Enable JavaScript to run this app.
Skip to main content
OpenTable logo
  1. Home
  2. United States
  3. San Diego

Best Neighbourhood Gem Restaurants in University Heights

Price
Cuisine
Regions
Areas
Top Rated
Dining Options
Seating options
Award-winning
Accessibility

110 restaurants available nearby

A photo of Madison restaurant
4.5
Awesome(3027)
Price: Expensive
• Mediterranean • University Heights
Booked 70 times today
With their stunning design, classic cocktails & highly acclaimed fare, Madison finds itself among San Diego's can't miss restaurants! Serving many of Michelin recognized Chef Mario Cassineri classic dishes, perfect for Date Night of celebrating with friends. ʜᴀᴘᴘʏ ʜᴏᴜʀ - ᴇᴠᴇʀʏᴅᴀʏ 4-6ᴘᴍᴛᴜᴇꜱᴅᴀʏ - ʟɪᴠᴇ ᴊᴀᴢᴢ 7-9ᴘᴍᴡᴇᴅɴᴇꜱᴅᴀʏ - ᴅɪɴɴᴇʀ ᴡɪᴛʜ ᴅᴏɢꜱᴛʜᴜʀꜱᴅᴀʏ - ᴅᴊ ꜱᴘɪɴɴɪɴɢ ᴏʟᴅ ꜱᴄʜᴏᴏʟ ᴠɪɴʏʟꜰʀɪᴅᴀʏ & ꜱᴀᴛᴜʀᴅᴀʏ ɴɪɢʜᴛ - ᴀʟᴡᴀʏꜱ ᴀ ᴘᴀʀᴛʏ ᴡᴇᴇᴋᴇɴᴅ ʙᴏᴏᴢʏ ʙʀᴜɴᴄʜ - ʟɪᴠᴇ ᴅᴊꜱꜱᴜɴᴅᴀʏ ɴɪɢʜᴛ - ʟᴀᴛɪɴ ᴊᴀᴢᴢ 6-8ᴘᴍ
A photo of Books + Records restaurant
4.7
Exceptional(383)
Price: Expensive
• American • Banker's Hill
Booked 30 times today
Global inspired American cuisine, craft cocktails, and weekend brunch in an upbeat atmosphere, with live music.Chef Ryan Stickel is serving up San Diego's freshest food takes in an art deco meets mid-century mod warehouse space. With a tenured run on both Eater's Heat Map and list of San Diego's Hottest Cocktail Bars, the food and drinks are both guaranteed to delight your senses.
A photo of Mister A's restaurant
4.9
Exceptional(8692)
Price: Very Expensive
• Contemporary French / American • Downtown / Gaslamp
Booked 37 times today
Mister A's is the penthouse, fine-dining destination of San Diego, and has been for over 50 years. Located just a few minutes from downtown, you will take the elevator to the top floor and look back out over jetliners sweeping past at eye level, the San Diego skyline, bay and Pacific, while enjoying Modern American cuisine, hand-crafted cocktails, and one of Wine Spectator's top-rated wine lists in the country. The culinary staff hand-selects local farm produce and the highest quality ingredients in every category to offer you selections that are made from scratch in house for brunch, lunch, dinner.. or simply the finest rooftop drinks and appetizers in town.Please visit our website for specific dress code guidelines: https://www.asrestaurant.com/contact/(Guests not in dress code will be turned away)
A photo of Herb & Wood restaurant
4.7
Exceptional(6485)
Price: Expensive
• Californian • Little Italy
Booked 39 times today
A timeless, sought-after dining escape, celebrated Chef Brian Malarkey opened Herb & Wood to instant acclaim over four years ago. In that time, the restaurant has become an icon, a dining destination that has helped to propel San Diego's culinary reputation to new heights. By focusing on rustic, wood-fired dishes, Chef Malarkey's menu elevates humble ingredients such as carrots, beets, and chicken, incorporating Mediterranean flavors and a California ethos of seasonality and sustainability.
A photo of Great Maple San Diego restaurant
4.8
Exceptional(4395)
Price: Moderate
• American • Hillcrest
Booked 95 times today
We Serve Dinner, Lunch, Brunch and Weekday Breakfast. We are a modern American eatery featuring seasonal fare, fresh house made pies, and local produce cocktails. We have a full bar and a social wine list. Open for Outdoor dining!
A photo of Wormwood restaurant
4.8
Exceptional(807)
Price: Very Expensive
• French • North Park
Booked 5 times today
Wormwood invites you to explore a bygone era when poets, writers, and painters found inspiration in the Green Fairy. Discover fine Absinthes as we share stories of its golden age and guide your palate on a unique journey.Our restaurant blends French elegance with bohemian charm, creating a cozy haven for food lovers. Each dish, from wagyu tartare to fresh oysters, celebrates local flavors and craftsmanship. Experience curated tastes of our coastal region with passion and finesse.We offer French wines and unique cocktails with a twist on classics. Every meal and drink promises adventure and cherished memories. Discover the fusion of past and present where dining is an unparalleled experience.Enjoy our three dining areas: a cozy indoor space with an open kitchen, an enchanting patio for serene outdoor dining, and the Secret Garden, a speakeasy bar with a unique cocktail menu and Green Hour. We also host private events, from dinners to weddings, ensuring every occasion is memorable.
A photo of Cowboy Star restaurant
4.9
Exceptional(4759)
Price: Very Expensive
• Steakhouse • Downtown / Gaslamp
Booked 41 times today
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.
A photo of Barbusa restaurant
4.6
Exceptional(4318)
Price: Moderate
• Italian • Little Italy
Booked 42 times today
Barbusa Local Modern Sicilian Restaurant.Lively atmosphere with our craft cocktails, handmade pastas, freshest seafood, delicate pizza, and our famous Sicilian Ribeye.Pizza Served from our stone fired oven.Gluten free and Vegan Items AvailableWHILE WE VALUE THE TIME OF ALL OUR LOYAL GUEST AND SMILING FACES, WE KINDLY REQUEST YOU LIMIT THE TIME SPENT AT YOUR TABLE TO 1 HOUR AND 30 MIN DUE TO MANDATED REDUCTION IN CAPACITY. THANK YOU FOR YOUR UNDERSTANDING AND SUPPORT, WE COULDNT BE MORE THRILLED TO HAVE YOU DINE WITH US!
A photo of The Prado at Balboa Park restaurant
4.6
Exceptional(7917)
Price: Moderate
• Californian • Downtown / Gaslamp
Booked 49 times today
Located in San Diego's Balboa Park, in the Historic House of Hospitality, The Prado offers historic charm and California cuisine.
A photo of The Smoking Goat Restaurant restaurant
4.8
Exceptional(2644)
Price: Moderate
• French American • North Park
Booked 28 times today
The Smoking Goat is an award-winning California-French bistro located in the heart of North Park, San Diego. We have received the Gold Medallion for the best French Bistro in San Diego three years running. Inspired by his European Farm-to-Table up-bringing and culinary training at Le Cordon Bleu Paris, Executive Chef and Owner Fred Piehl, marries classic French cuisine with the bounty of San Diego in a way that is rustic, yet refined, imaginative, yet unpretentious. The dinners served feature in-season local, sustainable and organic ingredients and provide guests with a unique culinary experience, reminiscent of the European countryside. Boasting a carefully selected wine and beer list and chef and bartender attention to select spirits to create craft house cocktails, The Smoking Goat assures there is always the correct pairing available.

See what locals rave about

From verified diners like you
From verified diners like you
  • Lisa
    San Diego •27 reviews
    5.0
    Dined 3 days ago
    The host was very friendly. The decor was pleasant and the restaurant embraced theme around the bar and in the menu. We were seated in a cozy booth. Waitress was warm and welcomed us within a few minutes of getting seated. We ordered salmon potato latkes. It was a generous portion and very delicious. We also ordered apple pancakes and avocado toast which were also good. We will be back again.
    More info
    Books + RecordsPrice: Expensive• American• Banker's Hill
    4.7
  • JerryVIP
    San Diego •13 reviews
    5.0
    Dined 3 days ago
    Great Maple has been our "go to" for many years now. The food is always outstanding, and the staff is second to none when it comes to friendliness, service and recognition. My ONLY regret is that they are no longer open mid-week as we enjoyed dining there after work - but THRILLED that they are still there and making it "work" for them. Last night we celebrated a friend's birthday. From the moment we walked in, until we left, she was treated as an honored guest by the team. We appreciated that for many reasons, the least of which was recognition. My rating overall for last night was 5-stars with only a couple minor dings. A relatively new server (to us) was a bit uniformed on a few bar items, but friendly and attentive. If there was any one request it would be to find a way to bring down the noise level. Given that it is an older building, that may be hard to accomplish. Some like that energy, but it can be a bit much when trying to converse with people at your table. Not a complaint - just an observation that seems to be the trend at a lot of restaurants now-a-days. Once the weather warms up, the outdoor patio seems to fix that issue for me. The food is excellent. Last night my group started with the crispy calamari and the portobello mushroom fries (always a favorite) followed by the duck special, the curried chicken pot pie, the turkey bolognese, the vegan hash and the buttermilk fried chicken. The duck and curried chicken pot pie seemed to get the most raves. I had the fried chicken, and while very good, I am not a fan of food on top of food. (Chicken on top of mashed potatoes with gravy.) It was still very good, but something I probably would not order again simply for that reason. My southern friend at the table disagreed with me on that issue! Not only is the food good, but the presentation of each dish always pleases the eye. Unfortunately, no room for dessert - but I do recommend that you try their pie specials or even the maple bacon donuts!
    More info
    Great Maple San DiegoPrice: Moderate• American• Hillcrest
    4.8
  • Renee
    Chicago / Illinois •1 review
    5.0
    Dined 3 days ago
    Great food and drink choices, and wonderful staff!
    More info
    MadisonPrice: Expensive• Mediterranean• University Heights
    4.5
  • Dena
    Washington, D.C. Area •4 reviews
    5.0
    Dined 7 days ago
    What a wonderful place to be on Christmas day( Fantastic fixed menu, fantastic drinks and what a very attentive staff from front desk to service. I want to thank Bill, my server for the evening and all the wonderful team members who worked on Christmas day to make someone else s day special. The view from any point of view is breathtaking. The chef and team should take a bow for the menu and the bartender for a wonderful mango Durango cocktail. What a gem of a restaurant, so classy, so chic so special. Keep up the great 5 Star service. I also appreciate the many times the manager and staff checked on a single woman. I felt so special.
    More info
    Mister A'sPrice: Very Expensive• Contemporary French / American• Downtown / Gaslamp
    4.9
  • Kathleen
    Phoenix / Arizona •5 reviews
    5.0
    Dined 7 days ago
    Simply put, one of the best meals I have had the privilege of enjoying! Delightful server, Calvin, was very in tune with the timing of our meal and our needs. The fixed menu was perfect for Christmas Eve, as it kept the meal flowing and decision-making to a minimum. Every course was delectable from the scallop crudo, the creamed mushrooms, and the sea bass, to the date cake with walnut ice cream! Mezcal hibiscus cocktail was creative and tasty, as well! I will definitely be back!
    More info
    Herb & WoodPrice: Expensive• Californian• Little Italy
    4.7
  • Privacy policy
  • Terms of Use
  • Impressum
  • Cookies and Interest-Based Ads
  • Cookie Preferences
Copyright © 2024 OpenTable International Ltd. Alphabeta Building, 14-18 Finsbury Square, London EC2A 1AH - All rights reserved.
OpenTable is part of Booking Holdings, the world leader in online travel and related services.
Booking Logo
Priceline Logo
KAYAK Logo
Agoda Logo
OpenTable Logo