An Unforgettable Birthday Celebration at Born & Raised…read more If you are looking for an extraordinary dining experience in San Diego, Born & Raised in Little Italy delivers on every single front. From the moment you step inside, you are enveloped in gorgeous, high-energy Art Deco decor that feels both grand and incredibly fun--it sets the absolute best tone for a celebratory night out. The food is nothing short of exceptional. We ordered the steaks, and they were cooked to absolute perfection--tender, incredibly flavorful, and clearly sourced with top-tier quality in mind. Every bite was a reminder of why this spot has such a stellar reputation. What truly elevated the evening, though, was the attention to detail. They provided a personalized birthday menu, which was such a thoughtful and special touch that made the night feel entirely unique to us. If you want world-class food paired with a vibrant, stunning atmosphere and top-notch hospitality, Born & Raised is a must-visit. We cannot wait to go back!

I had been looking forward to celebrating my anniversary at Born & Raised for over a month. I…read morethought the ambience in this place was the perfect fit for what I had in mind. When I made my reservation, I called ahead and spoke with multiple staff members to let them know it was a special occasion. Every conversation reassured me that everything was noted, so I arrived genuinely excited, especially knowing the restaurant is known for its anniversary touches like the card, Polaroid, celebratory shots, and dessert. When we arrived, the hosts and staff were incredibly welcoming. We were greeted with "Happy Anniversary," and even our server acknowledged the occasion a few times and made small conversation about what we are celebrating. I just found it so odd that our server didn't pull through. During appetizers, everything seemed to be off to a great start, and I truly thought we were in for a memorable evening. Unfortunately, everything went downhill once the entrées arrived. The steak was severely overcooked--very dry (as you can see in the photo, blackened, and lacking any real flavor. The bread served with my escargot was so burnt that it overpowered the dish entirely. For a restaurant with this reputation and price point, the food was genuinely disappointing. What confused me even more was what happened afterward--or rather, what didn't happen. I patiently waited throughout dinner, expecting the anniversary experience the restaurant is known for. No card. No Polaroid. No celebratory shots. No dessert. Nothing. We were simply handed the check as if it were any ordinary meal. Before leaving, I asked another staff member whether Born & Raised still offered the anniversary celebration. They immediately said yes. After I explained that we hadn't received any of it, a manager came over and was kind and apologetic. I appreciated the professionalism, but by that point, the moment had already passed. You only get one chance to make an anniversary dinner feel special, and unfortunately that opportunity was missed. What disappoints me most isn't that something was forgotten, mistakes happen. It's that I had gone out of my way well in advance to make sure everything was noted, multiple employees confirmed it, everyone acknowledged our anniversary throughout the evening, and yet no one actually followed through. It felt disorganized and ultimately dismissive. For a dinner that cost around $250, I expected far better execution, both in the kitchen and in the overall experience. Instead, I left feeling confused, let down, and wondering what exactly went wrong. I'm usually very understanding and willing to give restaurants another chance. In this case, however, between the poor quality of the food and the lack of attention to what should have been a well-planned celebration, I won't be returning. Not only did my wallet hurt, but what was supposed to be a memorable anniversary ended up being one of the most disappointing fine dining experiences I've had. (Was it because I didn't mold the societal standard, since my partner is also a female) - just a thought I had. Anyway, I can still taste the burnt bread in my mouth.. the sides were decent.

Delicious savory croissants! I definitely recommend the muffuletta and carnitas croissants. Fast…read moreservice and fresh decor.

Food was fantastic, the Gruyère sourdough was . Angels service was great, he was kind and attentiveread more

so aesthetic inside and the music was at a perfect and calm volume. the matches were phenomenal,…read morenot bitter or grassy at all. we also got the basque cheesecake and it was delicious. 10/10, no notes.

Hands down the best matcha I have ever had…read more The biscoff matcha was a little too sweet, but the earl grey matcha was so good! I had a three day trip in San Diego and I went twice! It is that good. The second time we went, my friends and I just all ordered the earl grey matcha because we didn't want to share. The store is small so sometimes if the line is long, you have to wait outside. It goes by somewhat quickly. There is seating in the back that looks really nice. There were desserts. We got their sesame cake, it was fine. I would definitely put this place as somewhere to visit. There is street-side parking. If you get lucky, someone already paid for the parking meter.

The matcha was amazing and the staff were very friendly! The sweetness on the matcha was perfect…read moreand the environment was very clean.

Updating my review because credit is due where credit is deserved!…read more After my original visit, the owner immediately reached out and took the time to address my experience. They genuinely cared about the feedback and made me feel heard this says a lot about a business. Customer service is everything to me & they completely turned my experience around!! I've been back since and this place continues to be one of my favorite matcha spots in SD! I brought two of my closest friends from out of town to try it and both approved! This time around I was greeted as soon as I walked in and that made all the difference. I decided to branch out and try two new flavors. I got the Blueberry 30 & Pistachio 54. Both were AMAZING and full of flavor. Blueberry was definitely my favorite. I'd give them both a 5/5 ! Huge shoutout to Justin, the manager, for being beyond kind and so welcoming. He made the experience even better. Safe to say they've earned my 5 stars. Not only are the drinks incredible, but it's clear they truly care about their customers and the experience they provide. I'll definitely be back probably sooner than I should be.