Award-winning

Catania

4.7

2055 Reviews

$31 to $50

Italian

Make a booking

2 people

23 Nov 2024

19:00

Booked 31 times today

Good for special occasions
Neighbourhood gem
Great for outdoor dining

Inspired by an Italy road-trip Chef Ryan and I (Arturo) took back in 2008, we’re pleased to introduce Catania, the newest member of the Whisknladle Hospitality family. Here, we’ll be featuring simple, seasonal and authentic Italian Coastal Cuisine (None of the Italian version of TexMex you see most other places). Our commitment to authenticity will be evident in our use of wood burning ovens and grills, an all Italian wine list as well as an exclusively craft Italian Beer program. (Yes, Italy has an amazing craft beer movement nobody’s heard about.)

Order delivery or takeout

Additional information

Dining style
Casual Elegant
Price
$31 to $50
Cuisines
Italian, Contemporary Italian
Hours of Operation
Lunch Sat, Sun 12:00 pm–3:30 pm Dinner Mon–Thu, Sun 4:00 pm–8:30 pm Fri, Sat 3:30 pm–9:00 pm
Phone number
(858) 551-5105
Website
http://www.cataniasd.com/
Payment Options
AMEX, Discover, Mastercard, Visa
Dress code
Casual Dress
Executive Chef
Ryan Johnston
Private party facilities
Whether you’re planning a party or a meeting, enjoy the attentive service and personalized touches that take the average private dining experience to the next level with Whisknladle Hospitality. With four restaurants to choose from & a wide selection of menu options, the possibilities are endless. Email events@wnlhosp.com for more info.

Location
7863 Girard Ave, Suite 301, San Diego, CA 92037
Award-winning
1. MICHELIN Plate 2022
Area
La Jolla
Cross Street
Girard and Wall
Parking details
Street Parking
Additional
Gluten-free Options, Patio/Outdoor Dining

Popular dishes

Pizza FocacciaUS$7.00
olive oil, sea salt, rosemary, chili flake
Green Salad**US$14.00
meyer lemon vinaigrette, pistachio, black pepper, pecorino toscano
Apple Salad**US$16.00
radicchio, arugula, chicory, shaved fennel, gorgonzola, almonds, aged balsamic vinaigrette
Kale SaladUS$15.00
treviso, chickpeas, celery, parmesan, anchovy vinaigrette
AranciniUS$12.00
saffron risotto, parmigiano reggiano, tomato sauce
Wood Roasted Cauliflower**US$19.00
whipped ricotta salata, fresno chili salmoriglio, pomegranate, red onion, pistachio
Charred Savoy Cabbage**US$15.00
crispy garlic, shallots, mint, basil, calabrian chili, miso mustard vinaigrette
Crudo**US$20.00
local yellowfin, beet puree, blood orange, basil, poppy seed, meyer lemon
Crispy Octopus**US$22.00
chickpeas, lamb sausage, chili oil, capers, herbs
Smoked Duck Liver CrostiniUS$15.00
golden raisins, currants, dates, almonds, pickled shallot, parsley

Secondi

Pan Seared Scallops*US$41.00
honeynut squash caponata, carrot puree, prosciutto, golden raisins, pepitas
Whole Roasted Branzino*US$44.00
clams, garlic butter, white wine, charred broccoli, chili flakes, breadcrumbs
Grilled Mary's Duck BreastUS$35.00
farro salad, roasted apples, charred treviso, shallot vinaigrette
Rotisserie ChickenUS$33.00
honey mustard, baby carrots, almonds, mint, garlic butter
Abita Ranch Wagyu Beef ShankUS$37.00
fennel radish gremolata celery root-potato puree, porcini jus

Pizza

Italian MeatUS$24.00
fontina, pecorino, sausage, soppressata salami, pancetta
Sicilian PistachioUS$23.00
burrata, pecorino, pork mortadella, pistachio pesto
MargheritaUS$21.00
mozzarella, basil, tomato sauce, garlic
Wild MushroomUS$25.00
burrata, fontina, garlic confit, chili flake, sherry vinegar, thyme
DiavolaUS$23.00
mozzarella, tomato, spicy calabrese salami
Pear & GorganzolaUS$24.00
pancetta, pecorino, rosemary, honey balsamic, arugula

Pasta

Gluten free pasta available

Aglio e Olio PeperonciniUS$21.00
spaghetti, evoo, chili flake, parsley, parmigiano reggiano
Tagliatelle alla PortofinoUS$24.00
basil pesto, creamy tomato sauce, parmigiano reggiano
Butternut Squash RavioliUS$27.00
hazelnuts, sage, parmesan, brown butter, aged balsamic, brussel sprouts
Duck Sugo OrecchietteUS$29.00
braised duck, tomato, porcini mushrooms, juniper, parmesan
Bucatini alla'AmatricianaUS$26.00
pork cheek, tomato, calabrian chili, pecorino sardo
Spaghetti & ClamsUS$27.00
clams, garlic, white wine, chili flakes, breadcrumbs
Shrimp Risotto**US$28.00
fennel, tomato, fresno chili, parmigiano reggiano

Cocktails

$16

Aperol Spritz
aperol, prosecco, soda, orange - served tall on the rocks
Isola
mezcal, bourbon, pineapple amaro, orange, lime juice, simple syrup - served in a coupe
Collina
vodka, cocchi americano, apple cider, lemon, apple-cinnamon simple - served on the rocks
Bacchus
vodka, cocchi rossa, lemon, simple, grapes, soda float - served in a collins glass
Verde Colada
rum, vanilla liquor, pineapple, matcha, macadamia nut orgeat, lime - served on the rocks
Succosa
bourbon, yellow chartreuse, pear & rosemary simple, st. george pear, lemon - served in a coupe
Moncalieri
malfy gin, mediterranean fever tree tonic, orange and sage - served on the rocks
Santa Maria
fresno chili infused tequila, lime, dimmi, ginger, agave - served on the rocks
Melograno
pomegranate, tequila, ancho reyes, lemon, amaro sirene, walnut bitters - served on a large rock
Vestito
mezcal, amaro D'arancia rossa, yellow chartreuse, lime, grapefruit soda - on the rocks
Corvo
rittenhouse rye, baltamoro coffee amaro, frangelico, crème de banana, bitters, nutmeg - served on a large rock

Bianchi

Pinot Grigio | Fasoli Gino | VenezieUS$13.00
lemon, lime, crisp green apple, and floral honey suckle
Sauvignon Blanc | Scarbolo | Friuli Venezia-GiuliUS$16.00
melon, yellow flowers, and lemon zest with a clean and refreshing finish
Gavi di Gavi | Villa Sparina | PiedmontUS$15.00
crisp, refreshing, lemon, pear, and minerals
Zibibbo | Donna Fugata Lighea | SiciliaUS$15.00
orange blossom hints of citrus, exotic fruit, mineral finish
Chardonnay | Talbott | Santa Lucia HighlandsUS$20.00
rich aromas toasted oak, tree-ripe pear, and apple with touches of brown sugar

Spumanti / Rosato

Prosecco | Bisol | NVUS$12.00
dry, crisp, toasted hazelnuts
Rose Brut | Bisol | VenetoUS$14.00
floral, berries, currants
Rose | Benanty | SicilyUS$15.00
pomegranate, rose petals and citrus
Lambrusco | Bruno Zanasi | Emilia RomagniaUS$14.00
dry, red fruits, violet

Rossi

Schiava | Kaltererse | Alto AdigeUS$13.00
red fruit dried herbs, light earth, spice
Barbera d'Asti | Michele Chiarlo | PiedmontUS$14.00
purple flower, berry, supple tannins, fresh acidity
Pinot Noir | Siduri | Santa LuciaUS$16.00
dark berry, cherry, espresso, candied flowers
Sangiovese | Nunzi | ChiantiUS$15.00
violets, cherry, minerals
Super Tuscan | Le Difese | TuscanyUS$20.00
ripe raspberries and cranberries, notes of violet and vine-ripened tomatoes
Cabernet Sauvignon | Austin Hope | Paso RoblesUS$25.00
layers of vanilla, coco powder, juicy cherry, baking spices and signature tobacco

Birre | 10oz

Pilsner | Modern Times 4.8%US$9.00
balanced palate with mildly bitter with lemon and floral notes
Blonde | Gravity Heights 5.2%US$9.00
pleasant hop flavors, clean, refreshing
Oatmeal Stout | Fremont 8%US$9.00
dark, yet silky oatmeal stout balanced by a firm hop handshake
Hazy IPA | Gravity Heights 6.8% ABVUS$9.00
balanced citrus rind bitterness and tropical aromas

Bottiglia

Lager Bionda | Menabrea | Piedmont 4.8%US$9.00
light with hints of citrus and fruit
Amber | Menabrea | Piedmont 5%US$9.00
malty, hops, citrus
Blonde Ale "Birria Nazionale" | Birreria Baladin | Piedmont 6.5%US$14.00
chamomile, citrus fruits, and gentle bitterness of Italian hops
IPA | Birreria Baladin | Piedmont 5.5%US$14.00
citrusy notes of tangerine are complement ed by notes of melon and mango
Witbier "Isacc" | Birreria Baladin | Piedmont 5%US$14.00
citrus, flower, spice
Saison "Wayan" | Birreria Baladin | Piedmont 5.8%US$14.00
hazy, spice, fresh pepper
Non-Alcoholic German Lager | Erdinger | GermanyUS$7.00
lemon, grass, malts
Hard Seltzer | High Noon | California 4.5%US$7.00
peach

Analcolica

PressatoUS$8.00
fresh grapefruit, thyme, ginger - served on ice in a wine glass
Italian SodasUS$8.00
Birreria Baladin | Piedmont. Mela Zen- Apple and Ginger; Agrumata – Citrus and Bergamot

What 2,055 people are saying

Overall ratings and reviews

Reviews can only be made by diners who have eaten at this restaurant

4.7

4.7 based on recent ratings

4.7Food
4.7Service
4.7Ambience
4.5Value

Noise • Moderate

Review summary

AI-generated from verified diner reviews

Catania in La Jolla offers a "fabulous dining experience" with "delicious food" and "superb service." Guests rave about the Italian cuisine, including standout dishes like Duck Sugo Orecchiette and crispy octopus. The "beautiful ocean views" enhance the dining ambiance, making it a "must-visit" for both locals and visitors.

2,055 Reviews

P
Patricia
New York City
6 reviews
5.0
6 reviews
Dined today
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 4
4. Ambience 5
Excellently executed food. But cold even indoors.
Is this helpful?
K
Kami
San Diego
3 reviews
5.0
3 reviews
Dined 2 days ago
1. Overall 5
2. Food 4
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
Service was incredible for a birthday celebration for 6 of us. Duck Crostini and Lamb Ribs were outstanding.
Is this helpful?
M
Moonjung
San Francisco
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined 5 days ago
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
Made a reservation for my mom's birthday. Loved the ambience. We were able to sit on the balcony side watching the sunset which was beautiful. It does get chilly when the sun sets; however, they did have heat lamps which helped. The service was absolutely fantastic. Everybody was attentive. The food was AMAZING. My mom and I ordered arancini, mushroom pizza, tagliatelle pasta, and the panna cotta. The higher price value was expected, so no surprises there. The pizza was good, it was the thinner crust style. But what my mom and I really enjoyed was the pasta. It is quite creamy. We liked the nuttiness of the pesto. And the panna cotta was SOO good. Overall great experience.
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J
JC
San Diego
34 reviews
vip
5.0
34 reviews
Dined 7 days ago
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
If you really want great modern Italian then Catania is the perfect place! The food is always delicious, the service impeccable and a fun atmosphere!!
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A
Ashish
San Diego
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on 14 November 2024
1. Overall 5
2. Food 2
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
The restaurant is situated in a prime location, offering a vibrant and welcoming atmosphere. However, I was a bit disappointed to find that the vegan options were more limited than I had expected. Before visiting, I had called ahead and was assured there were plenty of vegan choices, but upon reviewing the menu, I found it to be fairly restricted. That said, I was still excited to experience a Michelin-starred restaurant. The Antipasto was a standout — the cauliflower dish in particular seemed to be a crowd favorite, as I noticed several tables ordering it. In terms of flavor, it was one of the better dishes of the meal. Unfortunately, I had to give the overall food experience 2 stars because the dish I ordered was overly salty and oily, which impacted the enjoyment. Despite the initial promise, the balance of flavors in my dish didn’t quite meet the standard I was hoping for.
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P
Patricia
Western NC
40 reviews
vip
5.0
40 reviews
Dined on 10 November 2024
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
Excellent food, selections and outstanding service…..we eat here often and have never been disappointed. It’s always the right choice!
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D
Diana
San Francisco
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on 10 November 2024
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 4
This is a must visit restaurant in La Jolla! We ordered the crispy octopus, duck sugo pasta, mushroom pizza, and dessert trio. Everything was fantastic but the dish that you must order is the crispy octopus!
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T
Tori
San Diego
13 reviews
5.0
13 reviews
Dined on 10 November 2024
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
We enjoyed an excellent meal at Catania. Service was on point, we weren’t rushed through our meal, and every dish we had was unique in flavor, beautifully presented and absolutely delicious. We shared every dish- here was our line up: Arugula Salad w/ Persimmons, Pears, Gorgonzola, & Candied Pine Nuts - Excellent, light, split was still generous serving. Duck Sugo Orechetti - Super Savory, Duck was flavorful, pasta is made on-site…a little outside of we’re used to with authentic orechetti, but still delicious and excellently executed. Wood Fired Pork Chop w/sweet potato purée and butter greens-So, so good. Get it, you won’t regret it. It’s sweet, savory and bitter, the perfect Agrodolce dish. We paired it with the wood fired cauliflower appetizer, which was the perfect main meal. Highly recommend this dish too! Desserts were amazing. Semifreddo had a delicious crust on the bottom which was unique and offset the rich dessert. Chocolate flourless cake was perfect-rich and chewy, like it should be. The Panna Cotta with huckleberry reduction was my husbands fav-silky, not sweet and love the huckleberry topping. The Manager on site was lovely and our server was fantastic and very attentive to us. I will definitely be going back and highly recommend. To note: the ambiance is more elevated casual than fancy. We wanted to sit on the patio to enjoy the sunset (which they kept at a perfect temp with tons of heaters) but possibly inside would be more intimate if that’s what you’re looking for.
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D
Denise
Austin
7 reviews
5.0
7 reviews
Dined on 10 November 2024
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 4
This was our favorite dining experience during our trip to San Diego. The restaurant is located in a very charming building. The balcony seating was nice and you could see the ocean. But the food was so delicious! We loved the tuna crudo was amazing with the beet puree. My husband really enjoyed the crispy octopus. We also loved the pizza and the rigatoni. But the best part was the branzino - the sauce was unreal! Will definitely be back if we travel to San Diego again!
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K
Kimberly
San Diego
10 reviews
vip
5.0
10 reviews
Dined on 8 November 2024
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
This is consistently my favorite place to dine out. The halibut was incredible the pizza perfection and the pasta is some of the best in SD. What an amazing evening. Everything was outstanding - Thank you Steve 🤩
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FAQs

You can order delivery directly from Catania using the Order Online button.

Catania is rated 4.7 stars by 2055 OpenTable diners.

Yes, you can generally book this restaurant by choosing the date, time and party size on OpenTable.

Make a booking

2 people

23 Nov 2024

19:00

Booked 31 times today

Order delivery or takeout

7863 Girard Ave, Suite 301, San Diego, CA 92037

Additional information

Award-winning
1. MICHELIN Plate 2022
Cross Street
Girard and Wall
Area
La Jolla
Hours of Operation
Lunch Sat, Sun 12:00 pm–3:30 pm Dinner Mon–Thu, Sun 4:00 pm–8:30 pm Fri, Sat 3:30 pm–9:00 pm
Price
$31 to $50
Cuisines
Italian, Contemporary Italian
Dining style
Casual Elegant
Dress code
Casual Dress
Parking details
Street Parking
Payment Options
AMEX, Discover, Mastercard, Visa
Executive Chef
Ryan Johnston
Additional
Gluten-free Options, Patio/Outdoor Dining

Website
http://www.cataniasd.com/
Phone number
(858) 551-5105
Private party facilities
Whether you’re planning a party or a meeting, enjoy the attentive service and personalized touches that take the average private dining experience to the next level with Whisknladle Hospitality. With four restaurants to choose from & a wide selection of menu options, the possibilities are endless. Email events@wnlhosp.com for more info.

Catania

Make a booking

Order delivery or takeout

Additional information

Duck Sugo Orecchiette

Crispy Octopus

Pizza Focaccia

Antipasti

Pizza FocacciaUS$7.00

Green Salad**US$14.00

Apple Salad**US$16.00

Kale SaladUS$15.00

AranciniUS$12.00

Wood Roasted Cauliflower**US$19.00

Charred Savoy Cabbage**US$15.00

Crudo**US$20.00

Crispy Octopus**US$22.00

Smoked Duck Liver CrostiniUS$15.00

Secondi

Pan Seared Scallops*US$41.00

Whole Roasted Branzino*US$44.00

Grilled Mary's Duck BreastUS$35.00

Rotisserie ChickenUS$33.00

Abita Ranch Wagyu Beef ShankUS$37.00

Pizza

Italian MeatUS$24.00

Sicilian PistachioUS$23.00

MargheritaUS$21.00

Wild MushroomUS$25.00

DiavolaUS$23.00

Pear & GorganzolaUS$24.00

Pasta

Aglio e Olio PeperonciniUS$21.00

Tagliatelle alla PortofinoUS$24.00

Butternut Squash RavioliUS$27.00

Duck Sugo OrecchietteUS$29.00

Bucatini alla'AmatricianaUS$26.00

Spaghetti & ClamsUS$27.00

Shrimp Risotto**US$28.00

Cocktails

Aperol Spritz

Isola

Collina

Bacchus

Verde Colada

Succosa

Moncalieri

Santa Maria

Melograno

Vestito

Corvo

Bianchi

Pinot Grigio | Fasoli Gino | VenezieUS$13.00

Sauvignon Blanc | Scarbolo | Friuli Venezia-GiuliUS$16.00

Gavi di Gavi | Villa Sparina | PiedmontUS$15.00

Zibibbo | Donna Fugata Lighea | SiciliaUS$15.00

Chardonnay | Talbott | Santa Lucia HighlandsUS$20.00

Spumanti / Rosato

Prosecco | Bisol | NVUS$12.00

Rose Brut | Bisol | VenetoUS$14.00

Rose | Benanty | SicilyUS$15.00

Lambrusco | Bruno Zanasi | Emilia RomagniaUS$14.00

Rossi

Schiava | Kaltererse | Alto AdigeUS$13.00

Barbera d'Asti | Michele Chiarlo | PiedmontUS$14.00

Pinot Noir | Siduri | Santa LuciaUS$16.00

Sangiovese | Nunzi | ChiantiUS$15.00

Super Tuscan | Le Difese | TuscanyUS$20.00

Cabernet Sauvignon | Austin Hope | Paso RoblesUS$25.00

Birre | 10oz

Pilsner | Modern Times 4.8%US$9.00

Blonde | Gravity Heights 5.2%US$9.00

Oatmeal Stout | Fremont 8%US$9.00

Hazy IPA | Gravity Heights 6.8% ABVUS$9.00

Bottiglia

Lager Bionda | Menabrea | Piedmont 4.8%US$9.00

Amber | Menabrea | Piedmont 5%US$9.00

Blonde Ale "Birria Nazionale" | Birreria Baladin | Piedmont 6.5%US$14.00

IPA | Birreria Baladin | Piedmont 5.5%US$14.00

Witbier "Isacc" | Birreria Baladin | Piedmont 5%US$14.00