Operacaffe
Italian
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Location and hours
Location
835 4th Avenue , San Diego, CA
(619) 234-6538
Hours
More details
Reviews
Overall rating
(172 reviews)
This place used to be incredible. Their food is still really good. But their service has gone down the drain FAST
The food is always great and the service most of the time is excellent.
I come here once in a while to treat myself to a nice, fancy lunch during my lunch break from work. Food and service is excellent! Very Warm & Cozy feeling inside, love the decor and ambience. The only thing is that I really enjoy eating outside, but this location is not conducive to a nice, quiet meal outside on the patio due to all the loud trucks and traffic. But this is to be expected in the Gaslamp. I will be back!
The food was amaizing goodand the service excellent. Since I discover this place through I dine I have been having lunch there every Sunday, and I plan to continue for as long as live in downtown.
the food was hot and perfectly flavored with all the right degrees of textures to be expected for the ingredients. Love Tuscany foods the this was one of the best dishes i have ever had and i am not usually interested in warm meals that have cream during the summer but this was light, great level of richness in the heaviness of the cream and was flavorful. paired well with wine and bon appetite.
The food is excellent, the restaurante is very quiet for a great conversation and fantastic service. I have been there 2 times in 2 weeks and from now on I will be going more oftem. I wish I had been there way before. Thanks for a good dine experience.
we had the tomatoe and vegetable soup, it was very yummy. we ate the pizza with artichokes, it was also good.
we had the tomatoe and vegetable soup, it was very yummy. we ate the pizza with artichokes, it was also good.
Staff was very attentive. Our table was ready when we arrived for our reservation. It's a lovely environment, close to the Balboa Theatre.
Staff was very attentive. Our table was ready when we arrived for our reservation. It's a lovely environment, close to the Balboa Theatre.
Staff was very attentive. Our table was ready when we arrived for our reservation. It's a lovely environment, close to the Balboa Theatre.
The food is always quality and healthy choices galore
Not allowed to order off lunch menu/ daily specials.
The bread and soup was very salty. The service was good and the staff was nice though
The staff was very attentive but didn’t hover. Food was prepared well and nice presentation.
The most authentic amazing Italian food in California the atmosphere, food, wine list, just excellent. I always recommend this restaurant to the most picky and sophisticated dinners!
The food was delicious. I had the pear salad and the mushroom ravioli with truffle oil, which was absolutely to die for.
Food was good and service was friendly.
Pasta was freshly made, filling and sauces were delicious. One guest devoured his lemon chicken which was attractively presented. Service was prompt and friendly.
Food was delicious!!!
They accidently made me the wrong dish and the server had another one made quickly and without fuss. Very attentive.
The server was very on top of our needs throughout our dinner. Our water glasses were always filled and he was super attentive to any last minutes needs we had. The food was spectacular in taste, flavor, and perfectly prepared. We loved it!!!
Food and Service was Excellent!
We did not expect opera singers to be serenading us until we arrived at the restaurant. the singers were excellent. We were a little disappointed with the food: everything, including the bread was too salty. My husband could not even finish his gnocchi.
The food and service was excellent!
Nice staff, good plates presentation, nice place.
Concern we were the only lunch party in the restaurant at noon????
Amazing selection...only complaint is they are a bit heavy with the salt...otherwise recommended
The food and service was outstanding!
First of all, the food was way too salty for both of our meals. Second of all, at the end of the meal the server took my phone, and walked away from my table to redeem the entertainment.com coupon. He somehow erased my coupon and then came back to me telling it was not his fault indicating I should pay the full bill. I had to talk to a manager to get it straightened out. Not a fun experience at all. On the bright side, the bus by was nice. My wife wanted me to add that.
The service was great and the food was amazing!
An awesome find... The best pasta I've had since we've been in San Diego. Seating outside was lovely but may have delayed some of our service.... Hence, the 4 star for that but overall... Fabulous!
The service was second to none. The staff was courteous The food was very well prepared served at the right temperature' g ample portion delicious.
Food is always consistent and excellent and we love the environment.
The restaurant had a nice appearance. Despite the pleasant weather outside, it was uncomfortably warm in the restaurant. We were seated directly in front of the stage, and, while we were waiting for our food, a gentleman started to play instrumental guitar. Despite being so close, it was very nice background music, not overpowering at all. The food is a la carte, and some of the portions are small and pricey. My mushroom ravioli was tremendous!
the food was very well prepared and hot when served. the waiter was informative and very solicitous
wonderful service, salads always fresh, entrees cooked to perfection, always a great dining experience.
Cafe Eau is great. I'm so sorry the gift certificates are no longer available
We liked the restaurant. but, please keep the flavor consistent. I do not like surprises. The parillada was bland and the seafood (sopa marina)was not the same.
We attended the hotel for a conference. The food we ordered from the menu was good. The group breakfasts, lunch salad bar, and dinners were okay.
Enjoyed our meal...
Service was good, ambience was good, but food was just ok for the price. We had the ravioli stuffed with king crab and the calamari. After we ate, I realized crab was out of season, so maybe that had something to do with the quality, or maybe we are just a little spoiled moving here from Baltimore where the crab is awesome and fresh. Overall, good but a little over priced in my opinion.
Very positive server.
The staff was very friendly and the food was delicious.
Food was wonderful, the music was wonderful. Great atmosphere.
The music was way too loud for a mostly empty restaurant.Had to speak too loudly to the other person. Service was just ok, nothing exciting. Not too friendly. Seemed as though the staff just didn't want to be there. Very blah.
Service was quick and very attentive.
Delightful dining al fresco.
Food was okay but a bit overpriced for the quality and size.
small, quiet venue filled with antiques and soft lighting, easy to converse (not noisy), wide variety of menu options and price ranges
Great ambiance. Kind and courteous servers. Food was delicious.
reasonable priced. great food.. reasonable corkage fee.
Dinner was very good; creative dishes, nice presentation.
The food was excellent, the service was also excellent. The was delivered in time and as t the right temperature. Can hardly wait to try this place again. Real italian food and very good.
Great service and wonderful atmosphere.
Loved the selection recommendation given by the waiter
As fine an Italian meal as you'll find in San Diego... Or anywhere else, for that matter!
They went out of their way to cook something off the menu for a child we took. It was Excellent!
Fresh piping hot meal. Outside tables available. Very tasty complimentary bread, balsamic an olive oil .
The waitress/hostess always remembers us and treats us so well. This special touch makes all the difference. And the food is great too!
the service was great , the food was delicious. we all had salads and pasta dishes. I shared the pear salad with my husband and had a ravioli dish . Both were delicious
The food and service were excellent. However it was very noisy and I couldn't hear the entertainment very well.
Nice relaxing atmosphere. Delicious quality ingredients.
As opposed to so many other Gaslamp restaurants, Operacaffe was small, quaint and relaxing. The chef/owner was visible behind the bar-like area that serves as the kitchen so we knew our food was being prepared by someone who truly cared about the quality. Our seafood ravioli in a creamy herbed sauce was wonderful and the chicken park was prepared as usual with a delicious marinara. The portions were generous without being ridiculous. And the bread was even special, with a lightness and crust invests that made us want to spoil our dinner by eating it all.
As opposed to so many other Gaslamp restaurants, Operacaffe was small, quaint and relaxing. The chef/owner was visible behind the bar-like area that serves as the kitchen so we knew our food was being prepared by someone who truly cared about the quality. Our seafood ravioli in a creamy herbed sauce was wonderful and the chicken park was prepared as usual with a delicious marinara. The portions were generous without being ridiculous. And the bread was even special, with a lightness and crust invests that made us want to spoil our dinner by eating it all.
Very nice menu selections. Coming from the East Coast we were unsure of how the Italian experience would be- no worries. Food was excellent with good-sized portions. Waiter was attentive without being intrusive. A wonderful experience in San Diego!
Creamy shrimp scampi with mushrooms - the best! Great service and ambiance. And a glass of wine for $5.50 in the Gaslamp (not Happy Hour price!) How can you beat that?
The pasta dishes my wife and I ordered, had incredible texture and flavor.
Excellent!!! The best Italian food in San Diego. You have to try the sausage pasta dish, not spicy at all.
Food was excellent and the service was very nice
Everything was excellent. We enjoyed the restaurant. One little thing... we heard a discussion between employees, this they need to keep it in the kitchen or where the customers do not hear. Everything else, excellent. I'm planning to come back.
The homemade pasta is perfect---silky, tasty, perfectly done. Also the funghi appetizer was excellent. Service and food were exceptional.
Our server was pleasant, but inattentive. He didn't check back with us to ensure that we had everything we needed, such as additional bread. When we had finished eating, it took too long for someone to come and see if we were ready for our check, even though the server did ask if we wanted dessert. The restaurant was not very busy. The overall impression we got was that our dining experience was not a high priority for employees working at that time.This is most unfortunate, since the food was very palatable and we were seated in a pleasant location, as requested on the phone. There were no obvious management personnel and it begs the time-honored question: "who's minding the store?"
Food tastes alright, not so good
I enjoyed the sitting on patio, the food was good but I expected more clams in my penne and clam dish. Since this is my favor dish that is how I rate the food. Didn't whoa me, however my wife's salmon dish was excellent.
We especially enjoyed live entertainment of Italian music including opera arias.
The lunch specials are great.
Great food great service!!
Great food great service!!
Made reservation through Opentable and the hostess wouldn't honor it because they were booked for weeks
The food is always delicious and reasonably priced. Always serve authentic Italian dishes.
Nice environment. Not too noisy, but just enough to let you know people are having a good time. Great service. Food is some of the best Italian I have had, even in Italy.
Great way to start off New Year's Eve, in before the big crowds came so we had a quiet dinner. Michael Buble music playing added a nice touch.
For three of us for lunch, it was very expensive. We also bought a bottle of the balsamic vinegar and it was added to our bill and the 18% gratuity added to that...I didn't want to bring that up in front of my guests, but not appropriate.
nice staff, good service, they let us sit a long while (no rushing).
Delicious food and excellent service!
Great food, service and ambiance (live, guitar entertainment). Could not have been better. Very romantic. Go and enjoy!
loved the opera singing - totally unexpected
Overrated, too expensive for what is it, even after using a Restaurant.com certificate. Pizza - not what we expected, interesting recipe, bad results - it got too much moisture, from the artichokes etc. It was literally wet. Service - outstanding, great live music, but again, paying $50 for 2 pizzas, one appetizer and no drinks, after using the certificate, is way too much, especially since we could not eat them.
We love Opercaffe! Always the most delicious food - like my grandmother's cooking - and the service can't be beat. We are always treated extremely well, friendly staff, very pleasant ambiance, always a most enjoyable dining experience!!
The bread was very poor for an Italian restaurant.
Our server was wonderful. She wished us a happy anniversary when she found out.Busser was very good at clearing dishes.
Great waiter as had children (pretty well behaved) with me and he was attentive and also very considerate of their needs. Treated them well!The only issue I had was that he based the gratuity post-tax amount. No problem with paying the tip on the final food and drink bill before the discount...but then I also paid an 18% gratuity towards the tax!?I paid the bill and did not fuss - as the amount of overcharge was small -- and I would have given him 20% tip anyhow because I had kids with me...however in principal...I don't like this type of practice of automatically basing tip on the tax amount too.
The server was fair, did not offer very many options for my dietary restrictions, was pretty unengaged. The bussers however were wonderful. They refilled our water consistently and were very attentive.
A wonderful dining experience: gracious and friendly hostess, attentive server, delicious food, great sidewalk dining with atmosphere...perfect!
The food is excellent. Very authentic Tuscan.
excellent - best italian food in downtown San Diego
Food was excellent! Server was great & Natalia was so nice! Great hostess! You could tell how much your employees enjoy their jobs!
I really enjoy the food, atmosphere and staff here. It's a very convenient location and everything I have tasted has been wonderful. I love using restaurant.com so that my friends and I can dine at fantastic restaurants without spending a ton of money. Thanks Operacaffe for being a part of restaurant.com!!
Excellent service, friendly people and top notch food!
it was wonderful food and presentation
Opera Cafe is a great restaurant with good service and is dog friendly in the patio outside...I recommend it often
This was delicious, and different, Italian food.
Good food, and service, but a glass of wine? How about a" thimble full"?
good food.
We have eaten here many times before, and I was very disappointed with my filet mignon. The meat that they served was not a filet. I should have returned the meat, but we were in a hurry to see a play.
My boyfriend and I ordered off the chefs special. I had the Caciucco seafood dish which was amazing. My boyfriend ordered pasta with shrimp but really liked my dish. I've been here before and enjoyed my previous meal but the Caciucco made up my mind that I love this place. Great food.
A great Italian restaurant with excellent service!
the beef carpaccio was watery and flavorless. The color of the meat was gray and some of the greens on it was old and turning yellow. The seafood pasta was fishy and seem like it was unfresh.
Our favorite Italian restaurant in San Diego.
I will go back!
Great experience, service, and food
Operacaffe is one of the most underrated restaurants in San Diego!! I've NEVER had a bad meal here!
Fantastico! We recommend Opera Cafe to all of our friends. Incredible Italian Food!!!!
We live in the area and have walked by it.
Excellent food and excellent served a gluten-free pasta option on the menu. It was delicious! We will be returning - thank you!
fantastic food, superb service, will highly recommend to family and friends
The food was fresh & tasty.
My friend and I thoroughly enjoyed our food and the service. Our zinfindel wine, however was not as fruity as we were expecting.
Two things they should change: 1. give clean silverware after the salad instead of asking you to keep the dirty utensils. 2. Provide cloth napkins instead of paper.
JP our server was great. The food was excellent.
The food was WONDERFUL. We enjoyed being in town on a visit and trying the places we would have never gone to otherwise. I recommend this one!
I have had wonderful dishes there, however last night the pasta was a little chewy and not I remembered. The lobster within the pasta was over cooked as well.
Such a wonderful discovery! The food was incredible, ambiance charming and service delightful. Worth every penny!
Excellent pre Balboa Theater concert....absolutely a joy to be there - greeted and served by lovely, friendly staff and gorgeous food......Keep it up...
The final bill run on my credit card was confusing, it didn't match the first bill. Total was the same but the tip changed, so I'm not sure which tip ammount the waiter got. I hope he got the higher ammount. I wanted to ask about it but everyone was busy and we needed to leave. Other then that, it was great.
Food and presentation were good, plus nice atmosphere inside the restaurant.
Enjoyable experience.
on vacation here and read reviews of restaurant...great choice. Loved using certificate
We ordered cheese cake which was dry. Everything else was delicious.
Our new favorite for REAL Italian food in San Diego.
Thank you Peter - we had a wonderful time. Gluten-free pasta was great.
The name is very deceiving. I had seen before and thought it was a formal place :-( We really liked the menu & the atmosphere. It was the name that kept us from going sooner, only because we had no idea what it was. Didn't even know it was Italian until I saw it on Restaurant.com and looked at the menu.
Our server was excellent. Rotini with sausage and shrimp was good. Pasta Norma a little low on eggplant, in our opinion. Food all well prepared. We will come back to try the pizza.
A great gem-so glad we found this place and thanks to Restaurant.com.
cozy place. Will go again.
2 person table by the brick wall and bench long bench seat way too crowded and uncomfortable to get in and out of. Understand you're trying to make most of your tables & space but that was very uncomfortable other than that food was good.
Good food and service.
Food actually taste great and staff was very good. Only reason I didn't give a 5 on those area is because I ate a piece of string in the pizza and the staff maybe was panicking and didn't apologize nor take any other actions.
Best food I have ever had very good experience!!!
Food was excellent and we will definitely be back!
Food was very poor and expensive for the quality. I don't mind paying a fair price, but expect the food to be worth it...it was not.We will not return.
The food and interior decor is great, but the music was terrible. They were playing hard rock music, which spoiled the atmosphere for our romantic anniversary dinner.
Went for dessert and coffee - Outstanding !!
Quantity of food seems to be diminishing. A la carte items push bill up pretty high.
there wasn't much ambience on this dining experience at lunch.
We were on vacation and this was close to our hotel so was so nice to be able to try it!
food was excellent and the service was great
Great Italian food!
Best salmon I've ever had in my LIFE. We've been raving about this restaurant to everyone ever since eating there. It definitely gets FIVE STARS from us!
Lunch salads were small, my mango was unripe, the watercress was all stems (not much of either mango or avocado on the salad). The bread was good, however.
It was too expensive for the atmosphere and quality, $50 per person. The service was very good though.
THe hostess and waitress were really nice and personable.
The food was extremely sub-par, even if the food prices had been in the $8-10 range per entree. It was so poor that I did not finish my meal and did NOT want to bring the rest home. For the prices in this restaurant, the food should have been excellent. My husband had a tough, chewy steak, which they labeled as "filet mignon". Our waiter was the only bright spot in our experience as he was extremely attentive to our every need. I recommend keeping the excellent wait staff but firing the chef.
Pleasant little restaurant but nothing special. May or may not return.
Food was excellent. Hard to choice from such enticing entrees!
Charming location. Good food. Loved the piano.
everyone enjoyed the well prepared food. we look forward to meeting there again.
Good meal for the money. I would not have gone there without the certificate, but now that I know they are tasty and priced right, I would go again.
Mahalo!
The food was DELICIOUS, but for the price was too high for the portion size. I'm glad I had a restaurant.com gift certificate for this place, otherwise I would have been very dissapointed.
The food and service were very good and being on 4th street, just north of Hard Rock made for a good setting. Not nearly so loud as 5th Street. Service was good and the coffee after was above average. LavAzza was the brand. Did not have a gluten free menu but understood the need and responded well to the request. Wine price was average for the area. Did have a couple of Rieslings on the list as well as a good selection of Reds. Good Italian menu to choose from with selections not normal for American Italian. Not a Linen sort of place but the food was good and plenty.
Excellent food, atmosphere and service!!
The food was delicious! We will definitely recommend this restaurant to friends and family. Wasn't excited about the Transilvania theme that the restaurant turns into after 10:00. The skulls they put out were creepy and guy wearing a tshirt that says "vampire" freaked me out. I did not want to stay after that. I'll come back but earlier...
portions generous, food excellent, service good. Would definitely go back if in San Diego again. Great value!
We would definitely return, food was incredible!
Seating area a litte cramped. Service very friendly.
We had a great experience at Operacaffe, great ambience, good food, we will go again when visiting San Diego!
The food was amazing, our Brazilian server was great, location was perfect -- so glad I found this restaurant on your website!
I'm surprised how good they are.
great food and service...and great wine.
Lots of server and kitchen chatter and the heavy clatter of the hostess's shoes did not start our experience well. Server was disconnected and did not impress. The food, however, was good to marvelous. We will go back