Civico 1845 Turns Ten With a Chef Collaboration Menu That’s Pure Little Italy Magic
Civico 1845 is marking its 10th anniversary in style, and honestly, we couldn’t be more excited about how they’re celebrating this major milestone.
A decade in the restaurant business is no small feat, especially in a city like San Diego, where the dining scene moves fast and competition is fierce, but they’re honoring their journey with something really special—a summer-long collaboration menu featuring some of our city’s most respected chefs.
The “10 Years of Calabrifornia” Experience
The anniversary menu brings together the best of both worlds: Civico’s signature Calabrian flavors with the creative genius of local culinary stars. Each dish tells a story of collaboration and community, which honestly feels like the perfect way to honor a decade of serving authentic Italian food in the heart of Little Italy.
We’re talking about dishes that blend simple, flavorful ingredients from Southern Italy with that fresh California approach we love so much. The result is what they’re calling “Calabrifornia”—and after looking at this lineup, we’re completely here for it.
Star Chef Collaborations
The menu reads like a who’s who of San Diego’s culinary scene. Accursio Lota from Cori Trattoria Pastificio created a “Pasta dello Stretto” featuring Calamarata pasta with Calabrian red onion sauce, curry tomatoes confit, and yellowfin tuna—basically a Mediterranean masterpiece.
Brad Wise from Trust Restaurant Group contributed “Ravioli di Carne” stuffed with short ribs and paired with veal nduja demi sauce and burrata. Meanwhile, MasterChef winner Claudia Sandoval brought her expertise with “Tacos Calabrese” that combine pork belly with her signature adobo and Calabrian chili peppers.
For those with a sweet tooth, Enea Sintoni from Ambrogio15 created Calabrian profiteroles filled with vanilla cream and decorated with spicy Calabrian chocolate.
And Travis Swickard from Callie rounds out the menu with stuffed zucchini blossoms in gluten-free tempura—because sometimes the most beautiful dishes are also the most delicious.
More Than Just a Restaurant
What makes this celebration even more meaningful is how far the restaurant has come. The Gallo brothers moved here from Cosenza, Italy, with a vision to bring authentic Calabrian cuisine to San Diego, and they’ve built something truly special.
They’re one of only four San Diego restaurants ranked by Gambero Rosso International, and the Italian government recently selected them as an ambassador of Italian cuisine.
The expansion to Los Angeles last year shows they’re not just surviving—they’re setting the standard for authentic Italian dining on the West Coast.
See you there!
This Civico 1845 summer menu celebrating their 10th anniversary runs through the season, giving us plenty of time to experience this incredible milestone.
📆 Available throughout summer 2025
🎟️ Reservations recommended | Click here
ℹ️ More info here
See you there, San Diego!
