This was my second time here because I loved it so much the first time! I had to bring my husband, and we celebrated our birthdays and anniversary here. We had the best server, Yuri! He was so helpful in recommending items from the menu, and he even treated us to a birthday dessert. I will definitely be recommending this place to all of my friends! read more

Trattoria Da Sofia - Al Pomodoro - Italian Near Me - San Diego, California

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Very nice return visit here (#3), after a more disappointing 2nd visit. They didn't have the pistacchioso last time, which I'd loved - and the patio can be cold in the fall/winter, since they only have a few heaters which are not that strong. But we came back on a warm July tonight and had an amazing time. 1. Even though the city is hot: their patio was breezy! I almost wished I had a jacket. 2. Nino was a super server, extremely nice and also funny. 3. Pistacchioso is back! YUM. They're using a different pasta noodle than when I had it last year, but it's the same delicious taste. 4. Sweetie got the chicken parm, which he said was excellent - but also, the portions are too big here! (yes, it makes us tempted to overeat - but we need to stop ourselves & take the rest home!) 5. Comp bread and pasta sauce is still good 6. Because their patio is so breezy, I decided even to get the soup of the day, which was tomato basil (with cream). It was very tasty. 7. Sweetie got a salad with spring mix, walnuts, grapes, pears and blue cheese. I had some walnuts and they were yummy. Only mild disappointment: the hugo spritz, which is my go-to when nothing else is tempting me, was a little watery. It still tasted like a hugo spritz, it still got me buzzed, but the flavor was extremely muted (that's the only way I can describe it). So I'd love for them to tweak the proportions in the recipe. But I still liked it and it was nice to have instead of the Amore cocktail (which is delicious, but gone after 4 sips, instead of the spritz, which I could sip on all meal). Anyway, super time. And we'll be back! read more

Trattoria Da Sofia - Current cocktail menu, July 2026 - Italian Near Me - San Diego, California

We came here for a large party birthday celebration & our table was set up and ready upon arrival. I would recommend parking in the surrounding neighborhood. We had a nice section off to the side of the restaurant so it felt like a semi-private space. The ambiance here is lovely. I love the decor and felt like we were in a little corner of Italy. Our server (I wish I caught his name) was wonderful! He was very attentive and great at making suggestions on the menu. Service was fantastic, food came out quickly. The food blew me away. I had the spicy rigatoni with guanciale. The server did warn it was a bit spicy (he said a 3 out of 10 on the spiciness scale) and I would say it's closer to a 4 out of 10. Not painfully spicy but definitely has a kick! My husband had a fettuccini special with lobster & shrimp in a pink sauce. The pasta was homemade and tasted delicious. Overall, a 10/10 experience and I would recommend it to all!! read more

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I know there are several reviews including the Spicy Rigatoni, but I still felt the need to do it as it was AMAZING! Truly the best Rigatoni Vodka dish I have had. The sauce was so cream and flavorful and the pasta was cooked perfectly. I added meatballs for a little added protein and that was the perfect addition. We definitely found our new favorite Italian spot! As for the service, I was to highlight a gentleman named Jose. From the moment we walked in he was so sweet and he was great with our toddler. He brought some bread out right away for her, was talking to her, playing hide and go seek and was so friendly when he brought her pasta out (which was also SO tasty!!). He also was so kind to us and helped us throughout the meal to make sure it was a great experience. Overall, it was a wonderful dining experience, the restaurant was clean, quiet, and well decorated. I truly enjoyed this restaurant and know we will be back very soon. read more

Trattoria Da Sofia - Spicy Rigatoni Vodka - Italian Near Me - San Diego, California

Classy yet comfortable. That experience starts before you even get inside thanks to the warm glow of the block it's nestled in. The food was so good I'll definitely be coming back here again. Would probably be a good date spot if you do that sort of thing. read more

Trattoria Da Sofia - Spicy Rigatoni Vodka - Italian Near Me - San Diego, California

Great food and extremely filling! We ordered the fried burrata and I ordered the lamb ragu. There were large portion sizes and the food was cooked perfectly, the only reason why I made it down a star is because we were sat outside when the sun was setting and I was blinded for a good 30 minutes and distracted from the conversation. I had asked to be moved but they told us that we had already been assigned a server so we had to stay. It was a bit disappointing, but the food was good so I would just recommend sitting inside! read more

Trattoria Da Sofia - Italian Near Me - San Diego, California

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Ordered 2 Hugo sprits from the happy hour menu, a tartufosa pasta, the meatballs, and a pear bruschetta. Everything was really delicious but I think the pear bruschetta could use a little more flavor. It was a little bland. My favorite was definitely the tartufosa - even though it's a mushroom pasta, the mushroom flavor wasn't over powering. It was subtle but flavorful enough. The meatballs were some of the best I've had. Highly recommend the food here. Service was good but nothing over the top. They took great care of us. read more

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Celebrated a birthday here last weekend and had an absolute fantastic experience. The vibes of the restaurant were right on point and the service was on par with everything. Our server was Ercules and he took care of us start to finish. The restaurant was full of energy and just what we were looking for. We had a round of drinks and everyone loved them all start to finish. I particularly loved The Sofia. Appetizers we had the tomatoes and burrata, the artichokes and truffle fries. All of them very good. With a large party it felt like we ordered almost every pasta dish. The portion sizes are big so feel free to bring your appetite. I had what I think was the star of the night. A delicious piece of seabass that was so perfectly cooked that I think about it at least once a week. I'll be back in SD soon and it will be round 2 at this place. read more

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Wonderful service, staff are always friendly. The food is great. The vodka sauce pasta is wonderful(don't get it w chicken the check is meh) and the carbonara is delicious as well as the ravioli de carni! Good wine too! Love the ambience it's so cute and always a vibe. read more

Came here for dinner finally, with its ideal location on Adams Ave in the heart of Kensington. Service was good on a not so busy day, with our needs met and the seating and serving of the food in an efficient manner. We had the polpette/meatballs, which was soft and covered with a tomato based sauce. Flavorful but I wouldn't say it's the best or cheapest that I've had. I also had the carbonara, which was a filling dish and they did not hold back on the meat, cheese, or pepper sprinkled on top. The meat was not the meatiest that I've had, and I would've preferred the pasta to be less soft and a bit more al dente. My friend had the bolognese which was a hearty and flavorful dish. Overall, not a bad experience, not my exact cup of tea but it was definitely worth the try! read more

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We are on a continuous journey of trying the best Italian places in SD - especially if it's outside of Little Italy - and Trattoria Da Sofia was a good choice for date night. We had a reservation for a Friday night early dinner (around 5:30-6 PM) so we were able to find parking and be seated right away. We had a couple of cocktails, the Insalata Estiva for our salad, Spinacini with Guanciale, and Sugo Pittinicchi. The salad was SO good and flavorful that we had to remake it at home. The Spinacini was good but the Sugo Pittinicchi was alright and a bit too overwhelming for us - will definitely not order again in the future. Our meal also came with complimentary bread. Service was solid and there are both indoors and outdoors seating. The ambiance reminds me very much of being in Italy. Parking will be tough though as this is a busy area, so I would plan accordingly. read more

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I've had this on my list for a while and finally got to make it out here for dinner! I was blown away by the experience! When you walk in, you're immersed into Italy itself. The decor is so cute and cozy. They have indoor seating and also outdoor patio seating. The food is really out of this world. The pasta is made fresh and you can taste the difference by the texture of the pasta. It was perfectly cooked al dente with a nice chewiness to it. All the dishes were perfectly seasoned. My favorite dish was the Ravioli Carne! That dish is so good! I would come back just for that. There's short rib in the ravioli and on top. It's so soft and it's got this butter cream sauce that pairs perfectly well with it. I also got the spicy rigatoni and added chicken to it. The sauce is so good and has a suttle little kick to it. I wanted more of that sauce lol The Alfredo was nice and light. It wasn't too rich or creamy which is how I like it. The Caesar was really good too. It's not too fishy or overpowering. It had more of a light creaminess to it. If you like Italian, you have to try this place. It'll keep you coming back! read more

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A gem of a date spot in Kensington! The Italian food scene in SD sets the bar super high and Trattoria Da Sofia is holding its own. Everything from the branding to the decor feels intentionally curated and made with love. + Complimentary Focaccia & Marinara (5/5) Adored their complimentary bread basket! The focaccia was warm, light, and fluffy. It paired perfectly with the zesty marinara sauce. + Caprese Sofia (4/5) We love a caprese salad! This one was super fresh and herbaceous. The basil was so fragrant! Bonus points for their use of heirloom tomatoes. + Sugo Pittinicchi (4.5/5) One of their most popular pasta dishes! It features pork ribs and sausage slowly cooked in fresh pomodoro sauce on a bed of tagliatelle. Fresh and light yet savory and filling. No notes! + Spicy Rigatoni Vodka (5/5) This might be the best rendition of spicy rigatoni vodka I've ever had! It was soooo creamy with notes of tomato and a pang of spice. So well done. Many snaps. You have to come try it for yourself! Pro-tip: Their portion sizes are generous! Get some dishes to share! read more

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Excellent food, and the portions are perfect for a full meal. The waiters and waitresses were amazing and provided great service. The place has a cozy, lively atmosphere even when crowded. We celebrated our family Mother's Day dinner here and had a wonderful experience. read more

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This place is incredible. Some of the best Italian food I've had hands down. The spicy rigatoni is to DIE for. The truffle fries were also amazing. Large portion sizes which is not common for Italian places like this. I will be back! read more

Trattoria Da Sofia - Spicy Rigatoni Vodka - Italian Near Me - San Diego, California

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Wow! Wow! Wow! This was the best place I have eaten at in a very, very long time. Everything was melt in your mouth amazing. We had a party of 5 and every single one of us loved our meals. I had the lobster ravioli and it was to die for. The short rib plate was melt in your mouth and cooked absolutely perfect. Our friends had 2 other pastas that they loved as well and a flatbread off the kids menu was ordered and it was really good as well! The cocktails and wine were fabulous! The house made lemon cello was incredible! We had Sofia herself as our server and she was fantastic. The service is on point! And the atmosphere and decor was my favorite. I truly felt like I was transported to Italy. I cannot recommend this restaurant enough. I cannot wait to go back! read more

This place was cute, has seating both indoor and outdoor-- twas a bit chilly so my party opted for indoor. As pictured on their menu, they have a clothesline with actual clothes strung on the ceiling for a quaint feel. Our server was great and really knowledgeable on the dishes. They were very mindful of all our dietary restrictions and allergies which was great as we didn't realize pine nuts were mixed in a few of their appetizers. All our food came out in a timely manner. Appetizers were delicious-- artichoke was done well and the eggplant was cold and refreshing. Bread was incredibly fresh and so yummy with the pesto. I loved my ravioli and devoured the entire plate. My companions agreed the appetizers were delicious. The serving sizes are large, especially for the Sugo Pittinicchi. The meat in that dish was done really well, but the sauce was missing a little something. We ate very well and were bummed that we couldn't hang on a bit longer for dessert. We might just have to come back just to get the tableside tiramisu read more

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We made reservations for a table of 4 for 6pm on a Saturday and glad we did bc it was very busy. It was a little tight walking through the dining room as our table was against the back wall. Our server was good, checked on us often. The appetizers and cannolis were the star of the show. The entrees were good but not memorable. See breakdown below. Crispy burrata - 5/5 light and crispy, love the pesto and mortadella Bruschettone - 5/5 if you like the combination of prosciutto and figs this one is a must Sugo Pittinicchi - 3/5 per husband one note, just pasta with red sauce and a lot of meat. Good portion if you're hungry Pesce Arrosto - 4/5 Sea Bass was cooked well but under flavored. It needed a stronger sauce. Cannolis - 5/5 each order comes with 2 small cannolis with the crispest shells and the most delicious filling read more

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The best service I've received in San Diego. I don't usually write reviews, but all of the staff were very helpful and friendly! Not to mention the best spicy vodka rigatoni I've had in San Diego. Definitely coming back and bringing my friends :)) read more

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Came here for Christmas dinner. Hidden gem for Italian food outside of Little Italy. They had a pre-fix menu which came with appetizer and dessert. Inside of the restaurant is very cute and looks like the streets of Italy! Everyone is super nice and customer service was on point. We ordered the short ribs, risotto, and sea bass. The short rib was tender, risotto had lots of sea food, and the sea bass was super flaky. Recommend making reservation beforehand. read more

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This was one of the first restaurants I had after moving to San Diego. Loved it! Food was amazing. Also loved how it was all family size because my friends and I love sharing. Service was good, too, and our server was funny. Vibe is so homey and inviting. Want to come back soon! read more

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11/22/2025 Another visit here to have dinner! Service was great ! Just have to say we had another amazing dinner and gotta have to say cibo davvero delizioso !!! Ordered the Bruschettone served with Burrata cheese, prosciutto, figs in balsamic reduction sauce !!! Barbabietola Salad served with arugula, beets, tangerine, fennel, feta cheese and citrus orange vinaigrette! Fiori Di Zucca served with battered 3 fried zucchini blossoms filled with basil ricotta mixture and drizzled with apricot jam! Polpette served with meatballs in pomodoro sauce topped with Parmesan fondue. Carbonara pasta served with spaghetti and guanciale ( pork jowl) egg yolk plus pecorino ( salty cheese) Ravioli Di Carne served with Short Ribs stuffed ravioli topped with braised short ribs in butter cream sauce! Caprese Sofia (the belle of them all) served with buffalo mozzarella ball surrounded with heirloom sliced red & yellow tomatoes , basil leaves then drizzled with balsamic reduction sauce! read more

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My friends and I came here on Saturday for dinner! Parking in the area is pretty easy to find. Lots of parking in the residential area. We were seated right away and made reservations on open table. Oh my goodness this place was delicious! The decor in the restaurant is cute and feels so cozy. I'll definitely be back to try more items on the menu. I recommend to anyone looking to try a new Italian restaurant! Food/drink review: Espresso martini: (5/5) I'm not a coffee person, but these were sooo tasty! My friend ended up ordering two. Pinot Grigio: (5/5) Refreshing and delicious! Caesar salad: (4/5) This was delicious! The dressing was fresh. I could've eaten the entire thing myself. Fiori di zucca: (5/5) I've never tried these before so I was hesitant, but I'm so happy we ordered it! Delicious flavor, texture, and the sauce on top had a hint of sweetness, which balanced the dish. Meatballs: (5/5) These were my favorite. They're super tender and flavorful. The sauce was delicious!!! Bruschettone: (5/5) So fresh and delicious! Perfect app to share. The flavors all blended so well together. Spicy rigatoni vodka: (5/5) YUMMM. The pasta was so fresh and the sauce was perfection. It wasn't spicy in my opinion. Sugo Pittinichi: (4/5) The noodles were so fresh! The meat (ribs and sausage) on top were cooked perfectly and literally fell off the bone. Great flavor! Not my favorite dish though. read more

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Good food and even better service. Alberto took very good care of us and answer all our questions such as do they have gluten-free options. Celebrated a friend's bday and they gave us a complimentary lemon cake with berries. Only advice would be to lessen the salt content. Seemed everyone's dish was a bit too salty. Really good otherwise. read more

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We originally had a reservation for 4th of July that was unfortunately canceled but Mario the owner left us a sweet voicemail explaining that he was so sorry they were close. I was determined to try this spot due to a review comparing the food to that of their Italian grandmas; and so we came back the next day. We had a great meal at Sofia's with even better service by Yuli :) not pictured is a table side tiramisu experience to die for that will be bringing us back (even when you don't have room... MAKE ROOM!!) favorites were definitely the carbonara and bolognese. We also enjoyed equally delicious Hugo, Calabrian, & sorrento spritz'! The restaurant itself is so cute with nods to scenes you would see in Italy. read more

Trattoria Da Sofia - Bolognese, carbonara, ravioli di carne - Italian Near Me - San Diego, California

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What the heck is wrong with this place ?? The sodium content in every dish is so damn salty that I feel like I gonna turn blind from eat it ..... no next time read more

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Tonite we had a reservation for 6pm on open table for 3 The hostess sat us right way she ask inside or patio. We preferred inside It was early on Friday nite and right off exit Adams From the 15 fwy. It took us less than 15mins. But parking is street parking there is small free parking lots it was busy but we got lucky and parked across the street. Table was high it felt like we had the table at our face. Services was excellent our waiter he was great I forgot his name but everyone was so wonderful and smiled as they came to our table We ordered we shared 3 appetizers I enjoyed crispy Burrata good Eggplant was thin and good sauce! Fried squash was a little too much oil. sauces, ricotta was good. fried was heavy Carbonara was excellent with guanciale now that's my favorite dish And had Norma The noddles were al dente it was good But the Carbonara stoled the show tonite. Inside it's very bright and welcoming read more

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Fantastic food and even better staff! Highly recommend the spicy rigatoni. Can get busy, so make a reservation if you can, but plenty of space. read more

This has become my all time favorite Italian spot in San Diego thus far!! I have been here about 4x since moving here and have brought someone new with me each time and they love everything just as much as I do!!! The food quality is consistently delicious and the service is top tier!!! They make their pasta from scratch, which... come on... doesn't get better than that! Their flavors are on point and it's the most authentic Italian restaurant I have had here! I highly recommend making a reservation if you intend on dining there for dinner time, especially if it's a weekend, because they do get pretty busy. But it is so worth it read more

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I've been here twice and the second time was better! My first visit was in April of last year, so not sure how things are now. We got a mocktail and cocktail to start with. The drinks were very refreshing. For apps, we shared the bruscettone, which had burrata, proscuitto, and figs on top. It was a nice balance of sweet and salty. There was another app that contained squash and toast bread. This one was okay. For our entrees, we got gnocchi with pesto sauce and a pasta dish with ham. They were both very hearty. We ordered a couple of glasses of wine to pair with the pasta as well. For dessert, we opted for the tiramisu! They even gave us complimentary limoncello at the end of our meal. The decor here is pretty cute. I like the clothesline that spreads across a part of the restaurant. The outdoor patio is nice as well. read more

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So my sister's birthday rolled around, wanted Italian, and chose this hidden gem via word of mouth, I believe. And oh my (in my best George Takei), were we pleasantly surprised! Our server was excellent. I forget his name, slim on size, but robust in hospitality! I love the interior looking like an Italian side street or alley, down to the clothes hanging across the ceiling. They did a Night at the Roxbury! It was more spacious inside than it looks from the outside (yes, like the TARDIS). A+ for theme originality! The food, the whole point of this review! I had the Ravioli di Carne. And sis ordered the Carbonara. Both were delicious! My dish had no chance. No leftovers here! The tiramisu is made from scratch! In front of your very eyes! Bravissimo! Molto delizioso! *sorry, my Italian is rusty. Most assuredly going back to this cozy spot! read more

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Trattoria da Sofia is my new favorite Italian food in San Diego. The hospitality was exceptional, welcomed in warmly and seated with in mins of arrival. Perfect night to enjoy the warm weather, the heater's out side made everything more comfortable. Recommendations sounded great but I was craving carbonara. That's an absolute must. Apps were out standing to share, carbonara so good and the chicken parmesan so good. read more

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Happy hour good we got few item Meatballs , garlic bread and flatbread Ali g with sangria and spitz Abd too it offf dessert at our table Very friendly ,few people chk in us very well We are outside very nice atmosphere Definitely be back soon.. read more

One of the best pastas i've tried in san diego so far. It felt like I was back in Italy. Everyone was so nice and the service was amazing! The food was incredibly delicious, especially the pastas. They tasted so authentic and the decorations/vibe of the whole place is super pretty! Will definitely be back. read more

Trattoria Da Sofia - Spicy Rigatoni Vodka, Pollo Parmigiana, Pistacchiosa - Italian Near Me - San Diego, California

Easy to reserve on OpenTable and this is a cute Italian spot in Kensington with patio and inside seating. There's also a bar. We came for a weeknight dinner and the food was hot and fresh. Service was slammed but they did their best to take care of us. The pasta was the highlight for me with the spinach ravioli with pesto. Street parking only from what we saw. read more

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5 star experience from start to end! The customer service is superb and very friendly. We asked our waiter the recommendations and ordered exactly what he suggested - Polpette with garlic bread for appetizer and the vodka pasta and sugo for dinner. Everything was 5/5 delicious. I also like the added touch with the photographer! We ended up buying a framed photo that she took. Amazing date night experience. read more

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Service was very good. Staff were friendly and accommodating. Pretty much answered all our questions. Ambiance was quiet and comfortable. Felt like sitting in a patio just outside grandmas kitchen with all the decorations seemingly open windows, balconies, plants and even hanging clothes on wires. I would assume a common site in Italy. Food was great. Every dish we ordered was unique in its flavor and had grandmas personal touch in all of them. A little pricey for the portions but I look at quality more important than quantity. Enjoyed a beautiful dining experience with my family. Would like to come back and try more of their menu. read more

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My family and I had a good dinner experience at this lovely restaurant. It's in the wonderful Kensington neighborhood. Decor-fun interior with clothes hanging from the ceiling. Outdoor seating and bright interior. Service-nice friendly service. Food-nice size portions and hand made pastas. I had the seafood ravioli and it was well prepared and had plenty of flavor. Nice place. As a bonus, it's next to a great ice cream shop. read more

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What a fantastic evening! The food is authentic and delicious. Yuri made the dinner extra special. We have been to Italy many times and the food was wonderful just as good as any I've enjoyed during my travels. We will definitely come back when we're in San Diego! read more

We came here on a Monday around 7:30PM and were able to get seated right away. It is such a cute restaurant with a fountain and lots of decoration that makes the place feel cozy. There is street parking and places to park in the neighborhood next door - I can see it getting a little crowded especially during the weekend. Our server was super attentive and we ordered the Cacio e Pepe and the Rigatoni Vodka. Both were so good!! Such a cute place to get pasta and totally recommend if you're in the area. read more

Trattoria Da Sofia - Rigatoni Vodka - Italian Near Me - San Diego, California

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