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Best Authentic Restaurants in Santee

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16 restaurants available nearby

A photo of Casa Gabriela restaurant
4.7
Exceptional(745)
Price: Moderate
• Mexican • La Mesa
Booked 25 times today
Casa Gabriela serves authentic Mexican cuisine crafted by Chef Gabriela Lopez, who brings her own grandmother's recipes from Guadalajara and her cosmopolitan upbringing in Tijuana to the table. The menu is praised for its unique twist on traditional flavors and the restaurant is lauded for its authentic food and great ambiance. Reviews often highlight the restaurant's authenticity and the chef's friendly and welcoming demeanor.
A photo of Limoncello La Mesa restaurant
4.6
Exceptional(299)
Price: Moderate
• Italian • North Park
Booked 15 times today
Welcome to Limoncello, your go-to destination for authentic Italian cuisine in the heart of La Mesa. At Limoncello, we pride ourselves on delivering a true taste of Italy with our carefully curated menu inspired by traditional family recipes passed down through generations. Our dishes showcase the rich flavors of Italy, crafted using only the finest and freshest ingredients sourced locally and from Italy. From classic pasta dishes to mouthwatering pizzas and delectable desserts, each plate is a celebration of Italian culinary heritage. Come savor the warmth and hospitality of Italy right here in La Mesa at Limoncello, where every meal is a journey to the heart of Italian flavors.
A photo of Aromi Italian Cuisine restaurant
4.7
Exceptional(236)
Price: Moderate
• Italian • La Mesa
Booked 10 times today
Aromi Italian Cuisine is lauded for its authentic Italian food, with reviews praising its fresh ingredients, traditional recipes and homemade taste. The restaurant's ambiance is also often compared to dining in Italy, making it a true Italian experience.
A photo of The Godfather Restaurant restaurant
4.7
Exceptional(1868)
Price: Expensive
• Italian • Kearny Mesa
Booked 31 times today
The Godfather, a Balistreri restaurant, is an Italian monument in downtown San Diego providing authentic cuisine from the hills of Italy. Established in 1974, The Godfather is a sophisticated and classy establishment that centers around generational recipes from both Northern and Southern Italy. Over the years, the quality of food and standard of service has never declined and thus garnered The Godfather a national recognition as one of the top twenty-five Italian restaurants in the entire nation. The menu is filled with classic favorites based in steak, chicken and pasta. For an intimate evening for two, try the Sicilian kiss prix fixe meal that includes a bottle of champagne.
A photo of Trattoria Da Sofia restaurant
4.6
Exceptional(175)
Price: Moderate
• Italian • Kensington
Booked 45 times today
Trattoria da Sofia is a brand new Italian restaurant located in the charming Kensington neighborhood of San Diego. Trattoria da Sofia features delicious, comforting Italian dishes paired with warm Italian hospitality. By day, the Trattoria is your new favorite coffee shop and cafe.
A photo of Bleu Boheme restaurant
4.8
Exceptional(3546)
Price: Expensive
• French • Kensington
Booked 19 times today
"World travel and its pleasures; items brought back from different places for décors; great stories shared with others; and very importantly, simple, yet delicious recipes from different cultures. Our mission is humble. It is simply for people coming to our restaurant to be transported around the world, and to travel with us for an evening, to a place of well-being and happiness."Bleu Bohème is designed to create a feeling of France's past generations. It mixes the Bohemian and artistic free spirited left bank of Paris with the roots and tradition of the rural areas. Bleu Bohème is a neighborhood restaurant that serves accessible, affordable and comforting French cuisine.
A photo of Gyu-Kaku Japanese BBQ - San Diego, CA | Scripps Ranch restaurant
4.5
Awesome(990)
Price: Expensive
• Japanese • Scripps Ranch
Founded in Tokyo in 1996, Gyu-Kaku has become the world’s #1 Japanese BBQ brand! Thanks to our devoted fans we have reached over 700 locations worldwide. Each day, hundreds of thousands of people gather around the table-top smokeless grill, a centerpiece of our dining concept, enjoying selections of premium meats, just off the grill, and other freshly prepared foods from our kitchens, inspiring laughter, conversation, and a magical dining experience.Our authentic yakiniku (grilled barbeque) dining experience crowns you the chef. Share a variety of delicious appetizers and premium cooked meats over a flaming grill, paired with Japanese sake, frosty cold beers, or other alcoholic and non-alcoholic options of your choice. We're the perfect spot to enjoy time with friends and family, organize an office party, or to spend quality time with your significant other! Before you go, don't forget to taste our best-seller Harami Skirt Steak or Prime Kalbi Short Rib among other must-try dishes!
A photo of Farmer's Table - La Mesa restaurant
4.4
Awesome(2009)
Price: Moderate
• Farm-to-table • La Mesa
Booked 12 times today
Excited to announce that we officially have four locations open in San Diego including Bay Park, Little Italy, La Mesa, and Chula Vista. As a family run operation we believe every good neighborhood deserves an eatery where locals and visitors can enjoy “honest food done right”. Here at Farmers Table, we specialize in farm-to-fork cuisine that focuses on bringing locally sourced organic ingredients together to be savored in an inviting family-friendly atmosphere, where adults and children can enjoy many different food options that are just right for them. If you are looking for a magical brunch this week, come stop by for an unforgettable night.
A photo of DiLeone's Italian Restaurant restaurant
4.8
Exceptional(9)
Price: Moderate
• Italian • Rancho San Diego
From the moment you walk in the door at DiLeone's Italian Restaurant, you know you are in for truly old world dining experience. We proudly serve authentic Italian cuisine giving us the distinction of one of San Diego's finest Italian Restaurants for over 35 years.
A photo of Pizza by Aromi restaurant
4.8
Exceptional(7)
Price: Moderate
• Italian • La Mesa
Booked 1 time today
Your Slice of Sicily in La Mesa.Andrea and Francesco, cousins with deep roots in Sicilian traditions, bring their love of authentic Italian flavors next door from Aromi Italian Cuisine to Pizza by Aromi. Growing up in Sicily, they learned the art of gathering friends and family around a table to enjoy simple yet unforgettable meals. Here, they recreate that same warmth and charm in every pizza.At Pizza by Aromi, Francesco brings his Italian culinary training to every fresh, daily-made dough, using high-quality Sicilian ingredients. Andrea’s warm hospitality makes you feel like family from the moment you walk in. Whether you’re enjoying a quick slice or sharing a full pie, savor the taste of Sicily in La MesaJoin us at Pizza by Aromi—where good food and good company are always on the menu!
‘About the restaurant’ descriptions have been generated using an artificial intelligence model comprised of OpenTable proprietary data that has not been independently verified by OpenTable. The content is presented as-is, for informational purposes only.

See what locals rave about

From verified diners like you
From verified diners like you
  • Suzannevip
    San Diego •3 reviews
    5.0
    Dined 1 day ago
    The Godfather's is a classy, old-school restaurant. Red leather booths...waiters in suits. And the food is very good. My sea bass was delicious. It was decorated beautifully for Christmas. And on the weekends they have a piano player. There is also reasonably priced valet parking. Highly recommend
    More info
    The Godfather RestaurantPrice: Expensive• Italian• Kearny Mesa
    4.7
  • Nicole
    San Francisco Bay Area •1 review
    5.0
    Dined 1 day ago
    We had such an amazing and well rounded experience! Started off with a fantastic espresso martini! We are a little snobbish when it comes to these but this one was actually made with espresso and a mascarpone cream foam on top really made it so delicious. The lamb Shank with risotto was creamy and a fantastic bite as well as the vodka sauce with added sausage was a great recommendation. The server was so nice and a true Italian from Sicily! Didn't make us feel rushed but still always checked to make sure we were happy. I love the limoncello shots post meal. Made me feel like I was back in Italy. Will definitely be coming back and I'm going to see if they have gift cards for a Christmas gift to my parents!
    More info
    Trattoria Da SofiaPrice: Moderate• Italian• Kensington
    4.6
  • Roberta
    San Diego •2 reviews
    4.0
    Dined 2 days ago
    The music on the patio was pleasant, but WAY TOO LOUD to have conversation. I had looked up the menu online before going for the first time and was disappointed that the menu I viewed was not available at "brunch". My group went for lunch. Jason, our waiter, was pleasant and accommodating to our requests. The decor is nice and intentional. The patio ambience was very pleasant.
    More info
    Casa GabrielaPrice: Moderate• Mexican• La Mesa
    4.7
  • Mike
    San Diego •1 review
    5.0
    Dined 2 days ago
    Our first time We all felt like we were in an Italian neighborhood restaurant The food was amazing and everything tasted fresh and flavorful Our server Francesca was amazing very professional warm and friendly We were a party of four and we all want to return
    More info
    Limoncello La MesaPrice: Moderate• Italian• North Park
    4.6
  • laura
    San Diego •4 reviews
    5.0
    Dined on Dec 8, 2024
    Food was excellent! There was a large Christmas party happening when we went so the noise level was really loud, but probably not like that all the time. I would recommend dimming the lighting a bit, ambiance is important and the recessed lighting was very bright. Food was excellent and would definitely recommend!!
    More info
    Aromi Italian CuisinePrice: Moderate• Italian• La Mesa
    4.7
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