The menu isnt extensive but has classic pasta and starter dishes. We started with the classica bruscetta and buschetta prosciutto & fichi, and the classica bruschetta was my favorite. The freshness of the tomatoes and flavor of the pesto was impeccable. We tried the cheese wheel pasta that comes with special pasta of the day (gnocchi with mushrooms and truffle) tossed in a cheese wheel and served in a pan. It was on the heavier, creamier and cheesier side and i would recommend it for those who are looking for a ooey gooey dish of pasta. Our server recommended the stuffed lobster and shrimp tortelli pasta. The sauce is creamy (but not as creamy as the cheese wheel pasta) and is made with tomatoes. The dish is topped with a big ball of burrata. We tried the espresso martini and cosmopolitan. The espresso martini had more of a strong coffee than bold liquor flavor, but the cosmopolitan was a little sweet and boozy. Overall, it was a solid meal and be prepared for a food coma afterwards. The interior is beautiful with wine bottles, paintings and pictures hanging on the wall. Street parking is the way to go. Our server was friendly, and the portions are generous for its price point.
Erin F.
The food and service were equally amazing! Very family friendly and reasonably priced. We will be back.
Britt C.
A charming restaurant in the hear of Cortez Hill. We had the gnocchi pesto special which had burrata, cavatelli with sausage and vodka sauce, bruschetta, grilled artichokes, limoncello cake and tiramisu. The pasta was cooked perfectly al dente and was full of flavor. The appetizers were so tasty and the dessert was decadent. Overall a great spot for a delicious Italian meal.
RaeAna Eiley
This place is so mediocre I don’t understand why it has 4.7 rating. It tastes like boxed pasta I can make at home. Before it was Italian it was a brunch spot, seems they don’t know what they want to do with the place. All the food was fine though, and service was good.
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 3
Service: 3
Ron G.
Had a reservation right at 6, seated right away but waited a bit. service is a bit long but all good because felix was very friendly. that's my guy, i'd want him to be my waiter again. vibes inside at night are a little upbeat, definitely not a quiet restaurant but very nice and good vibes. music is a decent volume, but on top of the other conversations in the restaurant the audio inside the restaurant is a pretty decent level. drinks we got were espresso martini, cosmopolitan, red wine. they were not super strong but the espresso martini was my favorite. food was also delicious especially the bruschetta and the pastas were cheeeeesyyy. this place is great for celebrations and date nights. i wouldn't recommend this place for a quick bite, but 100% yes for a dinner with a conversation. great italian ambience inside, almost like you're transported to a little homey restaurant in a town in amazing italy
Always A.
Everything was incredible Save room for dessert! I especially loved the truffle pasta served on the cheese wheel table side
Helen H.
Lovely spot with excellent food. Nice relaxed ambiance and friendly service. Felt like I was in Italy. Our table ordered the crab cake, burrata salad, and two of the specials: cheese wheel pasta (gnocchi), and lobster shrimp tortellini with burrata. Would definitely return for a girls night or date night.
Amin ..
Great service and beautiful presentation. I got the special. Good atmosphere. Good music.
Manolo S.
We ordered calamari very well cooked. The wait staff offered good choices for drink. The gnocchi was soft and creamy. filetto al Pepe verde the sauce was good the steak was cooked well. For the price of a good filet I personally do not like it better than medium. The fettuccine Alfredo with sausage was slightly above Par. They forgot to bring out one of the meals and kept telling us it was still cooking although others who ordered after us were receiving meals. Overall I left unimpressed for the prices we paid I expect the food and service to be more on point. Also they do not offer military discount.
sonia z
Great little spot to eat! My husband and I came in for some happy hour appetizers and were greeted and served by the owner. He was extremely welcoming and made us feel well taken care of. You can tell he puts a lot of care into this place and his food. We had the calamari, bruscetta, and meatballs; all of which were delicious. We then split the lobster tortellini (one of the nightly specials) that was topped with a cream sauce and giant mozzarella ball. It was FABULOUS! My husband and I did not leave a single bite. We then finished the meal with some robust espresso and a slice of tangy limoncello cake. I wish I had more photos to post, but the food was too good to last. Definitely recommend giving this place a try of you're in the area.
My wife and I were starving when we got into SD for our visit and this place was right across the street from our hotel. We decided to give it a try and wow we were not disappointed. We were greeted and taken care of by the gentleman who turned out to be the owner. He explained they just opened five months ago and then proceeded to guide us through a truly Italian experience. We started with wine and sangria (so tasty and not overly sweet!) while we waited for our bruschetta, calamari, and meatball appetizers. The calamari's breading was crispy and didn't get soggy as time passed, the bruschetta was perfectly balanced, and the meatballs were tossed in such a delicious sauce we wanted to put it on everything! For our main course we shared the lobster tortellini and shrimp special that was some of the best pasta we've ever had. The sauce was delicious, the pasta had great texture and you could taste the lobster, and best of all it had a huge ball of mozzarella on top! To top it all off we had the limoncello cake, which was super moist and lemony, and a shot of espresso. We had such a great experience in such a warm, quaint atmosphere with Italian music that really felt like a warm hug. We can't wait to visit SD again because this place is definitely on our list to revisit!
It was random that we fell into this incredible Italian restaurant. It was truly authentic and the cheese wheel was the best. I had never experienced that before and it did not disappoint. Great atmosphere, music and service were superb too. Highly recommend. 
Dmitry Esterov
We were hungry, two lovers stumbling in after a long week. We were greeted by smiling faces, uplifting music, and a homey yet elegant atmosphere. The waiter suggested a special - the truffle gnocchi, the cheese wheel. Never had we experienced a wheel of Italian cheese. And never will we ever forget it. One of life’s best experiences this far.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Matt Rentfrow
My wife and I made this our first stop on our vacation to San Diego. This ended up being one of the best meals we've ever had! A truly remarkable dining experience. The ingredients are unbelievably fresh. The best Italian restaurant you will EVER visit.Dietary restrictions: Gluten free pasta available
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Cheese Wheel
cami c.
On a mini vacation in San Diego. After a very early morning and miles of exploring, we were wiped, but hungry. We searched yelp for nearby restaurants and Osteria was only a block away from our hotel. Yay! We were greeted as we walked up by, who we would later learn, is the owner and that the restaurant is only five months new. We were quickly seated and offered flat or sparking water. (Common in this area to offer bottled water. If you don't want to pay for water, be sure to ask for tap.) Husband opted for the garlic bread with marinara as a start. This is thick, toasted focaccia bread with garlic and herbs served with a (slightly heavy-handed-with-the-rosemary-for-me) marinara - W thought it was perfect - topped with fresh Parmesan. Crunchy, fragrant and delicious! For mains, W had the fettuccine carbonara and they had no problem removing the meat. They use fresh-made pasta with a creamy and deliciously tangy sauce. I had the gnocchi special served with pesto, roasted cherry tomatoes, and a huge burrata! The gnocchi were soft and pillowy, and slightly chewy. Gnocchi is hard to get perfect, and I've had perfect (it's my fav so I order it a lot) and this was close. I loved the sweetness of the tomatoes and the salty-sweet of the amazing burrata. The pesto was perfectly garlicky and spicy. We were stuffed and I ate only 1/3 of my meal, but I was told they had "beautiful boxes" to take the leftovers with me, which we did. Along with a slice of the much-raved-about limoncello cake. No room to eat it at the restaurant, but based on the rave reviews of other yelpers, we had to bring a slice home. OMG! If you love lemon desserts like we do, don't miss this one! It's tart-sweet lemon with a moist sponge and creamy filling. They even "plated" our slice in our "beautiful box" with the raspberry and chocolate sauce. If the food isn't enough of a reason, the restaurant ambiance is lovely with wine-forward decor and delightful Italian music. Great for date-night, special events, or just good food and service. The team was amazing. All employees were welcoming, warm, funny, and thoughtful. I take my vitamins with meals and left a tablet on the appetizer plate sent back to the kitchen after we finished our meal. I didn't need it, but thinking I forgot it, one of the waitstaff brought it back to me. So very thoughtful! If we lived here, this would be a regular haunt for us for our Italian fix! OH, and there is plenty of parking!
The menu isnt extensive but has classic pasta and starter dishes. We started with the classica bruscetta and buschetta prosciutto & fichi, and the classica bruschetta was my favorite. The freshness of the tomatoes and flavor of the pesto was impeccable. We tried the cheese wheel pasta that comes with special pasta of the day (gnocchi with mushrooms and truffle) tossed in a cheese wheel and served in a pan. It was on the heavier, creamier and cheesier side and i would recommend it for those who are looking for a ooey gooey dish of pasta. Our server recommended the stuffed lobster and shrimp tortelli pasta. The sauce is creamy (but not as creamy as the cheese wheel pasta) and is made with tomatoes. The dish is topped with a big ball of burrata. We tried the espresso martini and cosmopolitan. The espresso martini had more of a strong coffee than bold liquor flavor, but the cosmopolitan was a little sweet and boozy. Overall, it was a solid meal and be prepared for a food coma afterwards. The interior is beautiful with wine bottles, paintings and pictures hanging on the wall. Street parking is the way to go. Our server was friendly, and the portions are generous for its price point.
The food and service were equally amazing! Very family friendly and reasonably priced. We will be back.
A charming restaurant in the hear of Cortez Hill. We had the gnocchi pesto special which had burrata, cavatelli with sausage and vodka sauce, bruschetta, grilled artichokes, limoncello cake and tiramisu. The pasta was cooked perfectly al dente and was full of flavor. The appetizers were so tasty and the dessert was decadent. Overall a great spot for a delicious Italian meal.
This place is so mediocre I don’t understand why it has 4.7 rating. It tastes like boxed pasta I can make at home. Before it was Italian it was a brunch spot, seems they don’t know what they want to do with the place. All the food was fine though, and service was good.
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 3
Service: 3
Had a reservation right at 6, seated right away but waited a bit. service is a bit long but all good because felix was very friendly. that's my guy, i'd want him to be my waiter again. vibes inside at night are a little upbeat, definitely not a quiet restaurant but very nice and good vibes. music is a decent volume, but on top of the other conversations in the restaurant the audio inside the restaurant is a pretty decent level. drinks we got were espresso martini, cosmopolitan, red wine. they were not super strong but the espresso martini was my favorite. food was also delicious especially the bruschetta and the pastas were cheeeeesyyy. this place is great for celebrations and date nights. i wouldn't recommend this place for a quick bite, but 100% yes for a dinner with a conversation. great italian ambience inside, almost like you're transported to a little homey restaurant in a town in amazing italy
Everything was incredible Save room for dessert! I especially loved the truffle pasta served on the cheese wheel table side
Lovely spot with excellent food. Nice relaxed ambiance and friendly service. Felt like I was in Italy. Our table ordered the crab cake, burrata salad, and two of the specials: cheese wheel pasta (gnocchi), and lobster shrimp tortellini with burrata. Would definitely return for a girls night or date night.
Great service and beautiful presentation. I got the special. Good atmosphere. Good music.
We ordered calamari very well cooked. The wait staff offered good choices for drink. The gnocchi was soft and creamy. filetto al Pepe verde the sauce was good the steak was cooked well. For the price of a good filet I personally do not like it better than medium. The fettuccine Alfredo with sausage was slightly above Par. They forgot to bring out one of the meals and kept telling us it was still cooking although others who ordered after us were receiving meals. Overall I left unimpressed for the prices we paid I expect the food and service to be more on point. Also they do not offer military discount.
Great little spot to eat! My husband and I came in for some happy hour appetizers and were greeted and served by the owner. He was extremely welcoming and made us feel well taken care of. You can tell he puts a lot of care into this place and his food. We had the calamari, bruscetta, and meatballs; all of which were delicious. We then split the lobster tortellini (one of the nightly specials) that was topped with a cream sauce and giant mozzarella ball. It was FABULOUS! My husband and I did not leave a single bite. We then finished the meal with some robust espresso and a slice of tangy limoncello cake. I wish I had more photos to post, but the food was too good to last. Definitely recommend giving this place a try of you're in the area.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Tortellini Lobster, Limoncello Cake
Restaurantji Recommends
My wife and I were starving when we got into SD for our visit and this place was right across the street from our hotel. We decided to give it a try and wow we were not disappointed. We were greeted and taken care of by the gentleman who turned out to be the owner. He explained they just opened five months ago and then proceeded to guide us through a truly Italian experience. We started with wine and sangria (so tasty and not overly sweet!) while we waited for our bruschetta, calamari, and meatball appetizers. The calamari's breading was crispy and didn't get soggy as time passed, the bruschetta was perfectly balanced, and the meatballs were tossed in such a delicious sauce we wanted to put it on everything! For our main course we shared the lobster tortellini and shrimp special that was some of the best pasta we've ever had. The sauce was delicious, the pasta had great texture and you could taste the lobster, and best of all it had a huge ball of mozzarella on top! To top it all off we had the limoncello cake, which was super moist and lemony, and a shot of espresso. We had such a great experience in such a warm, quaint atmosphere with Italian music that really felt like a warm hug. We can't wait to visit SD again because this place is definitely on our list to revisit!
It was random that we fell into this incredible Italian restaurant. It was truly authentic and the cheese wheel was the best. I had never experienced that before and it did not disappoint. Great atmosphere, music and service were superb too. Highly recommend. 
We were hungry, two lovers stumbling in after a long week. We were greeted by smiling faces, uplifting music, and a homey yet elegant atmosphere. The waiter suggested a special - the truffle gnocchi, the cheese wheel. Never had we experienced a wheel of Italian cheese. And never will we ever forget it. One of life’s best experiences this far.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
My wife and I made this our first stop on our vacation to San Diego. This ended up being one of the best meals we've ever had! A truly remarkable dining experience. The ingredients are unbelievably fresh. The best Italian restaurant you will EVER visit.Dietary restrictions: Gluten free pasta available
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Cheese Wheel
On a mini vacation in San Diego. After a very early morning and miles of exploring, we were wiped, but hungry. We searched yelp for nearby restaurants and Osteria was only a block away from our hotel. Yay! We were greeted as we walked up by, who we would later learn, is the owner and that the restaurant is only five months new. We were quickly seated and offered flat or sparking water. (Common in this area to offer bottled water. If you don't want to pay for water, be sure to ask for tap.) Husband opted for the garlic bread with marinara as a start. This is thick, toasted focaccia bread with garlic and herbs served with a (slightly heavy-handed-with-the-rosemary-for-me) marinara - W thought it was perfect - topped with fresh Parmesan. Crunchy, fragrant and delicious! For mains, W had the fettuccine carbonara and they had no problem removing the meat. They use fresh-made pasta with a creamy and deliciously tangy sauce. I had the gnocchi special served with pesto, roasted cherry tomatoes, and a huge burrata! The gnocchi were soft and pillowy, and slightly chewy. Gnocchi is hard to get perfect, and I've had perfect (it's my fav so I order it a lot) and this was close. I loved the sweetness of the tomatoes and the salty-sweet of the amazing burrata. The pesto was perfectly garlicky and spicy. We were stuffed and I ate only 1/3 of my meal, but I was told they had "beautiful boxes" to take the leftovers with me, which we did. Along with a slice of the much-raved-about limoncello cake. No room to eat it at the restaurant, but based on the rave reviews of other yelpers, we had to bring a slice home. OMG! If you love lemon desserts like we do, don't miss this one! It's tart-sweet lemon with a moist sponge and creamy filling. They even "plated" our slice in our "beautiful box" with the raspberry and chocolate sauce. If the food isn't enough of a reason, the restaurant ambiance is lovely with wine-forward decor and delightful Italian music. Great for date-night, special events, or just good food and service. The team was amazing. All employees were welcoming, warm, funny, and thoughtful. I take my vitamins with meals and left a tablet on the appetizer plate sent back to the kitchen after we finished our meal. I didn't need it, but thinking I forgot it, one of the waitstaff brought it back to me. So very thoughtful! If we lived here, this would be a regular haunt for us for our Italian fix! OH, and there is plenty of parking!