Wow! Wow! Wow! This was the best place I have eaten at in a very, very long time. Everything was melt in your mouth amazing. We had a party of 5 and every single one of us loved our meals. I had the lobster ravioli and it was to die for. The short rib plate was melt in your mouth and cooked absolutely perfect. Our friends had 2 other pastas that they loved as well and a flatbread off the kids menu was ordered and it was really good as well! The cocktails and wine were fabulous! The house made lemon cello was incredible! We had Sofia herself as our server and she was fantastic. The service is on point! And the atmosphere and decor was my favorite. I truly felt like I was transported to Italy. I cannot recommend this restaurant enough. I cannot wait to go back! read more

Service was very good. Staff were friendly and accommodating. Pretty much answered all our questions. Ambiance was quiet and comfortable. Felt like sitting in a patio just outside grandmas kitchen with all the decorations seemingly open windows, balconies, plants and even hanging clothes on wires. I would assume a common site in Italy. Food was great. Every dish we ordered was unique in its flavor and had grandmas personal touch in all of them. A little pricey for the portions but I look at quality more important than quantity. Enjoyed a beautiful dining experience with my family. Would like to come back and try more of their menu. read more

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My family and I had a good dinner experience at this lovely restaurant. It's in the wonderful Kensington neighborhood. Decor-fun interior with clothes hanging from the ceiling. Outdoor seating and bright interior. Service-nice friendly service. Food-nice size portions and hand made pastas. I had the seafood ravioli and it was well prepared and had plenty of flavor. Nice place. As a bonus, it's next to a great ice cream shop. read more

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The best service I've received in San Diego. I don't usually write reviews, but all of the staff were very helpful and friendly! Not to mention the best spicy vodka rigatoni I've had in San Diego. Definitely coming back and bringing my friends :)) read more

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We came here on a Monday around 7:30PM and were able to get seated right away. It is such a cute restaurant with a fountain and lots of decoration that makes the place feel cozy. There is street parking and places to park in the neighborhood next door - I can see it getting a little crowded especially during the weekend. Our server was super attentive and we ordered the Cacio e Pepe and the Rigatoni Vodka. Both were so good!! Such a cute place to get pasta and totally recommend if you're in the area. read more

Trattoria Da Sofia - Rigatoni Vodka - Italian Near Me - San Diego, California

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Pro tip- get out there early as parking is very difficult. Walked in Friday night dinner with no reservation but seated promptly around 5p. They're so friendly and sat us outside with heater. Hubs had osso bucco with delicious mash. I had filet that was cooked perfectly. Portions are perfect and our appetizer was so colorful and delicious. 10/10 returning. read more

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Happy hour good we got few item Meatballs , garlic bread and flatbread Ali g with sangria and spitz Abd too it offf dessert at our table Very friendly ,few people chk in us very well We are outside very nice atmosphere Definitely be back soon.. read more

Amazing food and service! I came for my 22nd birthday and yuri (nino) was very helpful and kind! Best service and will be coming again soon!

Quick service. Decent variety in wines. The pasta was tasty and hit the spot. If you want a little bit of kick, go with the spicy rigatoni vodka read more

Trattoria Da Sofia - Outside - Italian Near Me - San Diego, California

This place is cute! It's tucked in Kensington, parking can be a little tricky but the food is worth the hunt. The staff are friendly and welcoming. We ordered bread, calamari, truffle fries, vodka pasta and sea bass. Everything was delicious. I would return for another delicious dinner. read more

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Spur of the moment dropped in for dinner. Great service by Hercules! Delicious Bolognese and the tasty Grilled Artichoke. Thank you to our gem of a neighborhood Italian restaurant. read more

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I stopped by back in mid-December while visiting from Monterey, CA to celebrate my birthday, and this place turned out to be a great find. The ambience was warm and welcoming, with décor that felt comfortable and lively and had a nice touch of Italy. The service was excellent!!t Thank you to Brandon, who helped us with our order and made the experience unforgettable and enjoyable. He was friendly, knowledgeable, and very attentive. The food was delicious and the portions were more than generous. We ordered the Spicy Rigatoni Vodka, Tartufosa, and Garlic Bread, and everything was well prepared and flavorful. The drinks were also well crafted. I had a mezcal cocktail, and my partner ordered a tequila drink; both were veryyy good. For dessert, I had the cannoli, which was a great way to end the meal. It's unfortunate that I live eight hours away, Highly recommend and I can't wait to come back soon!! read more

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3.5 stars. Much better than the previous Italian place at this location. I tried the garlic bread with three dipping sauces. The Gorgonzola was very unique but not my fave. Marina was solid. Garlic bread had a bit too much pesto-y quality for me. I also tried the penne à la vodka with added sausage. The portion size was huge! I enjoyed the sauce but the noodles were a bit overcooked. I can't comment on service or ambiance because I got delivery. I will try them again in person sometime. read more

What a fantastic evening! The food is authentic and delicious. Yuri made the dinner extra special. We have been to Italy many times and the food was wonderful just as good as any I've enjoyed during my travels. We will definitely come back when we're in San Diego! read more

Every neighborhood deserves a good Trattoria Da Sofia; it's a friendly, hectic, warm, cozy place with solid Italian food served with a consistency that scores of restaurants aspire to. I've been thrice now, once on a Saturday evening just after Happy Hour ended, and then again twice on Sunday nights. I wish I could remember that bartender's name from that Saturday night - or why I didn't take any pictures of any of the food I ordered - but Brandon, at least on the two occasions I revisited, is the shitz. That guy is hilarious - "Some people like hiking. I like to listen to sad music." - and he's warm and interesting and more than makes up for any inconsistencies in the food. The Saturday night I went it was, Mamma Mia, it was crazy. And the entire staff seemed to be running around barking orders or fighting over who-knows-what or asking questions or other servers accusatorily. But bless that bartender's heart. He was one cool cucumber, pumping out drinks with aplomb. His tiramisu cocktail was off-the-charts (and it was layered, too!). On that particular visit, I think I had squash bottoms, blossoms, something, the short ribs and the table side tiramisu.) I must say, that dessert many not be the prettiest thing to look at, but that was head and shoulders the BEST tiramisu I have ever eaten. And I have eaten a lot of Tiramisu. Props to the pastry chef(s). And the table side service? It wasn't whitewater rafting, but it was fun to watch the staff put it together, just the same. I've also eaten the cesare salad (they have anchovies!!), the spicy rigatoni alla vodka, and tried their limoncello cake. The pasta was terrific and cooked to sheer al dente perfection. Spicy? Not so much. It could probably use a degree or two more of heat. The limoncello cake was one sugary, lemony, zesty bite after another and I could have eaten six more slices before going into cardiac arrest. The next couple of visits were calmer so I had more of an opportunity to learn about the place, their vision, the sort of only-the-lonely kind of conversation that makes bartenders want to speed age. If you're looking for a good, more-than-affordable Italian spot - or even if you aren't - you could do a lot worse than Trattoria Da Sofia. I just wish that with all that talent, the menu were less ubiquitous. I mean if we're being honest here - and if we're not what's the point - I could have just as easily been staring at one of hundreds of Italian menus that dot San Diego. That's where it lost a star. But...I know they have it in them, and, besides, it still won't keep me from visiting Brandon on Sunday nights. Let's go, Brandon! read more

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One of the best pastas i've tried in san diego so far. It felt like I was back in Italy. Everyone was so nice and the service was amazing! The food was incredibly delicious, especially the pastas. They tasted so authentic and the decorations/vibe of the whole place is super pretty! Will definitely be back. read more

Trattoria Da Sofia - Spicy Rigatoni Vodka, Pollo Parmigiana, Pistacchiosa - Italian Near Me - San Diego, California

Came here after work one day with a friend. We ordered limoncello spritz, the spicy rigatoni, vodka, and the ravioli de pesce to share. The food was delicious. We practically cleared our plates. The interior was so cute. The bar was adorned with a really pretty sitting area, and the main part of the restaurant looked like an alleyway with hanging clothes. The server was pretty nice and we felt attended to. Prices were very reasonable and my friend and I ended the dinner with two shots of Limoncello. Thank you for hosting us. Will be back soon. read more

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Absolutely loved our night here. First things first: the espresso martini is unreal - easily one of the best I've had in San Diego. Perfectly balanced, smooth, and dangerous in the best way. The service deserves a major shoutout too. Our server Yuri was hilarious, genuinely warm, and made the whole experience feel fun and relaxed without ever dropping the ball. You can tell the staff actually enjoys being there, which makes such a difference. And the pasta... wow. Clearly handmade, clearly made with love, and cooked perfectly. Every bite tasted intentional and comforting in that classic Italian way that's hard to find. One small piece of constructive feedback on the appetizers, mostly from a shareability perspective: - The bruschetta comes out on one long piece of bread piled high with toppings, which makes it tricky to cut into even pieces without toppings sliding everywhere or having to touch the whole thing. - The caprese was delicious, but the mozzarella wasn't pre-sliced and the tomato slices were very large, so we found ourselves reaching across the table and cutting it up ourselves to share. Nothing that would stop us from coming back -- just a small tweak that would make sharing plates even better. Overall, fantastic food, incredible drinks, beautiful space, and some of the most entertaining service we've had in a while. Will absolutely be back (and ordering another espresso martini). read more

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Arrived about an hour before closing on a Friday evening and were able to be seated immediately. I appreciated the interior decoration with the water fountain, clothes hanging above, and even a nice little balcony set-piece near the back. The service was friendly and attentive the whole evening. We started with a dish that I can't find the name of anymore, but it was ricotta&basil stuffed squash blossoms (fried), topped with an apricot fig jam. The flavors were actually really nice and the sweetness of the jam was a great touch. However this dish costs $19 and if you see my picture, it came with only 4 pieces of squash. Not only is this extremely overpriced for the amount of food you get, but they even had the audacity to cover up the large plate with basic lettuce with no dressing. We also ordered the garlic bread which I regret. You get 4 pieces of basically toasted white bread for $11. There wasn't even a hint of garlic flavor! Between these 2 appetizers, it was a terrible way to start the meal. My gf got the Cacio e Pepe gnocchi and while she enjoyed the soft and pillowy texture of the gnocchi itself, the dish was too rich to finish. Between the cream sauce and cheese filled gnocchi, it was too much. She even commented that the sauce was also too thick for a cacio e pepe dish. I felt like you didn't get the sharpness of the black pepper to balance it out. I got the Sugo Pittinicchi which was listed under one of their more unique/special items. I was taken a back by the fact that they serve whole pork ribs and half a sausage (uncut). I appreciate the amount of meat and food, but the presentation of the meats was unrefined to say the least. It looks like you just slapped a bunch of sauce on pasta and some meat and called it a day. With the ribs, I felt like I was at some BBQ restaurant getting my hands dirty etc. Not typical for an Italian restaurant. And the sausage being whole and not cut was simply ridiculous-looking and something I have never seen at any other Italian restaurant. At least cut them in to more appealing and palatable pieces. This was not the experience I had hoped for and I honestly feel like I was shortchanged with the quality and quantity of some of these dishes. There were very few high points of the meal and overall I was very disappointed. read more

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The food was out of this world; fresh, flavorful, and so authentically Italian. Every dish we tried was cooked to perfection and bursting with rich, traditional flavors. A special shout-out to our server, Yuri, who was truly an absolute gem. He went above and beyond to make my sister's birthday celebration so memorable, from thoughtful touches to spot-on recommendations (each one better than the last!). His warm, friendly energy made the evening even more enjoyable. This was one of the best dining experiences I've had in a long time. I'll definitely be coming back. Bravo to the whole team for creating such an unforgettable experience! read more

I've been here 4 times now (about to be 5 this upcoming week!), and I'm consistently impressed at how delicious the pasta is here. You don't know freshly made pasta until you've tried Trattoria Da Sofia! - PARKING - There is a small lot after the freeway exit, but it's usually full. You'll just have to cross your fingers that a street parking spot is open, which is what happens for us! - SERVICE/ENVIRONMENT - Every time we've come, we've had a reservation, and I'd highly recommend making one as it does get busy as the night goes on! Staff is always so welcoming, and have been attentive each visit. The atmosphere is charming and makes you feel like you're in an Italian neighborhood. Tables available inside and out! - FOOD - Spicy Rigatoni Vodka: My go-to almost every time I've been here! The Rigatoni is cooked to perfection - al dente every time and it's so impressive! The sauce is also one of my favorites, even before we came here I loved any thing Vodka sauce. Other items I've tried from the table and are all so good: - Cacio e Pepe: Definitely decadent and creamy, but the gnocchi is so good! - Sugo Pittinicchi: The pork ribs are so tender! - Amatriciana: Similar to the Spicy Rigatoni, but pure tomato base and a little more kick! Tiramisu: Love that it's tableside and they make it right in front of you! I'm tempted to ask for the mascarpone plate next time! - OVERALL - An amazing spot if you're craving pasta, and freshly made pasta at that! read more

Our server Brandon was amazing. He was so charismatic and helpful. This man took the time to double check the ingredients of multiple dishes, in multiple trips, I felt bad that he had to go back multiple times, all while there was a full bar of people to tend too. Plus, through the whole ordeal, never gave an ounce of negative energy, he was so happy the whole time. We can't be more thankful for his willingness to go above and beyond. The ambiance of this place was cozy. It was quite busy and loud this time because of restaurant week. For our food we started with involtini melenzane, so eggplant and cheese baked together in a red sauce, it was good, nothing special about it but good. We also had polpette which is meat balls in red sauce and the meat was delicious! Good thing to note, the meat balls are not gluten free. For our main we got spicy rigatoni vodka and I didn't think I had a high spice tolerance but I didn't taste any spice at all, but they had more red chili flakes you could add. This dish was good but it really was just noodles and sauce with nothing else. The sauce was good but again nothing special. We also got the short ribs and the meat was very tender and cooked to perfection. Highly recommend this item. For dessert we tried their lemon cello cake and cannolis. Both fantastic, especially the cannoli, I don't think I have ever had a good cannoli until this place. The tube portion felt freshly made and had an amazing crunch, like they had filled it right before they brought it out to me and the cream wasn't too sweet so I really enjoyed it. The started bread is also super delicious. There is indoor and outdoor seating. There is only street parking. read more

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this restaurant really blew me away! everything we ate was so so good and tasted very authentic to what i've had in italy. i recommend getting the calamari, carbonara and the spicy vodka rigatoni. save room for dessert because the lemon cake was a great way to end the meal. the service was also lovely. will be back! read more

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We loved this place . From the decor that looks like a little plaza in Italy , the excellent service , incredible food and good value . It's so nice to see a great overall restaurant without all the drama that surrounds some of the very popular posted places in town . Amazing restaurant!! Will be back read more

Wow wow wow that is all I can say! I got to try this place during the Adams Avenue food walk and we went to go to another place, but then I was reminded of Sophia's and decided to stop in for a bite. Wow, this place was hopping on the inside. I honestly thought that we would have a long way to get a table, but they seated us immediately. The arinchini is some of the best that you will be able to find in America and honestly, I've had Arancini in Italy and this might have been better than a lot of them! You can tell this place is ran by people who love what they do and it really shows. I had two cocktails. Both whose names I can't recall! (I love them) and then after dinner they shared a glass of Lemonchello gratis! Can't wait to come back, the interior of this place is so fun! With shirts hanging from the ceiling on clothes lines. Makes you feel like you are in Italy. The food was epic Level delicious, I loved the beef atop my pasta. It was slow cooked and fall off the bone. read more

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Absolutely delicious food and amazing service, especially with the table side tiramisu! The restaurant decor and ambiance is also so fun. We will definitely be coming back. read more

WOW! I love Italian food, and I can confidently say this is easily top 3 in all of San Diego. Talk about a hidden gem tucked away in cute little Kensington that deserves a 10 star review in my opinion. The food was stupid good! I'm still drooling just thinking about it. We went for a double date and everything from start to finish was solid. The service was on point from the moment we walked in to the minute we left-- don't get that a lot these days. Don't just take my word for it tho, go try it (feel free to invite me lol) and then tell me I'm wrong. read more

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Had a wonderful time at Trattoria Da Sofia the final night of SD Restaurant Week. I started with the grilled artichoke hearts, which were perfectly fresh with a hint of lemon. Salmon with pesto risotto followed. The salmon was cooked expertly, with a nice golden sear. For dessert, I selected the limoncello cake and Chun P enjoyed the cannoli. The cake was the definite winner - soft light layers of moist lemon sponge in between fluffy layers of divine lemon cream! I appreciated the strawberry and fruit drizzle over the top. Service was attentive, I do wish their tiny water glasses were larger. The wait staff quickly dashed over to fill them up, but it was a hassle for them. We sat in the front room by the hostess stand - it was a bit hectic with all the food coming out. I think the main room or even the patio out front perhaps had better ambiance. read more

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I've been meaning to write this review for quite some time. I had made a reservation for my partner and me, but upon arrival, there was already a line of guests with reservations, and we were asked to wait an additional 30 minutes past our scheduled time. That was a bit disappointing, especially with a reservation in place. Once seated, we received our menus and placed our order. The food did take a while to arrive, but given how busy the restaurant was, that part was understandable. When the dishes finally came out, we were eager to try everything. Unfortunately, my rigatoni pasta was undercooked, very firm and quite chewy. Along with other pastas. The flavor itself was actually very good, which made it even more disappointing that the texture wasn't right. On a positive note, the ambiance is absolutely lovely. The restaurant has a beautiful theme and atmosphere that really enhances the dining experience. I also want to highlight the customer service, the staff were kind, attentive, and clearly working hard to take care of everyone despite how busy it was. Overall, while the setting and service were enjoyable, the timing around reservations and the execution of the food left room for improvement. read more

Came here for my birthday, read the reviews ahead of time and was very excited as I live near by. Place is nice and initial service was great. When the food came out, mu husband's plate had a hair in his pasta. My pasta had good flavor, but the pasta itself was chewy and tasted overcooked. I ordered my son from the kids menu which was a breaded chicken breast with fries. The chicken was dry and breading was burnt. After we returned the pasta because of the hair, nobody stopped by to check on the service or see if we needed anything else. Such a disappointment. read more

Trattoria Da Sofia - Italian Near Me - San Diego, California

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My #1 FAVORITE Italian restaurant hands down. I brought friends last night and they all loved it. Sofia greeted us with such a warm welcome and our server was incredibly sweet. We got the spicy rigatoni and carbonara and both were delicious. Next time I'm trying the pistachio tiramisu (our server's favorite). Special shoutout to Yuri who always makes our visits memorable, whether he's our server or not. Thank you for the birthday limoncello!!! :) The whole crew here is amazing. Liza, Yuri, Fernanda at the front, and Sofia make this place feel truly authentic and special. Grazzi â me famigghia! read more

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My cousin and I had a reservation on Sunday and were seated immediately upon arrival. From the moment we walked in, we felt like we had stepped into a charming Italian restaurant in Italy. The ambiance was warm and inviting, and all of the employees were incredibly welcoming. Our waitress, a young lady whose name I didn't catch, was attentive and friendly throughout our meal. To start, we ordered the truffle fries and arancini. The truffle fries were very thin, but I felt they could have been crispier--unfortunately, they leaned more on the oily side and were slightly soggy. The arancini was tasty, though it would have been even better with a side of sauce or extra sauce for dipping. I'm sure I could have asked for more, but it would be nice if it came with it by default. We also received complimentary bread, which was really good! For our mains, my cousin ordered the Bolognese and loved it. I had the vongole but substituted clams for shrimp. I also requested limes because I enjoy a lemon-based sauce, and the shrimp were impressively large, which was a great touch. The highlight of our visit--and the main reason we came--was the tableside tiramisu. It was absolutely delightful and lived up to the hype! Overall, I enjoyed my experience at Trattoria Da Sofia and would definitely return to try more menu items. A few small tweaks could enhance some dishes, but the welcoming atmosphere, great service, and delicious tiramisu make this a spot worth visiting again. read more

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This is one of my new favorite Italian spots in San Diego since I tried it last night! This place was extremely busy on a Friday night so highly recommend reservations! We came for San Diego restaurant week so I never know if the menus are going to be that good but they did not disappoint! Everything we ate was delicious! My favorite was the grilled artichokes but the short rib definitely came in second. The place definitely tries to pack as many tables as close together as possible so just know you will be seated pretty close to other people and it does get loud. The service felt a bit rushed and busy but I get that it was busy. Highly recommend this new Italian spots!! Can't wait to come back and try other things. read more

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We havent been here in a while but went here on 'Taste of Adams'. Our absence has been a mistake! Very good sample of a spice pasta dish and a very good portion size! I like that they took the event seriously. I wasnt smart enough to get the name of the pasta we tried, but we will definitely get this restaurant back in our rotation :) read more

Having been to their sister location, friends recommended this spot and we had to go. Although parking is challenging, once you get a spot, you are close to everything. The restaurant staff were very friendly and we were quickly greeted. The server was welcoming and very attentive. At 6 pm the restaurant was not too busy but by 7 that quickly changed. The restaurant seating areas and tables were very close together which made it challenging to get up and down if you needed to. The appetizers were amazing and were the star of the dinner for sure. The sea bass was slightly under-seasoned and I would recommend searing it on all sides and not just one but overall was very tender and cooked perfectly. The sugo pittinicchi was good but had too many things going on for the plate. It was very heavy and I would recommend splitting it with someone. The flavor profile was overall good though. And to finish, definitely get the cannolis or a few. They won't disappoint. read more

Trattoria Da Sofia - Bruschettone - Italian Near Me - San Diego, California

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Delicious and exceptional quality. Lively atmosphere with excellent and caring owners and wait staff. Delicious homemade pasta and soooo happy that "Pasta Pistacchiosa" is back on the menu. Excellent wine selection. Cannot say enough about the wonderful experience we had tonight. read more

IMO best Italian food in San Diego. Wait staff were great, and food was very authentic. We enjoyed everything we ordered! read more

Trattoria Da Sofia - Spicy Rigatoni Vodka - Italian Near Me - San Diego, California

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This was the cutest italian restaurant I've been to!! The decor makes you feel like you're in Italy, there are clotheslines hanging above you with little shirt and trinkets, and everything was just LOVELY. The woman who greeted me at the host stand was SOO nice and helped me choose where to sit. Lyza served me and she was so sweet. Her recommendations were delicious! Now the food- Cesare: DELICIOUS. Dressing made in house and you can tell Bruschettone: WOW WOW WOW. Showstopping. It was one of the best dishes I've had in a while Tartufo: perfectly al dente, creamy, and the mushrooms weren't overpowering! Picatto: so lemony, buttery and the chicken was cooked perfectly! Tiramisu: im a snob about tiramisu and generally don't love a table side one, but wow this was AMAZING. the cookie crunches on the top were a great touch! I'll be back, thank you all for having me tonight!! read more

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What a fantastic place from start to finish! Aesthetics, service, food quality, everything was amazing. Took my wife here for the first time and we will definitely be coming back. Yuri was our server and within a few minutes I knew we were in great hands. Told stories and recommendations of where to travel in Italy, you name it, he provided it. If I could give more stars, I would! Check this place out! Also, got the reservation day of on open table and it was super easy, tons of availability! read more

Family had dinner at Trattoria Da Sofia and we all enjoyed our visit We dined on a Sunday evening and were promptly seated. We liked the decor of the restaurant and even seated inside toward the back we left it was well lit and comfy. It was about a month ago when we went so I do not remember each dish, but I know we had the chicken parm and the meatball appetizer. You can see in the pics our food selection. This was a solid Italian restaurant and one that I am sure to return to when I again visit my son in San Diego. read more

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