Generous portions
The platters and family feast are sized for sharing, with reviewers describing the portions as generous and good value.
Calisto's Portuguese Restaurant Motor City
Motor City
Calisto’s Portuguese Restaurant in Motor City serves hearty Portuguese and South African-style food in generous, shareable portions. Reviews particularly point to the prawns, Madeira-sauce steak, family feast platter and warm, welcoming service that makes the restaurant feel homely.
Reputation Score
5.0
★★★★★
127 ratings
Source: Google Maps
The Good Stuff
Strong flavours
Peri-peri sauces, peri salt and well-seasoned dishes are recurring highlights, including juicy chicken and butter-garlic prawns.
Prawn dishes
Prawns are repeatedly praised for being well cooked, especially with butter sauce or alongside steak and traditional sides.
Friendly service
Reviewers consistently describe the team as attentive, cheerful and welcoming, with service that feels personal rather than rushed.
Vegetarian choice
Vegetarian diners mention a substantial vegetarian platter and enough menu options to avoid feeling overlooked.
Family setting
The restaurant is described as clean, spacious and lively, with children enjoying the food and families finding the atmosphere comfortable.
Fresh bread
The complimentary bread and house-made sauce stand out as worthwhile extras, with the bread described as especially delicious.
What to Eat at Calisto's Portuguese Restaurant Motor City How we choose these items We use AI to find praise and criticism of specific foods and drinks in a selection of Google reviews. For Calisto's Portuguese Restaurant Motor City, this list is based on 50 reviews, not every review of the restaurant. The score is positive reviews minus negative reviews. For example, two positive reviews and one negative review give +1. Each review counts once per item; neutral comments do not change the score. A zero score is not a positive recommendation. “Only neutral feedback” means there are no positive or negative votes. “Mixed feedback” means equal numbers of positive and negative votes. The quotes are examples of what people said, not every comment we counted. We use different reviews where we can. We normally show up to 10 foods and 5 drinks with non-negative scores. Items with the same score stay together. If a tied group would go past the limit, that group and the lower non-negative scores go into Honorable mentions. If an overflowing positive top tie would leave the list empty, we show up to 10 items from that tie and keep the rest in Honorable mentions. Foods and drinks with a negative score are under What to Avoid. Use this as a guide to what reviewers liked, not a guarantee that you will like it too.
Foods and drinks mentioned in reviews of Calisto's Portuguese Restaurant Motor City, ranked by positive reviews minus negative reviews. Zero-score items have no net positive feedback; their labels distinguish neutral-only from mixed feedback.
Food 2
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Ribeye Net +4
“The ribeye was amazing, perfectly cooked, juicy, and full of flavor.”
Positive 4Negative 0
Review excerpts
“The ribeye was amazing, perfectly cooked, juicy, and full of flavor.”June 2026
“The food was good and the ribeye came med-rare just like how we like it.”February 2026
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Grilled halloumi Net +2
“Food is sooo goood! Finger licking good we recommend grilled halloumi cheese and dont leave without trying malva pudding 😋”
Positive 2Negative 0
Review excerpts
“Food is sooo goood! Finger licking good we recommend grilled halloumi cheese and dont leave without trying malva pudding 😋”January 2026
“Tried out Calisto's recently and had such a great experience! My friend and I both ordered the chicken and chips as our main, with a Greek salad and grilled halloumi on the side – everything was fresh, flavourful and well-prepared.”October 2025
Honorable mentions (32)
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20 Prince prawns Net +1
“The 20 Prince Prawns and the Ribeye were both solid choices.”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“The 20 Prince Prawns and the Ribeye were both solid choices.”April 2026
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Butter prawns Net +1
“The butter prawns were out of this world — juicy, flavorful, and cooked to perfection.”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“The butter prawns were out of this world — juicy, flavorful, and cooked to perfection.”September 2025
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Calisto’s pasta penne Net +1
“We ordered: Peri-peri chicken (full) Calisto’s pasta penne The portions are very generous and definitely worth it. The peri-peri chicken was extremely flavorful, perfectly seasoned, and cooked just right. The penne pasta was delicious, creamy, and very well prepared.”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“We ordered: Peri-peri chicken (full) Calisto’s pasta penne The portions are very generous and definitely worth it. The peri-peri chicken was extremely flavorful, perfectly seasoned, and cooked just right. The penne pasta was delicious, creamy, and very well prepared.”March 2026
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Chicken and chips Net +1
“Tried out Calisto's recently and had such a great experience! My friend and I both ordered the chicken and chips as our main, with a Greek salad and grilled halloumi on the side – everything was fresh, flavourful and well-prepared.”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“Tried out Calisto's recently and had such a great experience! My friend and I both ordered the chicken and chips as our main, with a Greek salad and grilled halloumi on the side – everything was fresh, flavourful and well-prepared.”October 2025
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Chicken liver Net +1
“We had the chicken liver for starter and oh boy! It is really good. You have to try it!”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“We had the chicken liver for starter and oh boy! It is really good. You have to try it!”January 2026
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Chicken with gravy and rice Net +1
“The chicken with gravy and rice was incredibly tender and rich in taste.”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“The chicken with gravy and rice was incredibly tender and rich in taste.”September 2025
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Creamed spinach Net +1
“If you’re a South African craving the traditional sides of creamed spinach and pumpkin, you’ll be happy to find them here too – such a comforting taste of home.”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“If you’re a South African craving the traditional sides of creamed spinach and pumpkin, you’ll be happy to find them here too – such a comforting taste of home.”March 2026
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Family feast Net +1
“But the food was something else!! Compliments to the chef!! Best food we’ve had in a long time here in Dubai! Highly recommend the family feast! But go hungry! They really provide with generous helpings! Really bang for your buck!!”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“But the food was something else!! Compliments to the chef!! Best food we’ve had in a long time here in Dubai! Highly recommend the family feast! But go hungry! They really provide with generous helpings! Really bang for your buck!!”September 2025
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Family feast platter Net +1
“Their family feast platter is delicious.”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“Their family feast platter is delicious.”April 2026
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Fries Net +1
“Have to mention the fries there. Meaty, crispy and very addictive.”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“Have to mention the fries there. Meaty, crispy and very addictive.”February 2026
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Full chicken Net +1
“We ordered the Porto Platter which came with a full chicken, 30 medium prawns, and sides of our choice. The butter prawns were out of this world — juicy, flavorful, and cooked to perfection. The chicken with gravy and rice was incredibly tender and rich in taste.”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“We ordered the Porto Platter which came with a full chicken, 30 medium prawns, and sides of our choice. The butter prawns were out of this world — juicy, flavorful, and cooked to perfection. The chicken with gravy and rice was incredibly tender and rich in taste.”September 2025
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Greek salad Net +1
“Tried out Calisto's recently and had such a great experience! My friend and I both ordered the chicken and chips as our main, with a Greek salad and grilled halloumi on the side – everything was fresh, flavourful and well-prepared.”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“Tried out Calisto's recently and had such a great experience! My friend and I both ordered the chicken and chips as our main, with a Greek salad and grilled halloumi on the side – everything was fresh, flavourful and well-prepared.”October 2025
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Grilled chicken Net +1
“Probably the best Portuguese Birds you will ever have! You will forget every other Peri Peri and grilled chicken after this.”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“Probably the best Portuguese Birds you will ever have! You will forget every other Peri Peri and grilled chicken after this.”May 2026
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Malva pudding Net +1
“Food is sooo goood! Finger licking good we recommend grilled halloumi cheese and dont leave without trying malva pudding 😋”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“Food is sooo goood! Finger licking good we recommend grilled halloumi cheese and dont leave without trying malva pudding 😋”January 2026
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Meat platter Net +1
“The food was out of this world. We got a couple of starters and the meat platter. Everything was so tasty and seasoned well, it all came out piping hot and cooked to perfection. Everything that came out of the kitchen felt like it was made with love.”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“The food was out of this world. We got a couple of starters and the meat platter. Everything was so tasty and seasoned well, it all came out piping hot and cooked to perfection. Everything that came out of the kitchen felt like it was made with love.”May 2026
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Medium spicy peri peri chicken Net +1
“We ordered mixed chicken and prawns platter with medium spicy peri peri chicken and butter garlic prawns. The chicken was very juicy, succulent with a balance of spicy and tangy sauce.”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“We ordered mixed chicken and prawns platter with medium spicy peri peri chicken and butter garlic prawns. The chicken was very juicy, succulent with a balance of spicy and tangy sauce.”February 2026
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Mixed chicken and prawns platter Net +1
“We ordered mixed chicken and prawns platter with medium spicy peri peri chicken and butter garlic prawns. The chicken was very juicy, succulent with a balance of spicy and tangy sauce. The prawns were medium sized and very well dipped in the sauce.”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“We ordered mixed chicken and prawns platter with medium spicy peri peri chicken and butter garlic prawns. The chicken was very juicy, succulent with a balance of spicy and tangy sauce. The prawns were medium sized and very well dipped in the sauce.”February 2026
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Peri-peri chicken (full) Net +1
“We ordered: Peri-peri chicken (full) Calisto’s pasta penne The portions are very generous and definitely worth it. The peri-peri chicken was extremely flavorful, perfectly seasoned, and cooked just right.”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“We ordered: Peri-peri chicken (full) Calisto’s pasta penne The portions are very generous and definitely worth it. The peri-peri chicken was extremely flavorful, perfectly seasoned, and cooked just right.”March 2026
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Porto platter Net +1
“We ordered the Porto Platter which came with a full chicken, 30 medium prawns, and sides of our choice.”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“We ordered the Porto Platter which came with a full chicken, 30 medium prawns, and sides of our choice.”September 2025
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Portuguese birds Net +1
“Probably the best Portuguese Birds you will ever have! You will forget every other Peri Peri and grilled chicken after this.”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“Probably the best Portuguese Birds you will ever have! You will forget every other Peri Peri and grilled chicken after this.”May 2026
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Portuguese rolls Net +1
“We loved the steak and chicken, but the Spinach with Cream Cheese and Portuguese Rolls are non-negotiable—you have to order them!”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“We loved the steak and chicken, but the Spinach with Cream Cheese and Portuguese Rolls are non-negotiable—you have to order them!”January 2026
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Prawn and veggie platter Net +1
“We had a prawn and veggie platter with their recommended mocktails.”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“We had a prawn and veggie platter with their recommended mocktails.”February 2026
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Prawn platter Net +1
“We had the prawn platter and rib eye steak, both were divine.”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“We had the prawn platter and rib eye steak, both were divine.”January 2026
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Prawns Net +1
“The prawns and steak with Madeira sauce are must tries!”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“The prawns and steak with Madeira sauce are must tries!”July 2026
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Pumpkin Net +1
“If you’re a South African craving the traditional sides of creamed spinach and pumpkin, you’ll be happy to find them here too – such a comforting taste of home.”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“If you’re a South African craving the traditional sides of creamed spinach and pumpkin, you’ll be happy to find them here too – such a comforting taste of home.”March 2026
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Pumpkin purée Net +1
“A special highlight was the pumpkin purée, which was exceptionally creamy, rich, and unlike anything we’ve tried before. It paired wonderfully with the rest of the dishes and is an absolute must-try!”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“A special highlight was the pumpkin purée, which was exceptionally creamy, rich, and unlike anything we’ve tried before. It paired wonderfully with the rest of the dishes and is an absolute must-try!”November 2025
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Sardines Net +1
“We also ordered seafood rice and sardines for main course and it was fantastic and seafood is fresh.”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“We also ordered seafood rice and sardines for main course and it was fantastic and seafood is fresh.”January 2026
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Spinach with cream cheese Net +1
“We loved the steak and chicken, but the Spinach with Cream Cheese and Portuguese Rolls are non-negotiable—you have to order them!”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“We loved the steak and chicken, but the Spinach with Cream Cheese and Portuguese Rolls are non-negotiable—you have to order them!”January 2026
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Steak Net +1
“We loved the steak and chicken, but the Spinach with Cream Cheese and Portuguese Rolls are non-negotiable—you have to order them!”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“We loved the steak and chicken, but the Spinach with Cream Cheese and Portuguese Rolls are non-negotiable—you have to order them!”January 2026
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Steak with madeira sauce Net +1
“The prawns and steak with Madeira sauce are must tries!”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“The prawns and steak with Madeira sauce are must tries!”July 2026
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Vegetarian platter Net +1
“I was pleasantly surprised by the most awesome vegetarian platter which was a good balance of protein, vegetables and carbs... (something I find very rare to find).”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“I was pleasantly surprised by the most awesome vegetarian platter which was a good balance of protein, vegetables and carbs... (something I find very rare to find).”December 2025
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Seafood rice Net 0
Mixed feedback
“We also ordered seafood rice and sardines for main course and it was fantastic and seafood is fresh.”
Positive 1Negative 1
Review excerpts
“We also ordered seafood rice and sardines for main course and it was fantastic and seafood is fresh.”January 2026
Tips for a Better Visit
Share platters. Arrive hungry if ordering the family feast or another platter; reviewers say the portions are generous and designed for sharing.
Try spinach. Order the Spinach with Cream Cheese and Portuguese Rolls if you want the traditional sides reviewers specifically called non-negotiable.
Consider parking. If you are driving, check the basement parking; one reviewer specifically noted it as an advantage.
Watch seasoning. If you choose the seafood rice, keep in mind that one reviewer found it salty, despite calling it the signature dish.
Try dessert. Leave room for dessert: malva pudding was singled out as a dish not to miss.
Plan the visit
Practical details
Joud Boulevard West - Shop 24/25 - Turin Boulevard
Al Hebiah First - Dubai Motor City, Dubai
| Mon | 12:00 PM – 10:30 PM |
| Tue | 12:00 PM – 10:30 PM |
| Wed | 12:00 PM – 10:30 PM |
| Thu | 12:00 PM – 10:30 PM |
| Fri | 12:00 PM – 10:30 PM |
| Sat | 11:00 AM – 10:30 PM |
| Sun | 11:00 AM – 10:30 PM |
Common Concerns
Salty rice
One reviewer found the signature seafood rice too salty and left it unfinished.
Slow service
One early review described the service as a little slow, although it also noted that the restaurant had just opened.
DXB
LOCAL
LOCAL
The Bottom Line
Calisto’s Portuguese Restaurant in Motor City is built around hearty Portuguese and South African-style food, generous portions and a notably homely welcome. The menu suits both casual meals and group dinners: reviewers mention the Porto Platter, family feast platter, peri-peri chicken, ribeye and prawn dishes. The platters are substantial enough to share, so arriving hungry is sensible.
Prawns are a consistent highlight, from butter-garlic prawns to the 30-prawn Porto Platter, while Madeira sauce is recommended with the steak. Traditional sides add a South African touch, particularly Spinach with Cream Cheese, Portuguese Rolls, creamed spinach, pumpkin and butternut. Vegetarian diners also report finding a well-balanced vegetarian platter rather than being left with token choices.
The setting is described as clean, spacious, cosy and lively, working for family dinners as well as meals with friends. Children were reported to enjoy the food, and reviewers appreciated the quick, attentive service and welcoming atmosphere. Basement parking is another practical plus for drivers.
There is one useful caution: an early reviewer found the signature seafood rice too salty and described service as slightly slow. For something sweeter, malva pudding and the desserts received strong praise.