Review Callistos - Johannesburg

Calistos Portuguese Restaurant in fordburg it's a place to be more love from the waiter's management delicious food .... prawns... chicken...steak.... pizza everything it's juc beautiful ...... service from waiter's it's on top

It's a nice place to have good prawns and fish. The staff is friendly and hospitable. Food is worth tasting. It's simple, and delicious. Parking can be a bit of an issue if you are not used to Fordsburg. Be careful where you park your vehicle and ensure you are safe.

Absolutely love the food here. The wait staff are also amazing. Super friendly. Great attitudes, great atmosphere and great food. Only thing that's missing is a nice play area for the kids.

Love Calistos always...Darlington the waiter very helpful ..anything on da menu is Devine very tasty ..

Enjoyed a wonderful ambiance in the newly revamped restaurant- beautiful design, great look. Food was divine and well priced with decent waiting time. Fast and friendly service, a definite recommend!

Excellent food and service. Really happy decor is brighter. Hoosen the owner is very pro active and always very helpful. Staff always great . Just a shame area is no longer that nice...Portuguese cuisine @ best.....all seafood and chicken is excellent.

Great food and service. However, I always feel that Calisto's is missing a few items on their menu (not a problem with this branch, of course, Calisto's in general.) Oh yes, forgot to mention that the place was recently revamped - looks great!

Beautiful place💯 with Good people 😊around you.. When you visit the place... I high✋ recommend.. ❤️

Great service and the food is always impeccable. There is a nice variety to choose from and the food never disappoints.

One of my favourite Restaurant in Fordsburg It Has the best menu with many offerings like Seafood,Pastas,Steak,Lamb and Chicken lovely try it when you in town. Recently it has been Revamped with new looks and it looks amazing out side dining.

Nice place to eat there and delicious taste

I love Calisto's in Gillview. The food is excellent and the prawns really the best! I have also eaten some of the lunch specials which is great value for money. The steak and egg special is my favourite. The service is fantastic and the staff always helpful and friendly. Highly recommended!!!���

Everybody remarked on the excellent quality of the food. Very tasty. The service was also friendly, smooth and not imposing. Try the Mozambican chicken. We happened to be here because of another appointment, but I will definitely make a point of returning, even though it's quite a distance from home.

Normally one of the best but Saturday was my worst experience ever. We were celebrating a 21st. Big group of 12 adults. We arrived just after 9pm. Got our orders in before 9.30. Waiter was extremely slow. Just before 10p.m. The waiter came back to confirm all orders again. Food came out around 10.30pm. All orders mixed up rice hard as rock. Chicken not cooked. Prawns cold. Sides came 10min after mains. We were then told chips were finish. The manager defended the situation saying it happens even in the best restaurants. Kitchen staff had already left.only 3meals were edible. Others were removed off the bill . Worst restaurant experience ever. Left there disappointed and hungry.

I loved it. Very beautiful restuarant. The food is perfect. The staff is friendly. I'm definitely gonna come back.���

Gillview Calisto's. BEST Portuguese restaurant! For the best Portuguese food, you have to travel to the south of Johannesburg!

I just love it there! Always good food and service! Prawn and chicken curry a absolute must!!!

The Seafood is my favourite and the frozen chocolate biscuit is my daughter's delight

Great place to enjoy good food and service always friendly feels like home

Best food. Excellent staff. No bad word on this business. Consistently excellent.

fantastic love all of it, i can refer anyone anybody to the amazing seafood restaurant anyday anytime

Great food & excellent service

What an amazing restaurant with great food and vibe

Been going to Calistos since it opened in turf club. Still going. I visit many restaurants, but prefer calistos over all.

Love it

I would be remiss if I did not write a review. The odds are in this wonderful establishments favor. Let me say that the minute I walk into this place, the aura of nostalgia overwhelms me as this was my late father's favourite place to eat. Oh the memories. After I gobbled up my Mozambican prawn curry, I didnt hesitate to alert our waitron to convey to the chef, in no uncertain terms, that this was the best prawn curry to ever make its way to me ever. Everything is superlative at this relaxed but superbly run place. The food is cooked with passion and with zestful flavor. Every last detail is savored. I feel at home here. The service and amicability is unmatched. It is where you go to feed your soul. Muito obrigada.

Absolutely great staff they start to recognize their regulars. Great sea food, the bread starter and spicy relish they offer completely keeps me coming back. Cigar lounge is always great.

The staff is so friendly and very hospitable. The food is incredible, not a fault in the dishes, and most probably one of the best meals I have had in a long time. I ate the Mozambican curry. I love the atmosphere and I recommend this Calisto’s to anyone looking to have a wonderful dining experience!

Excellent chicken, and the Crab curry was messy but fantastic. Even though it’s not close to home we will definitely be back to try something new

The prawns that we ordered was just bland. The same with the grilled chicken, seemed like the sauce was just mixed in and the chicken then grilled, did not seemed like it's been marinated in advance, and prepared with care. The overall experience was very disappointing, the quality of the food was definitely not what I remember it to be. It was a waste of alot of money. Being a cook myself I know good food, sadly this was not my experience that evening. Will not be going back there anytime soon...

Another awesome lunch at Calistos. Service is fantastic. Yummy wacky wings and calamari with round chips. Baby chicken delicious. Beautifully fresh rolls with table chilli sauce.

If you are ever in the mood for traditional Portuguese food this is an awesome choice, the south of Jhb is definitely renowned for brilliant Portuguese cuisine. The decor is done in such a way that you get that chilled Mediterranean vibe as you walk in. The atmosphere is relaxed and the service is always fantastic. The menu offers a huge variety of delicious meals and the prices are very reasonable. Over decades Calistos has built up a reputation for serving up some of the most delicious prawn dishes. Their starter platter gives you the opportunity to select a few option to try out in small taste portions, but honestly whatever you order here will be a great choice. Be sure not to miss out on their freshly baked bread rolls. A great choice when you are in the mood for an uncomplicated, fun, relaxed dinner

This is our family hangout because of the play area. My hubby, daughter and I love to come here for lunch. The food is good, I normally just have the chicken with a salad.<br/><br/>What makes me come here over and over is the BREAD!!! It is divine, sometimes I just want to have the bread with the butter only 😉 it’s that’s good.

Celebrating Easter Sunday (yay, they were open) and a birthday, our family headed out for traditional Portuguese fare. A first visit, we decided to order a smorgasbord of starters and mains. Frank’s knowledge, recommendations and speedy service set us up for what was an extraordinary meal! The Peri Peri Chicken, Seafood Rice and cheesy garlic bread stole the show. I now know where to get my hands on authentic mouthwatering Portuguese chicken and will be back for more! Organizing large salads and platters for a family table is highly recommended, gets everyone messily involved with comparisons of which food is best. Lots of fun, which ended off with a unique birthday song for the birthday boy.

The first & the best Calistos in town. The restaurant gives off a rustic , authentic atmosphere which is great especially when dining with big families. The food is always great. I tried the seafood platter for one and the starter trio. Heavenly and comforting.

Fantastic service!! Delicious and very reasonably priced food - we ordered a family platter that included chicken livers, peri peri chicken, prawns, trinchado, garlic bread and sides. Everything was well presented and very tasty!

This family oriented restaurant has never disappointed my night out craving a good dish full of prawns. Their home made sauce is worth a steal to take home! Haha says someone not into hot stuff😆

Ecellect food, good service and great atmosphere. We ate full chicken and chips. Plus.rijbs and chips. One of the best Calistos. Well worth visit.

We have become regulars due to the great food, great service and fine ambience. We have yet to experience anything but excellent food from Calistos.<br/><br/>In the past we had a service related issue at lunch but this was handled professionally by the manager who time and again welcomes us with a smile and a handshake. The waiters are also wonderful.<br/><br/>A great night out as a date or a family get together although it a bit pricey.<br/>

Lovely place to go on a date, family dinner and have a girls dinner too. I firstly started my night off with the bread on the table, it was so fresh. Then i had a prego and chips, typical I know but it was so amazing! My favourite things was the cigar lounge they have there, it's so cosey. Will definitely be coming back

The food was good, but the prices were that of fine dining which wasn't worth the meals. We had the mini grand seafood platter which consisted of two lobsters split in half, there was literally two bites out of one half, some prawns, calamari, squid heads, this also came with some chips, mixed veg, puréed squash. Service was really good, didn't like the loud music. The desert was creme caramel which was absolutely divine!

People must try the Tango beer. Filet on the bone excellent prawns best in town. Relaxed just sit back and enjoy. Family orientated kids ply area. In the week good for business lunches. Nice smoking lounge even for a good cigar. Its definitely an experience!

The original calisto's is still the best . Service was excellent . The chiile dip with the fresh Portuguese roll is a winner . Orderd the seafood platter for 2 . The hake was crispy outside and soft and flakey inside . The calamari and squid head and prawns were all cooked very well . The only disappointment was the mussels , sauce was very bland . Luv this place and the vibe .

Carlisto's have become my absolute favourite lunchtime hangout! Great tasty food, attentive waiters and a nice cosy feel, even in winter when they make a warm fire. Well priced and getting better all the time!

I went to Calisto's for lunch with my parents yesterday, both of who are pensioners. Calisto's proudly offers a pensioners discount on a wednesday only to be told once we got the bill that the discount doesn't actually apply to their lunch time specials or to people under 65. All of this would be acceptable if they somehow communicated their T&C's. The manager was not helpful at all. <br/>From my side I found them completely overpriced and very average. <br/>I remember 20 years ago Calisto's was one of the authentic Portuguese restaurants now all that's left of that legacy is the name. We won't be back.

Enjoy coming to this Calistos now for many years, food is good, staff are friendly and service is great. They also have some great lunch specials served from 11:00am till 16:00pm which is great if you looking for great quality Portuguese food on a budget. Also try their dessert menu, you will not be disappointed!

A favourite of my dad's and one can defos understand why. The staff is always friendly, ready with a smile and eager to help. The décor is very intriguing with lots of antique random items you'd most likely find in your great-grandma's home, hanging from the ceiling (easy to fall into conversation about these specific pieces). You can expect a nice hearty meal while you enjoy the space with the family.

Il give them guys full posts. I've been going there for over a decade since they were starting up in turffontein. They get it right every single time. Fantastic work guys well done

25.06.2016. I've been craving lekker Portuguese Peri Chicken and got my chance over the weekend while I was out shopping in the south. They open at 12 and we arrived just shortly thereafter. <br/><br/>All the staff were friendly and welcoming, the fire was on the go all the tables were set and the first thing that caught my eye was the bowl of chilli on each one. I couldn't wait to tuck in as the smell was gorgeous. Our waitress Natasha told us she will be bringing some Portuguese rolls to have with the chilli. <br/><br/>Massive fresh rolls with butter and chilli - nothing better when you hungry and waiting on your meals. We ordered the prawn cocktail and the LM full chicken mild with the milho frito to share. <br/><br/>When our meals arrived I couldn't believe our huge portion. The smell was amazing, the sauce was delicious and the chicken was just yum, and when you dunked the crispy milho frito into the chicken sauce it was pure heaven. <br/><br/>It was so good we ordered 1 as a take away as well as some of the chilli on the table. Needless to say I ended my day with red swollen lips from the chilli but it was worth it. <br/><br/>This place has such a homely feel to it and I loved the decor. It filled up pretty quick and I loved the music playing in the background. <br/><br/>I would definitely drive that distance again for a meal here - next time I better give the prawns a try 😉

Friday night dinner was the order of the day and boy oh boy did the good food bring on the joy! The place was pretty full with children in the play area and families sitting in big groups. We opted for a table outside and our lovely dinner began. We had an amazing waiter (Lee), and he got straight to it taking our drinks orders and starters. We ordered the chicken livers to share and they were packed with flavour and absolutely delicious with their homemade chilli and fresh bread. For mains we both wanted prawns so we ordered the mediums with some garlic and lemon butter. I must confess I only ate the prawns and returned the sides because honestly, they were that damn good with that garlic butter ❤️ all round great experience, wonderful service and great ambience!!!!! Love the choice of music!!! Will be back!!!

Went for my father in laws birthday party. <br/>Our waiter was unbelievable and brilliant.<br/>Had table salads 2 start which where huge and divine with their incredible chili sauce.<br/>Mains were a huge let down 4 me. 5 out of 8 of us ordered the langustines which were on their special Board. You picture them to be bigger than a king prawn right these came small like a prince prawn all brown and old looking the meat was brown and disgusting tasted nothing like a prawn. I was so disappointed any other time I would have sent my food back but I wasn't paying and couldn't be rude. We all kinda felt the same way about our order and we were totally shocked how we got ripped.. my husband had the chicken which was absolutely incredible.. Our waiter made up 4 the meal and that's why I'm giving it a 2.5 otherwise it would have been a 1. Sorry calistos u need to jack yourselves up<br/>

The venue is typically Portuguese and the ambience is friendly and welcoming. The food was very good and was served in reasonable time considering how busy it was. The disappointment was the bar service as we repeatedly had to wait and ask where our drinks were from both our server and management. <br/><br/>If that's the worst of it then worth a visit for the food. Food is reasonably priced, drinks are a little heavy.

Ambience is sexy.. Like a Spanish sexy. With candles and Latino music in the back ground. The decor is beautiful and overflowing.. There is a lively energy in the restaurant. The service is a bit slow, understandably though because they were very full! There is a huge, covered play area for the kids. The menu has a lot to offer. I had the prawns & veg and they were tasty. Great outside area for the hot summer evenings...

Looks like Calistos are exploding in every corner in recent times . It's been ages since I been to Calistos , with fond memories of good food and ambience during their time in Turffontein. I've been to the Gillview branch on few occasions with mixed views. My most recent visit was fairly pleasant . To start with I had the garlic snails and was not disappointed. It was simply delicious and well prepared . The peri-peri chicken which I sampled from my partner was succulent, fresh & tender and well spiced. It could have been grilled a bit better. On the whole the chicken was great not mind blowing but very enjoyable ! So now onto my order the 10 medium prawns , I still feel its over priced for the quality on offer compared to other Portuguese restaurants in the area. Calistos need to bring their prawn specials back that was big draw card in their hey days . Having said that it was a good outing. Service was very average and I expected better . Ambience was good , for me it's worth a visit on the odd occasion just to mix things up but won't go out of my way to and visit the place . I still feel there are better options <br/>with greater value for money out there.<br/>

Great food. I had their seafood platter and it was divine. The service was good. The waiter was very helpful, friendly and knew the menu well. The only issue I had was that it was abit on the pricey side.

The big daddy of Portuguese food... I have lived in that part of town and I have shared so much memories with that awesome restaurant... Great vibe.. Lovely atmosphere and great service! Love the bar.. Smoky, dark and the drinks are at the perfect temperature! 😊

Coming here for the 1st on the recommendation of a friend we weren't sure what to expect apart from awesome prawns.<br/><br/>We were greated like old friends by Claudio and his team who made us feel at home in no time.<br/>The service was warm & friendly and definitely not "rushed" but we didn't mind at all.<br/><br/>The food was incredible. From the freshly baked rolls, to the loads of prawns we wolfed down.<br/>The meal was finished off with great choices from their desert menu and one of the best espressos I've had.<br/><br/>Highly recommended not only for the quality of the food, but also the incredibly warm & friendly atmosphere. It's definitely worth the 45km drive from Lonehill.

Food was bland, wasn't crazy about the place ..... All the hype around it was misleading. A lot of my friends are Raving About the place, oh well maybe the chef had a bad day. The service was pretty slow on the night although it was quiet

Quite simply the best peri peri chicken in Johannesburg! Comes in lemon-herb, mild, medium, hot and extra hot. The extra hot will take the paint off the walls! Somehow the chicken here is just that extra bit juicy and tender. Delicious warm bread rolls presented to the table on arrival, enough to melt the butter - awesome. An extensive Portuguese menu, along with a great atmosphere and a good kiddies area, make this a must!

What a great experience, decor really nice, some of the best Peri-Peri chicken ever! Beware of the xtra hot. Portions massive. Well done on a great dining experience. Typical Portugese, loved it!

Calisto's is a wonderful place to eat if you have children as they have an impressive jungle gym and a children minder who watches the kids while you enjoy your meal. <br/>Calisto's is really popular in the South and it is nearly impossible to get a table on a Friday or Saturday night and it is obvious why. The waiting staff are usually very friendly and helpful; the atmosphere boosts of a family friendly environment which is so prevalent in traditional Portuguese families and the food is spectacular.<br/>I love Portuguese food and chilli so I am a little biased but I am always excited to get my hands dirty de-shelling some peri-peri prawns or crunching down on the fresh Portuguese rolls that is provided for the table (with butter and chilli of course). On my most recent trip to Calisto's our waiter, Frank, suggested the home-made frozen chocolate biscuit cake and it was so unlike anything I have tried before. It was rich and delicious with the warm chocolate sauce they pour over it. Definitely give it a try if you are going to Calisto's.

My best restaurant in the South of Johannesburg. Excellent atmosphere, friendly staff who provide an exceptional service. The sea food platters are always a good choice

We frequent Calisto's on almost a weekly basis! <br/>We love the food, service and atmosphere! Their amazing Piri-piri goes with everything and although banting is stopping us from enjoying their freshly baked rolls, I guarantee you they are amazing! <br/>We also found that all their dishes mix well with a litre of Caipirinha !!

I have never been dissatisfied or disappointed when I visit Calisto's. Their food is always well prepared and the service is excellent. The staff is always friendly.

Been here many times before and Calistos never <br/>disappointed me. Their Prawns were excellent, dessert flawless and the table Portuguese Sauce is best on a fresh roll with a generous spread of butter...

Wow what an amazing lunch we had family lunch here and it was just amazing.. The service was amazing the food was divine and we just had the best afternoon there.. Will Defs be back

Awesome environment. Food is delicious and tried take aways from them last week and was not disappointed at all the portions were the same as if we would have eaten our meals there and was made to perfection. Very happy.

A good afternoon was had by all! Delicious food , prawns lived up to the expectation and had an amazing waitress who gave us incredible service !

I love my Portuguese food and I always indulge on my chicken and peri peri prawns like you can never go wrong there. This place is great with their daily specials ☺

The service was awesome and food was great! A slight mishap with regards to what was ordered and what was received, but a great afternoon all in all!! Obrigado

Still my favourite spot in the south of Joburg. They were originally on Turf club street, but have now moved to a better premises with more space, still a similar look and feel but BETTER! They also have an awesome kiddies play area and the vibe is fun and relaxed :) I always order the prawns (my fav from here) and their wine is lovely too :P

Family friendly, lavish restaurant. Warm, inviting and very accommodating. Large parking lot and a lovely kiddie's area. <br/><br/>Well cooked food, reflecting the whole variety of Portuguese flavours and aromas, Calisto's represents tradition as well as hospitality. <br/><br/>Amazing chicken livers and chorizo. Chicken, as well as mixed platters are pretty fantastic! Can never go wrong with the prawns. <br/>We have probably had every single thing on the menu, and couldn't fault it. <br/><br/>Good, wholesome food for the entire family!

Calistos is one of my firm favourites in Jhb, which I consider an institution of sorts. The restaurant has managed to maintain the charm of it's original location, is not pretentious in the least, and never fails to deliver on on point service and incredible food. The prawns are legendary as is the chilli that hand cut fries that accompany it.

Great food, great service! There's a reason why we keep coming back! Tonight I had some Wacky Wings - they were cooked to perfection with just the right amount of bite!<br/><br/>Service was amazing from top to bottom, even though the place was packed and crazy busy!

The service and food were both mediocre with the waitress being attentive but failing to open and pour out wine and the wrong dishes handed around the table. <br/>My starter platter of snails, calamari and chorizo was tasty albeit very salty. The chef was heavy handed with the salt on my grilled Portuguese baby chicken which was not grilled to perfection and chopped as I requested. The chicken was undercooked and raw to the bone. <br/>Upon sending it back my veg was replated but I got the same chicken back which was even saltier.

Horrible experience with the wait staff. My husband asked what size is the Grapetizer. She says it's a bottle.<br/><br/>"Ok what size bottle?"<br/><br/>"It's this big", she says while measuring in the air with her hands.<br/><br/>"How many ml?"<br/><br/>"I think 350."<br/><br/>"What about the sparkling water?"<br/><br/>"It's the same size bottle. It's not very big." She measures with her hands in the air again. <br/><br/>"Right but how many ml?"<br/><br/>"Should I bring it and show you?"<br/><br/>Finally, I'm thinking, some common sense. We're all hungry and so far this ridiculous conversation about serving sizes of drinks is going to end. How can one be a waitress and not know something basic like the size of bottled beverages?<br/><br/>She comes back with a bottle of vinegar or something like that, complete with smudgy fingerprints. "It's about this big," she says.<br/><br/>My husband finally just orders one. After 5 minutes she brings out a tiny glass bottle. My husband holds it up and reads the fine print. "It's 275ml. No, it's too small," he says. <br/><br/>"Should I take it back?" Major attitude now from the waitress in the tone of her voice, as if we're the ones wasting her time!<br/><br/>"Yes," my husband says. "I'll take a sparkling water."<br/><br/>"Me too," I echo. I am so thirsty.<br/><br/>"It's the same size," she snaps.<br/><br/>"Just bring it."<br/><br/>Another four or five minute wait. She returns with the sparkling water which is 500ml! Same size my foot!<br/><br/>By this time we're so frustrated with the poor service and attitude we finish our starters and ask for the check. She gave us attitude about that as well.<br/><br/>We got takeaway on the way home. Sad but at least it didn't come with ignorance, laziness, and attitude.

The last time I went to Calisto's I was rather disappointed. <br/>When Calisto's was still based in Turffontein their food used to be incredible but now it really just seems that they have grown too quickly and have lost the quality they used to have. <br/>Calistos used to be the go to Portuguese restaurant but the quality is just not up to scratch and the prices are way too high for what the food is.<br/><br/>My food arrived cold and the chips were terrible!! I won't go back in a hurry!

This is my fall back spot if I can't and don't want to travel too far. Food is ok not spoilt for choice. Kids menu limited and they still not the best place for kids. Place can get packed and u feel so squashed as they rearrange the seating.

A good place for some basic steak, ribs and seafood. Better than the spur but nothing really special. We enjoy it on those days when you just don't want to cook, but want an easy place for a beer and dinner.

I love this place . good food and a nice vibe.I would give it a ten +

This place used to be great. Now it's a sausage factory where you can never predict the quality of food or service. Waste of time. Try Madeira Cafe for a more basic but better experience.

I crave their chicken and prawns. Always full and for good reason, love it! Service has always been good and been there numerous times in the last 3-4years.

Trinchado was terrible and tasteless. Drinks were wrong. Have no clue why people rave about this place. Not worth the travel.

excelent food been the dozens of times, friendly service.

i have had many mixed experiences here, some have been great but for the most part they have been average. the food quality seems to vary from visit to visit as does the service. if you love Portuguese cuisine you may be more critical than most otherwise give it go. maybe you get a good day.

People who go to Portuguese restaurants to order Chicken Schnitzel should think twice. Calisto's is a prawn lover's delight. Order a half kilo of prawns with Portuguese salad instead of chips or rice -- eat with fingers. The complimentary home made peri peri is addictive. Great family space -- kid friendly. Good desserts.

This place is always packed, and I do not understand why. I have been there four times and every single one has been disappointing. Service is slow and our food is always cold. The staff are quite nice, and in a way I dont blame them for being slow because the management treat them terribly. In full view of customers. Not a nice experience. I hope that people stop having events here so I can stop going.

Probably the most popular Portuguese restaurant in the south of Johannesburg. It is always really busy and you are lucky to get a table, so I would suggest to make a booking first. People go absolutely mad for this place but I am not quite sure why, the food is really average, I had a chicken schnitzel it was quite greasy and tasted a bit like something out of a frozen food packet. It really is not a place I would rave about, possibly very overrated.