50 Best Italian Restaurants in San Diego

“I am delighted with my experience at this Italian restaurant! From the moment I walked in, I was transported to Italy with a warm ambiance and friendly staff. The food was extraordinary; each dish burst with authentic flavors that joyfully made my taste buds sing. The attention to detail in every plate was evident, showcasing the chef's expertise and dedication to traditional Italian cuisine. The pasta was cooked to perfection, sauces were rich and flavorful, and the ingredients were fresh and high-quality. Not only was the food exceptional, but the service was impeccable. The staff was attentive and knowledgeable and made the entire dining experience even more delightful. I wholeheartedly recommend this restaurant to anyone looking for an unforgettable Italian dining experience in San Diego. In my opinion, this establishment undoubtedly deserves the title of the best Italian restaurant in town.“

“If you are looking for a true Italian experience in San Diego, look no further than Vinarius! We worked with Giuseppe (owner) to host our wedding celebration here back in March, 2023. From the beginning, he was amazing to work with. Incredibly positive and accommodating from the start, we couldn’t have asked for more. The wedding ceremony was planned to be outside and of course, it rained that day. Guiseppe and his staff went above and beyond to accommodate us, allowed us to have the small ceremony inside the restaurant on short notice and made an incredible meal to follow. Our guests were blown away and we couldn’t have been happier. We recommend Vinarius to everyone we know and that is thanks to Giuseppe and his awesome staff. Grazie mille!“

“Food always on point!!!!“

“We absolutely loved our dinner at Monzu in the Gaslamp! From the moment we walked in, the atmosphere was warm and welcoming, and the staff struck the perfect balance of being friendly, attentive, and knowledgeable. We started with the tartare di tonno, which was incredibly fresh and flavorful—an excellent beginning to the meal. The housemade focaccia deserves a special mention: airy, perfectly seasoned, and quite possibly the best I’ve ever had. For the main course, I enjoyed the bucatini all’amatriciana. The pasta was clearly house-made, cooked to perfection, and the sauce had that authentic depth of flavor that only true Southern Italian cooking delivers. We finished with an affogato, which was the ideal ending—simple, rich, and satisfying. Monzu offers authentic Southern Italian fare with genuine hospitality, and everything we tried reflected both freshness and craftsmanship. I would 100% return and highly recommend it to anyone looking for an unforgettable Italian dining experience in San Diego.“

“Great food and great service! Food was fresh and expertly prepared! Probably the best service I have ever experienced and the place was busy at the time we were there!!“

“Fabulous food served in a no-frills, casual atmosphere. The service was excellent and Chef Luciano Cibelli comes out of the kitchen and checks with every table to see how diners are doing. Great place to celebrate a special occasion. We enjoyed the seafood fettucini, chicken parmesian, and the catch of the day, which was sea bass on a bed of roasted vegetables, with beet purée and a delicious beurre blanc. Delish!“

“Took a little while to be seated although I had a reservation and was there on time. Otherwise, the service was on point. Cocktail was perfect and there's a nice wine list, including a good selection of regional Italian wines by the glass. I had the lamb chops, which were perfectly cooked. Portion was large. The vegetables and reduction accompanying the lamb were delicious.“

“cordialità,buon cibo e ambiente raffinato“

“The whole experience was wonderful. The view was beautiful. The food was delicious. The service was out of this world. David, our server went above and beyond to make this evening special for us. We were very impressed both by the restaurant and the service.“

“Delicious, fresh food, made from scratch pasta, wood fired meat and pizzas....and outstanding service!“

“This was our 1st anniversary in November, 1991. This is the first booth inside the door, our favorite. In the several years before meeting Patti, I had taken more than a few dates to Baci’s. Why go there? The food, the service, the personal interaction with staff. Talking to the owner once, I discovered he was neighbors with my roommates brother. We left San Diego in 1992 but winter there since retiring and visit Baci’s every year. So happy they’re still going strong.“

“The Chefs Cheese Wheel pasta was absolutely amazing!!“

“Everything was incredible! Kika, our server, was so kind and helpful. I am celiac and she guided me through what would work for me! The food was delicious. We loved the vibe and greatly enjoyed our visit! 100% worth a visit!“

“2nd visit and again food and service were great. only complaint was they cleared my dessert when I wasn't finished without asking. took that as hint to leave.“

“Excellent food and the service was splendid.“

“Spending my evening at a new restaurant in South Park called Il Posto. So far everything I’ve tried is spectacular.“

“good pizza, sandwiches 🥪 at won't hurt ur pockets. nom noms“

“Great food. Fantastic spot inside UTC“

“C est la troisièmement fois que nous venons dans ce restaurant italien et nous sommes toujours aussi satisfaits des produits authentiquement italiens et de l accueil, aussi bien pour un repas le soir que pour une formule du midi. Nous y retournerons dans doute à notre prochaine visite à Paris“

“This place is absolutely amazing. The service was exceptional and we felt so welcomed. The handmade pasta and dishes are to die for. My husband has the special and I had the pescatore dish followed with dessert. We will definitely be back!“

“Great service great food will be back soon.“

“Food was excellent and Christina the owner has the best personality and knows how to treat her customers! You MUST go there!“

“Vero italiano a San Diego!!! Posto easy ma molto accogliente e curato; Personale super accogliente ed amichevole; Cibo super buono e davvero italiano Consigliata la focaccia di loro produzione e spettacolare spaghetto alla pescatora!! Top A presto“

“Amazing food and a testament to being a good citizen of our planet.“

“Absolutely fantastic experience at Osteria Cotto e Mangiato! The service from Andrea (owner) was warm, attentive, and genuinely welcoming. Every dish we ordered was incredible-from the rich, comforting Carbonara w/anchovies to the Captain's Treasure chest is unexplainable good, everything was cooked to perfection. You can really taste the quality and care in each bite. This place is a gem in San Diego for anyone craving authentic Italian cuisine. Oh, by the way, did I mention the Tiramisu... WOW!! Can’t wait to come back!“

“Was in San Diego for a family reunion and found this restaurant by accident. Great place for some good Italian food. After living in Italy for a number of years nice to discover a place who knows how to prepare authentic Italian food. Next time we come to San Diego we will be enjoying food at Tavola Nostra Pizzeria e Cucina. Grazie per tutte - cibo e buono .“

“I would give it a 5 star but I just paid $25 for two hours of parking when they’re supposed to have their own parking lot. There was a sign that pointed to the left for Filippi’s parking …. Rip off. Don’t know what they’re trying to pull here.“

“Great food. Chicken Marsala, Tortellini Verde, Caprese Salad, Bruchetta.. so good. Has friendly, personal service.“

“The most scrumptious artichoke arugula, Parmesan shavings salad that I split with my husband. Huge portion. Wonderful Chilean Seabass with black squid linguine. I like it with marinara and they accommodate. My husband had a wonderful pasta Bolognese. We topped it off with an incredible tasting lemoncello cake and two decaf cappuccinos. What a meal! Phenomenal restaurant great chef, lovely service great ambience.“

“Ordered the Torpedo sandwich and it hit the spot!!“

“Tonight I visited Vittorio's for the first time and everything about my experience was first rate! I could see that the hostess had a smile on her face, even before I entered the building. the wait staff was great and the food was wonderful! I've never had a better spaghetti alla carbonara. Thank you for a wonderful evening. I'll be back for sure!“

“A great llittle Italian restaurant! I found the food to be equal to the excellent Italian restaurants in Boston and NYC. Four of us all had great meals and the service was also very good. We has gnocchi, eggplant parm, chicken cacciatore and chicken picatta. All were fabulous and the prices are very reasonable! Try the delicious desserts! We highly recommend Volare!“

“I had the arancini, pistacchiosa on my first visit. Both were excellent choices. The arancini were well crusted on a delicious ragu bed. I decided not to add any extra parmesian or red pepper in order to enjoy the original flavor of the pistacchiosa. I look forward to returning and trying other items like the risotto and tiramisu. Grazie Trattoria da Sofia for a pleasant experience!“

“Rosinas is consistently excellent authentic Italian food. The only food downside ( which is why I gave Food a 4 out of 5 rating), is their Ceaser salad...it is consistently bland, really watery, and tasteless...such an unpleasant surprise given that ALL of the other salads are so delicious, and ALL of the other food is delicious. Rosina, PLEASE update the Ceaser salad..it is really awful.“

“Enjoy the atmosphere and great food.“

“​We had a wonderful dining experience here! The food was truly the best Italian cuisine we've enjoyed recently. What truly set the evening apart was the service provided by Matt. He is an absolutely amazing and personable server who went above and beyond to make it a great visit. A gem for the restaurant!“

“We love this restaurant.. we happened upon it years ago and every time we are in LaJolla we dine there not once but twice ! We brought our kids and grandkids here for one of our anniversaries …Amazing dishes , great wine , best gelato , and a delightful owner who is so welcoming and full of great stories and information …sure wish this was in Illinois !!!!“

“A wonderful evening! I'll be honest was wonderful and it really seemed like a hot place to be. So many beautiful people! The food was flavorful and well balanced, however, my pasta was overcooked which is a big No-No in an Italian restaurant. I'll be back!“

“I had a great experience at Filippi’s Pizza! The food was really good, everything came out hot, fresh, and full of flavor. Our server, Ashley, made the meal even better with her amazing service. She was friendly, attentive, and made sure we had everything we needed the whole time. The atmosphere was nice, though it’s a little on the darker side inside — but honestly, that didn’t take away from the experience at all. I’d definitely come back and recommend Filippi’s to anyone looking for great pizza, eggplant parm, and excellent service!“

“We had a phenomenal experience at Cardellino! Once we had our first bite of the lamb lollipops, we knew we were in for a real treat that night. The lamb along with the filet mignon and radiatori bolognese were there stars of the show. We also thoroughly enjoyed the prime ribeye, wild mushroom polenta, and the unique twist on the cacio e pepe. We added black truffle to our meats and I highly recommend that addition. We will surely be back!!“

“We love Parma Cucina!! The food is authentic and they treat everyone like family! Bellissimo!🇮🇹❤️“

“Best cannoli of my life. This is an absolute must stop in Little Italy.“

“Cucina Caprese is one of our favorites. Everything on the menu is fabulous. Guiseppe knows how to make delicious food. Best pizza ever!“

“Every time I have dined here, the atmosphere is warm and inviting but most important, the food is always amazing. The flavors and quality in every dish has not disappointed.“

“I really enjoy their lunch specials, order a penne pasta and it came with a side salad. Food was excellent and the staff was so friendly.“

“We had my birthday celebration at The Godfather and their private room is ideal for large parties. The food was delicious and the service superb! A huge thank you to Salvatore Ercolano, the new Godfather! He was the perfect host for our event and made sure that everything was perfect!“

“Outstanding waitress . She was by herself and still managed to keep her cool. Definitely liking this place one thing, the. Chicago beef gravy is way too salty and you guys need to roast the green peppers . pizza was outstanding. Thank you.“

“Great service and delicious food!“

“celebrating our 49th anniversary we asked friends for a recommendation of a good Italian restaurant. Hands down Pomodoras. So New Year's eve we made reservations. We loved everything! the food, ambiance and staff were all amazing! Thank you for making it special!“

“Best Italian food in San Diego! Stopped in for lunch and had the Pasta Aglio Olio. It was delicious! Out waitress Liz was always prompt and courteous, always anticipating our needs. Highly recommend this restaurant!“