Operacaffe is one of my favorite Italian restaurant in town & I'm surprised I haven't written a review for it. Prior to Operacaffe, I would laugh at people buying Italian food in restaurants. Why buy $20 spaghetti when you can make it at home for less? But then, I tried fresh pasta HERE for the first time...ten years ago...and boy oh boy, it changed my world...for the better! Fresh pasta is probably one of my favorite meals in the world now. Last night, I couldn't decide between pappardelle or lasagna and Peter, the waiter, told me to get the lasagna since it was made fresh that day and WOW! was that lasagna SO GOOD & DELICIOUS. Eating it, I felt incredibly blessed. We also ordered their savory donut stuffed with cheese (i coccoli) and I highly recommend it as I've never found it anywhere else in San Diego! Another thing to note is that, if you dine in, you can see the chefs making the food for you after you order it like you would in a sushi restaurant! So fun! TIP: Get the i coccoli -- it's apparently an Italian staple -- and their fresh lasagna! It was so good and creamy! :) read more

Operacaffe - Fresh Lasagna - Italian Near Me - San Diego, California

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I dined here with a few coworkers while I was out in San Diego. They are locals so they suggested this place. We walked over from my company building and it was about 2 blocks over. It looks like a little hole in the wall but I was rather impressed. A hostess sat us and explained the whole menu. There are certain items that are imported. Most of my party had the ravioli. I opted for the duck parpadelle. We shared some salad, bread, and bruschetta. They have a check in offer for a free desert. We got the chocolate cake which was absolutely amazing so moist and soft. Everyone was attentive and we enjoyed our meal. read more

Operacaffe - Parpadelle Ravioli - Italian Near Me - San Diego, California

Great food, small restaurant but cute inside. The service is great and friendly. Will recommend if your in San Diego.

The added a black ink pasta which was fantastic! Service was impeccable! Great ambiance! read more

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We had an amazing opportunity to dine at this award winning Italian restaurant! My partner and I ordered the calamari, mixed greens, spaghetti di mare, and ravioli with chicken. They were spectacularly large and delicious! The *only tiny* complaint I have is that the interior design is off. They have the cute IG wall, with the leaves and neon signs, but the rest was not connecting together to convey a theme, or it wasn't obvious to me what the theme was. read more

I came here with a friend for his birthday after purchasing a Groupon which had already expired. I made sure to make a reservation as that was highly recommended. When we arrived we were seated immediately and went over the menu with the waiter. They were very efficient. I had the lobster ravioli and it was delicious. My friend got the seafood with linguini and the freshness of the seafood was so tasty. I know that I will not need to wait for a Groupon to eat here again. The service was eh but the food makes up for it. read more

This is a traditional Italian restaurant where you will feel like you are dining in Florence, IT. The owner left her restaurant in downtown Florence to open OperaCaffe- so it is as authentic as it can get. The food is fantastic - dishes are plated so nicely - the service is friendly and helpful - they have a cozy outdoor patio - and is casual and romantic. Our mushroom ravioli was absolutely fantastic - and the panna cotta was amazing. But every dish was really fantastic that I couldn't complain about any of them. read more

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The service and food was amazing. I got the lobster ravioli and it was probably the best ravioli I've ever had. The pink sauce was so good. Highly recommend! read more

Operacaffe - Ravioli Aragosta - Italian Near Me - San Diego, California

My favorite Italian in all of downtown San diego, was probably one of the best dishes i've ever had. Served fast on a Friday night too! read more

Operacaffe - Spicy pink sauce with spaghetti - Italian Near Me - San Diego, California

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operacaffe is a nice smaller restaurant located in gaslamp. we decided to eat here on our last night visiting san diego and weren't disappointed! great food, good portions, and really friendly service. our server was gabriela and she was really kind and gave some recommendations. Ravioli Porcini E Crema Di Tartufo: my mom decided to get the ravioli which she raved about, and it was really good. if you're sensitive to dairy, be a little cautious because the cream is quite rich, but it tasted really good. the ravioli also came out very hot which was a good sign. Bucatini Mare E Monti: i got the bucatini and the portion was very big compared to other italian restaurants i've ate at in san diego. it had spicy sausage, shrimp, and mushroom. Limoncello Marscapone Cake: (free with check in on yelp!) for dessert we had the limoncello cake. it was quite sweet, but had more of a mousse texture than an actual cake (there's many layers) overall we were very satisfied with our meal here and would come back! my mom really liked it (which she is hard to impress :) ) read more

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The food was amazing. Server was great. Only thing was the seating, I was sat right in the middle. Mind you the front door is wide open. So there was a strong breeze coming in. So that was uncomfortable. Trying to enjoy your dinner while freezing. read more

Operacaffe - Pollo Parmigiana - Italian Near Me - San Diego, California

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Really disappointing overall. The lobster tail was tough and nearly impossible to get out of the shell. The salad was so covered in dressing it was inedible. The cioppino was pretty tasty but everything else was too salty. I don't know how this place rates so high but we definitely won't be coming back. read more

Well...amazing! I had the most amazing lasagna and it was nothing like any lasagna I've had before...they said it's the way they make it in northern Italy...now I want to go there! The tiramisu was even better...what a wonderful place!! read more

Dined here before going to the Lion King broadway show. Experience was overall positive. Margherita pizza was pretty good and tiramisu was yummy. Only thing that could have been better was the salad. It was missing a zing or some acidity to the salad dressing. It was more olive oil and thus needed some acidity to create balance of flavor such as lime, lemon or wine vinegar. It was a pretty warm atmosphere, as their AC was not working. Short walk from the Civic Center so convenient to eat here if you plan on getting a bite to eat before seeing a show. read more

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Positive - food was great. Negative - service was REALLY lacking. We had a bigger party, but they hardly came by at all. Had to wait a long time for dessert - when it was in a case up front. Felt like since the gratuity was included, they didn't even try. read more

Wow wow wow! This place is AMAZING! The food is literally a taste of Italy. The service is fast and the food is super authentic. Thank you to the owner! My girls and I were celebrating our high school reunion and they took really good care of us. This place is a must visit! ‍ read more

Operacaffe - Italian Near Me - San Diego, California

Our server - Juan Carlos is a sweetie and accommodating Came in afterwork, and find the place got a slightly bigger? Or maybe they have redo the space. Somehow it look spacious from the last time I venture into here. Anyways, as always start off with an appetizer BRODETTO VONGOLE It has a deliciously, and mesmerizing aftertaste that lingers in your tastebuds... hours later, the scents still reminds fresh in my mind. It's a true and authentic Italian cooking ‍ What a wonderful treat~~~!!! As this trigger my fond memory of Italy .... That is a plus !! Then, the next dish is ~~ RAVIOLONI DI GRANCHIO Ravioli is homemade ~!! You know, the dough of the ravioli was so smooth and it cook with its stylish Italian signature taste; with the creamy sauce generous covered the plate. They offer cheese and pepper to add to my dish. I'm happy requesting a bit extra cheese and sprinkling of pepper to increase the fervor. OMG~~!! I asked for more bread cux the creamy sauce were too good to passed up, as you see in my photo, it's cleaned off the plate hahhahaha Anyways And ended the dinner with the dessert! Tiramisu Fresh strawberries and the chef signature style. read more

Operacaffe - Brodetto Vongole Tortelli Di Granchio Tiramisu - Italian Near Me - San Diego, California

Possibly the best Italian food I have had in San Diego! Just fantastic! The jumbo tortellini with King Crab and Shrimp was simply amazing! read more

Operacaffe - Limoncello Cake, Espresso Martini, and a great Chianti ! - Italian Near Me - San Diego, California

Well being here in San Diego for a little while, figured I'd get some good Italian food which it's known for, besides Mexican of course. Had a nice sized and tasty Caesar salad and the chicken parmigiana, also a decent portion. The chicken came with a side of spaghetti cooked nicely al dente all covered in a very nice marinara sauce. The only downside of my meal was that the service was a bit slow and somewhat frantic. Unfortunately, a large party had recently arrived before us and the server/part owner acknowledged they were short staffed. It wasn't a big deal, but wasn't ideal, I appreciated that he was apologetic at least. I'd recommend this place if you're in the area. read more

Operacaffe - Tasty Caesar salad! - Italian Near Me - San Diego, California

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I came in for a solo dinner and the waiters were extremely welcoming and friendly. One recommended the lobster ravioli and the lobster meat was so chewy and succulent. I even got a free slice of cake with the Yelp offer which topped off a nice dinner. The restaurant is cute and chill but still a fine dining experience. read more

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

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Decide to come here again for a second time before the show across the street to see KINGFISH. I had the lasagna this time & I think this was the best lasagna i ever had. This will be my go to spot for any show for sure . read more

Operacaffe - Italian Near Me - San Diego, California

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The food was delicious. The pasta was creamy and when I reheated the pasta the next day, it was still so good!!!! Very good amounts of chicken! Staff were so Sweet and attentive!!! Highly recommend! read more

Operacaffe - I had the fettuccine Alfredo with chicken and it was delicious!!!!!!! - Italian Near Me - San Diego, California

Every thing was wonderful!!! From the food to the service to the ambiance. Truly a divine experience.

The food here is legit! Pasta is imported from Italy or made in-house. So much flavor. I had the veal ossobuco, which is made with love for 7 hours. The lasagna (added meatballs) was so warm and comforting. It has a béchamel that makes it wonderfully creamy and cheesy. Very, real Italian home cooking. Save yourself the trip to Italy and come to Operacaffe. I'm off to cuddle in bed with a blanket. That's how good this is. I'm bringing my family next time they're in town. read more

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I'm not personally the biggest fan of Italian food but someone else on the San Diego trip was having a craving so you just have to compromise. I was scoping out Italian places in and near the Gaslamp district but nothing outside of Little Italy really looked promising. It wasn't until we came across an awesome Groupon offer for this spot that we decided to commit, which was in hindsight a great decision. We stopped by on a Thursday for an early dinner, and there was seating readily available in the restaurant. The hostess came by to greet us promptly and gave us menus, some complimentary bread and olive oil mixed with fig spread. I wasn't personally a fan of the fig, but for whatever reason the two seemed immiscible and I was able to get just my olive oil off the top. I ordered the farfalle al salmone with fresh parpardelle pasta instead. For whatever reason I was thinking that the sauce would be orange even though the description said light cream, but I wasn't disappointed because the pasta was delicious. I love a good thick noodle and this papardelle was fresh, thick, and done just right. The sauce was rich, had good flavor, and wasn't overly heavy. The salmon had a strong saltiness to it which would be my only gripe, but it was served generously and balanced out when eaten in moderation with the pasta. Sometimes when you read reviews for a place where an offer is heavily mentioned you can get a little skeptical of their truthfulness, but had there not been an offer I would've still given five stars based on the food quality and service experience. However, if I didn't come across the deal I probably wouldn't have come in, so I think it's great that they're running these promotions to attract more customers. The Groupon offer cited that reservation was required, but the hostess still honored it despite us not having made one. I also saw a Yelp offer, but understandably only one offer can be honored per visit. I only finished half of my dish before cutting myself off, but my leftovers were promptly polished off later that night by the rest of the group. read more

Absolutely delicious. Favorite Italian in SD so far, everything was so delicious and fresh. Great attention to detail and attentive service. The complimentary bread was so warm and rich with the olive oil vinaigrette. I'd say you can pass on appetizers with how filling everything is. My entree was wonderful it was savory and creamy 8/10. The tiramisu was just right, will return !! read more

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Opera caffe has outdoor and indoor seating. It's a tiny Italian place in downtown San Diego however very homey and in a dim light setting. We did make reservations as many of the Italian restaurants downtown were taking reservations on the weekend. The restaurant was very busy so it took our server a while before coming to our table. However he was very quick and attentive once he did. We started off with a Paloma (not pictured) and a Pear-pear-pear as well as a side of tagliere toscano for our appetizer. The meats & cheeses were thinly sliced which I enjoyed. Our meals consisted of meat lasagna, ravioli aragosta and gnocchi gorgonzola e mirtilli. They were all very flavorful and fresh. The ravioli was my favorite. Every bite tasted flavorful and fresh. Every dish was just the right amount of food and we were very satisfied with our food and our experience. I didn't finish my pear drink as it did not taste good or like I would have expected. Our server asked if I didn't like it and was very nice to take it off the bill. We made sure to tip him well as most places would have not done this. Over all, it was a pleasant experience and I recommend this dinner place if you're feeling Italian food. read more

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Definitely a gem in SD. I had dinner there couple of times. Last time I went with my coworkers for lunch special, which was $15 for a salad and main course, what a deal! Love the food always. Everything is great. Service is awesome. read more

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We chose Operacaffe because 1) they could take a large group reservation 2) it's walking distance to the Civic Theater and 3) the menu had a lot of good options for a diverse group (including kids). The restaurant exceeded expectations. The cocktails, appetizers, salads, pizzas, and entrees were all excellent. The service was brisk, which we appreciated because we were trying to catch a show. And I give the staff extra credit for handling our big crowd of 13! I wouldn't necessarily come for the ambience as the restaurant feels quite airy but overall this is a terrific place to dine pre-theater. read more

Had their penne pasta with eggplant and lobster ravioli. These were off their specials menu. Both were delicious! The lobster ravioli was a bit more creamy and had a stronger/more savory flavor than the penne. Service was also friendly and quick. Came here around 5pm and there was no wait. read more

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Went here for a work dinner. I didn't like what I had, the seafood risotto. The risotto wasn't as creamy and cooked as well as I liked, and I think they skimped on the seafood a bit. I also ordered a pizza and I didn't think much of it. For my own food, i would give it a 2-3 star, but when I tried everyone else's food, it was actually really good. The bucatini special they had with spicy sausage was so flavorful. Their bruschetta with mozzarella and prosciutto was really good too! Then the chocolate lava cake was the best dessert on the menu. That really saved this place and this review. I would stick to the red sauce dishes more than the creamy. Also, they're stingy with the freshly grated Parmesan as well. I wanted much more! So therefore I give a 3.5. Would I come back? I'm not sure yet. Hit and miss o guess. But there's way better Italian places out there for sure. read more

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My friends and I came here before a comedy show at the San Diego Civic center. It's just a few blocks away. We all enjoyed our dinners, my steak was cooked perfectly with a decadent sauce. read more

Such fresh and delicious italian food. Came here for a cute date night and we both fell in love with the pasta and drinks. The staff there are so kind. Would definitely recommend read more

Food was so amazing and had great flavor. Such amazing service. The restaurant was also super modern and cute. They even gave us a complimentary dessert for our anniversary. Will definitely be back! read more

Operacaffe - Chicken Pollo Parmigiana - Italian Near Me - San Diego, California

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My friends and I came here Saturday night for dinner. We really enjoyed all of the pasta dishes which included beef bolognese, linguine alle vongole veraci, and ravioli porcini e crema di tartufo. The Latido malbec wine was perfect! We ate outside and the set up was nice. I would come back here! Excellent service, affordable, and delicious. read more

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If you like authentic Italian food, this is a must have. Very particular on where the quality of products are from and being that everything is imported from Italy makes this place feel like your in Italy! Homemade pasta and lovely service ! Loved the home vibe feel and the inside/outside ambience Definitely coming back. read more

A HIDDEN GEM in Downtown San Diego! Owned by Chef Patrizia. We loved conversating with her and we felt so at home! Already a 5 stars in my book! Here's my food recommendations: - Fried Burrata - PEPPERONI SALSICCIA Pizza - they do not skimp on the meats! - Housemade Pappardelle pasta with lamb ragu and artichoke - this was one of my favorites! the lamb was not gamy at all! MUST ORDER!! - Rice with saffron sauce with shrimp and new zealand mussels - OMG! - Meringue sphere with raspberry sauce - crack open and pour more raspberry sauce on top! A++++++++ All of the food was so delicious. The service was quick and our entrees were piping hot. We sat by the window and was able to see the Chef in action! Prices are reasonable. Definitely a place I would recommend to family/coworkers/friends to, so they can try authentic italian food. Definitely coming back! read more

Delicious homey Italian food with live music. The restaurant is a charming brick establishment with an open kitchen. I wanted to try 3-5 different pastas but I settled on the Bucotini in Bolognese at the suggestion of our server. My friend and I split the Burrata toast appetizer, and she got the homemade fettuccine. The portions were generous, the bread basket came with soft focaccia, the burrata toast was so simple but well-balanced in flavors, and each bite of the pasta was tasty and satisfying. The first taste of my bucotini dish was full of flavor, rich tomato sauce, the savory beef, and a good dose of garlic, I actually thought it was slightly salty at first but I soon found myself with a completely empty plate. I would certainly come back if I'm in town again. read more

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Food was great!! Everything we ordered exceeded our expectations. The waiter was an A$$,to order and to pay. If you get an older gentleman with glasses and grayish hair be warned. read more

this is the first time i have not taken my food to go. this is mediocre Italian food at best. My first encounter with waiter one he asked me after being seated at the empty establishment if I had a reservation (later on I realized they rate their service based on if you have a reservation) Waiter two brought out our bread and when I asked for balsamic she did not want to bring me the balsamic bottle. For the price range I am use to vinegar and balsamic being displayed on the table. Me and my friend ordered the chicken Parmesan and the capricciosa pizza Once our order was served to our table we asked for salt and pepper due to the blandness. They forgot our request and after asking again They brought out just salt then I had to ask for pepper and they brought out packets of pepper. Then I later saw them serve fresh pepper to reservation holders. Also ignored us when we asked for more permesean. The best part of the meal was the canned spaghetti side dish from the chicken permasean. The pizza tasted undercooked and disgusting. At a certain point I just used the pizza crust as a vehicle for my balsamic vinegar and oil. UPDATE: KIKI if they did not want to give us pepper what makes you think they'd refund us. FYI this was shared between me and my friend. I did not devour half that pizza. Unprofessional and passive aggressive. read more

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