Orexi, the Greek word for “appetite” or “desire,” is the name of a new restaurant in a recently rebranded hotel in Little Italy. Formerly called DoubleTree by Hilton, and a Radisson before that, the property now goes by (pause to take a breath) Courtyard by Marriott San Diego Downtown Little Italy.
The 334-room hotel has been upgraded from its Doubletree days. The design is dubbed coastal chic. A few rooms are two-floor suites connected by a spiral staircase. And first-floor Orexi offers dishes that blend local ingredients with traditional Mediterranean meals.
Orexi is spacious and inviting. The room is open to the public and currently serves breakfast (6:30 to 10 a.m.) and dinner (4 to 10 p.m.). Hotel officials say a lunch service is coming in the near future.
At a recent press dinner, guests got to try a little bit of everything, served family style. The lighter first course featured grilled caulini, Mediterranean chopped salad (yes, plenty of feta cheese) and ancient grain tabbouleh & roasted beets.
Then came the fish and meats. The pan-seared salmon had a nice char. Grilled butcher’s cut steak was enlivened by pickled red onions, za ‘atar spiced fries, and chermoula, a vibrant herb sauce and marinade from North Africa.
I didn’t save room for dessert, but nonetheless ate a whole honey donut, still warm after being handmade in the kitchen.
The service staff, many who hail from all over the world, are gracious and friendly. Indeed, the new Marriott is working hard to be a good neighbor in Little Italy.
General manager Alpha Barry says locals on their way to nearby Amici Park dog run are prone to stopping into the hotel to get a look (dogs are welcome).
The Marriott also has a Social Club for guests. Sign up and get discounts at area restaurants that include Bencotto and Monello.
Little Italy has a popular restaurant called Buon Appetito. Most know that it translates from Italian to English as “enjoy your meal.” To share that sentiment in Greek here at the Marriott, you’ll need to learn to say “kali orexi.”
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