to know what food we would be ordering. I know it was almost 10 p.m. and the kitchen was closing, but this meant that neither my boyfriend nor I remotely had enough time to appreciate their eclectic menu. In addition to inspecting their wide range of pasta dishes, I needed time to ponder the strange inclusions of fish and chips (?) and turkey meatloaf (??) on the menu. With Calavino looking over our shoulders, I ordered the Roman Lilly Chicken, which turned out to be delicious, and was thankfully served in a competent and not rushed manner. My boyfriend, overwhelmed by the time restraint upon his decision-​making, just ordered a Guinness, and thankfully intercepted Calavino, who decided to order him lasagna, before the dish arrived. A thoughtful gesture, though a problematic one for someone with a categorical stance against cheese and tomatoes!
All in all, I was very pleased with my experience at Calavino’s: its funky but chill atmosphere soothed my frazzled, frustrated nerves, my dinner was tasty and inventive, and our company was excellent. Although its off-​the-​beaten path location – slightly off the hopping Oakview /​East Lake intersection – was reflected in its moderately unpatronized condition for a Friday night, I’d recommend Calavino’s to others for classy pre-​U Joint noshing (where, thankfully, dinner-​less Chris happily obtained a burger).

It doesn’t seem possible that this place has been open for a year, but it has. Before when it was oakhurst grill, I visited this location occasionally, but I guess it wasn’t that much of a draw. Not so for the new tenant.
My first time at Calavino’s (tonight) was excellent. My server was extremely friendly and helpful. It wasn’t busy (a bad sign!) but everyone who was there seemed to be enjoying themselves and their meals.
On my server’s recommendation I had the fried green tomato appetizer. The presentation was a little intimidating, because it arrived swimming in oil and marinara sauce. But it was delicious! The pesto and cheese they were drizzled with gave it a really good flavor, and the overall feel was «Southern Italian-​style», which I guess is appropriate for this restaurant. The portion was ample for sharing, five big slices.
My entrée, the grilled lamb tenderloin, was enthusiastically recommended too. It turned out to be fabulous! The lamb was marinated in what tasted to me like a sweet balsamic glaze, and the risotto and lightly wilted spinach made an excellent accompaniment.
There were many other dishes on the menu that looked appealing, so I will definitely be back again. I can’t wait to try the brunch!

I have been to Calavino’s a few times now. It’s a cute place with good service. It’s not the best Italian I have had, but they do have an interesting menu. My husband enjoys both the lasagna and the turkey meatloaf. My pasta dishes have been served a bit cold and the pasta tends to stick together. They do have a decent wine list and I think the patio is a great. While I can’t say it’s a place I crave, it is a place I will go to, again.

Had an enjoyable experience here. This is my second time and this time I heeded the advice of fellow Unilocalers and tried the turkey meatloaf. I was surprised by the richness & almost buttery flavor of the jalapeño
tequila gravy. The mashed potatoes weren’t bad and the mixed green salad with balsamic vinaigrette was fine. The wine list was ample as well (had the Vignale Pinot Grigio).
Personally, I’d probably rate the food 3.5 because I can’t quite say I’m craving to go back, but because everyone in the large group I was with enjoyed it, I’ll move it up to a 4. Most people who go here, I believe, would be satisfied and enjoy the experience.

Calavino. Say with me. Calavino. Rolls of the tongue, doesn’t it? You almost want to do some exaggerated stereotypically Italian hand gesture when you say it. Oh, this has nothing to do with the food or my experience; it’s just something I noticed when I suggested we eat at Calavino’s. My hand did this weird thing that was extraordinarily unAsian-​like and, no, that’s not what I’m talking about so get your mind out of the gutter. I mean, my hand waved around like I was Tony Micelli trying to explain my latest hijinks to staid-​old Angela. (Thanks for having my back on that, Mona!)
Anyway, I suggested we eat at Calavino’s for no other reason than no one in our party had ever been. I don’t spend too much time in Oakhurst, so it took a little bit of navigating to find, especially since Google Maps sent us up Mead Road and not the one way I know how to drive.
The place looked pleasant enough, even after we were confused by the two doors providing entry. We sat, they took our order and drank some. I ordered linguini and clams, bread and the calamari. Overall, it was a pleasant experience and fine for a neighborhood joint. But I’m not sure it’s worth driving from across town. Well, one thing is and those are the old Roman Lily stand-​bys of roast chicken and turkey meatloaf.
I know these dishes seem out of place for a seemingly Italian restaurant, but if Calavino had taken those dishes off her menu, people probably would’ve rioted. I wanted to step out of my box totally and that’s why I ordered the clams, but my friends ordered the chicken. And they declared it the same as Roman Lily’s. Which is a good thing, capisce? Now Jonathan, get off the couch! Samantha, do your homework! And where’s Mona? Mona!
For that, 3.5 stars rounded up to four.

Calavino’s has become the official destination for taking guests, ranging from Buckhead Bitc – (ahem) Betties – to foreign visitors. I really adore this place for it’s incredible brunch menu (best frittatas I’ve tasted in several states and quite a few countries).
But the dinner menu is really the thing here. The aforementioned guests always finds a dish to be incredibly happy with – a nearly impossible feat after you get a group together. I try to eat something different every time I visit, which is difficult because I always think about the last dish I’d eaten when I order. Unlike other restaurants, I don’t ever find myself regretting the decision to try something new. In fact, I’ve never thought «oh I wish I’d ordered what I had last time» and am always thrilled with the ‘new favorite’ that I had for dinner.
I love the variety of the menu, the beautiful wine list and the ever-​present, effervescent owner (ah, yes, CALAVINO is your name? Funny, that’s what it says on… the…do’h!)
The interior is warm, bathed in chocolate and sage colors, with pops of spicy orange snakeskin (faux, of course, lest someone go all ELF on my ass). It’s an ideal place for a casual hangout with friends. But its cozy interior begs for a sultry date night or a racuous party.

Amazing bloody mary’s. Seriously, if you like Bloody Mary’s, drop by just to try one. Yum.
Four of us went for dinner this weekend. Atmosphere is nice, very friendly and helpful staff, and overall great food. The apps weren’t awesome, but they were pretty good.
The entrees were great. I had the scallops and polenta. It was amazing. Others had the eggplant or chicken parm, which was also great. The spinach and shrimp salad was also really good.
Overall, unique flavors that were really tasty, good service, and good drinks. Definitely will be going back here!

Great Brunch.
the Lamb Hash is to die… the french toast was perfect! Not to mention the awesome idea of habing a bloody mary bar!
and to our surpise… music… not just regular music. but Doria Roberts was playing.
Owner on the floor. great waitstaff. great experience. going to go back for dinner. hmm.

I’ve only been in for lunch, twice. Very tasty. And, yeah, that lunchtime cook is familiar… I thought she was from Mojo!
We never got to go to Calavino’s old place, but I’m glad to have some new options in the Decatur area. I hope the curse on that spot is broken — best of luck to Calavino!

One of the more Jekyll-​and-​Hyde dining experiences we’ve had in recent memory.
We arrived at 7:45 pm (Saturday night) and were lucky enough to be directly behind the party of two that filled the restaurant. No big deal. The bartender immediately gets our attention and recommends a red wine (that was very nice) while we wait. So far, so good. As we sit in the «lounge» area, the owner stops by to say hello and chat. Nice touch. In about 10 minutes we are seated, but bringing our bar drinks to our table confuses the servers into thinking that we have already ordered, hence no one comes by for 20 minutes until we flag someone. At this point we are ready to order, but the very last portion of my wife’s choice of entrée (mushroom tenderloin) was sold 2 minutes prior. Not good, since we missed the last one due to lack of service attention. The owner realizes this and comps my wife’s choice of entrée. Well handled.
Ok, the food. Salad with apple, blue cheese and greens — very good. Fried calamari, marinara — just so-​so, and served in a cigar box (I thought that was cool). My wife’s entrée was the striped bass (maybe spotted bass) and risotto — well below average. Overly oily fish over very bland risotto that was gummed up due to the addition of mozzarella. My entrée was a total disaster. Steve H., stay away from the Duck, Duck, Goose. The sauceless «ravioli» was essentially wonton skin stuffed with dried out duck confit and deep fried (not mentioned on the menu BTW) until black and inedible. It was actually shockingly bad — there is no other way to describe it. I couldn’t eat more than the initial bite. As the most expensive menu item, this was a huge mistake. Since one of our entrees was already comped (and I was reasonably full of breadsticks), I just didn’t have the heart to send back the other. If we ever go again (unlikely given our experience with the main courses and lack of immediate proximity), we would probably stick to the basic pasta and lasagna options — others in the dining space seemed to be enjoying those. Our meal probably deserved 1 to 2 stars, but bonus points for seeming to satisfy everyone sitting around us.

Very pleasant. Great bartender and solid food in a comfortable environment. If you’re apprehensive because Oakhurst Grill’s atmosphere was so weird you can shelve those reservations. We had the duck ravioli for an app which was okay (I think they used a sweet potato sauce that was a little too sweet for my taste) and the entrees of lamb loin and scallop polenta which were both excellent. I’ll be back to try the duck, duck, goose (duck and foie gras and black truffle).
If you need some context, Calavino Donati also did Roman Lily which used to be on N. Highland a few years ago.
One more thing, I can’t tell if this place is called «Calavino’s at Oakhurst» (as the website would suggest) or «Calavino’s Mangi Questo» as their logo would suggest. Whatever. Oh yeah, they have a blog too:

Man, I’m bummed. I am rooting for this place really hard, as I really want the neighborhood to have more than one (Palate, across the square) place that’s a bit fancier than tex-​mex or cheeseburgers. I had great hopes for this place, as I loved the owner’s previous try over in Inman Park.
My meal was OK. I should have ordered from the specials, I guess, but I’m a sucker for lamb. It came the way I ordered it (more rare than medium-​rare), looked great sitting on a bed of quite good risotto, but didn’t really taste like lamb. It didn’t really taste like anything. /​sigh/​
Like I said, the risotto was good. The salad we split as an app was fine. The missus liked her pasta with shrimp and caper sauce, but didn’t rave about it.
I guess I was hoping for something better than «fine,» especially when I can get less fancy food for less money so nearby that’s really tasty.
The real heartbreaker, though was that my before dinner drink was sortof an outrageous ripoff. I asked for a Beam neat. I got about half a serving that tasted pretty watered down (I’m not pointing any fingers, I’m just telling you how it tasted), AND got charged $ 1 for ordering it «neat.» I about fell out of my chair. Never seen THAT before.
We’ll give it another shot based on our loyalty to the neighborhood and the owner, but our first glance was not a good one.
UPDATE: Due to the wonders of Unilocal,the owner (or someone posing as the owner… but that would be weird) messaged me, explained the outrage on my bar tab, and has since fixed the computer-​inspired weirdness. She also offered me a free-​bee. Good, friendly, business sense. Gotta like that in a neighborhood anchor.
No need for the free drink (never thought I’d say that). Next time we get a chance to park the kids with grandma, we’ll head over.

Calavino’s occupies the «spot of death» in Oakhurst formerly occupied by the Oakhurst Grill, Melton’s App & Tap, and a few other places I forget. However, Oakhurst/​Decatur is short on a decent Italian place (Figo Pasta does not qualify) so I hope it will enjoy a longer tenure than some of the previous tenants.
We (2 of us) walked into this place on a Friday evening at about 8:30p without a reservation (which, considering they dont list a phone number on their website, could be hard to make). We waited about 20 minutes for a table, but they have a little ‘lounge” area next to the bar and the hostess stopped by to get us drinks, so it wasn’t bad. The bar was pretty lively, they were playing that Feist cd, and the lighting in the restaurant was right, meaning somewhat dim. I’m touchy on lighting and ATL restaurants tend to overlight.
We were seated in a nice booth by the window and our server came over promptly. The staff of this place is a trip — they are outrageous, funny, and welcoming. They clearly love operating their place, which is great to see, and the manager and the chef are out on the floor interacting with the patrons. It’s a great vibe.
To start, we had a poached pear salad with endive and gorgonzola and an artichoke scampi in a white wine and caper sauce. We’re a sucker for ordering things with capers. Though the pear was one of the smaller specimens we’ve seen, the salad was great.
For the main courses, we had lamb loin over risotto and green beans, and the lasagna bolognese. We were big fans of the lamb loin, and even bigger fans of the risotto it was served on — it was unbelievably creamy and delicious, so much so that we speculated a non-​parm-​reg cheese may have been used to augment it. When we suggested this to the chef, he feigned indignation, and let us know this was not the case (though there was an extra ingredient added we will soon try in our home risotto repetoire).
For dessert we had a great raspberry chocolate mousse.
In all: if you’re in the Decatur/​Oakhurst area and looking for Italian, give this place a try — good food, good wine and beer list, and a really fun staff give it a great personality, and hopefully, a shot at longevity in this location. We’re going back.