Diners' Choice: Best Food restaurants in San Diego

OpenTable

Updated 05 November 2024

Looking for restaurants with the best overall cuisine in San Diego? You’re in the right place. Each month, OpenTable analyses nearly 2 million global diner reviews from the past four months. We sort the results by location and category to help you discover new favourite restaurants. It's a great partnership: you book, eat, and review. We listen...and deliver the results for all to benefit.

Baci Restaurant - San Diego

4.9

4.9 (1888)

$31 to $50

Italian

Old Town

About the restaurant

Baci Ristorante offers diners a hint of old world Italian charm, with plush booths, white tablecloths, and gracious servers clad in tuxedos. While the decor is subtly modern, the menu is classic, celebrating Northern and Southern Italian cuisine. Specialties include classic pasta dishes, veal, and fresh seafood, with especially tempting daily specials offered by Executive Chef Domenico Alioto. In addition to the cuisine, the restaurant's charming and welcoming features--include an extensive wine list, elegant patio setting, and romantic main dining room--have made Baci a consistent favorite among locals for over 30 years.

Top review

Joel

Dined 6 days ago

Wonderful Dinner and atmosphere. Definitely a place to experience

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Popular dish

Parmigiana

Collette’s

4.7

4.7 (1337)

$50 and over

Farm-to-table

Escondido

About the restaurant

Hunsakers is moving forward to COLLETTE'S!

COLLETTE is a name that I love. It has been in my family for generations. It means "Victory of the People". The perfect embodiment of my intentions to collaborate with local farmers to do food well for the community that I am thrilled to be a part of.

The owner, chef and location remain the same with a reimagined notion of fine dining:
COLLABORATIVE COLLECTIVE CUISINE
Join us for date nights, special occasions with family and friends, and on evenings when you would rather open a menu instead of the refrigerator.
We would love to cook for you.

We are in this together, this is OUR victory!

Thank you for dining with us soon and often ~ Jeannette & Chef Hunsaker

Join us for the unveiling of COLLETTE'S ~ by invitation only and you are invited!

Wednesday October 9th 6:00 seating
Thursday, October 10th 6:00 seating
Friday, October 11th 5:30 or 8:00 seating
Saturday, October 12th 5:30 or 8:00 seating
Reserve today, make history with us!

Top review

THOMAS

Dined 5 days ago

Great restaurant for a casual upscale dinner. It has a new chef and I am hopeful it does well. It uses farm to table concept and this time of year there isn’t much farming in the area. That concept will function better in the spring and summer, IMHO.

Tavola Nostra Pizzeria E Cucina

4.9

4.9 (541)

$30 and under

Italian

Hillcrest

About the restaurant

San Diego, meet Pinsa.
An ancient recipe comes back to life at Our Hillcrest Restaurant.
Tavola Nostra Pizzeria E Cucina is a full-service Italian restaurant and pizzeria bringing a modern touch to family recipes and an ancient style of pizza called, Pinsa.

Tavola Nostra, which means “our table”, is owned and operated by Jeff Oliveri – a first time restaurateur from a family of longtime restaurant owners who hopes to honor his familial heritage and tradition with his Italian dining concept that creates one of the best Hillcrest restaurants.

Top review

Markvip

Dined 5 days ago

Excellent place to eat great food, drink fine wine, and enjoy the beautiful people who share it with you! Thank you!!

Jeune et Jolie

4.9

4.9 (4020)

$50 and over

Contemporary French

Carlsbad

About the restaurant

A culinary experience celebrating the moment, Jeune et Jolie reimagines French cuisine through the vibrant lens of our Southern California landscape with a 4-course menu offered at $120 per guest.

For those looking for a more casual evening, we feature "Le Menu du Bar”, an à la carte offering available for walk-in guests at our bar and lounge.

Top review

Johnvip

Dined 6 days ago

Exceptional food and service. The chef is very creative.

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Experience

Jeune et Jolie Christmas Eve

Experience

Jeune et Jolie New Year's Eve

Cowboy Star

4.9

4.9 (4725)

$50 and over

Steakhouse

Downtown / Gaslamp

About the restaurant

Located in the heart of the East Village neighborhood of San Diego, Cowboy Star is dedicated to providing an unmatched attention to detail and a level of service that immediately sets us apart. Cowboy Star guests are the number one priority and guest satisfaction is the base upon which our entire concept is built.

Our level of service is only matched by our celebration of regional American heirloom recipes offered with genuine neighborly hospitality. We are committed to supporting local and regional farmers, fishers and producers by cooking food that recaptures the simple and pure tastes found in locally grown, natural and organic ingredients. We strive to raise awareness of a more sustainable food future, while helping to restore a sense of community that brings us back to a more homegrown time.

The Cowboy Star Menu features the finest in select natural products including Niman Ranch all natural beef from the nation's leading Certified Humane Angus herd.

Top review

Sam

Dined 2 days ago

Amazing service. We had the best experience with John Williams who took great care of us. We’ll be back for the amazing food, fun staff, and expansive menu.

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Mona Lisa Cocktails & Cuisine

4.8

4.8 (91)

$50 and over

Italian

El Centro

About the restaurant

Step into Mona Lisa, an opulent haven of Italian cuisine. Discover a culinary masterpiece where prime steaks are elevated to perfection, accompanied by meticulously curated sides that redefine indulgence. Our open bar offers an endless selection of finely crafted cocktails and wines, enhancing every moment. With an ambiance of refined luxury, Mona Lisa invites you to savor the art of flavor in every bite of our prime steaks, making your dining experience unforgettable.

Top review

Glenna

Dined on 30 Oct 2024

It was a birthday and the food was amazing as usual!

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Popular dish

Ribeye 16oz

The WineSellar & Brasserie

4.9

4.9 (993)

$31 to $50

French

Sorrento Mesa

About the restaurant

Established in 1988, The WineSellar & Brasserie is San Diego's premiere destination for fine wine and exquisitely crafted locally sourced, organic fare.

Consistently ranked among OpenTable's Top 10 local restaurants, The Brasserie has been honored with either Wine Spectator's "Grand Award" and "Best Of Award Of Excellence" every year since our inception.

With your meal, enjoy a bottle from the adjoining WineSellar boutique wine shop or choose a wine from our award-winning list. Either way, you’ll find an outstanding selection of unique small-production wines not found anywhere else. Not in the mood for wine? Choose from our rotating list of craft beers or seasonally available craft cocktails.

Top review

Ellenvip

Dined 5 days ago

We haves dined many times at the Brasserie. The food is delicious and creative. Oscar is an amazing chef. Service is always top notch, friendly and professional. We will keep going back.

Black and Blue Steakhouse and Lounge - Valley View Casino

4.9

4.9 (1761)

$31 to $50

Steakhouse

Valley Center

About the restaurant

Black&Blue is a contemporary American Steakhouse with Las Vegas flair, and a 21 and up dining experience. B&B was recently named San Diego’s “Most Romantic Steakhouse” by the San Diego Union Tribune, and most recently awarded as the Best Steak House Best Seafood by San Diego A-list! At B&B we offer the choicest meats, freshest seafood and most dazzling desserts to delight the mind and body that will transport our guests into a world of indulgence and taste. Unwind with conversation and creative cocktails in our Black&Blue Lounge. Then move into our main room where Chef Nicholas Burgess will impress you with his inventive dishes and innovative takes on classic favorites. The Manager, Chris Scala, will ensure you receive the ultimate in guest service in an atmosphere that’s friendly and fun. To fully enjoy the B&B dining experience, please be prepared to spend an hour and a half with us. Visit us at B&B for a dining experience you’ll never forget.

Top review

Holly

Dined 4 days ago

Always delicious and fabulous service. My favorite restaurant.

Ambrogio15 Del Mar

4.8

4.8 (211)

$30 and under

Italian

Carmel Valley

About the restaurant

Ambrogio15 Del Mar is a more upscale, but still casual version than our Pacific Beach Restaurant. We will have gourmet Pizzas developed by our partnership with Michelin-starred Milanese chef Silvio Salmoiraghi, his partner Choi Cheolhyeok, and gastronome Paolo Tucci. Additionally, we will also offer a five-course gourmet tasting menu for 15-20 diners at a time featuring Italian dishes and global meat and seafood entrees, with a vast menu of natural Italian wines and French Champagnes.

Top review

Dined 6 days ago

Amazing food and great service. Fast and high quality authentic food

Vinarius

4.9

4.9 (371)

$30 and under

Italian

Downtown / Gaslamp

About the restaurant

Vinarius is an Italian Restaurant & Wine Bar in Little Italy San Diego. We offer an extensive wine list with wines coming from different regions of the world; the best meat and cheese board with Italian cured meats and different cheeses to pair with our wines. Our chef Alex makes homemade pasta enriched with our homemade sauces, entrees, pizza, different appetizers to choose from, and desserts that pair well with our port wines and after-dinner drinks. You definitely have to try our daily specials!
Our cozy full bar is also the perfect place to enjoy your drink and food while watching some sports!

Top review

Lana

Dined 4 days ago

Excellent food! Cozy atmosphere, fresh seafood and, very good wine list. Highly recommend this place

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