Calliope's,

7590 W Bellfort Blvd, Houston, TX 77071, United States

"My boyfriend was feeling under the weather and craving gumbo, so we ventured out hoping to find something decent. We hit the jackpot! The gumbo at this place was phenomenal – perfect texture, rich flavor, and you could really taste the time spent slow-cooking the chicken and sausage. Nowadays, so many restaurants cut corners, but this place delivered a gumbo that restored our faith"

"I recently paid a visit to Calliope's at 7590 W Bellfort Blvd aiming to satisfy my craving for a genuine NOLA-style hot sausage poboy. Despite the homey vibe of the spot, I was slightly taken aback when it came time to order. With the understanding that a "small" usually implies a smaller portion at a smaller price, I opted for the small hot sausage poboy, expecting a fair deal. The price, however, gave me a start. At $10.30 for a 7" poboy, the value question inevitably crept in, particularly in comparison to the regular 9" offering. A bit of market awareness tells me you can snag a small bucket of Patton's hot sausage patties – roughly 10 of them – for a mere $9.99, which benchmarks the expectation for what one might consider a reasonable price for sausage in bread. When it came to assembly, I discovered to my disappointment that a single patty, bifurcated for the purpose, was the sum total of filling gracing my sandwich. This portion, while neatly prepared and tasty in its own right, left me pondering the economics of appetite versus expense. It's a challenging balance for any eatery, and on this occasion, I fear Calliope's scale may have tipped a little too much towards the latter. Taste-wise, the poboy did inherit some redemption. The flavors were good, with the distinct zing of the hot sausage rousing the taste buds effectively. The quality of ingredients, though hampered by their scarcity within the confines of the bread, was evident, and a nod must be given to the kitchen for their food preparation standards. Admittedly, it's tough to match the price to portion of homemade or store-bought alternatives, particularly when dealing with a dining establishment. Overhead counts for something, after all. Yet, as a customer, the eye judders inevitably to what seems like a mismatch – a divergence from an unspoken standard of sandwich economics. In the crowded arena of Houston's diverse food scene, Calliope's finds itself at a crossroads between tradition and expectation. While their hot sausage poboy could be a delicious nod to NOLA goodness, the experience is somewhat marred by the price point and the meager serving. For Calliope's, the potential for greatness is there, shadowed closely by the good. They stand three stars affirmed, but with ample room for growth – perhaps starting with a reconsideration of their value proposition. For now, I'd recommend future customers temper their appetite or be willing to pay a little extra for a taste of Calliope's culinary culture, served up with a side of sticker-shock resilience."

"I ordered 1pc fried fish and 5 shrimp with the caliopes special rice (fried rice with crawfish, shrimp, and sausage). The food was mid, the fish was real catfish (not swai) so that’s always a plus but could’ve used a little more seasoning, shrimp was good and the rice was cooked perfectly but lacked flavor. The spicy tartar sauce took the fish from a 5 to a 7, easily. I paid $18 , the rice was a $5 up charge but I’d still recommend trying them out ."

"This review is only because people jacking up their prices only to get no one to ever go back I just left this place and only reason I did not get my money back was to show everyone if you ever eat at this place watch your dollar this small 7” hot sausage sandwich was 11.15 cents without fries and a drink when I tell y’all I was out done I will never go back because the prices is ridiculously jacked up. See pics below"

"If you want a true New Orleans Poboy coke here! They never disappoint. Poboys always hot, bread is always fresh. Love this place. This time I got a surf and turf (shrimp and roast beef) perfection!!"