Party of 2 went for dinner around 7pm on a Thursday in December. We were seated inside immediately, did not need a reservation in advance. We had the bruschettone appetizer, the vegetariana pizza, and the torta del nonno chocolate cake. Everything was delicious and seemed healthy. The appetizer had two long slices of bread, so easy to share for us. The cake felt very heavy - lots of flour I guess. The server was very friendly, and we didn't have to wait too much. The place was pretty full around 8-8:30pm. Total including tips and taxes came to around 30 bucks per person. The pizzas are around 10 inches in diameter, and come with 6 slices. I think we had the exact right amount of food for 2 people with our 3 courses.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
M Hosokawa
I visited this Italian restaurant over the weekend and had a great experience overall. The space is small and intimate, which gives it a cozy atmosphere, and the staff were very friendly and attentive. Our food came out surprisingly fast, which was a nice plus. I had made reservations for a Saturday night, but the restaurant wasn’t as packed as I expected. That wasn’t necessarily a bad thing—it made the experience feel relaxed—but it was noticeable. Overall, tasty food, good service, and a comfortable, intimate vibe. I’d definitely go back!
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 4
Service: 4
Daniela Wheeler
Family and I had a wonderful evening celebrating a birthday, I forget but I think our server was Catarina and she was so wonderful. Parking $12 when you park at Horton Plaza across the street and get it validated. The food is very fresh. Fresh ingredients and tastes high quality. Loved the ambiance it was so cute inside. Pictures included are the Arancini (deep fried mozzarella) which were so good, fresh and hearty. The Patrizia salad, Capricciosa Pizza, and Ravioli Fattore. The Ravioli Fattore was so good, it has a slight spice to it so just keep that in mind!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Sharon B
Reservations are highly recommended. We came here on a weeknight before we went to the Civic Theatre for a show. It was full so luckily we had made reservations in advance. Those who didn't have reservations were seated outside on their patio. It was a cold evening too.
Our waitress was attentive but she was very busy running around that evening. It looked like she was the only server when we were there. I was afraid that our food might take awhile but that was not the case. We were both pretty happy with our meals.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 4
Service: 4
Craig
We arrived and were seated in a timely manner. Wait staff was pleasant and attentive. We ordered Bruschetta, Creamy Tomato Basil Soup, Minestrone Soup and Lasagna. The Bruschetta was nothing to write home about, Tomato Soup was excellent, Minestrone was Luke warm and when reheated was mushy and fairly tasteless. The Lasagna serving was a small portion resembling a large egg roll and burnt with little to no flavor. To our favor, they did not charge us for the lasagna. Not the best Italian food we have experienced.. I hope the restaurant takes this as constructive criticism, rather than a customer complaining.
B G
The restaurant was walking distance from our hotel so we went in not knowing what to expect. We are vegetarian and asked our server for recommendations. Based on her recommendation we ordered bruschetta, fettuccine el pesto and ravioli fettore. For dessert we shared flourless chocolate cake 😋 and I had a cappuccino. Loved the food and fast service. The staff is friendly and overall it was a great experience. Highly recommend.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Mike Lawrence
The food is amazing. I had the Nochi Asiago and it was so full of flavor. My wife had the Ravioli Fattore, which she very much enjoyed, and the tiramisu was wonderful. Adding the excellent service, I highly recommend Operacaffe.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 5
Elizabeth Neukirch
Some of the best pasta I've had, reminded me of restaurants I visited in Italy. Wonderful service. A gem in downtown San Diego. We'll be back!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Sau
I placed a Togo order, they charged me 15% tip without letting me choose the tip. Six Ravioli and I paid $32
Amber
Excellent food, service, and environment. Got there around 5 on a Saturday night, not crowded at all, started filling up closer to 6. Really chill, fun, calm atmosphere.
We love this quaint, reasonably priced delicious Italian restaurant in downtown San Diego. Perfect for dinner before a show!
Erica
Reserved for a pre-theatre dinner. Paid the (minimal) reservation deposit. Got stuck in traffic and called. They could not have been kinder and more accommodating. We arrived with only 40 minutes before show time. Staff was great! Told us they knew we had theatre reservations- as did most in the restaurant. If we could order quickly they would try to make sure food came out ASAP. We did. And it did. I will come back. Food was delicious (Drink, Caesar salad and Pizza). ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Jen
Been many times always amazing! Pizza, raviolis, desserts all so fresh and delicious. Will always come back.
elsian
We always enjoy eating at the Operacaffe where we can count on excellect service and delicious food at a reasonable price! It's our go-to choice for pre-Civic Theatre shows and they always get us served and on our way on time!
Donna
Service was great....food just ok....caprese good...bread good...veal was terrible....suppose to be veal picata....instead It was a dried up 1 piece of fried veal ( piccata suppose to be sautéed not fried) very little to no sauce....risotto was not creamy tasted like boiled rice n asparagus although I asked for well done was still hard for $36...not worth it.....husband spaghetti had to go back twice after initially asking for it to be very soft still was al dente...so he gave up....it was my Birthday so I do appreciate the courtesy Tiramisu but even tgat was not that great......our server was very nice n attentive nut not sure I ll ever go back....it was convience to going to Balboa theatre across the street and was the readon to try it....
Party of 2 went for dinner around 7pm on a Thursday in December. We were seated inside immediately, did not need a reservation in advance. We had the bruschettone appetizer, the vegetariana pizza, and the torta del nonno chocolate cake. Everything was delicious and seemed healthy. The appetizer had two long slices of bread, so easy to share for us. The cake felt very heavy - lots of flour I guess. The server was very friendly, and we didn't have to wait too much. The place was pretty full around 8-8:30pm. Total including tips and taxes came to around 30 bucks per person. The pizzas are around 10 inches in diameter, and come with 6 slices. I think we had the exact right amount of food for 2 people with our 3 courses.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
I visited this Italian restaurant over the weekend and had a great experience overall. The space is small and intimate, which gives it a cozy atmosphere, and the staff were very friendly and attentive. Our food came out surprisingly fast, which was a nice plus.
I had made reservations for a Saturday night, but the restaurant wasn’t as packed as I expected. That wasn’t necessarily a bad thing—it made the experience feel relaxed—but it was noticeable.
Overall, tasty food, good service, and a comfortable, intimate vibe. I’d definitely go back!
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 4
Service: 4
Family and I had a wonderful evening celebrating a birthday, I forget but I think our server was Catarina and she was so wonderful. Parking $12 when you park at Horton Plaza across the street and get it validated. The food is very fresh. Fresh ingredients and tastes high quality. Loved the ambiance it was so cute inside.
Pictures included are the Arancini (deep fried mozzarella) which were so good, fresh and hearty. The Patrizia salad, Capricciosa Pizza, and Ravioli Fattore. The Ravioli Fattore was so good, it has a slight spice to it so just keep that in mind!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Reservations are highly recommended. We came here on a weeknight before we went to the Civic Theatre for a show. It was full so luckily we had made reservations in advance. Those who didn't have reservations were seated outside on their patio. It was a cold evening too.
Our waitress was attentive but she was very busy running around that evening. It looked like she was the only server when we were there. I was afraid that our food might take awhile but that was not the case. We were both pretty happy with our meals.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 4
Service: 4
We arrived and were seated in a timely manner. Wait staff was pleasant and attentive. We ordered Bruschetta, Creamy Tomato Basil Soup, Minestrone Soup and Lasagna. The Bruschetta was nothing to write home about, Tomato Soup was excellent, Minestrone was Luke warm and when reheated was mushy and fairly tasteless. The Lasagna serving was a small portion resembling a large egg roll and burnt with little to no flavor. To our favor, they did not charge us for the lasagna. Not the best Italian food we have experienced.. I hope the restaurant takes this as constructive criticism, rather than a customer complaining.
The restaurant was walking distance from our hotel so we went in not knowing what to expect. We are vegetarian and asked our server for recommendations. Based on her recommendation we ordered bruschetta, fettuccine el pesto and ravioli fettore. For dessert we shared flourless chocolate cake 😋 and I had a cappuccino. Loved the food and fast service. The staff is friendly and overall it was a great experience. Highly recommend.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
The food is amazing. I had the Nochi Asiago and it was so full of flavor. My wife had the Ravioli Fattore, which she very much enjoyed, and the tiramisu was wonderful. Adding the excellent service, I highly recommend Operacaffe.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 5
Some of the best pasta I've had, reminded me of restaurants I visited in Italy. Wonderful service. A gem in downtown San Diego. We'll be back!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
I placed a Togo order, they charged me 15% tip without letting me choose the tip. Six Ravioli and I paid $32
Excellent food, service, and environment. Got there around 5 on a Saturday night, not crowded at all, started filling up closer to 6. Really chill, fun, calm atmosphere.
Restaurantji Recommends
We love this quaint, reasonably priced delicious Italian restaurant in downtown San Diego. Perfect for dinner before a show!
Reserved for a pre-theatre dinner. Paid the (minimal) reservation deposit. Got stuck in traffic and called. They could not have been kinder and more accommodating. We arrived with only 40 minutes before show time. Staff was great! Told us they knew we had theatre reservations- as did most in the restaurant. If we could order quickly they would try to make sure food came out ASAP. We did. And it did. I will come back. Food was delicious (Drink, Caesar salad and Pizza). ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Been many times always amazing! Pizza, raviolis, desserts all so fresh and delicious. Will always come back.
We always enjoy eating at the Operacaffe where we can count on excellect service and delicious food at a reasonable price! It's our go-to choice for pre-Civic Theatre shows and they always get us served and on our way on time!
Service was great....food just ok....caprese good...bread good...veal was terrible....suppose to be veal picata....instead It was a dried up 1 piece of fried veal ( piccata suppose to be sautéed not fried) very little to no sauce....risotto was not creamy tasted like boiled rice n asparagus although I asked for well done was still hard for $36...not worth it.....husband spaghetti had to go back twice after initially asking for it to be very soft still was al dente...so he gave up....it was my Birthday so I do appreciate the courtesy Tiramisu but even tgat was not that great......our server was very nice n attentive nut not sure I ll ever go back....it was convience to going to Balboa theatre across the street and was the readon to try it....
Loading...