Best Casual Restaurants in Little Italy

Dining here again after a four-year absence. Calabrian food was excellent as always. Very attentive service. But, contrary to Italian custom, the food was rushed to the table. Mains came while we were only halfway through the antipasti. Quite obviously they now want to turn tables quickly. The website states that a two-top is alloted just an hour and 15 minutes. As good as the food was, and as friendly and attentive as the service was, we will not return.

Incredible! We started with the sushi-grade Hot Oil Seated Salmon and the Whipped Buttermilk Ricotta with charred bread for dipping. We also had the Roasted Chinese Eggplant sitting on lemon yogurt and pine nuts that had the appearance of sushi and the taste of beautifully seasoned eggplant. We also had the juicy cheeseburger special which had perfect fries.

This is our favorite Italian restaurant in Little Italy. The food, service and environment makes it a must visit when we are in town. The riso fritto…the best!

What can I say? This is easily one of the best happy hour spots in San Diego! The ambiance is stunning, the service is outstanding, and the food is absolutely incredible. We had yet another fantastic experience here, this time for an early dinner to celebrate my kid’s birthday. The oysters were incredibly fresh, the Japanese sweet potatoes are a must-try, the fish and chips were amazing—so fresh and moist—and the clam chowder was perfection. The smoked trout dip wasn’t my favorite this time, but it was still a solid appetizer. Our server, Mike, was exceptional—attentive, polite, and spot-on with his food recommendations. We’ll definitely be back, and if you’ve never been to this place, make a reservation now. You can thank me later!

We had a lovely time at Lala. We met the proprietor and thoroughly enjoyed the conversation. The food was very good. The atmosphere was very comfortable. The wine prices were a little too high. But highly suggest the espresso martini. Would like to see more vegan options available.