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Best Casual Restaurants in University Heights

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145 restaurants available nearby

A photo of Madison restaurant
4.5
Awesome(3023)
Price: Expensive
• Mediterranean • University Heights
Booked 19 times today
With their stunning design, classic cocktails & highly acclaimed fare, Madison finds itself among San Diego's can't miss restaurants! Serving many of Michelin recognized Chef Mario Cassineri classic dishes, perfect for Date Night of celebrating with friends. ʜᴀᴘᴘʏ ʜᴏᴜʀ - ᴇᴠᴇʀʏᴅᴀʏ 4-6ᴘᴍᴛᴜᴇꜱᴅᴀʏ - ʟɪᴠᴇ ᴊᴀᴢᴢ 7-9ᴘᴍᴡᴇᴅɴᴇꜱᴅᴀʏ - ᴅɪɴɴᴇʀ ᴡɪᴛʜ ᴅᴏɢꜱᴛʜᴜʀꜱᴅᴀʏ - ᴅᴊ ꜱᴘɪɴɴɪɴɢ ᴏʟᴅ ꜱᴄʜᴏᴏʟ ᴠɪɴʏʟꜰʀɪᴅᴀʏ & ꜱᴀᴛᴜʀᴅᴀʏ ɴɪɢʜᴛ - ᴀʟᴡᴀʏꜱ ᴀ ᴘᴀʀᴛʏ ᴡᴇᴇᴋᴇɴᴅ ʙᴏᴏᴢʏ ʙʀᴜɴᴄʜ - ʟɪᴠᴇ ᴅᴊꜱꜱᴜɴᴅᴀʏ ɴɪɢʜᴛ - ʟᴀᴛɪɴ ᴊᴀᴢᴢ 6-8ᴘᴍ
A photo of Kairoa Brewing Company restaurant
4.5
Awesome(103)
Price: Moderate
• Brewery • University Heights
Kairoa is the culmination of our passion for food, beer and our original home country of New Zealand. The food is New Zealand comfort food mixed with southern Californian favorites. Nothing beats our New Zealand style smoked lamb fries and a crisp pilsner.Our mission is to create delicious beer and food that makes people feel at home in our modern farmhouse designed space, a nod to our family past. Enjoy our rooftop bar with friends while enjoying the sunset over the San Diego urban scenery.
A photo of C-Level restaurant
4.7
Exceptional(4907)
Price: Moderate
• Cocktail Bar • Downtown
Booked 102 times today
Resting on stilts atop San Diego By C Level Lounge, is an upscale-casual lounge on the waterfront overlooking the city skyline and Coronado.
A photo of Callie Restaurant restaurant
4.8
Exceptional(230)
Price: Very Expensive
• Mediterranean • Downtown
Booked 38 times today
Callie represents Chef Travis Swikard's debut solo project after spending a decade working alongside the esteemed Chef Daniel Boulud in New York City. The restaurant’s name, "Callie," comes from the Greek word "kallos," meaning "the most beautiful," and embodies its blend of Mediterranean cuisine with local ingredients and terroir, from sea to land from San Diego, Swikard's hometown. In 2022, Callie was acclaimed as one of America's top new restaurants by Esquire and Robb Report, and received both a Bib Gourmand and a Plate from the Michelin Guide. Callie is a dedicated supporter of Feeding San Diego, having contributed over 1 million meals to those in need in San Diego since its launch. Swikard is set to open his second restaurant in La Jolla in 2025.
A photo of Great Maple San Diego restaurant
4.8
Exceptional(4386)
Price: Moderate
• American • Hillcrest
Booked 61 times today
We Serve Dinner, Lunch, Brunch and Weekday Breakfast. We are a modern American eatery featuring seasonal fare, fresh house made pies, and local produce cocktails. We have a full bar and a social wine list. Open for Outdoor dining!
A photo of Cellar Hand restaurant
4.7
Exceptional(111)
Price: Expensive
• Farm-to-table • Hillcrest
Booked 6 times today
Nestled in the heart of Hillcrest, San Diego, Cellar Hand embodies a commitment to sustainability, craftsmanship, and community. Through a farm-to-table approach, our menu showcases hyper-local seasonal fare. Our extensive wine list highlights the diverse terroir of California, serving as an extension of founder’s Pali Wine Co. Santa Barbara County winery. By fostering deep connections with local artisans, farmers, fishers, and stewards, Cellar Hand strives to be a destination where guests can savor the essence of California’s bounty in every bite and sip.Enjoy our exposed kitchen, an indoor-outdoor bar, outdoor fire pits, and artwork by Nick Perr. Opened Wednesday - Sunday with daily happy hour specials and Sunday brunch!
A photo of Gravity Heights Mission Valley restaurant
4.7
Exceptional(207)
Price: Moderate
• American • Mission Valley
Booked 20 times today
We’re not out to take the San Diego beer scene by storm or reinvent the wheel because the truth is, there’s no shortage of good breweries in San Diego. Instead, our aim is to pair that good beer with the same delicious food, exceptional service and genuine hospitality we’re known for so you never have to compromise one for the other again. Situated in Mission Valley, our 9,000 square foot brewpub includes a full service restaurant, an expansive and lush outdoor beer garden, and a pretty stellar team to make sure you always have good food in your mouth and a solid beer in your hand.
A photo of Lala restaurant
4.5
Awesome(131)
Price: Moderate
• Italian • Little Italy
Booked 24 times today
From the Owners of Barbusa .we bring you "Lala" a captivating blend of modern and classic Italian cuisine, paired with handcrafted cocktails in a cozy, sexy-chic ambiance. Our menu showcases timeless Italian flavors with a contemporary twist, from traditional Stuffed Shells to inventive loaded potato gnocchi. The intimate atmosphere, with dimmed lights and plush furnishings, sets the stage for romantic dinners or vibrant gatherings.Our bar is a haven of mixology artistry, featuring classic Negronis and signature creations like the "Lala Martini." Sustainability is a core value—we source responsibly and implement eco-friendly practices in both the kitchen and the bar. "Lala" isn't just a restaurant; it's a community that appreciates culinary excellence, inviting you to savor the extraordinary in every bite, sip, and moment. Join us for a celebration of Italian cuisine, crafted with contemporary flair, and served in an ambiance that exudes romance.
A photo of Buona Forchetta restaurant
4.6
Exceptional(854)
Price: Moderate
• Italian • South Park
Booked 53 times today
Buona Forchetta started in 2011 as a craving of Matteo’s to bring some of his native Italy to our adopted home of South Park. We found the perfect corner and built the perfect oven. Since then, we’ve strived to deliver an exceptional and authentic Italian experience to our customers keeping our focus on the simple recipes that Matteo grew up on. We owe a huge “grazie” to our neighbors who have joined us on this awesome journey, and we hope that you will continue to be part of our story.
A photo of Kettner Exchange restaurant
4.7
Exceptional(1359)
Price: Expensive
• Contemporary American • Little Italy
Booked 52 times today
Kettner Exchange boasts two levels of indoor/outdoor drinking and dining and Little Italy’s only rooftop patio with spanning harbor views. We feature Progressive American cuisine from critically acclaimed Executive Chef Brian Redzikowski. In 2019, Kettner Exchange was named to Michelin Guide's prestigious Bib Gourmand list. Kettner Exchange has proudly maintained this award every year thereafter. Originally introduced in 1997, the Bib Gourmand category highlights restaurants that serve high-quality meals which include two courses and a glass of wine or dessert for $40 or less.

See what locals rave about

From verified diners like you
From verified diners like you
  • Olga
    Baja California •6 reviews
    5.0
    Dined 1 day ago
    Very friendly staff and tasty food. Would definitely recommend and come back myself :)
    More info
    Great Maple San DiegoPrice: Moderate• American• Hillcrest
    4.8
  • MichelleVIP
    Baltimore / Maryland •15 reviews
    5.0
    Dined 2 days ago
    First time at C-level for a date night! We sat outside at table right next to water. The heaters made it comfortable and it was a beautiful view of the harbor! The server was great-perfect suggestions and attentive at the appropriate times. We had the oysters, artichoke fritters, wedge BLT, and filet. Then, the brownie sundae for dessert! It was all delicious! I will go back for the wedge BLT and sundae alone! It was a great dinner and would defintely recommend!
    More info
    C-LevelPrice: Moderate• Cocktail Bar• Downtown
    4.7
  • Haley
    Phoenix / Arizona •1 review
    5.0
    Dined 4 days ago
    One of the best meals we’ve ever had. We can’t wait to be back. We did the Mediterranean feast, it was 5 courses. The first course was dip trip with fresh out the oven pita that I could have made a whole meal off of. The baba ganoush was incredible. My husband doesn’t usually like it but it was his favorite of the dips. The second course was a yellowtail with a mild spice level that paired well. The third course was a potato pasta? It was delicious. Sometimes the descriptions of the course were hard to hear and read off fast. The next course was a crusted halibut & then finally a lemon meringue with coconut bark. I kept thinking the portions may be too small especially since my husband can eat a lot. But we both left more than full. I did the wine pairing with the meal & there wasn’t one that I didn’t like. I struggled to keep up throughout the meal & wasn’t able to finish the last glass but thoroughly enjoyed the experience here. The service was excellent. We had Connor and Aiden but everyone was very attentive.
    More info
    Callie RestaurantPrice: Very Expensive• Mediterranean• Downtown
    4.8
  • JimVIP
    San Diego •1 review
    5.0
    Dined 4 days ago
    We were so pleased that Madison has brought back their delicious jambalaya! Having grown up in New Orleans, I can say that Madison‘s jambalaya is some of the best around! Also loved the live jazz, friendly staff, and good vibe of the place!
    More info
    MadisonPrice: Expensive• Mediterranean• University Heights
    4.5
  • TypSD
    San Diego •25 reviews
    5.0
    Dined on Mar 8, 2020
    Great food, great service. We sat at the rooftop on a beautiful, sunny day. It was really nice and thoroughly enjoyed our time. We took our 4 year old daughter. It’s very family and dog friendly.
    More info
    Kairoa Brewing CompanyPrice: Moderate• Brewery• University Heights
    4.5
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