Bottega Americano

We held a private corporate event here last night and had a great time! The location was convenient, plus the Bottega Americano staff was fabulous and very accommodating with all of our requests!

Really awesome brunch items. I've been here twice and got the braised shortrib hash which is ridiculous! It's a little pricey but it's worth it because the food is top notch. Great bar and the staff is incredibly friendly

Always a great spot...great menu favorites and new options to boot. Drink service can be a bit slow for groups but food already yummy.

You can't go wrong with any of the food items on the menu. Each bite is rich with flavor, one after the other until you realize you've finished your plate. The pricing is fair for 2. I plan on revisiting very soon.

I threw a small party for my mother at this restaurant. They accommodated us with everything we needed. It was a 5 course meal and every meal was absolutely satisfying. I love their food. The proportion serving is not over done or too little that you don't get full. They have real authentic Italian food. Every time I go here I try out different food and none of the meals has disappointed me. You can't go wrong with whatever is on the menu, so it's been hard to find out which one is my favorite meal. The location is convenient, if you are in the gas lamp or the stadium area (Downtown San Diego). Inside is very clean and decorated very well. I love how they have a To-Go meal in the front, very convenient. I take all my business meeting here as well. The set up is very versatile. You can dress down or up for any occasion.

Great service and wine list. The food was good. We had a group and shared everything family style. We started with the Woodfired Shrimp and the Baked Humboldt Fog Goat Cheese. Both were good. We then moved on the the Chopped Salad which was excellent, but I also really like chopped salads. For the entrees we had two pasta dishes. Both were good, but not great. We also had a Smoked Ricotta pizza. It was a little spicy for one person at our table but I thought it was the best of the entrees.

The place was very busy, which is always a good sign. So we took a seat at the Pizza bar, which turned out to be the best seat in the house. The Pizza Chef was like watching an artist in action. The Kitchen and wait staff were attentive and also acted like well tuned engine. Needless to say, the food was also delicious and presented like a five star restaurant. I only wish we were in town longer or could have discovered this place sooner. So I have to ask, why are you continuing to read this, just go and enjoy.

We had dinner here for New Year's Eve. I had the pizza and meatballs and all the desserts. Everything was delicious. The ambiance really set the tone for a wonderful evening. The decor is beautiful, with this old Italian yet modern feel. You have to visit the restaurant to understand. They passed out Happy New Years hats and tiaras which just added to the experience.

Callie has been on my TBE (to be eaten) list for a while and definitely all over my social media. Honestly, I was wondering if it'd live up to the hype. Spoiler: It does. With a reservation reminder with instructions for parking (they validate up to 3 hours in the garage with plenty of signage telling you where to go, a god send for downtown) and a picture of The Dude right by the hostess stand, I felt in the right place. Also, not to brag, but we had the best server. I wish I would've written down his name to give him due credit. He was friendly, informative, and gave me the recommendation of ordering the lamb chops when I was in-between a couple of entrees. The lamb chops weren't even on my top 3 things I was going to order, but I'm so glad I did. Tender and flavorful to the bone, atop a healthy dollop of tzatziki and a pool of that good olive oil. We also had the focaccia on special (heaven) and the mushrooms. I love mushrooms and these were next level, which sounds so weird to say about fungi, but my husband and I devoured them with plenty of "yums" along the way. I also had a bite of his pappardelle with the duck and kurobuta sausage ragu, very rich and flavorful. And we ended up with two desserts (one by mistake that we got to keep and the one we originally ordered), lucky us! Paired with excellent wine in a buzzy, beautiful space, and I'd say it's one of the best meals I've had. No surprise, I guess, since I overheard the server next to us say the chef worked with Daniel Boulud, which made sense as to why I spotted the Daniel cookbook on the shelf. Next time, I think we'll try to the Mediterranean feast. I think making a reservation is the only way to go as it is BUSY even at 5:15, right after it opens, which is when our reservation was for. Sounds early bird special, but it actually might be my new go-to rez time for special dinners.

I've heard mixed reviews about Callie, and I agree with them all. The restaurant is huge. And the ambience is very swanky yet bright. Think contemporary retro-swanky. The service was great. Kevin was awesome and was able to describe the menu in depth and gave us some history about the chef. He was also very kind enough to write down the type of gluten-free pasta used as my friend is celiac and it's hard to find good gluten-free pasta. The food, it was good. The price, not as much. And this is solely based off of portion sizes. The wintergreen raviolis were delicious, as was the gluten-free pappardelle. Octopus was good however I noticed the plate portions were inconsistent in size. Not photograph we ordered the babaghanoush with vegetable crudite (so yum!) and the "patatas baravas" (good, but sauce was not evenly dispersed).

We came here on a coworker's recommendation and it didn't disappoint. The two dinner highlights I want to mention are the lambchops and the lemon dessert. Those alone were worth the experience. We chose to try the Mediterranean feast and these were the two items that stood out to us.

I have now returned to this place and it's growing on me - especially the duck, the lamb, and the sides The atmosphere was lovely and the service was impeccable. Great place to celebrate special occasions or take visitors from out of town.

I went to Callie to try their Mediterranean Feast, a 5-course curated meal with wine pairing, and it was amazing. The food was so delicious-each course was full of flavor and perfectly executed. The wine pairing was spot-on, enhancing each dish beautifully. The service was excellent, with the staff ensuring everything went smoothly and taking the time to explain each dish thoroughly. They also offer complimentary parking, which is always a nice bonus. Overall, it was an unforgettable experience, and I'm definitely looking forward to going back and trying other items on their menu!

I originally booked my reservation at Callie for me and my husband, however, he got sick... so I went alone and I am very glad I did. The food was outstanding, although it's not a strictly vegan restaurant, they had many items for me to choose from. The table I was sat at gave me a clear view to the chefs working in the kitchen, so it kept me occupied. The service was great. The atmosphere was good. The noise level was moderate. The place was packed and everyone seemed to be having a great time. I had two non-alcoholic drinks, one on and one off menu. I got hummus and pita, a mushroom dish, an off menu pasta dish, a cappuccino and Turkish rice pudding. This was one of the highlights of my trip to San Diego. I will definitely be back at this restaurant if/when I get back to town again.

LOVED Callie. It was our first time dining here and it was phenomenal. The food was delicious and very creative. My favorite was the chicken and the carrots. They also had great glutten free options. I would highly recommend this place for anyone with a glutten allergy. The service was great, love the wine recommendations and the interior is beautiful. Very chic light and design. Overall 5 star. Thanks, Callie!

My sweet friends took me out to my first time in Callie for my birthday and I had a great experience. Now I know why people rave about this restaurant so much! When we arrived, there was a birthday card for me on the table which was a nice touch. Don't forget to book a reservation. Just a heads up that they automatically include a 20% service charge plus a 4% surcharge no matter the size of your group. Parking/Service: Since Callie is located under an apartment building, they thankfully offer parking validation. Otherwise, you'd have to circle around for a spot on the street as for any other restaurant in downtown. From the moment we sat down, our servers were very attentive and offered suggestions. They brought the food out in order of how they were listed on the menu and food came out quickly. Food: For our party of 4, we ordered about 7 plates which was the perfect amount of food. No leftovers at the end and we felt very full. -Babaghanoush ($14) + house pita ($4) -Uni Toast ($29): only comes with 2 pieces; from the first bite, the vinaigrette or whatever was sour overpowered the first bite but then you start to taste the ham and the Uni which are so good! -Beef Tartare ($24): served with 4 long strips of caraway lavash. I enjoyed this a lot! -Papatas Bravas ($16): must get, the potatoes are crisped to perfection, topped with spicy pepper sauce and garlic aioli -Duck Pappardelle ($29): generous amount of duck and kurobuta ragu. -Mediterranean Octopus ($28): very tender meat. -Moroccan Spiced Dry Aged Duck Breast ($48): from specials menu, comes with 5 pieces. Overall: I'd come back to Callie for a special occasion. There were so many other items on the menu that I'd love to try out!

Callie collab with Chick & Hawk was amazing. Coursed dinner full of seafood, fun takes on snacks and of course chicken. Caviar and crème fresh on sour cream and onion chips, a seafood platter with the most amazing oysters with horseradish sauce I've ever eaten, beets and furikake quinoa with yogurt, the birdman (give me a bowl of the kimchi comeback sauce) and a light and refreshing shave ice with passion fruit curd. I have a mango allergy and there was mango on the menu, but the chefs were able to modify so I could enjoy everything. Many different staff members served our courses and all of them were aware of my allergy and assured me the dishes were safe to eat. As far as the space, Callie is airy and open while still managing a cozy date night vibe. These chefs and the whole team are obviously top notch. Well done!

Just wow. Callie is more than a restaurant - it is a love language. If I could give 6 stars I would. I have eaten at so many restaurants and Callie left me speechless with their execution. The service, ambiance, food, and experience were all 10/10. It was so hard to make choices on what to order but everything we chose was delicious. We ordered two items off the specials menu - the focaccia and the gnocchi and both were exceptional. Callie is now one of my favorite restaurants of all time. The appetizers were so unique and flavorful. I highly recommend the taramasalata I have never had anything like it before in my life. The focaccia was heavenly with the whipped ricotta and oil. Both pastas were so delicious, slightly salty but I like that. The lamb chops and mushrooms were to die for. Mushrooms were so unique and rich unlike anything I've ever had before. Definitely a must order if you visit. Lastly the warm cookie was the perfect way to end the meal. It was topped with gelato and cookie crumbles. Absolutely divine.

Came to Callie on a weekday for dinner. Got the babaghanoush (smoked eggplant spread), pappardelle with duck and kurobuta pork sausage ragu, crunchy Egyptian carrots, and dry aged duck breast. The Babaghanoush was silky smooth and smokey and came with a house made pita. The pita was warm and tender. I really enjoyed this and highly recommend it. Pappardelle was nicely cooked al dente, the duck and kurobuta pork sausage ragu was flavorful. There was something that made it crispy, little bits of crunch, maybe fried panko or bread crumbs, it added an unexpected textural component to the dish. The crispy Egyptian carrots was an interesting dish. My coworker had recommended it. I couldn't imagine how a carrot dish would be a must try but she said it was. I didn't dislike it, but I didn't love it either, mostly because I don't really like vinegar. The flavor was interesting, I couldn't put my finger on it, theres vinegar but also some spice that im not familiar with. If you like pickles and vinegar definitely get this. If not I think its worth trying as its very unique and I don't think you'll find it anywhere else. I intended to get the Aleppo chicken but saw there was Dry aged duck breast on the specials menu. So I had to get that! It came with local figs, fennel and chanterelles. It was perfectly cooked. There was a light crispy crust on the outside and just a little pink inside like a perfect medium rare. The fennel added a nice flavor to it while the figs added a slight sweetness to balance the dish. Service was excellent, the staff was very knowledgeable about all the food items, waters were filled continuously. The place is upscale casual, so the food is elevated but you can dress down as some of wait staff wear jeans. So its upscale food that's not so stuffy. There is a 4% surcharge and 20% gratuity is added to all checks. Theres validated parking (3 hours) in the building, enter thru 11th ave, be sure to look for the sign. Reservations are almost mandatory, I wouldn't chance it without one. Cant wait to come back and try the Aleppo chicken.

The service. The ambiance. The memories. The food. Everything about this place was special. My boss arranged a dinner for me and my (now ex) wife on our honeymoon this past April. This was by far the freshest, best tasting, most vibrant, and lively environment I have been in in my 25+ years as an industry professional. That Aleppo Chicken was so good we took one home all the way to Phoenix. I scoured the SD area for dry ice and packed a cooler with it for optimal safety sake. I will dream about this place, yet struggle to ever step foot in here again. Thank you to the staff at Callie for giving me positive memories in an otherwise trauma filled year. While the divorce was gut wrenching and a punch to the stomach, your food and your staff will always be reflected upon positively. Perhaps one day I will have the gusto and strength to return. Cheers to yall and a Happy New Year.

Visited Callie with my foodie crew, including the Black Belt of foodies, who paired a fantastic Cabernet Sauvignon with the Harissa Lamb Chops and Aleppo Chicken. The lamb was a standout--cooked perfectly to medium, tender, and juicy, with just the right amount of heat from the harissa marinade. The chicken had a mild, peppery sweetness, and the marinade tucked inside kept it moist and flavorful. The sleek glass design wine cellar was a nice touch, but the service felt overbearing. Plates were cleared while we were still eating, and the Patatas Bravas were taken without asking. We all felt rushed, which took away from what should've been a more relaxed meal. They also let you know upfront about the 20% mandatory gratuity and 4% surcharge, so keep that in mind. As for the food, there were a few misses. The Avocado Labneh, which is supposed to have a light tang, was overly sour and salty. Similarly, the Toro Toast was heavy on salt, overwhelming any other flavors. The Babaghanoush was so smoky that it drowned out the natural taste of the eggplant, and the Tomato Fattoush had thick, stale bread instead of the crispy, light texture you'd expect, which threw off the balance. The Patatas Bravas were over-fried, leaving more crunch than actual potato. Overall, a mix of highs and lows, but we left feeling rushed and a bit underwhelmed.

I celebrated my birthday dinner at Callie, and it was absolutely exceptional! The ambiance was awesome, creating the perfect atmosphere for a special evening. Service was top-notch--attentive and kind from start to finish. The food was incredible. We started with the pita and hummus, which was so creamy and fresh. For mains, we chose the harissa-grilled lamb chops and the Aleppo chicken--both dishes were bursting with some of the best flavors I've ever experienced. Every bite was a treat! Callie made my birthday dinner truly memorable, and I can't wait to return for another outstanding meal.

ABSOLUTE FAVORITE Mediterranean restaurant in San Diego, hands down! I have been here multiple times now and it is always consistently amazing and perfection. Highly recommend making reservations as it is usually fully booked each night. Tonight, we ordered 1)patatas bravas- crispy potatoes, spicy pepper sauce, garlic aioli. The potatoes are crispy and covered with a delectable creamy & spicy sauce that ties so well together. 2) harissa grilled lamb chops- it comes with a cucumber tzatziki sauce. Seriously some of the most flavorful, tender lamb chops here in San Diego. It's chargrilled to perfection and the creamy and cool tzatziki sauce complements the lamb beautifully. 3)Moroccan spiced dry aged duck breast - sweet potato, persimmon, pickled chanterelles & brown butter jus. THIS DISH WAS A STANDOUT, home run. The duck skin had a crispy exterior that was a flavor bomb and a moist juicy, tender interior. The sweet potato puree was the perfect base for this dish and it tasted like thanksgiving on a plate! The pickled chanterelles really elevated the dish and provided that acidity to round out all the rich flavors. You can't go wrong with any of the dishes here, just be prepared to have your taste buds take a culinary journey through some amazing flavors and tasting profiles! They offer free 3 hour parking in their parking lot downstairs (just don't forget to validate your ticket on your way out).

This has become one of my favorite restaurants in San Diego. The service, the quality of the food, the food itself, the ambiance...everything was very good. However, there were a few things that brings my score to 4 stars. My husband brought me here to celebrate my birthday (they added a little birthday wish card on our table). We got a bottle of Aneztoi (white wine) that and our food order was uni toast, setas con migas, mediterranean octopus and the cacio e pepe with truffle. The uni toast did not come with iberian ham, they added jamon serrano or prosciutto so it was a little disappointing even tho the flavor was still good. The migas were my favorite. I haven't had migas in a very long time and it exceeded my expectations. The mediterranean octopus and the pasta were both good. FYI- there is a 4% surcharge added to the check and a 20% service charge as well. Also, they have free parking.

Off the bat, service was exceptional. Everyone was friendly and we loved our server Brittany. The drinks were next level, our table ordered Mocktail, cocktails and wine and loved it all. For dinner we ate family style and Brittany coursed out our meal perfectly. My favorite was the Japanese Kanpachi. This is a great spot for a small group / double date situation as the food is so conversational and fun.

The entire table of dishes we ordered were too salty and one dimensional in terms of flavor. The labneh in the avocado labneh is too salty and sour, you can only taste the vinegar and salt in it, nothing else. Unfortunately, because of this, the flavor of the labneh covered up the sweet and fresh taste of the vegetables, not to say these vegetables are pre-cut, the cucumber already de-hydrated a bit when it's served. The steak tartare on the other hand does not have enough salt, all I could taste is the spice and oil, and it covered up the taste of the beef itself. Egyptian carrots is the most disappointing dish of the entire night. I love carrots so I had high hopes. But it tastes like overly picked carrots blended with the same spices used in the steak tartar, extremely sour which hurts my stomach. The very sour pickled daikon in the avocado labneh also contributed to my stomach pain. The Mediterranean Octopus is very boring in terms of flavor while also being too salty, the dish has no character at all, taste like a 20-year marriage coming to an end. It's quite sad considering the octopus is rather fresh. Whoever made this dish should apologize to the octopus for dishonoring its sacrifice. The pavlova saved my night. It's flavorful, elegant and the display is creative. Wished the portion is bigger though. In general, 4 out of the 5 dishes I ordered were extremely disappointing. I cried a little bit internally on my way home, mostly for that octopus which died for nothing.

Have been wanting to try this but last time we were in San Diego, we didn't make it. Was excited to try this time. The ambience was very nice- with a beautiful bar and open kitchen with high ceilings. Unfortunately we were table of two and seated in a corner behind a column and weren't able to see any of this once we were seated. Cocktails looked amazing but we decided not to have alcohol this evening. We tried the uni toast, which was delicious but sort of pricey for two small toasts. The octopus was well seasoned and grilled very well. The pappardelle had nice texture and the ragu was good but a bit salty. Portions were generally smaller than I anticipated given the price. Also take note, regardless of party size there is 4% surcharge charge in addition to 20% gratuity. So the total price is about 35% extra. Glad we tried it but probably won't be back for a while.

The food was so flavorful and delicious. The service was amazing. When the server would bring every dish they would describe the plate in detail. Ambiance was so aesthetic and beautiful! Will definitely come back.

This is my second time here and it didn't disappoint. We had a wonderful meal, fast service and amazing ambiance as we took the private room. We did a prefix fix type of meal form15. It was awesome. I was mentally satisfied and physically stuffed. Bring your wallet as it is not cheap... but you get a taste bud dance party. Truly a great food experience!

Validated restaurant parking is located on Eleventh Avenue (the Google Maps took me to the wrong side). This is a lovely restaurant, with a warm yet elegant ambiance. Service was quite attentive and friendly. We opted for the Mediterranean Feast so that we could try a bit of everything (each dish is similar than if you purchased a la carte). We did not request any modifications. If I came back for another visit, I would order the 3 spreads and the ravioli. - Pistachio avocado labneh: Tart creamy dip with variety of vegetable crudites (pickled radish, tomato, carrot, some other vegetables) - Hummus: Perfectly seasoned, the amount of salt and hint of garlic was on point. - Babagaboush: The eggplant was well blended & flavorful. The grilled onion was a nice touch. Out of the 3 spreads, I think I liked the babaganoush the best. - Japanese kanpachi: The fish was tender. There was a bit of heat from the pickled serrano peppers. My partner liked it (I don't like sashimi) - Ravioli: Al dente pasta with a delicious creamy sweet corn filling. My favorite dish of the night! But it was so small for sharing. - Tomato fatoush: Tart dressing. Crispy pita chips. I guess I would call this a good palate cleanser, but I would never order a salad a la carte when eating out. If I want more food, I would order real food. - Seared ahi tuna: Nicely seared exterior with tender moist interior. I am not a fan of seared ahi tuna, but this is a pretty generous portion if you are a fan. - Passion fruit pavlova: Tart passion fruit puree with a creamy goat milk yogurt. Some airy merengue provided a textural contrast to the dish. I am not a huge fan of fruity desserts ( give me that chocolate cake instead) so would not otherwise order this dish on my own. - Uni toast: We ordered this a la carte because it is a popular dish that was not included in the feast. It was pretty good, although the jamon iberico tasted a bit more bitter than I expected based on my past experience eating prosciutto. I am glad to have tried it but would likely not order again.

As it has been several years since I have been to this restaurant, I was excited to go back for a dinner with my business colleagues. First of all, I learned that its tough to get a last minute reservation, meaning several weeks before your chosen date. Given that I had to change my reservation, the only time slot available was 5:oopm, opening time. The restaurant takes their seating very seriously and aim to see your party all at the same time given the meal is served semi family style. We were able to delay our seating a bit as we grabbed drinks at the bar and slowly made our way to our table. The bar bill was transferred, which was a nice transition. When we sat down, we were informed by the hostess that we only permit 2.5 hour seating. I was taken back a bit, as this was discussed in front of my customers when I was treating them to a nice dinner. Netherless, our waitress came quickly to our table to speak about the restaurant and menu. She seemed a bit rushed- unsure how many tables she had. We were also informed that all of the meal needs to be ordered together rather than appetizers then make entrees. Tough to know how much you need, when its a first visit for my guest. We ordered the following: 1. Babaghanoush- smoky eggplant with roasted onion, za'atar and a single pita. This dish was small but the smoky flavor really brought out the eggplant. Tough to share at the table as only one pita was provided. With others, you may choose to purchase additional pitas. Additional pitas are 4 dollars 2. Patatas Bravas- crispy potatoes with spicy pepper sauce, garlic and aioli. This dish had solid flavors- and actually one of our favorites. 3.Ravioli- This was a miss- this dish was 26 dollars and came with some very thin raviolis, four of them, I think. The filling was very minimal. The taste was ok- I would not get this again given the price and the taste. I also did not like the cooking of the ravioli, I felt they were under cooked on the edges. 4. Duck on the special menu- This was our best dish, unfortunately on the special list only. The flavoring was amazing! The duck was perfectly cooked. 5. Hangar steak with aioli and herbs- The coloring was good, but the cut was not great. The flavorings were nothing special for this steak. I would not order this again. 6. Pasion fruit pavlova with rose meringue, honey labneh, pistachio halva- this was ok, nothing to rave about 7. Turkish rice pudding -- After the duck and Babaghanoush, this was our other favorite item As for drinks, cocktails were spot. Great service at the bar. Some of the wines we had were just ok. In all, this was not the best experience- as we had highs and lows during our dinning experience. And after a great experience last time I visited, I wanted to share with my guest great food and service. This night, and especially for the price, was a miss. Too expensive for just ok food!

Dined here earlier this evening for my birthday. A couple of friends had raved about this restaurant, so I was excited to give it a try. I was given a happy birthday card upon arrival, cute. The hubby and I ordered a few items to share: Uni toast (2.5/5): didn't taste any uni, pretty much only tasted the saltiness of the prosciutto. This was overpriced at $29 for 2 bites. Beef tartare (4/5): had a kick of spice. The yogurt was very good, but I wished there was more of it. Aleppo Chicken (3.5/5): a LOT bigger than I was expecting, quite a generous portion. It seemed like it was half of a whole chicken. Flavor was good, although a bit salty for my liking. Other reviewers overhyped this dish. The skin was crispy, but it is just chicken breast, nothing special. Dry Aged Duck Breast (5/5): this was on their special (limited availability) menu. The first bite was alright... but as I kept eating, it was yummy. The duck was the star of the night. Bummer that they don't do complimentary birthday desserts like other restaurants do... I would've much preferred a dessert over a greeting card haha. Overall 3.5 stars.

Callie was my favorite meal of the entire trip. I'm not exaggerating! I had made reservations about a month in advance for a table of one at 5:45pm. I was super early, because it was a lot closer to the convention center than I had anticipated, so I waited a bit in their really spacious waiting area. Everyone that I encountered at Callie - from the hostess, to the waitstaff, were phenomenal. My waiter gave such great recommendations and really seemed to know the menu. To start, I had the Uni Toast with Jamon Iberico de Bellota, tomato bread, and garlic aioli. A perfect, two bite starter. If you're on the hungrier side, I would suggest ordering this and another starter. For my main, I had the Lemon Saffron Linguine with Calabrian chili, San Diego Uni, and bottarga breadcrumbs. By far, one of the best pasta dishes I have ever had in my life. Uni was so fresh - I hear they bring them in weekly from divers. For dessert, I had the Turkish Rice Pudding with coffee-date jam and pistachios. This was delightful - just a bit of sweetness from the coffee-date jam and a little bitch of crunch from the caramelized sugar topping. Really light and refreshing dessert. If you only have one meal in SD, make it Callie!

I was cautiously optimistic after hearing about this place, but a bit apprehensive about portion size and cost, and reviews about the service. Turns out, I had no business being the slightest bit worried!!! First the service. The waiter suggested drink pairings and also suggested a better coursing than we came up with when ordering and he was absolutely right. Service from all the staff was prompt, efficient, friendly, and effective. But the star was the food. Every dish we had was not just good, but fantastic! Starting with the babaganouj, which was earthy and citrusy, but not in a "let's hide the eggplant" way, then the beef tartare which was exploding with flavor that changed with each bite due to the chili oil, sauce, and caraway crackers served with it. An amazing start to the meal. At this point I needlessly worried again, as I've been to too many places where the starters were great but the mains left me disappointed Next came the prawns, which were delicious down to the head juice. The star of the night was the Australian black truffle bucatini. Simple, fragrant, and PERFECT. Finally the duck breast came out, and I again was prepared to be let down a little because it was served medium rare, and I prefer it rare. But again, a waste of worry as the morels that were served with it made it a really unctuous bite. The surprise of the night was the Setas con Migas, a mushroom dish with fried egg but that description simply did not capture the incredible milieu of flavors working in perfect harmony. We finished with an espresso tequila martini that was the perfect dessert for me. Portion size was not as small as we were led to believe from other reviews and I felt they were fair for the price and execution. Overall an expensive meal to be sure ($380 for the two of us with three cocktails apiece), but absolutely worth it IMHO. The only thing I would improve is that the restaurant gave a Hyatt lobby vibe and was a tad loud. A minor complaint given the rest of the evening Run, don't walk, and enjoy. One of the best restaurants in San Diego.

We went to Callie on a friends recommendation. So happy we did! Callie is located inside a big building. Makes it a little harder to find - but one of the great things is they have parking in the same building! And they validate your ticket - this was a pleasant surprise vs most other places you have to spend 30 min trying to find a lot or street parking. The restaurant itself has a cool vibe - definitely higher end but with a friendly not stuffy vibe. They have an open kitchen so it's fun watching the food get prepared and sent out. The menu is has a lot of options and they are all good. The items individually are a little pricey - come for the family style tasting menu - a great value for the price and it comes with a ton of food. The 4 of us were stuffed! All the food had great combinations of textures and flavor. Some things a little sweet, some spicy. The crudite plate and hummus appetizers were awesome. Served with fresh pita bread to dip. So yummy. Servers were attentive and knowledgeable. All in all we had a great time. Food was awesome. We will def be coming back next time we are in SD.

Callie continues on after all these years like a well-oiled machine. The location in East Village is a bit difficult to navigate, but planning can alleviate any issues you may have. The reception area of Callie still recalls a downtown office building, which, of course it is. I was taken to a table hard by a busser's station, but when I demured and pointed to another table, the request was granted without undo angst. The menu seems mostly the same from what I recall from a few years ago. There is nothing wrong with that---the tried and true can still be good, no? Conner was my assigned waiter, and he was perfectly efficient and earnest. Jesse was the sommelier on the night of my visit. He had a sense of humor and the desire to discover wines, which came across and was refreshing. I think I drank a French Burgundy that night. I discussed with Jesse the habit of Callie to remove the wines to central high tables to open, which can sometimes be troubling for the customer, depending on the location of your table. Chelsea poured the water with a smile and Erin the manager stopped by for a little chat.

one of the best meals i've ever had. amazing service and ambiance. the chefs tasting menu was incredible. could not reccomend enough

First time going to Callie, and had a great experience! Was out with a group of four and stayed until closing - about 3-4 hours. Food was delicious, waiters explained what each dish was, and they all arrived at perfect times. Lovely ambiance and architecture - loved the octopus, pasta, and cookie! Also recommend the margaritas

Delicious dishes and beautiful ambiance. Had a little bit of everything and I enjoyed them all. Great cocktails too.

Loved this place. Have heard so many amazing things about the food and it did NOT disappoint!!! There is such a great combination of flavors they experiment with; my favorite was the duck pappardelle and the beef tartare!!! I absolutely loved the Kook Juice, but didn't care too much for the Seasonal Strawberry Margarita, it was a biiit salty. I think the best part that I loved about Callie was the service; it was me and my boyfriend's 2 year anniversary and they had a card set on the table for us before we got there. Our waiter, Derek, was phenomenal with the recommendations and service as well!!! Would definitely recommend for a ambient and romantic evening.

Restaurant for Fancy Mediterranean Food Absolutely loved - Kanpachi 5- super fresh and delicious!!! - Uni Toast 5- wow this was the highlight, wish we got more but it was so good! Melts in your mouth good! - Corn and Shishito peppers ravioli 4.5 - Lamb 4.5 - Dry Aged Duck Breast 5 - hands down the best duck we've had!!! - Patatas 4- verry strong flavours but good; crispy potatoes) - Babaghanoushi 5 - the best we've had! Pita bread was delicious as well! - crispy Arancini 4- fancy mozzarella sticks Drinks - Nogroni 3.5 - the VPS 4 Customer service: Wonderful! Parking 3 hour free validation Top restaurant we've been too in a bit! They do charge 20 percent tip included and 4 percent surcharge Ambiance -subtle and not too crazy, modern vibe. We will be back again, thank you for an amazing experience! Keep up the great work!

If I could give Callie a million stars I would. Ever since I first tried it last September, it's been on my mind. The service is amazing, friendly, and attentive. We even got a free drink! I don't mind sitting at the bar because it's so beautiful inside with the high ceilings. Here's a breakdown of my highlights, I've tried most of the menu: -The Uni Toast: A must-have appetizer paired with... -Japanese Kanpachi: This is my in my top 3, with the Israeli green sauce and Jalapeño finishes -Aleppo Chicken: There's something so unique about this dish, literally my favorite chicken ever -Egyptian Carrots: Another must-have, their take on carrots with the cashew cream is divine -Hanger Steak: A smaller entree but nice and tender with another stellar green sauce

Food Ordered: Babaghanoush Japanese Kanpachi Uni Toast Mediterranean Octupus Aleppo Chicken Turkish Rice Pudding Drinks Ordered: Watermelon Margarita (From Daily Menu) Ferrrari Sparking Wine Racines Pinot Noir Had a late dinner on Saturday night at Callie. It promised a variety of small spreads, Japanese Kanpachi, Pumpkin Caramelle, and a Halibut special. Having done some research prior to going to Callie, I really wanted to try the uni toast, the octupus, and the chicken, so we decided not to go with the feast option. First up was the Babaganoush, which packed a punch in flavor. However, the pita bread was a bit of a letdown--not as soft and fluffy as I had hoped. Now, the Kanpachi was a highlight! The green hot sauce with lime was a perfect complement, creating a lovely balance of freshness and spice. Then came the uni toast. Unfortunately, it didn't quite hit the mark for me. With tomato bread, garlic aioli, uni, and Parma ham, it reminded me of pizza more than anything else. The bread was quite oily, and while the uni added a hint of freshness, it got overshadowed by the ham. The Mediterranean octopus started strong with its impressive texture--definitely some of the best I've had. But it was way too salty. Even the greens couldn't help, and we ended up sending it back. The replacement was a bit better, but still on the salty side. If it wasn't the restaurant already did their last call, I would've had ordered a salad to go with it. Also, the second octupus had a slight slimeness to it compared to the first one. As for the Aleppo Chicken, it had crispy skin and a sweet, sticky sauce. The first bite was good, but it, too, was a bit salty. On the plus side, the portion was huge--plenty for two! For dessert, I tried the Turkish rice pudding, topped with caramelized sugar and pistachios. After all that savory food, the first bite was fantastic, but it was a bit too sweet to finish alone. I enjoyed the watermelon margarita, which had a nice spicy kick--definitely a winner! The ambiance at Callie was lively, and it was still bustling at 9 PM. The passing train outside was a bit distracting, but it added an interesting backdrop. Overall, Callie had some delightful surprises, but the saltiness of several dishes threw me off a bit.

You need to make reservations in advance. This restaurant is a great place to eat tapas style. I really loved everything we ordered minus the dessert. Nothing was too heavy but the dishes were filling. We got the artichokes to start andI loved the beef tartare We got both the fish and lamb chops for the entrees. I liked versi much that I would have a hard time ranking it. If you love wine then this is a great place for you, they had a very extensive wine list

What a treat! Unassuming from the outside we showed up at 5:45 on a Saturday and it appeared to be quiet but once inside it was completely full and bustling. We tried the special focaccia with whipped ricotta and pesto, fantastic and so light! For mains I had the octopus and my husband the halibut which was catch of the day and the veggie we shared was also a daily special and my husband called it elevated cream of mushroom (in the best way possible) it was so creamy and delicious. We had the tahini chocolate chip cookie for dessert and it was like a Mediterranean pizookie, service was attentive and on point. We really enjoyed this fresh, modern Mediterranean take and will surely be back next time we are in town.

Ambiance - it's underneath some apartments but inside is cute with nice decor Service- fast and friendly Food - amazing..such unique flavors. I had a drink that had smoked eggplant and didn't taste.like eggplant at all. We also got the babaganush..with pita and veggies and chill sauce and gf crackers..the carrots..potato bravo..lamb dolmas..chixken..fish..all so good. The dolmas was a little undercooked but still good. I loved everything else..chicken was juicy. For dessert..we got the cookie with gelato..sorbet..and rice pussing..my fav was the cookie for sure.

Callie located in Downtown San Diego, East Village has been on my must dine at list for while. Located in Downtown on Island ave, Callie occupies a large corner on the first floor of an office building. With a nice open expansive space the dining area was quite large with all the tables full of guests. The bar area was appointed wonderfully with its wooden arches and unique lighting. As this was my first time dining at Callie, our server recommended some popular dishes as well as some daily specials. Here is what the table ordered: Babaghanoush - smokey eggplant, roasted onion, za'atar, pita. Great starter packed with lots of flavor with the creamy smokiness of the eggplant coupled with fresh pita. Spot Prawns Al Ajillo - Garlic, chili, parsley, warm baguette. Probably the best dish of the night as the flavors were excellent from the sauce/oil to the freshness of the prawn. The fresh baguette was great addition to help soak up all that goodness. Wild Nettle Scarpinocc - Yukon gold potato, foraged mushrooms, parmigiano reggiano. This dish was decent with a mild flavor but nothing too memorable. Fun fact, the name Scarpinocc comes from the word "scarpa," which means "shoe" hence the pasta resembling an old-fashioned wooden shoe. Crunchy Egyptian Carrots - cilantro, cashew dukkah, burnt orange-habanero dressing. This for me was too acidic with mostly a strong vinegar taste that reminded me of a pickled vegetable. My guests did not enjoy this dish as they were both coughing as the strong acidity made it hard to consume. Bucatini Cacio E Pepe - Kampot pepper berries, lots of pecorino Romano, pergola black truffles. Super creamy and cheesy topped with generous amounts of shaved black truffle. Not sure if it was worth the price for a small serving of pasta. Aleppo Chicken - sumac pickles, yogurt, coriander honey. Season roasted chicken which was okay and nothing too spectacular. Setas con migas - mushrooms, olive oil breadcrumbs, slow poached egg. Juicy flavorful mushrooms which were a nice side dish for the meal. Patatas Bravas - crispy potatoes, spicy pepper sauce, garlic aioli. These were fine and were tasty. And finally for dessert Chocolate gelato to end the meal on a sweet note. Rich and decadent. There is nothing more thrilling than the anticipation of trying a new restaurant, especially when it comes highly recommended. I had high expectations for Callie with all the reviews and recommendations. With included gratuity of 20%, a reservation fee of $10 per person (credited to the bill) and a 4% surcharge one would think the food would be nothing short of spectacular. Of all the dishes we ordered there was only 1 or 2 that really stood out to me the rest were not as memorable.

Fantastic service, ambiance, and cuisine! Overall, it was a bit pricey but it felt worth it! Excellent restaurant for a celebratory evening out. Also, the on-site sommelier was a lovely touch!!

Callie x Chick & Hawk collab was one for the books, two amazing chefs coming together for an unforgettable night. Travis and Andrew both know exactly what they're doing! 5 course preset meal, every dish better than the last. The service is always on point, I just cannot complain. 4th time here this year and if Travis has any more collabs cooked up that number just might go up. Andrew 'the birdman' was phenomenal, best chicken sandwich my dad and I have tasted in San Diego! Keep up the great work. I can't wait to try more of Chick & Hawk's menu when I visit their establishment.

Our first time after several friends recommended. We had lamb and duck featured items and winter cocktail specials. Amazing service by all. We will def be back!!

Beautiful restaurant in the heart of downtown San Diego. The space was large and welcoming, and when we arrived at 6:30 the restaurant was filled with tons of people - it felt like an organized chaos that we enjoyed. We were seated in a booth in the middle of the restaurant and were promptly attended to by a waiter and a trainee. They were very attentive and checked in on us a lot throughout the meal. One thing I will note is that they were very pushy on getting us to order sides, even though we knew the mains did not come with sides and did not plan to order them. Another note on service - there were a lot of employees stopping by our table, which was good and bad. Good that we felt very attended to but it almost felt annoying at times. There were our two waiters, and then someone else constantly filling our waters, and then someone different to drop our food off, and then someone else to drop off silverware and take our food away. It was like an entire operation that I did not enjoy all that much. We loved the food! We ordered the fish that was on the specials list. It came with this buttery flaky bit on top and a delicious dill sauce on the bottom. The ratio of flaky crust and dill sauce to fish wasn't enough, and once we were left with just the fish we felt it lacked a bit of flavor. We also enjoyed the Aleppo chicken. It had a great flavor and also was surprisingly a lot of food. Last thing to note is the tip and a surcharge is added without your permission. The surcharge frustrated us because we thought a state bill went into effect in July removing these sneaky charges. Also, parking in the garage onsite is validated so may sure to ask for that!

Callie is one of San Diego's top restaurants in the nation. This restaurant finds the perfect balance in the flavor profiles of their food. The service is always top class and the ambiance inside is beautiful. We feasted at our last time at Callie and we drank old fashions and mezcal, beef tartare, tune tarare, lamb Delmas, chicken allepo, and potatas bravas. The only thing we ate that we didnt absolutely love was the dolmas as they were a little dry. Nonetheless, we love this place!

I have tried this restaurant 2 times now. Each time I really wanted to love it. But I just didn't. The attitude at the front when you first walk in was a bit off putting. And the food is okay. I didn't really find it exceptional. For how expensive it is, I think it has to be better. Better food, service and attitude.

Spent my birthday at Callie and was welcomed to a birthday card which was a really nice touch from the restaurant. The interior is really spacious and has both a relaxed and chique aesthetic that I really appreciated. Our server was amazing throughout the evening and he helped us understand how their "Mediterranean Feast" works since we were eyeing that from the beginning. It's basically the best way for you to try a sampling of their menu via a 5-course meal. The waiter informed us of what each dish was going to be a part of the feast (I'm not sure if the selection is the same for every night - I assume not) but in any case we opted for the Mediterranean Feast which for $75/person is a pretty good value. For the starter, we got the Hummus, Babaghanoush, Avocado Labneh, and Pita Bread. The bread was really soft and I thought the babaghanoush was the best dip out of the 3. It was the most flavorful and I really enjoyed it. The hummus was also very good and the avocado labneh had a nice citric touch. The labneh tasteh also gave me a little "green juice" vibes. The other starter was the Japanese Kanpachi which was executed perfectly. The green "hot sauce" was delicious and the fish was really soft and was cut the perfect thickness. The first main course was the Wild Nettle Scarpinocc which had a really good mushroom flavor and delicious cheese. Although a really tasty pasta, it wasn't a big standout dish overall. The second main course was the Aleppo Chicken which was packed with flavor! The meat was cooked perfectly. Super tender, juicy, and moist which is really impressive considering the thickness of some parts of the chicken. This was served with the Crunchy Egyptian Carrots as the side. The carrots were good but flavor-wise nothing too special. I do think that because they came out together, eating the chicken and carrots together was too much acidity. There needed to be a neutral component to help balance out this portion of the meal. Whether that be bread, rice, etc that would have really helped neutralize some of the strong flavors and allowed me to keep eating more. The dessert of the feast was the Meyer Lemon Pavlova which was really fun to eat. The pavlova provided a nice bite texture to the soft meyer lemon pudding. Also there was some floss-like looking accompaniment to the dish that I can only best describe as a fancy version of cotton candy where it melts in your melt. Separately we also ordered the Turkish Rice Pudding. My gf really liked this but to me it was just alright. It had a nice brulee top to it which was different but the flavor was nothing exceptional. I really enjoyed my meal at Callie and would happily return for a special occasion. I love the Mediterranean Feast option since it allows your group to try a variety of dishes without having to spend full price on each dish and if I were to return, I'd opt to do the feast again but with different dishes offered.

Came here for my birthday last year as a walk in so we got bar seating. It took maybe 20ish minutes to get a seat and we were able to order drinks even before getting seating so it wasn't bad at all. I've heard so many great things about this place so I was excited to try it. We ordered the beef tartare, harissa lamb chops, and duck breast. There was nothing wrong with any of these dishes and they were actually quite tasty, but nothing really stood out to us as amazing or to really talk about. I'm not sure if it's because we were told such amazing things about this place that our expectations were just really high. I will say that the 4% surcharge and a 20% tip is ridiculous and why I decided to give it 3 stars instead of 4

My girlfriends and I met up at Callie Restaurant in December for our end of the year celebration! Callie Restaurant is located in East Village area of downtown San Diego. I drove as there was a parking garage underneath Callie and my friends all took Uber / Lyft to Callie. According to their website, Callie is "Greek" for "The Most Beautiful". Callie puts the farmers, fisherman, and ingredients of the greater San Diego region at the forefront and blends them with a Mediterranean palette. At Callie, the two come together to create light, bright, and bold flavors. Cuisine du Soleil. Between the 4 of us, only 1 had been there before. We ended up ordering their Mediterranean Feast (5 course family style menu from dips to dessert). Let me tell you, we were all full at the end of the meal and also asked for boxes to take some of the food home! All the dishes were super fun to try. Honestly, there wasn't a dish that I didn't like. We also ordered 2 bottles of wine to share. Service was top notch. As for the ambiance, it was classy and upscale. After dinner, we sat near the front and grabbed another drink! Definitely worth a reservation and a trip!! ENJOY!!

There has been a lot of buzz about Callie, so I finally had to check it out. It was quite good but I wouldn't call it incredible, and I'm going to tell you why. I would honestly give it 3 1/2 stars, but Yelp does not allow halves so I rounded up- a three star review would've been unfair. One of my girlfriends, and I decided to do a dinner out for our birthdays. We went for the Mediterranean feast, because the five course chef tasting menu sounded like so much fun. We also split one of the wine pairing flights... Not to be cheap, but because we can't drink that much in the evening anymore and sleep at night. The first two courses, the trio of dips, and the Japanese Kanpachi were fantastic. We both agreed that the Kanpachi was the best dish of the night. The main course, which was the halibut, was visually appealing, but unremarkable in taste and texture. A piece of halibut was sliced, so thin, that it seemed to be overcooked, and the flavor of the fish was overwhelmed by the toppings. The beet and citrus salad that came with was fabulous, but the two dishes did not make sense together. Our server recommended the rice pudding for dessert and we also each got a 2.5 oz glass of a dessert wine that he told us was the best desert wine he had ever tasted. I understand that enjoying wine is truly a matter of taste, so I'm not saying that it wasn't good I'm just saying I didn't find it to be spectacular personally, or a particularly good pairing for the rice pudding. Overall, the preselected flight of wines did go very well with the meal and we appreciated being able to split them so we could enjoy it but not feel poorly later. I thought the restaurant was actually nicer inside than the pictures of it were that I saw. I don't quite understand the cafeteria like aesthetic that a lot of these nice restaurants seem to be going for these days. The pictures on their website did not do the decor justice, and the patterned tile was very pretty. The lighting seemed to be very stark, however. I think they were going for moody, but it missed the mark. Our server was friendly and engaging, and we particularly enjoyed chatting with the server assistant. My biggest issue however, with the experience was that each of us ended up paying about $150 each for the meal. I don't mind paying for quality cuisine but two hours later I was hungry and I was warming up chicken nuggets in my toaster oven. It just wasn't enough food for me.