My wife, Jan, and I have been going to Baci Ristorante for many years. For us, it has never been merely a place to have dinner. Baci became our go-to restaurant for the important occasions in our lives: birthdays, anniversaries, family dinners, and evenings with close friends. A large part of that was Antonio D'Amato. Antonio was not simply a restaurateur. He was a host in the old and best sense of the word. He had warmth, grace, memory, and presence. He made guests feel not processed, but welcomed. Over time, Jan and I came to know him as a friend. Tony learned of my Sicilian heritage, and whenever I arrived at Baci, I looked forward to his greeting embrace. That small ritual meant more than I probably ever told him. It made the evening begin before we even sat down. We also came to know his sons, Philipi and Salvatore. Jan especially enjoyed planning our visits and special menus with Philipi, who reflected so many of his father's great qualities: warmth, courtesy, attention to detail, and a genuine desire to make the evening memorable. The food, the service, the atmosphere, the white tablecloths, the old-world hospitality, all of it mattered. But what made Baci special was the feeling that you had entered a place with a soul. Tony gave it that soul. We have hosted members of our family and close friends at Baci over the years because it was the kind of place where you could trust the evening to be handled properly. That is rare. Very rare. Tony's passing is a real loss to San Diego, to Bay Park, to the restaurant community, and to all of us who had the privilege of being welcomed by him. To Maria, Philipi, Salvatore, and the entire D'Amato family, Jan and I offer our heartfelt condolences. We wish you strength, peace, and comfort. Please know that we remain avid fans of Baci Ristorante and will continue to support the restaurant that Antonio built with such devotion. A la famigghia D'Amato, li nostri cchiù sintuti cunnuglianzi. Diu l'avi 'n gloria. Arriposa 'n paci, caru 'Ntoni. (Translation: "To the D'Amato family, our deepest condolences. May God have him in glory. Rest in peace, Tony.") read more

I've been going here for a few years, never had a bad meal! Service is , one of the last old school restaurants! read more

Baci Ristorante - Duroc tomahawk! - Italian Near Me - San Diego, California

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The food at this place is absolutely amazing It is all about the sauces.... Don't miss all the specials and make sure the waiter explains to you how they make all these yummy delicious dishes And this place is run by a class act Great job Tony read more

I had dinner there last night with my daughter. First class service. The chicken parm was excellent. I will return soon to order it again. We left after dinner and walked about a block and a half to my car. When we turned around, our waiter was chasing us down with her purse which she had inadvertently left behind. We truly appreciated that! She had a pasta dish which she raved about. I will be back with my wife soon! Gracie! read more

What a beautiful restaurant! Great location, parking available. Inside and outside seating. Great for large groups or date nights. Delicious food. Family friendly atmosphere. Best cannoli I've had in my life! read more

Baci Ristorante - Seabass - Italian Near Me - San Diego, California

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Food 10/10 Service 10/10 Ambiance10/10 Everything 100/10 Need I say more - truly a gem in San Diego - everytime same consistency read more

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Went here for date night and everything was pristine. The Scampi in Lobster Sauce was so delicious, just perfect for me. The service was also very refreshing. Our waiter knew the specials by heart and was capable in answering any questions we had about the menu. Before the meal was even complete we knew we would be back again. read more

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Wow! Amazing! Everything we got tasted so great. We sat on the patio (which is covered) seems like that's where they put the ones with kids- which was us, haha! Restaurant is beautiful, and the patio was very nice with fountains and plants. Our waiter was very nice, informative and attentive. Everyone always made sure our plates were cleared or our water was full. Now for the food, we got the gnocchi quatro formaggi sooo delicious that sauces was amazing, my husband got the shrimp scampi- which was delicious as we well and then we split the filet mignon- cooked to perfection, our bottle of wine paired perfectly. Ended the night with the tiramisu! We will definitely be back! read more

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I absolutely love this place! The service and food are always amazing -- not once have I ever had a bad meal here. Baci is incredibly consistent with both quality and flavor, which is so rare these days. This is a truly authentic Sicilian-Italian restaurant, and it shows in every dish. Baci has been around for decades, and it's clear why -- they continue to deliver exceptional food, outstanding service, and a warm, welcoming atmosphere every single time. Highly recommend this restaurant to anyone looking for genuine Italian cuisine and a consistently excellent dining experience! read more

I've lived in San Diego since 1984 and had never been to Baci -- BIG mistake. Fortunately, I was able to rectify this mistake when a friend invited me to join him for dinner at Baci a few weeks ago. We sat in the booth to the left of the front door which was perfect for people watching. We enjoyed some Scotch to start, ordered some bread and calamari for apps, then our mains. I had freshly made pasta with lobster and shrimp (excellent) and I can't remember what my friend had, but he really enjoyed it. In the it's-a-small-world department, another friend of mine showed up with his family to celebrate his birthday -- he's usually a Mr. A's guy, but Baci was calling his name. They had a blast. Although I didn't go vegan this time (OK, so I'm an occasional pescatarian), I appreciate that Baci will make many of their dishes vegan, which means I can bring my wife next time. And there WILL be a next time -- and a next! read more

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A family favorite for several decades. Comfortable, warm, old-world atmosphere. Excellent service from arrival and throughout the course. Including handling a couple of old wines (corkage, $40). We enjoyed the calamari appetizer, $23. The large heart of palm salad, $32, is tasty and worth splitting. Same with the Oso Buco special, $65. A very large portion. Tender, flavorful, and went well with an old Brunello. Highly recommended for special occasions. read more

We weren't even planning on coming here--just wandering around when we stumbled upon Baci Restaurant, and let me tell you, it turned out to be the highlight of our night! From the moment we walked in, the hosts made us feel like VIPs, and the waiters? Hilarious! They had us laughing the whole night while still delivering top-tier service. You could tell they genuinely love what they do, and it made the whole experience feel warm and unforgettable. Let's talk food: we ordered the Four Cheese Gnocchi, and it was divine--pillowy soft with a rich, creamy sauce that dreams are made of. We paired it with their crispy calamari and a fresh, flavorful Caprese salad--every dish was spot-on. We also explored the drink menu and were not disappointed! Tried a new Italian beer we instantly loved, sipped on a smooth gin and tonic, and completely fell in love with their Cadillac Margarita--so good, we ordered another round. Even the bread was amazing--warm, crusty, and perfect with the olive oil and balsamic. Baci is the kind of place that feels like a lucky find but becomes a regular spot after just one visit. Amazing food, even better service, and a vibe that's equal parts classic and fun. We'll definitely be back. read more

Lunch with neighbors. Lunch only serves Thursday and Friday and is the same menu as the dinner menu so be prepared for pricey food. The old school waiters treat you right here and keep the water glasses feed and treat you like family. I chose to share a Caesar salad with added anchovies and it was on point with lots of garlic and zing. I asked the waiter to recommend a pasta and he said the seafood pasta was a Sicilian dish and the owners are Sicilian so that's what I ordered. It had lots of mussels and clams and calamari and fish and I managed to eat half of it and saves the remainder for dinner. I brought some of their garlic bread home to sop up the rich tomato sauce. I don't want to miss a drop! Parking is tight and we parked a few blocks away but who doesn't need a walk after a rich meal. Glad this place is still open. Same old menu and same great service and Italian cuisine. Makes me feel like I'm eating at their home! read more

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The service is attentive, professional and all of it has a vintage 1995 feel to it.. This place has been around for a while. The food: the dressing on the caesar salad was nice and anchovy-y, we appreciate the kitchen for splitting it. The Octopus was smothered in pesto, while being tender I can taste acrid smoke without the crisp texture that fire should add. It was off putting. The chicken parm was a highlight. Pounded thin with a light breading a perfect showing of an old classic. The ravioli special was filled with braised beef in a cream sauce. They have a display of awards circa1990's printed plates on the walls from their hay-day I get the feeling that this pace was about as good as it gets for San Diego during the early years of the Clinton Administration. and they have managed to maintain a certain polish without feeling dusty. I grew up an Italian neighborhood in NJ and this place is an odd time capsule to find in Southern California. A decent 90's Italian place frozen in its prime. If you are looking for that, this place delivers an authentic experience. All in all while there was nothing wholesale wrong, there was also nothing memorable for me here. read more

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This is a lovely, cozy dining spot. The service is excellent, and the food is delicious. We had a reservation but still had to wait a bit, so we decided to go to the bar area for a drink. Once our table was ready, they transferred us there. I had a great time there. read more

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I've been looking for a good Italian restaurant that serves linguine and clams. I found it. This place serves the best linguini and clams since I had them in Sicily. The Manila clams were plentiful and fresh. The sauce was must perfect. Oh the Ceasar salad, well, that's amazing as well! I love the crispy bacon. Wow! Amazing! The service was excellent. I definitely will come back here even though there's more red light dishes. I need to look for Thinsulin approved, green light dishes the next time I come. read more

Baci Ristorante - Italian Near Me - San Diego, California

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When people think of amazing Italian here, they usually think of Little Italy, but I think of this amazing hidden gem in Bay Park. The ambience is old school, quiet, and reserved. The menu is small and straightforward. To start, there's complimentary bread and it's always so fresh and garlicky. My fav appetizer is their beef carpaccio. The capers and arugula keep it light. As mains, the osso buco is hands down my fav. It's so tender and a giant portion. The rice or risotto (?) underneath is seasoned so well. Plus, there's even bone marrow. I haven't had any bad desserts from here and their dessert cocktails are so delicious. The service is always so attentive and it's the perfect date night spot or special family dinner place. There's valet and street parking available. Easily my fav italian spot in SD. read more

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I really have been suffering from FOMO until coming here for our anniversary dinner. This place is more on the fine dining end. I hear a bit older but still the food is wonderful and not overly expensive like other bougie restaurants these days. The only issue is parking and you better have a reservation. I wouldn't show up to this place is T-shirt jeans and sandals lol. The Caesar salad was incredible I didn't think a simple salad such as that could be made that good. My husband had pretty much linguine and clams/ mussels with red sauce and the lobster with linguine clams. Seafood was absolutely fresh and topped off the dinner with a cannoli. Overall a very pleasant experience and would come back to enjoy more dishes in the future. read more

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I have been eating at Baci's for more than 40 years since it was founded. And all the components of a first class restaurant which existed on day 1 remain strongly in place. read more

I had been wanting to try Baci for some time now, after hearing so many people say such wonderful things. Finally, I went there on a weeknight with my cousin to check it out. We arrived around 7:30, and there were several parties dining indoors. The atmosphere was that of a bit of an old school charm mixed with modern elegance. We opted for the outdoor area which was really lovely, and completely empty at that time. It was sparsely and tastefully decorated. Toward the back there was a large table in sort of its own separate area of the patio. Looked like a great place for a large family dinner or a work gathering. We sat down to browse the cocktail and wine menu. My cousin started with a Negroni. After much time contemplating the large wine list, we decided on one of Super Tuscans. It was a difficult decision as they have so many Italian wines. We were quickly brought a basket of the warm and delicious house garlic bread. Both the smell and taste were amazing. Service was impeccable throughout our dinner. Our waters and wines were refilled regularly. We were checked upon, but never rushed. Though we were the last diners in the restaurant, we didn't know until walking out, as we were served dessert, and given plenty of time to enjoy it while finishing our wine. As far as the food, it was all very fresh and delicious. We began with the prosciutto and melon. The chunks of melon were large and perfectly ripe. I had the shrimp scampi in lobster sauce. It was rich, but not too heavy, and the shrimp were large. I highly recommend it. My cousin chose the special which was a pasta with shellfish in a cream sauce that was also good, but had a very different flavor from the lobster sauce that I had ordered. We finished with pistachio and chocolate gelato. The gelato had lots of flavor and real pistachios. I very much enjoyed my meal at Baci and highly recommend this experience if you are looking for Italian food. read more

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I took my wife to Baci based on a yelp review and wow was it worth it! Amazing experiences and the food is just as delicious as any grandmother from Italy can do. Very very homemade authentic flavors! Recommend to anyone to try read more

Good-even very good food and service, but Horrendously overpriced to the point where I prefer not to come any longer. I've always known Baci's to be an institution - a great place to go for an anniversary,birthdays, etc. Special occasions, etc. but of late, I think they are just coasting on their reputation. The last times I went I found the food to be good but not worth the money. The service can be spotty and hit and miss. Attentive yes, but also when we went recently, we didn't get any food at all for an hour after ordering appetizers and there was an issue in the kitchen and we got no food. That's not good. also, I would prefer to go to a place like Il Truli in Encinitas where the food is comparable - experiences obviously not - it family dining and easily a third less$ So for me, I'm taking Baci off my preferred list for now your mileage may vary. read more

Hi Baci, I wanted to suggest an in-house review of your pasta plates, particularly the plating and sauce balance. About a month ago, I dined with family (four of us). One ordered the fish special (sea bass), which was excellent. The other three of us ordered pasta -- pappardelle, shrimp scampi, and ravioli -- and unfortunately all three dishes felt overly sauced and underwhelming. The pasta was swimming in sauce, with plating that caused it to sink into the bowl rather than present cleanly. I've eaten at Baci before and really enjoyed your food, which is why this stood out. I'm Italian, so perhaps I'm more sensitive to pasta, but this felt like an area worth revisiting. Pasta should be one of the strongest plates coming out of the kitchen. Shared with respect. read more

My wife and I ate at Baci's for the first time on March 28, 2026, and we're glad we did. Everything about our dining experience was outstanding--the drinks, the food, the service, and the atmosphere. we'll go back again and again! read more

The back patio is completely covered and the small, well spaced tables provide an intimate dining experience! The wait staff is attentive and helpful with your drink and food selections. I had the pappardelle which was very good. They offer many seafood specials. We were here to celebrate a special occasion and they did not disappoint with excellent food and service. It looks like the back patio would be an excellent place for a small reception or private party. The bar there looks like a local favorite spot. Parking can be difficult with Luce and Bay Park Fish Company just around the corner. We managed to find a place about three blocks away, but Baci also offers valet parking for $7. read more

Hands down my favorite Italian spot. Philip, our server was amazing!! Celebrating a friend's birthday and he loved it.

my wife and I celebrated our anniversary Tuesday October 21st. Everything from the moment we walked in was perfect. We were seated in a lovely booth. Our waiter was professional and knowledgeable. Our meals were cooked to perfection. We started with aperitifs, a beautiful bottle of wine and finished with Grappa and creme brulee. The owner came over to check on our dinner and gave us a tour. If you're looking for great food romantic atmosphere impeccable service this is your spot. Bon Appétit! read more

Amazing food! Portion sizes are awesome too. The linguini alle vongole was perfect.. not too heavily done, just very light broth and a great portion of clams. My husband got the veal osso buco and he loved it. The meal was done very well. Going back very soon. read more

This is the real deal if you're looking for a traditional Italian vibe with amazing food and service!

Baci is amazing. The food is consistently delicious and prepared to perfection . Phillip warmly greets you and the service is attentive and consciousness. Delightful evening. read more

So delicious! I ordered the chicken parm and it was a huge serving. It came with the most delicious mashed potatoes I've ever eaten. I also tried the veal chop (to die for). Would highly recommend dining here. Great ambiance. read more

All I can say is I moved here from Boston over 30 years ago and this amazing Italian classic restaurant is far above anything I've eaten on the West Coast. The service, the family, and the prices,The amazing food, and desserts will absolutely take you back in time no matter where your from. Thank you Tony & Philip Thank you Phil Thank you Saul and all of your amazing staff. I'll be back back...!!! Wow amazing !!! read more

Has to be one of the most consistent Italian restaurants in San Diego. Old school charm, old school attentiveness, with fantastic food that's always on point. Anytime we want to go out for a very upscale evening we start at Baci's. Lots of great restaurants in San Diego, but none as consistent, food, cocktails and especially great staff & ambiance. read more

We've passed this restaurant countless times while living in the neighborhood and regrettably it's taken 5 years for us to try it. It has old school restaurants vibes with a little lounge to the right when you walk in and lots of wood paneling and white table clothes. The waiters are attentive and we left here feeling like stuffed piggies. The appetizers were to die for. The calamari was perfectly deep fried. The burrata had a cute presentation with prosciutto wrapped around to create a little tower. The carpaccio was lovely atop a bed of arugula. We would definitely order those dishes again. The ossobuco was delicious and came with a tiny fork for the bone marrow (I didn't even know they made tiny forks for bone marrow). The shrimp scampi was to die for! Even though we were stuffed to the gills we had to have dessert. The cheese cake was delicious and the tiramisu might have been the best we've ever had. read more

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We have come here many times over the years and were always happy with the food but this time it was a let down. The garlic bread was charred and burned. Then the salad was so salty we had to order a second one without dressing to mix in. Finally a seafood fettuccini smelled so bad we had to return it. The waiter told us that it was a seafood fish and smell is normal. We have seafood all. The time and we can tell when something is bad. read more

Muscardini Cellars and Baci wine pairing dinner was absolutely fabulous. Ashley Songer w/ Muscardini Cellars and her assistant showcased a wide selection of Muscardini Cellers treasured wines in whites and reds. Baci dinner selection was created selected the exact flavor combinations to be paired with each wine was an explosion of flavors that complemented the flavors of each Italian dish prepared by the chef. We are Muscardini Cellers club members and Baci's has been a family favorite restaurant. It was a fabulous dinner and pairing, "Compliments to the chef" I also want to give a great big shout out to Ashley Songer & her assistant and Phillip that made this dinner pairing happen. Thank you for your outstanding customer service. We truly enjoyed our dinner. We met some great club members and cheered to a fabulous evening of fine wine and fine Italian food. read more

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Baci is old school. The kind of old school where maybe when everybody else says no no no, they make accommodations. We had friends coming into town last minute, and we called several restaurants, but only Baci (while fully booked ) answered our plead. We had no fewer than three people taking care of us. As always, the food is superior. Everyone is kind and they only want to please. Why would we ever want to go anywhere else! read more

Food was excellent as always! Service also is amazing, very attentive and engaging. Love the ambiance, all the reasons we love coming here. Only downside is parking so be prepared to spend time searching. Private parking lots of other businesses are now charging which is new and signage wasn't visible in the dark. read more

First time eating here since I moved away from San Diego nearly 6 years ago and glad to report this restaurant is as solid as ever. Started out with a basket of complimentary garlic bread along with a great Caesar Salad. I ordered the veal cutlet parmigiana which was excellent--prime cut of veal with a white color (unlike some other restaurants that serve a lesser quality of meat that is tough and brown). The dish was served with carrots and mashed potatoes. My friend ordered the branzino which was also very good. Washed the meal down with a couple of glasses of Super Tuscan. Baci remains one of the top Italian restaurants in all of San Diego year after year. read more

Baci Ristorante - Veal Cutlet Parmesan - Italian Near Me - San Diego, California

Baci's is always spot on perfect! Little pricey but worth it! Great ambiance on the Patio, servers are professional and awesome. Never had anything I didn't like. Recently we had the salmon and Osso Buco Veal Shank. Both were perfect and we had a great time. read more