Best Authentic Restaurants in Normal Heights

110 restaurants available nearby

1. Buona Forchetta

4.6

Exceptional(859)

Price: Moderate

• Italian • South Park

Booked 72 times today

Buona Forchetta, meaning 'Good Fork' in Italian, is an authentic Italian restaurant. It was started by Matteo who wanted to bring his native Italy to San Diego. Customers praise its 'excellent and authentic Italian experience' with simple recipes that 'takes me back to all my travels to Italy'. The restaurant is highly recommended for its 'authentic and delicious' food, 'vibrant atmosphere' and 'excellent service'.

A photo of Cori Pastificio Trattoria restaurant

2. Cori Pastificio Trattoria

4.7

Exceptional(619)

Price: Moderate

• Italian • North Park

Booked 33 times today

Acclaimed Sicilian Chef Accursio Lota serves up authentic cuisine in a cozy 60's-style Italian trattoria. Voted San Diego's Best Chef five years in a row, and Barilla’s World Pasta Champion, at Cori Trattoria Chef Lota serves up beautifully bold dishes like Agnolotti with Spring Peas and Beef Bone Marrow, and an unbelievably rich Vegan Parmigiana di Melanzane. The menu melds the flavors of Sicily and Italy with the best of fresh, locally-sourced Southern California ingredients, and is matched by a curated wine list and cocktail program that include indigenous, bio-dynamic varietals from all Italy. The current Spring menu features dishes like Agnolotti with Spring Peas, fava bean, and beef bone marrow, and Cacio e Pepe with sustainably-sourced Petrovich caviar.Enjoy full-service table seating, grab a place at the marble-topped bar, from which you can watch all the action of your meal being prepared in the open kitchen or just order your meal to enjoy at home with your family.

A photo of Et Voilà! French Bistro - San Diego restaurant

3. Et Voilà! French Bistro - San Diego

4.8

Exceptional(2550)

Price: Moderate

• French • North Park

Booked 26 times today

Et Voilà! is a vibrant neighborhood bistro, located along the North Park corridor. Et Voilà! French Bistro showcases Chef Vincent Viale’s talents, mixing French classics with a modern accent. Find local and seasonal products building upon French recipes from various regions, such as Steak Frites, Coquilles St. Jacques, and soufflés. Explore the diverse regions of France through a curated wine list, and taste a variety of distinct local ingredients with our crafted cocktails. Et Voila! French Bistro is the destination for those looking for a vibrant dining experience, or even for those looking for a simple glass of wine and informal bite at the bar. No reservations accepted for happy hour Please be on time to your reservation. Note that your allocated time slot starts at the time of your reservation and NOT when your party is complete. (1.30 hours for 2, 1.45pm for 3/4 people) We likely will not be able to extend your time if you are running late . Thank you for

4. Siamo Napoli

4.7

Exceptional(1322)

Price: Moderate

• Italian • North Park

Booked 70 times today

Specializing in Napolitano style pizza and pasta. We focus on clean fresh ingredients that thrive in our home land and make simple foods the star. We have a full bar with hand crafted drinks and a range of wines from Napoli and beyond.

5. RustiCucina

4.7

Exceptional(1153)

Price: Moderate

• Contemporary Italian • Hillcrest

Booked 55 times today

Welcome to Rusticucina, where locally sourced ingredients, seasonal dishes and a warm ambiance reign supreme. We are named to reflect the merging of two cultures; American and Sicilian, since our owners are straight out of a small town in Sicily. We invite neighborhood dwellers and visitors to experience our farm-to-neighborhood restaurant unlike any other. Aperitivo, a traditional Italian-style happy hour, leads the way—think sensational small bites, Aperol Spritzes, Negronis and Limoncello. We also offer a full bar and carefully curated craft cocktails, along with an impressive beer and wine list. Our food menu, boasts hearty, rustic cuisine, with pasta made in-house, from scratch, as well palate-pleasing entrees and a slate of pizzas and flat breads. Our tableside service offers a one-of-a-kind, dedicated experience, and their outdoor space is the perfect landing spot for dog lovers and sun worshipers. We even offer a pet menu for furry guests.

6. Kettner Exchange

4.7

Exceptional(1362)

Price: Expensive

• Contemporary American • Little Italy

Booked 59 times today

Kettner Exchange boasts two levels of indoor/outdoor drinking and dining and Little Italy’s only rooftop patio with spanning harbor views. We feature Progressive American cuisine from critically acclaimed Executive Chef Brian Redzikowski. In 2019, Kettner Exchange was named to Michelin Guide's prestigious Bib Gourmand list. Kettner Exchange has proudly maintained this award every year thereafter. Originally introduced in 1997, the Bib Gourmand category highlights restaurants that serve high-quality meals which include two courses and a glass of wine or dessert for $40 or less.

7. Bleu Boheme

4.8

Exceptional(3549)

Price: Expensive

• French • Kensington

Booked 22 times today

"World travel and its pleasures; items brought back from different places for décors; great stories shared with others; and very importantly, simple, yet delicious recipes from different cultures. Our mission is humble. It is simply for people coming to our restaurant to be transported around the world, and to travel with us for an evening, to a place of well-being and happiness."Bleu Bohème is designed to create a feeling of France's past generations. It mixes the Bohemian and artistic free spirited left bank of Paris with the roots and tradition of the rural areas. Bleu Bohème is a neighborhood restaurant that serves accessible, affordable and comforting French cuisine.

A photo of Louisiana Purchase SD restaurant

8. Louisiana Purchase SD

4.6

Exceptional(685)

Price: Expensive

• Creole / Cajun / Southern • North Park

Booked 57 times today

Conveniently set on Louisiana Street in North Park, our design of this intimate cocktail restaurant was inspired by the charm &; character of New Orleans, with creative touches of personal effects giving guests the feeling of warmth, community & fun Architect Jeff Svitak helped create a modern interpretation of a classic French Quarter restaurant, introducing elements of wood, marble &; rich velvet. Our lush patio seating flows seamlessly into our indoor dining space, a nod to the courtyards found across the beautiful southern city.Our rotating food menu will be dedicated to only the best seasonal ingredients, featuring big &; bold flavors from the region. Executive Chef Quinnton Austin recently relocated to San Diego from New Orleans, bringing with him an exciting wealth of knowledge &; experience in the culinary melting pot that defines southern cuisineAlligator Cheesecake, Andouille Fried Red Beans & Rice w/Chipotle Mousse, &

A photo of Trattoria Da Sofia restaurant

9. Trattoria Da Sofia

4.6

Exceptional(186)

Price: Moderate

• Italian • Kensington

Booked 47 times today

Trattoria da Sofia is a brand new Italian restaurant located in the charming Kensington neighborhood of San Diego. Trattoria da Sofia features delicious, comforting Italian dishes paired with warm Italian hospitality. By day, the Trattoria is your new favorite coffee shop and cafe.

10. Cloak + Petal

4.6

Exceptional(965)

Price: Expensive

• Sushi • Little Italy

Booked 65 times today

WELCOME TO CLOAK & PETAL!Where we invite you to journey into a place of both intimacy and companionshipOur concept is drawn from our name. The word “cloak” implies secrecy, inspiring our concept of a social sphere humming beneath the levels of ordinary life. “Petal” alludes to the Japanese tradition of “hanami,” when family and friends gather under blooming cherry blossoms to savor food, drinks and fellowship.Enter our space and travel underground to décor reminiscent of an abandoned Tokyo subway, a stratum of society all its own, an artist’s dream. Cross the threshold into a mystically transformed Japanese social dining lounge which appears to be an outdoor seating area, similar to a waiting platform. Sit beneath a trellis of draping vines and teardrop lights in the intimate space we’ve thoughtfully created, and feast on authentic Japanese sushi, appetizers, small plates and drinks with family and friends.Journey down to Cloak + Petal… and come unwind your soul.

‘About the restaurant’ descriptions have been generated using an artificial intelligence model comprised of OpenTable proprietary data that has not been independently verified by OpenTable. The content is presented as-is, for informational purposes only.

See what locals rave about

From verified diners like you

T
Travis
San Diego •4 reviews
5.0
Dined 1 day ago
Always a fantastic meal . Very authentic and friendly waitstaff. My favorites are the Buona Forchetta sauce with any of their delicious pastas . Bruno pizza and the burrata salad
More info
Buona ForchettaPrice: Moderate• Italian• South Park
•
4.6
A
AmyVIP
San Diego •9 reviews
5.0
Dined 2 days ago
Siamo Napoli is a gem. The feel of a small, neighborhood restaurant with excellent food and great service. Can’t wait to go back and try more of their menu.
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Siamo NapoliPrice: Moderate• Italian• North Park
•
4.7
J
JoeVIP
San Diego •6 reviews
5.0
Dined 2 days ago
We had an amazing server called Olena. The food as always was top notch. I had the octopus to start and then the squid ink seafood pasta. Both were great.
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Cori Pastificio TrattoriaPrice: Moderate• Italian• North Park
•
4.7
N
Nadia
San Diego •5 reviews
5.0
Dined 4 days ago
Excellent service, staff was very attentive and skilled with accommodating my husband and I even with taking our photos! What we had from the preset menu was well beyond our expectations, looked appetizing, tasted scrumptious and satisfied our palate as well as our bellies for an overall lovely experience 🤩 Thank you and we will be back!
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Et Voilà! French Bistro - San DiegoPrice: Moderate• French• North Park
•
4.8
Y
Yessyr
Portland / Oregon •1 review
5.0
Dined 4 days ago
Went for Christmas Eve dinner. Saw the cheese wheel on TikTok and had to try it, it was AMAZING. Espresso martini’s were amazing, even tho we had to send the second one made by a different person, they remade it and it was so good to know they took the time to make sure our service was fantastic. Thank you guys! See you again in the near future.
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RustiCucinaPrice: Moderate• Contemporary Italian• Hillcrest
•
4.7

Best Authentic Restaurants in Normal Heights

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110 restaurants available nearby

1. Buona Forchetta

2. Cori Pastificio Trattoria

3. Et Voilà! French Bistro - San Diego

4. Siamo Napoli

5. RustiCucina

6. Kettner Exchange

7. Bleu Boheme

8. Louisiana Purchase SD

9. Trattoria Da Sofia

10. Cloak + Petal

See what locals rave about

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