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    Casa Octavio

    3.3 (107 reviews)
    ModerateMexican, Bars, Desserts
    Open 11:00 am - 12:00 AM (Next day)

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    CASA OCTAVIO ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Casual
    Trendy
    Romantic
    Upscale

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    Recommended Reviews - Casa Octavio

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    Lorelei P.

    Close to the Padres stadium, decided to grab a bite to eat & libations. Had their happy hour menu. Carnitas tacos were tasty. Truffle fries weren't that great, but we still ate it. It was a warm day so we sat in the bar. Service was good and it wasn't too noisy at the bar.

    House Guacamole for $22? Fool me once...
    Jason B.

    In our new hood looking for a joint we haven't hit yet, and my wife remembered this place because we were at the Greek place next door recently. Ordered a beer and my bride had a margarita... waiter came back to tell me they don't carry that beer anymore. Service strike 1. Ordered the house guac... nice blend of avocado, onion, garlic, and cilantro. There was maybe a cup of guac, not enough to really share and certainly not worth $22. It was to be served with red salsa...we asked the server to which he responded "I'll check on it"(but never returned. Service strike 2. Our burrito came, and we asked for a second plate, and again for the red salsa. It was taking awhile to get a plate, and the hostess stopped by so we asked again. She began to argue that salsa was not included with the $22 guac(though it clearly is in the menu) Service strike 3... Bathroom was messy, service was horrible, and food was overpriced. We will not need to stop here again, and I recommend you don't either.

    Octavio Burger
    Yelen P.

    Very helpful server who recommended the two best items on the menu: Chicken Mole Enchiladas and Octavio Burger. You can't go wrong with the recommendation of the person who works there. The burger meat is cooked well done. Service - food came out quickly. Ambiance - sat inside but next to the patio door, so best of both worlds. Would definitely return.

    The happy hour is great!!! Cat and Christian are wonderful helpful fun the the best Loved my mezcal lime margarita Great place to be before any event at Petco stadium

    Garlic Parmesan fries
    Mariah G.

    Garlic Parmesan fries had way too much pepper, didn't even expect pepper to be put on the fries and got me in the back of the throat. The server was nice and we were drawn in by their happy hour menu. Ordered 4 for $20 Mexican candy shots which didn't really have that much alcohol. Loved that it was so close to the stadium and had great vibes before the game.

    Kent R.

    We decided to give Cafe Octavio a try while in San Diego, but unfortunately it a disappointing visit for us. We sat outside, which was perfectly pleasant, but the service left a lot to be desired. Our server, Cat, was polite enough but not very attentive, and midway through our meal she went on break. Maybe it's normal here, but it was a little strange watching her sit at a nearby table chatting with other staff while our drinks sat empty. The food was fine but nothing memorable. We were served chips with three different salsas, but there was no explanation of what they were, which would have been a nice touch. On top of that, several drink options were unavailable, no tea, no sparkling water, no Coke, and no espresso, which meant no espresso martinis. Overall, the whole experience felt underwhelming. Between the spotty service, limited drink selection, and average food, we left feeling like there are plenty of other places in San Diego we'd try before coming back here.

    Filet mignon nachos, but with regular asada steak meat.
    LeAndre A.

    Came to this place yesterday since I was going to the Dodgers vs Padres game. The place wasn't packed with people, and we had to wait like 10 minutes for someone to even acknowledge us standing by their "wait here to be seated" sign. Once we were seated, the waitress was nice. It took a while for my filet mignon nachos to come up. I've had filet mignon at a lot of places, and what they gave me was just regular carne asada steak meat, which was weird to me. The meat was overcooked, and I wasn't even asked, "How do you want your steak cooked?" Would I give this place another try? Probably not. Good thing I'm not from the area.

    Surf and Turf Tacos (4)

    I'd give no stars if possible. Came with my family for dinner and it was not that busy. The bathroom had sh*t all over the floor and not only that but our waitress forgot several items multiple times. The food was absolutely disgusting. I ordered the surf and turf tacos it was completely inedible, additionally the brisket nachos came out and the brisket was hard as a rock.

    La Jefa and Hibiscus Mint
    Jenna M.

    Solid spot for drinks. Their happy hour drinks are well worth the price for quality tequila. Compared to their competition in the neighborhood drinks above average food decent but also pricey. Vibes are great and they are dog friendly.

    Vibe
    Yael M.

    Casa Octavio is a hidden gem! It gives off speak easy vibes and has some tasty drinks along with great service. Alex, the bartender, was friendly and helpful with all his recommendations. I got to try their mezcal margarita and it was the perfect combination of smokey, sweet, and refreshing. I also ordered their nachos and added steak. It was a huge portion for $24 that's great for sharing! I just wish it came with more steak and cheese. Overall, I would highly recommend you check them out next time you're in Downtown and looking for tasty drinks and a good time.

    House margarita
    Jen N.

    Went for happy hour. We were greeted rather quickly. I ordered a house margarita, which was just ok. It was a little sweet and seemed like they served it in the ice they mixed it with rather than putting it in fresh ice. After drinks, we ordered a few items. It seemed like the kitchen was really struggling. Everyone's food seemed to take awhile. The carnitas had a lot of liquid, and no crispy edges. The nachos and caesar was ok. I also opted to try their PB tequila, but I wasn't a fan. I had higher hopes, but everything was just so-so to me. Our server was very nice, but seemed overwhelmed. I may stop in and try a different margarita, but the food we tried didn't make me want to try any bigger plates, as we just have too many great Mexican spots in SD.

    Melyna S.

    I really wish I could have great things to say about Casa Octavio. We had a large group of 13, and had made a reservation the day before. It seemed like they were only staffed for a random Tuesday, which is strange when you have a table of 13 coming and it's a Friday. Our waiter truly did the best he could, but it was just him. There was a manager sitting near our table on his laptop for a majority of the time. My perception when I realized it was a manager was that he didn't care. Even then, when it seemed like our waiter asked for help he just walked away. One bartender, one cook and one waiter with a manager that was just there to hangout and not jump in was sad. I was only able to order one drink the entire time I was there, it took so long for everything. To get our drinks, to get chips and salsa, to order our food...and seriously about 45 minutes before our food started to come out!! Again, group of 13 with a reservation made in advanced and just one cook who was also doing the best she could. We could see her from the window next to our table and it was disheartening because she was cooking for the entire place...remember I said it was a Friday?!? The chicken on the Mezcal Chicken Alfredo and Chicken Cesar Salad that was ordered was very dry. I lucked out though, the ribeye on my salad was so so delicious! Cooked perfectly, could cut it with my fork! The steak would be the only thing that would bring me back!

    Store front and the mean manager who said that "water and soap cost money, you need to buy a good first"
    Jauhn H.

    No. Not even on your most desperate night. Dont go. San Diego has tons of places that are tasty, timely and with good vibes. This place? Lacks all 3. NOT an asset to the downtown.

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    3 months ago

    Loved the mezcal lime margarita. Cat And Christian are the best. No hitter nachos were delicious.

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    1 year ago

    Tried wings and Cochinta Pibil sliders! They were delicious! My boyfriend and I recommended and will be coming back!

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    Page 1 of 3

    Ask the Community - Casa Octavio

    Do you have bottemless mimosas on Sunday brunch? Till what time?

    Hello Valeria, Thank you for considering Casa Octavio. We do have bottomless mimosas brunch from… 

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    Extraordinary Desserts

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    This place is properly named extraordinary dessert for a reason. They are known for their desserts…read moreboth in taste and in aesthetics. Desserts: 5/5 We got a blood orange scone and a strawberry danish. The scone was warm and delicious. The orange essence was well infused. The danish was crispy and creamy. Everything was so picturesque. Food: 3/5 Unfortunately, the food was not the best. We got the smoked salmon sandwich which was not very flavorful. The salmon was also slimy. The pesto spread was good though. It was creamy and the artisan bread it was served had great variety. Ambiance: 5/5 This place is such super cute. When you walk in, the desserts all look super appetizing. The seating areas are super cute and the floral decor are stunning. Service: 5/5 It is an order then sit down establishment. There is great attention to their dessert. I saw them heat up a knife just to cleanly cut the cake. The food service however did take some time to come out.

    The sugar bun was delicious! I might be a bigger fan of their pastries than their cake…read more The Shrang-la cake was decorated so beautifully! I loved the white chocolate shavings all around. Unfortunately the cake didn't hold well in my commute to Temecula (esp during the heat wave). The dairy ended up hurting our stomachs.

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    Pappalecco

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    4.3
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    A cute authentic Italian neighborhood cafe in Little Italy serving coffee, treats, gelato, and…read morepaninis. My friends and I were just looking to get a coffee in Little Italy, but when we walked in and saw all the delicious treats we had to try something else as well. I ordered a latte and neglected to tell them it was for here so I was given a paper cup, but they give real cups if you ask. The latte was good, and my friend bought a kitchen sink type cookie with chocolate, coconut, and macadamia nuts. It was warm and gooey good! Another friend tried the gelato and said it was very good. There are a few tables inside and tables out in front outside. We sat outside and enjoyed the beautiful San Diego weather. The decor and tables definitely gives you an old school Italian neighborhood vibe with Italian markets right next door. If I am in the neighborhood again, I would definitely come back here to try the gelato and/or a piece of an excellent looking lemon pie bar I spotted.

    If there is better gelato in San Diego, I have not tried it…read more They have more than gelato here but gelato is all we tried. It was later in the day so they were out of or running low on some flavors. Nevertheless, the two flavors we tried were incredibly rich and flavorful. A little goes a very long way. Parking is incredibly tough in Little Italy but it is worth it for gelato this good.

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    Solunto Ristorante & Bakery

    Solunto Ristorante & Bakery

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    Went on Memorial weekend and was surprised how quickly we got seated. Waitress was nice and warned…read moreus the kitchen was backed up but honestly we didn't wait long. We ordered a calamari (10/10), lasagna (10/10), Penne Quattro Formaggi (7/10) and Fusilli Genovese (11/10). The Formaggi was a little too rich for me... but my son loved it. We will definitely be back!!

    Came here for lunch on a Saturday mainly because my husband just really wanted some gelato…read moreafterwards Lunch-- 3 stars Gelato - 0 stars Service - 3 stars Price - 4 stars my husband got some sort of fettuccine alfredo with shrimp, I got a Italian sandwich, and my best friend got a woodfired margarita pizza. Pizza was good, but soggy in the middle. The pasta was good, no complaints there. The sandwich was very lacking in the meat department... It was basically a bread and arugula sandwich. Had very low expectations for the gelato to begin with seeing as the colors were extremely unnatural and the way it was heaped was a clear indication to me that it is not legitimate gelato and unfortunately, I was proven very right. I got the strawberry so that my toddler could have a few few bites and it was so unnatural and weird tasting that she didn't even want any... And if that doesn't say something! My husband got the coffee flavor and he literally took three bites and threw it away as well. I will say, though, on the food front, the prices are reasonable here all things considered, but maybe stick with pasta... based on everything As a whole though, you can likely get a much more legitimate Italian meal somewhere else in the area, but it will probably cost you more.

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    Nonna + Zucchero

    Nonna + Zucchero

    4.1
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    1.2 mi
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    Our family dinner at Nonna's was great! Was trying to decide which place to go in Little Italy on a…read moreSaturday night with kids and no reservations without feeling under dressed. So we decided on Nonna's for their variety of pastas and pizza. The evening was packed with people up and down the streets. However, when we arrived at Nonna's we only had to wait no more than a couple of minutes before being seated. We thought most italian places would provide some sort of complimentary bread, but this place did not. We ended up ordering the Carbonara, Fusilli Alla Vodka, Pappardelle, and Salsiccia pizza. Each were fantastic, but the family really enjoyed the Fusilli and the Pappardelle the most! The short rib meat was extremely tender and flavorful. Portions were a little smaller than expected, but it was enough to feed each of us with a couple slices of pizza to spare. Ambiance was nice and the staff was great. A drink we ordered was forgotten, but it's understandable since it was quite busy. Overall, great experience and glad we ended up at Nonna's even though it wasn't part of the batch of recommendations provided online. (Sorry forgot to take photos as we were so hungry and didn't realize it until after we ate!)

    Food: - fungi pasta: 7.5/10, strong mushroom flavor…read more - carbonara: 5.7/10, too much sauce and noodles were overcooked - lemon meringue cheesecake + Sicilian cannoli: super authentic cannoli, cheesecake was good but nothing special Service: - hostess was not friendly - they ran out of white peach Italian soda but instead of asking what other flavor we would prefer, they just brought out a vanilla Italian soda - ordering took forever but once our food was in, it came out in less than 10 min Ambiance: - outdoor seating Skip Barbusa (sister restaurant) and come here instead, at least there is better dessert

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    Nibble Chocolate

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    4.6
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    Stumbled upon Nibble Chocolate and I'm so glad I did. Ambience is sweet and cozy. It's a cute…read morelittle shop that feels like a hidden gem, especially if you're someone who appreciates good quality chocolate. They have a great variety to choose from, whether you're into milk chocolate, dark chocolate, or even non dairy options. I also love that they offer chocolate drinks and coffee, so it's easy to turn a quick stop into a little treat moment. I tried the peanut butter dates and they were so good. Smooth, rich, and just the right size when you want something sweet without going overboard. I also had a dark chocolate truffle and that one was just as good. You can really taste the quality. Customer service was a highlight. The guy helping me was super personable, gave great suggestions for drinks, and was genuinely kind, which always makes the experience better. Honestly, I'm just happy I found a chocolate spot within walking distance. Definitely worth stopping by if you're craving something sweet but still want it to feel a little elevated.

    I don't usually seek out vegan products, but Nibble chocolate is a Bean to bar chocolate shop in…read morelittle Italy in San Diego with single origin chocolates. I sampled chocolate from Peru, Madagascar, and Kenya, and they all had unique fruity characteristics. Because they're vegan, so they use oat milk for their chocolate instead of dairy. My wife and I also wanted some drinks while we were here. I had a hot chocolate. My wife had hers with espresso shots. Good espresso in pure chocolate will never not be good. They are family owned and they only add chocolate, sugar, and oat milk to make their bars. Overall, this was a fun place to check out at Little Italy, and they also had a stall at the Farmer's Market.

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    Bobboi Natural Gelato

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    We stopped by this little gelato shop in Little Italy after seeing all the great reviews, and it…read moreabsolutely lived up to the hype. We got lucky and arrived just before the rush. There was hardly anyone in line when we walked in, but by the time we got our gelato and turned around, the line was out the door! I travel to Italy regularly for work, so I've had my fair share of authentic gelato. I have to say, the quality and flavors here were outstanding. Rich, creamy, and absolutely delicious. What made the experience even better was the staff. One of the employees was incredibly friendly, energetic, and genuinely passionate about the gelato. He encouraged us to sample flavors, asked what kinds of flavors we enjoyed, and made thoughtful recommendations based on our preferences. It felt like talking with a wine sommelier--someone who truly understood flavor and wanted us to find the perfect match. You could tell he genuinely loved his job, and that enthusiasm made the whole experience even more memorable. We took our gelato outside, sat at one of the sidewalk tables, and spent the evening people-watching. It was the perfect way to end a beautiful San Diego night. The shop itself is casual, with just a few seats inside and several tables outside. It's a great stop whether you're on a date, out with friends, or enjoying a family night in Little Italy. Definitely a five-star experience. I'll be back the next time I'm in San Diego.

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    Casa Octavio - mexican - Updated August 2026

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