We came here during the week to celebrate a birthday and wanted a nice sit down meal. Buon Appetito did not disappoint! This was one of the best Italian meals I have ever had. Our server, Wagner, was excellent and had excellent recommendations for the table. We ordered the Caesar salad, calamari, grilled octopus, lasagna, seafood linguine with squid ink, and the wild boar ragu pasta. Bread was complimentary with house made marinara. The octopus was grilled well and tender - not too salty but well seasoned. The lasagna was excellent, nicely defined layers. The calamari had a light batter and was tasty even without sauce. The wild boar ragu had a red wine reduction and the meat was tender without any gameyness. The squid ink pasta was excellent. All the pasta tasted home made and was perfectly cooked - not mushy but not al dente either. For the birthday guest, they brought out the hugest birthday treat I've ever seen. It was a large slice of their home made Tiramisu and 3 cannolis. The cream used in the Tiramisu was light and coffee flavor was perfect. The cannolis were still crunchy so they were probably filled right before serving. I enjoyed my dining immensely at Buon Appetito and will definitely be back. read more

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Cleanliness and service were lacking. We had two kids splitting a dish and requested for two bowls for them to share. Both bowls were dirty and I requested two new ones from our waiter. He just pointed to the bowls and asked "What's wrong with those?". Beyond the rude response, he went and got two more bowls that were dirty. This place has no idea how to actually wash their bowls - it's obvious it was left over starch from whoever ate from them before. Extremely gross. You could literally feel the starch on 4 out of 4 bowls empty they gave us. I shudder to think just how bad the plates our food came out on were. read more

We were in San Diego and made our usual stop at Buon Appetito, one of our longtime favorite Italian restaurants in Little Italy. We got lucky and found street parking, which is always a bonus. The restaurant had its usual lively atmosphere, and the hostess was warm and welcoming. Unfortunately, the service didn't live up to what we've experienced in the past. Our waiter seemed a bit aloof. He took our order, checked in once to ask how everything was, and then returned with the bill. He never offered another round of drinks, never refilled our water, and we weren't given the large pasta spoons typically served with linguine, making the dish a little more difficult to enjoy. We ordered the Linguine allo Scoglio, Penne Bolognese, Linguine Neri, and Burrata. The standout of the evening was the Linguine Neri. This beautifully balanced dish was packed with flavor, featuring tender scallops, flaky sea bass, calamari, and broccoli rabe, all brought together in a delicious sauce. Every bite was memorable, making it the highlight of our meal. The Penne Bolognese was a letdown, as the meat sauce had a slightly burnt taste. The Linguine allo Scoglio featured mussels and scallops that were a bit overcooked, though the seafood still delivered a delicious briny, savory flavor. The Burrata was rich, creamy, buttery, and exactly what you'd hope for. The restaurant was very busy, and it took more than 35 minutes for our entrées to arrive. By the time they reached the table, the dishes were only lukewarm, making it seem as though they had been sitting for a while before being served. I can't help but miss the old days. Back then, Buon Appetito felt cozier, with limited indoor seating and the small bar immediately to your right as you walked in. The food and service were consistently exceptional, making every visit feel special. While the restaurant still serves some excellent dishes, I hope it can recapture the warmth and attention to detail that made us fall in love with. read more

Buon Appetito - Penne Bolognese - Italian Near Me - San Diego, California

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The food was excellent, and the service from the bartender, Beto, was outstanding. He was attentive, personable, and made the experience very enjoyable. The restaurant also has a great atmosphere, although I think having some background music would make it even more inviting. One downside, however, was observing a server who I believe was named Marcovich. He came across as negative and somewhat condescending toward his coworkers, which affected the overall impression of the dining experience. While he wasn't my server, if he had been, I'm not sure I would have been as satisfied with the service. This could have been a 5 star but unfortunately that one server made me change to 3. read more

Buon Appetito - Appetizer " fried calamari" - Italian Near Me - San Diego, California

The second best lasagna I've ever had, first being in Venice, Italy! I could not believe how amazing this dish was. Our other dish was extremely salty so we only had a couple of bites. The bread was pretty basic but the appetizer was really good. Service was decent, outdoor seating was enjoyable. Would definitely go back for my own lasagna. read more

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Lovely outdoor seating in the heart of Little Italy. We sampled a variety of small bites including the arancini, grilled octopus and beet arugula salad. The arancini was the best of the bunch with a unique beef filling. The octopus was cooked nicely but was a very small portion not amenable to sharing with a larger group. The beet salad was fresh and light but very simple. Each of these dishes was around $20 which seemed high given the portion sizes and average flavor profiles. The menu doesn't label allergens but our waiter was knowledgeable about what could be gluten free or vegetarian. read more

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We checked out Buon Appetito for date night before a concert and it was a great spot for good italian food with a casual vibe. They have street-side patio dining and a smaller indoor area, which is where we sat. A few notables from our dining experience: Sit in their intimate dining room if you can. The weather was nice for the patio, but downtown San Diego can have some "colorful" characters out in the streets. Try the baked goat cheese, it comes on a bed of pesto with garlic cloves and caramelized onions and is heavenly. It was something different that I haven't seen on other menus and I think is a must-try. The apps are on the larger side, so getting two apps for two people was definitely too much, but we wanted to try a few things. They do have gluten free pasta for my fellow gluten intolerant friends so that helps if you want to enjoy a pasta dish, I had the arrabbiata and would recommend. The service was average hence the three stars. I didn't feel our server was very attentive considering it wasn't busy, but it also wasn't bad service, just in the middle. Overall, this is a good spot to check out for a casual dining experience with good food in the heart of Little Italy. read more

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The service is awesome. The food is great. We didn't eat inside, so we can only speak to the outside ambiance and it was thoroughly enjoyable. Some traffic, beautiful weather, friendly vibes. Loss of a star because one of the dishes was meh, though my own dish was delish! read more

Buon Appetito - Italian Near Me - San Diego, California

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One of my favorite spots in Little Italy! Been coming here for years, their Polpo and Cioppino are the must haves for me- always so delicious. Cozy ambiance inside, can get a little loud when it's crowded but they do have outdoor seating! read more

Buon Appetito - Borsettini Aragosta, Cioppino and Pappardelle al Cinghiale - Italian Near Me - San Diego, California

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First of all, the service here was great. The friendly waiter helped us select gluten free and dairy free entrees. I had the gluten free vegan ravioli which was amazing. The flavor was great with cherry tomatoes and herbs. I believe the inside of the ravioli was some type of vegan cheese and mushrooms. The pasta portion was perfectly done al dente. It was so good that I was tempted to get a second serving! It will be a treat for anyone with similar dietary restrictions. Just wished they had some gf/df bread to accompany my meal. read more

Buon Appetito - Gf and vegan ravioli - Italian Near Me - San Diego, California

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Visited this restaurant for a Wednesday lunch after perusing the Little Italy Mercato. The restaurant had lots of seating available for our party of 7. Our server, Wagner, looked like he was the understudy for the lead role in Aquaman. Turns out he was just as friendly as Jason Mamoa is. We were first treated to some complimentary sliced bread - nice and warm from the oven. It was paired with a nice tomato sauce with a slight kick to it. Our kids preferred olive oil and vinegar. The food: Homemade Tiramisu - this is probably the best Tiramisu I've ever had. Flavor is on point and the marscapone cream is somehow light and indulgent at the same time. Linguine Neri - squid ink pasta with broccoli rabe and a good helping of seafood. The creamy tomato sauce flavor was off the charts. Loved this one. Lasagna Classica - a classic lasagna like the name implies - tons of sauce, which is my preference and the pasta is cooked perfectly. Calamari d'Orati - a mixture of calamari and zucchini with a marinara dip. A very light and crispy fry batter. Polpo alla Griglia - tender with some chew. Nicely grilled and served with simply dressed arugula. Pappardelle al Cinghiale - sauce is very meaty and the red wine comes through. Assuming they are using fresh pasta as the texture is very good. Insalata Romana - a Caesar-like salad - meets expectations Shout out again to our server, Wagner, who helped us celebrate a birthday. All the food was tasty, but the Tiramisu and Linguine Neri were truly special. read more

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It's all right. Food wasn't anything over the special and the surface was pretty lacking. Took like 10 minutes just to get my check to pay. The staff was definitely nice but the service could've been better. Nothing about the food really screamed out wow this is amazing. This is definitely for tourist or for people who think because the menu is in Italian it's going to be top-tier dishes. Would I recommended it? If civico is full , then sure., I guess. Maybe. Eh. Would I want to go again? No read more

This is a very unique outdoor dining experience. Fun to enjoy the fresh air and the friendly people. Service was top notch when the server was available. The sea bass was cooked perfectly. A bit on the pricey side. Paid parking. Many other establishments on the street. read more

Buon Appetito - Italian Near Me - San Diego, California

Husband had picked out this restaurant in Little Italy in planning the family day trip to San Diego. We chose to dine inside to minimize any possible disturbances to our meal from unwanted passerbys. We were ready for lunch after walking around the Gaslamp District. We were brought warm bread with a spicy tomato sauce instead of the usual olive oil and balsamic vinegar. Our server helped with some suggestions before we ordered. I wanted the Farfalle con Pollo. Husband went with our server's recommendation of Linguine Neri. One daughter had the Gnocchi Alla Norma, while other daughter had the Spaghetti Alla Checca. Dishes came out steaming hot. Server helped us take a few photos of rare family get together. The Farfalle con Pollo was creamy. Mushrooms were chewy and soft. It is no wonder that it is a popular dish with patrons. The seafood in the Linguine Neri was excellent. Daughter enjoyed the potato dumplings with diced eggplant. The Spaghetti Alla Checca is simple but good with tomatoes, basil, and mozzarella in marinara sauce. We had no room for dessert as we used the remaining bread to soak up the homemade marinara and creamy white wine sauce. If we had had dessert, I'm sure that my husband would have ordered his favorite cannoli from his childhood days. read more

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I figured while I was in downtown SD, I had to try some place in Little Italy. Going up to the stand, they offered either indoor or outdoor. I went with outdoor. It was a pretty random time in the afternoon on a Monday to be having a lunch so it wasn't super busy. I was seated quickly and served water and bread. At this point, I'm surprised to be served anything before a meal anymore. I ordered the Linguini Neri because the pictures of it looked good. Immediately after I told the waiter, the woman in the table in front of me told me she'd ordered the same thing and it was good. So that set expectations. When it came out, it looked good. They ask if you want cheese and will add some pre-grated cheese. It's a pretty good portion size and compared to a lot of places I've ordered a pasta dish from, this one was definitely worth it. There is a decent amount of seafood and it doesn't feel like you're paying for just pasta. It was yummy and I would come back if I was in the area. The only bummer is that it's street parking only but that's expected in Little Italy. read more

Buon Appetito - Linguine Neri - Italian Near Me - San Diego, California

Stopped by for dinner and the hostess was super kind and accommodating. We came on a Saturday at about 6pm and it was just before the dinner rush. The service was slow, but the food was tasty. We would've ordered a second round of drinks but again, slow service so we never were able to. My husband got the Gorgonzola steak and it was soooo good, I ate most of it. I got the lobster stuffed pasta and it was just okay, not enough flavor all together. With all the restaurant choices to choose from I'd definitely check out someplace else next time, as I wouldn't feel I was missing anything here. read more

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They squid in pasta is my go to. Tried it first time 3 years ago and again recently and the taste, quality and portion continues to be top notch! Marinara sauce was spicy which went well with the bread. Service was great and outdoor sitting at night is pleasant. read more

I will say I went during a holiday, and walk-in was quite fast! However, when I was seated, I was not given a menu - I had to ask for it about 5 minutes later. I was served some free bread with marinara sauce I believe, and it was decent, the sauce had basil in it which I wasn't really expecting a lot of. I then went ahead and ordered the lobster stuffed pasta. I loved the asparagus that was part of it. I will say the filling was a little bit hard for my liking, but I still ate it all and they were able to garnish some parmesan cheese on top too! I would want to come again! Staff was pretty friendly and attentive! The spacing of seats was pretty roomy as well! read more

Buon Appetito - free bread - Italian Near Me - San Diego, California

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We stumbled upon this restaurant as we strolled through the area. We were drawn to this restaurant because the ambiance looked very authentic Italian, the restaurant had quite a few patrons for a random time (4pm on a Tuesday afternoon), and the menu had a large variety of what we were looking for. We were seated immediately and had the choice of inside or outside. Upon sitting down we were immediately served water and bread (the sauce served with the bread was amazing! It was a spicy marinara). We ordered the Rucola e Bietole Salad (beets, arugula, caramelized onions, walnuts, and feta cheese). The salad was refreshing and delicious! For the meal I ordered the Lasagna and it was honestly one of the best lasagna meals I have ever had. The portion size was great, the pasta sauce was so simple and complemented it well, and my husband ended up helping me finish it because it was so yummy. My only complaint is I prefer when Italian restaurants grate fresh Parmesan cheese at the table, rather than provide pre-grated cheese (you can taste the difference on freshness). Otherwise, great experience! read more

Buon Appetito - Lasagna - Italian Near Me - San Diego, California

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We arrived on a Saturday night. The place was fairly busy, but they gave us an indoor sitting and brought a high chair for us too. The staff were super nice and the area was very nice. I ordered Calamari, which was ok. A bit oily if you ask me. My wife got "Risotto Piemontese". She added sausage. The sausage was delicious, and the risotto plate was generous and delicious which is a very rare combination. My cousin got "Farfalle con Pollo" and he was pretty happy with his food. I would recommend this place for tasty food and peaceful dining read more

Buon Appetito - Risotto Piemontese - Italian Near Me - San Diego, California

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The Rucola e Bietole Salad was absolutely amazing! I added shrimp, and it made for the perfect summer lunch, fresh, light, and incredibly flavorful. Every thing from the beets, to the caramelized onions, to the walnuts added flavor and worked perfectly with the other elements of the salad. My husband ordered the Orecchiette alla Barese and said it was the best pasta dish he has ever eaten. In addition, he wanted to give kudos for the delicious warm bread and tomato sauce offered before the meal. SO good!!!! A special shout-out to our server, Juliana M. She is an absolute gem, knowledgeable about the menu, genuinely kind, attentive, and efficient. She made an already wonderful dining experience even better. We can't wait to come back! I have to add the restaurant is also so nicely decorated inside and in the outdoor covered seating!! Great spot for lunch, brunch, or dinner!! read more

Buon Appetito - Rucola e Bietole Salad - Italian Near Me - San Diego, California

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Came here a late night with friends for some food and it was overall a nice experience. Our meals were good and nicely hot. I was so glad to have leftovers the next day as it was that good. Our server was kind and helpful. Very chill atmosphere for the most part as we sat outside. read more

Buon Appetito - Italian Near Me - San Diego, California

Very delicious pasta and dessert- the shellfish in my linguine allo scoglio were fresh and tender. The sauce was rich and aromatic with wine and chopped garlic. Gelato was heavenly and highly recommended! Everything that I had was of great quality and value. Service overall was attentive and professional. All my questions about the menu were thoroughly answered. Restaurant itself was clean and well maintained. I'm already looking forward to my next visit! read more

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I understand this place is busy on the weekends, but the service was absolutely terrible. I should have known from the bad experience with the hostess from the beginning then being taken to a server who we seen only one time. Every time we needed help we had a flag down someone who was busing tables Or find another server. Food took almost an hour and a half to actually come out. Definitely would not recommend unless you have all the time in the world to wait for your food or any service at all even water. read more

The service was quite amazing and I really loved that everyone was so fast in providing whatever was being asked for. My favorite dish was the penne bolognese. It was absolutely delicious. The marinara was a bit tart and the penne was al dente. I would definitely get it again! The outdoor seating was so awesome; I really enjoyed people watching and seeing the beautiful sky while I enjoyed a nice pasta and drink. read more

Buon Appetito - Penne Bolognese - Italian Near Me - San Diego, California

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I met up with a friend for lunch. It was a nice day so we chose to sit outside at a table covered by an umbrella. We ordered the ravioli, sea bass, and tiramisu. All 3 items were ok, but I can't say that they stood out as being extraordinary. My fish was a bit on the dry side. The dessert was a bit too creamy and needed a stronger coffee flavor. Our server was friendly but not very attentive. My empty class of iced tea was not replenished until I asked for it. I did not have a great experience here so I will likely not have a repeat visit. read more

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If you're looking for authentic Italian, look no further. This place has a great selection of appetizers, salads, and pastas... not to mention a wide range of wine selection. I had their Linguine Boscomare - a very filling and tasty seafood pasta with scallops cooked to perfection 10/10. I also had a taste of my friend's Borsettini Aragosta, that was also a 10/10. They have both inside and outdoor seating, perfect for people watching at Little Italy. You're greeted with bread at the table that comes with their amazing house marinara sauce. The only regret I have is not saving room for their famous cannoli. I'll be back for that, for sure. read more

Buon Appetito - Linguine Boscomare - Italian Near Me - San Diego, California

This place was so incredibly delicious. The service was fast- we came in on a Sunday around 3:45 and were seated immediately. We were brought a plate of bread moments after, and our food and drinks came quite quickly. The server was kind and helpful with us making choices on what to eat. Everyone in our party enjoyed their meals and the pricing was quite fair for the large portion sizes and wonderful quality of the food. I will definitely be coming back soon. read more

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Decided to stop here after walking in Little Italy for dinner. It was a little busy, but service was abnormally slow. The food was really good, and we didn't mind the wait much because we were chatting, however everyone in our group noticed how long it took to get our food and even water refills. The food was good enough, however, to where I'd come back and give them another chance! Maybe it was just a rough night. Location is great and I loved the beet salad I ordered. read more

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Came here for a Saturday evening dinner in a group of 6. We were able to be seated indoors right away or wait 45 minutes for an outside table. The patio dining would have been nice but we were hungry so sat inside. The waiter was very friendly and attentive throughout and came to check on us a few times while we were chatting. They gave us bread and a spicy red sauce to dip for the table and we started off with the eggplant appetizer and burrata. Both were delicious! For dinner I got the farfalle con pollo which was super creamy and not too heavy. Once they set our pleated down they had a separate bowl of Parmesan that they generously sprinkled. The food was delicious and for dessert we got the tiramisu which was heavenly. So creamy and decadent. Loved my experience here! read more

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My family and I had dinner there for the first time for my husband's birthday. It was absolutely fantastic friendly staff great service.! read more

Buon Appetito - A chicken pasta dish that was to die for! - Italian Near Me - San Diego, California

2nd visit. Food and service are top notch. I would match these dishes with Italian dishes anywhere from Seattle to Philadelphia to Palermo to Rome. They now take reservations on line and we shoed up on time at 7PM on a Saturday and are seated right away. read more

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If you are in San Diego, CA by Little Italy and you want to try authentic Italian cuisine - this is the place. I ordered the Ossobuco - I believe only few Italian restaurant serves the dish - and absolutely wonderful. The calamari as starter is amazing. The best part is the lovely lady that attended to us - Bella... very accommodating, pleasant to say the least, and tolerated us. Hence, the meal tasted so much better because of her joyful and friendly smile as well as improved the ambience of the restaurant. read more

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Delicious food and great service. Good portions. Just wish they had cocktails on the menu as well.

Took my parents here for Memorial Day weekend right in the heart of Little Italy. My mom has previously visited Italy and she tells me the interior decor feels like she has been transported back to Europe! The venue is mama approved, so it must be good! We had the insalate tricolore, which was a very tasty and fresh salad. Too me, it was a good amount of dressing with their argula greens. For one of the main dishes, we ordered the farfalle al salmone. You can never do without pasta at an Italian restaurant and they did not disappoint. There's something about their vodka and creamy tomato sauce that made it quite harmonious with the farfalle. For our second dish, we ordered the ossobuco di maiale, that came with an incredible presentation of a ginormous pork shank. I think the risotto was a great blue moon change up from my usual white rice. Very tender pork. read more

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A restaurant in Little Italy in downtown San Diego serving authentic Italian cusine. We visited the place around 1:00 pm on a Wednesday. There weren't that many customers. We were promptly seated inside. There were also outdoor seatings but the heavy traffic made it less desirable. Iced water and bread were served immediately. The bread was warm and very tasty with the slightly tangy and spicy tomato dips that came with it. Order was taken and food arrived shortly after. The Insalata Romana salad was so so. The grilled octopus was good. The fried calamari was so tender that it seemed to melt in your mouth. The rest of the order, including Lasagna Classica, Linguine Neri (seafood squid ink pasta) and Pappardelle al Cinghiale ( pasta in a slowed simmer wild boar ragu) were all very tasty. It happened to be the birthday of a member of our party. Upon learning that they bought out a slice of cake and 2 cannoli gratis for the occasion and that was very nice. Overall it was a memorable lunch and worth revisiting. read more

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Food was ok, nothing special. Had the sea bass, New York steak and salmon. Sea bass didn't look appealing, a pile of white bass on top of white mash potatoes on a white plate. Steak was ok, salmon was better. Service took FOREVER! 45-60 for food. I got up to get my own fork and took my drink to the bar to myself to get refilled. That's the last $200 I'm spending there ever. "My computer is slow", "it's busy", "I'm not the server who does drinks". Stop with the excuses, do better. read more

Food wasn't great. Mushroom chicken was a 5/10 and several other items were mid at best. Service was very good very nice waiter!

Went here for my husband's birthday. Our server didn't speak English. We waited over an hour for our food after ordering and our server never came around to ask about drinks. Very strange. Very disappointed since I booked this place for a birthday celebration. read more

Came here once before and didn't have the opportunity to review it but came back again this past weekend and it was consistently perfect! A good selection of wines and you MUST try their meatballs as an appetizer they are the best I ever had. Their ravioli with Alfredo sauce was so good, as well as their salmon (crispy with lemon). Service was friendly and attentive. The food did not take long to come out at all. They offer indoor and outdoor seating as well, both are great options truly. read more

Buon Appetito - Homemade Meatballs - Italian Near Me - San Diego, California

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