While on a weekend trip down to San Diego in April of 2023, we had numerous recommendations to try out Callie in the Gas Lamp district. We first found out about Callie from an Eater article and later had a recommendation from a close friend. Suffice to say, we had high hopes for this place.
Callie is mostly a large open room. Tables are close enough that you’ll hear your neighbors’ conversation but not so close that it’s intrusive. Callie is apparently Greek for “the most beautiful” and the fare is a combination of Greek, Spanish, Italian, Moroccan, and Middle Eastern food. On top of their normal menu they also offer a Mediterranean Feast tasting menu with optional wine pairing. We had our server walk us through what was included in the feast option but decided to order a la carte instead. We ordered the following:
- Taramasalata
- Uni Toast
- Beef Tartare
- Artichokes, Peas, and Mint
- Mediterranean Octopus
- Pappardelle
- Warm Chocolate Chip Tahini Cookie
Service was prompt and polite, but not overly friendly. We had several different people either come by to deliver items or take orders, so it was hard to really make a connection with anyone on the staff. The food was all good, but not great. It’s hard to pick any standout dishes. They were all ok. While I do feel like we had some expectations based off recommendations, even without, I think this would have just been ok.
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