Calypso Cafe's black bean salad
Some Nashville restaurants are just so dependable and immutable that they tend to fall off the radar. However, if anything were ever to happen to them, people would lose their collective minds. (See: Rotier's, Yellow Porch, McCabe Pub, etc.) I would definitely count Calypso Cafe among those crucial neighborhood restaurants in Nashville.
Since Allison and Phil Brooks first opened the original Calypso location in Brentwood an astonishing 36 years ago, the company has gone through a lot of changes. New locations opened and closed on Elliston Place, on Charlotte Pike and in East Nashville. (Though they still own the East Side property and run a very successful catering operation out of the Charlotte location.) There was a brief period when the Brookses offered franchise options under the name Couva Calypso Cafe, which expanded the footprint for a few years.
Currently, Calypso has entrenched in its longest-lasting location in Berry Hill at 700 Thompson Lane. Nashville natives or folks who have been around since the mid-’90s might recall that the original Berry Hill Calypso outpost was actually where Baja Burrito is now. One thing that hasn’t changed much at Calypso Cafe is the menu, and that’s a good thing.
When you've gotta have a plate of rotisserie chicken or a black bean salad or a tangy callaloo or their addictive sweet coconut muffins, Calypso Cafe has always been there for you — as long as the craving bit around lunchtime, Monday through Saturday.
Our staff faces off over our favorite local menu items in 18 categories
Don’t be afraid — this isn't some sort of requiem for Calypso Cafe, because although they are going through some changes, they promise to be for the better! After 36 years of ownership, the Brookses have decided to sell the company and give themselves a break from decades of day-to-day restaurant operations. The new owners are quite familiar to the Brookses, because David Parker is Allison’s cousin. Along with his wife Sally, Parker officially took ownership on Jan. 1 with plans to stay the course and even expand operations in the future.
David is a Nashville native with a successful former career in technical and sales roles within the software industry, and he hopes to bring some of that experience to his new role at Calypso Cafe. His cousin is excited: “Calypso Cafe has been a dream since the start, and as it enters year 36, we are heartened by the future that will be possible through David’s leadership, technology experience, and passion for Calypso,” says Allison Brooks in the official announcement. “This is a special brand. Some employees have been with us since the beginning, and we’re honored we’ve had loyal customers for that long. There have been a lot of questions about ‘what’s next.’ We are excited to finally share that our succession plan keeps Calypso a family brand that will retain everything that we love about the food and community here.”
The Parkers hope to extend service hours at the Thompson Lane location past just lunch, and there are also plans to expand the Charlotte catering kitchen to allow for carryout orders and delivery service through third parties like Uber Eats. Calypso is already known for its convenience, and the option to order delivery could be a game-changer for many fans who don’t want to make the schlep to Berry Hill for their callaloo fix. Count me in that number!
While I expect Calypso Cafe to continue to thrive, remember not to take these sorts of treasures for granted. It’s a difficult climate out there for independent restaurants, with skyrocketing rent, markedly increased competition and rising food costs. If you want your favorite place to stick around, you have to do your part and patronize them as often as you can. Make it a point to visit an old favorite this week, and thank them for being there when you need them!
