Ristorante Illando is now on my go-to list for Italian food when in San Diego. Luca and his boys…read moreprovided great service and were incredibly kind - they even helped celebrate my birthday with tiramisu and a candle. I highly recommend you add this restaurant to your list when in San Diego!

SO GOOD. Yet another reason I wish I lived in San Diego. Amazing authentic Italian. I highly…read morerecommend their pesto -- it tastes like the pesto in Genoa Italy. The bolognese was amazing as well!

Food, vibes, salsa macha, and margaritas have all been so good! This is my go-to spot for an…read moreafternoon HH, or a fun meet up spot for my gf's and I before heading out for the evening. This has been such a great addition to little Italy! I recommend the sushi as well - make sure to add some salsa macha oil to it and it is FIRE

I skimmed reviews and made a reservation. When I went back to look at all reviews, some of the…read morenegative ones had me scared so we almost didn't go. But we both had a great time! The reviews here say the service is friendly and good and they are right! Jenny looked after us and we both really liked her! Vibrant and friendly. Mixed drinks were ok. I wasn't thrilled with my watermelon one (I forget the name) but the wine i had after was excellent. For dinner I had the smoked pork chop and I have to say, it was a little odd. Ive never had meat or pork especially that was so soft and mushy? I mean I kinda liked it but it was just so weird. I was trying to figure out how they did that because usually pork has a nice chew to it. You could eat this with no teeth and thats no exaggeration. The sauce kinda overpowers the nice smoked pork flavor. The rice was amazing- made with sesame oil or something. My wife had the salmon and loved it. Huge dish too. Oh their ceasar salad has the big ancovy fishes on top - not my favorite but some places do this. Just FYI. Some other review mentioned it looked like a concrete bunker with flowers. Ha I can see that but we both thought the place was cute! Very loud though! Concrete walls and stone bar wall - even when it wasn't busy its hard to hear your friends. So I don't know. I'd go back maybe?

The food and ambiance were great but the portions have a bit to be desired. For 30$ a plate of…read morepasta I expect a bit more. My friend got the mushroom pasta and it just barely covered a flat plate. Disappointing if you're hungry. The service was only okay servers not very attentive.

Barbusa, 1917 India Street, Little Italy,…read moreSan Diego, CA92101. Italian, Seafood, Cocktail Bar. Located in Little Italy in San Diego. Nice ambiance. Service and food were excellent. Everything that we ordered were good, but my personal favourite was the Funghi E Tartufo, very rich, creamy mushroom pasta. The pasta was handmade and light in texture, blends perfectly with the creamy sauce. The portion did not appear large, but it was so filling. Very satisfying meal. Another item worth highlighting is the Lollipop Lamb which was very good too...tender, succulent, well seasoned and cooked perfectly. #Lollopop Lamb# #Funghi E Tartufo# #Rigatoni Salsiccia# #Bolognese Al Forno#

Went here for a birthday dinner for two. We sat outside since it seemed cooler there then inside…read more We are not big fans of street side seating, but this was not bad. Our server team was excellent. They were attentive but stayed out of the way so we could enjoy each other's company. Drinks and food were delivered in an appropriate time frame. We had a couple of their specialty cocktails and they were very good. They kept a cold bottle of water filled on our table all through our visit. We shared their Artichoke with fennel grilled appetizer, and it was excellent with the grilling and sauce for dipping. We then shared a Caesar Salad, and my wife thought it was one of the best we have had in years. Perfectly chilled and dressed with nice pieces of anchovy. For our entree we shared the Chicken Parmesan, and it was perfectly cooked and the side of Vodka Sauce Pasta was delicious too. Our meal was so tasty and delivered hot. Since this was a birthday dinner, they offered that we choose any one of their desserts complimentary. What a great touch. We certainly hope to return soon to try some of their other items listed on the menu.

If you're visiting San Diego, I definitely recommend spending an evening in Little Italy…read more We made reservations at RoVino after it kept popping up on Yelp and Google, and it did not disappoint. The atmosphere was lively and energetic, the service was warm and welcoming, and the cocktails were excellent. We shared the black truffle pasta, followed by the Carne Mista for Two--a huge platter with perfectly cooked steak, spicy sausage, their famous rotisserie chicken, grilled vegetables, and salad. Everything was delicious, and there was so much food that we had plenty to take back to the hotel for leftovers. After dinner, we wandered through the neighborhood, grabbed gelato, and stopped by one of the nearby Italian markets. The whole area has such a fun, vibrant energy and is perfect for strolling after a meal. A couple of things to know: parking can be challenging, and the restaurant's restroom is actually located down the block. It was a little unexpected, but one of the staff members kindly walked us over, which was much appreciated. Overall, it was a fantastic evening. Great food, friendly people, and a lively neighborhood. Little Italy is absolutely worth adding to your San Diego itinerary.

Visited on a weekday afternoon with my wife and adult daughter. We ordered everything to share. I…read morehad the zero alcohol Espresso Flirtini, which was incredible, and my daughter had an enjoyable prosecco. We enjoyed everything we ordered--the hummus board was our foundation. Of the four bruschetta we ordered, the sweet and spicy pepper jam & goat cheese was the table's favorite but all were great. The fudgy brownie desert was perfect split three ways. My wife and I don't usually drink, but the wine selection looked interesting. Great ambiance and friendly vibe. Stephanie was a great server and she was ably assisted by others. Overall, excellent food and service that warranted several recollections hours later of what a great meal we had.

We almost never leave reviews, but this experience was disappointing enough that we felt we should…read more Unfortunately, their grilled cheese was the least enjoyable grilled cheese we've ever had. It just wasn't what we expected, and we honestly couldn't understand the flavor or concept behind it. We were surprised and pretty disappointed after the first bite. The Caesar salad wasn't much better. It was mostly lettuce, dressing, and soggy croutons, and it didn't feel worth the price. We know every restaurant can have an off day, but we wanted to share our experience because we rarely take the time to leave reviews. We hope this was just an exception.

Books & Records Delivers Live Jazz, Standout Cocktails, and Exceptional Happy Hour Bites…read moreAs a fan of Common Stock, expectations were high for its Bankers Hill sister spot, Books & Records--and it easily delivered. The moment you step inside, the bi-level space makes a striking impression with its mid-century accents, exposed brick, and warm, moody lighting. It manages to balance a lively, energetic atmosphere with an effortless chicness that feels tailored for a memorable night out. The happy hour here is an absolute standout, featuring an expansive array of creative food options and crafted drinks. The menu brings an inventive Asian fusion twist to bar bites, offering flavor-forward small plates that pair seamlessly with the beverage program. The drinks deserve equal applause: the craft cocktails are meticulously balanced, and the signature ube-inspired cocktails are as vibrant and distinct as they are delicious. Adding to the venue's overall charm is the live music program. Catching live jazz, soul, and blues sets elevates the entire experience from a simple dinner run into a full sensory event. The music creates a vibrant, soulful backdrop without overpowering table conversation, striking just the right rhythm for intimate catch-ups or energetic group gatherings. Whether you are dropping in for a quick drink, indulging in a multi-dish happy hour spread, or lingering late for the live tunes and exceptional cocktails, Books & Records captures everything that makes CS Hospitality's concepts so special. It is a stylish, fun, and flavorful addition to San Diego's dining scene.

New breakfast spot for me! Super cute decor. Love the vibe here. Bar seating looks cozy and open…read more I love the books & records they have displayed. Patio seating also very cute. Lots of inside seating. Our waitress Allie was super friendly. We had the short rib hash & the florentine Benedict. Both were delicious and the presentation was great. Visited on a Sunday morning and they weren't terribly busy. Looks like they have music on Saturdays. Not a huge menu but good options. We found parking on the street. Try it! Super cozy here.

Eden was fantastic! She was very helpful, sweet and swift with her service to our table. She was…read moreable to answer our questions and be super patient when it comes to explaining specials and other things on the menu. She was awesome!

Celebrating many birthdays and Cassy was great at serving us and making sure we were well taken…read morecare of. She was great at servicing us by explaining the menu to us and letting us know her personal favorites. She made the place very welcoming and less overwhelming.

Food service and ambiance were incredible. Waiters are…read morefriendly, we dined outside which was lovely and intimate, and the food was INCREDIBLE. Got the recommendation from someone off the street and it truly is some of the best Italian food you could get in California and very reasonably priced. Dress up fancy or semi casual and they treat you like a local.

Hit and miss pasta for a upscale price…read more RAVIOLI AL TARTUFO: Get! This was the best dish that we got and it was so fragrant, seasoned and sauced well, and juicy. TAGLIATELLE AL RAGU' DI AGNELLOL: Skip Idk what this even was? Undersauced, meat was interestingly ground up, pasta texture wasn't anything out of the ordinary Food: 6/10 Service: 7/10 Atmosphere: 6/10 Value: 5/10

Food was awesome. Oyster happy hour rules, Uni was good, tuna belly absolutely killer. Service…read morewas excellent, Amber took good care of us. Bathrooms were dark, but I'm into that.

What an amazing gem! We got off the plane and tried to make it to another spot for lunch but the…read morewait was over an hour. In our search for an alternative nearby, we happened upon Ironside which was opening in just another 10 minutes and let me tell you, it was worth the wait. The atmosphere is amazing, we loved the decor, and we were lucky to show up early because the entire restaurant filled up within the hour. We started with a dozen of the raw oysters, they were fresh, juicy, and incredibly flavorful. We especially loved the minionette sauce and the included horseradish. Next up was the bread, the butter it comes with is salted and tastes amazing paired up with the exquisitely light and fluffy bread. By this time, our drinks came up and the Mai Tai was the winner of the day. The aperol spritz and Ghostwriter were also good, but the Mai Tai was possibly the best that I've ever had. Next up, we had the Oysters Rockefeller, which had a combination of two varieties, one with caramelized onions and the other with a crispy chili drizzle. Both were delicious, but I preferred the creamy freshness of the raw oysters. Then the main characters showed up, the lobster rolls, clam chowder, and the amazing local catch of sea bass. The winner for this round was the 'brought in that morning' sea bass, but the lobster rolls took a very close second place. Everything was cooked to perfection and incredibly flavorful. The lobster rolls were a little unorthodox, being more of a lobster open face sandwich, but everything was so good, we are looking forward to coming back again. If you're in the area and are a fan of excellent sea food, Ironside deserves to have a place near the top of your short list. The service was great, the atmosphere is worthy of sharing on social media, and the food approaches that of Michelin recognized establishments. We'll be back again to try the amazing looking octopus and will recommend this restaurant to anyone coming to San Diego!

The Crack Shack in Little Italy absolutely delivered. This is one of those spots where the food…read morelooks ridiculously good when it hits the table, and somehow tastes even better. The fried chicken was the star of the show. Super crispy and crunchy on the outside while staying juicy and tender inside, with a ton of flavor in the seasoning. You can tell they know exactly what they're doing with fried chicken here. The chicken sandwich was excellent too: massive piece of crispy chicken, pickles, sauce, and a soft toasted bun. Salty, spicy, tangy, rich... everything worked together perfectly. one of the better fried chicken sandwiches I've had. And DO NOT sleep on the fries. Thick-cut, crispy, golden, and perfectly seasoned. Exactly what you want alongside fried chicken and an ice-cold IPA. The Little Italy location itself is awesome. Open-air patio, plenty of sunshine, laid-back San Diego atmosphere, cold beers, and just an all-around great place to hang out with friends or family while absolutely destroying some fried chicken. Great food, great atmosphere, great location. Better ingredients, better chicken, poppa Crack. Easy 4.5 - 5 stars. Take it or leave it MOFOs

Crack Shack was okay. The ambience is beautiful! I loved the outdoor seating area with the lights,…read morebar, and fireplace. It's definitely a nice vibe. I also liked that you order and pay for your food first, then find a seat. As far as the food, it was pretty basic overall. We tried the Philly cheesesteak chicken the flavor was good, but the bread was hard. The chicken tenders were basic, and the biscuits were decent. The Mexican poutine chicken fries were probably one of the better things we tried and were pretty good. Overall, I wouldn't personally choose to come back, but if someone really wanted to go, I'd definitely go with them. The atmosphere was better than the food for me. 6.5/10.