Diners' Choice: Italian restaurants in San Diego

OpenTable

Updated December 05, 2024

Looking for restaurants with the best overall Italian cuisine in San Diego? You’re in the right place. Each month OpenTable analyzes more than 400,000 new diner reviews. We sort the results by category to help you discover new favorites. It's a great partnership: you reserve, eat, and review. We listen...and deliver the results for all to benefit. Enjoy!

Baci Restaurant - San Diego

4.9

4.9 (1903)

$31 to $50

Italian

Old Town

About the restaurant

Baci Ristorante offers diners a hint of old world Italian charm, with plush booths, white tablecloths, and gracious servers clad in tuxedos. While the decor is subtly modern, the menu is classic, celebrating Northern and Southern Italian cuisine. Specialties include classic pasta dishes, veal, and fresh seafood, with especially tempting daily specials offered by Executive Chef Domenico Alioto. In addition to the cuisine, the restaurant's charming and welcoming features--include an extensive wine list, elegant patio setting, and romantic main dining room--have made Baci a consistent favorite among locals for over 30 years.

Top review

Charles

Dined 4 days ago

There is absolutely no place better to enjoy a special occasion, date night out or in our case to thank a special couple for always being in our corner. Bacc's staff make you feel like you are the only people in the room and take every opportunity to make sure you enjoy your meal. Thank you to the excellent staff and customer service from the valet staff to the incredible kitchen/meal prep staff.

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Popular dish

Parmigiana

Vinarius

4.9

4.9 (377)

$30 and under

Italian

Downtown

About the restaurant

Vinarius is an Italian Restaurant & Wine Bar in Little Italy San Diego. We offer an extensive wine list with wines coming from different regions of the world; the best meat and cheese board with Italian cured meats and different cheeses to pair with our wines. Our chef Alex makes homemade pasta enriched with our homemade sauces, entrees, pizza, different appetizers to choose from, and desserts that pair well with our port wines and after-dinner drinks. You definitely have to try our daily specials!
Our cozy full bar is also the perfect place to enjoy your drink and food while watching some sports!

Top review

ElizabethVIP

Dined 5 days ago

Delicious food and great service. Great neighborhood spot.

Tavola Nostra Pizzeria E Cucina

4.8

4.8 (546)

$30 and under

Italian

Hillcrest

About the restaurant

San Diego, meet Pinsa.
An ancient recipe comes back to life at Our Hillcrest Restaurant.
Tavola Nostra Pizzeria E Cucina is a full-service Italian restaurant and pizzeria bringing a modern touch to family recipes and an ancient style of pizza called, Pinsa.

Tavola Nostra, which means “our table”, is owned and operated by Jeff Oliveri – a first time restaurateur from a family of longtime restaurant owners who hopes to honor his familial heritage and tradition with his Italian dining concept that creates one of the best Hillcrest restaurants.

Top review

TanaVIP

Dined 1 day ago

We love coming here for the great food! The service is always outstanding too.

Cesarina

4.9

4.9 (5502)

$30 and under

Italian

Ocean Beach

About the restaurant

Cesarina is a grandmother, a mother, a daughter—our personification of a nurturer who feeds and cares for her community. From meticulous attention to detail and fresh ingredients to the warm and inviting atmosphere, this restaurant is a celebration of the power of food and family.

Top review

BrianVIP

Dined 6 days ago

The only restaurant in San Diego better than Cesarina is Cesarina at Christmas time. The food and service are as good as you can find anywhere but the already beautiful space is taken to the next level with their stunning and spectacular decorations for the holidays. Cesarina is a MUST any time of the year, but especially so at Christmas.

Arrivederci

4.8

4.8 (84)

$31 to $50

Italian

Hillcrest

About the restaurant

Arrivederci Ristorante is an authentic Italian restaurant. Arrivederci means hello. The restaurant's name refers to Italian hospitality offered here. It has a decent semi-formal ambiance. The walls are decorated with paintings gathered from different parts of Europe. Antique lamps are hung from the ceilings to add a rustic appeal. Arrivederci specializes in preparing all dishes with authentic Italian recipes and ingredients. Grigliata vegetariana is prepared with a variety of assorted grilled vegetables. Rigatoni amatriciana is prepared with tabular pasta soaked in rich sauce, prepared with tomatoes and romano cheese. Italian bacon topping enhances the flavor. Pollo al funghi is the traditional chicken meal. The boneless breast of chicken is topped with mushrooms. The ingredients are cooked in wine sauce. Arrivederci serves Italian wines and beers.

Top review

LuigiVIP

Dined 4 days ago

The eggplant parmigiana, calamari, seafood pasta, ossobuco were all outstanding The food and service is consistently great

Monzu Fresh Pasta

4.9

4.9 (625)

$31 to $50

Italian

Downtown

About the restaurant

We are Monzu Fresh Pasta, serving Italian and contemporary flavors made from scratch in the heart of San Diego’s East Village since 2018. In drawing upon our European heritage and passion for hand-crafted meals, we take pride in transporting you to Italy via our home country’s most beloved staple: fresh pasta.

Top review

Dined on Dec 13, 2024

Food is excellent. Service is great. Daniel, our server was friendly, knowledgeable and attentive.

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Mafalde alla Bolognese

Scuderie Italia

4.8

4.8 (352)

$30 and under

Italian

Pacific Beach

About the restaurant

Scuderie (scoo-de-ree-ye) is often referred to, in Italy, as a racing team garage. In the spirit of teamwork we welcome you to Scuderie Italia, our luxurious home providing you with impeccable service and simple, comforting Italian food and pizza.
Our true Napoletana pizza is proudly made by our vibrant pizzaiolo, Gimmy Piperku, who also heads the kitchen serving handmade pasta and other popular Italian dishes. Enjoy your meal on either one of our our covered patios or dine inside surrounded by beautiful photos of Italian engines and bright racing yellows. Nothing brings people together like good food and we have that for you and your crew!
Buon appetito~ Leonardo and Christine Landini

Top review

craig

Dined on Nov 29, 2024

Wow, what a great local find! The service was spot on and the food was fresh, fast and absolutely delicious. We might go back again tonight,

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4.8

4.8 (3084)

$31 to $50

Italian

North Park

About the restaurant

Neighborhood gem located in the heart of the Historic North Park District, adjoining Balboa Park and the world famous San Diego Zoo. Specializing in homestyle Italian with Gourmet Flair. Hand made Pastas, Award Winning Pizza and Voted Best of Restaurants by San Diego Magazine "Most Romantic". Listed as Top 25 Places to Eat in San Diego "Before You Die" by San Diego Union Tribune.

Make memorable celebrations on our beautiful patio, the perfect ambiance for any occasion. Remember to try our diners favorites, The Theodore's Fix Pizza and Baked Vodka Bolognese.

Look forward to serving you soon!

Top review

kristi

Dined 4 days ago

Best restaurant! We enjoy coming every year to celebrate our anniversary. Exceptional service and food is 100!!

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4.8

4.8 (26)

$31 to $50

Italian

Little Italy

About the restaurant

Sorrento Ristorante offers traditional Italian cuisines in its warm and hospitable ambiance. The restaurant is decorated with simplicity. Washed in decent shades of brown, it has a decorate ceiling. Tiny bulbs hang from the ceiling to create a romantic environment. Large pillars in the dining room are decorated with fresh flower arrangements and glasswork. The restaurant has a native Italian staff. It has a beautiful outdoor patio, serving the warmth of San Diego nights. Sorrento Ristorante is popular for its variety of authentic Italian dips and sauces. Guests can customize their meals by pairing up the sauces with their main meals. Pesto sauce makes a nice combination with all pastas. Chocolate mousse is served with chopped dark chocolate chunks and white chocolate cream topping. The lightly tossed bleu cheese is prepared in the craft kitchen. The bar at Sorrento Ristorante serves Italian wines and beer.

Top review

Grace

Dined on Dec 1, 2024

sorrento was amazing!! the food was so delicious, the drinks were great and the service was incredible!!! everyone was so kind and happy to help in anyway possible! definitely come here

Elvira

4.8

4.8 (411)

$30 and under

Italian

Ocean Beach

About the restaurant

Benvenuti Nella Mia Cucina, Belli De Nonna! Before we dive into the delicious feast prepared for you, let me give you a little taste of my vita. I was born in the heart of Rome, and I've been cooking up a storm my entire life! My cucina has always been the center of the universe for my 3 daughters, 5 grandchildren, 12 great-grandchildren, their friends, loved ones, and acquaintances – everyone was always Benvenuto!

Now, we've brought that same love and flavor right here to San Diego. My beloved grandson, Niccolo', and his amore, Cesarina, are opening the doors of my Cucina with the same warm heart and passion.

Wondering how I made it to 95? Well, it's simple: I ate everything that's served here and filled my life with amore! So, Benvenuti! Don't hesitate to indulge in "Scarpetta" - dip that bread into the sauce, just like my grandchildren used to do at the stove when they thought I wasn't looking.

Here, Belli De Nonna, it’s all about food, family, and creating beautiful memories!

Top review

Nicolas

Dined 5 days ago

Elvira could be described as a well balanced atmosphere providing a heartwarming and subtle touch of classic roman-italian home living with a modern spin.

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