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CUCINA urbana, San Diego, CA
Award-winning

CUCINA urbana

4.7
4.7
7155 Reviews
$30 and under
Italian

Make a reservation

2 people
9:30 PM
Booked 47 times today

About this restaurant

  • Good for special occasions
  • Great for fine wines
  • Neighborhood gem
We are a wine shop inside of a restaurant | Dining and design form the perfect union at San Diego's highly acclaimed CUCINA urbana, a California-inspired Italian kitchen and wine shop, located in the heart of Bankers Hill since 2009.

The restaurant boasts comfort and familiarity, welcoming diners to a country farmhouse with the added whimsy of a contemporary art installation.

CUCINA urbana is the originator of the CUCINA retail wine program where each dedicated shop allows guests to hand select wines at a retail price, either to enjoy with their meal for a minimal corkage fee or for purchase to-go. The wine list is comprised of many familiar labels as well as rare and small-batch gems, with an emphasis on Italian varietals.

Order delivery or takeout

Dining areas

Additional information

  • Dining style
    Casual Dining
  • Price
    $30 and under
  • Cuisines
    Italian, American, Mediterranean
  • Hours of operation
    Dinner Mon–Thu, Sun 4:00 pm–9:00 pm Fri, Sat 4:00 pm–10:00 pm
  • Phone number
    (619) 239-2222
  • Website
    http://www.urbankitchengroup.com/cucina-urbana-bankers-hill/
  • Payment options
    AMEX, Discover, Mastercard, Visa
  • Dress code
    Casual Dress
  • Executive chef
    Tim Kolanko
  • Catering
    URBAN KITCHEN CATERING provides four star, stunning events with menus unique to your occasion. For more information check the URBAN KITCHEN CATERING link on our website www.urbankitchengroup.com or call Alison at 619.239.2222 extension 2. Or if interested in restaurant buyout opportunities, please contact Tiffany Tassano at 619.239.2222 extension 4.
  • Private party facilities
    From birthday celebrations and corporate dinners to graduation celebrations and wedding receptions, our space is perfect for your dining event. Our Wine Shop offers an intimate semi-private space for smaller functions, while larger groups are welcome to host their event using our entire restaurant as a private venue. We offer: wine specialists, who will design pairings for your meal, personalized printed menus, table decorations, specialty to-go gifts, and more.
  • Location
    505 Laurel St., San Diego, CA 92101
  • Award-winning
    1. MICHELIN Bib Gourmand 2023
    2. MICHELIN Bib Gourmand 2022
  • Neighborhood
    Banker's Hill
  • Cross street
    5th avenue
  • Parking details
    Street Parking
  • Additional
    Banquet, Bar/Lounge, Beer, Cocktails, Corkage Fee, Counter Seating, Full Bar, Gluten-free Options, Happy Hour, Non-Smoking, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Private Room, Takeout, Wheelchair Access, Wine

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Menu

CUCINA urbana's menu was last updated 2022-10-22.

View menu on restaurant's website

What 7,155 people are saying

CUCINA urbana reviews from people who’ve dined at this restaurant. Based on recent rating.

Overall ratings and reviews

Reviews can only be made by diners who have eaten at this restaurant

4.7
4.7 based on recent ratings
  • 4.7Food
  • 4.7Service
  • 4.6Ambience
  • 4.4Value

Noise • Moderate

Loved For

  • San Diego

    Great for fine wines

Review summary

AI-generated from verified diner reviews
CUCINA urbana is a delightful neighborhood gem known for its "excellent food and service." The menu features "fresh pastas, pizzas, and salads" that elevate traditional dishes with vibrant flavors. Guests rave about the "squash blossoms" and "grilled octopus." While the ambiance is lively, some note it can get "a bit noisy."

7,155 Reviews

  1. Maggie VIP

    New York City7 reviews

    4.0

    Dined 1 day ago

    1. Overall 4
    2. Food 4
    3. Service 3
    4. Ambience 4
    Food was delicious. We got the red wine short rib mafaldine and soppressata and fennel sausage pizza. Both were great. Restaurant seemed a bit noisy/loud when we walked in. Maybe because the host area is above the tables and the sound echoed. but then noise level was fine once we sat down. Service was a little slow.

    Is this helpful?

  2. Nina VIP

    San Diego40 reviews

    3.0

    Dined 1 day ago

    1. Overall 3
    2. Food 2
    3. Service 4
    4. Ambience 2
    A long-time fan of Tracy Borkham and her restaurants, last night's dinner was a negative experience, mostly food-wise, although the noise level was super high and it was difficult to hear and talk even though we were as far away from the noise as possible. The octopus was hard as a rock and the chopped salad was 95% lettuce, with only a couple pieces of the rest of the ingredients. Wine list, especially by the glass is smaller. The Belle Glos Pinot Noir was delicious. The three of us were quite disappointed.

    Is this helpful?

  3. RaphaelaN

    San Francisco6 reviews

    5.0

    Dined 2 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    We tried a few dishes and every single bite was so good The pepperoni pizza has a pure hit with a slight sweet note to it . The meatballs outstanding and the bolognese a delight 👍👍👍

    Is this helpful?

  4. Tim VIP

    San Diego10 reviews

    5.0

    Dined 4 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 4
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 4
    Great wine selection coupled with a knowledgable staff about the wines is always a great recipe to start dinner. I continue to vist CUCINA locations for the qualtiy and consistency.

    Is this helpful?

  5. Luis VIP

    Chicago12 reviews

    4.0

    Dined 7 days ago

    1. Overall 4
    2. Food 4
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 3
    La comida y el servicio muy bueno , nos tocó en una zona con mucho ruido de niños y bebés y la custica del restaurante no es la mejor

    Is this helpful?

  6. Bailey

    Seattle1 review

    5.0

    Dined on March 9, 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Amazing staff. Very attentive service. Came to San Diego for the sole purpose of experiencing this restaurant and it did not disappoint. 10/10 recommend.

    Is this helpful?

  7. OpenTable Diner VIP

    San Diego2 reviews

    5.0

    Dined on March 9, 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Kevin is the best waiter on the planet, he deserves a large raise. Food was good too

    Is this helpful?

  8. ElizabethK

    San Diego1 review

    5.0

    Dined on March 9, 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Food was incredible! Service was top notch too. Loved it

    Is this helpful?

  9. Elise

    San Diego6 reviews

    5.0

    Dined on March 4, 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    The food and cocktails were so good! definitely planning on having another girls night here!

    Is this helpful?

  10. OpenTable Diner

    Charleston2 reviews

    5.0

    Dined on March 3, 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 4
    Delicious homemade pasta, great wine selection! It’s also a wine store and there was no corkage fee tonight! We enjoyed the grilled octopus, focaccia bread, and the bucatini pasta dish (add egg!).

    Is this helpful?

FAQs

CUCINA urbana offers takeout which you can order by calling the restaurant at (619) 239-2222.

CUCINA urbana is rated 4.7 stars by 7155 OpenTable diners.

Yes, you can generally book this restaurant by choosing the date, time and party size on OpenTable.

Make a reservation

2 people
9:30 PM
Booked 47 times today

Order delivery or takeout

Google Map for CUCINA urbana

505 Laurel St., San Diego, CA 92101

Dining areas

Additional information

  • Award-winning
    1. MICHELIN Bib Gourmand 2023
    2. MICHELIN Bib Gourmand 2022
  • Cross street
    5th avenue
  • Neighborhood
    Banker's Hill
  • Hours of operation
    Dinner Mon–Thu, Sun 4:00 pm–9:00 pm Fri, Sat 4:00 pm–10:00 pm
  • Price
    $30 and under
  • Cuisines
    Italian, American, Mediterranean
  • Dining style
    Casual Dining
  • Dress code
    Casual Dress
  • Parking details
    Street Parking
  • Payment options
    AMEX, Discover, Mastercard, Visa
  • Executive chef
    Tim Kolanko
  • Additional
    Banquet, Bar/Lounge, Beer, Cocktails, Corkage Fee, Counter Seating, Full Bar, Gluten-free Options, Happy Hour, Non-Smoking, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Private Room, Takeout, Wheelchair Access, Wine
  • Website
    http://www.urbankitchengroup.com/cucina-urbana-bankers-hill/
  • Phone number
    (619) 239-2222
  • Catering
    URBAN KITCHEN CATERING provides four star, stunning events with menus unique to your occasion. For more information check the URBAN KITCHEN CATERING link on our website www.urbankitchengroup.com or call Alison at 619.239.2222 extension 2. Or if interested in restaurant buyout opportunities, please contact Tiffany Tassano at 619.239.2222 extension 4.
  • Private party facilities
    From birthday celebrations and corporate dinners to graduation celebrations and wedding receptions, our space is perfect for your dining event. Our Wine Shop offers an intimate semi-private space for smaller functions, while larger groups are welcome to host their event using our entire restaurant as a private venue. We offer: wine specialists, who will design pairings for your meal, personalized printed menus, table decorations, specialty to-go gifts, and more.

Featured in

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