Buon Appetito Restaurant
| Address: | 1609 India St, San Diego, CA 92101, USA |
| Phone: | +1 619-238-9880 |
| Site: | buonappetitosandiego.com |
| Rating: | 4.4 |
| Working: | 11AM–10PM 11AM–10PM 11AM–10PM 11AM–10PM 11AM–11PM 11AM–11PM 12–10PM |
Location
Photos 100
Reviews 7
RI
Richard Dresch
Came in to Southern California from Chicago for a week. Visiting some relatives in a condo down by the San Diego harbor. This was their go to Italian Restaurant here in the Little Italy section of San Diego. The food was extremely good. I had some fried calamari appetizer (not a standout dish but as good as just about anywhere) and the Fusili Duck Ragu. The duck was stewed until "pull-apart" tender and then added to a delicious Ragu sauce. Shaved parmesan (the good stuff) and some fresh herbs topped it off. I was surprised when offered some grated parmesan to add to the dish (because it was covered with shaved parmesan) but I still hit up some more. Call me a glutton for Italian cheese. Other dishes at the table included a salad with duck, veal ossabucco, and cheese ravioli. Everyone enjoyed their food immensely. Paired everything with a California Pinot Noir and the meal was complete! Their was a slight lag in service, and many people not into the European style might have been a bit perturbed, but it was due to the servers having interesting conversations with the guests. Personally I love to take my time. As long as my wine and water is full, I enjoy a long-lasting dinner experience. We sat outside so I never got to see the interior but the patio was cozy (if not slightly tight). I love the neighborhood: Young professionals with small children and not hipster-doofus bars. Very cool area. I would highly recommend Buon Appetito and cannot wait to return next time I am visiting San Diego!
BR
Brett Berry
What can you say about an upscale Italian bistro that is so busy on a Monday evening that a family of 5 is crowding the hostess station, so much that I cant even get in the door. Breaking protocol, I open the door, allowing the cold, damp, night air to flow in, chilling the diners and those awaiting seating. I hear the wife chide the hostess "you said it was a 30 minute wait a half hour ago". I thought, "yes madame, and your retelling of historical artifacts is sure to have said hostess on the edge of her proverbial seat, waiting to find out what happens next" As another chilled breeze blew in, all eyes were on the guy holding the door open. "Table for one, please". Looking around the room, the hostess beckons me "I can seat you at the bar immediately if you would like". Oh... I would like. Walking around the bar, into an attached restaurant, I am seated promptly, and provided drink and french bread with marinara dip. I ordered a penne with bolognaise, topped with a large dollop of some kind of creamy white cheese. It was divine, especially on such a cold night. Everything was right, until the dinner party of 16 showed up, and stood... not just stood... clamored. Clamored... that means "behaving in a loud annoying fashion", right? They be all up around me, in my grill. All up in my bidness. Knocking into my seat with every shrill chortle and guffaw. If I was a tyrantical ruler, there would have been many a beheading that night... but Im a peaceful man
A
A Private User
I had expected to enjoy Buon Appetito, but probably not enough to bother writing a review. Provided you can find parking, go! Authentic (unique) food, authentic wine list, authentic waitress. Prepare to wait in line if youre not dining early. Skip the obligatory bread and hurry up and order some antipati. I associate concentrated flavor with petite, reduced haute cuisine. Buon Appetitos dishes burst with flavor and are quite generous. I ordered two appetizers - arancino with lamb and pecorino, and gnocchi with a mushroom marsala sauce. Teeming with flavor, the portions were big enough that I was unable to finish either one. Not that it matters for the food, but our waitress was Milanese so it helped with the authenticity. She was helpful without either hurrying us or urging us to order more. Nice wine list. So many places have the same wines. Im used to seeing this many Italian labels I dont recognize when Im on the east coast, not in San Diego. Coming back soon, but well allow more time to find parking.
AS
Ashley Jayla
DONT EVER EAT HERE. I ate here and immediately regretted it as I tasted the appetizers. I have never been to an Italian restaurant that serves multi-purpose marinara sauce with their bread. This clearly store bought sauce was used for the calamari as well. When my entree arrived the pasta tasted very starchy and was undoubtedly overcooked. There was no sign of fresh food anywhere in the meal. I ate at the restaurant with my father and he got the cioppino. He said that the sauce wasnt bad but the shrimp tasted like iodine and had to have been frozen. The flavor and texture were bad as well. His salad was also bad. They used wilted lettuce and scant dressing. Not only do they not know how to cook at this restaurant but they also dont appear to know how to make a salad. Also as soon as I got home afterwards the stomach cramps and nausea began. This place has got to be the worst restaurant Ive eaten at and I will stick with the Gaslamp District from now on.
A
A Private User
Ive been there twice in the last couple of months. The food is average for an Italian restaurant in the US, but the flavor is blend. I found two small bones in my Fusilli al ragu` danatra (Fusilli with duck ragu) and the dish didnt taste at all like duck. On the other hand the bread with tomato-garlic-basil sauce they offer is something really amazing! I have also tried the Crème brûlée, but its not really a Crème brûlée and I personally didnt like it at all, and I usually do. Waiting time for the place is crazy, 30/45 minutes on weekends when you get there when theres no line. The atmosphere is nothing like an Italian restaurant and the food and drinks are overpriced. I dont think I will go there anymore. You can find better Italian restaurants with better and more authentic Italian food and less pricy in the San Diego area. But if you are looking for a "fancy" American-Italian restaurant with maybe some bad surprises this is the place to go!
FE
Fei Li
Little Italy is always extremely crowded during Friday nights and weekends. Buon Appetito was extremely crowded even for Little Italy - at 9:00 PM, there was still a wait to eat at this place. The crowd, the delighted faces of the people sitting at tables next to us, all point to the fact that this might be as good as it gets for Italian food in San Diego. What to Order Here: Fafalle con Pollo Affumicato (14.95) I enjoyed my pasta. But mostly I enjoyed sitting on the terrace on a warm San Diego night, being done with the bar, and ready to begin the next chapter of my life. The pasta wasnt the first thing on my mind that night. Perhaps, it was the ambiance that overpowered the pasta. Perhaps, it was the pasta that was underwhelming. Regardless, although I recommend this place for a date night, I wouldnt recommend it for the food alone. (Although if youre here for a date, order the above.)
A
A Private User
We went to Buon Appetito after reading the reviews about the restaurant. We had the Antipasto alla Contadina which was like a work of art - beautiful colors, beautifully arranged and delicious food - enough for a meal for 2. We also had the Baci Gabriell off the Specials Menu - OMG - the most tender pasta weve ever eaten filled with veal. It truly was a like a tender little pillow - very delicate and delicious. We liked the food so much, we went back the next night and had the Ossu Buco which was enough also for 2 people. It was very moist and fell off the bone - unbelievable! Of course, the tiramisu was creamy and light and of course delicious. We received excellent service even though it was extremely busy. We went early and got good seats but it filled up quickly and lines do form. Our servers were very attentive, friendly and helpful. Highly recommend this restaurant.
