While driving by, we've noticed this Italian restaurant many times and put it on our to "go-to" list. We went on a Tuesday night and it was completely empty. They have both indoor and patio seating. The server was attentive and the food was excellent and reminiscent of the bistros in Italy. The menu is vast and I look forward to returning. read more

Great service from their servers from the moment we walked in the door, and our meals were delicious. I ordered the linguine with clams and my Mom ordered the salmon. She has some health/digestive concerns which they handled very well and were nicely accommodating. Will return, and highly recommend for a family Italian dinner read more

Horrible service and zero ambience. First clue should have been that it was empty on a Saturday. Staff completely lame.

My friend and I visited Lupi Vino for the first time last week! We were craving pasta and this restaurant definitely delivered on flavor and presentation! We shared the calamari and garlic bread as appetizers. My favorite out of everything we tried was the calamari, highly recommend! My pasta entree was the carbonara. Portion size was fair for the price and the flavor was absolutely amazing! Service was a highlight as well! Our server Antonio was very kind and friendly. There was always a server to refill our waters as well! My friend and I showed up right when they opened at 5:00PM so it didn't take us long to be seated. The ambiance fit the Italian cuisine perfectly! My friend and I did feel underdressed since we made our visit right after class at UCSD. We felt like we should've dressed more formally lol! Parking was decent since it's primarily street parking. Overall, very nice experience and highly recommend if you want delicious pasta in La Jolla! read more

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Incredible service and delicious food! I got the Bucatini all' Amatriciana and subbed the red wine reduction sauce for the spicy vodka sauce and it was TO DIE FOR. My friend got the chicken parm and also stated it was delish. The tomato sauce they give you to dip the bread into with Parmesan is also delish. All around fantastic meal for a decent price. My aperol spritz was also delish. Will definitely be dining here again! read more

Lupi Vino Cucina Bar - Bucatini all' Amatriciana w spicy vodka sauce and Pollo alla Parmigiana. Aperol spritz to drink. - Italian Near Me - La Jolla, California

We dined at Lupi's for the third time last week, and it continues to charm us with its cozy, no-frills ambiance. The space is simple but warm, decorated with wine bottles and Italian-inspired artwork that gives it a rustic, homey feel. Our server, Antonio, greeted us with his usual warmth and friendliness. We're beginning to wonder if he's the only one working the floor -- this is the third time he's served us! While the service has consistently been friendly, the wait time for food has been on the slower side during each of our visits. This time, we ordered a few of our favorites along with some new dishes: the Garlic Bread, Calamari Fritti, Lasagna, and Pollo Piccata. The garlic bread is always a must for us -- soft and warm on the inside, with a perfectly crisp crust. What really sets it apart is the house-made marinara sauce served on the side. It's so fresh and flavorful, I could honestly drink it! The Calamari Fritti is another go-to. Lightly breaded, crispy, and served with both that same delicious marinara and the chef's signature Lupi sauce -- both elevate the dish beautifully. My husband had the Lasagna. Though the presentation was a bit plain, the taste more than made up for it -- rich, hearty, and comforting. I tried the Pollo Piccata. The presentation felt a little dated, and I was surprised it came with a side of pasta in red sauce and mixed vegetables. Typically, I've seen it served with capellini or mashed potatoes to soak up the lemon-caper sauce, which I missed here. The flavor was decent but could have used a bit more seasoning. All in all, we left satisfied. While there are a few quirks in plating and pace, the food keeps us coming back. We'll definitely return -- especially for that garlic bread and calamari! read more

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Excellent food and great service and never a wait. A neighborhood gem! The pastas are fresh and the fish specials have been amazing.

Service was okay so will give it two stars. Food was pretty rough. Pizza which recommended was still cold in the middle. Appears they are frozen pizzas with added toppings. It's also listed as the house speciality on the menue. The lobster ravioli was 7/10. I don't anticipate returning. read more

Coming in on Valentines day we understood reservations were encouraged but not required. However, as we got seated our host was relaxed and nice. Our server however, after initially mishearing "have you been serviced" for "have you been here before." Our server left after the awkwardness. He then proceeded to fight with another server for the table in front of us. We actually saw the server inform our server that we're his table. He proceeded to shove the other server and pick up glasses to service the table in front of us. After waiting another 10 minutes, 30 minutes total we realized no one was coming to take our order as our server refused. An honest simple misunderstanding left a foul taste and bad first impression so we left. Don't come if you're expecting mannerisms and non-discrimination. We even tried flagging down staff to take our order and everyone was busy (understandably) but our server refused to acknowledge us as he passed by us. read more

Blink and you'll miss this place as you go by. The small sidewalk patio is spartan and doesn't really draw you in. The right side of the restaurant has a bar while the left side is just tables with a doorway view of the kitchen. The decor is old, stale, drab and there are cluttered tables of supplies behind the host stand. However, the service and food are excellent. Even the basic bread with tomatoes, olive oil & balsamic is tasty. The base menu is simple, but solid & the nightly specials are excellent. The wine list is small, but has a decent mix of glass & bottle offerings at reasonable prices. Next time we'll leave room for dessert. read more

Juan was our server tonight and he was great! First time here and the food was delicious- very authentic Italian. I can't wait to finish my leftovers tomorrow and come back soon! read more

Lupi Vino Cucina Bar - Linguine alla Carbonara - Italian Near Me - La Jolla, California

Food - way overpriced. Ambience okay. Dishonest. Other great places are Oltre mare or Scuderie in PB.

Lupi's never misses, I love their scallop pastas. And their calamari is the best in town

Food could be a little more flavorful but overall still delicious, good portions. Will be back to try other dishes next time for sure! read more

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Great service and even better food. The outdoor patio is the perfect spot for dinner.

Little gem. This place was very quaint and peaceful. Staff were hospitable and friendly, food was delicious! read more

Lupi Vino Cucina Bar - spinach ravioli w mushroom sauce and lobster ravioli - Italian Near Me - La Jolla, California

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Can tell it's home Italian cooking made with love. Modest, not too flashy. Sea bass on the specials menu so tender.

We picked up food from here for the first time, two years ago in June. We ordered "take out" then went back to our hotel room to eat, and I've been craving it ever since! Tonight, we went walked there and dined inside the restaurant. It was very well lit up and TBH, I believe it was too bright, the management should 'dim the lights' for a cozier atmosphere and a warmer ambiance. Upon entering, we were greeted then sat down immediately. (I made reservations but when we arrived it wasn't busy) There were 2 waiters and a hostess; the only three employees we saw. The waiters were busing their own tables, getting drinks behind the bar. There were 9 full tables in the restaurant, so it was a nice crowd for a Thursday evening. The reason I gave it four stars was due cigarette smoke coming from the back alley into the restaurant! We asked a waiter about it but he 'pretended' he didn't smell anything (we believe it was him who was smoking out back with door open) The hostess closed the door so after that we didn't smell any cigarettes. Juan was our server and he was friendly, attentive and polite. However; 2nd reason for 4 stars, is when I ordered an Italian sparkling rosé from the Friuli Venezia Giulia region, but he brought me KORBEL!!! Told me they didn't have the one I requested! Whaaat? I called him back and asked him to change the wine so he switched it with a glass of Pinot Grigio from Italy. Next, we wanted to order an appetizer (calamari fritti) but Juan said they only had rings, no tentacles so we opted out. I ordered the parpadelle with a lamb ragu and goat cheese, it's so delicious! (just like I remembered) My husband ordered chicken piccata with the house pasta and fresh steamed vegetables, but asked for the Picatta sauce on the pasta as opposed to the house pink sauce. The chicken was tender and the sauce was lemon-y, a bit too much lemon, but it was tasty. For dessert, we shared the tiramisu which was light and not overly sweet, very nice combination of cream to lady fingers. My husband had espresso with a side of Sambuca (no coffee beans) Overall, besides the cigarette smoke, the interesting wine substitution, frozen calamari rings, it was enjoyable. I think we'll do takeout next time. You cannot beat that lamb Ragu! read more

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Lupi's was recommended by a trusted (gourmand) friend and we weren't disappointed. Very nice space (although it was not crowded when we where there) and friendly, attentive service. Most importantly, the food was great and every dish was well presented. I lowered the top rating by one star because they charged 3$ to split a salad. I understand there is typically a charge to split an entree, and that was called out on the menu, but I have never been charged for sharing a salad at any restaurant, cheap or expensive (and Lupi's is on the expensive side for sure). They did a nice job of splitting the salads but this charge seemed penny ante given that our total bill was pretty large. read more

My favorite area in San Diego is the Birdrock area and my wife and I finally made it into Lupi and it had an incredible experience. Lupi is the perfect elevated neighborhood Italian experience. The outside patio is a romantic quiet area in the Birdrock neighborhood that was perfect for a nice low-key date night. Service was excellent and we loved everything that we ordered. Highly recommend: (Basically everything we ordered lol) 1) The Burrata is literally the best Burrata that I've ever had 2) The Capellini was excellent 3) The Rigatoni was insanely good as well All of this and pair it with a nice glass (or three) of Chianti and you have yourself an incredible authentic Italian dinner read more

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What a cute, quaint spot! First time dinning here and everything we got was absolutely delicious. Our server was so kind, I think his name was Antonio? We made a bold move and asked if he could make espresso martinis even though it weren't on the menu. He said he could do it, but it would take a few minutes to get the coffee going. That kind of worried me, maybe this wasn't something they normally made? But low and behold it was quite literally the best espresso martini I've EVER had!!Good coffee flavor, creamy, and just a hint of sweet. Everything else we order was amazing - artichoke heart, carbonara, and garlic bread. I will absolutely be returning!! read more

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I can't believe that it's taken so long for us to dine here, but to be honest, I had forgotten about it until I read a recent article in our small local newspaper. The article got our attention and we decided to give it a try. We were there on a Wednesday evening and practically had the place to ourselves. The smallish restaurant is nicely appointed and quite comfortable. Our party of four sat at a table next to the window and received friendly and attentive service from Antonio. We started with the Antipasto Misto which was nice, although the miniature pieces of diced cheese were hardly anything to taste. Little larger pieces of cheese would have something to enjoy as part of the antipasto platter. Our entrees were wonderful! I ordered the Pappardelle del Colosseo and it was excellent! Such wonderful flavors with the braised lamb rag sauce and dollops of goat cheese on the wide ribbons of pasta. It was a generous serving, and as much as I loved it there was plenty to take home for lunch the next day. My husband ordered the Lasagna Della Casa. He is a connoisseur of lasagna and this one fully met his approval! Our daughter ordered the Vitello al Limone and savored every last bite! A couple of our "old favorite" Italian restaurants have disappointed us on recent visits so we were very happy to enjoy such tasty meals (and wine!) at Lupi's. We'll definitely return! read more

Best dinner in Bird Rock or La Jolla. Fresh and hot and flavorful and inventive and plentiful. Large variety on vast menu. We took our dinners home and *really* enjoyed them. I got stuffed on sensational salmon with ripe tomatoes and perfect veggies and yummy pasta - A REAL MEAL all on one. Plus chicken dinner and mashed potatoes. We ordered five dinners and everyone raved. Eggplant and osso buco too. Plus fresh bread. Yummmmm. You can skip the Caesar salad. Keep this place busy. It's a gem. read more

Delicious! Authentic pasta and environment. Went with four friend and experience friendly servers and tasty dishes all around the table. The only thing holding me back from having a glass of wine at the bar every night is that there was no music playing. Would love to hear some soft music to add to the ambiance. read more

Lupi Vino Cucina Bar - Cappellini Mediterraneo - Italian Near Me - La Jolla, California

My husband and I had the chance to go out on a date and be away from the kids so when we picked somewhere we wanted it to be a good place that was close to the water that we could go sit near it afterwards and also be near popular spots but not in the hustle and bustle. We came across here through looking a yelp and we are so happy we came. We didn't make reservations ahead of time but we were going on a Thursday evening around 5 and it worked out perfectly as there was only a couple of other people there. We had the opportunity to pick from indoor or outdoor seating and the weather was absolutely perfect, so we picked outdoor. We had a great little table off to the corner and felt like we were on our own and it was so lovely. Since I was kid free I decided to order a lemon drop and it was so good! I am a lightweight and don't mind admitting that I was for sure buzzed after finishing it. For dinner my husband ordered the gnocchi and I had the chicken parmesan. It didn't take long for our meals to come out and they were so amazing. My husbands gnocchi was very clearly fresh. My chicken was huge and also came with pasta and veggies. The chicken was cooked really well with no dry spots and I devoured almost all of it. The sauce on the chicken and pasta was delicious and I couldn't get enough of it. My veggies were cooked to perfection and had a great seasoning on them. The bread that was on the table was also really tasty, fresh, light, and airy. We couldn't get enough of it! Our server was quick, efficient, kind, and clearly knew what they were doing. They correctly anticipated every move we would make and everything we would need and when. Highly suggest checking here out. It was a great date night spot and I will be very happy to come here again. read more

We went on a warm night and sat on the front patio. Juan was our server and did a great job. He was gracious enough to take photos of us and our little furry friend. We started with the delightful hearts of palm salad. My honey then had the Pesto Fettuccine and it was excellent. I had the Fettuccine Luigi and it was also excellent. Good food, good service: what else can you ask for? read more

Waiter got my order wrong and did nothing to compensate. Didn't come by to check until basically done. Veal dish not that tasty, pasta rubbery and very small portion. Entre was not as described. Had to wait awhile to checkout. Overpriced meal for what I got. Menu looked amazing with all the choices but unfortunately Lupi did not deliver. I will not return. read more

I've lived near Lupi's for a while and finally had the time to try it and WOW was I impressed! The menu is extensive and everything on it sounds DELICIOUS so it makes choosing difficult. Our very welcoming waiter served us amazing complimentary house bread with a yummy red dipping sauce and fresh Parmesan. They also have a large wine list, though I brought my own bottle for a $20 corkage fee. We ended up ordering the bruschetta (which was topped with the freshest tomatoes, stellar mozzarella and THE BEST balsamic glaze), the calamari (perfectly salted and crispy), the lobster ravioli (rich and perfect) and (my personal favorite) the veal ossobuco. Will definitely be returning here for the top tier food and friendly service! read more

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Lupi's is a hidden jewel! I have been many times and the food is excellent. You can tell it is truly homemade and creative. The pasta dishes are extremely tasty, the bruschetta is fresh and I honestly don't know how they make it so perfectly. Ambience is nice. It is not as full as it should be because they do not have any online reservation system, which probably holds a lot of people back from going. But it is highly worth it and I highly recommend. read more

Fabulous original Italian served hot and with a smile! Definitely a go to restaurant.

Great food, nice ambiance, and very friendly service. Felt like you were in the house rather than restaurant. Highly recommend.

One of our favorite new Italian restaurants. The service was phenomenal and the food is INCREDIBLE. The lentil and shrimp pasta blew us away, the flavor and texture was superb. We will most definitely be coming back and bringing friends. read more

After a long and stressful day, I ordered the linguini carbonara from this restaurant over door dash. Once the food arrived I was so excited to dig in until I opened the bag and saw the whole thing was soaked in grease, I mean just the bag and the container the pasta was in. Then I opened the box to see my pasta basically having an oil bath. I decided to pour out the excess oil and give it a try.. unsurprisingly, there was 0 flavor and maybe 5 itty bitty pieces of pancetta. Really disappointed with the food quality. On the plus side they gave a side of bread which was edible! read more

Lupi Vino Cucina Bar - Italian Near Me - La Jolla, California

Wonderful Cioppino, though expensive. I paid the extra $3 for linguine, but didn't get much, so when I had the leftovers for lunch the next day, I had to boil up more pasta to pad it out. It was very good, but I'm still cross about paying for a pathetic amount of pasta-- so little that none was visible when I was served. "Is the linguine served on the side?" I asked. "No, it's in there," our waiter said. I just modified my 4 star review down to 3 thinking about that extra $3 in addition to it being the most expensive item on the menu! Why would they even charge for a few strands of linguine? I need to stop thinking about it or I'll go down to 2 stars! read more

We just finished dinner here at Lupi Vino Cucina and it was the best meal we had all month. I had Linguine Carbonara, my husband Pasta Mediterranean with prawns & scallops. Both were amazing. Before dinner he had the burrata salad & I had the Caesar. Both were generous portions, fresh with great presentation. Parking was super easy as it is not near "The LaJolla Cove" downtown. Service was efficient and very friendly. Our server Gavin was attentive and the Manager, Lola stopped by twice to check on our meal. Hot bread was served with marinara & grated cheese. Yum! Really a great experience. read more

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What a perfect date night spot. We sat outside on the patio and I could've sat there all night happily sipping my wine. All our meals were delicious & great portion sizes. The staff were lovely! If I lived local I'd come here all the time! Maybe it's a good thing I don't... read more

Lupi Vino Cucina Bar - Pollo al Florentina - Italian Near Me - La Jolla, California

Let me start by saying the garlic bread with tomato dip was honestly the best thing I've ever had. Spicy and savory. I got the Mediterraneano something, delicious. I don't usually like marinara but their take on the tomato sauce was amazing. Vibe was very quaint & the service was extraordinary. The water was flowing lol. Definitely going back. read more

Lupi is a wonderful, cozy Italian restaurant nestled in Bird Rock, La Jolla. The service is incredible and the food is always delicious. Our favorites are the duck ravioli and spinach ravioli with mushrooms. We will definitely be back! read more

Lupi Vino Cucina Bar - Pappardelle del Colosseo - Italian Near Me - La Jolla, California

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Phenomenal experience this evening. Last minute seating (Called and asked if they could seat 6 in 10 minutes on Friday night -"yes!"). Felt like walking into a family's kitchen - lasagna, lamb, pasta with meatballs, all outstanding as the server noted they would be. All made on the spot and the pasta was fluffy, flavorful and fresh. Only slight miss was the veggie pizza - my daughter loved it but I prefer a crisp crust as opposed to airy and soft. We will definitely be back! read more

Incredible food, service, and ambiance. I have never been to a more charming Italian restaurant! So authentic and such flavorful food. read more

Lupi Vino Cucina Bar - Italian Near Me - La Jolla, California

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