Serves meat, vegan options available. Italian-run restaurant in San Diego's Little Italy since 2015. Menu has a vegan section offering items like spinach ravioli, lasagna, fettucine, fried mushrooms, and cheese substitute. Vegan gelato and tiramisu for dessert. Makes pasta in-house. Open Mon 12:00pm-9:30pm, Tue-Thu 4:00pm-9:30pm, Fri-Sat 12:00pm-10:30pm, Sun 12:00pm-9:30pm.
-
1845 India St (at Little Italy), San Diego, California, USA, 92101
-
Loading...
-
- Outdoor seating
- Accepts credit cards
-
-
Last update on 05 Jan 2022 by Vegnrnr
Update business info -
Added by mutant_pie on 11 Jun 2015
-
-
139 Reviews
First Review by vsvihla
VickiNewMath
Points +947
The best Italian vegan options! - Edit
Amazing service and you will not wait long for your food! The flavor is decadent and you will savir every single bite!
Read moreGuest
ScarletCastro
Points +26
Great vegan menu - Edit
I had the vegan lasagna and cannoli. They tasted great!
Read moreGuest
CamAndri
Points +40
Vegan Italian Food 😍 - Edit
Based on other reviews I decided to try Civico . It was a 15 minute walk from my hotel and worth the journey. Loved the bread and pesto appetizer. I’m glad it was vegan friendly as that is a rarity among most Italian restaurants that I’ve experienced. Ordered the Ragu Di Funghi and Cannoli pastry. Both were delicious! #Veganuary
Read morePros: Vegan Options, Food portion, Cocktail Selections
Guest
amyfoxinabox
Points +122
Would dine again - Edit
They have a fully vegan section of the menu with options for apps and mains. I had the bruschetta and the rigatoni. Both were delicious. The bread and pesto they serve are also vegan friendly according to our server.
Read morePros: Clearly marked vegan section of menu
Guest
HappyFoodLove1
Points +283
Civico 1845 boasts the first Italian Vegan Menu in the USA. - Edit
They bring a bag of focaccia and vegan pesto when you sit down. It is delicious! Everything I ate was so tasty! I appreciate having vegan options instead of one dish (in none fully vegan restaurants)
Read morePros: Delicious, Complimentary vegan pesto and focaccia
Cons: None
Guest
ssluchansky
Points +579
Limited choices but very good - Edit
Civico boasts of having the first Italian-Vegan menu in the US. Their vegan menu, though, has fewer than 10 options, half as starters, the other half as main dishes. (I can't help think of "John's of 12th Street" in NYC's East Village, where the vegan menu is almost as large as the regular menu and where the restaurant tries to veganize almost every non-vegan offering, including desserts. And, the food is great.) Civico's Lasagna and Ragu di Funghi dishes were excellent, a little pricey but substantial portions. Once the order has been placed, they serve a vegan focaccia with olive oil and basil, which is thoughtful and delicious. And, having a vegan tiramisu was a wonderful opportunity. Still, the vegan effort would feel more complete if they offered a vegan salad (caesar?) and/or soup. When I asked about veganizing a salad, I was told that they could serve the (non-vegan) caesar dressing on the side. I did really like what I had, and would return, but I keep thinking about John's of 12th Street.
Read morePros: Several very nice options, Friendly and efficient service
Cons: More options for salad, soup, dessert
Guest
TarynD
Points +40
Authentic Italian - Edit
Little Italy is so alive with music, dancing, and tons of Italian restaurants. It was very close to the airport and we went straight here when I arrived. We sat outside and enjoyed amazing wine and food. My friend, not a vegan, ended up ordering from the vegan menu because it looked so good!
Read moreThe food was AMAZING! The pasta dishes were so flavorful! Fungi Fettuccine, Putenesca, and the stuffed zucchini blossom were all delicious. I'm still thinking about the yummy food this morning! This place will not disappoint!
Pros: Fungi Fettuccine , Putenesca , Stuffed zucchini blossoms
Cons: Nothing, Nothing, Nothing
Guest
minthin
Points +995
Like what you get at home - Edit
Ok I actually really like this place. They take a lot of pride in their vegan menu, which makes me feel welcome as a vegan and attracted to come here.
Read moreI often avoid Italian because I love to cook, and Italian food is so easy to make at home. That goes for my experience here. The gnocchi I had was good, but not much different than I had at home. Maybe somebody with a more refined palate would be able to discern the careful details that I know the chefs put into this, but to a plebeian like me I was left unamazed. I am really glad that they were artful with using good vegan cheeses and other plant based foods. The lasagna was very good; not mind blowing but definitely enjoyed it. And the bread they bring out before the meal is wonderful, light and fluffy with some good dips.
The portions here are big; neither time did I finish my meal. So it’s great for sharing.
Given the prices and that the food is a lot like what I’d make at home, this is not a place I would rush back to. They do have a mushroom linguini on the vegan menu that looked fun. I hope they continue to channel that creativity.
Pros: Big portions, Lovely outdoor seating
Cons: Food is ordinary, Higher prices
Guest
MarkoHlibchuk
Points +33
Great vegan options - Edit
Had the vegan gnocchi dish and it was outstanding. They also label their vegan wines which I rarely ever see at restaurants. Finished our meal with the vegan tiramisu.
Read moreGuest
AlwaysForAnimals
Points +353
Omg so good - Edit
A dedicated vegan menu with amazing dishes! Caprese, gnocchi, lasagna, rigatoni!!! It was sooooo good and so nice to go to a fancy Italian dinner and get to order something delicious.
Read moreGuest
ahimsa4ever
Points +271
Great vegan menu - Edit
Great service and ambiance; delicious food (extensive vegan menu and wine list that shows which wines are vegan). This is rare to see in non vegan restaurants so I was very happy with the overall experience. Everyone was really nice and our service was impeccable though the place was super busy. Appetizers and main dish were delicious and dessert and espresso are a must.
Read moreUpdated from previous review on 2023-08-12
Pros: Menu choices for vegans, Wines for vegans, Service
Guest
chrisaultman
Points +59
DON'T GO HERE EVER! CROOKS! - Edit
The food was OK, but the service could not have been any worse. Worst I've ever had. I was taught in this situation to tip a penny because no tip could be interpreted as forgetting. Thankfully, I have a photographic memory because when I checked my bank app, the total was wrong. I asked the manager to see the receipt and the awful server WROTE HIMSELF A TEN DOLLAR TIP AND SCRIBBLED MY NAME! The manager shrugged, gave me $10, said, "Whata you gonna a doa?", and said the server wouldn't be punished. I said, "He committed theft and forgery, A FELONY, and that's it?! No punishment, no restitution?!" Go to any other restaurant but these scumbags.
Read moreCons: THIEVES, Terrible service
Guest
Marcel13
Points +59
Vegan menu is fantastic - Edit
The vegan menu has a great selection of starters and main dishes.
Read morePros: Selection, Vegan varieties
Cons: A bit too pricy
Guest
veganveg1
Points +361
Extensive vegan menu - Edit
They have a variety of vegan appetizers, drinks, entrees, and desserts. The almond ricotta & fig bruschetta was amazing, as well as the tiramisu. Vegan wine bottles are also labelled. Everything is super flavorful. The complimentary bread is also vegan. Highly recommend!
Read morePros: Vegan drinks/wine menu , Amazing food , Great service
Guest
Sphynxdani
Points +493
As many vegan options. - Edit
Really refreshing to see a menu where there is more than two vegan options. Even in desserts. The cocktails were good too but service was rushed. Good option if you want to explore little Italy SD
Read morePros: Bread! , Cocktails and Wines , Food and staff
Cons: Limited time seating even if you’ve reserved
Guest
JJones315
Points +2331
Excellent choice in urban San Diego! - Edit
A long-established restaurant in San Diego’s “Little Italy” with a specially designated vegan menu, including desserts. There are also vegan (or could be made vegan) options on the regular menu. The quality was very good.
Read moreThey also have Mocktails!
Pros: Great location, Good quality food, beverage and service, Lots of veg/vegan options
Guest
dea_larissa
Points +771
Amazing vegan Italian classics - Edit
Went for my birthday dinner with some friends and were thrilled that they had a separate vegan menu with plenty of appetizers, entrees, and dessert options! We had:
Read more- foccacia with vegan pesto
- roasted vegetable stuffed zucchini blossoms
- gnocchi with eggplant and plant sausage
- vegan tiramisu
- affogato with vegan pistachio gelato
- vegan cannoli
All were amazing and portions are generous!
Guest
mchg
Points +111
Incredible - Edit
Best restaurant we ate at in San Diego. Out of this worlddddd gnocchi (GET IT) and lasagna. I would fly back down to just to eat this again soon. Oh, and the service is awesome. Seriously do not miss.
Read morePros: Gnocchi, Service , Gnocchi
Cons: Nada
Guest
MilesVeganEats
Points +528
Disappointing food and service. - Edit
Very disappointing experience. The pasta was not even cooked properly for my Ragú di Funghi. Taste wise, salty and it tasted like soy sauce. The dark color might possibile from the soy sauce (if I imitate the salty tasty, I would definitely use soy sauce). Also, I am not sure there was even any mushrooms in the sauce but dark paste that I got some bits of walnut pieces. For $25 a plate with a fistful of inappropriately cooked pasta that was very salty. It is definitely overly priced. The serve was mediocre.
Read moreI am writing this restaurant off. It’s just not worth it.
Please go check out Donna Jeans.
Updated from previous review on 2023-04-15
Cons: Can’t cook pasta properly and salty, Expensive, Mediocre service
Guest
Besmacary
Points +170
Mmmm - Edit
Wow verrrryyy good Italian food. Where I’m from vegan Italian food is a rare commodity so this was very nice.
Read moreGuest
lfusfeld
Points +342
Delicious - Edit
We had great food and great service here. Sitting outside was lovely and I highly recommend it, especially if you have both vegan and nonvegan diners.
Read morePros: Fully vegan section of the menu, Great location, Willing to take large parties and separate checks
Cons: A little pricey
Guest
MattChester
Points +3054
Unbeatable - Edit
Everything was so so good. Best authentic vegan Italian menu I’ve come across
Read moreGuest
DeborahMcLaughlin
Points +64
Wonderful - Edit
Delightful meal outside. Very pleasant and the food was great.
Read morePros: Multiple vegan options
Guest
GoodNewsVeg
Points +458
Just Like the Real Thing - Edit
I've been searching for a good vegan lasagna for months, and I certainly found it here. In fact, my only complaint is that it is a little "too good." Enormous portion, cheesy, lots of noodles, no way I could eat the entire thing. Good news: Eating leftovers for breakfast, cold, and it's even better!
Read moreGuest
NikiaGray
Points +50
Mixed Feelings - Edit
I hate giving restaurants that support a vegan diet bad reviews but I really have mixed feelings about this place. As other reviewers mentioned they do have a vegan section of their menu and both the bread and gelato were great. My linguine al la verde was not. Essentially it was linguine with pesto so it’s a fairly simple dish, meaning the ingredients need to be top notch. They definitely were not using top notch ingredients. The pesto tasted like it came from a jar - bad and bland. Pesto is basically olive oil and basil - you can’t mess it up - unless you get it from a jar…and the sun dried tomatoes had not been reconstituted or soaked in oil so they were hard and tasteless. Just disappointing.
Read moreAlso they had the doors wide open when it was only 50 degrees out. I don’t know if that’s a California thing, but it meant I ate my dinner in an icebox.
MilesVeganEats
Thank you for your honest review!
Read moreGuest
MartynaKumarka
Points +483
Great and true Italian - Edit
Amazing vegan options. I got the homemade gnocchi and my partner said they were better than his meat-dish. Delicious, true taste of Italy
Read morePros: True Italian, Delicious vegan options, Nice stafg
Guest
mmmloveplants
Points +29
Delish vegan options - Edit
The restaurant had a vegan section on their menu that had many delicious-looking options. My friend (not vegan) thought some of the vegan items looked better than the rest of the menu. We shared two vegan dishes - lasagna and gnocchi, and a salad. They were yummy. The lasagna was good, but the gnocchi was amazing and rivaled any non vegan gnocchi I have eaten before I became vegan. A must-have dish if you like gnocchi. The service was great, even though the restaurant was VERY crowded. Prices were fair for the location. I would definitely go back there again. They have had a vegan section on their menu since 2015.
Read moreIf you are planning to eat there on a busy night, make reservations and plan extra time to find parking (pricey and limited options for parking).
Updated from previous review on 2022-12-05
Pros: Many vegan options, Good service
Cons: Popular place, reservations a must
Guest
For Members
Why was my review removed? Guidelines for writing a review View our privacy policyFor Business Owners
Claim this business
See inaccurate information? Submit an update here Link to this page from your site See an unfair review? View full terms & conditionsThis page has been viewed 0 times.