Civico 2064, the newest venture from the acclaimed Civico 1845 team in San Diego, opens in Los Feliz today. Building on the success of their original location, brothers Dario and Pietro Gallo are poised to redefine the Los Angeles Italian dining scene with a sophisticated blend of traditional Calabrian cuisine and contemporary, vegan-friendly fare.
A New Chapter in “Calabr-ifornia” cuisine
Civico 2064 expands upon the celebrated legacy of Civico 1845, a cornerstone of San Diego’s Little Italy since 2015. The new location promises an extensive menu that merges the rich culinary heritage of Calabria with modern, health-conscious innovations. Known for their dedication to fresh, light, and coastal Italian dishes, the Gallo brothers emphasize organic, seasonal, and farm-sourced ingredients. Their menu includes a substantial selection of vegan options, showcasing the versatility of plant-based cooking without compromising on flavor.
“Nearly half of our menu is dedicated to vegan Italian dishes,” says Chef Pietro Gallo. “We aim to offer meals that are both delicious and health-conscious, using seasonal vegetables, premium tomatoes, and Italian olive oil. We’ve perfected our vegan versions of classic Italian ingredients, such as rice-based mozzarella, ricotta from almond cream and soy milk bechamel, to create dishes like lasagna that are both satisfying and innovative.”
Showcasing Calabrian Flavors & Premium Ingredients
The menu at Civico 2064 features standout dishes that celebrate Calabrian culinary traditions. The Pomodoro Fresco highlights house-made tonnarelli pasta infused tossed with volcanic Vesuvio soil-grown Piennolo cherry tomatoes and finished with garlic and basil. For seafood enthusiasts, the Pacheri Civico is a dried pasta from the premium pasta producer, Gragnano, and offers fresh lemon infused pasta with clams, calamari, and prawns in a delicate tomato sauce. The Tagliatelle della Sila highlights housemade tagliatelle pasta paired with earthy Sila porcini mushrooms and spicy n’duja Calabrian sausage, finished with Crotonese pecorino. This dish reflects the Gallo brothers’ roots in Cosenza, where porcini mushrooms are a seasonal delicacy.
These pasta dishes, alongside rich entrees of chicken saltimbocca glazed with a rosemary-scented demiglace, grilled whole branzino with fennel and oranges, Flannery Beef 14-day dry aged New York steak and seasonal produce from local Orto Farms underscore Civico 2064’s commitment to exceptional ingredients and traditional recipes. All embrace a philosophy centered on simplicity. Chef Gallo notes, however, that “la semplicità non è una cosa semplice,” meaning, “simplicity is not a simple thing.”
Plant-based Innovation: A New Vegan Frontier
In San Diego magazine’s 2016 review of Civico’s Little Italy location, the restaurant’s vibe was described as warm and welcoming, like crashing “a family dinner somewhere in the toe portion of Italy,” while the San Diego Union Tribune celebrated that Civico’ “animal-product-free dishes are not only as good as the regular ones, they’re actually better.”
Chef Pietro’s expertise, honed under Italy’s leading vegan chefs, shapes Civico 2064’s plant-based menu. The restaurant’s vegan Milanese features a breaded and fried eggplant cutlet, topped with rich tomato sauce and vegan mozzarella. Other highlights include house-made vegan ricotta using almond cream, vegan Parmigiano crafted from nuts and nutritional yeast, and a vegan ragu with plant-based Beyond Meat.
To achieve an authentic Italian flavor profile, Civico 2064 partners with Los Angeles-based Orto Farm, which grows heirloom varieties of tomatoes, zucchini, basil, and herbs using Italian seeds. Various ingredients are sourced from Italy and represent the highest quality, including Sicily’s adored Barbera extra virgin olive oil and La Torrente Pacchetella of “Pomodorino del Piennolo del Vesuvio DOP”. This collaboration ensures that the produce is as close to its Italian origins as possible, offering a genuine “Calabr-ifornia” dining experience.
Inspired Interiors: Rustic Elegance & Arte Povera Influence
The design of Civico 2064, by Agostino Sannino of Itaca Design Studio, blends modern elegance with rustic charm. The interior features a bright, white-washed, shabby chic style, incorporating natural and reclaimed materials to create a warm, inviting atmosphere. Brick barrel arches reminiscent of Italian wine caves and metallic accents introduce a contemporary touch.
Sannino’s design draws inspiration from postwar artist Lucio Fontana and the Arte Povera movement, using reclaimed materials like pots and pans to give the space a trattoria-style charm. Mixed chairs and strategically placed plants enhance the homey feel, making it a perfect setting for communal dining.
Civico 2064 is located at 2064 Hillhurst Ave., Los Angeles, CA 90027 and open daily from 5:00PM. Reservations can be made through OpenTable.
About Civico 2064
Civico 2064 brings the renowned flavors of Civico 1845 from San Diego to Los Angeles. Known for its robust vegan Italian menu and coastal cuisine, Civico 1845, established in San Diego’s Little Italy in 2015, quickly became a local favorite. The expansion to Los Angeles in August 2024 with Civico 2064 continues the tradition of offering a diverse menu that highlights both classic Calabrian dishes and innovative plant-based options. Committed to high-quality ingredients and a design that marries modern elegance with rustic charm, Civico 2064 provides a unique dining experience that captures the essence of coastal Italian cuisine.
