About Civico 1845
Located a block away from the main bundle of Italian joints on India Street, Civico 1845 stands out, both literally and metaphorically. The restaurant itself is handsome, with an elegant dining room all designed from reclaimed materials, and cozy outdoor patio by the sidewalk, but Civico does not rest on its ambience and location as it so easily could – their food is the star of the show.
The menu at Civico is Calabrian cooking (think sausages and chilis) headlined by their homemade pasta dishes. If you get anything, get the papardelle brasato with a short-rib ragu – the sauce is savory, bold, and near perfection. The raviolo al gamberi is a great choice for patrons who don’t have heart disease. Perhaps their most impressive feat is they have an entirely vegan menu that is not an afterthought, an impressive feat for any restaurant, much less an Italian one. You can’t really go wrong with the menu here. Civico serves the best Italian food in Little Italy (and possibly all of San Diego).
So skip past the crowded stretch further south on India Street and come to the sanctuary of Civico 1845. This is truly authentic modern Italian cooking done well.
Great For
• Parents visiting
• Good wine
• Date night
A Closer Look
Civico 1845 was founded by, and currently run by, two brothers from Calabria – Dario and Pietro Gallo. Both brothers are still very hands on at the restaurant – Dario is the general manager and Pietro is the executive chef. The inspiration for the vegan menu was so Pietro’s vegan wife could have something to enjoy too.
