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    Cardellino

    4.3 (577 reviews)
    Closed 5:00 pm - 9:00 PM
    Updated 1 month ago

    Cardellino Photos

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    CARDELLINO ATMOSPHERE

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    Casual
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    Classy

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    Recommended Reviews - Cardellino

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    Manuel S.

    What a fantastic experience! We had a reservation for 6 outside, but with it being the hottest day, they thoughtfully moved us inside - what a win! Our waitress was an absolute gem, making our daughter's birthday celebration extra special. She handled all our orders with grace, and when the food arrived, it was simply amazing, fresh, and top-notch. While it might be a bit pricey, the quality you get makes it a highly recommended spot! #Reservation #Celebration #Food #Quality

    Kelsey Y.

    Second time here and still doesn't disappoint. Everything we ate was delicious and the service was top notch! The ambiance for dinner was moody and beautiful. I'll definitely be going back!

    Primo Marzo; the prosciutto was definitely the star of the dish
    Sarah L.

    Came here for the Mother's Day brunch; overall had a mix of hits and misses. Started with the Primo Marzo; the prosciutto was definitely the star of the dish, super tender, and all the ingredients tasted really fresh. I just felt like it needed one more element to tie everything together. The spicy rigatoni was simple but packed with great tomato and spice flavors. I actually think this dish would've been even better with a meat ragu added to it. The smoked salmon bagel chip was really good; light, fresh, and the salmon was tender and flavorful. The fried capers and thin crispy bagel gave it a fun twist on a traditional bagel and lox. The porcini & pea tortelloni wasn't my favorite. The sauce felt too thick and the pasta was a little too al dente for my taste. The more I ate it, the less I enjoyed it. I really wanted to love the steak and eggs, but the steak was overly salted and hard to enjoy because of it. Dessert was mixed too. The cannoli was delicious; light, crispy, and simple in the best way. The olive oil cake, though, tasted dry to me and the flavors didn't really work together. Not a fan of that one.

    Bistecca Fiorentina
    Alexa F.

    Such an amazing experience! The have a nice daily happy hour that we enjoyed at the bar before our dinner reservation. It was family style dishes which was perfect, our favorite was the Bistecca Fiorentina, Cacio e Pepe, and the truffle potatoes, but everything was incredible! Great place to come for a birthday or celebration

    Lamb lollipop
    Kaloni S.

    My friends and I came here for dinner on a Saturday night and it was delicious! Service was quick and staff were welcoming. The restaurant is really cute inside, but fairly small. There's both indoor and outdoor seating available. Parking was a bit tricky, but there's plenty on the street and in the residential area. I'd definitely come back! Worth a try if you're in the area. Food/drink review: Pinot Grigio: (3/5) crisp and refreshing, but I wish it was a little bit sweeter than it was. Lamb lollipops: (5/5) Extremely tender and flavorful! It didn't taste gamey at all. Spaghetti with clams: (5/5) I couldn't partake as I am allergic. My friend said it was amazing! Super flavorful and balanced. Spicy rigatoni with meatballs: (5/5) This was super rich in flavor. The sauce was creamy and noodles cooked to perfection. I really enjoyed the meatballs too, they were tender and seasoned well. Carrot cake: (5/5) BOMB. This was absolutely amazing. The cake itself was moist, the frosting with the nuts had great texture, and the caramel sauce was the perfect addition to the dessert. You have to have a bite of everything together.

    New York strip
    Maurice A.

    I had heard about this place for a while now, but hadn't gone. We had tickets to the show so we decided to go here prior. It's so cute inside with the lemon wall paper and wood walls to contrast. The very high ceilings and chandeliers are a very nice touch. Serve was very on point and our waiter really knew his stuff. Explained different dishes what they came with abd how things were cooked. I had no questions! Hee hee. We started with red wine from the extensive wine selections and sparkling water with lemon. Then we got our sourdough bread omg! So good with the garlic paste and perfect with the wine. A friend and I couldn't decide on what to have so we shared the fillet and the Sunday Spaghetti. The fillet was so amazing and I'm not much of a pasta person but the Sunday spaghetti was "chef's kiss"! So delicious and the crème fresh with the short ribs was such a great combination. I'm going to dream about that. I can believe I waited this long to come here and will most definitely be back! Thank you for all the great food and hard work! Also had a bite of the pork chop! Yum. Our other friend had ny strip in our pic.

    Gabriel H.

    Cardellino has some excellent food options, everything on the menu sounds so good! 14oz prime ribeye was the best, had some fatty parts but excellent flavor and cooked to perfection! Woah spaghetti vongole was also so delicious! Definitely an excellent food options when in San Diego, HIGHLY RECOMMEND! Aperol Spritz are a great drink option.

    Robert C.

    Dude. The review must start like that for anything radically delicious in San Diego. I had no idea SD could knock Italian out of the park like that. Well, I guess it does make sense given they have a Little Italy. Anyways, everything we ordered was bomb.com! Legit. Here's what we ordered. I'd recommend you follow my foot steps. Chopped salad. Quite possibly the best chopped salad I've had. Spicy rigatoni. I could not stop eating it even when I was full. The taste is addictive. Radiatori Bolognese. They should just rename this radically delicious bolognese. Fritto misto. Taste the sea baby. We sat at the bar which honestly has such a great vibe even though our reservation was for a table. I'd do it again. Shout out to our super attentive bar tender/waiter. He was suave and friendly. Cheers!

    3 lamb chops
    Leslie C.

    We had a very nice experience at Cardellino last night. They were quite full for a Wednesday night but we had a reservation so we did not have to wait. The ambiance here is very nice though I might say it was a bit too loud to carry on a conversation and way too dark to read the menu. Just about everyone in the restaurant had to read it using their camera flashlight.Had there been a tad less noise and a bit more light it would have been perfect. Service was very good but not great. I had to ask for my water to be refilled by flagging down a busboy and the waiter didn't come back to check on my dinner until I was finished eating. He did promptly come to clean off the table after I finished. I would have happily skipped the table wipe down in favor of checking in more promptly. I got the feeling they were understaffed as my waiter was definitely busy running from table to table non stop. We ordered three lamb chops, a side of asparagus and the branzino.The branzino and asparagus were both excellent. The lamb was very good. My issue with the lamb chop is that they do not ask you how you like it. It is delivered to the table- medium. I found this to be a tad off putting for a high end restaurant. I was also not given a steak knife. I had to work a bit to cut it with the butter knife I was given. That said, once I added a bit of salt and lemon it was delicious. Frankly by the end of the meal I was just picking the chops up with my hands anyway so the lack of a proper knife didn't matter. We skipped dessert since I am a true chocoholic and there was simply nothing particularly chocolatey there. Overall this is a very nice restaurant.

    Spicy rigatoni with meatballs
    Sandra P.

    Cardellino's Italian Restaurant delivered a great experience from start to finish. The appetizers were solid--the bread alone was worth it. The steak was tender and cooked well, and the potatoes were perfectly crispy, savory, and well-seasoned. The spicy pasta was a standout--full of flavor and not overly spicy, so don't be intimidated. I had it with meatballs, but I'm already planning to try it with short rib next time. I skipped dessert because the cocktails at their speakeasy, Carlo, were my dessert. Carlo is a beautiful, intimate space with true craft cocktails made right. Must try the Toga Party. Well done Trust Group. I love going to Trust for brunch. Fort Oak for happy hour. Now, Cardellino for dinner. Great food, great drinks, and a fun overall vibe. Would absolutely return.

    Felina V.

    Cardellino did NOT disappoint. Easily one of the best meals I've had in the past year! Highly recommend for an elevated steakhouse date night. Cocktails were immaculate. Sides, mains, and appetizers all left my jaw on the floor. And of course the service was perfect, even during that mysterious week between Christmas and the start of the new year, when time doesn't exist. So excited to go back!

    Juicy lamb lollipops
    Claudia E.

    We celebrated our anniversary at Cardellino, and the experience was nothing short of exceptional. Even though the restaurant was fully booked for the evening, the front desk went above and beyond to make our night special. We called around 7pm and they reassured us they would try their best, and--miraculously--managed to find us seats without making us feel like an inconvenience! We were able to book a reservation for 8pm and even managed to get in earlier. Their kindness and welcoming attitude set the tone for the entire evening. The atmosphere was cozy and vibrant. All the dishes were beautifully crafted. The lamb lollipops were to die for. Each bite popped with savory flavors. Each dish had its own unique taste. I wil never forget how expeditionary the food and service was. The experience felt even more memorable because it started with genuine care. If I could, I would give Cardellino more than five stars for its outstanding service and delicious food.

    Kathleen C.

    Had a great time celebrating a friend's birthday! The vibes, service and food were excellent. We shared a few items: -SOURDOUGH BOULE -FILET MIGNON CARPACCIO -CHOP SALAD -EGGPLANT PARM LASAGNA -SPICY RIGATONI All had great flavors and enjoyed every bite!

    Carrot cake, tiramisu cheesecake, and apple strudel a la mode

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    Page 1 of 15

    Cardellino Reviews in Other Languages

    Ask the Community - Cardellino

    Do they have a whisky list?

    Can I bring my kid to their happy hour?

    Are the steaks prime meat?

    Is the Dining Room air conditioned?

    Hello, Stephanie! Yes, our dining room at Cardellino does have air conditioning.

    Is there outdoor seating? Dog friendly?

    There is an awesome patio that is dog friendly here facing Goldfinch

    Do they allow kids for breakfast?

    Yes, they do. I saw a baby w stroller last time I was there.

    Is the brunch menu available during the week or only on weekends? Thank you.

    Why is this place listed as black owned?

    Because our owner, Chef Brad Wise, is black

    How do I make a reservation? It looks like you guys don't have a number to call or a way to do it online...…

    I was able to make a reservation on their website.

    Do you serve breakfast?

    Yes, we are open for breakfast, lunch and dinner seven days a week. Our bakery cafe is open for breakfast starting at 7:30 a.m.

    Is there a happy hour?

    We currently offer happy hour in our bakery cafe from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. featuring $5 draft cocktails, $5 draft wine and $5 draft beer.

    View All 15 Questions

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    The Cordova Bar

    4.7
    (224 reviews)
    2.3 mi
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    Stopped by here after dinner and had a blast. This place is a vibe…read more They had a DJ. There's plenty of seating, both indoors and outdoors. Service was awesome from start to finish, and the drinks were reasonably priced, which is always a plus. They're dog friendly, which is awesome. Overall, it had a great crowd and an easy, laid-back atmosphere. Definitely a fun spot to hang out.

    Dope cocktail bar in Morena area. Just dropped in on a routine Saturday night for 1 cocktail and…read moreended up having many lolol They had a DJ in playing which was cool and kept the vibes right for the night (although I think the volume could have been a bit lower as I felt like I had to yell to talk or do the awkward lean in to hear). Bartenders were cool. Nick was our fave though for sure. He made some mean cocktails. Solid liquor selection plus a list of cocktails to choose from. I initially ordered the something and picante (can't remember the full name) and found it to be way too sweet. Then switched to a basic Lalo with soda and lime to cleanse my palette. After tried their version of an espresso martini which was quite good but made with nitro brew and kahlua so a bit on the sweeter side. I ended the night with my fave drink though which was a Hugo spritz and it was perfectly balanced. Definitely will be going back, especially for the love band Sundays. Parking is all street parking.

    Photos
    Happy Hour 5-8PM features specials on Martinis, Craft Beer on Tap, Wine and Wells.
    Happy Hour 5-8PM features specials on Martinis, Craft Beer on Tap, Wine and Wells.
    Peanut Butter Espresso Martini
    Peanut Butter Espresso Martini
    Classic Martini $10 During Happy Hour 5-8PM

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    Oculto 477

    Oculto 477

    4.2
    (309 reviews)
    1.3 mi
    $$

    I plan to come back to San Diego every few months, and since I'm a creature of habit, I'm looking…read morefor something that I can do every single time. I'm really glad that I found Oculto because it has been one of the highlights of my San Diego trip. First of all, the concept of the seven deadly sins is really cool. The space is absolutely moody, intimate, and thoughtfully designed. It has an atmosphere that makes you want to slow down and enjoy your drink rather than rush through it. And since I don't really drink, I was definitely going slow. And I was alone, but the good part was I found myself just taking it all in instead of reaching for my phone. I started with an espresso martini-style cocktail that was smooth, balanced, and the perfect way to ease into the evening. For my second drink, I asked for the bartender's choice, and it ended up being one of my favorite cocktails I've had in a long time. It featured lychee, strawberry, and cardamom, and was garnished with a beautiful little rose. It was creative, elegant, and every flavor worked together perfectly. The cocktails were outstanding, but what really made the experience stand out was the service. Devin was an excellent bartender and an amazing conversationalist. He was warm, knowledgeable, and genuinely engaging, making me feel welcome from the moment I sat down. He took the time to craft a drink based on flavors I enjoy, and it was clear he cares about creating a great experience, not just serving drinks. If you're looking for a cocktail bar with incredible drinks, a gorgeous atmosphere, and exceptional hospitality, I can't recommend Oculto enough. I'll absolutely be back the next time I'm in San Diego.

    I visited Oculto 477 for the first time recently and fell in love with this delightfully charming…read morebar! Full disclosure, I'm a sucker for a themed speakeasy, and Oculto delivered with its Mexican gothic twist. Entering through a confessional booth, confessing your sins before once again giving over to temptation as you sample seven deadly sins-themed libations; oh yeah, this is the themed spectacle that I adore! For those wanting to visit, Oculto is small and reservations are a must. They also have a two drink minimum and the seatings are timed. Everything we ordered was fantastic and I adored the presentation. My only complaint, and the reason for the four stars, is that despite its small size, service was still on the slower side. I get that the bartenders are making complicated craft cocktails, but when you have a two drink minimum AND a time limit for your guests, maybe speed it up a little bit? We would have loved to order another round but sadly ran out of time on our reservation. But everything else about the bar was fantastic, and I will definitely be back for another night of debauchery in the future!

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    Seat at the bar
    Seat at the bar
    La Llorona
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    Starlite

    Starlite

    4.1
    (2.7k reviews)
    1.0 mi
    $$$

    I absolutely loved this place! Everything felt reasonably priced, especially compared to similar…read morespots in San Diego. My only complaint was that we didn't get to sit in the disco room--it looked so fun and was definitely one of the coolest parts of the restaurant. We skipped the cocktail menu and ordered pornstar martinis instead, and they were incredible. The passionfruit tasted fresh and natural, not overly sweet or artificial. For food, we shared the mozzarella sticks with caviar crème fraîche ($23), which came with a surprisingly generous portion of caviar. We also ordered the Caesar salad, which was a great size for sharing, and the Starlight Burger with a Wagyu patty and fries. Everything was delicious and exceeded our expectations. The service was just as impressive. Our server was attentive without being overbearing and checked in frequently to make sure we had everything we needed. Overall, every part of the experience was on point. Great food, great drinks, great service, and such a fun atmosphere. I'll definitely be back!

    I had a reservation for Thursday and it was packed but took less than 5 minutes to get seated. They…read moredo check your ID at the entrance it's 21+ only. Parking is a nightmare good luck finding parking within a mile of the restaurant. Pros: atmosphere, drinks, service Cons: food wasn't great for the price, restaurant was small and crowded, no parking Service: All of our servers were friendly and very accommodating. Gave us some knowledge on the menu and recommended cocktails based on our preference. I had spilled my drink and they were quick to make me another one. Food: I had intended to get the prime ribeye cap steak but they ran out for the night around 8pm. I shared the steak sampler which came with four different cuts of steak and 4 sauces. I ordered medium and it was cooked medium/medium rare which was fine with me, it also had a good sear, almost burnt though. Out of the four steaks, we only liked two based off flavor and tenderness. The other two were more tough and gamey. None of the sauces really stood out but the bordelaise and horseradish were good. For our sides we got fries, roasted broccoli, and the grilled wedge salad. Fries were average. The roasted broccoli had really good flavor, I expected the broccoli to be al dente but it was cooked to mush and drenched in sauce. The grilled wedge salad was decent, there was a slightly bitter taste to it. I know it says grilled wedge but the experience of biting into the salad and it being both hot and cold was not pleasant. Cocktails: I tried the Honey Ryder and New Wave. These were recommended as the more fruity/sweet cocktails. You can definitely taste the alcohol but it's only 2oz so it's not too strong. Ambience: 10/10 I got seated downstairs by the bar. Only thing about downstairs is that it's too dark to take photos unless you use flash. Overall, I agree with the other reviews saying to go just for drinks and appetizers. I would go again just to sit upstairs and get drinks and take pictures. We left unsatisfied and ended up getting in-n-out after.

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    Bar area after entering
    Bar area after entering
    Pistachio ice cream sandwich
    Pistachio ice cream sandwich
    Cocktails are fun!

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    The Gärten

    The Gärten

    4.6
    (81 reviews)
    1.9 mi
    $$

    This biergarten is awesome. As soon as you walk in, there's a food truck immediately to your left…read moreserving wood-fired pizzas that are absolutely phenomenal. They also offer a great happy hour special Tuesday through Friday with $5 off pizzas. I don't remember the exact hours, so you'll want to check those before visiting. One of the things I love most about this place is the variety. There are three different brewery stations throughout the venue. I got a flight from the back room, where they serve mead, which is tough to find around San Diego. I ordered a flight, which came with six selections, and every single one was excellent. The staff here are fantastic. Everyone was friendly and welcoming, and one of the chefs even came out to give the pups some pepperoni, which was a nice touch that definitely stood out. The space itself is huge with plenty of both indoor and outdoor seating. It's a great place for groups to gather, relax, and enjoy a few drinks without feeling cramped. Overall, this is a fun and unique spot with great food, excellent drinks, and outstanding service. I'm definitely looking forward to coming back.

    This is a great space! Love meeting friends here - locals and tourists are always pleasantly…read moresurprised by this literal 'hidden' gem tucked in the middle of an industrial area (parking may take a bit to find). The main food available is from Pizza Cassette, which has delicious sandwiches and wood-fired, Neapolitan-style pizza pies. Drinks are available from a brewery, a trendy and unique wine spot, and a meadery! Truly something for everyone. It's dog friendly and great for groups to still feel intimate with standing areas, barrel table tops and picnic style tables. There's usually always something happening like trivia night or live music, but heads up, they don't stay open too late - won't be an issue for most, but in case you're looking for a spot at 8pm, double check the hours, especially for food.

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    VIP flight from Lost Cause Meadery
    VIP flight from Lost Cause Meadery
    The Gärten
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    insideOUT

    insideOUT

    4.4
    (1.4k reviews)
    1.3 mi
    $$$

    My partner & I recently got engaged and came to celebrate here. Christian treated us so well! Food…read more& drinks were great and so was the ambiance. Also my first time in San Diego and Christian already made my experience so good. Definitely would come back here if we're ever in town.

    Last night was one of my top dining experiences. Everything about IO was great. Literally every…read morebite and sip was so delicious. And the decor was so thoughtful, refined yet relaxing. My friend is ready to redecorate his place with Moroccan lamps now. The only negative was our fault...we decided to go two days ago and the only reservation left was at 8:45. I think IO more beautiful at night, so we were looking forward to it nonetheless. We arrived around 8 and ordered a bottle of wine in the waiting area/courtyard ramp. Such an interesting layout, but it works! We got to sit at a table right next to the waterfall and pond. Our server was very nice. Probably the only slip-up in service, was that our main came out when we had barely put a dent in apps. We were probably chatting and sipping on wine too much? The expo realized, kept the mains, and said take your time. Then he brought out mains when we were ready. Everything on the menu sounded amazing. My friend and I decided to both get the steak on the hot stone. It comes out raw and you have to keep track of time to cook it how you like it. You can choose flavored salts and butters and sauces for the side. We also shared the pickled strawberry salad. It had lots of toppings, flavor, and textures. The pozole verde was also excellent.

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    Spring oasis
    Spring oasis
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    Pear mocktail

    Cardellino - italian - Updated August 2026

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