Took a stroll through downtown and somehow ended up exactly where I needed to be--at Love Portion…read more I was on a mission for matcha, but not just any matcha... I wanted something a little extra, and this spot delivered. I ordered a custom lavender iced matcha with honey cold foam and wow... it was such a good call. The lavender wasn't overpowering, just light and calming, and paired so well with the earthy matcha. That honey cold foam on top? Chef's kiss. It added the perfect touch of sweetness without making the drink feel heavy. Every sip was smooth, balanced, and honestly kind of addicting. What really stood out though was the service. It was my first time and I had zero clue what to get, but the girl at the register was so sweet and patient. She took her time helping me figure out a combo I'd love and made the whole experience feel really welcoming instead of rushed. You can also customize your milk (coconut, etc.), which I always appreciate. The shop itself is adorable. Think soft pink, super cute, aesthetic vibes all around. There's even an upstairs area that's set up for tea parties, which is such a fun touch and makes it feel a little more special than your average coffee spot. They also have pastries and small bites, so it's not just drinks if you're feeling snacky. Overall, this place is such a vibe. Great drinks, genuinely kind service, and a space that makes you want to hang out a little longer. Definitely coming back to try more of their menu.

Owner is sooooo RUUUDE. take your business somewhere…read moreelse!!!! Drinks are bad, pastry's are stale and tea is from the grocery store

My friend spilled a drink and they were the sweetest workers ever! They even remade the drink!!read more

A great brunch spot! This location is right across from Morning Glory, which usually has a long…read moreline, but honestly, Parakeet is just as good, it just doesn't have the same hype. There's a weekend market nearby, which is a cute way to walk around while you wait. They have good pastries, breakfast options, and lattes. I also loved the staff and the open floor plan that flows into the outdoor seating. Cute spot with a great atmosphere!

First time having an affogato..... DELICIOUS!! Felt like I was visiting a little caffè in Italy…read more Service was great. They were very helpful and didn't rush us. The vibe inside was great. Nice & peaceful. #DiningWithTheAndersons #LittleItalySD #Italia #Affogato #Caffè

After a stroll from the Wednesday farmer's market in Little Italy, I had a craving for Italian as…read morethe establishments nearby caught my interest. I've worked in Little Italy in the past but have never tried Caffe Italia. I got their Italian sandwich, with the default bread being focaccia. Inside there were prosciutto, salami, ham, provolone, tomato, and house made balsamic vinaigrette. It had a good balance of deli meats, and the focaccia bread was thick to hold it all together. I thought it was tasty as well as their coffee, however my coffee wasn't filled up all the way. It is strong and their roast is bold! I liked it a lot, although a lunch meal can get costly so it would just be from time to time if I were to revisit. Not only that, but they also have a small selection of gelatos which look pretty authentic like Spumoni! Other desserts I saw were mousse, tiramisu, cannoli, cheesecake, carrot cake, and rugelach. The cafe is small and the service may take a bit if you are waiting for the food, but overall, I enjoyed my coffee and sandwich.

Our family dinner at Nonna's was great! Was trying to decide which place to go in Little Italy on a…read moreSaturday night with kids and no reservations without feeling under dressed. So we decided on Nonna's for their variety of pastas and pizza. The evening was packed with people up and down the streets. However, when we arrived at Nonna's we only had to wait no more than a couple of minutes before being seated. We thought most italian places would provide some sort of complimentary bread, but this place did not. We ended up ordering the Carbonara, Fusilli Alla Vodka, Pappardelle, and Salsiccia pizza. Each were fantastic, but the family really enjoyed the Fusilli and the Pappardelle the most! The short rib meat was extremely tender and flavorful. Portions were a little smaller than expected, but it was enough to feed each of us with a couple slices of pizza to spare. Ambiance was nice and the staff was great. A drink we ordered was forgotten, but it's understandable since it was quite busy. Overall, great experience and glad we ended up at Nonna's even though it wasn't part of the batch of recommendations provided online. (Sorry forgot to take photos as we were so hungry and didn't realize it until after we ate!)

Food: - fungi pasta: 7.5/10, strong mushroom flavor…read more - carbonara: 5.7/10, too much sauce and noodles were overcooked - lemon meringue cheesecake + Sicilian cannoli: super authentic cannoli, cheesecake was good but nothing special Service: - hostess was not friendly - they ran out of white peach Italian soda but instead of asking what other flavor we would prefer, they just brought out a vanilla Italian soda - ordering took forever but once our food was in, it came out in less than 10 min Ambiance: - outdoor seating Skip Barbusa (sister restaurant) and come here instead, at least there is better dessert

A cute authentic Italian neighborhood cafe in Little Italy serving coffee, treats, gelato, and…read morepaninis. My friends and I were just looking to get a coffee in Little Italy, but when we walked in and saw all the delicious treats we had to try something else as well. I ordered a latte and neglected to tell them it was for here so I was given a paper cup, but they give real cups if you ask. The latte was good, and my friend bought a kitchen sink type cookie with chocolate, coconut, and macadamia nuts. It was warm and gooey good! Another friend tried the gelato and said it was very good. There are a few tables inside and tables out in front outside. We sat outside and enjoyed the beautiful San Diego weather. The decor and tables definitely gives you an old school Italian neighborhood vibe with Italian markets right next door. If I am in the neighborhood again, I would definitely come back here to try the gelato and/or a piece of an excellent looking lemon pie bar I spotted.

If there is better gelato in San Diego, I have not tried it…read more They have more than gelato here but gelato is all we tried. It was later in the day so they were out of or running low on some flavors. Nevertheless, the two flavors we tried were incredibly rich and flavorful. A little goes a very long way. Parking is incredibly tough in Little Italy but it is worth it for gelato this good.

LOVE this coffee spot, there's great variety and good service. I ordered the Kyoto-style cold brew…read morewhich had a nice house-made banana peanut butter cold foam. Sooo delicious! Perfect spot to enjoy your coffee, and people watch. There's plenty of seating available outside. Also ordered the avocado toast with poached egg, big portion and perfect complement to the coffee. Highly recommend this gem!

Great location downtown, nice outdoor seating, some along the street, some in a patio area above…read morethe street a few steps. Located on the corner there are plenty of people to watch hustle about during the easy morning commute. Coffee is excellent, if you are having a bite there are free refills. There is cream and raw sugar, but no Splenda or equal. I ordered the hummus and avocado toast, on a croissant (they were out of artisan bread). This was an excellent breakfast. A nice fresh meal with excellent coffee, beats a coffee and reheated snack from that other coffee chain.

Matcha used to be the best but got it recently and they changed their matcha to one that is gross…read more. super sad because it used to be my favorite place to get matcha.

If the portal - in portal coffee - is passing through the threshold to a land where cortados are…read moremade with punchy, fruity, flavorful espresso beans, close the gate like demogorgons are about to break through and leave me here for the rest of my days. Unfortunately, I couldn't stay for long but would have loved to explore the dimensions of this coffee shop with a good book and possibly a second (or third) cup of espresso perfectly mixed with just a few ounces of steamed milk.

This place is properly named extraordinary dessert for a reason. They are known for their desserts…read moreboth in taste and in aesthetics. Desserts: 5/5 We got a blood orange scone and a strawberry danish. The scone was warm and delicious. The orange essence was well infused. The danish was crispy and creamy. Everything was so picturesque. Food: 3/5 Unfortunately, the food was not the best. We got the smoked salmon sandwich which was not very flavorful. The salmon was also slimy. The pesto spread was good though. It was creamy and the artisan bread it was served had great variety. Ambiance: 5/5 This place is such super cute. When you walk in, the desserts all look super appetizing. The seating areas are super cute and the floral decor are stunning. Service: 5/5 It is an order then sit down establishment. There is great attention to their dessert. I saw them heat up a knife just to cleanly cut the cake. The food service however did take some time to come out.

The sugar bun was delicious! I might be a bigger fan of their pastries than their cake…read more The Shrang-la cake was decorated so beautifully! I loved the white chocolate shavings all around. Unfortunately the cake didn't hold well in my commute to Temecula (esp during the heat wave). The dairy ended up hurting our stomachs.