Italian food has always been perplexing to me. The ingredients arent that high-end but somehow, the bill always ends up being around $40 per person. I figure $25 of that goes to the dude that comes by with the black pepper grinder and bowl of parmesan. He's doing God's work, that guy. The service here is friendly and attentive, we were seated promptly. The restaurant itself is small and the tables are fairly close together. This place probably gets real cozy in the winter but I imagine its stifling in the dead of summer. In typical Italian restaurant fashion, your food comes out and when you look at it, your first thought is "This cost $25 and thats all they gave me?" Once you start working on it, though, you realize the portion size is actually perfect and you may not even be able to finish. As far as taste goes, I'd give the pasta a 3.5 out of 5; I've had better but Ive definitely had worse too. The only real gripe I have is that the cost per plate ($20 to $30 per person) seemed a wee bit too high for me in some cases. We had the duck ragu pasta and the squid ink pasta with carpaccio for an app, the bill was over $70 but hey, its downtown. Worth a shot if youre in the area and are looking for a downtown meal without pounding music in the background or an inebriated bachelorette party ruining the mood. read more

The food was really good. They did not disappoint at all with the food. I love the variety of pasta options. Only think I didn't like was that they only had alcohol, soda, and water for drinks. There's no juice option so if you don't drink soda or alcohol (or pregnant like my friend was) the only option for something to drink is water. read more

Operacaffe - Tiramisu - Italian Near Me - San Diego, California

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Recently I participated in a business dinner at Operacaffe. The review is based solely on the meal and not the service. We were a large party that "dropped in" and the staff did a very reasonable job considering we gave them no warning on what would have been an otherwise slow night for them. I can only comment on my own meal and those of several near me. I had the Penne Speperina which was delicious. The pasta was perfect and the spicy sauce in a tomato cream sauce was full of flavor. One of my colleagues has the bruschetta topped with prosciutto which looked amazing. Another had the Di Mare, while yet another had the beef carpaccio. Everything looked delicious and was very enjoyable. Finally, for dessert, I ordered a tiramisu to share with my end of the table. OMG it was great. Light, delicious and nearly a perfect tiramisu. Prices were very reasonable and the wines by the glass included several good, reasonably priced choices. I will definitely return to Operacaffe again. You should too. read more

Operacaffe - Hanging with friends at Operacaffe!! Great dinner! Amazing food! - Italian Near Me - San Diego, California

Amazing delicious food and great service too! I had the gnocchi asiago and my friend had something with steak and said it was the best steak he ever had. read more

Operacaffe - Gnocchi Asiago - Italian Near Me - San Diego, California

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We came in looking for pizza. We found it. It was incredible. The pepperoni and salsiccia was incredible. Such a pungent pepperoni. The Margherita was also excellent. My picky teens announced that the pizza was just what they needed. 2 pizzas satisfied the 4 of us. read more

The food was amazing, staff was very friendly and we got our food fast. I also loved the music it was perfect for a nice uplifting lunch. I recommend this restaurant they have the best pasta read more

After waiting an hour for a sushi restaurant, we decided to walk around til we found some place to take us in (low expectations because it was a Saturday night also). After we almost gave up, this restaurant let us in and we were so excited! The food was so good and the service was fast and welcoming. I got the bruschetta to start which was really fresh, and then the lemon chicken dinner with risotto and asparagus. I would only order that if you really like lemony tastes, because after a couple bites it gets overwhelming, but I thought it was really good. So many options and I got the Nutella cannolis to go..... yes. Try it out! read more

Operacaffe - Lemon chicken - Italian Near Me - San Diego, California

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This placed suck. One waiter worked the whole restaurants. Couldnt even get water. Plus we had to pay the gratuity which was 100 not even earned. We had to get up anf get our own cups of water.. Do not come here unless you have tons of time to waste. read more

4pm Sunday. Pleasant outdoor seating. Good service and atmosphere. Found some foods better than others. The Salmon salad had freshly prepared salmon but the salad was plain and no dressing. The Caesar salad was great. Well prepared with excellent dressing. The tomato soup was fine with good croutons and very solid flavor. The spaghetti carbonara was good with a nice blend of flavors and good texture. The veal parmigiana was a disappointment. Large portion of veal but the tomato sauce on the veal and on the spaghetti was very bland. Veal is a bland meat anyway and needs some seasoning to make a great dish. Overall probably would not go back since there are so many great Italian restaurants in downtown and Little Italy. read more

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Slowest...service...ever. Overpriced smal portions. Trying too hard to be a "fancy* italian restaurant in a space designed like an order-at-the-counter taco shop. It's "meh". read more

When you approach the place they have a sign telling you be patience for their fresh food and I believe them which was my mistake. If i want to eat at an Olive Garden style meal, i would have went there. My Fettuccine Alfredo was a big glob of semi warm noodles with a gooey texture. The chicken was not fresh as it was tough and dry like eating a belt. It must have been fresh frozen and obviously not fresh at all. The bread should have been warmed instead of the cold loaf we received. My wife did enjoy her tomato bisque soup though it could have been a bit warmer. Not a place i would repeat. read more

Came here just a few days ago with a reservation. Everything is kept very clean. The spacing between tables, makes it an experience you don't have to worry about other people being near you while enjoying your meal. They have a limited menu at the moment, which very unfortunate but I was still able to enjoy my meal. read more

Operacaffe - Italian Near Me - San Diego, California

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Great service and good (not spectacular) food. This is an excellent choice for the convenience of downtown dining, but not necessarily a destination in itself. If you're going to a show or a game, give it a try. read more

Food was amazing , true Italian food. Great service , and really cute ambiance . Professional warm greeter to tell you about the food & experience before your dine . read more

Finally made it back to San Diego and had to stop by the Operacafe for dinner. We were greeted at the door by friendly staff and were offered a choice of outdoor or indoor seating. We chose indoor and staff wasted no time in getting our choice of water and we were introduced to our waiter, J.C., who was very friendly. He gave us the Specials menu and showed us how to access the touch-less regular menu. He pointed out his favorites from the regular menu as well as the Specials. Following his suggestion, we chose the Lobster Ravioli from the Specials, and the Ravioli Porcini e Crema Di Tartufo from the regular menu, accompanied by a glass of the house Chianti Classico. The Lobster Ravioli had a creamy tomato vodka sauce, with fresh ravioli, joined with sautéed shrimp. Presentation was beautiful, and it taste amazing. The Ravioli Porcini e Crema Di Tartufo was in a league of it's own. I did not know you could make porcini ravioli taste this amazing. The sauce was light and buttery and the earthy flavor of the porcini mushrooms brought it all together. The presentation was elegant, with the added touch of an edible dianthus. The house Chianti was smooth and delightful. Knowing I was going to have desert I avoided ordering the bottle. Operacafe's Tiramisu is a must for me. Rich, creamy, smooth with a hint of coffee flavor, one of my absolute favorite recipes. The chocolate gelato was rich and smooth and was enjoyed by my teenager, minus the bite or two that I managed to steal. All, if you are in the area and are in the mood for amazing Italian, there is no better place than the Operacafe! By the way, love what you did with the place! read more

Great date night/ anytime restaurant. The food was amazing and great ambiance. The service was great and staff is attentive to your needs. We had a bottle of wine, appetizer (calamari), bowl of minestrone soup, and 2 entrees was $130. I'll definitely be back to try other dishes Opercaffe has to offer. read more

Operacaffe - Minestrone Soup - Italian Near Me - San Diego, California

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We stopped in at Operacaffe for a quick bite to eat without a reservation on a Friday night and were seated super quickly. Our waiter was very kind and funny and approved of our entree choices. We got the Ravioli with porcini mushrooms and the Spaghetti di Mare. Both dishes were so delicious!! And the food in general was very cost effective. I love Italian food and I love seafood so I'm pretty discerning on both and my food was absolutely perfect. The decor/ambiance was a bit lacking but the service and food more than made up for it! read more

If you can still find a Groupon coupon for this restaurant then RUN, don't walk to grab it! Wow, wow, wow! Fabulous mother/daughter duo that delivers on all aspects of a great meal. We ordered the Carpaccio Di Salmone as an appetizer, the duck ragu (on the special menu), Penne Portofino for the primi course, and then after all that delicious homemade pasta, we decided to go for it and we split the wild salmone secondi. Another wow! Birthday tiramisu was a delicious finish to a spectacular meal! And for wine lovers, BYOB is $15. read more

Food was amazing, service was great as well. We came in on a Thursday night as soon as they opened, no reservation but we were the first people there and were give a table immediately. I shared a pasta and salad with one other person, we left no crumbs and were very satisfied. Beautiful atmosphere as well. read more

Operacaffe - Farfalle Campagnola Chicken Ceasar Salad - Italian Near Me - San Diego, California

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This place was AWESOME! Excellent service and heavenly food! I highly recommended it! read more

Operacaffe - Ravioli Porcini E Crema Di Tartufo with shrimp and Pollo Parmigiana - Italian Near Me - San Diego, California

The food was great and the service was great. If you do a yelp check in then you get a free dessert! I highly recommend the Penne Speperina! read more

Operacaffe - Penne Speperina - Italian Near Me - San Diego, California

Visiting Diego for the weekend and found this little gem Downtown! The staff is great and the vibe is one of a kind! We had pizza and pasta and we ate it all up with no complaints! This was the best decision for our food adventures and I look forward to trying them again when I come back! Thank you JC(I so hope I spelled that close to right!) read more

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I had never heard about this place in Gaslamp, but I was pleased surprised by how cute this restaurant is! Usually Little Italy is the place to go in Downtown but this might have to be my new spot! I got the Pollo Limone and everything, especially the risotto, was soooo amazing and tasty. Staff was great and quick! Make sure to check in for a free dessert! read more

Operacaffe - Pollo Limone - Italian Near Me - San Diego, California

I wish I could give it more than 5 stars! The food was fabulous. The staff was attentive, very nice and informative. The service was exceptional and timely. The restaurant was quaint. Make reservations because it fills up quickly but seating is very efficient with reservations. We had opera pizza, ravioli fattore with meatball, ravioli porcini e crema di tartufo, and fettuccine alfredo. All were delicious! I want to go back and try some other items on the menu because there are so many wonderful options. read more

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This is a cute little restaurant with great service & food! The hostess and servers were all very attentive, making sure water was always full, and checking in regularly to make sure everything was tasting good! I love water so that's a big thing for me! Lol gotta stay hydrated. They had a wide selection of wines to choose from, but I got a Moscow Mule cause I love those... and they made it really well!!!! Very tasty and I definitely recommend it. I don't typically eat a lot of seafood but my friend wanted to try the calamari, it was actually pretty good too! Aside from that, I got the pear salad. It came out looking beautiful & tasting just as good as it looked. It was light and refreshing! My friend got the seafood pasta and quite enjoyed that as well. read more

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Food is exceptional. Good variety. Atmosphere is chill, with an old school vibe. Service is cold and not engaging. Expensive but we enjoyed the experience. read more

Best meal I have had in 2018! Sat down in the patio along the street sidewalk, made a reservation, so make sure you do or else you will be waiting, try making a reservation before you arrive. We started with Calamari which was so good, crispy and flaky crust and a nice sauce to compliment the calamari. Went with Fettuccine Alfredo with Shrimp and the Fettuccine was good, the alfredo sauce was creamy and plenty of shrimp. For dessert I went with a Nutella Cheesecake and it was rich but very delicious. Staff is great, parking is located on street if you do find a spot if not just half a block over is a parking lot. Everything went well at this meal, from sitting down to getting up, everything in between was just fantastic. read more

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Kept walking right past this place as it was under my Airbnb and I already had a list of restaurants to try while visiting San Diego. On our last night, my bf twisted his ankle and I had to find dinner for us without getting kidnapped so I decided to try Operacaffe. I ordered the sage butter ravioli while my bf ordered the alfredo with chicken and we shared tiramisu. The ravioli and was the best thing I've ever eaten in my whole life. I only got about 7 ravioli (typical amount when you order ravioli at a nice place) and I've been fiending ever since. I let my bf try some and we keep talking about this place since we left a month ago. read more

Visit Groupon before coming; these folks have a presence on Groupon and you can save a lot of $$. Better and better every time I come here. They do well and you won't ever be disappointed. New management from four years ago. Terrible parking, great food, easy on your wallet, and super friendly staff. I eat here several times each year. read more

Dinner was unbelievable at this restaurant. Everything was delicious, customer service was on point. Everything was so fresh and tasty. Definitely a must visit if in San Diego. read more

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If you are looking for an authentic Italian, specifically Florence, this is it! The food is exceptional and the service was excellent. You can't go wrong with anything on the menu, including a great wine list. Deserts are awesome as well. read more

Operacaffe - Italian Near Me - San Diego, California

Probably the best lasagna I ever had. I live near Torrance & I drove her twice to eat the lasagna specifically! Must try!

Best "true" Italian offerings I've ever had. Including restaurants we experienced in Venice, Florence, Rome & Naples. read more

Operacaffe - Italian Near Me - San Diego, California

Let me begin by saying I am a "fussy" diner and my husband is a notoriously picky eater. I don't usually bother writing reviews but will do so in this case because I don't want Gaslamp visitors to miss this little gem. OperaCafee is not on the main Gaslamp street, but is just one block over. It is a charming restaurant with romantic Italian ambiance. The Hostess welcomed us,brought us to our table and explained about Opera Cafe owners' commitment to authentic Italian cuisine. The servers were wonderful without being smarmy and cheerfully answered our menu questions. We had one pre-dinner drink, a martini, and it was excellent!. Calamari appetizer, split a Caesar salad and each had an entree, Ravioli Aragosta and Pollo Limone, both amazing. Added bonus, portions are very generous. We've been hitting the Gaslamp for years but this year the main avenue (5th Street) had a noisy festival so we ventured over a block. So glad we did and will return to Opera Cafe for sure our next Gaslamp visit. Many other items on the menu we want to try, (take a look at their menu!) BTW, do not confuse OPERACAFEE on 4th Street with the Café de L'Opera on J street. Bon Appetit! read more

I just walked in to this place have no idea what it's about ohhh boy !!! I just fell in love everything is super cool the food and specially J.C he is super friendly and kind I absolutely recommend this place read more

We were in San Diego for a conference and passed by Operacaffe on a walk in the Gaslamp. It is kind of tucked away and not a large restaurant, quaint and personal like you are really in Italy! The food was excellent, we ordered different dishes to share and everything was really delicious. The service was very good- including Warm homemade bread and olive oil/ balsamic for an authentic experience. Sadly, not sure when I will get back but you should try this place out if you are in the area. read more

Such good food! The atmosphere was peaceful. Every worker was welcoming. The hostess greeted us and gave us a card for a free bruschetta or dessert. We enjoyed chose the bruschetta first fresh tomatoes and herbs the perfect amount of oil. My husband commented on the fact that it was just the right amount of toppings on each piece. It didn't fall off all messy like many places. Even their ice tea was yummy and fresh! We both had spaghetti Pomodor & meatballs. The food was hot and delicious. The sauce was tasty and the 3 meatballs were just right. The portions were generous and I took half of mine to go. We both agreed it was one of the best Italian meals we've had. Love finding places like this! We highly recommend. Pleasant,peaceful and clean atmosphere. Plus a Free appetizer or dessert! read more

My friend and I were wondering around the Gaslamp district when we came upon this place for dinner. We both wanted Italian but were too tired too walk to Little Italy, so we just decide to have dinner here. Overall we had a great experience here. We decided to both get a glass of red wine. She got the house red Chianti Classico, 2012 and I got Sasyr, Syrah Sangiovese 2012. I loved the wine so much that I had to get two glasses! :) After we ordered the wine we got bread right away which was super fresh and yummy! I then ordered a caesar salad for us to share which was perfect because it was so big. The salad was really good and it had a great caesar dressing on top. We then each order a pasta from the chef specials list. I got the Fettuccine Cinque Terre, and my friend got Bucatini Mare E Monti! Wow my pasta was so delicious!!!! The pasta was so fresh, the sauce wasn't too rich, there were tons of shrimps in it, and the zucchini was a great touch to the pasta. I really really liked mine!! My friend's pasta was a little salty for her taste but still good. They gave us fresh pepper and cheese on both of our pastas! Each dish came with a lot of pasta and it was very filling. We had really great service and everyone working there was very personable!!! I had such a great time and loved my experience there. I would highly recommend this place to anyone looking for an Italian place in the Gaslamp area. read more

In town for Yelp Spring Break, I found this place on Groupon - the deal we purchased was $30 for food and drink for $15. It's in the Gaslamp district, which is a cute super touristy place. And is an absolute disaster to navigate around on a Saturday night. Of course, we did not know that so we sat in non-moving traffic while trying to find parking and eventually ended up paying $20 for garage parking. There is indoor and outdoor seating. Our inside table was so close to the next table that we actually got to know them. That's all well and good but this was supposed to be our date night. I am not sure Operacaffe, with it's noise level and super tight seating is conducive to that. The online menu doesn't list prices - a practice I abhor. But there are menus with prices on Yelp and you'll realize your Groupon won't go too far. We started with a very standard and bland Bruschetta Toscana ($6.95). It was nothing special. My vegetarian SO was able to find several options for dinner, and chose the Ravioli Boscaiola ($16.95) - homemade ravioli stuffed with porcini mushrooms, sage, pine nuts and a creamy butter sauce. I was looking at that item as well but I hate pine nuts and when I tasted her dish, I could definitely taste the pine nuts. But she enjoyed it and the portion was a decent size. I ordered the Gnocchi Gorgonzola ($19.95) from the Chef's Specials section on the back of the menu. It was good and cheesy. But again, it tasted like something simple that I can make at home. But also a decent portion and if you like cheese and pasta (and who doesn't?), it will satisfy you. We ordered desserts to go. An OK slice of cheesecake in a berry sauce ($7.95) and the Limoncello Marscarpone cake ($7.95), which we thought was bland tasting and not a high point. The service varied from solicitous (the super nice hostess who was trying to help us over the phone find the restaurant and give parking advice) to disinterested (our server who I don't think smiled once). One glass of champagne, a soda and we were looking at a $70 bill before the Groupon. And that's not outrageous but with all the hassle to get to this place and pay so much for parking, I wouldn't consider going back. If however you live in the area or are staying in a hotel nearby and can walk, get the Groupon and try it out. It's well done basic Italian food. read more

Operacaffe - Bruschetta - Italian Near Me - San Diego, California

While hopping through Gaslamp, my friend and I stopped inside Operacaffe for a quick snack. As we began to peruse the lunch menu, we were pleased to see that we were right in the middle of their 7-hour (11am-6pm) happy hour! We started off our meal with two $3 glasses of red wine, then split some calamari, carpaccio de manza, gli arancini (fried rice balls w/ cheese), and I coccoli (fried pizza dough w/ prosciutto)...all half-price! Our apps were awesome, especially the pizza dough w/ prosciutto ...perhaps priced a bit high if you were dining during different hours, but definitely a good deal during happy hour! read more