Calvin's Bocage Market

I ran into this store to pick up a bread and vended up spending 30 mins in this store. When I walked in the produce just looked so fresh. I had my mind on getting a bread but I needed up getting bananas, strawberries and apples which all looked so good! I also ended up getting their Famous Chicken Salad which is also very good! The employees are so friendly and have no problem helping you find what you need! Calvin's is in a nice area so I saw a lot of people walking in and out shopping. Overall I rate this place a 9/10

This is a hard review to write because they have cool things that no one else does. On the flip side , they have prices to rival the store that Amazing bought (Whole Foods). In face, their prices are way too high. But they have unique iTunes interspersed among the ordinary items abs so I purchased.

I rarely shop at Calvin's, but I know it's a local favorite. The last time I went, I found some pretty cool items that I would definitely buy again. If you are looking for your kitchen staples, they definitely have them. Things I feel like they lack (and it's okay + one of the reasons I do not go there often) are organic produce items. This is probably not the grocery store where people look for organic produce, especially since Whole Foods is just down the street. I love that they carry local products: coffees, beer, seasonings and more. When you need items to make your next gumbo, jambalaya or boil your pot of crawfish, you will be sure to find all of the fixin's there! For all of the times that I have been, it's never crowded, so I can usually get out of there with my purchases within 10 minutes. Parking is always plentiful and if you are looking for some eats afterwards, visit one of the restaurants within the Bocage plaza.

First time visiting this store because I've heard FANTASTIC things about their chicken salad and WOW! Best one I've ever had. I often cook a rotisserie chicken or Turkey just to make my own salad. Calvin's will save me the time. I wish I lived closer!! They also have their own tuna salad that I wish I snagged too. Small time grocery store with tasty home cooked food!

During my many years in Baton Rouge, I have done trade with this neighborhood grocery. I enjoyed it even before it was Calvin's and long before its expansions. I confess I still shop here for its unique ground chicken salad. Chicken salad is a vital item in Southern cuisine. Calvin's chicken salad is pure chicken breast ground with whatever else he includes in the mix. The key is the simple, fresh flavor and that the all white meat breast meat is not chopped as at other vendors but ground. Other stores market chicken salads but this one is consistently the best. He sells other traditional Southern salads such as pimento cheese and potato, sold at the same counter, but he does not make his own pimento cheese spread but transfers it from buckets from other vendors to containers with the Calvin's Bocage label. He does make his own banana pudding, I believe, and it is quite tasty but not unique. I think he makes his own tuna salad, which is quite good but again nothing special.Wine and liquor selections remain fine in spite of excellent competition from Whole Foods and Rouse's. In fact, the manager Charles is a connoisseur of fine wine and liquors. His special top-of-the-line special items are finer than any other in town but too expensive for me. Ordinary liquor does include some excellent high end items. The coffee selections are not equal to those at Whole Foods and Trader Joe's though the selection is equal to those at Target and maybe a tad better than at Walmart. You can buy all of Community brand products, I believe. The produce selection is fresh but not as varied as Rouse's or most other markets. When Whole Foods was top notch, Calvin's produce did not compete. It still doesn't even with a diminished Whole Foods. Still, you can get good produce here but Rouse's seems better to me.Cheese selections compare with Rouse's but not Whole Foods. There is a cold storage section and a stand alone display section. Bread selections do not compare well with other markets, except for one line of baked breads he does carry from one local bakery. Those breads are outstanding. They also offer adequate standard commercial breads that will do. They do not to have their own bakery except for that one small line. I miss that when I shop here. The deli is sad. The supervisors yells as her staff. It changes constantly. You can buy a small selection of aged beef at this market. Most of the associates including cashiers are teenagers and not committed to their jobs. The turnover amazes me. I do remember one clerk who lasted about five years or so but she left for a much better job. Calvin seems to want to appeal to those who live in the rich neighborhoods where the store is located. He refuses to accept food stamps. Prices are fair but not a reason to do business with Calvin unless you are making a quick stop on your way home.His manager Charles have been with him for years but, except for Gary, his other staff seem to change quickly. I have no idea what incentives he offers his employees They have told me they do not get vacations, holiday pay, or decent Christmas bonuses. They get a twenty dollar Calvin's gift card. Calvin's son and daughter are excellent as are both Charles and Gary.In summary, I buy almost all my chicken salad from Calvin's, some of my pimento cheese salad, Community Coffee, Smith's Dairy milk, some fresh bread, and not much else. It's a rich man's store and I am only a poor fellow. The five stars is for the chicken salad.

Went there cause I didn't feel like cooking. Saw the white beans and rice and I love me some beans but, damn they need to hire a chef. I had to spice it with seasoning and hot sauce to be able to eat it. Really bad taste. I have not been a fan of any of there dinners. I like the Cole slaw and chicken salad and would like the potato salad but they mash the $H!t out of it and I like mine chunky like my moms and most people in Louisiana make it without mash potatoes. The dinner tasted like foil I just hope they don't put the dinners in there hot and then cool them in the foil container cause it tasted like Tin. Alexander's has really good dinners and I will be continuing to go there.

Fantastic grocery store with very unique items. Highly recommend the chicken salad, pimento cheese and frozen tortes. The staff is extremely kind.

Picked up a pint of their chicken salad today plus a jar of the candied jalapenos. OMG! My wife, son and I were in awe! It was so delicious! Will be back for more!

What a warm feeling you get when you enter their doors. Family run businesses are the best! Found pasta that I've never seen before. Their meat dept has beautiful cuts of meat. And we'll the chicken salad is like no other! All the best to this grocery.Wished I lived closer.

There is scittering in the roof and there were rats in the back near the deli, the same place they keep the meats and make the chicken salad. I am disgusted.