OUR FAVORITE RESTAURANT IN SAN DIEGO! Best home made style Italian food with the husband and wife duo / family that runs it Service is amazing, BYO wine and beer and the small kitchen house vibes make the ambiance perfect! We've been going here since it opened and will continue to do so - it's the best! read more

We've enjoyed the food here - and the pasta definitely tastes fresh. The service can be a little slow though because it's a small operation, and the space can get super loud when it's full. Local spot that is hyped but not our go to in PB. Great for BYOB. read more

This is a wonderful family owned and operated restaurant. We came for our first time on Sunday and had a delicious dinner. Started with the arugula salad - simple and tasty We got the clams and spaghetti and the wild boar pasta - we both enjoyed very much a the portions were fair. Shared a tiramisu for dessert. Service was friendly and we were there to relax and never felt pressured. The ambiance was perfect. All diners were enjoying their company and chatting. We also brought a bottle of wine and it was so perfect. This will be our new date night spot. Thank you to the chef and his wife for a lovely evening out. read more

OMG, this is officially my favorite Italian restaurant in SD. Last night was my first visit for a birthday party. We had five dishes served family style, so I don't think it was a true representation of the typical experience there, but it was outstanding. I didn't take any pictures because it was a big party atmosphere and it was all happening really quickly. They started out with a really nice arugula, salad and some focaccia bread. It was followed by a short rib pasta dish, and a mushroom pasta dish, as well as two pizzas. I'm not lying when I say every single dish was really damn good. Also, a nice bonus was that Wednesday night is corkage free night so our large party was able to bring our own wine. The ambience inside is quaint and cozy. This restaurant is owned by an Italian family. When you walk in it feels like you're walking into someone's home. I've heard rave review reviews for the seafood dishes so I will be back! read more

This is the cutest family ran establishment, I didn't catch her name, but she was the server with her son & she was so sweet & helpful to my toddler & I tonight, the pizza was great, it was fast ,hot, & delicious. Next time I come back I'm trying more and brining a bottle of wine. It's BYOB, I wasn't aware lol will be back. read more

I have lived in PB for 8 years and just now discovered this spot! From the outside, there isn't much signage, so it could be easily missed... but the food is incredible! It's also BYOB, which is nice. We brought a nice bottle of wine and they gave us a wine opener. They give you glasses, but they are water glasses. Didn't bother us at all, we enjoyed the no corkage fee and authentic italian dishes! read more

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The food is delicious but the service is very slow which is why I had to take off a couple of stars. I understand it's a family run business but it often felt like we were forgotten about. It took a long time before even taking our order. We had to ask for wine glasses multiple times, and eventually were given plastic cups because they were supposedly out of wine glasses. But as stated earlier, the food was very good. The pizza was fresh and hot. The tiramisu was amazing. They just need to hire more staff because they are apparently busier than they can manage. read more

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I went to Oltre Mare for a birthday dinner a few nights ago. I was super excited from all the great reviews! The first thing I'll say is we had a great time, but there are some things that kept me from giving 5 stars. For one, the ambiance is lacking - no music or much decor. I know they are expanding so maybe that has something to do with it, but it didn't feel like the cozy, warm Italian restaurant vibe I had read about. Secondly, since it's BYOB we had brought a bottle of nice red wine, but we were told to use water glasses for the wine which was a bit strange and would have made any bottle of wine feel cheaper. I know they don't serve alcohol but I would have appreciated some wine glasses. However, the service was quick and pleasant, and the food was good as well. Our favorite thing we got, hands down, was the Pizza Crudo e Burrata. That pizza was INCREDIBLE - perfectly cooked, simple yet so flavorful from quality ingredients, and just truly divine. We made some kind of remark about it basically every bite we took. The other dishes we got were the tartare, the ravioli special with braised beef, and cannoli for dessert. The tartare was good and fresh, but not quite as good as I was expecting for a place that has "Mare" in the name. The ravioli was super good but the braised beef was a bit overcooked and felt like it was just sort of there on the plate. The cannoli were very good and we enjoyed those. Overall, I would 1000% go back for that pizza, and I would give other dishes a chance as well, but due to the lack of ambiance I wouldn't rush back for a special occasion. I hope they decorate a little more with their expansion and perhaps buy some wine glasses while they're at it. read more

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Stumbled upon this place because there was no parking near the place my partner and I were originally going to. It was a happy little accident that led to perhaps the best simple but flavorful Italian food I have had since coming to SD. It appears to be run out of an Italian families home. The atmosphere and owner/waiter was very sweet. Perfect for a date night or something a little intimate. The owner told us about her home town and what she's recommend. I love spice and their spicy oil was perfect! We got the burrata app and the seafood spaghetti. We will definitely be coming back. read more

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The service was good. Bring your own bottles of wine, we should have brought an extra bottle, and an opener. Half of the main dishes take 45 minutes to prepare, like whole baked fish. I had the Wild Boar Bolognese and it was amazing! It was a nice evening with a slight breeze. The windows were all open giving an out door feel. The restaurant is very clean. It got a little loud as the restaurant filled up, but it was all good energy. read more

Recommend by a local, this restaurant is deceptively brilliant! The Burrata with tomatoes and the Zucchini with Brie were both taste bombs! We also loved the Vongole and the Wild Boar Bolognese! The Cannoli's were so good, I had to negotiate with our three year old granddaughter to snag a taste. Kudos to our waiter who greeted the kiddos with a finger puppet and made the whole experience fun and tasty! read more

Oltre Mare - Best Vongole this side of Rome! - Italian Near Me - San Diego, California

I've been here over 10 times and have loved every dish I've eaten. It's a perfect place for an authentic Italian feel with very friendly staff and owners. I've brought family here, celebrated anniversaries, and birthdays. Can't recommend it enough. read more

Oltre Mare - Pizza Parmigiana - Italian Near Me - San Diego, California

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If you are looking for a delicious meal that tasts home cooked this is the place to eat! I had salad as my started and it was fresh and the perfect balance of lettuce, cheese, onion, tomato and dressing. For my main course I had a pizza and the gnocchi. The gnocchi was hand made and so soft, there were many different cheeses in the sauce but the gouda stood out the most. The pizza I got had prosciutto and burrata cheese. The Barata cheese was creamy and it tasted a little buttery. The flavors combined nicely together. for dessert I got the panna cotta which was creamy and just the right amount of sweet, which was paired perfectly with the caramel sauce on top. Inside the ambience was very homey. It felt like I was at my grandma's house eating dinner. The service was impeccable. The servers were always there to fill my water glass whenever it was almost empty and they were checking in multiple times to make sure I was satisfied with everything but not too much. It was just the right amount. This place definitely deserves five stars and I cannot wait to come back here for dinner. read more

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There are a lot of Italian restaurants in the US - but none come close to the restaurants we ate in Italy - till we stumbled upon Oltre Matre. The Mussels are perfect - they have some special recipe that is amazing. The home made pasta is out of this world - which pairs well with the Spaghetti alle vongole. The special - Pasta & Mussels and pecorino is also great. If you are tired of the Italian knock offs in the US, you go to Oltre Mare! read more

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We loved it. Wife and I had the boar dish and it was fantastic. My daughter has the spaghetti and loved it. My youngest, who's a very picky eater, had a white sauce pizza and ate half of it. That's maybe the most I've ever seen her eat. Prices were good, service was great and food was amazing. I want to go back! read more

Cute little family run restaurant, where you can byob. Parking is a bit tough, but if you are able to walk there, it is definitely worth it. They have both pizza and pasta dishes. It is a converted house, so it definately has a cozy feel. Outdoor seating is an option, but I have only dined inside. Service was warm and friendly. read more

Tried their new special which was a pasta with duck meat! It was SO good. The burratta was also extremely refreshing and tasted perfect. We also always get their seafood pasta which is spectacular too. Also special shoutout to their delicious appetizer focaccia bread and BYOA rule :) they recently expanded their restaurant and I'm so happy for them bc they truly deserve all the best! The servers are always so sweet and the environment is so homey and cozy. I would love for them to do a little more with the decor now that they expanded but maybe they're working on it. read more

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Amazing, authentic Italian restaurant. Real Italian flavors. Don't go to Little Italy; this is 1 million times better. Family-friendly ambience and super lovely people. 100% recommended. read more

We contacted Sara (owner) based on a recommendation from my cousin when planning a family celebration for our other cousin's engagement. Sara was so very accommodating when it came to planning our family get together - a detailed menu to accommodate our party of 40 (comprised of adults and kids). The food was delicious and the pacing was just right. Some of our family had eaten here previously but for most of us it was our first time. We got to enjoy many of their signature dishes - the wild boar pappardelle, spaghetti all pescatora, and the pesce al forno. We requested a couple 'kid friendly' options: pepperoni pizza and pasta with cheese sauce and both were a big hit (with the kids and the adults). The pastas are homemade as are the sauces. We left Oltre Mare so full, so satisfied, and so happy - truly delicious food enjoyed by all. read more

The food, the ambiance, and the service was immaculate! Love this Mon and pop shop vibe. Definitely one of my top favorite Italian food places in the area. Everything was cooked fresh to order! Bette they, it's BYOB! So have your drink and enjoy good food! I'm already trying to plan my next trip! read more

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I think I may have a new favorite restaurant! Every bite I ate from appetizers to dessert was delicious. Everything tasted so fresh and homemade, as if I was at my Italian grandmothers place. The service was friendly, we were there celebrating a birthday and they made sure to make our birthday girl feel special and celebrated! The boyb policy is so unique and fun and really adds to the ambiance. This place is a gem!! read more

Oltre Mare - Pizza Parmigiana - Italian Near Me - San Diego, California

Not a great first impression, we came here and stood in the front for quite a while but were not greeted. We were eventually seated once we found a staff member. It's a byob type of place so we brought wine, it also took quite a while and a member of our party asking for someone to come over to throw down a corkscrew and some glasses (not wine glasses). So we opened our wine and then waited again to order. The food was ok, we had pizza and pasta but not worth the price or total lack of service. I'll try one of the many other Italian spots in the neighborhood. read more

Absolutely delicious! The food here is amazing. The ingredients are simple and everything tastes amazingly fresh. Each dish was extremely well executed, the pastas were extremely flavorful and not greasy or too heavy feeling. The burrata was delicious and perfectly accompanied by the tomatoes and the homemade focaccia. The BYOB situation is also a huge plus. We got to bring our favorite wine and they kindly provided both a corkscrew and glasses. Service was great and I felt as though I was eating in a small mom and pop restaurant in Italy. I'm already planning our next date night here! read more

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One of my all time favorite Italian restaurants in San Diego. When I first came here, they had a mussel special of the day and I dream of it every single time. A full plate of mussels and some bread to dip the broth with, amazing. The wild boar pasta is great and my absolute favorite, the spaghetti alla pescatora is my goto here. Such great place and welcoming with the host. It's byob as well! So bring a bottle :) read more

My coworker likes this place and told me to get the gnocchi. I guess it's only open a few months out of the year so I went. Gnocchi was interesting. Huge plate and large gnocchi! But to me the taste was unrefined and the gnocchi HEAVY. I like light fluffy gnocchi. Not to say that others won't like this... it's just mor down home comfort than finer comfort . It seems like everyone goes here cause they can bring their own wine... everyone pulled out a bottle and started opening it on their own. That's an interesting feeling being the only one in a restaurant who didn't bring their own wine bottle! Pizza was ok. I was looking for the soft and soupy Napoletano style but this was very crispy and a bit American to me. The service was nice, very nice lady but you can hear the man in the back calling her name a lot. Many love this place but it wasn't my favorite. Its HARD to become elite these days .. yes Im still reeling that I wasn't accepted into the Yelp Elite this year after everything... in the words of Beck, "I'm a loser baby, so why don't you k*ll mehhh? (Get crazy with the cheeze whiz)" read more

Super local, fantastic food, real Italian food , great service. We had Vongole, fish and pizza everything was good especially pasta. read more

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Great food and ambiance. A place to have a great conversation with comfort tasty Italian dishes without any pretense.

The ambiance is homie, you feel like you are in someone's living room, cozy and the staff is very friendly. It felt authentic Italian place! We got Antipasto di terra appetizers and the Wild boar Bolognese and the Panna cotta for dessert and everything was so delicious and tasty, i am definitely coming back to try their Tiramisù!! There were kids, family, and couples- happy environment that makes you want to stay and eat more! Sorry only dessert pic available read more

Oltre Mare - Italian Near Me - San Diego, California

When you walk in, you know you're in an unpretentious place, with an emphasis on food quality. The pasta with wild boar was a surprise. Better bring your appetite when you come here since abundazza is their vision. Risotto with shrimp is as good as it can get! Service by this husband & wife owned restaurant makes you feel like you're part of their family. read more

We stayed in the neighborhood on a quick trip to San Diego and tried Oltre Mare on a Thursday night. It wasn't busy, but the people there seemed to be locals. The place isn't fancy, but the atmosphere is nice, mostly thanks to the nicest waitress. Her husband is the chef, and it all felt really authentic, I love that! All the dishes we got were very good and great portions! My husband said it was the best pasta he's had in a while. I won't let it hurt my feeling, even though I cook pasta at least twice a week- outch! The only thing I wouldn't get again was the burrata, for $15 it just felt like a burrata from the store. The cannoli were so good, it made up for it! Pro-tip: bring your own bottle of wine!! read more

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This is a must go spot!! The husband and wife are absolutely adorable and so sweet. I went here with my kiddo and immediately upon walking in the woman was so sweet with my son, as if we were all old friends. The food is spectacular!! We shared the spaghetti alla pescatora which had giant prawns, squid, clams, & mussels. The sauce was delicious and great for sopping up with bread, yum! It's a small menu and no alcohol, so know this going in. But trust me when I say you need to try this wonderful and authentic taste of Italy!! read more

If you're looking for a cozy dinner in a home setting Oltre Mare is the date night choice for you. If you walk into a full restaurant it definitely feels like you just showed up late to family dinner but rest assured, you won't be yelled at by nana unless your brought your own wine... which is actually allowed as well since they don't have serve alcohol or liquor but have a corkage fee! read more

Oltre Mare - Pizza Quattro Formaggi - Italian Near Me - San Diego, California

My favorite restaurant in Mission beach and maybe even San Diego all together! Best handmade pasta place, delicious seafood, sweet authentic Italian owners & servers, and great service. Only tiny downside is it's quite hot inside the restaurant and they could really use some Fans to cool it down, but it's still 100% worth it! It's also a BYOB situation, which is much appreciated! We will be back! read more

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I've been gatekeeping this restaurant for years. I am OBSESSED with the gnocchi and pistachio cannolis. This is true authentic Italian food! Get here early, because it's always busy and BOYW read more

Fantastic , Fantastic,Fantastic! Go there Sarah the owner is so sweet . Food was unbelievable! Decor and Ambiance just perfect!

Visiting Oltre Mare was something beyond a culinary experience; it was was something akin to temporarily joining an Italian family. The food was amazing: a mussels with pecorino and a wild boar , both on pappardelle pasta. Highly recommend. read more

Great Food and one of the most Family Friendly Restaurants in PB. My 5 Year old son loved his pizza and wants to go back again. The Staff made my child feel like his food was special for him and he was part of the Oltre Mare Italian Family! Thanks!!! read more

Oltre Mare - Italian Near Me - San Diego, California

Nice, cozy neighborhood restaurant. Service is good. Mussels were great! However, majority of the food was way too salty from the focaccia, pizza, and pasta vongole. I even tried to wipe the salt off of the focaccia with my napkin but the salt didn't come off. After our meal, I read other reviews about the saltiness of the food at this restaurant. I hope the chef will take heed and go easy on the salt next time. We can still feel the salt in our tongues after the meal that we opted to get ice cream at Handels to balance it out. Until then, we'll try other Italian restaurants in PB. 2.5 stars rounded to 3. read more

An unassuming restaurant just off the main street in Pacific Beach area. The small restaurant does get busy, but we were lucky to nab a seat before the restaurant filled up. On a cold rainy day, the restaurant's atmosphere was filled with joyous people, which warmed me up deeply. Food was also good. Spaghetti alla Pescatora - The pasta was perfectly made, meaning the pasta had the optimal al dente texture giving the right chew. The pasta was rested just enough to take on the seafood sauce. The sauce itself was a bit too spicy for me, as it overpowered the seafood taste, keep in mind I can't take the heat. The seafood was fresh and tasty, the amount was less than expected, but was sufficient for a dinner portion. For the people with less tolerant of the spice, I would go for the clam pasta with a cream-based sauce. Wild boar Bolognese - Something you don't see often is the wild boar pasta. The use of wild boar versus ground pork did add a different level of richness to this dish. As with the seafood pasta, the pasta was cooked perfectly and carried the sauce and ground boar perfectly. I loved the choice of using pappardelle, the wide flat pasta carried the ground boar bits well and gave it a bigger bite than the thinner variations. This is one dish I would come back and get again. Since I'm only a visitor in SD, I probably would not come back to this restaurant. But if I were a local, this is one place I would frequent! read more

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This is our favorite Italian spot in San Diego. Very authentic and we are lucky to have this in our neighborhood. They recently expanded their footprint to allow double the amount of seating now. So happy they were able to do this. Some our favorite dishes - The mussels are buttery and tender, the wild boar bolognese is always my go to, and the prosciutto pizza crudo e burrata is one of our faves. We always end with tiramisu - get your own slice! Place is also BYOB with no cork fee. read more

Oltre Mare - On Special - Mussels - Italian Near Me - San Diego, California