Callie Restaurant

“Callie is so fantastic! I’m always so impressed with the service, food, atmosphere, everything. - Chicken is always fantastic - Pastas are so fresh - Fish quality is so fresh and delish - Obsessed with the carrot dish They have a really fun wine list. If you are someone who appreciates good quality wines while trying things outside the ordinary, this is your place. Their somm really knows what they are doing. Never disappoints, and tasting menu (as well as wine pairing) are super reasonably priced. Def one of my absolute favorite restaurants in SD.”

“The absolute BEST halibut I've ever had. We were able to walk in and sit at the bar. The service was incredible. Started with whipped ricotta and toast. Incredible. Then had to try the Lemon Saffron Linguine with Uni. Very rich but the lemon was beautiful. Next was the halibut (it was one of the specials) Oh. My. Gawd. The fish was delicate and I wanted to lick the dill yogurt off the plate. We finished with the pavlova. The lemon curd was incredible. I just wish they chose a different dish to serve it in. They could have made a meringue nest rather than 3 small meringue medallions tucked around the side. I had the special cocktail, Blood Ritual which was also delicious. I will remember that fish for years to come.”

“Category: Elevated Mediterranean. This busy, buzzy, classy, cross between industrial (high ceiling with track lighting and exposed but whitewashed HVAC, pipes, and conduits) and finished (low ceiling with recessed lighting, hiding all the infrastructure) was a welcome refuge from the rare rainy night in San Diego. The open kitchen at the back of the dining room adds to the warm buzz. Half-round booths along the window wall make for cozy small-group dining. The wine room cube draws your eye (or at least mine). The Morrish or Moroccan tiled pillars, wood floors, and warmly lit, dramatic, barrel-vault-like structure over the long bar tie it all together. For more casual dining, try the comfy lounge seating near the bar. The wine list was excellent but there were no choices below $50, our sweet spot for restaurant wines (Suggestion: add some lower-priced reds. People who want the higher-priced wines will still buy them.). The menu offers a well-curated selection of elevated Med cuisine. As I say in my hummus lesson, there may be as many hummus recipes as there are cooks, but this one was excellent: creamy, almost silky, which paired well with the thin, freshly baked pita. The taramoussalata was way too lemony (but I loved the accompanying thin, crispy, and golden house-made dill potato chips), but our server swiftly replaced it with the unique and tasty uni toast. We shared the amazing, generous, and lip-tingling Aleppo [pepper] Chicken, with its a beautiful crispy crust and yogurt/honey base. We orderded no sides to accompany it and didn't need them. Service was excellent. YouTube's Chef's Apprentice”

“Food was amazing - the kitchen nailed it. The service was disappointing. Starting with the hostess and right through to management. Low energy, nice but unfriendly across the board. For the money, staff needs to up their game. But the food was incredible- fantastic flavors 😋”

“I had high expectations for Callie, but unfortunately the experience did not justify the price. We started with the Late Bloomer whiskey cocktail, which was very good and one of the highlights of the meal. The baba ghanoush appetizer was also flavorful, and the homemade fresh bread was excellent. However, the portion was surprisingly small for the price. For the main course, I ordered the hanger steak. While it was prepared well, the portion was extremely small and came with no sides, making it feel overpriced. As a side dish, I ordered the patatas bravas, which was disappointing and lacked the flavor I was expecting. Another surprise was the additional 4% surcharge added to the bill to cover benefits for full-time staff. While I fully support taking care of employees, I would prefer to see those costs reflected transparently in menu pricing rather than added as an extra fee. The staff were very nice, professional, and respectful throughout the evening. They also provided a thoughtful birthday card, which was appreciated. However, for a restaurant positioned at this price point, it was disappointing that there was no complimentary birthday dessert or cake to help celebrate the occasion. Overall, the service was good, but the restaurant felt extremely expensive for the quality and quantity of food being served. I left feeling that the value simply wasn’t there.”