Calico

Everyone says their fried chicken is fantastic, and it is. The house salad was also hearty and delicious. Sat in the bar area and had a lovely server. Cocktails were spot on, wine list was good, the soup was beautiful and delicious. My only complaint is the brief menu. Just one of the three main dishes appealed to me, and there was no vegetarian entree, so that will likely limit how often I come back. Otherwise, a lovely evening meal.

A great spot for a date night. The food is incredible. The chef has done an amazing job developing the recipes and mastering the texture and flavor. The paintings on the wall are gorgeous. Overall a perfect cozy vibe for the evening.

Chose the fried chicken, which tasted great. Coleslaw was not sweet and very good. I liked this recipe! Two levels: ground floor and downstairs, with more of a party ambiance. Cod and tomato stew is great too!

We moved to the area a few years ago from Greater Boston. We truly love this area but it was challenge to find restaurants of similar quality to those around our previous home. Don’t get me wrong, there are lots of great places to eat in the Pioneer Valley but we were having trouble finding any that when you took that first bite, you just said “Wow.” Then we found Calico. Everything they make is amazing. The owner is always there making sure everything is on track including great service. The only thing to be aware of is that the menu has a very limited number of items. My dad was a restaurateur and said that was the sign of a great restaurant (he was sure right in this case) but if you have a limited pallet you may want to check the menu before you go. And yes, the chicken is life-altering 😀

This place is a home run from drinks (super NA choices - you really should try the Violet Beauregard), small plates, dinners (outstanding curry for a vegan option) to desserts (seasonal take on strawberry shortcake that included a basil coulis) & coffee. Flavors are deliciously balanced and unique. The atmosphere is comfortably a mix of mill & modern. The service is personable and attentive. My first visit here landed it in my new fav rotation. Malaysian Curry & Steelhead Trout pictured)

Best fried chicken I’ve ever had! Extremely fast/friendly service. Such great atmosphere and lighting. Very unique and worth trying

So the heirloom tomato app with avocado puree and arugula was very good with a nice light pesto dressing. Cracking the paremsan to get it started was fun as well. Broccolini app was also tasty. The filet was good, the waitress promised medium rare but it was definitely closer to rare, so that was the only real takeaway.. The fried chicken however, is truly worth the price of admission. Probably the best i've ever had, and the jalapeno slaw with vinegarette was wonderful. I'd love them to expand their mocktail bar, but the menu is very concise and to the point. Peach blueberry dessert was an absolute homerun as well with the buttermilk ice cream, the chocolate cake was a lil too rich for my blood. We were there for a little over an hour and they requested to move us due to a big party coming in, which we thought to be a bit rude, so that's when we left. Next time cook the filet a a little more and let us chill and it's 5 stars.

After countless recommendations, I finally visited Calico, and wow, it lived up to the hype! The fried chicken was a standout with its crispy exterior and juicy meat, perfectly paired with the jalapeño slaw. And those mashed potatoes? Velvety heaven. A must-visit!

Everyone says their fried chicken is fantastic, and it is. The house salad was also hearty and delicious. Sat in the bar area and had a lovely server. Cocktails were spot on, wine list was good, the soup was beautiful and delicious. My only complaint is the brief menu. Just one of the three main dishes appealed to me, and there was no vegetarian entree, so that will likely limit how often I come back. Otherwise, a lovely evening meal.

Where to start... So many good things about this restaurant. Drinks and cocktails were well made and nicely strong. There was a good wine selection. Appetizers were plentiful, with lots of vegetarian choices. Portions were large and there was a lot of cultural diversity. I had the curry with peanut sauce and tofu. Great portion size and very tasty. Amazing service and a great place for small and large groups. Female-owned. Put it on heavy rotation.

Salads that are tasty! Perfect service. The hippest atmosphere in the Valley. Priced high enough to keep the sloppiest and mopiest among us in Amherst.

Wonderful dinner and a relaxing atmosphere. All of our food was delicious and hit the spot! The onion tart wasn't my favorite but I think that's because I'm not a capers fan. The cheesy cauliflower was incredible! Service was good and helpful. Drinks were delicious and refreshing. Would love to return here and recommend to friends and family!

This place is a hidden gem. I scrolled a long way on Google before coming across Calico even though it's rated at 4.9 stars and I'm glad I scrolled because I really enjoyed my experience. Both the upstairs and downstairs hosts were welcoming, my server was really nice and the atmosphere of the downstairs area was very laid back and moody (I love dark lighting personally). I sat at the bar because they had a bunch of reservations incoming but I was by myself so that was alright. I would make a reservation or call ahead next time as it definitely filled up quick! I got the cucumber lemonade off the mocktail menu which tasted exactly as advertised and very refreshing. The star of the evening for me was the summer corn soup. I almost licked the bowl it was SO GOOD. I am still thinking about it 3 days later. It was like a beautiful liquid corn muffin. The buttermilk fried chicken was great too, the mashed potatoes could've had a bit more salt and there weren't any salt shakers at the bar but that's a personal preference. I liked that I could eat the chicken with a fork and knife because there was only one little bone and the rest seemed to be breast. That did make the breading come off a bit but the breading stayed crispy and tasty. I'm not much of a slaw person but I am cilantro person. If you like cilantro as much as I do, you will love the slaw. Last I had the peach polenta upside down cake which was my least favorite. The polenta gave the cake a gritty texture that I wasn't a fan of but I got through it. The creme fraiche whipped cream was not as refreshing and sweet as I thought it would be. I was hoping for a peaches and cream taste but it ended up leaning towards peaches and sour cream. (Not pictured because I took it home and ate it outside in the dark.) If I could, I would give 4.5 stars but I will round up to 5 stars despite dessert because I did enjoy the experience overall and highly recommend! Every dish that I saw pass through was executed at high quality and I would absolutely go back again (especially if the filet mignon that I read a review about came back on the menu)!

Menu options present an abundance of cultural culinary knowledge and service of amazing cocktails and other beverages. Beautiful mix of drinks and food. Very welcoming atmosphere. Perfect for any occasion! Fried chicken and Malaysian curry were my favorites so far. Both extremely well plated and full of flavor. 'The bird' is seasoned to perfection, and the slaw it is paired with is fresh, crunchy and delightful. The curry dish is very good. Paired with amazing veggies to serve a flavorful VEGAN dish. Always worth the trip! The cocktails are all amazing, and the NA beverages are abundant. There are at least VEGAN OPTIONS AVAILABLE. Portion sizes are also amazing!

Went here for the first time last night after drooling over the menu online. I'm a fussy b*tch so scroll on if you are like my husband and think my expectations are too high. I got the Mapo Doufu & he got the Salmon & Lentils. I thought the first was too salty so we swapped dishes. The salmon was skin on so I don't think it needed the tarragon oil. The lentils looked like they belonged in midwinter stew. It's springtime y'all! Go fresh and light next time! The fleur chardonnay was perfection!

Amazing restaurant! It has a small and eclectic menu and everything on it that I've tried is incredible. I can't get away from the fried chicken though as it is a perfect plate every time. I went off script tonight and tried the short ribs which was spectacular, tender and delicious with an unusual flavor profile. And Laura (the owner) always hooks my Dad up with a custom iced tea which is such a lovely touch. Fantastic meal here! Oh, and terrific service too!!

We hadn't been here since it was Coco's, a place known for its superb fried chicken. We ordered pozole for an appetizer - excellent. Unfortunately the chicken was just ok. Gravy was excellent but the breading was heavy and dry and the meat slightly overcooked. I've had better at Chick Fil A, and that's not a dig - that place has good chicken. But at $26 a plate, I was expecting more, especially after Coco's set the bar so high. My other gripe was with the cocktails. I ordered a gin martini and it came in a sherry glass - the smallest martini I've ever had. I don't mind paying $12 for a cocktail, but please don't scrimp on the volume! My wife ordered one of the signature cocktails and it was good, but also served in a tiny cocktail glass. If we go again we'll try something other than the chicken.

Cocktails and vibe are worth 5 stars. Anything you order is cooked well. However, much to be desired as far as Vegetarian Mains. This place is very creative and I think could pull off more plant based options to follow the increasing number of folks who are reducing the amount of meat/fish/poultry they are eating.

The fried chicken is superb. The staff is welcoming and service is usually speedy. Parking is easy.

Five star fried chicken, salads, and cocktails! Need I say more?? I guess so for the character count.

Food is consistent. They do a handful of things very well, but it's not the spot for variety or special requests. Food is delicious. Bar tenders are gruff. It's a toss up for me, and I often prefer take out because of the lack of hospitality and seeming care from the staff.

I used to really like Calico, but unfortunately, I have been increasingly disappointed. Namely, due to three consecutive bad fish entrees. (They only offer one per season). All three were bland, small portions, and overpriced. The service and wine list are always good, and my husband's recent lamb was quite good. Their fried chicken is the most popular entree feature, and it is a lit of food. I wish that they offered specials and better fish entrees.

Hey kids! It's time for another episode of the Good, the Bad, and the Ugly! Well, kind of. You see the 5 stars up there, can't be that bad... I think we're calling this the Great, the Good, and the slightly less than perfect but only because Mike is a picky jerk about certain things. Let's start with the GREAT. The food is awesome. The fried chicken has carried over from Coco's, and it's every bit as good as it ever was. The pork belly was out of this world. The mocktails were excellent. Violet Beauregard and the Ginger soda were both phenomenal. Ambiance is perfect. Be aware, the upstairs is not yet open (as of Oct 2022) so they're currently seating in the cellar bar. Which is fine. It's cool, and hip, with candles, lots of wood and stone. The music is chill and well curated. I've always loved it down there, and it's still great. OK, the Good: They're working through the bureaucracy of getting their liquor license, so that will improve the drinks even more. I expect the upstairs will be opening reasonably soon as well. The service was good, everyone was friendly, and they took good care of us. The chocolate torte was deep and rich. And finally: the "slightly less than perfect but only because Mike is a picky jerk about certain things". The patatas bravas are *nearly* perfect. Like, if you've eaten them in Spain (and I have, SO many times. I gained 10 lbs in Madrid,) this will take you back. They're beautifully crunchy, hot, the aioli is perfect.... But the bravas sauce just isn't very spicy. Like, it had great flavor, but it just needed like 10% more hot. Seriously, though. That's just me being a snooty jerk. If you've never eaten patatas bravas, you'll think you're eating the food of the gods and you won't know how spicy it should be. These are likely the best bravas anywhere in America. All in all, I give Calico a SOLID 5 Stars. Keep up the great work everyone!

Amazing! Just as good or better than I remember at Coco. The fried chicken is still the best I've ever had, and the pork was also to die for! Friendly, helpful service, chill yet trendy atmosphere. Love this place!

Delicious cod entree and cucumber app. Awesome ambiance. Great warm staff. Recommend!!

Sweet and hopping place. So happy to have discovered it. My spouse is still raving today about how good the food was .

All around GREAT! Friendly staff, amazing food and aesthetic atmosphere. Definitely will be back again for the fried chicken. Sweet potato biscuits are a must!

It's a shame when the front of house lets down the kitchen. I called ahead a little after 5pm. They assured me they could take a walk in for 2. When we arrived they only gave us the bar option. They were very rude when seating us and specific about our seats even tho the restaurant was empty. The food was amazing! We didn't even mind that they didn't have any alcohol. They service was so disappointing. The hostess moved us down the bar as it got busier and stated "we would be taken care of" we didn't even mind moving, but she was extremely condescending. As we left we were again reminded by the hostess that she would comp our drinks next time. Basically taking down to us acknowledging how badly she treated us, but didn't care enough to follow thru. We have been getting take our supporting the business for months and we're so disappointed by the staff when we dinned in. What a shame. Safe to say if you are considering this restaurant stick to take out. The food is amazing.

I had Dinner with a Friend last evening at Calico. Everything was spectacular from beginning to the grand finale. Starting with the welcoming greeting by the Hostess. I ordered a "not to sweet" traditional Lime Margarita and it was perfectly made. We shared the Charred Asparagus Salad. It was sooo delicious. I thoroughly enjoyed the perfectly seasoned Salmon with Lentils. I'm salivating just remembering the taste sensation. The sauce was out of this world. My friend ordered the Fried Chicken which was juicy, cooked perfectly and served with yummy mashed potatoes and Jalepeno Slaw! I've enjoyed the Chicken a few times and it's always on point. We topped off the evening with the delectable Mexican Chocolate Brownie with Ice Cream. Our Server Gabby very thoughtfully added a Birthday Candle as we were celebrating my Guest's Birthday. Superlative service throughout by Gabby! For first timers the menu may be a bit limited but, the Chef and his culinary team are cooking up Delectable. Limited seating on the main floor. (You may need a reservation) There are 5 or 6 Bar Seats facing the open kitchen. The Cellar has additional table and bar seating and it has a cool vibe. Major kudos to the excellent Calico Team.

The best fried chicken you will ever have! The mashed potatoes and cole slaw were also delicious!

The food was outstanding, the service top-notch and the ambiance was lovely. I had the Filet Mignon and it was the best I've ever had. I can't recommend this place highly enough. Fantastic!