I'd heard about Bernini's so many times over the years, and I'm so glad I finally went. The service was amazing from start to finish. I'm trying to get better about catching names, but the whole team made us feel taken care of. I tend to grade my Italian spots by their focaccia, and theirs was perfectly soft. We also ordered the lasagna and the spaghetti & meatballs to keep it classic, and it didn't disappoint. There are so many Italian restaurants in San Diego, but I see why Bernini's has been able to thrive here for over 20 years. I'll be back and will highly recommend! read more

Bernini's Bistro & Bar - Pillowy soft focaccia - New American Near Me - La Jolla, California

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This was our first visit and it certainly was memorable. We were seated in a quiet little table that was private and perfect for us. Our waiter came over and welcomed us and set down a bottle of cold water and asked if we wanted anything else to drink. The evening was underway without a hitch. We asked a few questions and then we reviewed the menu. When Robert came back with the glass of wine, we were ready to order and the process was easy. We shared the fried calamari which had two shrimp and several different kinds of vegetables. It was served with two kinds of sauces. It was very good. My husband ordered the Salmon a la Griglia and he really enjoyed it with the risotto. I had the Seafood Cioppino. It had a great deal of seafood including really big mussels, shrimp and salmon. The broth was great too. The service was great and the meal was terrific. It has a nice variety on the menu. It seems to be a popular neighborhood place. we will be back to try some of the other treasures. read more

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I dined here over the weekend for a special occasion and was hoping to love this spot based on a friend's recommendation. Overall, the food and experience felt average to me, which is why I landed at 3 stars. Not bad, just okay. I had no prior knowledge of the restaurant, their brand, popular menu items, or social media presence. To be fair, doing a bit more research beforehand might have helped me get more out of the experience and try what they're best known for. This is a casual neighborhood spot, so there's no need to dress up. Their tagline, "Where the locals eat," fits the vibe well. The staff are friendly. An older woman was kind and social. She showered me in compliments and the spent some time chatting with the table next to us. It gave the place a neighborhood, familial feel where the staff seem comfortable engaging with guests. Our server was polite, though a bit rushed. He would check in, start a conversation, and then quickly move on mid-sentence. I ordered the Malbec, Antigal (Argentina). It's a $15 bottle retail and priced at $15 per glass. We ordered the Mussels and Focaccia bread as an appetizer. The broth was a bit on the salty side, though the fries on top were cooked well. The bread felt a little firm and could have been fresher. If you're seated at a 2-person table, space can be tight once both appetizers and entrees arrive. We ended up moving to a larger table to accommodate everything. The portion sizes and plates are large and can be shared among 2-3 people. I ordered the Rigatoni Bolognese, which was underwhelming for me. My husband ordered the 24-Hour Braised Beef Short Ribs and really enjoyed them. He said they were tender and flavorful. For our special occasion, we were treated to their homemade mud pie dessert. It's a coffee flavored ice cream with an Oreo crumb crust topped with whipped cream and chocolate drizzle. The portion was very HUGE and more than we could finish. It became a bit repetitive after a few bites. The slice portion can be shared up to 3-4 people, in my opinion. If I were to return, I'd be interested in trying some of the dishes they highlight on social media rather than sticking to the more standard Italian options. read more

Thin pizza. Light on sauce and decent about of toppings. Had the pepperoni and bbq chicken delivered. I wish it was crispier and felt flavorless read more

Bernini's Bistro & Bar - Pepperoni pizza - New American Near Me - La Jolla, California

Bernini Bar & Bistro is such a vibe in La Jolla. I'd definitely recommend making reservations if you're coming on a Saturday, it gets crowded quickly during the dinner rush. Also, do yourself a favor and rideshare, because parking in the area can be limited. I started with the Limoncello Martini, which was perfectly balanced and refreshing. The calamari came out hot and crispy, and the seafood cioppino was full of flavor and generously portioned. Everything arrived quickly, and the service was impressively fast without feeling rushed. The ambiance really stood out,great 70s music, eclectic artwork throughout, and a warm, lively atmosphere that made the whole experience feel fun and relaxed. Great food, great energy, and solid service. I'd absolutely come back. read more

Bernini's Bistro & Bar - New American Near Me - La Jolla, California

A beautiful night at @berninisbistro , savoring authentic Italian flavors -- starting off with mocktails Clean Paradiso and Organic Lemonade, to calamari fritto misto, ahi stack, beet salad, Seafood Cioppino , Salmon Alla Griglia, and the perfect sweet ending: tiramisu and affogato. A true La Jolla gem. read more

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After a day of kayaking and being in the heart of La Jolla, we wandered some side streets to get away from the crowds and stumbled upon Bernini's! Happy we did as everything was delicious. The pornstar martini was one of the best I've had. Beautiful presentation but the taste was even better -- highly recommend this. The garlic bread was good, basically really thin pizza with a bit of cheese and garlic. Could've used more garlic and cheese but still good nonetheless :) The meat lovers pizza really lives up to its name -- so much variety of flavor on there! We'd happily order this pizza again. Our waiter was kind & continuously checked in on us. We were there around 5:30 on Saturday night and we were able to snag a table on the patio in the comfy chairs, which was a fun little corner spot. Thanks for a great meal and good vibes, Bernini's! read more

We had such a gorgeous date night here. The service was excellent. When we checked for reservations, they only had a 6:45, but when we called they were able to book us at 6 (so call if you don't see a time you need!!). We shared a Caesar salad, bolognese, and the focaccia. We were so impressed that they put the dishes on split plates for us to share. Restaurants don't do that very often!! Everything tasted fresh and we topped the meal off with a crème brûlée. Sitting outside at the fire pit table was so nice and comfortable. We will absolutely be back. read more

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This was a very nice dinner spot we came to on Thursday evening in La Jolla. Our dinner reservations were at 7:30 PM. We ended up having a drink at the bar to begin with. I had an Affigato which consisted of an espresso shot some vanilla espresso, and Baileys. It was delicious. For dinner, we shared a meat lovers pizza. I loved the thin crust and pretty much everything on the pizza, including the pizza crust was made at the restaurant. We split a sweet walnut salad and it was also very good. As dessert we had tiramisu which was very rich. Our server Tony was great. He gave us great recommendations and was very friendly. Overall, the ambience was a nice family style and the evening was thoroughly enjoyed. If you're going to the comedy show right around the corner, this is a perfect spot to grab some dinner before hand. Will definitely be back because their menu was so vast and I definitely want to try some other menu items in the future! read more

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The Caesar salad was good and the pizza was edible. Service was fast. The vibes are cozy but I would not come back here. So many other adorable and delicious spots in the area. Pass. read more

Stop by at pavilions around around here to charge my car noticed this Italian restaurant across the street and thought we would give it a chance because it looks really nice I'm glad I did because the drinks are really good and the pizza was exceptional. Very good atmosphere and awesome friendly service. I definitely want to make this part of my stop from Now on read more

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The ambiance inside was very cute and the patio seating area was cozy. I ordered a prosecco that was brought out in a timely manner. The focaccia was not like a focaccia bread at all, but it tasted homemade. The tapenade was good, but I tasted more tomatoes than olives. The bolognese was very average and needed more flavors as it tasted like a mid spaghetti. The cheese ravioli was cooked perfectly and had a yummy sauce. It was a bit bland, but it was still a great sauce. The lasagna had a good amount of layers to it and had good flavors. Our waitress wasn't very attentive, but she was sweet and friendly. Street parking. read more

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The atmosphere is very nice very pretty restaurant. The bartender was our waiter for a bar food and she was excellent food was good and reasonably priced. What more would you want? read more

We stopped in on a Saturday night for dessert and were seated at the cutest table near the bar and sidewalk. This restaurant is decorated beautifully with flowers, elegant lighting features and adorable Perisian themed chairs and tables. They also have plenty of heat lamps which we appreciated. We tried the crème brûlée, mud pie, and chocolate genache (budino) - all great choices. We can't wait to come back to try some of their delicious entrees and appetizers in the future! read more

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While the food used to be good, it it now overpriced, not as nice and they are currently REBUILDING the patio on the street that takes up parking and gets mired in filth. There are too many options: La Dolce Vita, Piazza, Marissa, Piatti, Osterria Romantica... we will never go back here, no consideration. read more

Nice outdoor seating and we're seated right away with no reservation on a Friday night. The menu is on the higher end (approx. $35 a plate) but most Italian places are that price now-a-days. Food was good and very filling. read more

Bernini's Bistro & Bar - Fettucini Nero - New American Near Me - La Jolla, California

I love the food here at Bernini's. They have a good parking lot across the street. It's dog friendly. They have plenty of seating outdoor patio covered patio and indoors are we just was very friendly and nice. The food was delicious. My favorite was the Cobb salad and the salmon was very busy on a weekend night but you know it's cause it's good. The wait wasn't too long. read more

This is one of my favorite go to Italian restaurants in La Jolla. Food consistently delicious and service impeccable. Outdoor patio seating perfect for those lovely evenings. read more

This place is popping on a Friday night! They have great drinks and a menu of various Italian and American foods. I ordered the salmon griglia and loved it. Portion size was perfect, asparagus were grilled asparagus were grilled nicely, and the salmon was full of flavor. I want to come again and order a pizza. It seemed like everyone was enjoying their food so you can't go wrong. The service was very accommodating and thoughtful too. They checked in often, helped me find a good seat at the bar, and were fast. Thank you for the great meal. read more

Bernini's Bistro & Bar - New American Near Me - La Jolla, California

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While staying at a friend's place near Bernini's Bistro, I decided to grab a pizza to-go as a thank-you for their hospitality. Let me just say, this pizza hit the spot. The crust was crispy with just the right chew, the toppings were fresh and flavorful, and the cheese had that perfect stretchy, melty goodness. My friend and I enjoyed it while taking in the stunning view of La Jolla Beach, sipping on virgin margaritas--the perfect combo for a relaxing night. The pizza was so good that it left me curious about the rest of their menu. Next time, I'll be dining in to explore more of their authentic Italian dishes, especially their pastas and other house specials. Great flavors, quality ingredients, and a spot I'd definitely return to. Looking forward to my next visit. Rating: 5/5 - A must-try for Italian food lovers in La Jolla. read more

Bernini's Bistro & Bar - New American Near Me - La Jolla, California

I've come here about three times over the years with big groups for celebrations. We just went this past weekend and the food was inedible! Burnt trout, pizza was super cheesy, pasta had no flavor and was overcooked. We left most of the food on the plate! And we spent about $50 per person with taxes and tip and no drinks. I was embarrassed for bringing my guests and had to apologize. Overpriced and not just mediocre but actually terrible food. I haven't had food that bad in a long time. We are Italian. This is not Italian food. read more

We had a great dinner meal at Bernini's Bistro. Friendly and knowledgeable wait staff and a menu much much larger than what their website listed. We arrived with our dog and we were seated in the patio. Great table. Since it was Happy Hour, appetizers were $3 less so we ordered their amazing garlic bread (more like a pizza) and it was delicious. Our dinner was the chicken piccata and a plain pasta with olive oil and tomato. Both prepared deliciously. read more

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Get 5 stars for service and quality of food. Have eaten here several times over the past few years, and always good. However, 1 star for Management. Did you know that their tip recommendations are based upon the total cost, including tax! Several restaurants sneak this little cost increase in and either fail to mention, or the print is so small no one would really notice. Others still charge the COVID-era Supplemental Fee, but that is another story. Toast POS system is used here. Other (many) restaurants that use Toast do not implement this practice. So must be a management decision to squeeze for more. read more

We had a great time at Bernini's bistro. It has indoor and outdoor seating. We went in the evening and sat outside in the heaters provided ample heat. The serving sizes are humongous. My friends got the spaghetti and meatballs and Pizza. Everything tasted amazing. The best part was Dessert. My friend and I shared the mud pie. The slice of mud pie was humongous, and everybody started digging in. It tasted phenomenally! Go for the Mud pie!!! read more

We love Berninis! The food is consistently good, and the staff is welcoming and warm. Our go to is fried calamari and steamed mussels , and their pasta dishes won't disappoint you. Robert is our favorite waiter always cheerful and happy to be there for you! read more

The food and service during our meal were excellent, and we genuinely loved the restaurant. We were already planning to bring more family back this weekend. Unfortunately, what happened afterward changed everything. While waiting outside for my mother, my brother (visiting from Canada) lit a joint. We were well away from the restaurant (at least 30 feet-I actually went back to measure!)) and unaware of any specific distance rule-which is 20ft. An employee came outside and immediately began yelling at us rather than calmly asking us to move. We apologized and immediately walked farther away, even crossing a busy street to put more distance between us and the restaurant. Despite this, he continued yelling and calling us rude, repeatedly mentioning that there were children inside -- even as we were actively leaving. I wasn't even smoking and he was yelling at me! My brother went back in shortly after to apologize and speak to a manager, only to be yelled at again by the same person, who identified himself as the manager. We completely understand not wanting smoke near a restaurant, especially with families inside, but the aggressive and disrespectful way this was handled overshadowed what was otherwise a great experience and ensures we won't be returning. I left three stars as the food and our server were really great. read more

Gluten-Free Pizza with pizza hand made at the restaurant. It's a must try for gluten intolerance. Caution for some, they to share an oven and space with other food preps. There can be cross contamination. Management is very knowledgeable about there process. Service is 5 read more

Bernini's Bistro & Bar - Resturant's name - New American Near Me - La Jolla, California

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Such a lovely spot for date night! Our server Robert was phenomenal and the service he provided was nothing short of great. The food and drinks were delicious and I'm looking forward to returning. My favorite were the shishito peppers! read more

We had the best dinner tonight at Bernini Bistro. We came out a bit late from the Comedy Store show and even though they were set to close, we were sat and treated in such a lovely and friendly manner. The food was fantastic - tomato & burrata tower (yum), short ribs and lasagna (get the lasagna) were out of this world. But the icing on the cake were the incredible owners and servers (shout out to Tony!). So friendly, so lovely... made our whole night. We will come here every time we are in La Jolla and whole heartedly recommend everyone to come as well. read more

Great servers very funny. The flat bread was delicious. Went early on a Sunday so not too busy but great overall.

Berninis lemonade was amazing so refreshing ...order beef carpaccio minus the egg never heard of egg on carpaccio before ...it was delicious...one of my favorites for lunch read more

A local favorite of ours, excellent food, service and atmosphere! One of our absolute favorites on the menu is the prosciutto pizza and the mud pie. It's the perfect place for a romantic dinner for two or a group of friends. read more

Bernini's Bistro & Bar - Prosciutto pizza with arugula and a balsamic glaze (I get a little extra of the glaze) - New American Near Me - La Jolla, California

Amazing amazing Italian food! We loved each entree. We ate family style so we were able to taste everything! You need to go here! Great food! Great service! E will go back! read more

Bernini's Bistro & Bar - Linguine shrimp diabola, cheese ravioli, margarita pizza Bernini's Chicken Milanese - New American Near Me - La Jolla, California

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I celebrated my birthday at this charming restaurant on November 7th. My family and I were on vacation from Houston and this meal was our favorite during our time in La Jolla. I had the lasagna and my mom and sister had ravioli. We all loved our meals. The homemade bread was also amazing. For dessert Bernini's kindly gave me a complimentary mudpie. It was absolute heaven! The servers also sang happy birthday to me. I'll always cherish this special memory. What a fun time! read more

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Bernini's was an unexpected gem in La Jolla that we happened to stumble across. The ambiance was upscale and the menu was Italian with an emphasis on pizza and wine. We had calamari to start and it was very good. They included several large shrimp with the calamari and that was a nice touch. For dinner, we had two wood-fired pizzas: Margherita and Buffalo Chicken. The pizzas are 12', so figure two at least for a party of four. Everything tasted great and the service was top notch. You could tell this is a spot for locals because it was not touristy at all. Definitely recommend going and one of the better pizza places we have found in La Jolla. read more

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Service was great, food was really good. Best crabcakes so good we ordered a second one. They let us split a dinner and salad, put half on individual plates and didn't charge to split the meal. The waiter knew we had time before our show and didn't rush us out. Highly recommend you try it. read more

Amazing service and great food. Welcomes dogs :) Wait staff super kind and fun. We walk here and love them!

Cute place and the food was good. Lots of choice in La Jolla for Italian places and I think this would be average. Very friendly service, but not very attentive. Our party of 5 ordered pastas. The lasagna and eggplant parmigiana were the best, cheese ravioli , rigatoni with meat and spaghetti with meatballs were pretty good. read more

My family comes to Berninis for most of our special occasions or just a break from making dinner at home. My daughter loves the place so I made a reservation several weeks in advance for her birthday dinner. They called me the day before and asked if I was coming and I said yes. They seemed concerned but said okay I guess we'll see you tomorrow. The next day we showed up a couple minutes late and waited 4-5 minutes at the hostess stand for her to attend to us which is completely fine. She came up and said we were late so we would need to sit in a different table because they had a 28 person reservation and needed the entire patio 1.5 hours later. She then mentioned if we showed up on time we could have sat at the correct table. My daughter was upset and crying but wanted their desert so we froze for an hour on the street patio before getting everything to go. We will probably never go back. I thought this was a local spot but I guess they prefer tourists. That will be the last time I waste my money there, the hostess's behavior was unacceptable. read more

I saw this restaurant while dining next door and came back soon after to check it out! I'm glad we got to sit in front of the pretty flower wall! Service was also quick and friendly. I chose Bernini's organic lemonade and it was very refreshing. My friend got a spritzer and a Pomtini that both looked very pretty! We shared the seared ahi tataki, fettuccine nero, and the salmon alla griglia. All of the dishes were nicely presented and were so hearty and flavorful. We couldn't leave without trying their mud pie! It was just the right size and had a nice balance of Oreos and coffee ice cream to finish off the meal. read more

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