Callie Restaurant is the melding of Chef Travis Swikard’s love of Mediterranean cuisine but using farmer’s, and fishermen’s and ingredients from the San Diego region.  Swikard is a native of San Diego who gained experience cooking in NYC and England before opening this, his first solo venture.  The name Callie is Greek for “the most beautiful” and that well describes the large striking interior and well-seasoned, tasty food.  You enter near the bar with its curved wood ceiling and then move into the large dining area filled with bare wood tables.  A variety of seating options include chairs and benches some with windows to the outside streets and some next to the glassed in wine cellar and private dining room.  The long open kitchen is on one side, exposed ducts are painted white in the ceiling, with lots of plants in the room and background music.   They have no dedicated parking lot but a city lot is next door and the restaurant will validate your parking ticket there for a couple of hours.   The menu was supplemented by some nightly specials (some of which we chose)  and the wine list was well priced.  Service was super friendly and helpful in determining how many of the small shared plates we would need.  They do offer a ‘feed-me’ menu where the kitchen picks what you get for a set price, but we picked our own items.  It was a flavor packed delightful meal.  I hope you’ll try it when in town. Continue reading →