What to Order at Civico 1845 on Your First Visit

For your first visit to Civico 1845, try signature dishes from the traditional Calabrian menu, including house-made pasta and grilled seafood, or explore the dedicated plant-based menu.

The Traditional First-Visit Path

For a first visit centered on Civico 1845's Calabrian roots, start with the Fiori di Zucca, a zucchini blossom stuffed with ricotta, Parmigiano, and Calabrian spicy soppressata. It's a chef-recommended opener that pairs a delicate vegetable with a bold, cured-pork filling, a fair introduction to the kitchen's approach before the pasta course arrives. Guests who prefer something simpler can start with the Calamari, lightly fried and served with garlic aioli and lemon. Both starters sit within the restaurant's antipasti and shared-plates line, explored in more detail here, for tables that want to sample a few plates before ordering mains.

From there, the pasta course is where the kitchen's house-made technique stands out most clearly. The Pappardelle Brasato pairs wide, homemade pappardelle with a slow-cooked short-rib ragù and shaved Parmigiano, a dish built for the long, gentle cooking that defines Calabrian sauces. Guests curious about how that pasta comes together can read more on how the kitchen makes its pasta by hand.

Seafood lovers have two strong options. The Linguine alla Pescatora combines linguine with clams, shrimp, and calamari in a fish-stock base finished with lemon zest, parsley, and cherry tomatoes, a full seafood pasta rather than a single-protein dish. For a main course built around a whole fish, the Branzino alla Griglia is a butterflied European branzino served with extra-virgin olive oil, herbs, and sautéed Italian vegetables, a straightforward preparation that lets the fish itself carry the dish.

Guests looking for a family-style, meat-free option within the traditional menu can also order the Parmigiana di Melanzane, made with smoked provola in the restaurant's current preparation, a family-recipe alternative to the seafood and short-rib dishes above.

The full current menu lists the complete traditional lineup.

The Plant-Based First-Visit Path

House-made mushroom pasta at Civico 1845.

Civico 1845 runs a complete plant-based menu alongside its traditional one. First-time guests exploring the plant-based path can order the Plant Based Fiori di Zucca and Plant Based Calamari as starters, both built to mirror their traditional counterparts in structure and technique. For a main course, the Plant Based Lasagna and Pappardelle ai Funghi are the two clearest entry points: the lasagna offers a familiar, layered comfort dish, while the pappardelle ai funghi pairs house-made pasta with a mushroom preparation, using the same wide-ribbon pasta style as the traditional pappardelle brasato.

The full plant-based menu lists every current option in detail for guests planning a visit around specific dietary preferences.

Dining Together: Traditional and Plant-Based at One Table

A guest ordering the Branzino alla Griglia can dine at the same table as a companion choosing the Plant Based Lasagna.

For groups deciding what to order, choose a shared starter from either menu, then let each guest pick a pasta or main.

Learn about the kitchen’s approach in Civico 1845's feature on Chef Pietro Gallo.

How to View the Menu and Reserve

Civico 1845 on India Street in Little Italy, San Diego.

Before your first visit, review the current menu and the plant-based menu. Browse the antipasti and shared plates for more starter options.

Reservations can be made through the Civico 1845 reservation page. The restaurant sits at 1845 India Street in Little Italy, San Diego.