Inspired by, and named after, a Roman cave, Calisto Restaurant & Lounge on College Street offers a multilevel space for dining and private events. Owner Gianfranco Loponte (of Vivoli) spent three months renovating the venue before it opened in July. The ceiling and walls are curved and covered with a concrete treatment designed to give the appearance of a cave carved out of white rock.
“I wanted to give it an ancient look. I wanted it to have an old European feeling,” Loponte said. "It has a different dimension than a restaurant with regular walls.”
Stone floors throughout the restaurant create the “feeling of an old Italian square.” The bar is topped with Caesar stone and inlaid with onyx. The front windows open onto a small patio at the corner of College and Grace. The downstairs lounge has a dance floor, banquettes, a DJ booth, and a bar topped in concrete.
The menu includes dishes like buffalo Caprese salad, spinach and ricotta ravioli, risotto, and veal scaloppini. “The food is very centre and southern Italy oriented,” Loponte said. “It’s closer to homemade food.” Traditional Italian desserts like tiramisu and tartufo are made on site. Loponte plans to add breakfast and brunch to the menu in the near future.
Calisto is available for private bookings and holds 210 people. The main floor can accommodate 110, and the downstairs lounge holds 100. Calisto is open for lunch and dinner daily. The official opening party is being planned for mid-August.
