Best Restaurants with a Wood Oven in Mission Valley

We were there this evening 2/16/2025 to celebrate my daughter's 18th birthday! I would have given it 5 stars if it weren't for the hostess. She was a young girl no more than 25 years of age. She was rude first on the phone, then when we arrived as well. Our waitress was amazing/superb and our food was great. I would still highly recommend, the restaurant.

Isola is a fantastic spot in Little Italy! My party of four and I had an amazing experience from start to finish. We began with the burrata as an appetizer, which was rich and creamy. Our waiter, Alexandri, treated us exceptionally well, making us feel special and welcomed. The Tuscany wine we ordered was outstanding, as always. For the main course:    •   My friend ordered the gnocchi (potato-based pasta) and kindly shared a piece with us—it was delicious.    •   Another friend had the eggplant parmigiana, which he also shared, and it was incredibly flavorful.    •   My salmon, cooked in the wood oven with vegetables, was perfectly prepared and full of flavor.    •   My husband ordered the steak, and it was tender, juicy, and cooked to perfection. To finish, we had the chocolate budino with caramel and sea salt, and it was pure indulgence! Overall, Isola never disappoints—the food, service, and atmosphere make it a must-visit in Little Italy!

Was a really nice place to catch a random Saturday brunch….aesthetic was nice and you could see the pool from our seating area. We liked the cocktails and my short rib hash was delicious.

Very friendly staff, food was delicious. The artichoke appetizer special was incredibly good. We shared a bottle of wine and had some great entrees. The server was helpful in decision making and offered my wife and I a complimentary dessert with valentines being the next day. What more could you ask for? Take it from this Italian, who has eaten pizza in Napoli this place is the real deal.

It was an amazing experience I recommend it very much. The worker are actually Italian and know what they are doing, and the food is incredibly good, highly recommend.