We came here to order drinks before a party. Super laid back and wasn't busy at all. There were lot of seats in the loft and there was a fire place if you're into the cozy feeling. We wanted the full bar experience, so we took a couple seats at the cool ice bar. The bartender was really attentive to us and even made suggestions as to what drinks to get. The menu is pretty extensive, but what I was craving was something on the bubbly side. I ordered the Raspberry and Champagne Mojito and was it delicious! I would have ordered another one, but the first one I had was a creeper. Perhaps I shouldn't have drank it so fast?! Not busy at all, and I'm thinking that no one really knows about this hidden gem! read more

Dussini's Loft Bar - Sports Bars Near Me - San Diego, California

Not quite a fan yet, but this is a chill place to hang out in the Gas Lamp Quarter in San Diego. Located in the upstairs of Old Spaghetti Factory. Happy Hour starts at 4:30PM and there's $1 off draft beer and 1/2 off appetizers. Keep an eye out on your tab because they forgot to take $1 off my beer until I mentioned it being happy hour. The atmosphere is dark, way darker then the Old Spaghetti Factory counterpart. It does make this a good spot for intimate conversation over some drinks though. Leline's Sunset Wheat - 3/5 - described as a citrus fruitiness with a crisp finish - you could almost taste blueberries on the first initial sips - my bartender promised that it would be even better than Blue Moon, it was pretty close! Italian Soda (Blackberry) - 4/5 - my bartender also promised that it was better than the raspberry, and this time he was right - for $3.99 you get the soda and a souvenir glass (be sure to ask for a new one to take home so it's not sticky icky :) Btw - there are also TVs with sports on, but no way you can hear the sound :) read more

Dussini's Loft Bar - Sports Bars Near Me - San Diego, California

This bar is sooo beautiful and intimate yet perfect for large groups. You have to go through the old spaghetti factory to get to it and head up the stairs. The booths are nice and comfy and the bar is huge. They have a beautiful gas fireplace and a glass wine cellar. The bar is dimly lit with tea candles on the tables it has very laid back yet romantic feel to it. We arrived really late at night just looking for a nibble. They have a short food menu consisting of apps served tapas style and desserts. Our server was really helpful and gave us the run down on the menu and helped us decide. We settled on two items the fried zucchini and moroccan chicken brochettes. The fried zucchini was coated in italian bread crumbs served hot and crispy but not oily at all with a romano cheese and garlic aioli sauce. The moroccan chicken brochettes with grilled perfectly served with a tangy honey lime vinegarette. For dessert we got the Mud Pie which is a mocha almond fudge ice cream cake. Sooo yummy a perfect ending our late night meal. Plus since we came for happy hour 10:30pm - close everything was 50% off! Such a steal!! They also have a happy hour 4:30-6:30pm. Overall beautiful intimate restaurant with great service! A definite must for their happy hour specials!! read more

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Lousy bar service, but the restaurant itself made up for it. We happened to be in town over the weekend so we went on Saturday night and after a long wait in the bar where we were repeatedly ignored and ultimately never served.... we finally got seated. Perhaps the bar itself is good but the table service in the bar was awful. Never again. That being said, once we got seated we were well taken care of. They were very helpful on all accounts... from our request for a quieter table to my friends numerous and detailed food allergy accomodations to help with driving directions... I had the bouillabaise, which is one of my favorite dishes and therefore I am very picky about it. This was chock full of fresh, delicious seafood and I couldn't be happier. The broth was minimal, which was unfortunate because it was delicious, but it didn't take away from the dish. It was very hearty. I also had the grilled farmers market vegetables and they were simple, fresh and wonderful. Squash, yellow wax beans, green beans, onions, etc.. fantastic. My friend had the NY Steak which wasn't as flavorful as some that we have had, but it was certainly not terrible... the herb french fries were very good, though. Also the J Brut Sparkling is one of the best deals on the menu at $53. They have a couple of Seasmoke Pinots that area also delicious.. and plenty of other goodies. Albeit a bit overpriced. I would not hesitate to go here again.. it was great on all accounts. read more

Dussini's This place is way upscale and very nice. The décor is cool and I really liked the atmosphere. The upstairs bar and pool lounge is a nice touch and the main dining room is downstairs. I stayed upstairs where it was comfortable. The bar had a real nice touch it had a like a mini ice rink that went all the way around the bar. It was about 6 inches wide and perfect for setting your drink on it and keeping it ice cold. I did not want a full on dinner but I was hungry. I went with the highly recommended lobster macaroni and cheese, (not on the menu) it was delicious! It was like a brick and nice and dry just the way I like it. I highly recommend this place. Expect to drop a few coins at this place because it is not cheap but you get what you pay for and in this case it was worth every penny. read more

It sucks when you have to give a place that you like a below average review..... We pop into this bar alot, because we love the Old Spaghetti Factory. It's located above the restaurant , but we've been known to come in just for the coctails. My favorite drink is the Rasberry Champagne Mojito. It comes in a curved glass and is just delicious. The reason for the bad review today was completely service related. We had a 30-45 minute wait downstairs, so we figured it would be plenty of time to grab a drink and appetizer. We found seats at the bar and sat down. After about 5 minutes, one of the other customers informed us that the bartender was on a break. Huh??? It's Friday night! We waited another 5 minutes or so for her to return. By now there were almost a dozen people waiting to place orders. She took the first drink order and proceeded to chat it up with the customer. It took another 10-15 minutes for her to make it around to us, with no apology or concern for how long we'd been waiting. Of course we ended up taking "just served" drink and appetizer down to our table. Come on Dussini, you're better than that!! read more

Dussini's Loft Bar - Ice bar to keep my Raspberry Champagne Mojito cold!! Yum!!! - Sports Bars Near Me - San Diego, California

While waiting for a table at Old Spaghetti Factory, head up to Dussini's Loft Bar on the 3rd floor and grab a cocktail. Lot's of chairs and tables to sit on and it could be a great meeting place for friends. I sat down in front of the fireplace and was mesmerized by the flames. Awww... so relaxing. I loved the ice that wraps around the bar counter that keeps your beer or cocktail cold. Great idea... read more

Must order drink (duh) to get the happy hour food deal. Happy hour=4:30-6:30 & 10:30-close M-F and ALL DAY SUN! Tapas 50% read more

We were here for drinks and appetizers. Beer selections were acceptable (around 8 or 10 on taps), and reasonably priced. I got a Ballast Point Yellowtail and a Stone IPA for around $5 each. We tried the Toasted Cheese Ravioli and Fried Calamari. Both were breaded and deep fried. I didn't like them because the breading was too thick. Great ambiance and location though. Comfy chairs near the fireplace, try to sit there if you can! read more

It's a nice, loungey place located above the Old Spaghetti Factory. Kinda funny walking up the stairs to get to the Loft b/c all of us laughed and said 'wow, who wants a big bowl of spaghetti rt now!!". The entire place smelled awesome ! There were lots of pool tables and the bar area is fantastic. The actual bar has this one unique feature of an ice river - it's this long narrow 'ice river' where you can set your drinks on so that it stays cold when you sit at the bar and have a drink! It's hard to really describe but my friend and i sat there for some time just touching the ice. Kevin, the bartender, was super cool and made great strong drinks. For 2 cocktails, it was about $14. Didn't have a chance to try the food but will for sure be back to. I'm not sure if the loft gets packed as it was pretty quiet and empty on the Thurs night that we were there. But really a cool, laid back bar. read more

For a more laid back, intimate, quieter Gaslamp experience. You can sit by the fireplace in big cozy chairs and not have to scream to have a conversation. Prices are affordable. Tried the Strawberry Italian soda which was very good and parked itself on the frozen ice strip that wraps the top of the bar to keep your drink chilled. Was served by Bartender Ryan who was a doll. Than shared an order of calamari which was satisfying. Nice place to take a date for a quality night out in a cozy, fireplace lit dinner, drink or chat. Ambiance is for the more mature crowd. A + read more

Dussini's Loft Bar - Calamari & Italian soda - Sports Bars Near Me - San Diego, California

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While waiting for a table at Old Spaghetti Factory, I explored upstairs, and was delighted with what I'd found. First of all, an available table (which was first-come, first-served seating), while the wait was set at an hour downstairs! Next, I liked the cool and fun vibe, especially within Old Spaghetti Factory. The staff was pleasant, although visibly stressed with how busy it was. One would think they'd have been better staffed, knowing that it was a weekend full of events: marathon, graduation, and prom. Service was very slow (2 stars). Food was typical, but hit-the-spot tasty --- more enjoyable, given the bar's atmosphere. Not my first choice for a bar in the Gaslamp area, but if dining at Old Spaghetti Factory, I'd return upstairs, again. read more

Very Nice, very Nice! How much? Ok, so by the time we arrived it was 1am and we were twwwiiissstteedd!!! However, I do remember looking around like "whhoooaaa this place is niiiccceeee." So fresh and so clean clean. We didn't eat here... we drank while waiting for a pool table, which never opened up... well some waited for the pool table and others waited for the ladies. Nice place, nice drinks, nice hostess from North Beach, nice pool tables, nice ladies.. how much? ALL I KNOW IS THAT I HATE YELP!!! It's like getting into advertisement and not being able to look at an ad the same... Same goes for visiting new places.. all you think about is, "hmm what to use in my review?" I was like hmmm... great spot to bring a lady friend and chill by the fireplace while enjoying a nice glass of wine. Though there is a secret I can not reveal. All I know is that it is true. Anyways, Dussini..... I like I like... sexy time! read more

Well-kept little secret, or at least that's the way *I* feel everytime I am here. Dark, loungy, comfy. Great place to go if you actually want to talk with your friends and not yell over people. There is a fireplace! And pool tables that were actually available and you didn't have to wait 2 hours for, plenty of room everywhere and seats at the AWESOME u-shaped bar with the signature ice strip keeping your drinks cold. The alcohol collection is arranged in a very aesthetically pleasing way with lights that make it look like a little rainbow. It was all very..... aaaahhhhhh.... :) Not your typical gaslamp spot, and one of my favorites. read more

Keep in mind...I wasn't famished when I GOT to this place. But I was by the time I left. Already not such a ringing endorsement for an eatery. I get in and walk up to the bar. I had no idea they had some weird skating rink thing going on with their bar setup. I just know that there was nowhere to sit that didn't have an icy puddle of water. I mopped up a spot with a cocktail napkin and sat down. After a quick glance through was was a really unimpressive and disappointing menu I opted to stay because it was hot as hell outside, I was starting to get really hungry, and I was sick of looking for somewhere to eat. I order a seafood salad. No lie. 40 minutes passed. For a salad. At lunch. And it wasn't crowded. Not even a little crowded. Finally the bartender comes up to me with a ceaser salad. That's not what I ordered. (BTW, 40 minutes for a CEASER salad?! Really? Shit, the salad I ordered had some cooked seafood in it. But ceasar salad should take, like, 5 minutes to prep. It had lettuce, dressing, shredded cheese and croutons. It's not a complicated set-up) She takes the salad away. I expect that because she put in the wrong order my salad will be expedited. People all around me get their food. Other people get salads. People who came in LONG after I did are now halfway through their meals. Again: I ordered a salad. Now I'm REALLY hungry. And when I'm hungry I'm crabby. It had already been a long and hot day. I call my friend to complain. "How long has it been?" he asked. I check my phone. Well over an hour. I flag down another waitress and ask her what the deal is "Oh, yeah, we put your salad in. It should be out soon." Yeah, but no. So I left. An hour and twenty minutes after I had entered. An hour and 15 minutes after I ordered a freakin' salad, and 35 minutes after I RE-ordered the same salad. NOT acceptable. Not one little bit. read more

I was telling my buddies about this awesome pool table bar that nobody knew about, so we go last night to play. I head upstairs, and lo and behold, THE POOL TABLES ARE GONE! WTF is going on Mr. Dussini? I'm hoping they are doing some kind of remodel or whatever, but now there is no reason to go here. Made me look like a jerk to my coworkers. Had to go to sleezy ass Jolt n' Joes. I repeat, THERE ARE NO POOL TABLES HERE ANYMORE! Why?! read more

Yep, hmmm, hmm, you read that right, it says 3 STARS. Does it deserve 5? Yeah. Maybe. Probably. It was pretty amazing the first 6 times I went in (great bar, great pool, awesome fireplace). But then a cousin of mine (who happens to visit SD all the time because he is a pilot, and just happens to bring tons of other airline colleagues to wherever he and I visit) was in town and I talked this place up and down and dragged him and his friends on over. Did it measure up? That night, of course not. I ordered the champagne mojito and never got it... asked the waitress why, she didn't know... cousin and his friends got their SECOND ROUND, and I still never got my mojito. Went up to the bar my damn self to ask the azzhole bartender what the problem was... very nicely, of course :) He literally informed me that he had deemed my mojito TOO HARD TO MAKE (note to bartender- it's on the f'ing menu) and therefore had completely passed on making me any drink at all. Period. And he's telling this to someone who would have been happy to get a plain champagne! My very frank cousin joined me at the bar and told the guy he should be nice to people who live one block away since they will most likely be the ones frequenting the bar often and will also be the ones bringing other customers in. (Sidenote: He lives in Chicago and was laughing at the idiocy of someone who did not cultivate a neighbor in what is a very competitive market... after all, HE understands that when you live in a big city, it's not like there's not a million other places to go). Our bartender (who seemed to be on drugs, he was extremely jittery and high strung) just laughed manically and shrugged us off. Oh yeah, and HE NEVER MADE ME MY DRINK!!!!!! Ugh, after writing this review, I've decided to give this dump a 2 star rating. You can screw up in front of me, but screw up in front of me after I find about 2,084,023,984,928,743,298 better places to have a cocktail, and after recommending you to out-of-towners? Not so much. read more

Impressive layout. I'm surprised not to be able to find better pictures of the decor and design online, it's well done. There were 3 bars and hosts of extremely boring and standard self-proclaimed stars, along with a few really nice people. The design is really the reason to come see this place, the revolving dividers allow the bar to set different layouts. The beer selection is pretty good, and it's a nice place to kick back with a group of friends, while it seems a bit like "a place to be seen" I wouldn't pick this as a singles destination. Worth the visit. -1 star for last call at 1:15am. 1:15???? seriously? read more

Far from mediterranean. Modge podge actually comes to mind so pinpointing one cooking style might not have been their best move. The menu's were amusing. We first thought they resembled the book of the dead. After handling them a few minutes there was this strong smell of duracell batteries that permeated our area. I smelled my hands and they smelled like copper pennies. They were so heavy that every time one of us finished reading we'd stack one on top of the other with a huge thud that shook the table. The service was blatantly inexperienced. The server that brought our water glasses scared the shit out of us when we watched as the tray swayed left and then right and tipped right toward the table. We all put our arms out to catch it. Our main server didn't take our drink orders for a good 30 minutes and no bread was served until after we ordered our food nearly 2 hours after we were seated! The boy and I shared the spring salad and paella. The salad was passable but nothing spectacular and the paella was lacking in taste. I had the seafood out of it and they were both very good(*note... how can you fuck up shrimp and mussels?) . The boy had the chicken and linguica sausage. He loved them both and I will agree with him on the chicken but the sausage was lacking in every way. Linguica sausage typically tastes of garlic and cinnamon with a hint of cumin. In this case these sausages tasted like 99 cent store-bought kack. Ok...back to the water server...when he came back to clear our dishes the same clumsy inexperience almost took out a few at our table. Now I've seen some servers grab 5 plates at once, stacking them precariously on top of each other and had no fear that this person would come crashing down on top of a customer. In this place crashes, clatters and clangs were heard round the clock. It's like a fools experiment in fine dining. My complaints were echoed by most at my table, except for the birthday boy(sloshed) and the two who had the lobster mac n cheese(the lobster looked like a penis). Oh...the "cheesecake" for the birthday boy was light and airy. Um...cheesecake should be dense. And not in the way your waitstaff perform. I won't go back here. This venue has no business charging so much for what should be prompt, competent and attentive service, top notch cuisine and the vision to know the difference. read more

Dussini's Loft Bar - Sports Bars Near Me - San Diego, California

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Lunch! Do you hear me? I said lunch! Go get the hamburger. Really. And the fries. Or get some great dish that is a 1/2 and 1/2 special. I have had great dinners here but the lunches are a well kept secret and well worth going to. They are not slow and the food is fantastic! Go for lunch and let me know what you think. EDIT: WE JUST WENT FOR DINNER ON 6/3/08 AND DISCOVERED THEY ARE NOT OPEN FOR LUNCH ANY LONGER.....BUT DINNER WAS STILL GREAT. read more

I LOATHE going downtown but my cousin was celebrating his birthday here so...Dussini's it is! I read the reviews on here before going and they are pretty mixed. My opinion: this place ain't half bad. It is super huge which is good for crowds. It is not cheap, especially for a girl like me who digs dive bars but the bar is fully stocked and I found the bartenders to be pretty attentive and nice. I did not try the food but heard it was not that good and definitely not worth what they are charging. I think the size and atmosphere also lends to a pretty eclectic mix of people (as eclectic as you can get downtown) which is nice to see. So, I had fun. I would go again. I wasn't my usual downtown-uncomfortable. Other notes: about 5-6 pool tables I think, not to hard to find a seat, place is right next to two main parking garages although it's far down enough on 5th that I actually found street parking (don't get your hopes up) and they really need to get rid of that f-ing tree on the stairwell. I was drunk enough that once I swiveled around that bend of the stairs I got confused and thought I had reached a dead end. What is that doing there! read more

This place was awesome. I haven't been to a bar downtown that fits my personality better. I like novel touches and cushy furniture. The coolst novel touch was the ice bar... keeps drinks cool... and the hottest touch was the modern ireplace. We had about 12-15 people there to celebrate my good friend Lisas bday and it felt like we had the place to ourselves! I could hear everyone and communicated wthout shouting. Unheard of downtown bar quality. The appetizers were tasty and the drinks were interesting and tasty enough. I tasted truffle fries, lobster mac and cheese and fried ravioli. I shared with friends and stil got full. I ant to go back :) sooner rather than later read more

If I had a wife and/or girlfriend...I would re-name her to Dussini's Loft Bar.... Sorry future wife/girlfriend...rules are rules.. If I had a daughter...I would name her Ma. Dussini C. Dark..bar..lounge...pool tables...flat screen tables...and spaghetti downstairs. Being a single dude in SD...this is all you need!!! Reasonably priced drinks...service is great, they make sure that you are well taken care of... It's a bar/lounge with really cool chairs, and very soothing music. The fireplace helps with the mood too. If you sit at the bar, the bar itself has this self generating ice thingee that keeps your drink cold...super plus. I would probably celebrate my b-day in this place....definitely coming back for more. read more

There's no question that Dussini's refurbishing of the Old Spaghetti Factory is beautiful, as it needed to be to make you erase any trace of that shithole from your mind while you're eating. (The Old Spaghetti Factory was so bad it almost makes me wish it were still around now that I'm on Yelp). So the question was: Is this just another Downtown pretty face, or does it have some substance? Well, we went with 10 people and every appetizer, main dish, and bottle of wine was outstanding. I had the risotto special, which had gorgonzola and mushrooms and was topped with a healthy portion of duck. It was awesome. Two of our crowd had the Lobster Mac and Cheese, which was also fantastic and imaginative. The desserts were also outstanding and I wish I could describe them but I'm really too drunk and too full now to do so. The evening was also made particularly nice by our waitress, who was genuinely sweet and accommodating, and made sure we were taken care of throughout the evening. We had planned to go to the bar upstairs, which looked really cool, but we had all consumed so much, and had such a great time downstairs that we never made it that far..... But trust me, we will ... read more

Yah, it's really too bad about the pool tables no longer being there (to re-emphasize, the pool tables are completely gone. None. Not even one). Dussini's never been a *fantastic* spot, but it was one of the only places downtown where you could play pool, and still have a nice drink in a casual, yet slightly classy loft. It had a nice vibe and a decent crowd. Walked up there today to check it out, and the whole section where the pool tables used to be is now closed off with a big ugly wall. It looks like empty overflow for the restaurant below, or maybe for larger groups (at worst, it looks like a storage space). Either way, it makes the loft look small, closed off, and ugly, quite frankly. Not sure why they got rid of the pool tables. Maybe some d-bags were causing trouble, or who knows. But now that the tables are gone, the place feels closed and dark. Whoever did that kinda blew it. Maybe I'll go in now and then for a drink, but they need to rethink that spot. (And there's that weird spaghetti smell from below that can be a little overpowering at first. You easily get over it, but I wonder if they can do something about that. Probably not, but there you have it. I like the fireplace though :) read more

I'm all about the vibe when I go out. This place has it. I haven't eaten in the dining room, only in the upstairs loung where It's a bit more casual and cozy. I like the food. I was really happy with the scallops and I also like their lamb chops. The food is fresh and tasty. But so are a lot of places downtown. I go here for 2 reasons....the martinis and the martinis. Oh yeah and now that I've read the other reviews and found out about the corking fees, I will add that as a 3rd reason. read more

note: I only ate upstairs, no 3 course meal for me First of all, I love the way this place looks. The downstairs is industrial looking in a way with exposed beams and metal everywhere, yet it still feels cozy. Very cool. The bar upstairs feels more like a lounge. With pool tables and flat screens on the wall it was not a bad place to drink and eat with some friends. Happy hour has 3 burger sliders that were very good. Good chuck of meat with onions inside with a slight spicy kick. Great shoestring fries too. Our waitress was a bit slow but it was busy inside so I'm going to give them the benefit of the doubt. I would go here again. read more

Really good Calamari: nicely breaded, tentacles and tasty, +1. My 65 year old dad enjoyed going out and said his Paella was like some he had in Spain, +1. Nice looking place in a good location, +1. Having an overall pleasant experience with the fam and SO, +1. read more

Dussini's is my "other" favorite bar in San Diego. to find it, go inside of Old Spaghetti Factory (strange, right?) and head straight up the stairs. Up there you will find a beautiful, mellow lounge and bar. There are pool tables for those who like playing pool, but my friends and I usually head straight for the fireplace...especially on colder nights. It's great to mellow out next to the fireplace with a few drinks and just hang out. It's never so loud or crowded here that we can't find a place to sit down and talk with our friends and actually HEAR them. I love it! They have some food you can order at the bar too. I don't usually eat french fries but the ones here are really good. read more

Ok here's the deal... I was supposed to meet my girlfriends at Martini Ranch and I was completely lost. After walking endlessly up and down 5th avenue on the HOTTEST summer Saturday night ever (Sep.1), I ended up at Dussini's Mediterranean Bistro (http://www.dussini.com/). Looking to quench my appetite for my usual "going out" apple-tini, I found myself admiring the new-look that now stands over the "Old Spaghetti Factory". Thinking I was in another "foo-foo & snotty upper class" restaurant, I was greeted at the door by a nice hostess who informed me of the upstairs bar. Walking up the stairs I was amazed at the contemporary flame decor, the wine gallery, and the overall elegant makeover. Realizing that I was perspiring more than I should have, the cool AC was more than welcome at first, however after cooling down I could feel myself begin to feel a bit "nipply". The outside temperature definitely warranted the restaraunts action to crank up the AC. Any how, as I ordered my apple-tini at the U-shaped bar (which was well-stocked), the sounds of pool sticks striking cue balls caught my attention to a decent size open billards room that held the numerous pool tables. Several plasma televisions decorated the walls showing different college football games and of course the Padres game. After admiring the place for a few minutes I realized this was definitely a place I can hang out at with the girls because the sports enthusiast in me was definitely enjoying the amenities. Typical sports bars wreak of beer, deep fried foods, and touchy-feely guys who always do more than they should to spark a friendly conversation with a female sports fan. However, Dussini's definitely provides a much classier sports fan atmosphere that suited my taste. The appetizer menu looked so-so however I did notice some sliders that looked tempting, but other than that... feeling the mood, I changed my apple-tini to a ice cold pint of Guiness (Hey it was on the house thanks to the friendly gentleman next to me...and yes Irish girls have their preferences in a good dark beer). As a USC alumni, I can hold my ground as a TRUE DIE-HARD Trojan football fan. I recommend Dussini's as a nice hangout bar with friends for a night of drinks before you hit the clubs. That particular evening Dussini definitely won me over and thanks to the "heat", I now have found my new all-day Saturday college football lounge. So, if you ever see a blonde bombshell donning a USC Trojans jersey; come by & say hi and you can either root with me or stay out of my way... because I will be supporting the mighty men of Troy to another CHAMPIONSHIP! I just realized this really was more of a story-telling event rather than a review but oh well, no one will read this anyway. Except you.... Hahaha. read more

I was really surprised with how nice Dussini is. It's in the location of the Old Spaghetti Factory and when I went with a friend who used to work at the old spag, he told me he couldn't believe how beautifully redone Dussini was. Apparently, the place that used to be some grungy old storage room is now a really cool lounge with comfy arm chairs, pub table, a large bar and brand new pool tables. The place is super nice and we felt underdressed when we went after a baseball game, but oh well. The beer was good and cheap and the appetizers were delicious. Nothing like a $4 Fat Tire and some fresh bruschetta. read more

Dussini. How in the world have I not heard of this place, after roaming the streets of Gaslamp for several years? From what I was told, this place used to be the Old Spaghetti Factory before becoming the Dussini we now know. Unfortunately I did not have the honors to try their gourmet dinner selections, so my review only pertains to the lounge/bar upstairs. Upon entrance, the place is darkly lit and enticing as ever. The ambience is elegant and mellow, and it seems to attract and unite people of various cultures, ages, and interests. The bartendar at the bar is warm, friendly, and knowledgeable with our selections of drinks and quick bites. I chose the Cubano sandwiches (after several rounds of mojitos, I think that's what they were called...), which were grilled sandwiches with ham, cheese, and other goodies (sorry, poor memory working here). Their mojitos are to die for--whether you prefer raspberry or their twist of sassy strawberry. Either one is sassilicious to the lips and will make you long for more. We struck up a conversation with the waiter who crooned with me to Death Cab's "I Will Follow You into the Dark". We learned that he was an out-of-state import, living the high life in California. Turns out he knew some of the folks in my friend's circle. I know, small world. I do have to make one comment--whoever was in charge of the music selection that night rocked my socks off! They played a variety of alternative and pop music, instead of the usual I-screwed-your-woman-now-I-run-for-my-life songs we hear on the radio. (Or it may be that I have questionable tastes in the radio channels I listen to... Hmm.) Finally, a lounge that plays good music without going to the extremes. They have about 4-6 pool tables, I believe. We played several rounds before I admitted to being utterly defeated. Perhaps we had gone on a chill night so only two tables were occupied, which meant that mobility was rather easy... and also that we did not have to worry about jabbing someone accidentally behind our back. Reading others' reviews made me realize that I definitely need to come back to try their meals. Or maybe even the "Leinenkugel" that our fellow Yelper Allison H. spoke so fondly of. Surely, I await for my return now that I have met Dussini. read more

I went here for drinks after dinner and have probably been here four times before this past year. I don't think I've seen both levels of this place packed with customers (unless it was right after a home game at Petco Park). It's in the same city block as the Hard Rock Hotel and walking distance from the Convention Center, so who knows why this place feels like a ghost town to me at times. The food is okay, they have a decent happy hour menu, I think a majority of their appetizers are 50% percent off. I've eaten here for dinner a few times, but it was okay. Food was a bit on the salty side and the service can be so slooooow. Expect to pay around $10 bucks for a martini (which they have a lot of selections of on their menu). If you go to Dussini's, I suggest you go if you want to meet friends for drinks or shoot some pool. The decor and ambiance of this place is nice and intimate (lighting wise), but they do need to add something...a DJ that plays good dance beats, perhaps? They have more than enough floor space to have a dance floor, so I'd suggest they consider getting a permit for that and add a bar downstairs to welcome all the folks that got turned away at the Hard Rock for not looking cool enough to hang out at the Moonstone Lounge or Sweetwater Saloon. read more

I haven't eaten the food yet, but this place is really cool. The drinks were good, and the servers were friendly. There was a pool table open when we got there, which is always a good thing. Basically, you can play pool in a nice place without having to have that "fancy" atmosphere, because it's separate up in the loft from the rest of the restaurant downstairs. And, yes, there is an ice rail around the bar to keep the drinks cold, and that thing is pretty damn cool. Go check it out, it's a good time, and it's got a really convenient location if you're already in the gaslamp. Update: The servers are really patient and polite. Even when it's really busy, they are attentive, and the manager I spoke with was super friendly and understanding. Also, they have a Mango Martini that should not be skipped and a White Chocolate Mojito that I didn't get to try but will be back for. read more

In summary, if you're hungry don't go upstairs (from the Spaghetti Factory) thinking you'll get faster service/food just because your'e sitting down... We went up here thinking we could get faster service compared to waiting for a table at the spaghetti factory downstairs. Boy were we wrong. We waited 15 minutes to even be greeted by someone. When we did, we had to ask twice to get the drinks we wanted. Then came time to order. This was another challenge finding someone to take our order. We were 2 adults and 3 children 8-12 years old so it wouldn't have been hard to notice us. Finally it took the manager's intervention with me personally asking for him at the bar, to get some service. The food was good (spaghetti factory food) but the service was horrendous. I always tip 20% as a minimum. I actually didn't leave a tip, I almost shocked myself. However my buddy left a tip, I don't know how much. read more

Dussini is an upscale and intimate restaurant with a distinctive menu that is located at the site of The Old Spaghetti Factory Downtown. Dussini has an exciting selection of Mediterranean dishes, including my favorite...the Lobster Macaroni entree. SOOOOOOO Good. Dussini also have a great loft bar and billards area perfect for dining, watching a sporting game on their plasma TV's, or shooting a game of pool. Its an upscale place up there to say the least. And the 3-story wine room is always a conversation piece for wine drinkers. read more

Ok, I can only review the upstairs (lounge area) and the drinks since I didn't have a meal when I went here. The upstairs is really nice and spacious. There are tables, nice comfy chairs, and there's even a fireplace where you and a hot date could sit and enjoy the fire. =) The drinks are a bit strong and aren't too pricey. $8 for a grey goose/cranberry. Hey I'm used to $12-$16 drinks in NYC - so really, that's not too shabby. It wasn't too crowded when I went and it was nice and chill. However, I can see it being crowded on the weekend. Chill place, check it out along with the other places in Downtown S.D. read more

If I have to come downtown, this is one place I won't mind coming to. The dark, sexy atmosphere with long, low fireplaces, cozy booths and mismatched armchairs sets the right mood to start or end any evening. Our group ordered a pina colada, a hot & dirty martini and a can (yes, a can) of champagne and all of the drinks were excellent. There are plenty of pool tables for those less loungingly-inclined. We didn't try any food because they were out of several of the more appealing looking appetizers, but I look forward to sampling them soon. read more

After living downtown for almost a year and looking at the coupon for Dussini's in the Community Magazine for that same period of time, my husband and I finally decided to give it a go. We were doing our farewell downtown happy hour, hitting up all our favorite spots, Donovan's, J-Six, Currant so we slipped into Dussini's for a quick drink and app. Their happy hour goes on from 4-6:30 which is a plus because most others are over at 6. When we first walked in, we didn't know where to go, it looked like they were just opening up. Someone pointed us up the stairs, so we went. Upstairs there's a ton of pool tables, a wine storage area and a large U-shaped bar. The ambiance is nice and cozy, dim lit, with some cool tunes on. We ordered some beers and checked out the bar menu. The items with the * are 50% off. We decided on the calamari. It's a pretty decent size portion they give you for a happy hour item at a reduced cost. The calamari comes with rings and tentacles (which I love) and 3 dipping sauces. The sauces were the best part!!! I couldn't decide which one I liked most and in retrospect, I still can't decide. It sucks that we just discovered Dussini's on our last weekend downtown, but it's definitely a destination restaurant that I look forward to going to. read more

I've been to Dussini's for a two memorable events - my girls' night out and my 30th birthday. For the girls' night out, my girlfriends had me do somewhat of a scavenger hunt in San Diego. We ended up in downtown. One of the "missions" was to get swanky drinks at Dussini's. We hung out by the pool tables and had drinks and appetizers. Both were tasty! I liked Dussini's so much that I thought it would be nice to celebrate my 30th birthday there. My husband hosted a dinner with 20 of my closest friends and family. He worked directly with the event coordinator who was amazing! He asked if we can select certain menu items off the restaurant menu to narrow down the selections for my special birthday menu, which we designed together. I had the paparedelle pasta was was so good. My husband enjoyed the paella. Everyone seemed to be happy with their dinner. There was a variety of appetizers shared and a beautiful array of desserts to choose from. The staff who was serving us was so accommodating and friendly. It was absolutey the BEST birthday yet and due in large part to Dussini's excellent service and cuisine. We loved it. Since then, we've recommended Dussini's to friends who are in need of a restaurant in downtown that is accommodating of large parties. So far, everyone has been happy with our recommendation. read more