Diners' Choice: Neighbourhood gem restaurants in San Diego

OpenTable

Updated January 05, 2025

Looking for the best restaurants that are the best neighbourhood gems in San Diego? You’re in the right place. Each month, OpenTable analyzes 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 reserve, eat, and review. We listen...and deliver the results for all to benefit. Enjoy!

Wildland

5.0

5 (17)

$30 and under

Californian

Carlsbad

About the restaurant

WALK IN'S ONLY, NO RESERVATIONS!

Wildland is an all-day restaurant, bar and bakery inspired by the natural landscape and vibrant community of North County, celebrating the creative culture of California by bringing bold ideas to timeless traditions.

Night or day, this is a place for the every day.

Private Dining Room reservations are available for parties of 12-18 guests.

Top review

JoshuaVIP

Dined on Dec 11, 2024

Amazing addition to the Carlsbad community. Food was amazing, drinks were incredible, but more than anything the service was impeccable. Super excited to go back and enjoy more of the menu.

Tapas & Beers

4.9

4.9 (501)

$30 and under

French

Downtown / Gaslamp

About the restaurant

Located in Downtown San Diego's historic Spreckels building, Tapas & Beers is a French and Spanish Restaurant.

We offer a large selection of Tapas plates to share between friends & family
but also normal size dishes if you don't want to share !

Our beers on tap selection highlights breweries from San Diego County and our wine selection from all around the world will make any wine lover happy too !

Everything you will eat at Tapas & Beers will be made from scratch to order with fresh and mostly organic ingredients !

Discover why our place isso highly rated !

Cheers!

Top review

ShelbiVIP

Dined 1 day ago

The food was fresh, delicious and beautifully served. We had fun with the sweet husband and wife owners who love their job. It’s a great local spot if you want something that isn’t a chain.

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4.8

4.8 (789)

$30 and under

Italian

La Jolla

About the restaurant

My Nonna's name was Isola, a wonderful cook who gave me a passion for food and fresh, simple ingredients.

I have vivid memories of my grandmother turning plain bread into amazing desserts, simple apples into incredible fritters sprinkled with a little sugar and honey, and even treating my sunburns with olive oil. Thirty years later, I still savor every meal and moment.

Isola is proud to serve the finest local ingredients, dalla vite, from the vine. I hope you enjoy every bite, plucked from my family tree for your table. Buon appetito!

Top review

Lucy

Dined 3 days ago

Fantastic experience! The food was incredible and waiters were so attentive. Would recommend to locals and visitors alike.

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Popular dish

Margherita DOP

Rosina's Italian Restaurant

4.8

4.8 (1221)

$30 and under

Italian

Poway / Rancho Bernardo

About the restaurant

Rosina's Italian Restaurants is traditional, casual and family friendly. We prepare our pastas and sauces fresh daily. Rosina's is a great place for a business meeting in our larger additional dining room, special gathering date night, or family dinner.
Hand Made for 30 Years
We serve healthy, Mediterranean recipes the Italian way: homemade soups, fresh vegetables, classic Italian cuisine from the heart of Italy. Our family has prepared meals for San Diegans for almost 30 years.
Find out why your neighbors are calling both of Rosina's locations hidden gems, and make sure to try the nightly dinner specials!

Top review

Constance

Dined today

Such a cute family owned restaurant. Very quaint, great date spot. Has both indoors and outdoors dining. Food was excellent and at a good price point. Will definitely return

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Popular dish

Fettuccine Mare e Monte

Arrivederci

4.8

4.8 (91)

$31 to $50

Italian

Hillcrest

About the restaurant

Arrivederci Ristorante is an authentic Italian restaurant. Arrivederci means hello. The restaurant's name refers to Italian hospitality offered here. It has a decent semi-formal ambiance. The walls are decorated with paintings gathered from different parts of Europe. Antique lamps are hung from the ceilings to add a rustic appeal. Arrivederci specializes in preparing all dishes with authentic Italian recipes and ingredients. Grigliata vegetariana is prepared with a variety of assorted grilled vegetables. Rigatoni amatriciana is prepared with tabular pasta soaked in rich sauce, prepared with tomatoes and romano cheese. Italian bacon topping enhances the flavor. Pollo al funghi is the traditional chicken meal. The boneless breast of chicken is topped with mushrooms. The ingredients are cooked in wine sauce. Arrivederci serves Italian wines and beers.

Top review

ThomasVIP

Dined on Jan 3, 2025

Arriverderci is myself and my wife’s favorite restaurants, tactually it’s our #1 Italian restaurant! If you want authentic old family recipe Italian food this is the spot! Julio is our favorite server and my wife who showed me this place always asks for him. but all the servers are great. The meat lasagna is by far the best I have ever had and I have been all over Italy!

Pali Wine Co. Little Italy Tasting Room

4.8

4.8 (144)

$30 and under

Wine Bar

Little Italy

About the restaurant

Pali Wine Co. is located in famous Little Italy, San Diego, steps from the main strip. The family-owned winery highlights the diversity and nuanced qualities of the California Central Coast wine-growing area. From our Pali Pinot Noirs & Chardonnays, to our Tower 15 bold, nuanced wines, and Neighborhood zippy, natural cuvées, our three wine labels are sure to please any pallet.

Stop in for a tasting flight where you can sample wines from our portfolio, step up to the bar for a customized guided tasting or grab a bottle to-go. Our menu features small and sharable plates with locally sourced ingredients ideal for sharing and sipping, including our best-selling burger, charcuterie boards, and seasonal specials.

Join our wine club to enjoy complimentary tastings, receive 20% off all wine, & more exciting benefits!

Weekly events include Comedy Night on Wednesdays, Trivia on Thursdays, as well as live music Friday and Saturday nights. Plus, happy hour deals weekdays 4-6pm!

Top review

Kimberly

Dined on Jan 4, 2025

I love Pali! The wine is also so yummy and the flight is a great way to figure out what you want to drink or just try fun wines! The charcuterie board was really good too, a fun little appetizer. I’ve never had a bad experience here!

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Winter Wine Club Pick Up Party

Scuderie Italia

4.8

4.8 (356)

$30 and under

Italian

Pacific Beach

About the restaurant

Scuderie (scoo-de-ree-ye) is often referred to, in Italy, as a racing team garage. In the spirit of teamwork we welcome you to Scuderie Italia, our luxurious home providing you with impeccable service and simple, comforting Italian food and pizza.
Our true Napoletana pizza is proudly made by our vibrant pizzaiolo, Gimmy Piperku, who also heads the kitchen serving handmade pasta and other popular Italian dishes. Enjoy your meal on either one of our our covered patios or dine inside surrounded by beautiful photos of Italian engines and bright racing yellows. Nothing brings people together like good food and we have that for you and your crew!
Buon appetito~ Leonardo and Christine Landini

Top review

AntonellaVIP

Dined 1 day ago

Scuderie Italia is hands down one of the best pizzerias in San Diego! The food quality has drastically improved since Gimmy the pizzaiolo, took over. His pizzas are absolutely delicious! each bite is packed with flavor and made with the finest ingredients. We tried both the Roman and Neapolitan styles, and they were incredible. The Capricciosa, Cheese and Pepperoni, Margherita and Cotto e Funghi pizzas were all outstanding, with perfectly crisp crusts and delicious toppings. A special shout-out to my friend Caroline, the restaurant manager, who is the sweetest as usual :) Her excellent service truly added to the overall experience. And to top it off, the Creme Brûlée for dessert was simply the best we've ever had rich, smooth, and perfectly caramelized. Scuderie Italia never disappoints, and we can’t wait to return!

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4.7

4.7 (3110)

$31 to $50

Italian

North Park

About the restaurant

Neighborhood gem located in the heart of the Historic North Park District, adjoining Balboa Park and the world famous San Diego Zoo. Specializing in homestyle Italian with Gourmet Flair. Hand made Pastas, Award Winning Pizza and Voted Best of Restaurants by San Diego Magazine "Most Romantic". Listed as Top 25 Places to Eat in San Diego "Before You Die" by San Diego Union Tribune.

Make memorable celebrations on our beautiful patio, the perfect ambiance for any occasion. Remember to try our diners favorites, The Theodore's Fix Pizza and Baked Vodka Bolognese.

Look forward to serving you soon!

Top review

FranciscoVIP

Dined today

Exceptional service. Amazing salads and the cookie for desert is yummiiiiiii

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Rancho Santa Fe Bistro

4.7

4.7 (338)

$30 and under

American

Rancho Santa Fe

About the restaurant

Welcome to The Rancho Santa Fe Bistro located in the heart of the beautiful downtown Rancho Santa Fe, CA. Our unique bistro offers an amazing menu and a superior wine selection for any lunch or dinner occasion. For lunch walk-ins are welcome.
Owner / Chef Mozy Jahanguiri, who has run restaurants in Chicago, Minneapolis, and Dallas, has opened The Rancho Santa Fe Bistro in the space formerly occupied by The Pantry on Paseo Delicias. Mozy has prepared a menu that offers a wide variety of healthy and stylish fresh grill and more offering a balanced approach to food and wine along with bistro favorites including Oysters Rockefeller, traditional escargots, baked brie with grapes and honey and more for starters. Entrees to satisfy any taste of carefully sourced meats, seafood and much more. Be sure to check out Bistro's beautiful wood wine cellar, housing an extensive collection that spans an impressive 100 years (1897-1997) at a variety of price points.

Top review

GinaVIP

Dined on Dec 28, 2024

Love love love this place . No better place in rsf and live been to them all.

Takaramono sushi

4.7

4.7 (53)

$31 to $50

Sushi

La Jolla

About the restaurant

Welcome to Takaramono Sushi, where tradition meets innovation in every bite. Our intimate space in the heart of the city invites you to experience the artistry of sushi in its purest form. From classic rolls to daring creations, each dish is a treasure waiting to be discovered. Join us for a culinary journey that promises to delight your senses and leave you craving more.

Top review

ShellyVIP

Dined 3 days ago

Great people. Fabulous quality and presentation! Delicious

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