Gourmet Italia

Review summary

1. S

   Shaunielle

   San Diego

   5 reviews

   5.0

   5 reviews

   Dined 1 day ago

   1. Overall 5
   2. Food 5
   3. Service 5
   4. Ambience 5

   This was my second visit to Gourmet Italia, and I chose it for my birthday dinner with a family member—what a perfect choice! Both visits have left me absolutely speechless with the exceptional customer service. This restaurant is truly a masterclass in hospitality. On this visit, the owner himself greeted us and personally walked us to our table. Despite the restaurant being extremely busy, and our reservation time was delayed, he made up for it in the most gracious and welcoming way. His vibrant personality set the tone for the entire evening. Our server was incredibly knowledgeable about the menu and checked on us consistently without being intrusive. Every staff member who passed by our table interacted with us or checked on us, creating a warm, attentive atmosphere where nothing felt like “it’s not my table, so it’s not my concern.” The team worked seamlessly together, and their camaraderie was evident. The staff member who brought out our food was hilarious—he joked about how much Parmesan we wanted and kept stopping by to chat, making the evening even more enjoyable. The drinks here are amazing, and they don’t skimp! I only had one since I was driving, but next time, with a designated driver, I plan to indulge a little more. The Caesar salad and lobster ravioli I ordered were the same dishes I had on my first visit in June, and I have been craving that lobster ravioli ever since—it’s divine! The fresh, rich flavors are unforgettable. I could eat here every week and never tire of it. The menu offers a fresh variety, and their specials are always enticing, so I can’t wait to try other dishes next time. The family who owns this establishment also owns two other restaurants in the area, and I’m excited to check those out as well. To top off the evening, my server surprised me with a birthday cannoli. It was my first time tasting one, and though I’m not usually a dessert person, they were absolutely delicious. Gourmet Italia is the best!
   

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2. T

   Todd

   Los Angeles

   2 reviews

   5.0

   2 reviews

   Dined 2 days ago

   1. Overall 5
   2. Food 4
   3. Service 4
   4. Ambience 3

   Food was excellent will be back for sure. The only problem I have is they have small tables in the sun faces the person that’s looking out besides that wonderful experience.
   

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3. s

   steve

   Orange County

   28 reviews

   5.0

   28 reviews

   Dined 2 days ago

   1. Overall 5
   2. Food 5
   3. Service 5
   4. Ambience 5

   It was great. We will definitely go back. We went for an early dinner and parking was easy and noise level was good. Highly recommend.
   

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4. A

   Anna

   Los Angeles

   1 review

   1.0

   1 review

   Dined 3 days ago

   1. Overall 1
   2. Food 5
   3. Service 1
   4. Ambience 1

   We booked a lunch reservation at Gourmet Italia for our department holiday gathering and to celebrate two birthdays. Beforehand, I contacted the restaurant to confirm they could accommodate our group with enough space and privacy. Unfortunately, our experience fell far short of expectations. When we arrived, the restaurant was nearly empty, yet we were seated right at the front by the bar. The space was cramped, and the only other patrons were men seated at the bar who kept sitting uncomfortably close to us, eliminating any sense of privacy. This was especially frustrating given there was a whole other section of the restaurant, which we later saw, that would have been much better suited for our group. While the food was delicious, the service was disappointingly slow despite the restaurant being nearly empty. We had to wait for drink refills, request to order dessert, and experienced no acknowledgment of the two birthdays we were celebrating—even though they specifically asked during our reservation. Why bother asking if you’re not going to do anything special? To add to the frustration, when we asked for a box for leftovers, the busser seemed visibly annoyed. We spent over $300, tipped generously, and remained polite throughout, but the service made us feel like an inconvenience rather than valued guests. This restaurant may work well for evening dates or a quiet meal for older patrons, but it’s clearly not a suitable choice for group events. Unfortunately, we won’t be returning.
   

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5. S

   Suzy

   San Diego

   2 reviews

   5.0

   2 reviews

   Dined 6 days ago

   1. Overall 5
   2. Food 5
   3. Service 5
   4. Ambience 5

   Wait staff is incredible, right on top of everything. Delicious food, good size portions. The pesto gnocchi was just amazing as was the special, seafood pasta. Excellent wine list. Just a special place, we have been here many times through the years and it just seems to be getting better, if that is even possible.
   

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6. E

   Elaine

   VIP

   San Diego

   9 reviews

   5.0

   9 reviews

   Dined 7 days ago

   1. Overall 5
   2. Food 5
   3. Service 5
   4. Ambience 5

   Amazing service, amazing food and overall, my family and I had a great time ! 
   

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7. S

   Sean

   Chicago

   2 reviews

   3.0

   2 reviews

   Dined 7 days ago

   1. Overall 3
   2. Food 5
   3. Service 3
   4. Ambience 4

   Live music way too loud. 5 people crammed into 2 small uneven tables. Waited 1/2 hour even with reservation. Waited quite some time for water at table and longer for bar drinks. All the food was very good, despite the bad start.
   

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8. J

   JoDee

   San Diego

   4 reviews

   5.0

   4 reviews

   Dined 7 days ago

   1. Overall 5
   2. Food 4
   3. Service 5
   4. Ambience 5

   Our favorite restaurant! Wonderful atmosphere. Attentive service.
   

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9. M

   Meky

   Los Angeles

   3 reviews

   2.0

   3 reviews

   Dined 7 days ago

   1. Overall 2
   2. Food 3
   3. Service 2
   4. Ambience 2

   The service was poor, and the food was not worth the price. Overrated.
   

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10. R

    Roger

    VIP

    Central Coast

    17 reviews

    5.0

    17 reviews

    Dined 7 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5

    We’ve been here a number of times. Food is consistently excellent authentic Italian cuisine.
    

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