Dropped by on a Saturday evening around 630p and they were closed? We had checked Google and open table before we walked here and everything stated that they were open? Later I checked their website, Facebook, and instagram and they all said they should have been open as well. Weird?? Do they just close at random times? read more

Reservations are highly recommended. We came here on a weeknight before we went to the Civic Theatre for a show. It was full so luckily we had made reservations in advance. Those who didn't have reservations were seated outside on their patio. It was a cold evening too. Our waitress was attentive but she was very busy running around that evening. It looked like she was the only server when we were there. I was afraid that our food might take awhile but that was not the case. We were both pretty happy with our meals. read more

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Food was excellent.. homemade pasta was delightful! If im ever going to the Civic Theater I'll be here again! read more

Operacaffe - Bucatini and Lobster Ravioli - Italian Near Me - San Diego, California

3 stars... Hungry after catching a matinee, hit up this joint on the way home... Promptly seated on the sidewalk for good people watching. Not a great beer selection so I just had water. Split the bruschetta with buratta... crispy, creamy, warm and cool with a hint of sweetness from the roasted tomatoes...it was good! For the main we had the bucatini with sausage and mushrooms. Nice sized portion for two, though it was pricey and a bit greasy. Ambiance is sidewalk minimalist, service was friendly, and prices were average for the location. With so many great Italian places in this town I can't commit to an encore, but you should give it a try!! read more

Operacaffe - Bruschetta Toscana* - Italian Near Me - San Diego, California

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Family and I had a wonderful evening celebrating a birthday, I forget but I think our server was Catarina and she was so wonderful. Parking $12 when you park at Horton Plaza across the street and get it validated. The food is very fresh. Fresh ingredients and tastes high quality. Loved the ambiance it was so cute inside. Pictures included are the Arancini (deep fried mozzarella) which were so good, fresh and hearty. The Patrizia salad, Capricciosa Pizza, and Ravioli Fattore. The Ravioli Fattore was so good, it has a slight spice to it so just keep that in mind read more

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I loved this place but the food and experience isn't the same! Their calamari wasn't good. The portions are small now. Also, the Cesar salad was very small! However, our main dishes were very good. read more

Operacaffe - Italian Near Me - San Diego, California

Service - felt rushed in a mostly empty restaurant. They took my son's dish away when he was still chewing. Food - overly salty pasta. Rubbery meatballs seemed like had been frozen previously. Mostly left the whole dish in tact and they just took it away no questions. Had to pay for a bread basket and they gave us a tiny basket of what tasted like pizza dough. Expensive for what you get. Dinner for four in and out in 50 minutes. Do not recommend. read more

My wife and I went to see The Stylistics at the Balboa Theater on Thursday, 9-Jan and I was searching for a restaurant in the proximity of both parking and the Balboa Theater and my YELP search suggested Operacaffe was a great option - literally across the street from the Balboa Theater. It's a wonderfully smaller restaurant and we were greeted immediately and when I said we had a reservation, we were immediate given the seat next to the front door, the bay window with great comfortable padding and not in the path of the cold ness when the front door opened and a great view of the Balboa theater! We started with the Prosciutto Di Parma e Burrata with an order of bread & Olive Oil - fabulous!! The slices of prosciutto were HUGE!! The burrata, . . . . what can you ever say about burrata but "WONDERFUL!" The dish had some arugula which is the perfect blending element when you have burrata with prosciutto. The bread with olive oil was the perfect accompaniment with the Prosciutto Di Parma e Burrata - the bread was fresh and the olive oil great! Having read the Yelp review, I was pretty fixated on anything with their vodka sauce and I ordered the Ravioli Fattore - FABULOUS and that vodka sauce was soooooo delicious!! I had to use the bread to sop up every last pool of that delicious sauce! My wife had the Fettuccine Al Pesto with added Shrimp. She also thought the dish was delicious and the pesto sauce was really exceptional with a depth of flavor that was memorable. She said she would order it again when we return. For dessert we shared the Limoncello Cake and again, delicious!! The wait staff was really great and attentive. Our waiter was Juan Carlos and he did a great job with recommendations and checking on us. The restaurant was fairly busy with the show at the Balboa Theater and it was just two staff working, Juan Carlos and another young man, but they did great with trying to be attentive with the needs of the diners and the seating and serving and attentiveness to the diners. The inside of the restaurant was a little too cold for my preference, . . . . but that was my only issue but I also know I am typically cold and I HATE cold weather having grown up on the beaches of central Florida. I wish YELP allowed you to give x.5 stars - I would have rated Operacaffe 4.5* read more

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This was a bittersweet experience. The good-their Carbonara was amazing some of the best I've had in SD, wife's Chicken Piccata had good flavor but the chicken was a bit chewy. Service was fine. The bad- they charge for bread. Sorry but an Italian place that gives no complimentary bread is a deal breaker for me. When I asked why, the server said "you know, everything is so expensive". What's next, charging for napkins and to use silverware? It's unfortunate as it tainted what was otherwise a nice experience read more

This was actually my second time here and both times were a delicious experience. I got the tuna carpaccio, GF penne bolognese, and a flourless chocolate cake with an added scoop of ice cream. The one thing that could probably be improved upon was the bolognese since it was missing a tomato sauce and was mostly meat and pasta and just felt dry. The server was able to get me a hot tomato based sauce from the kitchen and it was exactly what the dish needed. Otherwise, everything was fantastic, especially dessert. I also enjoyed the peach Bellinis I had with my meal. Overall a great time and they ensure that you leave happy. read more

Operacaffe - Italian Near Me - San Diego, California

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Entrees excellent! 5 stars Meatballs give it 2.5 stars nothing special $3.50 for lightly toasted Italian bread slices didn't taste super fresh should be on the house Nice wine selection & desserts I would recommend. 5 stars read more

Everything we ordered was so delicious! I loved the spicy vodka sauce that was on the ravioli fattore! It was so flavorful and the flavors were balanced. The portion was a bit small, I wish they had given me more than 6 ravioli. The pollo parmigiana was cooked perfectly and was a good portion size. Lastly, the tiramisu was so fresh! I loved that there was so much cream but it wasn't too sweet! The coffee flavor was a bit light but the texture of the lady fingered was great. The restaurant ambiance was casual and the noise levels were low. I went on a Tuesday night and it was very quiet. We sat outside on the patio which looked out to the street. This place had many small tables so definitely call ahead for bigger groups. Overall good food and good service, but portion size varied. read more

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My coworkers and I came here on a weekday and we were seated right away. The food was so good! I highly recommend the ravioli. It was some of the best tasting ravioli I've ever had. I will definitely be visiting again next time I'm in San Diego. read more

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Don't let the small stature of this Italian gem fool you. We dropped in on a whim during a short stay of San Diego and loved it! The flavors were perfect, presentation spot on and service fantastic!!! Such a great spot, so easy to get to and very reasonable. read more

A quick last minute dinner option that was a beautiful find. Small and intimate. Seated right away, offering of a regular menu, specials and drinks. We started with the Carpaccio. Who knew something so complex could be offered in a simple manner, delicious and refreshing, an excellent start. We then ordered the Lobster filled ravioli and Fettuccini with lobster tail in spicy tomato sauce. Both so flavorful! My husband asked for a spoon to drink up the sauce from the sauce in the raviolis. The homemade pasta makes a difference and is memorable. Our only regret that we had to leave quick due to an other obligation, if not we would've stayed for dessert and coffee. This place needs more recognition, small family run restaurants are a must. read more

Operacaffe - Italian Near Me - San Diego, California

Food is amazing. The service is even better. Everybody here is very attentive and helpful when picking items from the menu the environment is excellent with great music playing 10 out of 10 all the way around.all the dishes are delicious read more

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Firstly, such excellent service and a welcome family-like ambiance! This sweet little spot is located right across from the Balboa Theatre downtown and my husband and I came across it from just walking around looking for a quick bite to eat before our show. We were greeted immediately and so warmly by the hostess who gave us a beautiful rundown of some of the history behind their spot, the chef, and the menu. My husband and I ultimately decided on sharing the truffle tartufo with fettucine noodles and added shrimp, and having the bruschetta as a starter. We also got the paloma and a "Spirits" drink that I unfortunately can't remember the full name of. Our food came quickly but was so fresh! The bruschetta was fully loaded and was a great starter to our meal. The arugula that our little olives were sitting on were wilted and seemed a little old, but understandably, as it was just meant to be a garnish, I honestly didn't mind it too much. Its not like I was going to eat it anyways. The fettuccine was absolutely divine! The noodles tasted fresh and the shrimp was cooked perfectly. I do wish the truffle flavor itself was slightly stronger (especially for how high the bill came out to be, but it IS Downtown SD), but it was so enjoyable anyways and a perfect amount between my husband and I to not feel so heavy before our show. Our cocktails were light and refreshing as well, especially mine with all the mint and lime mixed in. We definitely would stop in again with a bigger appetite as there was so many other offerings on the menu that equally sounded delicious. read more

Walking around Gaslamp ran in to this place. Waitress was extremely impressive asking for any needs very intensive service top notch. Grabbed a quick bite very surprised of the quality of their pizza! I will return next time I'm in town. read more

Operacaffe - Quality Pepperoni and Sausage Pizza Pie - Italian Near Me - San Diego, California

Came here Tuesday night for some Italian food while in San Diego. Walked in late and were immediately seated. Ordered Margherita pizza to start and then had some pasta - gnocchi cacio pepe and lobster ravioli. Pasta overall was pretty good but the pizza wasn't too good. Would definitely come back for the pasta. Service was pretty good overall. Ambiance was decent as well. Service 5/5 Pasta 4/5 Pizza 3/5 Ambiance 5/5 read more

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The food tastes amazing! I had the Fettuccine Alfredo & added meatballs and I honestly can't remember ever having a better one. I highly recommend it! read more

Operacaffe - Italian Near Me - San Diego, California

Went here for (day after) Valentine's dinner before a show. We had wine, bread, caprese salad to start and shared the gnocchi and penne bolognese. Although we took half home, we couldn't resist getting dessert. Cannoli was okay. A bit small for the price. Will get Tiramisu next time. Good meal portion sizes, especially if you start with the bread. Pasta and gnocchi was well prepared, and the staff was fairly attentive. My only nit from our dinner would be the size of the 2-top tables. There is barely enough room for plates and glasses. Had to put menus on the ground to make room for wine and appetizer. All in all, solid restaurant. We will we here next time we have plans to go to the Civic theater. read more

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We were welcomed upon entering. Seated and recommendations provided according to our request of what we had a taste for. The food was prepared at order. Very authentic. Atmosphere was very nice clean and comfortable not loud at all. Be prepared to get a take out box plenty of food for one person. In fact the server warned us lol. read more

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Everything we ordered was outstanding and this has been the case every time I've been here. Chicken Parmesan is my favorite dish and this place makes a delicious and generous portion. Also, the Maine lobster ravioli was excellent. read more

Simple and straightforward. This is a nice little place across from the Balboa Theater. They have great Italian food. The selection of wines by the glass is narrow but good. Seating is a little tight but it gives you that New York vibe which is cool. Service was excellent and attentive as well. The only thing to be aware of is salt is used liberally in the dishes so if you have any issue with that, I would recommend you ask. Otherwise, we would certainly go again. read more

Very very good food!! I came in with my whole family and everything was BEYOND AMAZING!! The mushroom ravioli, lobster ravioli, salmon, and honestly everything we had was so good!! The drinks were amazing and the dessert was OUT OF THIS WORLD!! We're definitely coming back!! read more

I had really high hopes of this place and was a bit disappointed. When we got there, the place was not full. Given such, we had to wait a bit for a table which surprised me. We sat down, ordered drinks, a Caesar salad to share, and pasta. The drinks took a very long time to come out. The salad came out before the drinks. But the salad, was drenched in dressing. It was too much. The pasta then came out and again the sauce was too much. By the time we got it, almost congealed. I am sure there is better Italian food at other places. Not sure if it was an off night for them or what. read more

i ordered the veal, and (to be honest i didn't know what veal was until after i ordered it, i thought it was just beef..) anyways it was pretty salty but still not bad. i would say that they topped it off with like pizza shaker type parmesan and not freshly shaved, with did overpower the dish so i wouldn't get parmesan. the risotto was creamy and delicious. the asparagus that it came with still had a bit of the tough part at the ends but it was cooked perfect! the veal itself was a bit mediocre, salty and thin piece of meat that i wouldn't say is really worth the price. all i tasted was seasoning and not really the meat itself. but everything complemented each other taste and texture wise read more

This has quickly become one of my favorite restaurants. Whenever in San Diego I stop by. I have introduced a friend to this location and she loves it. She herself has gone a few times. The pasta is so fresh. The sauces have such a fresh and amazing taste. The staff are so friendly. I highly recommend going here. You won't be disappointed. I'm wishing I was there as I write this. read more

Really good Italian food! Loved my spaghetti carbonara and how the pasta was cooked perfectly " al dente ". Kind service and perfect location, across the street from the Balboa Theater (for pre-show dinner). read more

Service was amazing! Food was absolutely delicious. We had a little bit of everything pizza pasta nothing let me down. The ambience was like I was sitting in a restaurant in Italy. Highly recommend eating here. read more

I was in town with several colleagues for a conference and we were able to try this place for dinner. It was a short walk from the convention center, and we were seated quickly. Service was friendly and attentive. We shared the arancini and coccoli appetizers. We each ordered a pasta based entrée, and I got the spaghetti pomodoro with meatballs. We also shared tiramisu and crème brûlée for dessert. Everything was quite tasty, and I'd like to come back and try some other menu items. read more

Operacaffe - Spaghetti Pomodoro - Italian Near Me - San Diego, California

Great food, great ambiance, great service. The pasta is made fresh, the creamy pesto was some of the best I've had, with the fettuccine cooked perfectly. My husband doesn't love mushrooms so we got the ravioli del fattore sans the mushrooms and it was soo good. It was slightly spicy with almost a vodka sauce. Highly recommend both. I recommend this place! read more

Operacaffe - Ravioli Del Fattore* - Italian Near Me - San Diego, California

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Really enjoyed our dining experience at Operacaffe! We stopped in before a show at the San Diego civic theater. It's a cozy spot with trendy decor. We ordered the opera pizza and the Margherita pizza - both were yummy! I could tell the prosciutto on the Opera pizza was very fresh. Our server was great, but here is my only complaint: she was all alone and totally understaffed. There were about 7 different parties while we were there, she did a great job considering but it caused the service to be on the slow side. With that said, if you are planning on dining before a show, give yourself ample time to arrive, order, and eat. I will be back for sure! read more

We highly recommend Operacaffe! Cozy restaurant with amazing food! You won't be disappointed.

The food here is amazing BUT we waited around an hour for our food. We even got a bread basket which they charge $3 for but pretty sure they forgot until we asked for it 45 minutes in. The pasta itself is amazing. I got the pappardelle duck ragu from the specials menu and it was absolutely delicious. My partners pasta (can't remember the name of it) to him was good but it was like eating a stick of butter in his words. Super thick. Would definitely come back or order to-go. read more

Operacaffe - Pappardelle duck ragu - Italian Near Me - San Diego, California

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Food was pretty good - however nothing spectacular. Prices were a little steep too. There are other places downtown that I would recommend a little more. However, would go back and try different things on the menu as I've only been here once. read more

Operacaffe - ravioli and limencello spritz (which was very good) - Italian Near Me - San Diego, California

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My girlfriend and I were in San Diego and Operacaffe was the first place we ate. It took us everything in our power to not go again. (We only didn't because we wanted to try other spots) by far the best Italian food we have both had in recent memory. Amazing service. Timely. Worth every dollar spent. read more

Attentive service, good pasta and seafood offerings for a seaside city. Reasonably priced and cozy atmosphere. Recommend if in the area and looking to support a quality local Italian business read more

Operacaffe - Squid ink linguine Di Mare - Italian Near Me - San Diego, California

Really delicious food. Excellent service. You are like in Italy with service and servers speaking English))) 5 stars that is minimum)) Ambiance like you are in Florence read more

Operacaffe - Italian Near Me - San Diego, California

The restaurant was dead when we showed up around 6pm Monday night. We ordered the classic penne bolognese and pepperoni/sausage pizza. Classic penne bolognese - the sauce tasted very bland and the pasta was undercooked and stuck together. Didn't finish this. Pepperoni/sausage pizza - burnt on the bottom, all the toppings slid off when you picked up the slice, and overall it was as greasy as your regular domino/pizza hut slice. Except theirs has better flavor. Didn't finish this. The service was nice, no complaints there. But price point high even though this was on the low end for Italian food in the area. Solid 2/5. read more