Poor Calvin's

Poor Calvin's was a beautiful and intimate experience, I had the chance to taste special, newly added dishes from Chef Calvin's previous food tour. The service was clear and comforting. Our waiter gave amazing recommendations and went more into details about the Chef's adventures that inspired the menu, which change as he travels.

Excellant in every way! innovative tasty dishes, attentive service, interesting atmosphere.

I was in town for a concert and decided to try this place out , a friend recommended it as she knows how much I love Asian food. This is an Asian fusion restaurant, so all of the dishes have asian flavors with a southern twist. This is not traditional Asian cuisine. The service was outstanding, our waiter , Zulu was very knowledgeable, patient, friendly, and catered to our every request.
We started out with the fried frog legs and the fried dumplings. Then had the lamb, lobster fried rice, and duck , finished off with pound cake dessert. The food was delicious, be warned , portions are very big. I loved everything but the frog legs were my favorite part. They were lightly breaded and came with a delicious Thai curry dipping sauce. Delicious
Cocktails are delicious as well and they have a great wine list.

Tl;Dr: Large and hearty portions and flavors. Fun asian/southern fusion with excellent service and atmosphere. Try it once for the novelty

A very nicely decorated restaurant with excellent service. All the dishes we got had huge portions so I would say 1 entree per person would fill you up. It's a very enjoyable experience with delicious dishes but personally, I wouldn't say that any of them were as composed or elevated as I would have hoped. Still very satisfying and comforting!

Lobster fried rice: Get!
The portion was a lot larger than I expected and it was very filling. The dish itself was very hearty and savory with lots and lots of lobster flavors so that was appreciated. I do wish it was cut with some more acidity to add more to the complexity but it was still very flavorful.

Shrimp grits: Maybe get?
It seems to be their vibe that they love their hearty dishes and of course these cheesy grits is no exception. it's delicious and comforting but I wouldn't say it's enough to warrant more than $30 for this. The sausage added a nice funky bite to the taste and the shrimp was perfectly cooked though.

Lobster mac and cheese: Sure!
A fun loaded mac and cheese that's--you guessed it--very hearty and comforting. Gotta throw lobster on it too because why else are you at this restaurant? It's nothing too remarkable but if you want a seafood based mac n cheese to indulge those guilty pleasures then go for it.

Service: Excellent
Waters refilled constantly (maybe a little too much lol). Servers were very eloquent with the menu items and recommendations. I appreciate it a lot

Food: 7/10
Atmosphere: 9/10
Service: 9/10
Value: 6/10

Came in for Easter brunch and things started off a bit rocky: first, we ordered beignets and our waiter told us we would not be able to have them with maple syrup, because they were all out. My husband asked about the chicken and waffle and our waiter again confirmed there was no maple syrup to serve with this dish either.
Next, my husband ordered a Hennessy margarita. The waiter said the restaurant no longer serves Hennessy. So, he ordered a dirty martini with stuffed olives and the waiter offered pimento-stuffed olives, only to return moments later saying they didn't have anymore.
Luckily, the items that they did have available, were absolutely delicious! Also, their ability to keep a crispy outside (fries and waffle) yet soft inside, underneath toppings was truly remarkable.

I don't think I have ever been disappointed when I stop by Poor Calvin's. But finally the ox tail we have been waiting for is finally back on the day we stop by for my birthday dinner.
The ox-tail was the high light of the night. My favorite curry flavor out of all the dishes here. It was fall of the bone good. The curry is so good with everything rice or the leftover bread from the mussel dish.
We also had the staple duck dynasty which never disappoints.
The mussel is a new dish and we loved it. I can dip in that sauce all day if they bring me more bread.
Pad see ew was good but the pad thai is much better.
The seafood curry is also a very good staple choice as you cannot go wrong with it.
I have to setup a notification with the staff to get a notification sent to my phone whenever they make the oxtail special so I can come back for more.

This place is very good. Everything that we ordered was delicious. The deviled eggs definitely exceeded my expectations and the dumplings were great too. The ribs fell off the bone and the Mac and cheese was tremendous. The server was extremely well informed about the menu and made sure to keep our table clean and clear of dirty dishes. The ambiance was cozy and elegant.

November 2023
My first dinner in Atlanta recommended by my Uber driver. We got lucky and our group of 5 didn't have a reservation but there was no wait.
Everything here was unique, flavorful, and fusion.
The gochujang brushed lamb chops melted in my mouth.
The lobster fried rice was flavorful and a large portion.
The fried chicken wasn't my personal favorite but was full of Thai flavor, with collard greens, and lobster mac.

The vibes were immaculate and our waiter was super cool

We were fortunate enough to grab 2 seats at the bar
What a treat. The convo with the bartender was amazing. He took us on a food journey and drink
Journey. Love the ambiance. The manager was also very welcoming and accommodating

Poor Calvin's is a Midtown institution, serving excellent Asian fusion cuisine.

Location and Parking
Located on Piedmont Rd, parking is free along the street in front of the restaurant.

Venue and Atmosphere
The interior is decorated with luxurious velvet furniture, mood lighting, and gold statues. There are fresh flowers on every table and plenty of windows for natural light.

Service
Service was prompt, courteous, and efficient. Our server game us plenty of suggestions and tasting notes as well.

Food and Beverages
Everything, from the cocktails to the entrees, was perfectly seasoned and presented beautifully. The Rum punch has several types of liquor but is well balanced with sweetness. The Bok-choy was tender and sautéed well. The seafood curry was absolutely delicious, as was the fried chicken. The hint of coconut milk in the collard greens was unexpected, but tasty. Also, the lobster Mac and cheese gets 5-stars alone.

Verdict
This is my third time dining here, and I'll definitely return!