Catania

Reviews 5

HE

Heather Willens

If i was to sum up the experience in just a few words i would call it: warm and rustic upscale but far from pretentious sociable, relaxed and a place to enjoy a date or the company of close friends. although it was nearing spring on our dining experience, everything we ate made me think of rustic rich fall cuisine - which is something i am happy with year-round! we began with a pizza as a starter: the merguez sausage (lamb sausage, tomato, mozzarella, and an egg). it was simply wonderful and i highly recommend. it was a tad on the salty side but not enough to be off putting. the white part of the egg was also still clear in some parts which i do find off putting but my dining companion was cool with it and ate that part. slightly more cooked egg would have been my preference (but yolk still runny). the style of the pizza was great and "rustic" really describes it well with the thicker charred crust (neapolitan style-esque). it was really really delicious. for the entree we selected the rotisserie special, a whole rabbit. this item appears to change on occasion but thanks to the very eager yelper soft opening diners before us, I got the heads up of the rabbit via posted photos. price is also not listed since the item changes, but it was $39 for the whole rabbit. we were first told it did not include any sides, so i selected the roasted carrots app to accompany it as that seemed to already be getting rave reviews. and might i say, i dont often add vegetable sides to a meal but THAT is something special - and you would hope so for $8! baby carrots, a (very unique) mint pesto, and almonds. delicious... rustic (is that getting redundant yet?)...yum. it turned out that the rabbit did include purple potatoes and marinated olives, but i was glad to also sample those special carrots. the rabbit was delicious, but rabbits are small animals lacking much meat so it was definitely a modest portion of protein between two people. adding a shared pizza made it a perfectly satisfying dinner. overall very lovely experience. as a 2 party reservation I felt slightly shafted placed on the very small bar height tables on the edge of the outside across from the bar. our original table had the outside light very brightly shown directly on the table like a spotlight, blinding in the corner of your eye. we asked to move farther down. i hope they have addressed the harsh lighting and angle.

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ZU

Zuzana Votrubec

Have been here a few more times since my first review (see below) and the last visit was exceptional. Soon after opening it felt like the restaurant went through a little bit of growing pains, but I feel that the staff is past the learning curve as this last time everything was spot on. Sat outside near the bar to enjoy the beautiful sunny San Diego day and look out over the ocean. Enjoyed a couple of cocktails and beers (very refreshing and well balanced drinks and good selection of craft beers). I am a huge fan of the beef carpaccio (great presentation and high quality meat), and the pizzas are not to be missed. Quite frankly the toppings are all good, and to me its the crust that makes the biggest difference and sets Catania apart- nice, airy crust, with just the right amount of doughiness. The house made liqueurs (limoncello, amaretto, etc) are fun to try as well. Very trendy spot in La Jolla. As such, very packed as well. Came in here with two others on a Sat night after 9pm and we were lucky to snatch a high top by the bar. They have plenty of heaters to keep the place warm, so it outside/inside doesnt matter so much. The whole space is very open, which is great given the location and proximity to ocean. Had a couple of cocktails - all of which were very good and balanced. And also shared a Merquez sausage pizza. The crust was delicious as were the toppings. The egg was unnecessary, but kind of a fun accent. Good spot for a date night or to impress.

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NI

Nicki Yarwick

Theres endless good things to say about this restaurant. Everyone that works here is friendly, hospitable, energetic, and informative. If its your first time. they will walk you through the beverage and food menu to help you order the right drink and/or dish for you. Happy Hour is till 6pm everyday and extends till 7pm on the weekdays in the bar area. This is the place to go to see a beautiful sunset, the perfect place to bring a date, someone from out of town, or to celebrate a special occasion. Im a picky eater, but everything Ive tried off their menu has been outstanding! I thought I didnt like fish, then I tried the Yellowtail Crudo and swordfish from here and I loved it! Its not your typical Italian cuisine you see in all the basic Italian places in town, theyre dishes are genuine and unique to us. You must try the Duck Sugo Orchiette, theyre homemade pasta and signature sauce is the best! I brought my grandparents, who are from Italy, here and they were so impressed at the flavor and quality of the food. They had great things to say to the Chef afterwards. I promise this place wont let you down!

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JU

Justin Mandelbaum

I dont claim to be a foodie, but I know good food when I eat it. Catania is hands down one of the best restaurants in SD and probably on the West Coast. I can only truly speak to San Francisco, Los Angeles and San Francisco, having lived in all three cities. But its fair to say, all three have their fair share of great restaurants. Catania is owned and managed by the same creative geniuses who brought us Whisknladle and Prep Kitchen...also fantastic restaurants in their own right. So its no surprise that it too delivers a unique and memorable culinary experience. Like I said, Im no foodie, but I can appreciate good flavors, creativity, fresh ingredients and great service. If you want to sit down with your friends and/or family and enjoy a relaxing and fulfilling night on the town, this is the place for you. Oh and Catania happens to be located on the second floor (with an ocean view!) in a beautiful new center in the heart of Downtown LJ. As a real estate professional (maybe that makes me a real estate profie?), trust me when I tell you that this center and Catanias space is something to behold.

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AR

Arturo Kassel

Love, love, love this restaurant. The food alone is reason enough to come. Chef Vince Schofield and his team are doing San Diego a great service by providing a much needed alternative view of Italian Cuisine. For far too long, weve had to settle for red sauce Italian food which is to Italian food what Burritos and Chimichangas are to real Mexican food. I find the food to be not only delicious but walking the fine line between simple and daring. The beverage program is exclusively Italian which is a bit of a risk but its paying off. Not a very large list but every selection is hand picked for its quality and value. And to boot, Catania boasts one of the best views of La Jolla. Sure, you can get a better ocean view at other restaurants in la Jolla but none of them capture the buzz of La Jolla the way Catania does. There, you get the best of both worlds. If I still lived in La Jolla, this along with Whisknladle across the street would be my go tos. Bravisimo.

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