Best Authentic Restaurants in San Diego

Cesarina absolutely blew me away this time! it was such an upgrade from my last visit! From the moment we walked in, everything felt elevated, from the ambiance to the exceptional service. Travis, our server, went above and beyond to make the evening special. His friendly demeanor, expert recommendations, and genuine attentiveness added so much to the experience. The pasta was out of this world, fresh, flavorful, and cooked to perfection. And don’t even get me started on the tiramisu! Every bite was pure bliss and a testament to the care and passion this restaurant puts into its craft. This visit truly changed the game for me. Cesarina isn’t just a restaurant; it’s an experience, and with service like Travis provided, it’s one I’ll definitely be back for! Highly recommend for anyone craving authentic Italian cuisine with a modern, welcoming touch.

Incredible! We started with the sushi-grade Hot Oil Seated Salmon and the Whipped Buttermilk Ricotta with charred bread for dipping. We also had the Roasted Chinese Eggplant sitting on lemon yogurt and pine nuts that had the appearance of sushi and the taste of beautifully seasoned eggplant. We also had the juicy cheeseburger special which had perfect fries.

Overall our dining experience was terrific. We started with a beet salad that was as beautiful as it was delicious. One of our best ever dishes. We also had the pork belly that was also good but not even close to the salad. We also had wagyu butter biscuits. They were served in a smoked filled glass. A new dining experience for us. Very cool. When our waitress came back for our entree order, my wife selected the Rock fish special. I then ordered the flat iron steak. My wife told me after dinner she meant to pick the black cod but got confused. It's not a big deal but the Rock fish dish was $70 vs $36. The Rock fish was grilled perfectly. The only issue I have is our waitress should have told us the fish was big enough for two. I felt like she was padding my bill because it was a Tuesday night. I gave her ample opportunity to apologize for not telling us but she didn't seem to care. I mentioned how big a piece of fish it was. How it's big enough for two. Nothing!! I didn't eat my steak dinner at all, so I took it home. Overall it was still a great place to dine. I would go back , but be mindful of what you order. Our bill was $300. I would expect more honesty from the wait staff. Kudos to the chef.

Ed at the bar was friendly and helpful. We are looking forward to going back soon.

Nice atmosphere, great food and outstanding service.Excellent Margaritas Please start serving Pinot Grigio. It is inexpensive and one of the most popular white wines now. Highly tecommend