Best Historic Restaurants in Little Italy

Christmas night, dining outdoors on the patio, cozy heater next to us, tender prime rib and hot mashed potatoes, a good wine, and just enough attention from our server, Maurice. What's not to love? Cohn family dining in beautiful San Diego! Happy New Year, everyone! (I did ask them to please turn down the volume on the...uh... lively Christmas music so we could visit, and they promptly obliged.)

Great food at the happy hour on Christmas Day!! Our party had their clam chowder soup, bread, octopus, Japanese sweet potatoes, lobster roll, and broccolini. All delicious!

We had the pleasure of dining here on Christmas Eve. It was a beautiful 4-course menu including an amuse Bouche, a choice between two salads, four entrees and two desserts. The service was absolutely on point! Great attention to detail and the server assistants were fabulous too. The food runner was lovely and explained each course. The food was absolutely delicious. By far our best meal in San Diego. Thank you all!

What a charming bistro! The cozy, inviting atmosphere is complemented by the green walls, which create a vintage feel. The staff provided exceptional service with upbeat, happy attitudes—you can tell they genuinely enjoy working together. The food and cocktails were outstanding. My steak and frites were cooked to perfection, and the clams and oysters, praised by our guests, were incredibly fresh with no hint of smell. The bibb salad was perfectly dressed, with subtle notes of Dijon and anise, making it ideal for sharing. While we ordered too many dishes to name, highlights included a perfectly balanced crème brûlée and a decadent chocolate soufflé that was well worth the wait. As a fan of Pali Hotels, I’m always impressed by their in-house restaurants, and this one is no exception. Can’t wait to return the next time I’m in San Diego!

Excellent meal and even better service and fine Italian food.