We love love love Bernini's and it's our special occasion restaurant. We always have the Bouillabaisse because it's out of this world Amazing! We share a Calamari starter which is always cooked to perfection and the side sauces are superb, but I love the pizza loaded with cheese and sprinkled with sesame seeds on the edges, kind of tastes like a fresh pretzel which makes it so unique and extremely delicious, yeah it's a little salty, but I can't resist the cheesy soft wonderful texture and tastes. We also end with a Boudini and the Raspberry sorbet, heavenly. It's pricy but this isn't a take away joint, this is as one reviewer put it a "little gem" and there is nowhere better to go for a really special occasion. The ambiance is romantic with a live musician jamming softly in the background, the decor is very European, and the service is excellent.
(5)
Chelsea C.
I'm so glad I ended up choosing this place for my graduation dinner! I had read the many positive reviews and had walked by the restaurant before and thought it was absolutely adorable, so I thought I'd give it a go. I'm a sucker for cute places. But it was a great decision! The ambiance is nice and the food was delicious and well-portioned. I had one of their cocktails (the Bernini's Spritzer) which was refreshing, tasty, and just what the doctor ordered for such an occasion. ;) My family of very judgy eaters all seemed to enjoy their meals. I have to really commend the people working there as well- our water was always refilled and our server was attentive. And she and the restaurant as a whole gets major points because they knew that two of us there were celebrating graduation that evening and gave us a tiramisu (which is my favorite and was amazing) on the house! What a pleasant surprise! That, to me, says that they were paying attention and really care about taking care of their customers. So nice of them; we totally weren't expecting any of that and were actually ready to order one. I would definitely go back whenever I return to San Diego, maybe even before I leave this lovely city. :)
(5)
Mr. G.
Outstanding Italian dining. I had the gnocchi and my wife had the lasagna. The lasagna was some of the best lasagna I've ever had had. Huge portions. We also had the apple walnut salad...it was really good. Libby was our waitress. She was super nice, friendly, and accommodating. Great service. I also tried the sunrise cocktail...it was excellent...albeit, a bit on the pricey side fo Honestly, no complaints on the food, service or establishment.
(4)
Chris L.
Super solid brunch spot in La Jolla. The Eggs Diavola is both unique and delicious ! two thumbs up
(4)
Jonathan R.
Just enjoyed a delicious lunch there....from the service to the food everything was very enjoyable. I ordered the farfalle gorgonzola which was just what I was looking for. I get worried with cream sauces sometimes because they have a tendency to be on the heavy side, but this cream sauce was light and fresh. I also indulged in a piece of their tiramisu which was also good. I'll be back.
(4)
Andy R.
Enjoyed the atmosphere, the friendly waiter and the tapenade with the freshest bread in the world... Freshest. Though I was not impressed with the food. My Steak, ordered medium rare, came out black and blue. I hate the taste of char and was surprised by the cold pink barely cooked center. I know this isn't a steakhouse, but for the price, and the presentation ... well the cover did not give honor to the content. My vegetable medley had grill marks but came out cold, and somebody put a whopping load of sour cream and butter on my assembly line baked potato. Who asked you to ruin my potato?!! Maybe the waiter could have thrown a warning, but he was fresh and was just learning the menu. Maybe it was an off night for the cook, a freind told me the food was good.
(2)
Kim M.
Unknown on the food. Waited for 20 minutes, no server came by for food or drinks. Will not return. Will recommend against anyone else, unless you are on a zero food diet. Go to La Jolla Brew House instead, excellent food 2 doors down, and they will happily serve you.
(1)
Leticia G.
This was an amazing meal we had! My husband and I went here for our anniversary dinner that we wanted to be fun, yet romantic. We got both! The servers were fantastic, friendly and prompt! The atmosphere was cozy in the fun little booth we sat in. Our glasses were never empty and we had everything we ordered promptly. We ordered a bottle of wine, a Geek salad with steak (medium rare/rare), the crab cakes (no fillers), the Filet with baked potato and grilled veg and the Papadelle with Shrimp Diavolo! EVERYTHING was delicious!!!! My filet was so big I was unable to finish it and cooked to perfection, shrimp was NOT rubbery, but decedent and tender!!! Best crab cakes I have had in a long long time! The steak salad was HUGE! the portions were massive and well worth the price! For dessert we had the chocolate pudding like Budino....perfect ending!!! Other then some loud people at the bar, I have nothing bad to say about this place! We will going back again and again... The table next to us had the spaghetti bolonese, I can't wait to try it next time. It smelled and looked fantastic....
(5)
Mark L.
I Love Bernini's Bernini's is a classic LaJolla village "neighborhood spot," mostly locals, charming ambiance, and the nicest, friendliest staff of any restaurant in LaJolla. I live two blocks from Bernini's & could eat breakfast, lunch & dinner there every single day. The food is fabulous, but it's really "the staff" that's the "the bomb." I have many food restrictions and after a quick consultation with the friendly & helpful staff (they're all friendly... every single one), I'll ask "so what have you "back there" to eat, pointing to the kitchen. Ignoring the menu, we discuss & then decide on some wonderful meal based upon whatever they have on-hand. The wait staff is very knowledgeable of the menu and, in the seven years I've lived in the village, I've never had a bad experience at Bernini's. For those with less-restrictive diets, the menu choices and daily specials are always interesting. My food-fussy teenage daughter learned to "like fish" at Bernini's; always fresh always impeccably prepared, the food at Bernini's is phenomenal. Finally, I love Bernini's for entertaining guests. When we have visitors to LaJolla I love to host a meal at Bernini's because they always take care that every one of my guests has a great meal & a fabulous experience. You can't miss Bernini's; it's the restaurant with live (attention-getting) flames from their tiki-torches, on Fay Ave near Pearl St.
(4)
Francis M.
We had the Bernini House Salad and Penne Siciliana accompanied by a bottle of a FINE COMPLEX CAB, which was very reasonably priced! The salad was fresh, crisp, and divine! The Penne Siciliana was "to die for"! As an offspring of Sicilian parents, I want to tell you that I have never enjoyed this dish more other than at home! Now, the service was something else! After the warm and inviting greeting, It was all down hill. We ordered a Cab and the server brought Merlot, which we immediately sent back. Bread was not offered but when requested, it too along with the dipping oil was very special. When the penne was served, we had not even finished a quarter of our salads. Parmesan came but NO spoon for service. Management can be very pleased and proud of its food but ashamed of its service. More training of staff is definitely in order!
(4)
Fuad H.
I am a repeat costumer to berninis given their amazing breakfast and dinners. If you haven't been - you MUST TRY IT! Breakfast: Generous mimosa's, I suggest trying the pomegranet (they are extra tasty) and delicious Bernini's Benedict (avacado and crumbled bacon...so good!) I've also had the Eggs Diovala - a must try if you are a first timer and open to trying a new spin on traditional eggs benedict. I typically choose to sit at the bar as there are two large flat screen tv's which are usually showing the top sports games playing at the time - they also have a HUGE projector screen with Sunday and Monday Night Football. Servers are always more than happy to change to whatever games customers are interested in. Dinner: Delicious steaks - I like the Filet myself, always HUGE portions which is always nice. I also really like the bowtie pasta with the Gorgonzola sauce. I have yet to try something here I havent liked. Even the Salads are good Staff is always extremely friendly, helpful and accomodating. 5 Stars
(5)
Krystal H.
I understand why all of the reviews may have 3+stars, but I am purely comparing this to other breakfast places in SD. My husband and I went here for this first time this morning due to a friend's recommendation and the yelp reviews. I ordered the Eggs Diavola, my husband ordered the chilaquiles, and our friend ordered the regular Benedict with bacon instead of canadian bacon. They had a great mimosa, very fresh orange juice and Trumer Pilsner on tap- both very good choices for a drink. When we got our food my plate was sizzling, as if it was in the oven to make the cheese melt- I could not eat my food comfortably for a good 5-10 minutes. My eggs were overdone to begin with, no runny yolk at all. The passilla tomato sauce was bland and the cheese overpowered the entire dish. The polenta was good, I will give them that. The hash browns that came with my dish were good, greasy but good. My husbands chilaquiles were too soaked in the ranchero sauce, the eggs were overdone (poached) and cold! The carne asada that came with it was moderately good, over cooked and dry to be honest. Our friend's benedict was acceptable to him except for the fact that his eggs were overdone but he said the hollandaise was flavorful. Overall I rate this experience as a 1 star due to the fact that I have had SUCH better breakfast places for the same price. If you are thinking about coming here, you may have a better experience, but I will never come back here. I personally would try other places like Great Maple, The Tractor Room, Hash House, and Barleymash before trying here. Great Maple has the best chilaquiles I have ever had! Just a thought- hope this helps you!
(1)
cedro t.
In my never ending search for the world's best fish tacos and tiramisu I've come to Bernini's. The tiramisu is excellent, not overly sweet and a good balance of cream and fingers. Pizza was fresh and flavorful. Atmosphere was gezellig on the patio. Best of all my server was friendly and helpful. 5 stars in La Jolla. I'm stuffed! I'm starting to like La Jolla food.
(5)
Thomas R.
This place is really awesome! The food was great and the service matched. I would recommend it!
(5)
Peijean T.
Bernini's Bistro is a decent neighborhood casual bistro that gets the job done with a few good plusses here and there. The food wasn't spectacular, but it was good enough, and it is seriously difficult to find a decent restaurant in La Jolla with dinner dishes under $20 (even fish!), which is why I think Bernini's is still a FIND if you live in the area and want to go out to eat without driving far away, and you don't want to spend a lot of money. Foodwise, Bernini's has big portions and the flavors/preparation are more bistro/homemade style rather than high-end/extravagantly gourmet. I ordered the Trout Almondine ($16!) and the portion (a whole fish with skin and bones) was very large with the accompanying rice pilaf and green beans. My companion ordered the Papardelle Salmone (salmon) which also was a good size overall. Bernini's gets a BIG PLUS because instead of bread, we received complimentary pita bread and housemade tzatziki sauce. Delicious! It's also a quiet restaurant (unlike the rowdy La Jolla Brewhouse next door) so a great place to catch up with a friend. The service was incredibly slow -- I think it took something like 30 minutes to receive our dinner entrees -- however this was PERFECT because I was there with an old friend and we were catching up. Plus, I appreciated that we weren't being hassled much or rushed and could just enjoy sitting in the restaurant for hours talking. Despite the laidback attitude of the service, our glasses were still kept full throughout the evening, and the server and wait staff were courteous. Our desserts were HUGE. Literally the tiramisu was meant for 2 to 3 people; I only ate half of it. My companion got the housemade pistachio gelato which arrived in a giant glass, and he couldn't finish that either.
(4)
Mari M.
I wish we had known about this place before our last day in La Jolla. What a treat! We went for breakfast and it was fantastic. I tried the lemon ricotta pancake with a side of turkey sausage. My companion had a plain pancake, bacon and scrambled eggs. We were both raving about the service and the quality of the food when we left, especially in comparison to the place we dined the day before. There was no wait here when the other two places we selected had people waiting outside. Thank you for your service and food quality, Bernini's Bistro!
(5)
Evren B.
I had a Philly Cheese Steak for lunch.. Portion was pretty big. Very cozy restaurant.. Our server Elcim, was very helpful and kind.. Will come back soon!!
(5)
Emmy B.
The pizza is excellent, and the service and outdoor area are lovely. It's a very casual place, with nothing fancy, but the prices and ambiance all go well together with the causal cuisine. It's a nice Sunday dinner kind of place, quiet and away from the din on Prospect. Oh, I almost forgot -- their breakfast is one of my favorites (served until like 3 pm). Rivals The Cottage without the crowds.
(4)
May O.
Just tried this place out for brunch/lunch and got to say that this place is pretty nice and the food is tasty. Sunday early afternoon, parking along the street wasn't too bad, we snagged a spot a few steps down from the place. When we left later, there were a lot of street spots open. There was a few minutes of waiting while they got a table ready for our group of 4, no biggie. I gotta say, the staff is very attentive because the hostess was already helping to get our table ready and another came by and made sure we were getting helped. We sat indoors, but they have a cute patio area that would be fun to sit at but it was one of the gloomy days, so indoors it was! Outdoors on a nice day would be great though. Service was fast with a lot of "do you want more water" checks which is always nice to see. The food was good, I had the steak and eggs (fillet mignon mind you!) and my gf had the design your own omelet. Comes with potatoes or hashbrowns and bread sides. Best steak and eggs I've ever had! My friends split a sandwich and they brought it out on two separate plates too which was considerate. I'm not one to sit and hang at a place too long after I paid the bill, but we were eating with out of town friends so we wanted to stay and chat some more. The continued to come by and offer us water which was nice, didn't feel rushed to leave either...so that's great service on their part. I'm a fan, it's cute, affordable, good food and service. Nice place to take friends for brunch I say.
(4)
Janette H.
This review is for brunch only. My girlfriends and I needed gossip time, but we can never do that on an empty stomach. One of the girls suggested Bernini's for brunch on a Saturday late morning. There were tons of people sitting outside, but we were immediately seated inside. The waitress and waiter that we had were very friendly and welcoming, but not overbearing. My friends had been there before and knew that they wanted the Chef's Favorite, but it was my first time and I decided to try the Ranchero Scramble and just share the dishes. I LOVED my dish! A 3-egg scramble with huge pieces of cut bacon, melted mozzarella cheese, freshly sliced avocado, fresh homemade salsa...the makings of an addicting scramble. This came with a side of crisp, hot hashbrowns and thickly-slice wheat toast with fresh raspberry jam. I'm a heifer when it comes to breakfast foods, but this was perfectly filling for me. I was actually so involved with my dish that I did not get to try what my girlfriends ordered...because they demolished their food as well. I will need to return to Bernini's and order the Chef's Favorite because now I'm just curious as to what was better than my scramble.
(4)
Gabrielle I.
Wow! Bernini's Bistro is awesome. I had a destination wedding in San Diego, and hosted a "welcome dinner" the night before at Bernini's Bistro. We got started late because there were seating issues. We also had one table that didn't get food (it was a buffet and we ran out). The staff was always accommodating and even made more food for the table that was left out. Excellent service! They really worked with my budget and created a menu for me. It was awesome! Ravioli is great! So are the salads!
(4)
Jenna N.
So, having never heard of a BUDINO, I looked up what its meaning is and found this: "Its big flavor hits your palate at once, so pure it dissolves right on your tongue" !!!!! And correctomundo, that it is! I absolutely fell in love -- slash that, pure infatution -- with this dreamy dessert. Let me set the stage for this fateful night at Bernin's Bistro. My two friends and I had a horrible dinner next door at another restaurant, and as we were walking back to our car, with heavy hearts and broken dreams, we stumbled upon Bernini's! I had been looking forward to Creme Brulee all night (which the previous restaurant ran out of), and so into Bernini's we wandered. Right when we walked in, we were greeted by the two most charming men ever! One was a warm-hearted, cheerful chef and the other was a kinda and very handsome server. They joked around with us, the chef saying he was offended that we would eat somewhere else and then come to his restaurant as a 2nd choice. Poking fun at our bad decision, he lightheartedly said, "Let me see your leftovers! Open up your box. Oh! Horrible!" And from there, we were seated to an elegant and wonderful dessert-only-meal. In one of my previous reviews, I noted that the people you interact with when you dine could be the icing on the cake -- and these two gentlemen definitely transformed what we started with at the 1st restaurant (a burnt, dry bundt cake because what kind of cake has a hole in it? I feel jipped haha) into one of those crazy, extraordinary, mindblowing cakes you see on Food Network's wedding cake challenges!! If you've seen the move, "Serendipity".... it was like that.. all meant to be. =) So, the dessert verdict? BUDINO - Definitely a chocolate lover's dream. Fudge-y, chocolate-y, creamy, rich, and hits the spot! Complete with an amaretto cookie and topped off with vanilla ice cream, strawberries, and chocolate syrup. TIRAMISU - Soo moist! Perfect blend of chocolate and cream, and perfectly balanced with some slices of strawberry. So far, so good. =) I love this place and would like to come back for a real dinner. The ambiance is so intimate and classy, I could sit here and chit chat while eating for quite some time! Thank you, Bernini's, and thank you to the two great workers!
(5)
Diana E.
Was in town visiting from Seattle for work - glad I had to go to Safeway, er, Von's because otherwise wouldn't have seen this little gem! Tucked away across from the parking lot in the center of La Jolla -- tasty treats served with a side of great attitude. We opted to sit outside because the live music was WAY loud (and not really my taste). Comfy & cozy with those heaters! The decor, both inside & out, is warm and inviting. We were greeted with glasses of water and a serving of pita chips & a type of tasty tatziki sauce (this just beat out chips & salsa in my book!) Our server was energetic and engaging, but not in that in-your-face kind of way. I sampled the sesame-crusted ahi tuna. WOW. Yum. Some crunchy tempura asparagus and home-made teriyaki sauce were fantastic complements to the perfectly-rare steak. Don't think I've ever had tuna with risotto before, but it wasn't all that different than the 'traditional' side of sticky rice and much more flavorful. I ate every single bite. My mom had their Signature Burger and she said it was one of the best burgers she's ever had in a restaurant (that's saying something - Mom used to cook professionally and is a very picky restaurant diner!). One look at her messy hands after she finished (most of) her burger, and I knew she was loving it! I don't spend much time in La Jolla, but if I go back, I'm definitely going to hit up Bernini's again! Delicious!
(4)
Ron B.
We went to downtown La Jolla last night only to find that the power was out through a few different blocks. We were going to have a bite to eat at Karl Strauss, but it was crazy busy. I had heard from a random person about a year ago that Bernini's Bistro was pretty good, since it was off the beaten path, we decided to check it out, hoping it would be less busy than the few other restaurants not affected by the power outtage. The restaurant had a nice feel inside. The prices were a little higher than we were going out for a quick bite, but there were a few open tables and no wait. We had bruschetta, a glass of wine, a soda, the chicken picatta (about $16), and the baked eggplant stuffed with spaghetti (about $13). From the look and feel of the restaurant, and the prices on the menu, we expected fairly small portions. This was a nice place, and I would compare it to any number of walk up cafes in Little Italy downtown. We were shocked when we saw the portions, huge! I didn't like the spaghetti when I sampled it, but it was probably just because if was such a different taste from the Pollo Picatta. The chicken was absolutely delicious! The eggplant could have been cooked a bit more, but because of the portion of the chicken, we both shared that and brought the eggplant home. The service was perfectly attentive and very professional and friendly. We went on a Friday night, and there was a guy playing some nice spanish guitar which was perfect for the atmosphere. He wasn't the best singer though and we certainly got a chuckle out of some of his high notes, which actually made it that much more enjoyable. We were talking about how much we enjoyed the food and atmosphere when we were walking down the sidewalk to the car when the busser ran out calling "sir, sir": I had left my keys. We would have figured it out when we got back to the car, but that was the extra customer service that pushed this place over the edge for me. I had to give them a review on here. It was a great night with great food! Thank you Bernini's Bistro!
(5)
Jeremy G.
My wife and I ate here the other day for the first time a few days ago. Everything was delicious! Friendly good looking servers, excellent cocktails! We started with the calamari, which was great. For dinner I ordered the lasagna. Let me give my lasagna disclaimer first. My mom makes lasagna better than anywhere in the world. That being said, I felt guilty that I loved every bite of their lasagna (sorry mom!). To make things even better, my wife ordered the Salmon Livornese (I believe this is how you spell it), I haven't seen her this ecstatic over a meal since she pretended to love my cooking when we first met. She has been talking about this dish every day since. Apparently we will be returning on a regular basis! Bravo Bernini's! You are a true gem in La Jolla!!
(5)
Ashley P.
Had dinner here tonight. Great ambiance, nice waitstaff, but the food was pretty bad. My blackened chicken Greek salad was ok, mushy tomatoes, super dry chicken. The bf said his lasagna tasted the cafeteria food, and that the bread was awful. It was a cute place and I hear dessert and breakfast are better. We definitely will not go back for dinner.
(3)
Carlos S.
I highly recommend Bernini's Bistro. This place has a great atmosphere, friendly staff, and an incredibly nice owner. I had the eggs diavola (the owner's favorite!), it was two poached eggs sitting on top of two cornbread biscuits and smothered in a hollandaise sauce, it also came with large cut rosemary potatoes on the side. I had some friends and their dad on vacation from Italy and decided to take them here while showing them around San Diego. They loved it, my friend's father had the tiramisu and he said it tasted just like tiramisu in Italy! The owner came out to introduce herself and chat with us a bit and even brought out a round of mimosas on the house! It was a great experience and like I said, I recommend Bernini's Bistro to everyone.
(5)
John S.
This is a great little restaurant. I had the Gnocchi Caprese. It was awesome! My wife had the Tomato Basil Pizza. That was great too. It is a cozy little spot. Quiet and romantic. Good wine and beer selection. Prices were right on point. I would definitely eat there again.
(5)
shawnee d.
I had the lemon ricotta pancakes and they were amazing! Very filling and the lemon flavor wasn't overwhelming! Would definitely go back if I'm in the area...
(5)
Anna P.
My husband I stopped here before heading over to the Comedy Store. I had the gnocci caprese and it was delicious! My husband ordered one of the specials for the night, which was a little expensive for what he got (3 shrimp, 4 oysters, and 4 mussels with rissotto). The flavor was great and the risotto was creamy. We also had a creme brule which was delicious (aside from the cookie). Our favorite part of the night though, was the tsasiki and pita chips on the table when we arrived. The atmosphere was lovely with nice live music. Our server, Craig, I believe, was fantastic as well!
(4)
Michelle C.
Lemon ricotta pancakes were yummy! They offered a variety of items for breakfast including different fresh pressed juices. Will eat here again the next time I'm in La Jolla!
(4)
Promise N.
Not a pleasant experience. I went here for brunch and ordered the Southwest Scramble with hashbrowns and a side salad. My boyfriend ordered the Lox Omellet. The food was bland, unseasoned, and meagerly portioned. I was appalled to find that my salad was warm and wilted. None of the food seemed fresh at all. I kept looking around at the other unsuspecting diners who were a classy bunch of young adults mixed with the well-to-do elderly and realized that they all must not be regulars as their food seemed to be of poor quality as well. About an hour after we left, we both started feeling a little shaky and sick to our stomachs. The decor was okay, and the outside seating area looked nice and relaxing. The menu even had gluten-free options. In the end, I couldn't help thinking it felt like an over-priced Denny's.
(2)
Cherie T.
A typical italian restaurant that you'd find in La Jolla. It's cutely decorated, small, there's an outdoor patio area (your choice of sitting indoor / outdoor depending on weather or if you feel like people watching). As soon as you sit down, the server brings out these pita chips with a side of tzatziki. I'm not a big fan of tzatziki so I cannot tell you if this sauce was up to par or not. But it was alright, in my opinion - light and refreshing. As I looked through the menu, I really wanted to order a pasta, but I was just too full to eat anything. So instead I shared a Tomato Basil Pizza with a friend. The pizza was a decent size, a bit bigger than a normal individual size pizza. The overall taste of this pizza was just okay. I've had better. Then I also shared the soup of the day with my friend, we opted for the Lobster Bisque. MMMM that was delicious!! For $5, you get a good portion of soup and they even have a few lobster chunks in the bisque! A couple of my friends got their salads and I must say, just by looking at the plates, i can tell that the greens were fresh and was tossed with a good amount of dressing! My friend got the dish I wanted (if i were more hungry) - the linguine vongole with mussels and clams. I thought they would give you the black mussels but it turns out they give out green mussels! I didn't get to sample it, but the next time i come back again, I'd definitely order that! - i love linguine and I love seafood! it was an unfortunate that i was stuffed (we had Jake's Del Mar's Happy Hr prior to our 6pm dinner here). If I had a bigger appetite then I would have ordered a pasta dish because it looked pretty darn good. Overall this place is more like a 3.5 for my taste bud, but that's based on the two dishes that I ordered (the pizza was just really meh, i've had better, and the lobster bisque was probably a 4 stars). Hopefully when I come back the next time and get to try other dishes, the rating will bump up.
(3)
Ramsey S.
I usually stick to sushi when I eat fish, but the Salmon-Alla-Whatever (tough to pronounce/remember...think it was "Griglia") sounded interesting enough. The texture and taste were beyond perfect. Seriously, this dish is what perfection wishes it could be. The honey glaze had just the right amount of sweetness and the salmon was moist. The butternut squash pilaf below the fish was also flavorful but not overpowering. Other than the fish, the sweet walnut salad was...sweet. It wasn't as special as the fish as you could find similar quality salad at a place like Croutons. It was still good, though. The creme brulee was average but average creme brulee is still pretty good. Service was very friendly and efficient. They checked on us relatively frequently and replenished drinks all the time which was good because I was drinking like a camel. I'm coming back for sure.
(5)
Priya P.
The cutest place! Ended up here totally unplanned but a great surprise. We decided to sit in the outdoor area which they have arranged to be quite cozy with the heaters, brick walls and cute little European touches. The service was really great too. It started drizzling and within seconds a waiter was out and moved our plates to table under the awning. The food was great. We ordered the pastas since we came around lunchtime but they seem like a place that would be perfect for brunch. Reasonably priced. Looking forward to trying the rest of their menu!
(4)
Carol K.
Looking to sit outside and people watch all the interesting goings on in La Jolla? Well Bernini's Bistro is the perfect place to do that and get some good food to boot. Stopped by for a late lunch and pretty much had the place to myself. I was immediately seated on their cute little patio (loved the trickling fountain on the wall) the granite topped tables and bistro chairs. My server was friendly, atttentive but new-so I'll give him a break as he really didn't know what came with what or much about the menu but he kept running back inside to ask someone who did so all was well. My beer was cold- my sandwich tasty and I sat there for a couple of hours reading my book and enjoying the weather. Inside- this place also got my vote. I liked the dark woods and the homey feeling of it all. The funniest thing? Gotta love California. To use the restrooms- you have to go outside. Reminded me of the old gas station restrooms that did not have inside doors, back in the day. Just imagine that happening in Chicago . . .you'd have to shovel the snow away from the doors. Bernini's serves breakfast, lunch and dinner and has a pretty varied menu and good wine list. Free street parking is available right in front of the place. My lunch with 3 drinks came to just under $20 so it is reasonably priced as well. All in all- a great way to while away an afternoon. Caught up on my reading, people watching and relaxation all in one place. And isn't that what vacation is all about?
(4)
Jacqueline I.
My husband and I have eaten here a couple times and have both times were happy with our food, service, and the overall atmosphere, sitting out on the front patio or in the back room. The food definitely outdoes your generic, big franchise and "bland" Italian eateries (if you are eating there for Italian) and parking wasn't too bad, either.
(4)
T M.
Excellent steak! Wonderful atmosphere. We really enjoyed the experience and will be back again. Highly recommended.
(5)
Kel-Mel B.
We come here for dinner every time we go to the Comedy Store across the street. The food is TO DIE FOR! I have tried alfredo at almost every Italian restaurant in San Diego, and I can honestly say this one beats them all. If you aren't in the mood, try the tomato basil pizza. It's amazing!!! We've never had a bad meal here, and Hamdi and Carlos make the place so much fun. Hamdi is an excellent painter so if you want, just stop by for a drink and check out his art.
(5)
Cynthia S.
Bernini's Bistro offers what I enjoy (and expect) for a great dining experience: a quiet atmosphere; friendly and professional waitstaff; a varied menu; and, a reasonably-priced wine list. All of the above, and having Elchim as our hostess, made it a pleasant and delightful visit. Will certainly visit again and again!
(5)
Ron H.
Had dinner with my wife and two seven year old kids. The staff was friendly and we sat outside on the patio. My wife and I had the burgers which were decent. Kids menu was limited so my son had the pizza. It was extremely greasy and really salty. My daughter had the kids Penne which was probably the best of the meals we had. It says this restaurant is good for kids, but I would not bring kids back....as I mentioned, kids menu was extremely limited and we had to pay $2.50/ea for the kids' drinks. Not sure I would come back.
(3)
M. P.
Went here for a quick breakfast. The menu was exciting and the food was very good and filling. The portions are anything but small. The service was great and the best thing for me was I was able to replace my breakfast potatoes for fries!
(4)
Gary L.
I'm going to give this place 4 stars. I'd rather give it 3.5 stars. Cherie T gave it 3 stars when she said it is more like 3.5 stars. By giving it 4 stars, we now both average 3.5 stars. Yes... Anyway. I think this place would be awesome to eat at if you sat outside. They've got huge flames coming out of torches, kind of like at Roy's across from UTC. The inside isn't as exciting. There's supposed to be live music at 8PM on this particular Saturday night, I'm not sure if it happens every Saturday night. Parking is typical downtown La Jolla parking. Maybe you can sneak your car into the Vons lot across the street and nobody will complain and tow your car away. I ordered the Spaghetti Bolognese which is just Spaghetti with Meat Sauce for $10.95. The serving looked a bit small, but then again I'd rather have a small delicious meal than a large disgusting meal. I'd compare the size of this to something you'd get at a place like Spaghetti Factory. The meat sauce was done well. Little bits of beef, no large chunks. The sauce was plentiful. I eat spaghetti for the sauce and not for the pasta so I was pretty happy with my order. The pasta itself was good. It wasn't soggy nor raw. It was perfect. The food came out quickly, and the service was good. I think I'd come back here again. Not for the food, but I want to try sitting outside next time to see what that's like.
(4)
Courtney T.
I really love this place. The ambiance is charming, both outdoor and indoor seating. Their menu looks wonderful. I want to try so many dishes. I went with the chicken salad sandwich on rosemary bread for lunch and it was delicious. Will definitely return to check out other items. They serve brunch until 4 pm and they serve lunch and dinner as well. Try this place!
(5)
R B.
Bernini's is our second home :) Our kids love going there and so do we. Service couldn't be better. Food is great, good quality and well done and drinks are perfect too. But above all I think service is what makes us keep going for more, the cozy athmosphere and friendliness helps too. LOVE Bernini's. Highly recommend it!
(5)
JENN K.
after finishing my last midterm I decided I wanted to go for a nice long drive so I came up with the idea of surprising my bf by visiting him down in La Jolla, San Diego. When I arrived we used yelp to find local eateries, so we came down to this small plaza where it was filled with different restaurants that were mostly closed. after walking block after block we were ready to head back to the car when we came across this place. it stood out right away and so we proceeded to review the menu, it seem ordinary but we went in and shortly we learned it was the best decision we made that day. the server/bartender was very friendly and gave us a table with a open window so we can people watch during our meal. I ordered a steak sandwich and my bf ordered a meatball sub. it seems simple but the amount of flavors you got from one bite of the food was just phenomenal. trust me you must try it before you knock it. I can say this place is a hidden gem and I hope that I see more places like this. such great service and food!! oh gosh wish I could go back ..
(5)
Mary M.
I'm a big fan! Lemon ricotta pancakes are amazing for breakfast! I've never been disappointed with any of their pasta dishes either. Look for the restaurant with torches
(5)
Peter C.
They took in the weary travelers....hungry, sleepy, grumpy and fussy. They welcomed us with open arms and lulled us into a food coma with some of the best Italian food we could have imagined! The wine was wonderful and the service fast and efficient. Will go back!
(5)
Melanie V.
ok, so my husband, my father in-law and daughter are on a College tour from the bay area and headed down south and stayed in a near by hotel and decided to head over to Bernini's for dinner. My son, and his girlfriend who lives in SD met them there as well to catch up and have a nice meal. So, his girlfriend ordered a Greek salad and began eating it and guess what was in there? COCKROACH - seriously? She got so ill after seeing that she went to the bathroom and threw up. The waiter told my husband he would comp the entire meal, but came back later and said he would only comp half the meal? Had I been there I would have pitch a fit. However since I was not and my husband did not argue - I decided to give them a review - So, if you like COCKROCHES for $16 go on in. I'm thinking someone should call the food inspector. Next on my list....
(1)
MJ S.
Great place to walk up to the bar, sit back and relax. Chill and cozy atmosphere. The outdoor seating area is nice as well. Service has been great and friendly bartenders.
(4)
Rachelle T.
After a long day at the zoo, I was put in charge of finding a place to eat on our way back to our hotel. So glad I chose Bernini's! The food and service was excellent, the price was reasonable, and reflected the quality of their food. All in all, they managed to please the whole family from the choosy Grandparents to the feisty 4-year-old, to a very exhausted mom and dad. Thank you!
(5)
Kristine P.
My friends and I ordered 2 pastas, 1 hamburger, and some crab cake appetizer. Not much to say but everything was SALTY SALTY SALTY to the point that our taste buds were getting numb at the end of our meal. crab cake appetizer consisted of only 2 things and definitely not worth the money that we paid. Hamburger was okay. And two pastas that we got, it was way too salty (again) and barely had any noodles. We had to dig and search for the noodles because they gave us so little. Their service was alright and they were really generous with their bread and pita chips.
(2)
Amelia C.
Servers are a little odd, but the food is good and the prices are reasonable for the area. I usually take my parents out for breakfast here when they are in town.
(3)
Becky S.
Lemon Ricotta Pancakes are amazing, went there for brunch. Had the Bernini's Benedict - with bacon and avocado hollandaise - amazing... mimosas are huge, you can tell everything is made on premise. A must if vacationing in La Jolla or Del Mar..
(5)
Natalie H.
I work just down the street from Bernini's Bistro and so I like to go there for lunch! I'm always very pleased with my dining experience when I go there. I just finished having a business lunch there today and, as usual, I was warmly welcomed by the host and bartender and they were quick to seat me and take my order. The ambience is very pleasant and the food and its presentation are nice. Today I tried the Veggie Scramble, which I liked. I thought it was fresh and light. I will certainly go back.
(5)
Rachel R.
Bernini's is a quaint little restaurant with really good food! Cute tables and decorating give off a small homey feeling. They give complimentary bread with olive oil and balsamic vinegar which was delicious. I had the farfalle gorgonzola pasta and house salad, both were delicious. Other family members had the Mexican omelette and loved it. The homemade jam is amazing. The waitstaff works had and is very efficient. I would defiantly recommend Bernini's!
(4)
Nathan M.
I will definitely be returning. Had the cheese platter, caprese salad and lasagne.the lasagne was tasted delicious it brought back memories of chef boardie ravolias just way classier
(5)
wiz z.
We've been here several times since our last review. SO we thought we'd update and let you good people know its still a nice night out at Bernini's! Again we selected patio seating, even though its still chilly at night, (BRING YOUR SWEATER IN MARCH, FOLKS!) because we had a new Canine Companion with us. The bread basket arrived and we enjoyed it with choices from their wine menu. Started with the HUGE house salad with walnuts, cranberries and house dressing, followed by their chicken with basil, as well as gnocci and cheese with a side of pasta. An excellent combination if I do say so myself!!!! You should do the same! AND, the DARLING waiter and chef made a SPECIAL dish JUST for my canine companion! WHAT A GREAT STAFF! Thank you! We loved our waiter, who was attentive, funny, personable, and made great suggestions and was correct in all of them.
(4)
lee m.
Just had a great business lunch here on the patio. I've heard great places about this restaurant thru friends and have been looking forward to try it for quite some time. They have an expansive menu. I went with a healthy Steak salad that was delicious. The staff was super friendly and the food was delicious. Reasonably priced for lunch too. Will go back for dinner.
(5)
Nathaniel P.
The spaghetti was extremely over meaty, the noodles were barely cooked long enough. For how it tasted, it was definitely overpriced, and judging from the description, I thought it would be amazing! Fish and Chips were inadequate. Manhattan soup was just OK, and the salmon cake was horrible. Skip out on this place!
(2)
Meagan G.
My mom and I came here for lunch one day after the farmers market. We both ordered the philly cheese steak. It was mediocre. The fries were not very good. The service was wonderful though. They had a really nice brunch menu and all the dishes that came out look very good. I look forward to bringing my husband here for brunch.
(3)
Austin S.
Probably the best breakfast I've had in La Jolla. Certainly the most consistent. I've never had lunch or dinner here. I have heard good things, but can't speak personally. The service is better than average and the staff's dress and demeanor is refreshingly professional. It's nice inside, but I always sit on the patio. The breakfast always has fresh fruit and the cooked items are prepared well, with attention to detail in presentation.
(4)
Tara C.
Im a fan of this cosy restaurant with awesome food. Had intended to go to PrepKitchen for dinner, but their seating was very limited, and didnt look comfortable. This place is next door. Menu had nice selection of pastas, salads, land and sea options. Tried their special of the day which was halibut stuffed with crab/scallops on bed or risotto/spinach. It was by far the best fish I've had in San Diego. The fish was cooked perfectly. My partner had stuffed chicken, which she loved. We were surprised how reasonable entrees and wine list prices were. Entrees were in the $20 range, glasses of wine $7 each. Try the Bex Mosel Reisling...its very good. The restaurant had a nice wine bar area. Robby was very good server. I docked them a star, because although they were slow, food took a while. But it was worth the wait. Compared to other overpriced restaurants in La Jolla, this one rocks!
(4)
Jarrod G.
Amazing dinner had by all. Nice wine list. Love that they brought pita crisps and tzatziki sauce when we sat down. Three great dishes tonight. Pollo piccata, farfalle gorgonzola and pasta sicillica. Not sure if I got the names right but you'll recognize them on the menu when you see them. Shawn our waiter was awesome and always around for refills and recommendations. For dessert I'd recommend the tarimisu and the cheesecake. Both amazing.
(5)
Kaspa H.
Loved this place. Very good food, my Salmon was cooked just right. The service was perfect, with just the right amount of attention when you need it with a smile and not disturbing when you don't. Very nice place for a Sunday brunch. We will return.
(5)
Jerod M.
Just got here...please hold..............
(3)
Lisa C.
I love Bernini's. Their breakfast is wonderful - the huevos rancheros is my favorite. They serve homemade bread and jam that is to die for. At dinner, I always have the filet. It's is reasonably priced and delicious. The restaurant is small and intimate and the service good. It's a great "go to" place.
(4)
Anna K.
We were pleasantly surprised at this restaurant. It kind of looks like it might be a cheesy tourist place but it's not. The food is very solid and the ambiance is quite charming. There was live piano music the night we went. Service was really great. I highly recommend it.
(4)
Hannah S.
LOVE LOVE !! I just recently started working in La Jolla and was introduced to this place. I have only been for dinner (now i'm thinking I need to stop in for breakfast) but I have nothing bad to say at all. We love to go grab a drink and dinner at the bar. All of the staff has been so friendly and helpful and the owner is there a lot to ensure great presentation and service. We loved it so much we hosted a staff party there a few weeks ago. Again, they went above and beyond and everyone enjoyed their time. My favorite is the tube pasta with shrimp (forget the name) it's a little bit spicy and delicious. Also, you MUST get the bruschetta to start!
(5)
Kattie C.
I used to LOVE coming here to eat. The food is always really good. But when you go to a sit-down restaurant (like Bernini's), especially one that's supposed to be nice (like Bernini's), you should expect some sort of decent service. Now, remember, I used to go here regularly. I'd say about once a month or once every two months. And for awhile, it was great. I'd take friends, and they'd always be impressed. The brunch/ lunch menu is a GREAT deal, and their breakfast foods are amazing. BUT THEN, on a fateful [yes, I'm making an allusion to a previous review] Saturday afternoon, I had possibly one of the WORST dining experiences I've ever had-- ESPECIALLY when I think about how much I used to love the place. I don't know if they've changed management but a couple times prior to the referenced Saturday, I had experienced a decline in the decency of service. Waiters were occasionally aloof; we weren't given bread; our waters were ignored-- it happens. I'm pretty forgiving (having been a waitress myself). Plus, I'm generally an easy going person. No food/ service snob here. BUT THEN-- our host seated us without a word of welcome (which is REALLY unlike the guy who normally mans the front and is super sweet). Our waitress asked us how our food was and LEFT WHILE WE WERE ANSWERING. Kid you not-- girl just turned and left mid-sentence. Our waters were ignored. No bread. Our waitress ignored us pretty much the rest of the time except to clear our plates [which we had to wait AWHILE for] and brought us the check. She didn't smile, made NO effort at even being polite, and it was very, "Wham, bam, thank you, ma'am." I get that people have bad days, but your JOB is to provide a service. Learn to be professional or don't do the job. I mean... even if you were going to be rude or callous or cold, you could at least have done your job [filling waters, checking up, asking about dessert, prompt, courteous blah blah blah]. I'm a mellow person, but this was ridiculous. I'm not going back because the experience was THAT disheartening, especially when I think about how awesome it was the first time I went. The general decline and THAT spectacular show is enough to cross this place off the list for me.
(2)
Gurkan S.
My good friend lives near here and we finally stopped in and the food was amazing! Atmosphere, wine, attentive but not bothersome service were all great! But in additional to all that, the prices were really reasonable! Really enjoyed the calamaries and salmon livornese was mouth wateringly good. There were several other menu items and specials i want to try so I will definitely be back and soon!
(5)
Alex M.
I went to Bernini's with some friends for brunch the other day and we were pleasantly surprised. First off, the Lemon Ricotta Pancakes were amazing... and second the service was just as good. Thanks Polina! In addition, it was a nice surprise to find out that all of the art work in the restaurant was done by the owner. Wow! It is truly a beautiful place for Sunday brunch.
(5)
emil e.
I have been going to this place for over ten years and deserve a good review. The location is good if you live in La jolla, the food is good ,the service is ok, the owners are the nicest people and they are so good to thier customer, i love the feel of the family business. I eat here about once a week and have never been disapointed.
(5)
Foodie S.
My overall favorite breakfast place. The lemon Ricotta pancakes are to die for! Also like many of the other reviews have mentioned, the Owner is always there walking around and talking to the guest to make sure that everything is perfect. I have a hard time going to any other place and not regretting going there! Enjoy..
(5)
Jeanette D.
The food is very good, and the owner and manager make you feel very welcome. I prefer this place for brunch over the places with long wait lines in La Jolla, such as the Cottage, which is in my opinion, not as good. While this is a great casual spot for lunch, it's spruced up at night with table linens, candles, and occasional live music for a great date spot. The menu at night is dramatically different than the daytime, and it will feel like another restaurant altogether. The wait staff is a bit hit and miss in terms of service so that's the only occasional downside but that seems to be more a factor with the day staff than the night staff.
(4)
Aimless B.
Good food, good wine, good service. I will go back!
(5)
Sonya B C.
Ate here 9/14/10 and enjoyed the food very much. I would come back. I ordered the Stuffed chicken which was very good, served with a yummy squash and steamed/sauteed vegetables. I was so full, I ordered desert to go - the Tiramisu, and true to the waiter's comment, it was delicious! Including the iced tea, it came to $26.00 - What a deal! I was here fairly early - 5:30 to 6:00 ish so it wasn't crowded at all. The busboy was very attentive, and the waiter was friendly. I give the busboy high marks, he offered to give me a tea to go! There were not very many people in the restaurant so I would have been really disappointed if the service had been bad, but service was great, food was good and I was a happy camper!
(4)
Gonzales M.
My dear friends, if you want to eat realy great food and enyoj the politeness of the staff go to this small but very nice and cosy bistro restaurant! The prices are fair, we had with my wife 2 starters, each 2 main dishes, 1 desert and each some wine.. for aprx, fair 80bucks ony! I will come deffinetely again here !!! Great job guys- continue like this. Cheers Serchy
(4)
Leni T.
Never had anything but breakfast but here is what I like Rarely a wait for a table Helpful servers Outside tables Don't mind special orders Good omelets Fresh squeezed OJ
(4)
Kerri C.
Came here while visiting from New York and the service was terrible and inattentive. We saw the Trip Advisor award that they present along side their menu, which I'm still confused as to how they achieved that. First of all, the food was bland. Secondly, my boyfriend and I waited forty minutes, that's right forty minutes, for our food to arrive. To top it off our waiter never apologized to us for the wait and every time he would pass us we would be completely ignored. I ordered the Cobb salad which consisted mainly of lettuce and grilled chicken. Lastly, the restaurant was EMPTY there is absolutely no excuses for this poor service. Needless to say I would never come to this restaurant again and I suggest if your looking for an enjoyable dinning experience to look somewhere downtown in La Jolla. All the restaurants by the Cove were delicious and had great customer service.
(1)
evil d.
Berninis is that kind of place that makes you keep going back all the Time, Family Owned you see Hamdi (the owner) and his wife taking care of you, always with a prompt smile and good conversation. The pizzas are the real deal, and so is the food. We had an excellent steak and the wine selection is good too. I like to seat outside, I go here almost every time I'm in La Jolla.
(5)
Daniel C.
I have tried several dishes on the menu and loved every one of them ,great atmosphere and great service.
DELIGHTFUL!!! That's how I would describe our experience at Bernini's Bistro! The food was Delicious and the waitress we had named "Elchim" was a sweetheart, remembered our order perfectly and made us feel very welcomed. We can't wait to come back soon! And as an extra bonus they allow dogs on their patio! How cool is that for a high quality restaurant?! Thank you!
(5)
Scott H.
We ate brunch at Bernini's on a Saturday. I'm very surprised to be giving them 1 star, but it was a bad experience all around. To begin, we walked up and there was nowhere to check in. So, we asked a server that was behind the bar. She told me they did away with the hostess stand, but there was no wait. She asked if we wanted inside or outside, and we said inside. She said she had to deliver something and they would clean off a table for us. We waited about 5 minutes, she returned, and lead us outside. I reminded her that we wanted inside, so they then cleared the table. We were immediately brought water, but didn't see a server for our brunch order for nearly 10 minutes. My wife ordered the filet omelet and I had the chilaquiles with carne asada. I ordered the eggs scrambled with cheddar cheese. When the food came (about 12 minutes), my wife's was as ordered. Mine however, was not. The eggs had no cheese and there was no carne asada. I pointed these issues out to our server, and he took the plate, apologized, and said they would rectify the situation. As I was waiting, he returned and again apologized. He was very nice. He said that the carne asada was a new menu addition, which doesn't really explain why they forget it, but like I said, he was nice about it. So, after about 6 minutes, another person brings my food back. It was the same plate of food, but it was scalding hot. They had just put cheese on the already scrambled eggs, piled some carne asada on top of the chilaquiles, and put the whole thing under the salamander until the cheese was totally melted. The cheese did indeed melt. But, the entirety of the plate got ridiculously hot, including: ketchup, pico de gallo, sour cream, and guacamole. Additionally, the eggs were beyond nuked. They were rubbery and had no life in them at all. Some of the tips of the chilaquiles were burnt. I ate what I could, as I was hungry and sick of waiting. But, the food was entirely nuked and basically destroyed. The wife's omelet was decent. The potatoes were the most basic hash browns with no seasoning, so we had to add salt, pepper and hot sauce to get any flavor. The omelet was also overdone in my opinion, maybe they just really REALLY cook eggs at Bernini's. I was really looking forward to eating here, and we may give it a shot for dinner. It's highly rated and a lot of people seem to have great experiences here. But, from the moment we walked in until we left we had major issues during our meal.
(1)
Tam B.
Loved it everything was delicious!! We got the Bernini Benedict, breakfast burrito and lemon ricotta pancakes. Oh my god!! So amazing. And the owner was super nice gave us free tiramisu!!!
(5)
J R F.
Ate lunch here for the first time yesterday. Charming place with a varied menu that has several gluten free options. The staff provided excellent service and the kitchen did a nice split for us on steak and eggs. The option of a salad with a breakfast dish was a pleasant surprise. We will be back when in LA Jolla again to try some of their other dishes!
(5)
Jennifer C.
A bit disappointed after the reviews. If you are looking for red sauce and little variation this is it. Highlight for meal was the tiramisu- worth it for dessert.
(3)
Teal G.
Great lunch! Delicious salads. This was recommended to us by locals, and we both really enjoyed our salads. Exactly what We were looking for. Good quality/ fresh chicken. Makes all the difference in salads. We will be back!
(5)
veronica v.
I love this place. I pretty much have breakfast there 3 or 4 times a month. Sometimes lunch and sometimes dinner. I have tried many things in the menu. For breakfast I love the eggs diiavola, chilaquiles with carne asada on weekends. i I Love the the veggie sandwich, the burgers, the salad. The servers are incredible and they are always trying there best. Will keep going and recommending such place
(4)
Bob W.
Absolutely delicious! We had the Mediterranean vegetables (variety of roasted vegetables, roasted just right and plenty for two people) and a thin crust pizza (my wife is picky about the thin crust and this was fantastic) with multiple cheeses and artichokes. I had a glass of wine and it was a good sized glass. The servers were very pleasant and came around just the right amount - ask for Linda (funny and told us about castles in the area she liked).
(5)
Ryan S.
Breakfast service and food = A+ I've been here many times for breakfast and everything I've tried has been excellent: pancakes, omelette's, and house specialties. I would have to say that the house special Bernini's Benedict is my favorite. It features poached eggs on English muffins with crumbled bacon, tomato and it's topped with an avocado Hollandaise. The location is great and it's easy to find parking, even on Saturday and Sunday mornings. If you're in the La Jolla area, give it a try!
(4)
Anna D.
I have eaten here several times and have received wonderful service from the staff. I usually come here during the day and order the Lo-Carb breakfast. It consists of eggs, bacon and your choice of salad or cup of fresh fruit. The restaurant is clean, airy and bright. Been here for dinner too and you get to listen to live music while you enjoy a scrumptious meal. If you are ever in La Jolla, stop by Bernini's for food that is fresh and healthy.
(5)
Richard W.
We eat here at least once a month and have for years. During that time we have NEVER had a poor experience. The food is well crafted, beautifully served, and reasonably priced. The ambiance is very Frenchy, and over the years had been improved with remodeling and redecorating. There is indoor and outdoor seating. One of the mysteries of La Jolla is why Bernini's Bistro never has a line, while one block away The Cottage has an hour wait. Is the food better? Not in my opinion. Whose prices are more reasonable? Bernini's. The customer mix is different too, as Bernini's has a higher mix of locals. My guess is that the locals know and tourists don't. So, my recommendation is to act like a local. My favorites include the Salmon Wrap, Spinach Salad with an add-on chicken breast, and everything on the breakfast menu. Breakfast is served until 5 PM.
(4)
Kyla V.
Been going here for years! This is a small family owned restaurant. I love their brunches on the weekend and I love their intimate dinners at night. The owners take great pride in their staff and the service each person gets. This is the place the locals go in La Jolla. If you are looking for the hidden gem and aren't sure where to go. This is the place! I highly recommend their tiramisu and their calamari. You wont regret it! Happy Dining!
(5)
Kevin P.
Another place that puts far more attention on their decor and ambience than on their food. How they have 4 stars, I have no idea! The food was completely bland and tasteless. I got the traditional cheese pizza: First of all there is absolutely NOTHING 'traditional' about it. It looked like someone made their first pizza with a bag of mozzarella they purchased at the Von's across the street moments ago. Second, it had no taste whatsoever. Reminded me of a "Little's Ceasar's hot and ready" Yes that bad. My wife got the chicken parmigiana which I took a bite of. Equally tasteless. "European style bistro".. keyword: style. The cuisine is basically average American only good to those who have no palate.
(1)
Kerry F.
The salmon cakes are awesome! We love the pizzas and all of the pastas are huge portions. Definitely recommend sitting outside on the patio; inside can get crowded. Very friendly and attentive staff.
(4)
Brad W.
Must eat here. Really. Favorite place in Southern California. If I lived here, I'd be here every day.
(5)
Wesley D.
I was at this location last night with a bunch of friends after the Societe beer stop over. Great Italian dishes and a warm cosy atmosphere. This place reminds me "Cheers" where everybody knows your name...as it seems like a lot of regulars at the bar especially. Great design and wall art by the owner "Hamsi"...very nice guy by the way and very attentive staff. I love the seafood here. Scallops are the best and an excellent beer on tap selection.
(5)
Linda K.
I had a large party of 15 here and the service we received was impeccable! I ordered a tomato basil pizza which was as good as any pizza but was still fresh out of the oven and yummy. I really liked the sesame seeds on the crust, but I wasn't blown away. Everyone else seemed to enjoy their meals and the entire group was very happy! A few people ordered off the Restaurant Week menu and the food they got looked very delicious although I didn't try any. Someone in our party had a birthday and the restaurant gave a free tiramisu. The tiramisu is so GOOD! Light, creamy and absolutely delicious! I will definitely go back for the dessert. The reason I gave a four star is bc of the bathroom. It's kinda funky with the painting of an ocean wave on the floor, but it was so stuffy once inside!! Oh my word... But overall great experience, very thoughtful waitresses and happy eaters make this a great option for dinner!
(4)
Mark G.
Went here on date night because it was close to the comedy shop & wanted to eat first. What a treat! Calamari was a delightful start & the entrees ( salmon & rib eye ) were prepared perfectly. The service was exceptional as well. Apparently one of the staff members (Cecilia) overheard that it was my birthday & brought out a complimentary tiramisu. Didn't ask for anything however it was a nice touch! Very friendly staff & exceptional food. Will be back.
(5)
Jim B.
I liked Berninis, I like the overall taste of the food and the inviting atmosphere. The waiter was a little to lackluster for my tastes. He moved slow and didn't take my company seriously. I think the place is good overall and the portions are very large. I would go back but I am not in a hurry either.
(3)
Jennifer N.
My parents were down visiting for the day from LA and this place was recommended to me by a friend who works down the street. Other than the fact that I forgot to ask for dressing on the side w/my salad, everything else was REALLY good. We started with the mozz caprese, how often does this also come w/avocado?! YUM. I had the blackened chicken salad and even with the larger amount of dressing than i would have liked, it was still pretty light and not too lemon-y. I stole a bite of my parent's food- the meatball sandwich and the philly! The fries were phenomenal also. The service was overall comfortable- not too slow, not too pushy (even though it took them a while to fill my first water glass, after that it was great). I mentioned we needed to be out by a certain time, and it was accomplished!
(5)
Brandy C.
Appetizer: Mediterranean Platter Entree: Blackened Mahi Mahi My friend and I were driving in downtown La Jolla, and saw this restaurant, We decided to give it a try without checking yelp reviews! (We were too hungry at that time.) They had live band and the atmosphere was great! We saw by the window and breeze come in! Love it! The food we ordered were very delicious! Especially the mahi mahi we ordered, I wish I had that everyday! If you are hungry, go to this restaurant! You will enjoy your dinner with the people you love.
(4)
Leo P.
I am new to the San Diego area and a friend of mine invited me out to dinner.. He asked what I felt like eating and as usual I said 'whatever'.. Knowing that I love a good pasta dish, he took me to Bernini's.. I have to say, hands down the BEST lasagna I've ever had.. SERIOUSLY! I come to find out that they use organic ingredients and that even the pasta is homemade! The service was amazing, the server was super polite and attentive.. I will absolutely be going back with my family when they are in town visiting me.. I highly recommend Bernini's for their amazing service and phenomenal food! Thanks for an amazing meal guys! See you soon ;)
(5)
Harper K.
Here now for brunch. To say the service is terrible is an understatement. Understand if they are busy, but, frankly, there is no wait, so how busy can they be? Got seated immediately, but waited 15 minutes and had to ask twice for highchair, despite obviously trying to restrain an active 2 year old. No waiter yet. After highchair finally arrived, water finally came 10 mins later. 10 min later, waitress comes to table TO TAKE DRINK ORDER. When we told her we were ready to order, she told us that they were "taking orders in order" because the kitchen was backed up. Evidently it wasn't our turn and she was reluctant to take order, even when I pointed out that they had clearly already taken orders from tables that were seated after us. Asked for msnager and was told there was no manager. Weird, right? Order is in, but am wondering how long it will be until the food actually arrives-- it's been 25 mins so far--long enough for me type this on a phone-- and nothing yet. Am hoping the food will be so phenomenal that the wait will be worth it... will check back in after we eat and let you know, but so far ZERO stars just based on experience so far.
(1)
Brooke A.
If i could give them a 10 star rating I would! I absolutely love this place. I have been there many times and have tried almost everything on the menu and I literally was happy with each meal. The Salmon is great. My Boyfriend gets the salmon cakes every time without a doubt. The service is great each time. I highly recommend this place.
(5)
Arthur R.
The food here is great. We love the omelets along with fresh OJ and really good coffee. Have never had a bad meal here. Mostly locals as it's a little off the tourist area by 1 block. People who work here are very professional.
(5)
Georgina A.
I was so disheartened by my last experience and it was such a shock I am writing this in hope Hamdi will realize something is terribly off. I have been coming here for 10 years and was just raving about how consistent and delicious it always is and then I decided to take a friend to dinner there for her for first time and I was embarrassed. To start off with the service was appalling. We were sat outside and the waiter (Amit) took our drink and appetizer order brought our wine then dissapeared for 15-20 minutes. I had get up and go search for him and tell him I wanted to place the rest of my order at which point he decided to say " oh yeah we can't do the appetizer you wanted sorry". Really!? Ok I decided to shake it off and ordered the mussels - a new item on the menu - but he failed to tell me that there are 2 mussle dishes and never asked for clarification. Another 15-20 minutes later some baked mussles arrived- not a dish I would order when I asked "what is this?" he cringed and said "the baked mussles you didn't tell me which ones so I brought these" REALLY!!?? It never had a waiter act so brazen. I was visibly upset. He quickly offered to bring the other mussles too -ok this was good and the mussles with fries where quite good so that helped. Then finally over an hour after arriving we got our entrees. I ordered the "24 hour braised" short ribs- needless to say the 24 hour tag was no more than a sales tactic anything braised that long should have been tender like butter- the meat was tasty but a bit tough, the sauce was sparse and generally just ok. The pollo piccata was average and the braised beef pizza was interesting but very light on toppings. All in all a less than average meal and a far cry from the comfortable reliable and pleasant experience I had come to expect. Everything from the new busy menu with childish drawings to the lack of attention and brazen disregard for our dining experience from the waitstaff just left such a bad bad taste that I can't imagine going back anytime soon. This place has always been a local mainstay but it's feeling like that's lost- I do hope I'm wrong.
(2)
Lainey S.
If I could give this place negative stars- I would. Normally, I go into details on my reviews, but in this case, once particular thing happened that never should have and for that reason alone- I'm keeping this short and simple. Ordered the greek salad with salmon. Half way into it- I discover a COCKROACH. I immediately ran to the bathroom and threw up. I was soo utterly disgusted. My boyfriend took the salad back. The waitress came to apologize once I returned to the table. She immediately said nobody would have to pay for their dinner. (It was a group of 5 of us). She offered to bring me something else but I had lost my appetite (it's 12 hours later and I still don't have it back). Everyone else finised their food and she comes back with the bill and said she could only discount 50%. ARE YOU FREAKING KIDDING ME?!!?!?! 50% discount AFTER I FOUND A COCKROACH IN YOUR FOOD AND AFTER YOU TOLD ME WE WOULDN'T HAVE TO PAY FOR ANYTHING. ABSOLUTELY RIDICULOUS. I don't care if you're eating at a whole in the wall or a place like Bernini's where you're paying $30 for a steak & $16 for a salad- having cockroaches in your food is NEVER ACCEPTABLE. I will NEVER be returning here or recommending it to anyone.
(1)
Kaylee G.
I almost tried everything in their menu and I think all of them are pretty delicious. We went to Bernini's with my boyfriend last night and we both wanted to try something new. I ordered the Sesame Seared Ahi Tuna, and he ordered the Seafood Risotto Special. I want to talk about mine first. My Ahi Tuna was heavenly. I have been craving since I had that tasty dish. The teriyaki sauce, the risotto (with peas in it), and the asparagus tempura were yummy yummy yummy. My boyfriend's Seafood Risotto looked so good. The presentation for both dishes were very nice. Service is always friendly and great. We asked the waitress which wine would go good with our dishes, and she recommended us to get the Bennet Family Chardonay which was a great recommendation. I love this place and never give up going there. By the way, they have a great patio, makes me feel like I'm in Europe:)
(5)
Marc R.
Very sympatic restaurant with friendly staff. The housemade soup and the burger I ordered were very delicious. In this restaurant you can order meals from different kitchens like Italian (Pizza and pasta), Mexican (Quesadillas,...) and American (Burger and Sandwiches). They as well have several local draft beers for the beer likers ;)
(4)
Sandra C.
The chicken picatta was four stars--breast meat with a tasty sauce although the butternut squash mash tasted like sweet potatoes. The spinach salad was just average as was the bread that came with meal, but great olive oil/garlic/tomato dip. Live music was a nice touch on a Friday night and we had no wait.
(3)
Lamba A.
what kind of italian restaurant runs out of meatballs and spaghetti?!?! will never come back again...
(1)
Katerina J.
Great place for your casual brunch on a warm Sunday afternoon. They serve delicious lemon-ricotta pancakes, salmon cake Eggs Benedict, various omelets and tasty potatoes. Outside patio is very spacious and dog-friendly. Service is attentive and friendly. Interior design is old school yet very attractive. Nice place in the heart of La Jolla.
(4)
Kathy S.
The outdoor seating is really nice. Mostly in shade, but if it's cool, I think they can remove some of the shades. This time I had the salmon salad and they added goat cheese for me. I ordered the salmon rare, and it was delicious! Bernini's is always a perfect option for great food.
(4)
Dawei Z.
40 mind waiting time, but the food is good! They forgot to give us the bread, but offered a free desert late.
(4)
Tavis S.
My only wish...that this restaurant was based in the SF Bay Area. Advice: If you haven't been here, read no further. Just go! Staff/Service: 5 Stars...Incredibly attentive, genuine, friendly Food: 5 Stars...generous portions, incredible flavors, extensive menu Ambiance: 5 Stars...clean, the perfect blend between fine and casual dining Thanks to the Yelp reviews we came here for dinner with a large group. We had kids with us so I asked if we could we be seated in the semi-private dining area (wine room) so we wouldn't disturb other patrons. One of the kids is highly allergic to nuts and eggs and the staff was extremely accommodating and checked with the kitchen to ensure what was safe to eat. Come to find out...virtually everything was safe! The owner came by as well, and at the time I knew he was with the restaurant but didn't know who he was until coming back onto Yelp and seeing the video. He's extremely nice and I have to say I only wish there were more like him. You can tell that the staff there enjoy their jobs and it's probably due to who they work for. He comes across extremely genuine. I'd write more but it's getting late. This is definitely going to be a place to come back to the next time I'm in the area. It's definitely one I'm going to recommend to friends and family that live in the area as well. Thank you Bernini's for an incredible family dinner. It's not often that I can get out to a nice restaurant with the kids, feel relaxed, welcome, and have a great meal. You all deserve all the praise and high marks you get on Yelp.
(5)
Kitty K.
Been going here since I was a kid. Great place for coffee, breakfast, brunch and lunch.
(5)
Manuela I.
I've been at Bernini's twice. Service is good; Food is fabulous!!! Plus they have a really nice patio outside. Try the lemon ricotta pancake or the Berry crepes.
(5)
Terri G.
My family has been having brunch here for years! Great way to start the morning with great food, a nice staff, and outdoor seating. It can get busy on Sunday am's, so get there a bit early.
(5)
Odette M.
This place was amazing!! Great atmosphere! The owner is very friendly. The food was delicious! AMAZING service!! Best tiramisu! A must stop when in La Jolla!!
(5)
Haley B.
Went here for breakfast on a nice day and it was delicious!!! Everyone in my family loved what they ordered, from the lemon ricotta pancakes to the chorizo and eggs, it was all delicious and I can't wait to taste my way through the menu, I will be back again!
(4)
Jeff S.
This place is definitely 5 stars... minus the service. The food: 1. Southwester Scramble - OMG SO GOOD! The scramble had chunks of meat and avocado and tasted amazing. Plus they give you toast with pomegranate jam which was amazing balls. 2. Bernini's Bennedict - Super awesome also. The bennedict just melted in your mouth with the eggs. Was super great. Sauce was awesome. The side of potatoes was equally well done. Bottom line: food here is really good The drinks: 1. Bloody Mary - it was pretty good, nothing to write home about but it was better than average 2. Pomegranate Mimosa - Good really good, I like it. The service: Really sucked. I think our waiter was having too much fun flirting with a group of chicks behind us cuz it took forever to get our food (when other tables that sat after us in a different section got theres first), took forever to get our bill (I had to ask some other server to get us the bill) and took forever to pay our bill (I ended up just walking it up). Minus that the place is pretty great.
(4)
Dana A.
We ordered from Bernini's Bistro today for a special lunch. Sam was very accommodating. Our food was ready for pick up right on time.........Our lunch was wonderful. We enjoyed each menu item. Thanks Sam!!!!
I'm not sure why, but every time I walked passed Bernini's and looked inside I thought it was some kind of pub. Maybe it's the fact that the entrance opens to a cozy-looking bar with a lot of wood accents. Or maybe it's because my friend straight up told me it was a pub. In any case, let me just correct myself and my friend by saying that it isn't. My group of three decided to give Bernini's a shot for a late Sunday brunch as we've walked past the place probably a dozen times in the past. The server was really helpful and gave us her recommendations which left me with an order of huevos rancheros sitting in front of my hungry face. Let me just say that when you're starving and still trying to wake up at 1pm on a sunny afternoon, this just hit the spot. I got so many coffee refills that I felt like the coffee pot was put on just to take care of me. Good food and service at very reasonable prices means I'll be back soon.
(4)
Chad R.
Nice Place, Nice Service and Nice Food. Great way to start a lazy Sunday!
(4)
Alexandra T.
Excellent customer service, and the pollo piccata is to DIE for. As in I wanted to drink the sauce off of my plate good. Keep up the good work, and thank you for a great night!
(5)
Sarah F.
I have been coming here for over 8 years and they have consistently good food and service. It's really easy to find healthy choices on the menu and there's also plenty for those of us who want to indulge. :) Speaking of indulging, the tiramisu is heavenly. It's a must try if you still have room after your meal!
(5)
Julie E.
Great Food! Fresh as it gets! Nice little patio is perfect for visiting while having a bite to eat. Service was friendly and professional. Inside was nice and clean with some cool paintings. Will do back no doubt!!
(5)
Trupti K.
This is my favorite brunch place!!! I go here almost every Sunday! The servers are very helpful and quick. The fresh bread and the olive oil dip they serve as soon as you are seated is delish!! The shrimp pasta - with spicy lobster sauce is divine and their lemon ricotta pancakes will send you to heaven! My husband loves the salmon sandwich and the fried egg sandwich the most. I think we have tried almost every dish on the menu and so far no complaints!
(5)
Raul M.
Sam recommend Eggs Diavola instead of the eggs benedict and it was amazing ! Nice atmosphere friendly staff ! I was thoroughly impressed .
(5)
Jonny B.
I went here last Friday night for a meal with my wife and a couple of family friends. We had a reservation and when we got there our table had a reserved sign on it - which I thought was a nice touch. Our appetisers came out within 5 minutes of ordering which caught us a little off guard, we barely had time to order drinks. While I was finishing off my appetiser, our waitress came over and attempted to hurry me up - she stated our main meals were almost ready! Bear in mind this was only 10 minutes after being seated. I asked if we could have a little longer between courses. She left and another staff member came over, possibly the manager, who told us our mains would be cold if they didn't bring them out now. Our food was good and the service was good. The only problem was it felt like they wanted to serve us, clear the table and get rid of us. I didn't go here just for the food, it was a Friday night. We ordered a bottle of wine between two of our guests, that should have given the staff some sort of indication we weren't going to dine and dash? This review would have been 5 star if it wasn't for the obvious problem. Attempting to serve a 3 course meal, a round of drinks, a bottle of wine and clear the table in under 30 minutes is pointless. It made the experience very unenjoyable. I doubt I would give it another shot, feeling welcomed by the staff is a big part of the experience. Our money felt welcome, I wish i could say the same.
(3)
J.E. P.
This place was just okay. We walked in around 5:30pm and were immediately sat down. Out waitress did not mention any specials to us like how she did with other patrons that sat near us. We had better service from the bus boy that helped us out when our waitress was chatting away behind the bar. One would assume that better service would happen with the restaurant being pretty empty, but I guess not. The food was decent but nothing to rave about. Usually I try to give a place a second chance, but that's not happening here based on this experience.
(2)
Lauren H.
My boyfriend and I come to berninis almost everytime we decide to eat out...if that doesn't tell you how much we love it there please read further... Absolutely delicious food, great portions, cozy and friendly atmosphere, and excellent service. I personally love the vegtable linguini (garlic cream sauce...yum yum yum) and the neopalitin pizza...my boyfriend swears by their burgers (the one with the bacon and grilled onions)...unreal. We usually get two dishes and split them between us...if we have room we ALWAYS get the Tiramisu - I"M OBSESSED...all the portions are huge so I'm almost always left with leftovers for lunch the next day (gotta love that) Possibly the nicest thing about Berninis (aside from the amazing food) is the atmosphere...you can tell people love this place as the servers know majority of the customers by name - half the time I dont even have to tell the waitress my order - thats how good it is - people keep coming back! Berninis is comfortable and cozy, never really overly crowded, live music on weekend nights. Also you can't beat their HALF OFF ANY DRINK during happy hour - who does that in la jolla!? LOVE IT!
(5)
Alex D.
A great, old school Italian place in the heart of La Jolla, Bernini's is an excellent choice for breakfast or lunch. Stop by on a quiet weekend morning, treat yourself to one of their delicious omelettes with a side of rosemary potatoes, and I promise you will leave a happier person than you walked in. The service is excellent, the quality of the food predictably high, and the environment decidedly relaxed. Best of all, a meal here won't break the bank since a complete breakfast runs just about $12. To sweeten the deal, mimosas are only a couple of bucks. Overall, Bernini's is an excellent choice when you are in the mood for cuisine from the land of pizza, pasta and Giorgio Armani.
(4)
Yvonne N.
Bernini's saved my night!! Well, almost. After a horrible dining experience next door, we were walking to our car and spotted the menu outside of Bernini's and decided to give their desserts a try! La Jolla Brewhouse had run out of creme brulee so we walked into Bernini's (with our leftovers in hand) and had a friendly conversation with the owner/employee about how we should have dined at Bernini's instead. They happily seated us and our (quite handsome) waiter read us our dessert options. Once we were ready, he took our order and here's how it went: Him: "So what can I get for you guys tonight?" Me: "We'll have the Tiramisu and Creme Brulee, please!" Him: "Oh no, I'm so sorry..I forgot to mention that we just ran out of creme brulee!" Jenna and Me: *STARES AT EACH OTHER IN HORROR* "OH NO!!!!" (at the same exact time)................and then we opted for the Budino instead. -Tiramisu: heaven. Perfect in every way: texture, taste, price. -Budino: a chocolate lover's dream! We let Jenna N. take the first and she paused for the longest time and said "Oh my god". I honestly COULD NOT interpret whether it was a good or bad OMG so I kept asking "How is it?!" .......... "Soooo....?!?!?" and she finally replies, "It's. So. Good." Hahaha..what a relief. It resembles chocolate pudding but much better. Pictures are provided if you're curious. =) The ambiance at Bernini's is really romantic, both Jenna and I are anxiously waiting to come back with our boyfriends! Dim lighting, candles at each table, wine cellars fully stocked, and the owner looked legit Italian, haha. They have a "Yelp loves us" sticker that they were proudly showing off, too! Definitely a place worth trying out.
(4)
Mari A.
Came here for a Saturday brunch and the restaurant was filled. I was still easily able to grab a table without having to wait unlike most good brunches in SD. Pet friendly and great service. That's a double bonus right there. I was able to sit outside on a beautiful Saturday morning with my pup by my side. While waiting for my friend, I started off with a Bloody Mary. A must have for myself for every weekend brunch. It was delicious! Loved it! Now I was struggling with ordering the Breakfast Crepe vs the Lox Omelette. I was leaning towards the lox omelette until the waiter made the suggestion of the breakfast crepe though he emphasized both were delicious. The breakfast crepe was okay. Had all the good stuff inside: bacon, mushroom, tomato, mozerella, and egg wrapped in a crepe. I love love savory crepes. I wasn't a huge fan of the SWEET crepe with the savory though. Portions were great and for 10$! 4 decent sized breakfast crepes. It was good but didn't love it. I would definitely come back though. It was affordable, had great service, loved the vibe, and love that it's pet friendly. Next time, I'll try the Lox Omelette. =) o0o0o and can't forget that Bloody Mary!
(3)
Fred N.
Ate here right before an 8pm Comedy Show, the dinner menu was out, pretty pricy but the Cheeseburger were $11:95 so we gave it a try, the Cheeseburger were very good and the plate was full of Fries. Great place to go eat, There are tables outside as well. They also have a Big Screen and that's one of the Key factors we went inside, they were showing a football game, Great place and good people, friendly atmosphere. I would go back here to try their steaks next time.
(5)
Steve M.
We had a group of 9, they did great handling that size of a group. Food was excellent! However, I ordered a gluten free dairy free version of a chicken entree and it cam with both the gluten and dairy on it. Would have ruined my week if I didn't double check with the server. That was the only screw up and they should be more careful when someone says they have certain food allergies.
(4)
Lana R.
I regret not trying it before when I was going to college in that area. It is good simple Italian food. Located centrally in La Jolla Village across the street from Vons. Has outside patio that is dog-friendly.
(4)
Robert S.
Not good. Went with my wife and two kids. We all agreed that the food was below average. Particularly for the price. Never going back.
(2)
David Q.
Amazing portions and great drinks!
(4)
Bryn Y.
Love coming here for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Top choices: eggs diavola w/ salad, chicken salad sandwich, beet salad, and this one chicken I can't remember the name of but it has cranberries and is amazing!! I especially love how dog friendly they are, definitely worth trying out!
(5)
Mr. N.
Pros: - Great ambience - Music - Waiter's assistant was very attentive to refilling coffee Cons: - Don't order the filet mignon and eggs for brunch. The meal came out with the steak over cooked (ordered medium and was plated an almost well-done portion). After spending 10 minutes trying to obtain the attention of the waiter assigned to my table, I finally notified a waiter's assistant. Upon informing the water's assistant of my minor issue, he promptly obtained the waiter assigned to my area. Once the waiter came over, I asked for the steak to be cooked medium rare/medium. The waiter promptly removed my plate and apologized for the inconvenience. As I waited for a new order, I overheard another waiter apologizing to a customer for the lack luster pancakes. At this point, I was beginning to question the quality of the staff/chef on this shift. Eventually another steak came out, unfortunately this time the plate was missing the toast that initially arrived with the first order (toast arrived five minutes later). The steak itself was better prepared than before but arrived slightly more than medium and very flavorless (some sea salt/ground pepper can go a long way). Another critique is that the portion size of the filet prevents one from properly appreciating the quality of a filet cut. It is for these reasons that I recommend that the restaurant either increase the portion size (and as a result the price) or remove the item from the menu entirely. The assigned waiter (Omar) only checked in to see how things were doing at about halfway through my meal (fail). After finishing my meal and twiddling my thumbs for at least ten minutes, I decided to get up, approach my waiter, and ask for the check. My observation is that the waiter (Omar) and chef must belong to the B team and not the A team because from all of the positive reviews via Yelp, I was expecting a better experience. My initial plan was to also order the Lemon Ricotta Pancakes due to the Yelp reviews, but given my sub-par experience, I decided that my $$ could be better spent elsewhere. - If you eat here, you need to look the part. Apparently wearing athletic attire for Sunday brunch doesn't warrant the customer service you might expect at any decent establishment. Each one of the staff certainly did give me the up-and-down look for not having the typical La Jolla posh Sunday best/boat shoes/sweater wrapped around my neck look or college kid tourist/Justin Beiber-skinny jeans-I can't run anywhere outfit going. I supposed dressing functional isn't considered fashionable. Two stars.
(2)
Cele W.
Hubby and I had 40 minutes or so to spare before the show at the Comedy Store. We told our waitress about our time crunch and she was super accommodating. For appetizer we had the Caprese salad. Now this is not a complex dish at all, but I liked the portion and the presentation with avocado. Plus it was yummy! I ordered the Pappardelle Shrimp Diavola- delicious! I loved the pasta which was cooked al dente, just how I like it! My husband ordered the good ole spaghetti and meatballs and ate the whole generous portion. Service was stellar. It's not often that we get a great meal and great service, so this was very nice. Thanks Bernini's! We'll be back and next time, we'll stay longer and get dessert. ;)
(5)
Isabelle L.
I can't comment too much since I came here solo on business and with a take-out order at that. When I'm traveling on business, I love the comfort of getting take-out, holing up in my hotel room and catching up on Netflix or movies. I also have a go-to meal that I am always in search of and that is seafood pasta. For some reason, there's always a hankering for mussels and/or clams with linguini - and so I came here thanks to a Yelp search for "seafood pasta." Though I didn't do the whole sit-down thing, I can tell you this. I walked in, and immediately the bar was welcoming, friendly and inviting. I placed my order, sat down at the bar to wait - was offered water and happy smiles. The wait wasn't very long and the food itself was very tasty. Not too oily, portion was sufficient (not too much at all for to-go) and seafood was a healthy size - I hate when mussels are too small and shriveled. It is a bit on the pricier side for the meal but delicious, quick and satiates the palette.
(4)
Ron H.
Bernini's Bistro- Great for a breakfast, lunch, or dinner. My favorite and usual choice is breakfast FOR lunch. Breakfast is served until 4 and my favorite is the Designer Omelet with rose mary potatoes for my side choice. I cannot say enough about the warm owner who always says hello and greets me and my many friends that I have brought over the past 4 years. After a great weekend night out, this is the best place to enjoy a bloody mary or mimosa the morning/afternoon after. I will sometimes go for dinner, the pollo picata is my favorite, and reasonable for LJ prices. The Live music on the night my girlfriend and I went last was excellent, and was on a Saturday night. I believe they dont have live music Monday-Weds. OVERALL, my favorite when I cannot decide where to eat because they have something for everyone for breakfast/lunch. Best in the summer and sitting on the patio!
(5)
Giggly C.
Beautiful place. Walked by and tried it. crepes were so so, but the brekfast burrito were excellent. Dying to try for dinner. wan tto try for pasta.
(4)
Richard A.
Great outdoor seating area. B-fast is always good and service is above great. Owner is almost always and greets you. Although she will introduce herself as though she has never seen you before even if you have been there two days in a row. It's all good tho not there to make frds with the owners. Just a good place to eat and relax on the weekends.
(5)
Scott G.
I love Bernini's for breakfast on a weekend. I've been twice; the first time everything was perfect but unfortunately the service wasn't great this time. Eh, anyone can have an off day. The food is great, the prices are very reasonable and atmosphere is nice. I had the "Diavola" or something like that. It was fantastic! I'd definitely try this one out.
(4)
Mark F.
This is a great little place!!! The food, service, and atmosphere is great. I have only been here for breakfast and I have always left happy. It is worth checking out
(4)
Lauren C.
I love Berninis! It's consistently amazing every time. The staff is very friendly too :)
(5)
Judith G.
My first time to Bernini's Bistro. I found out about the place from Yelp and read the reviews. My niece had the Linguine Vongole and I had the Salmone Griglia (Salmon with butternut squash risotto. Both of us agreed that the food was fantastic. The true test of any restaurant is how good the leftovers were the next day. The leftovers I took home were just as good as when it first arrived on table in front of me. Can't wait to come back and try the Lemon ricotta pancakes for breakfast.
(5)
Julio G.
I only had breakfast once there, but it was not good.
(2)
Mary M.
I've been to Bernini's many times for breakfast and it was always great. Good food, great ambiance and not too pricey. My son came in to town for a visit and I took him and my other son out for dinner this week. What happened to this place? The waitress was sweet enough but glaringly inexperienced and nervous. We waited forever for her to come back after the menus and our water was with lime and we'd all asked for no lime. I let it go. We ordered and my son received his salad. I knew he didn't want to complain but he asked me to look at it. He was right. The lettuce was brown and there was dirt in it. I brought it to the server's attention and she graciously took it away. Strike two. Then my filet came and it was so tough I couldn't eat it. I said nothing. I know. I know. But my son's new york strip was overly well-done when he'd asked for medium rare and I swear, it was like a chunk of rubber. He sent it back. The next ny strip was bleeding red so he asked them to stick it under the broiler again, which they did and the third time was the charm. During our entire dinner, however, the piano player's music was, well, to lighten things up I asked if our cat, Ripley, was entertaing us. It was awful, loud and inappropriate in tone. I HAD to ask them to calm it down a bit, but they didn't. My other son went over and offered the guy $20 if he'd just stop for 20 minutes, stating I had a headache (lie) but he wouldn't do it! We will laugh about this dinner for a long, long time, so that's ok. But, I don't think I'll go back for a while. The tiramisu was to die for.
(2)
Jennifer C.
Great food, great wine, great price, great atmosphere, especially great service! I'll come back to try the dinner!
(5)
Robert C.
I love Bernini's Bistro. This was my first bus-boy job like 5 years ago and the food was phenomenal. I used to eat here every day instead of eating at home. The staff was super fun to work with and we used to always be laughing with customers! I went here a couple days ago and remodeled. I go in here whenever I want to take a girl to a nice dinner in La Jolla, without spending the money you would spend at George's, sit by the fire lanterns outside if the weather is nice and the stars are shining!
(5)
james k.
This place is awesome and not badly priced.
(5)
Jason P.
We went for dinner here with four kids and six adults. They did pretty good getting the kids food out early. The pizza was good with an interesting sesame crust. For the adults stuff, they had bread and a cool pita cucumber thing. The salads are good sized and good. The entrees were good, although many of them were a bit over saucy. Generally it was good although not spectacular. Not sure I'd go there again, but its an OK option.
(3)
Anh V.
thumbs up for serving uber late brunch. if you are here over the weekend - park in the complex next to the 24 hour fitness - freebie parking in la jolla! plenty of patio dining which was perfect on a sunny day. service was friendly - i could see down the server's top whenever she bent over so it was hard not to stare. might be better for a club top. i had the bernini benedict which had avocado hollandaise and toasted bacon - deelish! the roasted potatoes were ok. my friend had the veggie scramble with hash browns. the downside was that the food took a bit of time to come out. the upside is that you can linger as long as you like and won't feel rushed like the cottage when there is a line full of hungry people staring at your food. afterwards, a walk down to the cove is a great way to work off the meal.
(3)
Riley K.
Had dinner there before going to the comedy store. Food was mediocre at best. Service was ok at first and food took forever to come out. I had the spagetti marinara and my hub the gnocci. Spaghetti marinara recipe: basically boil noodles and open jar. The gnocci was horrible, and for once I couldn't be happier about the tiny portion. I give it 2 stars cuz i thought they had a covenient location and there was plenty of street parking on a Wednesday night. Overall I thought this place was a major disappointment. I'll never go back, eating von's deli from my car would have been so much better!
(2)
Sophie B.
Big portions, reasonable prices and friendly service.
(5)
erika c.
Perhaps the problem is consistency. The first time we visited for breakfast, we were welcomed by the owner and it felt very much like a locals joint. Service was great, though I don't remember much about the food. I'm pretty sure I ordered the Bernini's Benedict. When we went most recently, however, we were greeted by a gogo-girl in black leggings and a cotton shirt that barely covered her ass. She led us through the crowded dining room to a table that wasn't ready, and directed us to back up and return to the entrance. When we were ushered back to our table, I had the misfortune of placing my hand in something slimy that had not been wiped from the seat. Strike one. Our busser came by with glasses of ice water with lime. I asked for a glass with no lime. He brought water with no ice. Then our waiter took the order but forgot part of it and had to return to ask us again. My plate was delivered to the wrong table, where the diner cut into it before discovering the error. As a result, our food took an absurd amount of time. Strike two. I ordered the eggs Benedict with lox. The lox was cold and a bit clammy in texture and the hollandaise was bland, but the English muffins were nicely grilled so they were slightly crunchy. The hash browns were perfect. Overall, I think I might try them once more, but I'm not ordering the eggs Benedict again. And what is up with the staff???
(3)
Mae S.
Though startled by the tiki torches out front, which I didn't expect on a place that says it's Italian, I liked the atmosphere. But I'm in California now, so I guess everything comes with a little bit of fusion. We walked in on Sunday night and had the experience I say is my favorite: to walk into an obviously popular place and be seated at the LAST available table. The arugula salad with chicken was all the food I wanted to eat, though not even listed as a main course. We also tried another salad and one pasta dish, all quite good.
(4)
shannon f.
Spaghetti bolognese and dessert! Don't miss! Pizza is greasy though. Nice staff and ambiance.
(5)
sitara s.
Best bloody Mary in San Diego!! Went here for brunch yesterday and it was great. Had the southwest scramble which was delicious. The only thing I didn't like was the hash browns. They were really hard and chewy. The best dish on the menu was the lemon ricotta pancakes. They were divine!!! So soft and flavorful.
(4)
David O.
That's it?!?! Not one review of Bernini in nearly a year! Come on San Diego... y'all need to do some more Yelping! Ok, so about Bernini. I used to go there all the time back when I was studying at UCSD. Or rather, let me rephrase, I came to Bernini's to hang out, drink coffee, smoke, and read poetry *while* I should have been studying at UCSD. ;) In any case, they've changed the formula a little bit, with much more of a restaurant focus now. Still, I had breakfast here with a friend of mine not too long ago and it was a yummy breakfast! Do yourself a favor and check out Bernini's!
(4)
Sarah K.
This is one of my favorite brunch spots. However, the dinner menu is delicious as well.
(4)
Christine D.
Like someone else, I'd give this place 3.5 stars. If there was a bit more depth to the lunch menu and there wasn't confusion as to where we were being seated at lunch, I'd give it 4 stars. Hubby and I came here for a lunch date today. The seating arrangement snafu wasn't that big of a deal, and they did take care of it very promptly, but it was just inconvenient moving back and forth. Bernini's ambiance is really nice. I enjoy the whole coziness of the entire restaurant. It's quietly intimate, but still casual enough as well. I want to sit outside and eat al fresco when it's warmer, even though they do have good heating in the patio. Darn my tropical DNA. Looking at the bar and wine cellar, it's more than adequately stocked for any lush. Ray ordered the steak sandwich and I got the spaghetti basil pomodoro. The portions for lunch were filling, but for the price you pay, you would get a lot more in a generic Olive Garden. It was still really good. The fries that Ray got with the sandwich were generic, but the sandwich was pretty good. He's not a fan of ciabatta or focaccia bread and would have preferred the sandwich on a softer type of bread, but I think the crunch went well with the steak. My pasta dish was tasty. I love a good pomodoro sauce but I wish there was a bit more pasta since I still had a lot of sauce leftover after I ate the pasta. Other people around us had salads that I have got to come back and try. Service was unobtrusively efficient and cheery. I would definitely come back again. But if I really want to get my carb-induced coma, I'd go to Olive Garden.
(3)
Chad J.
This place was great. Parking was easy and the service was excellent. Best bloody mary I've had yet in San DIego and everything was amazingly priced. I'd definitely visit again.
(5)
Diana L.
Consistently excellent food. Everything I've had here has been top notch. Seafood and pasta dishes are particularly good. Try the calamari appetizer. The marinara sauce is the only restaurant sauce that come close to my Italian family's secret recipe. (And no, contrary to what a previous reviewer claims, it ain't from a jar). This is the place to go for a romantic dinner or an elegant meal with family.
(5)
Chris R.
I have been by Bernini's many many times and each time I'd say to myself that I need to check it out. The other night, the lady and I headed over here for a quick bite. We both ordered the pizza, because we heard it was good. The pizza was pretty decent. Thin, light crust, quality sauce and seemingly fresh ingredients. What really stood out and made this place a four star was the live musician they had playing guitar and singing. We went in the middle of the week, so I'm not sure if it is a recurring thing or a one off, but he played some great covers. The music wasn't too loud, we could hear ourselves talk and he played an awesome version of Ben Harper's "Steal My Kisses."
(4)
Mary K.
Decent place and easy parking there. We were looking for another go-to place in LJ. You can't call yourself Italian and serve fried pita with cucumber yogurt sauce--you need to serve bread. The shrimp pappardelle was nice but only 4 small shrimp?!?! The fried calamari app was ok--heavy crust but a lovely marinara. And you do NOT put cheese on fried calamari if you are Italian. Good service but the inside smells like old cigars. We're sticking with Piatti and Karl Strauss as our go-to LJ places but Bernini's is probably fine for an outdoor lunch.
(3)
Niraj P.
I have to give this place 5 stars because its very underrated for breakfast. I came here in a Sat morning, mostly because I didn't want to wait in the long lines at some of the popular breakfast places in La Jolla and HIllcrest. I was pleasantly surprised that the breakfast menu is pretty affordable and includes some great options. The outdoor seating is a plus, the free focaccia with olive oil is a plus, and the fact that there usually is no line in the morning is a big plus. The food here is great, considering it is a place that is not well known for breakfast. There are some tasty/unique menu items and the portions are decent (its no Hash House, but then again, you don't have to wait 45 mins for food). I highly recommend the eggs benedict dish with corn cakes.
(5)
Suzie M.
Very good food, friendly staff, clean, welcoming, menu has many good alternatives! Love the place! Perfect and perfect!
(5)
JENIFER B.
Excellent food! Especially dinner & breakfast. A casual and popular hangout for breakfast & lunch, becomes an elegant but casual restaurant at night. Service good & friendly. Really nice owners & staff. Definitely one of my favorites!
(5)
Josephine T.
Its great! Food is yummy and at night there is a live singer, which really adds a calming atmosphere to the place. It can get kind of dark at night. The seating is a bit crowded, but other than that, its impressive. Btw, I love their tiramisu
(4)
Jessica Y.
A hit or miss place. Menu with tasty options. Service is lacking.
(3)
Roxi M.
My family and I enjoyed this place very much. It's a small, cozy restaurant frequented by locals. They serve breakfast until 4pm (woohoo) and sandwiches, pastas, etc. The service here is very attentive; basically all of the employees were all-around pleasant. I ordered the chicken sandwich, which I wasn't completely in love with, but it was just fine and I had a great time so it didn't bother me anyway.
(3)
Allan H.
We joined some friends here for dinner. I had the shrimp d'avalo which should be spicy. It wasn't. They left on the tails - very bad idea. Also the shrimp was underdone. All in all the dish was very bad. My husband had the lasagna which was also very disappointing. No depth of flavor to the sauce and WAY too much oregano. The service was good but the food was very poorly done.
(1)
Steve N.
Very uninspired. It's pretend Italian. Didn't even have Italian sausage. Several kinds of pizza with hamburger no less.
(2)
Eric R.
LOVED Bernini's Bistro! Was visiting La Jolla, and the place my wife and I planed to go to was closed, so we had to improvise. Found Bernini's and gave it a spontaneous random chance on a Saturday night. Great atmosphere, there was a live guitar player and singer. The service was fun and loose and attentive. The food was excellent. Spaghetti marinara was definitely not out of a can (as some other reviewer said). We had a very good caprese salad, and my grilled salmon with risotto was huge, and perfectly cooked. We had a nice cappuccino and gelato for desert, and enjoyed everything. Great food with great service and the price was very reasonable for casual fine dinning.
(4)
Angie Pants E.
I've been here a few times and the food is average. One time for lunch though I sat at the bar and watched the owners pick apart the wait staff and the cooks, who very obviously do all of the work, and make comments that were a huge turn off. I actually asked one of the waiters who the couple was because they seemed to know everyone and I thought they were angry regulars. Bad form guys.
(2)
Ben A.
This. Place is awesome! I would highly recommend the Southwest Scramble with hashbrowns and English Muffin. The entire staff are friendly,courtious, and attentive. We come here every Sunday because of Brianna (our favorite server) and the great food that reasonably priced.
(5)
Aluna Y.
Initially we went to Cottage, but a huge line outside turned us away to try something else - it just doesnt seem reasonable to stay in line for 40 min to get some breakfast. So, Bernini's. Food is good, pricing is reasonable for La Jolla. If you are conservative about food than Eggs Diavolo should be your choice - everything is well-prepared. Staff is friendly and helpful. The place seems to be crowded on weekends, but you always would be able to find an open seat.
(3)
Amy A.
Best place for eats in San Diego! Staff always welcomes customers with warm greeting and a smile! Breanna, Chico, and the rest of the staff provide excellent service and deliver great tasting food! This one of our favorite special places to eat and has become a weekly visit for us!
Yummy breakfast, love sitting outside eating on hungover Sundays!
(4)
Raffi N.
This is my favorite place in la jolla. The food is wonderful and just as important the atmosphere is like home. Relaxed, casual and everyone is your friend. I will come here every friday night to meet familiar faces, sing a few songs with the band and enjoy great wine and food.
(5)
Crys P.
This place is awesome and its good for special occasions. Pretty much everything on their menu is amazing! Its not too expensive, especially since its in La Jolla. I love their pasta and the romantic atmosphere!! Totally recommend!
(5)
Monica G.
Wow. This place is soooo good and so nice. We went here for my roomie's birthday last night and as we circled La Jolla we were pleasantly surprised to find this little European bistro. We had a larger party so we sat outside but the maitre d' was very accommodating and turned on a glorious heater outside so we wouldn't be cold. Our server was fantastic...and had a great head of hair. The food was incredible and pretty reasonably priced considering we were in La Jolla pretending like we have money. We ordered a couple bottles of wine (the Riesling was delicious) and some bruschetta to start with which was the best bruschetta I've ever had (sorry Grandma). The dinners were all beautifully presented and tasted amazing . They brought roomie a tiramisu dessert and sang Happy Birthday to her and it was great. Overall, this place was a great find and I can't wait to go back.
(5)
C R.
Awesome for breakfast! We tried to go to the cottage just up the street and were given a 60 min wait time! So we strolled up the street to this great breakfast find! Try the lemon ricotta pancakes!
(5)
Kyle G.
Great date spot! This place has great quality food for a fraction of the price as the other bistros in La Jolla. If I want to take a girl to get some good food with great atmosphere without breaking the bank then this is one of my top choices.
(4)
Ann R.
Super cute Italian bistro. Very good food. Even better service. Tried one of the pizzas and a salad, but every single dish that went by looked really, really good. Looking forward to returning.
(4)
Karen F.
I came here for dinner with some friends last weekend after walking around La Jolla Cove. Waiter this time was less patient, but our host, who I'm assuming is the manager/owner, was the cutest little old man ever. Loved him. Anyway, half star off for the impatient waiter, and another half star off for the live music that was WAY too loud for that small of a space. That girl sounded like she was screaming. It made me uncomfortable.
(4)
Kayla L.
I went here with my friend Johnny about a month ago and I wasn't satisfied. The waiter had my friend and I choose a spot to sit outside then he completely forgot about us for 35 mins. When he did return he even admitted to forgetting we were out there. We then placed our orders and I will admit they are speedy at making their food. My friend was not too happy with his pasta plate. I just ordered a bagel. Once we were done eating we waited another 45 mins for the waiter to return to give us our check, but he never did. My friend had to go inside to pay for the okay food we ate. I conclude that this waiter did not like us because we are teenagers. I personally will never go here again because of the service.
(1)
Rachel B.
Honestly, its been a very long time since a restaurant has impressed me this much! The atmosphere is delightful, perfect for almost any occasion. I recently visited with a girlfriend on a friday night and there was live music which was classy & didn't make it impossible to hold a conversation as many other places do. The patio is a great option almost all year round. Our waitress was very sweet & provided wonderful service. The prices are very reasonable for any area, especially coastal SD. I'm pretty sure my friend order the most expensive item on the menu, the filet mignon for $24.95. I ordered a spinach & ricotta pizza ($9.95), six pieces of deliciousness! The wine selection is pretty fantastic for a little bistro . But I have to say, my favorite part is that the owner was there & took the time to go around to every table to say hello & make sure everything was ok. To me, that makes all the difference in the world. Overall, fantastic experience. As a matter of fact, I have plans for dinner there tonight!
(5)
Anny M.
Not only is the food good but the owner is awesome! Talk about feeling like you are part of the family! Maybe I'm friendly but (Humdee spelled phonetically) is the owner and he sat and gave us great table talk for most of the night! The Bloody Mary's were tasty and the food was sumptuous. Great place for casual (friends) or dress up date.
(4)
mmmm m.
I've been here a couple times and I always seem to order something that doesn't look as good as the person at the other table. I'm usually a pretty good orderer but for some reason I order wrong here. I ordered the Low Carb breakfast and it had scrambled eggs and bacon and a house salad. I did have to send the bacon back because it was undercooked and it returned undercooked. In the restraunts behalf I like my bacon on the burnt side. The house dressing is delicious and the service is great. The atmosphere is fantastic and I would return. I think I'll order off the lunch menu because I go there around noon and think it's breakfast time so I see all this yummy stuff around me and I always have plain egss with a side of salsa :)
(3)
John S.
This is another La Jolla place that used to be pretty good, but somehow "lost it." My wife and I used to dine here a couple of times per month for nice italian/italian seafood. Until... the dreaded seabass incident. My wife ordered the sea bass, usually one of her/our favorites. The "fish" that came out was some sort of smelly, dark brown fish, not the usually light and flaky, utterly scrumptious sea bass. My wife did not mention it to me, until later in the evening. She did take the fish home, though, since she could not eat it for dinner. I examined it, and pronounced it disgusting. We tried eating there one more time, and mentioned the experience to the manager when he came over to inquire about our current meal. He offered no appology, no excuse; just walked off. We really couldn't enjoy what was a reasonably good meal after that, so the place is now "off our list." YMMV
(2)
Ashley H.
I ate here awhile back and the service was so/so which is the only reason I gave them 4 stars. Other than that, pricing was good, food was even better, and the ambiance was great. This would be a great date place!
(4)
Raquel C.
Will go down as the place that I first experienced racism. I am half white and half mexican. My dad has told me about how back when he was younger things were difficult for him but I honestly thought he was insane if he said our service sucked because he was mexican... until I came here. We went to this place after my sister was done shooting a commercial to celebrate the long hard day of work. The server, who looked hispanic but sounded like kelsey grammar, took one look at my dad, he kinda looks like george lopez but has no accent since were from denver, and decided that this table wasn't going to yield much. He was very condescending and he actually smirked when he ordered soup. My sister and I both ordered meals and drinks but that made no difference. He came to the table a total of one time after that and we had to ask for a manager three times in two different languages. After getting up and asking people if they were the manager we we eventually found him and explained we had already paid the tab and gave a twenty percent tip but had horrid service. the manager gave us a free appetizer for the next time that we never come here. The food was quite good and unique but I will ALWAYS remember it as the only time I actually felt racially profiled and that is what I will tell people when they mention san diego or la jolla. But for those white people out there- go right on in, this place is delicious and im sure you will feel comfortable there.
(1)
Jeff L.
Bernini's Bistro has absolutely some of the best steak and lamb in all of San Diego, but at half the price of some of the big "franchised" restaurant's hanging out with the owner Hamdi is truly a fun if not hilarious experience. His charisma, charm and humor truly combine to make this a one of a kind eating experience!
(5)
Sean T.
I have never had anything I did not like at Bernini's. great place for breakfast or lunch. They have a patio section that allows for some pretty good people watching in La Jolla. you can not really go wrong with anything here.
(3)
Olive A.
came in for brunch today and i'll definitely be back. the service was of quality and my order of Bernini Omlette (mushroom, onion, avocado & sausage) was yum! i also got a taste of my husband's order of chicken wrap, which was delish! outdoor dining is a plus!
(4)
Colin W.
Bernini's was great. it's the last real neighborhood/ 'locals' place in La Jolla, and yet it caters well to out-of-towners. I Loved it because not only is it a great spot for breakfast, but it has a much different more elegant and upscale feel for dinner. In the La Jolla breakfast scene, everyone talks about the Cottage, Harry's and some other overrated place, but I say f- that . Bernini's is the best breakfast in town! And it's sooooo inexpensive. The dinner menu is wonderful, and has a Mediterranean/ Italian fusion thing going on. The service was great because it's obvious the employees were hired for their attitude and work ethic rather than their over used experience and unnecessary wine knowledge. It's clear the owner, who is always there and very friendly by the way, know's how to judge character as well as he tells stories. Bernini's is my go to date spot, as well as my Sunday brunch of choice. Get there early however because I'm not the only one who loves this place. I was hesitant in writing this review because as much as I love this restaurant, I didn't want the secret to get out and make it even harder for me to get a table...but Bernini's has been so good to me that it more than deserves my humble review.
(5)
erica s.
This is the place I go when I do my good deed for the month and take my grandmother out to lunch. She is an old La Jolla sophisticate and thinks Bernini's is fancy and European just like her. Bottom line; it is so overrated. The food isn't great (the salmon salad being the best I've ever had considering grandma and I venture here every other month). The service is atrocious and the only reason my grandmother wants to keep going back is the creepy owner/manager/what ever he is in the suit comes out and compliments her accent. The wine selection is fine but whenever I order a glass of chardonnay the waiter acts as if I've just asked for him to go fetch me his first born. Anyways, this is a good place to sit outside and people watch (in La Jolla there's always some old rich loons walking around, or homeless people, go figure), listen to tales of the old country and get an afternoon buzz.
(2)
tali b.
friendly and yammi. priced well. recomanded
(5)
janet g.
this is my very favorite restaurant.the food is very good and it is very comfortable,attractively decorated and they never ever rush you!! and i am a native la jollan who has tried many restaurants in town! enjoy!!
(5)
Kaylene G.
Breakfast is great here. The lemon ricotta pancakes are unusual but very tasty and I like the variety of other healthy options they offer. The intimate setting is perfect for a lazy weekend breakfast/brunch. It's pretty quiet and you can spread out the paper and take your time over your meal. Service has always been great every time I've visited. I've been for dinner and found the food was only so-so, especially considering the high price! But this IS La Jolla, folks. Go for breakfast, maybe lunch. Try somewhere else for dinner.
(4)
Mark S.
Great Ambience and great service. It's a great place to just sit at the bar and have a glass of wine.
(4)
Kathleen M.
This was one of our absolute favs in high school. There were tables and trunks in every room and once we put slips of paper in each one directing the viewer to another table/trunk as though it was a treasure hunt. Years later we still found a slip of paper that said, "No, the other trunk." Yeah, um... it was hilarious at the time...
(5)
adrian z.
went there with my roommate for dinner. waiter brought stale pita chips and salsa for starters. I had the worst steak of my life which literally tasted like burnt coal or gasoline or something like that. may friend said his chicken was cold inside, probably microwaved. a couple sitting next table complained about their food too. I don't get all the good reviews, maybe their chef was on vacation or something but that ws probably my worst dining experience in San Diego.
(1)
John F.
It doesn't seem like it has been the same since it burned a while back.
(2)
Christina L.
We were originally planning to eat somewhere else in La Jolla, but when we saw the cool torches and outside atmosphere at Bernini's, we decided that we should try it. We sat outside, and the weather was perfect. We were absolutely starving when we sat down, and Bernini's provides you with baked pita and a type of dipping sauce that was just okay. Freshly baked bread would probably have fared better. Next we tried the spinach salad with cranberries and walnuts-- I thought it was delicious. The menu was fairly eclectic, but with strong italian and greek influences. Our main courses were the gnocchi with a bruschetta type sauce and stuffed chicken. The gnocchi was very good; however, the chicken was very bland--stuffed with ricotta, spinach, and covered with a cream sauce-- it definitely needed some contrast because all of those flavors are pretty plain. To sum it up, I guess I would say that the food at this place is hit or miss, but it has a lovely atmosphere.
(3)
Kathy T.
Bernini's is that kind of place where you want to try so many dishes, it's difficult to choose b/c there are so many delectable options. I chose a grilled salmon sandwich, which was perfectly cooked, very tender and juicy. The sandwich was presented on ciabatta bread and was dressed with roasted red peppers, arugula, dill, and lemon pesto aioli. The sandwich came with a choice of either French fries or the house salad. I chose the salad, which came with its own very delicious and somewhat tangy house dressing, and was peppered with fresh, crunchy walnuts. I loved every morsel! The restaurant has a very nice, romantic vibe, the waiters, waitresses and staff are all so friendly and chill, and the restaurant itself is decorated beautifully and tastefully. There is outside seating, which reminds me of being in Italy. The seating is lighted up at dusk, and if there is chilly weather, there are also heaters provided. This restaurant also has a new chef, so when looking at the reviews, don't pay attention to the old reviews, and please note the new chef has been here for only a few months. I highly recommend this lovely restaurant and can see myself returning again for some of the new dishes they have recently introduced! No pictures as we ate our scrumptious food too quickly. It was THAT good!
(5)
Jessica T.
I love this place! We were in PB today and realized we were extremely hungry but nothing sounded good to us so we headed off to La Jolla where you can always find the best of the best. That's when we decided to find a place to park and pulled out our phones and do a nearby search. We found several places but what kept popping up in my head was .... Bernini's Bistro! Someone I am close to has already eaten here. I suggested it to my mom because both of us have driven by dozens of times and have always wondered what the food tasted like. I ordered a plate of Spaghetti and Meatballs. What I love most about this dish was the beef meatballs. They sure did taste like good quality beef meatballs and and the sauce was really good too. HUUUUUUGE MEATBALLS! I also loved the type of pasta noodles they used which were fettuccine noodles and that's always been our family favorite when my mom makes her famous Spaghetti and meatballs. They were well priced for the quantity you get. We were very satisfied customers today and that's what always keeps us coming back! I am nice and full and my belly is thanking me. We will definitely be back!
(4)
Mike M.
Had a great breakfast today! I love the decor inside and out. The staff is super friendly, the food was delicious, and it had a good atmosphere the whole time. The presentation of the food was pretty neat as well. My plate was a wooden cutting board with a spot made to hold the little cast iron skillet they used for the filet mignon and egg sramble. Big mound of hash browns and a cheese biscuit also sitting on the wood plate. My girlfriend's waffle was super tasty as well. It was covered in banana, kiwi, strawberry, white chocolate, milk chocolate, and fresh made whipped cream. I am definitely coming back to this place to check out their lunch and dinner services. I can't wait to taste that amazing food!
(5)
Maria P.
A hidden gem for brunch in La Jolla! Great espresso drinks, Bloody Marys and more beverages to accompany great food. I highly recommend the scrambles served in cast iron skillets, frittata style. Berninis is also a favorite spot for a great Italian meal. Perfect for date nights!
(4)
Jackie C.
LOVE this spot. A little hidden gem if I do say so myself. We had an amazing dinner on Friday and had to come back to see what their brunch was about on Sunday! Great service and cool vibe (even if you are right across the street from Von's lol) Hands down the best latte I've had in CA. Gorgonzola pasta. Don't ask questions. Just get it. I'm not even a gorg fan but LOVED this. Honestly everything on their menu is fab Now for brunch. Wow. I will definitely be making this a reg stop. Diavlo benny- WOOOOOW. I'm a huge fans of Benedict's and this one is the most unique and best I've seriously ever had.
(5)
Alberto C.
Amazing place and excellent service. The new executive Chef Mario Medina has become a great asset to this place! He came with his new creations to better the fair. My favorite is the zucchini bisque. Truly addictive. Congratulations to the entire team.
(5)
Diane L.
A really lovely place for lunch. After being seated on the patio, service was quick, and orders were taken. My mom ordered spaghetti bolognese which they didn't have available. The chef personally came out and offered to make my mom a special dish, same price. He suggested some options, and we were sold when these 3 words were in the same sentence. filet. mignon. pasta. uhhhhh come again?! he then asked us if we liked bleu cheese, when we told him we didn't he told us Parmesan would go well. I had the signature burger, medium rare, it was top notch! but as you may have already guessed, the filet mignon pasta stole the show. amazing. drool. outside ambience was perfect, weather was on point. girl talk in full force. our mom/daughter lunch date couldn't have gone any more perfect! thanks guys, and compliments to the chef :)
(4)
Cynthia G.
I give this place 5 stars hands down! The decor was amazing and light music in the background set the mood for an amazing brunch. Great artsy paintings on the wall....my fave was the bob Marley painting ;) Our waiter Sam was AMAZING!! Very personable and inviting!! He made me a delicious Bloody Mary to die for! Me and my friend ordered two of their scrambles. The cheddar biscuits alone get 5 stars! Definitely will be coming back!! Hopefully Sam will be there!
(5)
David L.
This restaurant seems very nice except the service is very uncoordinated and slow. Two different servers taking care of us causing some initial confusion between them. All we wanted was a hamburger and a buffalo burger cooked medium-rare which took 30 minutes to arrive. (We suspected that the one of the two servers had forgotten to put the order in.) When they were served, we cut into the buffalo burger and discovered that they served it to us raw! We sent that back and ordered another hamburger. That was made just right, thankfully. Not too sure if this was an off night or if this was characteristic of the uncoordinated service they offer.
(3)
Jeannine C.
Nice place during traffic time to eat and pass the time, but I wasn't satisfied with my food. I ordered the 16oz Ribeye steak medium rare and received it definitely well done because there was absolutely no pink and it was tough for my liking. The asparagus was also grilled or charbroiled quite tough. Most parts of the asparagus were burnt. They had the best scalloped potatoes though, smothered with cheese. My waiter was very attentive and nice. Prices are reasonable, I was just dissatisfied with my steak.
(3)
Callista D.
I paid $12 for a salad that had no protein and was very oily. My husband ordered the buffalo burger expecting a hamburger with buffalo sauce...but it was actual buffalo meat...
(1)
Robert Z.
Three Stars is a Fair Rating for this average La Jolla Bistro Pub. The parking is easier than most restaurants in the area. The Decour is very nice and very clean. The staff is very friendly and helpful. The bartenders are nice and friendly. There is plenty of inside seating and a very nice patio out front with a fair amount of covered seating also. And now about the food. First off don't believe everything you read here on yelp about this place. The chef and the menu has changed very recently and a lot of the posts on here don't apply any longer. We came here for a little Italian pasta dish but sadly for lunch there is very little to choose from in the Italian way. They do serve breakfast till 5 PM every day. That is a plus for a lot of us that like breakfast a little later in the day. My wife decided to have the grilled vegetable salad. Sadly as you can see by the picture the vegetables were not grilled at all but only steamed. The salad was also very much underdressed. That's what I meant by don't believe everything you read. I decided to try the fillet mignon scramble which turned out to be quite tasty. The meat was tender the vegetables were cooked correctly and the way it was served was a very nice presentation. See photo. This place needs to redo their website with the new corrections of what really is available here. They say they serve Italian fair but when you come here for lunch and can only get plain spaghetti or lasagna that's truly not an Italian place to satisfy an Italian's appetite. The photos on yelp of the great Italian dishes of the past are what We came here hoping to get. Sadly we were disappointed and I probably will not return. We hope this post will save some people from the same disappointment we received. In all fairness the patio was a very nice place to sit and enjoy a standard breakfast. But for breakfast quality you would be better trying The Cottage write down the street. Thanks for listening.
(3)
Gustavo P.
With new executive Chef Mario at the helm this well known La Jolla bistro has revived itself. Classic favorites like the hand tossed stone oven pizzas are a must! Mario, with his innovative fusion cuisine keep the menu fresh worth coming back often.
(5)
Jaci S.
Loved this place! Just went this morning for brunch, and I was shocked that there wasn't any wait at all! Good for us, but surprising considering how delicious the food is and how great the service was. I think it might get overlooked for breakfast, which is a shame because it's better than many more popular spots that have 1+ hour wait on Sunday morning. Didn't try the mimosa or Bloody Mary, but the steak omelet I had was excellent and everyone else really enjoyed theirs as well. Cute restaurant, decent prices, and great food and service. Earned these 5 stars for sure!
(5)
Jan P.
Returned to Bernini's this past weekend. Steaks are as wonderful as I remember -- and having eaten at Donovan's down the street a week earlier and paid an arm and a leg -- I can tell you that Bernini's is tremendous value. (I think it's because Bernini's is a family-run restaurant without layers and layers of management. Thus price points are much more reasonable for food that is exceptionally high quality.) I'm actually posting this review to rave about the tiramisu, which our party of 6 agreed was the best we've had in ages. It kind of tastes like cheesecake on the top layer. Delish! And perfect with an espresso, which Bernini's also does well.
(5)
Juliana P.
A few friends and I came here this past Friday and despite the lovely service, we were incredibly disappointed to see some of the menu changes that have taken place recently. I still gave the place 3 stars, because I can't say that it colored the meal entirely, but it did detract from the experience. Specifically, we were big fans of the greek salad with steak. I have NO idea why they have it on their lunch menu, but eliminated it from the dinner menu. Additionally, it seems the chef is not willing to make accommodations to serve this during dinner time. I feel like it would be wise for the kitchen to take stock in what their loyal patrons enjoy most, and make sure to keep it on the menu. I can't imagine the new Kale salad is more popular, just trendy probably. The tapenade that goes with the bread was really delicious. We had a really enthusiastic server, and even the manager checked in with us several times after we inquired about the old menu. We ended up ordering a few flat breads, salmon, and then gnocci. Each option was delicious and priced appropriately, so I can't complain. It's unfortunate when you have a favorite dish in mind, only to not have it available when you come hungry and ready. I can't say we'd venture back any time soon without our favorites on the menu.
(3)
valerie m.
Love it here and love the owner. What a nice guy. I have had breakfast and dinners here and never have I been disappointed. My friend had the cheese ravioli with butternut squash and it was amazing. I had the salmon with rice and potato with a relish on top. The fish was cooked perfectly and the best combo of flavors. I enjoy sitting outside on the patio which is dog friendly. They do have heaters if it gets cold. They have a full bar and know how to mix a drink. Their prices are reasonable and the food is of fresh quality. Friendly staff and comfortable atmosphere. The bar feels very homey. Inside there is lots of tables and it's very roomy. The Bloody Marys on the weekend are fantastic. They also make wonderful egg dishes. A true favorite in La Jolla. Across from Vons. Parking can be a problem but you can always try to park at Vons and run across the street. My friend lives in the Village so we usually just walk over which is the best.
(4)
Annika K.
When I came here I was at first impressed. Our waitress from Turkey was very sweet and talkative, putting up with all of our requests. My cheese pizza was good and I was surprised by the size, for restaurants usually have such tiny meals.
(5)
Michelle L.
This is such a cute restaurant! Loved the decor, especially the little plants on each table and the canopy of the patio. I got the carne asada tostadas, and I liked everything in this dish except the actual carne asada, which had a weird taste. However, everything else we ordered was great, especially the lemon ricotta pancakes which were absolutely perfect! This is a nice place to stop by when visiting La Jolla Cove.
(4)
Jodi W.
Eh.....I like Bernini's each time I come....the atmosphere is good, the menu is good, but it is always a tad of a let down after I eat. The price is a little high. I do like breakfast is served all day til 4. I also like the creative meals. My son liked the hamburger, but it had a giant roll....It is definitely good and worth a try, but I go and it usually takes 9 mo til I will give it another go. Plus is outside patio.
(3)
Sally M.
I've now dined at Bernini's multiple times and the food and service have been great every time. They have a nice dog-friendly patio so my husband and I always bring our dog with us. The last time we were at Bernini's was for breakfast. Walking in and getting a table was a breeze and we had our choice of tables. Our server, Sam(?), brought out water for our dog right away (we didn't even have to ask). He was very friendly and very thoughtful. He asked if I liked my hash browns crispy and said that he'd note that down; I didn't even think of that because I usually get the rosemary potatoes. It didn't take long at all for our drinks and food to be served and Sam checked on us often. When a table that was more in the shade opened up, we asked if we could move and Sam didn't have a problem with us doing that at all. The food is always great. This recent visit, I had the lox benedict and it was just what I wanted. It had the right amount of hollandaise and the lox was perfect. My potatoes were perfectly crispy. My husband ordered the stuffed french toast (it's a newer menu item) and it was a lot of french toast! He enjoyed it all as well. I would definitely recommend Bernini's; less crowded than other spots nearby, dog-friendly, less expensive menu, and quality food and service. Street parking only, but I never have a problem finding a spot nearby.
(5)
Nicole Q.
We had a late breakfast here one day and it was very good. The OJ was definitely fresh. The eggs were cooked perfectly. The server was super attentive and friendly. He was also very informative about the paintings, which spent a good portion of the meal arguing over. It was Marlon Brando, it wasn't Marlon Brando... heh. Good times. Overall, would definitely return. If for nothing else, to sit inside this time and look at the other art- perhaps find a new piece to argue over. Hehe.
(4)
Cay B.
I use to love it here....then they changed their menu. Gone are the rosemary potatoes and they're now serving on wooden boards , little skillets and funky square plates that slide your silverware onto your lap. On my most recent visit, we never even got coffee refill even though we asked for some.
(2)
M D.
I love this place!! The location is perfect, right in the most beautiful part of San Diego. The food is superb and the service is great. That is until me and my husband met Cecilia. She went above and beyond to make sure we had the best service. If I owned a business, I would be after her!! We will be coming here regularly!
(5)
Ken L.
We've been here several times with our 87 year-old aunt. The menu is comprehensive (salads particularly good) and the pasta is made in house. The service is excellent! We'll be back!
(4)
Tia S.
This is a cute little place. Nice patio area and nice breeze insude. I'm not usually a fan of sourdough but their complimentary starter sourdough was fresh and delicious. The whole meal was awesome. Fries were fresh and crunch. My husband got the tri tip dip and raved about it. My steak sandwich was amazing. It comes out as a whole steak that you cut and put into the sandwich. The break was fresh, crunch, and slightly buttery. I loved it!!! What a great lunch spit.
(5)
David J.
This place is great. The food was amazing. I am eating here again on the next trip. Tha family loved it.
(5)
Jaime G.
Great place for lunch! We had the Cobb Salad and the meatball sandwich. Both were very good and the price was very comparable. Great service and loved the management. They constantly came around to see if everyone was doing well and if anyone needed anything. Would go back next time we are in town!
(5)
Mike R.
Good food. Nice staff. It's a good little restaurant for a quick drink. Stick with the pizza though.
(3)
Elliott P.
Came here because the line was too long at the Cottage! YUM The eggs diavola.! My meal here has changed my outlook on polenta forever. Service was quick and the waiter was polite. The place was only a third full or so on a Thursday morning (could be why our food came out so soon) Will return for brunch many more times before I graduate
(5)
Jacob R.
We love going to Bernini's whenever we have a chance. From the moment you walk in you are warmly welcomed. The owners, a husband and wife team, Hamdi and Reyhan, make you feel right at home. Amit and Elchim are the BEST! Ask to sit in their section. I am writing this under my husband's login. We had just finished sharing the Salmon Nicoise salad and Salmon sandwich, when he said "You can never go wrong with what you order because everything is good."
(5)
K T.
Came here right when they opened so it wasn't crowded. We live in la Jolla but have never heard of this place before. I simply searched for breakfast places near us and came up with this restaurant. SERVICE - There is a guy that comes and fills your coffee and water often. Our waitress took our order, checked if we liked our food and brought our check. Standard. FOOD - Carne Asada Chilaquiles (only available on weekends) - it seems like all my reviews have been of Chilaquiles lately but this one was so good! Loved the presentation too. Two eggs on the left corner, pile of Chilaquiles with guacamole on the right, and a strip of carne Asada. I don't know what they put in their Chilaquiles but man was it delicious! Filet Mignon Omelette - my boyfriend got his eggs scrambled so they scrambled it in this skillet thing that was topped with meat, onions, and peppers. Great flavor! The hash browns were nicely browned. The cheese scone was alright because I imagined it to have more flavor. Our friends got the breakfast burrito and two different waffle dishes. They all enjoyed their food. Definitely a little gem in La Jolla!
(5)
Cameron V.
Bernini's Bar and Restaurant has a good variety of breakfast, lunch, and dinner options. Our server Sam killed it and knew the menu well. The food is made with love and they have a good beer and wine selection. Plus it's close to the beach. Total date spot. Go here!!
(4)
Hashani S.
Brunch review: One of my good friends found this great place and I couldn't have been more happier with the food! It took a little while to bring out even though the place wasn't packed but the food was worth the wait. The outdoor seating was refreshing and provided a very welcoming atmosphere. I loved the brick building look. The eggs diavlo was delicious! Perfect for our hungover selves looking for a more than satisfying bite to eat. We also split an order of lemon ricotta pancakes! A sweet side to our savory meals. I also ordered a pomegranate mimosa which was delicious. I'm pretty sure we went into food coma afterwards. We are definitely going to e back for brunch and the half off drinks deal during happy hour. Cheers!
(5)
Elina O.
Our food was beautiful and the waiters were very polite. I got the linguini with clams and oysters and my husband had the spaghetti and meatballs. His was better.. The meatballs were large and moist. He always makes smarter decisions, haha. My pasta was kind of flavorless.. No sauce, just some oil on it, and my clams and oysters were supper gritty. I kept getting sand/broken shell pieces in my mouth that I had to remove discreetly. I've never had such a bad clam/oyster experience. The bread we were served with an oil/pepper paste was very good though, and the place was very nice. I would come back and try something else besides their seafood.
(4)
Rina K.
i read the reviews on yelp thinking that this place would be amazing and delicious but i have to say that i was rather disappointed. i came for a dinner with friends, and the only thing i would come back for is the free bread that they give out before your dinner comes... THAT was amazing and delicious for sure. on top of the standard olive oil and vinegar they have an olive tapenade that you can also add to crusty baguettes and fluffy focaccia breads. YUM. we were at dinner for about 3 or 4 hours, which i guess can be standard when you have a bigger party but we were only a group of 7 and the food seriously just took so sososososossoo long to come out. i think 2 out of those 3 or 4 hours was spent on waiting for our food. i may or may not be exaggerating. when the food came out it wasn't even that great. wut. i ordered a seafood salad which was a huge portion of literally, arugula and a couple shrimp and huge slabs of squid which were not cut and difficult to eat. my BF ordered pasta with meatballs and said it wasn't good. that's a rather simple dish so that was disappointing. all in all, i'd really like to come back for the brunch menu because that seems promising but at the same time i don't want to bring my hopes up for nothing again. TL;DR: AMAZING BREAD but hangry + long wait + mediocre food = wut.
(3)
Michelle L.
If you like good Italian food this is the place to go. With a decent size menu and affordable prices. The pizza and cheese platter are my favorites. They also have a good selection of wine. It is never to busy so you get seated right away, which is a plus when you are starving. Oh and my favorite part about this place is that they are dog friendly out on the patio. They also have a very interesting decor inside. You must try this hot spot.
(5)
Clare G.
I really like this place... breakfast and dinner are both awesome. The food is plentiful and fresh, nice ambiance, healthy glass of wine. The staff are all super friendly, the bus boys are handsome and nice. They have a nice back room area which is great for a large group. The tiramisu is home made and delightful! I have never tasted anything quite like it.
Takes Reservations : Yes Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Breakfast, Brunch, Dinner Parking : Street Bike Parking : Yes Wheelchair Accessible : Yes Good for Kids : Yes Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Ambience : Casual Noise Level : Average Alcohol : Full Bar Outdoor Seating : Yes Wi-Fi : No Has TV : Yes Waiter Service : Yes Caters : Yes
The immense popularity of Italian cuisine globally isn't unknown. You can find an Italian Pizzeria around every corner of almost every city in the United States. Not to forget that in every house, people enjoy mac and cheese as comfort food. But it would be wrong to believe that Italian food starts with pizza and ends with good pasta as this Mediterranean country has much more to offer other than these two dishes. In Italian Cuisine, there is a high use of fresh tomatoes, all kinds of herbs, great quality of cheese, all types of meat, seafood and fresh handmade pasta. Many find it hard to believe that Italians have been making noodles long back.
Italian and Greek cuisines are always mistaken to be same, but they are poles apart. The primary difference between the two cuisines is the use of cheese in most of the Italian dishes. Italians love to cultivate their own cheese and process them as per their food requirement. It is believed that some cheese is so expensive that cheese producers secure them in lockers.
If you are bored eating the same old pasta or pizza, you can try some of the authentic Italian dishes like Risotto, Polenta, Ribollita, Lasagna, Fiorentina Steak, Bottarga, Ossobuco, Carbonara, Focaccia, Arancini and Supplì. Another item which Italians love to relish every morning is a good cup of Italian Coffee. Once you taste a freshly brewed cup of Italian Coffee, you might not visit Starbucks ever again. Authentic Italian food is made with heart and soul, so go find a restaurant where you can relish Italian cuisine in your city.
Pizza
Pizza is a famous Italian dish savored around the world. The entire credit for the popularity of Pizza in the United States goes to the chain of pizzerias all over the country. While the base and the texture of Pizza remains same across the globe, it's the toppings that differs from country to country. In the United States, you will find the top pizzerias serving pizzas with the toppings of mainly beef, bacon, chicken, ham, and sausage for the non-vegetarians. Other than these famous meat options, Pizzas with veg toppings such as mushrooms, pepperonis, garlic, tomatoes, spinach, etc. are also famous in most restaurants in the United States.
Irrespective of your locality, you will find a variety of different restaurants in your cities offering pizzas of all different types. Pizza is hot favorite among people of all ages in the United States. A large size pizza is enough to feed a family of 3 or 4 at large. Pizza is also the most preferred food whenever a group of friends is hanging out together. Pizza gained popularity in the United States after the American soldiers stationed in Italy returned from World War II.
Over the years, different pizzerias in the United States have developed their own respective regional variations. Pizza gained popularity as the iconic dish in the United States in the second half of the 20th century. Whether you prefer thin or thick crust pizza, you can find a pizza of your preference at the best pizza restaurants in your city.
Danielle M.
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(4)Danika G.
We love love love Bernini's and it's our special occasion restaurant. We always have the Bouillabaisse because it's out of this world Amazing! We share a Calamari starter which is always cooked to perfection and the side sauces are superb, but I love the pizza loaded with cheese and sprinkled with sesame seeds on the edges, kind of tastes like a fresh pretzel which makes it so unique and extremely delicious, yeah it's a little salty, but I can't resist the cheesy soft wonderful texture and tastes. We also end with a Boudini and the Raspberry sorbet, heavenly. It's pricy but this isn't a take away joint, this is as one reviewer put it a "little gem" and there is nowhere better to go for a really special occasion. The ambiance is romantic with a live musician jamming softly in the background, the decor is very European, and the service is excellent.
(5)Chelsea C.
I'm so glad I ended up choosing this place for my graduation dinner! I had read the many positive reviews and had walked by the restaurant before and thought it was absolutely adorable, so I thought I'd give it a go. I'm a sucker for cute places. But it was a great decision! The ambiance is nice and the food was delicious and well-portioned. I had one of their cocktails (the Bernini's Spritzer) which was refreshing, tasty, and just what the doctor ordered for such an occasion. ;) My family of very judgy eaters all seemed to enjoy their meals. I have to really commend the people working there as well- our water was always refilled and our server was attentive. And she and the restaurant as a whole gets major points because they knew that two of us there were celebrating graduation that evening and gave us a tiramisu (which is my favorite and was amazing) on the house! What a pleasant surprise! That, to me, says that they were paying attention and really care about taking care of their customers. So nice of them; we totally weren't expecting any of that and were actually ready to order one. I would definitely go back whenever I return to San Diego, maybe even before I leave this lovely city. :)
(5)Mr. G.
Outstanding Italian dining. I had the gnocchi and my wife had the lasagna. The lasagna was some of the best lasagna I've ever had had. Huge portions. We also had the apple walnut salad...it was really good. Libby was our waitress. She was super nice, friendly, and accommodating. Great service. I also tried the sunrise cocktail...it was excellent...albeit, a bit on the pricey side fo Honestly, no complaints on the food, service or establishment.
(4)Chris L.
Super solid brunch spot in La Jolla. The Eggs Diavola is both unique and delicious ! two thumbs up
(4)Jonathan R.
Just enjoyed a delicious lunch there....from the service to the food everything was very enjoyable. I ordered the farfalle gorgonzola which was just what I was looking for. I get worried with cream sauces sometimes because they have a tendency to be on the heavy side, but this cream sauce was light and fresh. I also indulged in a piece of their tiramisu which was also good. I'll be back.
(4)Andy R.
Enjoyed the atmosphere, the friendly waiter and the tapenade with the freshest bread in the world... Freshest. Though I was not impressed with the food. My Steak, ordered medium rare, came out black and blue. I hate the taste of char and was surprised by the cold pink barely cooked center. I know this isn't a steakhouse, but for the price, and the presentation ... well the cover did not give honor to the content. My vegetable medley had grill marks but came out cold, and somebody put a whopping load of sour cream and butter on my assembly line baked potato. Who asked you to ruin my potato?!! Maybe the waiter could have thrown a warning, but he was fresh and was just learning the menu. Maybe it was an off night for the cook, a freind told me the food was good.
(2)Kim M.
Unknown on the food. Waited for 20 minutes, no server came by for food or drinks. Will not return. Will recommend against anyone else, unless you are on a zero food diet. Go to La Jolla Brew House instead, excellent food 2 doors down, and they will happily serve you.
(1)Leticia G.
This was an amazing meal we had! My husband and I went here for our anniversary dinner that we wanted to be fun, yet romantic. We got both! The servers were fantastic, friendly and prompt! The atmosphere was cozy in the fun little booth we sat in. Our glasses were never empty and we had everything we ordered promptly. We ordered a bottle of wine, a Geek salad with steak (medium rare/rare), the crab cakes (no fillers), the Filet with baked potato and grilled veg and the Papadelle with Shrimp Diavolo! EVERYTHING was delicious!!!! My filet was so big I was unable to finish it and cooked to perfection, shrimp was NOT rubbery, but decedent and tender!!! Best crab cakes I have had in a long long time! The steak salad was HUGE! the portions were massive and well worth the price! For dessert we had the chocolate pudding like Budino....perfect ending!!! Other then some loud people at the bar, I have nothing bad to say about this place! We will going back again and again... The table next to us had the spaghetti bolonese, I can't wait to try it next time. It smelled and looked fantastic....
(5)Mark L.
I Love Bernini's Bernini's is a classic LaJolla village "neighborhood spot," mostly locals, charming ambiance, and the nicest, friendliest staff of any restaurant in LaJolla. I live two blocks from Bernini's & could eat breakfast, lunch & dinner there every single day. The food is fabulous, but it's really "the staff" that's the "the bomb." I have many food restrictions and after a quick consultation with the friendly & helpful staff (they're all friendly... every single one), I'll ask "so what have you "back there" to eat, pointing to the kitchen. Ignoring the menu, we discuss & then decide on some wonderful meal based upon whatever they have on-hand. The wait staff is very knowledgeable of the menu and, in the seven years I've lived in the village, I've never had a bad experience at Bernini's. For those with less-restrictive diets, the menu choices and daily specials are always interesting. My food-fussy teenage daughter learned to "like fish" at Bernini's; always fresh always impeccably prepared, the food at Bernini's is phenomenal. Finally, I love Bernini's for entertaining guests. When we have visitors to LaJolla I love to host a meal at Bernini's because they always take care that every one of my guests has a great meal & a fabulous experience. You can't miss Bernini's; it's the restaurant with live (attention-getting) flames from their tiki-torches, on Fay Ave near Pearl St.
(4)Francis M.
We had the Bernini House Salad and Penne Siciliana accompanied by a bottle of a FINE COMPLEX CAB, which was very reasonably priced! The salad was fresh, crisp, and divine! The Penne Siciliana was "to die for"! As an offspring of Sicilian parents, I want to tell you that I have never enjoyed this dish more other than at home! Now, the service was something else! After the warm and inviting greeting, It was all down hill. We ordered a Cab and the server brought Merlot, which we immediately sent back. Bread was not offered but when requested, it too along with the dipping oil was very special. When the penne was served, we had not even finished a quarter of our salads. Parmesan came but NO spoon for service. Management can be very pleased and proud of its food but ashamed of its service. More training of staff is definitely in order!
(4)Fuad H.
I am a repeat costumer to berninis given their amazing breakfast and dinners. If you haven't been - you MUST TRY IT! Breakfast: Generous mimosa's, I suggest trying the pomegranet (they are extra tasty) and delicious Bernini's Benedict (avacado and crumbled bacon...so good!) I've also had the Eggs Diovala - a must try if you are a first timer and open to trying a new spin on traditional eggs benedict. I typically choose to sit at the bar as there are two large flat screen tv's which are usually showing the top sports games playing at the time - they also have a HUGE projector screen with Sunday and Monday Night Football. Servers are always more than happy to change to whatever games customers are interested in. Dinner: Delicious steaks - I like the Filet myself, always HUGE portions which is always nice. I also really like the bowtie pasta with the Gorgonzola sauce. I have yet to try something here I havent liked. Even the Salads are good Staff is always extremely friendly, helpful and accomodating. 5 Stars
(5)Krystal H.
I understand why all of the reviews may have 3+stars, but I am purely comparing this to other breakfast places in SD. My husband and I went here for this first time this morning due to a friend's recommendation and the yelp reviews. I ordered the Eggs Diavola, my husband ordered the chilaquiles, and our friend ordered the regular Benedict with bacon instead of canadian bacon. They had a great mimosa, very fresh orange juice and Trumer Pilsner on tap- both very good choices for a drink. When we got our food my plate was sizzling, as if it was in the oven to make the cheese melt- I could not eat my food comfortably for a good 5-10 minutes. My eggs were overdone to begin with, no runny yolk at all. The passilla tomato sauce was bland and the cheese overpowered the entire dish. The polenta was good, I will give them that. The hash browns that came with my dish were good, greasy but good. My husbands chilaquiles were too soaked in the ranchero sauce, the eggs were overdone (poached) and cold! The carne asada that came with it was moderately good, over cooked and dry to be honest. Our friend's benedict was acceptable to him except for the fact that his eggs were overdone but he said the hollandaise was flavorful. Overall I rate this experience as a 1 star due to the fact that I have had SUCH better breakfast places for the same price. If you are thinking about coming here, you may have a better experience, but I will never come back here. I personally would try other places like Great Maple, The Tractor Room, Hash House, and Barleymash before trying here. Great Maple has the best chilaquiles I have ever had! Just a thought- hope this helps you!
(1)cedro t.
In my never ending search for the world's best fish tacos and tiramisu I've come to Bernini's. The tiramisu is excellent, not overly sweet and a good balance of cream and fingers. Pizza was fresh and flavorful. Atmosphere was gezellig on the patio. Best of all my server was friendly and helpful. 5 stars in La Jolla. I'm stuffed! I'm starting to like La Jolla food.
(5)Thomas R.
This place is really awesome! The food was great and the service matched. I would recommend it!
(5)Peijean T.
Bernini's Bistro is a decent neighborhood casual bistro that gets the job done with a few good plusses here and there. The food wasn't spectacular, but it was good enough, and it is seriously difficult to find a decent restaurant in La Jolla with dinner dishes under $20 (even fish!), which is why I think Bernini's is still a FIND if you live in the area and want to go out to eat without driving far away, and you don't want to spend a lot of money. Foodwise, Bernini's has big portions and the flavors/preparation are more bistro/homemade style rather than high-end/extravagantly gourmet. I ordered the Trout Almondine ($16!) and the portion (a whole fish with skin and bones) was very large with the accompanying rice pilaf and green beans. My companion ordered the Papardelle Salmone (salmon) which also was a good size overall. Bernini's gets a BIG PLUS because instead of bread, we received complimentary pita bread and housemade tzatziki sauce. Delicious! It's also a quiet restaurant (unlike the rowdy La Jolla Brewhouse next door) so a great place to catch up with a friend. The service was incredibly slow -- I think it took something like 30 minutes to receive our dinner entrees -- however this was PERFECT because I was there with an old friend and we were catching up. Plus, I appreciated that we weren't being hassled much or rushed and could just enjoy sitting in the restaurant for hours talking. Despite the laidback attitude of the service, our glasses were still kept full throughout the evening, and the server and wait staff were courteous. Our desserts were HUGE. Literally the tiramisu was meant for 2 to 3 people; I only ate half of it. My companion got the housemade pistachio gelato which arrived in a giant glass, and he couldn't finish that either.
(4)Mari M.
I wish we had known about this place before our last day in La Jolla. What a treat! We went for breakfast and it was fantastic. I tried the lemon ricotta pancake with a side of turkey sausage. My companion had a plain pancake, bacon and scrambled eggs. We were both raving about the service and the quality of the food when we left, especially in comparison to the place we dined the day before. There was no wait here when the other two places we selected had people waiting outside. Thank you for your service and food quality, Bernini's Bistro!
(5)Evren B.
I had a Philly Cheese Steak for lunch.. Portion was pretty big. Very cozy restaurant.. Our server Elcim, was very helpful and kind.. Will come back soon!!
(5)Emmy B.
The pizza is excellent, and the service and outdoor area are lovely. It's a very casual place, with nothing fancy, but the prices and ambiance all go well together with the causal cuisine. It's a nice Sunday dinner kind of place, quiet and away from the din on Prospect. Oh, I almost forgot -- their breakfast is one of my favorites (served until like 3 pm). Rivals The Cottage without the crowds.
(4)May O.
Just tried this place out for brunch/lunch and got to say that this place is pretty nice and the food is tasty. Sunday early afternoon, parking along the street wasn't too bad, we snagged a spot a few steps down from the place. When we left later, there were a lot of street spots open. There was a few minutes of waiting while they got a table ready for our group of 4, no biggie. I gotta say, the staff is very attentive because the hostess was already helping to get our table ready and another came by and made sure we were getting helped. We sat indoors, but they have a cute patio area that would be fun to sit at but it was one of the gloomy days, so indoors it was! Outdoors on a nice day would be great though. Service was fast with a lot of "do you want more water" checks which is always nice to see. The food was good, I had the steak and eggs (fillet mignon mind you!) and my gf had the design your own omelet. Comes with potatoes or hashbrowns and bread sides. Best steak and eggs I've ever had! My friends split a sandwich and they brought it out on two separate plates too which was considerate. I'm not one to sit and hang at a place too long after I paid the bill, but we were eating with out of town friends so we wanted to stay and chat some more. The continued to come by and offer us water which was nice, didn't feel rushed to leave either...so that's great service on their part. I'm a fan, it's cute, affordable, good food and service. Nice place to take friends for brunch I say.
(4)Janette H.
This review is for brunch only. My girlfriends and I needed gossip time, but we can never do that on an empty stomach. One of the girls suggested Bernini's for brunch on a Saturday late morning. There were tons of people sitting outside, but we were immediately seated inside. The waitress and waiter that we had were very friendly and welcoming, but not overbearing. My friends had been there before and knew that they wanted the Chef's Favorite, but it was my first time and I decided to try the Ranchero Scramble and just share the dishes. I LOVED my dish! A 3-egg scramble with huge pieces of cut bacon, melted mozzarella cheese, freshly sliced avocado, fresh homemade salsa...the makings of an addicting scramble. This came with a side of crisp, hot hashbrowns and thickly-slice wheat toast with fresh raspberry jam. I'm a heifer when it comes to breakfast foods, but this was perfectly filling for me. I was actually so involved with my dish that I did not get to try what my girlfriends ordered...because they demolished their food as well. I will need to return to Bernini's and order the Chef's Favorite because now I'm just curious as to what was better than my scramble.
(4)Gabrielle I.
Wow! Bernini's Bistro is awesome. I had a destination wedding in San Diego, and hosted a "welcome dinner" the night before at Bernini's Bistro. We got started late because there were seating issues. We also had one table that didn't get food (it was a buffet and we ran out). The staff was always accommodating and even made more food for the table that was left out. Excellent service! They really worked with my budget and created a menu for me. It was awesome! Ravioli is great! So are the salads!
(4)Jenna N.
So, having never heard of a BUDINO, I looked up what its meaning is and found this: "Its big flavor hits your palate at once, so pure it dissolves right on your tongue" !!!!! And correctomundo, that it is! I absolutely fell in love -- slash that, pure infatution -- with this dreamy dessert. Let me set the stage for this fateful night at Bernin's Bistro. My two friends and I had a horrible dinner next door at another restaurant, and as we were walking back to our car, with heavy hearts and broken dreams, we stumbled upon Bernini's! I had been looking forward to Creme Brulee all night (which the previous restaurant ran out of), and so into Bernini's we wandered. Right when we walked in, we were greeted by the two most charming men ever! One was a warm-hearted, cheerful chef and the other was a kinda and very handsome server. They joked around with us, the chef saying he was offended that we would eat somewhere else and then come to his restaurant as a 2nd choice. Poking fun at our bad decision, he lightheartedly said, "Let me see your leftovers! Open up your box. Oh! Horrible!" And from there, we were seated to an elegant and wonderful dessert-only-meal. In one of my previous reviews, I noted that the people you interact with when you dine could be the icing on the cake -- and these two gentlemen definitely transformed what we started with at the 1st restaurant (a burnt, dry bundt cake because what kind of cake has a hole in it? I feel jipped haha) into one of those crazy, extraordinary, mindblowing cakes you see on Food Network's wedding cake challenges!! If you've seen the move, "Serendipity".... it was like that.. all meant to be. =) So, the dessert verdict? BUDINO - Definitely a chocolate lover's dream. Fudge-y, chocolate-y, creamy, rich, and hits the spot! Complete with an amaretto cookie and topped off with vanilla ice cream, strawberries, and chocolate syrup. TIRAMISU - Soo moist! Perfect blend of chocolate and cream, and perfectly balanced with some slices of strawberry. So far, so good. =) I love this place and would like to come back for a real dinner. The ambiance is so intimate and classy, I could sit here and chit chat while eating for quite some time! Thank you, Bernini's, and thank you to the two great workers!
(5)Diana E.
Was in town visiting from Seattle for work - glad I had to go to Safeway, er, Von's because otherwise wouldn't have seen this little gem! Tucked away across from the parking lot in the center of La Jolla -- tasty treats served with a side of great attitude. We opted to sit outside because the live music was WAY loud (and not really my taste). Comfy & cozy with those heaters! The decor, both inside & out, is warm and inviting. We were greeted with glasses of water and a serving of pita chips & a type of tasty tatziki sauce (this just beat out chips & salsa in my book!) Our server was energetic and engaging, but not in that in-your-face kind of way. I sampled the sesame-crusted ahi tuna. WOW. Yum. Some crunchy tempura asparagus and home-made teriyaki sauce were fantastic complements to the perfectly-rare steak. Don't think I've ever had tuna with risotto before, but it wasn't all that different than the 'traditional' side of sticky rice and much more flavorful. I ate every single bite. My mom had their Signature Burger and she said it was one of the best burgers she's ever had in a restaurant (that's saying something - Mom used to cook professionally and is a very picky restaurant diner!). One look at her messy hands after she finished (most of) her burger, and I knew she was loving it! I don't spend much time in La Jolla, but if I go back, I'm definitely going to hit up Bernini's again! Delicious!
(4)Ron B.
We went to downtown La Jolla last night only to find that the power was out through a few different blocks. We were going to have a bite to eat at Karl Strauss, but it was crazy busy. I had heard from a random person about a year ago that Bernini's Bistro was pretty good, since it was off the beaten path, we decided to check it out, hoping it would be less busy than the few other restaurants not affected by the power outtage. The restaurant had a nice feel inside. The prices were a little higher than we were going out for a quick bite, but there were a few open tables and no wait. We had bruschetta, a glass of wine, a soda, the chicken picatta (about $16), and the baked eggplant stuffed with spaghetti (about $13). From the look and feel of the restaurant, and the prices on the menu, we expected fairly small portions. This was a nice place, and I would compare it to any number of walk up cafes in Little Italy downtown. We were shocked when we saw the portions, huge! I didn't like the spaghetti when I sampled it, but it was probably just because if was such a different taste from the Pollo Picatta. The chicken was absolutely delicious! The eggplant could have been cooked a bit more, but because of the portion of the chicken, we both shared that and brought the eggplant home. The service was perfectly attentive and very professional and friendly. We went on a Friday night, and there was a guy playing some nice spanish guitar which was perfect for the atmosphere. He wasn't the best singer though and we certainly got a chuckle out of some of his high notes, which actually made it that much more enjoyable. We were talking about how much we enjoyed the food and atmosphere when we were walking down the sidewalk to the car when the busser ran out calling "sir, sir": I had left my keys. We would have figured it out when we got back to the car, but that was the extra customer service that pushed this place over the edge for me. I had to give them a review on here. It was a great night with great food! Thank you Bernini's Bistro!
(5)Jeremy G.
My wife and I ate here the other day for the first time a few days ago. Everything was delicious! Friendly good looking servers, excellent cocktails! We started with the calamari, which was great. For dinner I ordered the lasagna. Let me give my lasagna disclaimer first. My mom makes lasagna better than anywhere in the world. That being said, I felt guilty that I loved every bite of their lasagna (sorry mom!). To make things even better, my wife ordered the Salmon Livornese (I believe this is how you spell it), I haven't seen her this ecstatic over a meal since she pretended to love my cooking when we first met. She has been talking about this dish every day since. Apparently we will be returning on a regular basis! Bravo Bernini's! You are a true gem in La Jolla!!
(5)Ashley P.
Had dinner here tonight. Great ambiance, nice waitstaff, but the food was pretty bad. My blackened chicken Greek salad was ok, mushy tomatoes, super dry chicken. The bf said his lasagna tasted the cafeteria food, and that the bread was awful. It was a cute place and I hear dessert and breakfast are better. We definitely will not go back for dinner.
(3)Carlos S.
I highly recommend Bernini's Bistro. This place has a great atmosphere, friendly staff, and an incredibly nice owner. I had the eggs diavola (the owner's favorite!), it was two poached eggs sitting on top of two cornbread biscuits and smothered in a hollandaise sauce, it also came with large cut rosemary potatoes on the side. I had some friends and their dad on vacation from Italy and decided to take them here while showing them around San Diego. They loved it, my friend's father had the tiramisu and he said it tasted just like tiramisu in Italy! The owner came out to introduce herself and chat with us a bit and even brought out a round of mimosas on the house! It was a great experience and like I said, I recommend Bernini's Bistro to everyone.
(5)John S.
This is a great little restaurant. I had the Gnocchi Caprese. It was awesome! My wife had the Tomato Basil Pizza. That was great too. It is a cozy little spot. Quiet and romantic. Good wine and beer selection. Prices were right on point. I would definitely eat there again.
(5)shawnee d.
I had the lemon ricotta pancakes and they were amazing! Very filling and the lemon flavor wasn't overwhelming! Would definitely go back if I'm in the area...
(5)Anna P.
My husband I stopped here before heading over to the Comedy Store. I had the gnocci caprese and it was delicious! My husband ordered one of the specials for the night, which was a little expensive for what he got (3 shrimp, 4 oysters, and 4 mussels with rissotto). The flavor was great and the risotto was creamy. We also had a creme brule which was delicious (aside from the cookie). Our favorite part of the night though, was the tsasiki and pita chips on the table when we arrived. The atmosphere was lovely with nice live music. Our server, Craig, I believe, was fantastic as well!
(4)Michelle C.
Lemon ricotta pancakes were yummy! They offered a variety of items for breakfast including different fresh pressed juices. Will eat here again the next time I'm in La Jolla!
(4)Promise N.
Not a pleasant experience. I went here for brunch and ordered the Southwest Scramble with hashbrowns and a side salad. My boyfriend ordered the Lox Omellet. The food was bland, unseasoned, and meagerly portioned. I was appalled to find that my salad was warm and wilted. None of the food seemed fresh at all. I kept looking around at the other unsuspecting diners who were a classy bunch of young adults mixed with the well-to-do elderly and realized that they all must not be regulars as their food seemed to be of poor quality as well. About an hour after we left, we both started feeling a little shaky and sick to our stomachs. The decor was okay, and the outside seating area looked nice and relaxing. The menu even had gluten-free options. In the end, I couldn't help thinking it felt like an over-priced Denny's.
(2)Cherie T.
A typical italian restaurant that you'd find in La Jolla. It's cutely decorated, small, there's an outdoor patio area (your choice of sitting indoor / outdoor depending on weather or if you feel like people watching). As soon as you sit down, the server brings out these pita chips with a side of tzatziki. I'm not a big fan of tzatziki so I cannot tell you if this sauce was up to par or not. But it was alright, in my opinion - light and refreshing. As I looked through the menu, I really wanted to order a pasta, but I was just too full to eat anything. So instead I shared a Tomato Basil Pizza with a friend. The pizza was a decent size, a bit bigger than a normal individual size pizza. The overall taste of this pizza was just okay. I've had better. Then I also shared the soup of the day with my friend, we opted for the Lobster Bisque. MMMM that was delicious!! For $5, you get a good portion of soup and they even have a few lobster chunks in the bisque! A couple of my friends got their salads and I must say, just by looking at the plates, i can tell that the greens were fresh and was tossed with a good amount of dressing! My friend got the dish I wanted (if i were more hungry) - the linguine vongole with mussels and clams. I thought they would give you the black mussels but it turns out they give out green mussels! I didn't get to sample it, but the next time i come back again, I'd definitely order that! - i love linguine and I love seafood! it was an unfortunate that i was stuffed (we had Jake's Del Mar's Happy Hr prior to our 6pm dinner here). If I had a bigger appetite then I would have ordered a pasta dish because it looked pretty darn good. Overall this place is more like a 3.5 for my taste bud, but that's based on the two dishes that I ordered (the pizza was just really meh, i've had better, and the lobster bisque was probably a 4 stars). Hopefully when I come back the next time and get to try other dishes, the rating will bump up.
(3)Ramsey S.
I usually stick to sushi when I eat fish, but the Salmon-Alla-Whatever (tough to pronounce/remember...think it was "Griglia") sounded interesting enough. The texture and taste were beyond perfect. Seriously, this dish is what perfection wishes it could be. The honey glaze had just the right amount of sweetness and the salmon was moist. The butternut squash pilaf below the fish was also flavorful but not overpowering. Other than the fish, the sweet walnut salad was...sweet. It wasn't as special as the fish as you could find similar quality salad at a place like Croutons. It was still good, though. The creme brulee was average but average creme brulee is still pretty good. Service was very friendly and efficient. They checked on us relatively frequently and replenished drinks all the time which was good because I was drinking like a camel. I'm coming back for sure.
(5)Priya P.
The cutest place! Ended up here totally unplanned but a great surprise. We decided to sit in the outdoor area which they have arranged to be quite cozy with the heaters, brick walls and cute little European touches. The service was really great too. It started drizzling and within seconds a waiter was out and moved our plates to table under the awning. The food was great. We ordered the pastas since we came around lunchtime but they seem like a place that would be perfect for brunch. Reasonably priced. Looking forward to trying the rest of their menu!
(4)Carol K.
Looking to sit outside and people watch all the interesting goings on in La Jolla? Well Bernini's Bistro is the perfect place to do that and get some good food to boot. Stopped by for a late lunch and pretty much had the place to myself. I was immediately seated on their cute little patio (loved the trickling fountain on the wall) the granite topped tables and bistro chairs. My server was friendly, atttentive but new-so I'll give him a break as he really didn't know what came with what or much about the menu but he kept running back inside to ask someone who did so all was well. My beer was cold- my sandwich tasty and I sat there for a couple of hours reading my book and enjoying the weather. Inside- this place also got my vote. I liked the dark woods and the homey feeling of it all. The funniest thing? Gotta love California. To use the restrooms- you have to go outside. Reminded me of the old gas station restrooms that did not have inside doors, back in the day. Just imagine that happening in Chicago . . .you'd have to shovel the snow away from the doors. Bernini's serves breakfast, lunch and dinner and has a pretty varied menu and good wine list. Free street parking is available right in front of the place. My lunch with 3 drinks came to just under $20 so it is reasonably priced as well. All in all- a great way to while away an afternoon. Caught up on my reading, people watching and relaxation all in one place. And isn't that what vacation is all about?
(4)Jacqueline I.
My husband and I have eaten here a couple times and have both times were happy with our food, service, and the overall atmosphere, sitting out on the front patio or in the back room. The food definitely outdoes your generic, big franchise and "bland" Italian eateries (if you are eating there for Italian) and parking wasn't too bad, either.
(4)T M.
Excellent steak! Wonderful atmosphere. We really enjoyed the experience and will be back again. Highly recommended.
(5)Kel-Mel B.
We come here for dinner every time we go to the Comedy Store across the street. The food is TO DIE FOR! I have tried alfredo at almost every Italian restaurant in San Diego, and I can honestly say this one beats them all. If you aren't in the mood, try the tomato basil pizza. It's amazing!!! We've never had a bad meal here, and Hamdi and Carlos make the place so much fun. Hamdi is an excellent painter so if you want, just stop by for a drink and check out his art.
(5)Cynthia S.
Bernini's Bistro offers what I enjoy (and expect) for a great dining experience: a quiet atmosphere; friendly and professional waitstaff; a varied menu; and, a reasonably-priced wine list. All of the above, and having Elchim as our hostess, made it a pleasant and delightful visit. Will certainly visit again and again!
(5)Ron H.
Had dinner with my wife and two seven year old kids. The staff was friendly and we sat outside on the patio. My wife and I had the burgers which were decent. Kids menu was limited so my son had the pizza. It was extremely greasy and really salty. My daughter had the kids Penne which was probably the best of the meals we had. It says this restaurant is good for kids, but I would not bring kids back....as I mentioned, kids menu was extremely limited and we had to pay $2.50/ea for the kids' drinks. Not sure I would come back.
(3)M. P.
Went here for a quick breakfast. The menu was exciting and the food was very good and filling. The portions are anything but small. The service was great and the best thing for me was I was able to replace my breakfast potatoes for fries!
(4)Gary L.
I'm going to give this place 4 stars. I'd rather give it 3.5 stars. Cherie T gave it 3 stars when she said it is more like 3.5 stars. By giving it 4 stars, we now both average 3.5 stars. Yes... Anyway. I think this place would be awesome to eat at if you sat outside. They've got huge flames coming out of torches, kind of like at Roy's across from UTC. The inside isn't as exciting. There's supposed to be live music at 8PM on this particular Saturday night, I'm not sure if it happens every Saturday night. Parking is typical downtown La Jolla parking. Maybe you can sneak your car into the Vons lot across the street and nobody will complain and tow your car away. I ordered the Spaghetti Bolognese which is just Spaghetti with Meat Sauce for $10.95. The serving looked a bit small, but then again I'd rather have a small delicious meal than a large disgusting meal. I'd compare the size of this to something you'd get at a place like Spaghetti Factory. The meat sauce was done well. Little bits of beef, no large chunks. The sauce was plentiful. I eat spaghetti for the sauce and not for the pasta so I was pretty happy with my order. The pasta itself was good. It wasn't soggy nor raw. It was perfect. The food came out quickly, and the service was good. I think I'd come back here again. Not for the food, but I want to try sitting outside next time to see what that's like.
(4)Courtney T.
I really love this place. The ambiance is charming, both outdoor and indoor seating. Their menu looks wonderful. I want to try so many dishes. I went with the chicken salad sandwich on rosemary bread for lunch and it was delicious. Will definitely return to check out other items. They serve brunch until 4 pm and they serve lunch and dinner as well. Try this place!
(5)R B.
Bernini's is our second home :) Our kids love going there and so do we. Service couldn't be better. Food is great, good quality and well done and drinks are perfect too. But above all I think service is what makes us keep going for more, the cozy athmosphere and friendliness helps too. LOVE Bernini's. Highly recommend it!
(5)JENN K.
after finishing my last midterm I decided I wanted to go for a nice long drive so I came up with the idea of surprising my bf by visiting him down in La Jolla, San Diego. When I arrived we used yelp to find local eateries, so we came down to this small plaza where it was filled with different restaurants that were mostly closed. after walking block after block we were ready to head back to the car when we came across this place. it stood out right away and so we proceeded to review the menu, it seem ordinary but we went in and shortly we learned it was the best decision we made that day. the server/bartender was very friendly and gave us a table with a open window so we can people watch during our meal. I ordered a steak sandwich and my bf ordered a meatball sub. it seems simple but the amount of flavors you got from one bite of the food was just phenomenal. trust me you must try it before you knock it. I can say this place is a hidden gem and I hope that I see more places like this. such great service and food!! oh gosh wish I could go back ..
(5)Mary M.
I'm a big fan! Lemon ricotta pancakes are amazing for breakfast! I've never been disappointed with any of their pasta dishes either. Look for the restaurant with torches
(5)Peter C.
They took in the weary travelers....hungry, sleepy, grumpy and fussy. They welcomed us with open arms and lulled us into a food coma with some of the best Italian food we could have imagined! The wine was wonderful and the service fast and efficient. Will go back!
(5)Melanie V.
ok, so my husband, my father in-law and daughter are on a College tour from the bay area and headed down south and stayed in a near by hotel and decided to head over to Bernini's for dinner. My son, and his girlfriend who lives in SD met them there as well to catch up and have a nice meal. So, his girlfriend ordered a Greek salad and began eating it and guess what was in there? COCKROACH - seriously? She got so ill after seeing that she went to the bathroom and threw up. The waiter told my husband he would comp the entire meal, but came back later and said he would only comp half the meal? Had I been there I would have pitch a fit. However since I was not and my husband did not argue - I decided to give them a review - So, if you like COCKROCHES for $16 go on in. I'm thinking someone should call the food inspector. Next on my list....
(1)MJ S.
Great place to walk up to the bar, sit back and relax. Chill and cozy atmosphere. The outdoor seating area is nice as well. Service has been great and friendly bartenders.
(4)Rachelle T.
After a long day at the zoo, I was put in charge of finding a place to eat on our way back to our hotel. So glad I chose Bernini's! The food and service was excellent, the price was reasonable, and reflected the quality of their food. All in all, they managed to please the whole family from the choosy Grandparents to the feisty 4-year-old, to a very exhausted mom and dad. Thank you!
(5)Kristine P.
My friends and I ordered 2 pastas, 1 hamburger, and some crab cake appetizer. Not much to say but everything was SALTY SALTY SALTY to the point that our taste buds were getting numb at the end of our meal. crab cake appetizer consisted of only 2 things and definitely not worth the money that we paid. Hamburger was okay. And two pastas that we got, it was way too salty (again) and barely had any noodles. We had to dig and search for the noodles because they gave us so little. Their service was alright and they were really generous with their bread and pita chips.
(2)Amelia C.
Servers are a little odd, but the food is good and the prices are reasonable for the area. I usually take my parents out for breakfast here when they are in town.
(3)Becky S.
Lemon Ricotta Pancakes are amazing, went there for brunch. Had the Bernini's Benedict - with bacon and avocado hollandaise - amazing... mimosas are huge, you can tell everything is made on premise. A must if vacationing in La Jolla or Del Mar..
(5)Natalie H.
I work just down the street from Bernini's Bistro and so I like to go there for lunch! I'm always very pleased with my dining experience when I go there. I just finished having a business lunch there today and, as usual, I was warmly welcomed by the host and bartender and they were quick to seat me and take my order. The ambience is very pleasant and the food and its presentation are nice. Today I tried the Veggie Scramble, which I liked. I thought it was fresh and light. I will certainly go back.
(5)Rachel R.
Bernini's is a quaint little restaurant with really good food! Cute tables and decorating give off a small homey feeling. They give complimentary bread with olive oil and balsamic vinegar which was delicious. I had the farfalle gorgonzola pasta and house salad, both were delicious. Other family members had the Mexican omelette and loved it. The homemade jam is amazing. The waitstaff works had and is very efficient. I would defiantly recommend Bernini's!
(4)Nathan M.
I will definitely be returning. Had the cheese platter, caprese salad and lasagne.the lasagne was tasted delicious it brought back memories of chef boardie ravolias just way classier
(5)wiz z.
We've been here several times since our last review. SO we thought we'd update and let you good people know its still a nice night out at Bernini's! Again we selected patio seating, even though its still chilly at night, (BRING YOUR SWEATER IN MARCH, FOLKS!) because we had a new Canine Companion with us. The bread basket arrived and we enjoyed it with choices from their wine menu. Started with the HUGE house salad with walnuts, cranberries and house dressing, followed by their chicken with basil, as well as gnocci and cheese with a side of pasta. An excellent combination if I do say so myself!!!! You should do the same! AND, the DARLING waiter and chef made a SPECIAL dish JUST for my canine companion! WHAT A GREAT STAFF! Thank you! We loved our waiter, who was attentive, funny, personable, and made great suggestions and was correct in all of them.
(4)lee m.
Just had a great business lunch here on the patio. I've heard great places about this restaurant thru friends and have been looking forward to try it for quite some time. They have an expansive menu. I went with a healthy Steak salad that was delicious. The staff was super friendly and the food was delicious. Reasonably priced for lunch too. Will go back for dinner.
(5)Nathaniel P.
The spaghetti was extremely over meaty, the noodles were barely cooked long enough. For how it tasted, it was definitely overpriced, and judging from the description, I thought it would be amazing! Fish and Chips were inadequate. Manhattan soup was just OK, and the salmon cake was horrible. Skip out on this place!
(2)Meagan G.
My mom and I came here for lunch one day after the farmers market. We both ordered the philly cheese steak. It was mediocre. The fries were not very good. The service was wonderful though. They had a really nice brunch menu and all the dishes that came out look very good. I look forward to bringing my husband here for brunch.
(3)Austin S.
Probably the best breakfast I've had in La Jolla. Certainly the most consistent. I've never had lunch or dinner here. I have heard good things, but can't speak personally. The service is better than average and the staff's dress and demeanor is refreshingly professional. It's nice inside, but I always sit on the patio. The breakfast always has fresh fruit and the cooked items are prepared well, with attention to detail in presentation.
(4)Tara C.
Im a fan of this cosy restaurant with awesome food. Had intended to go to PrepKitchen for dinner, but their seating was very limited, and didnt look comfortable. This place is next door. Menu had nice selection of pastas, salads, land and sea options. Tried their special of the day which was halibut stuffed with crab/scallops on bed or risotto/spinach. It was by far the best fish I've had in San Diego. The fish was cooked perfectly. My partner had stuffed chicken, which she loved. We were surprised how reasonable entrees and wine list prices were. Entrees were in the $20 range, glasses of wine $7 each. Try the Bex Mosel Reisling...its very good. The restaurant had a nice wine bar area. Robby was very good server. I docked them a star, because although they were slow, food took a while. But it was worth the wait. Compared to other overpriced restaurants in La Jolla, this one rocks!
(4)Jarrod G.
Amazing dinner had by all. Nice wine list. Love that they brought pita crisps and tzatziki sauce when we sat down. Three great dishes tonight. Pollo piccata, farfalle gorgonzola and pasta sicillica. Not sure if I got the names right but you'll recognize them on the menu when you see them. Shawn our waiter was awesome and always around for refills and recommendations. For dessert I'd recommend the tarimisu and the cheesecake. Both amazing.
(5)Kaspa H.
Loved this place. Very good food, my Salmon was cooked just right. The service was perfect, with just the right amount of attention when you need it with a smile and not disturbing when you don't. Very nice place for a Sunday brunch. We will return.
(5)Jerod M.
Just got here...please hold..............
(3)Lisa C.
I love Bernini's. Their breakfast is wonderful - the huevos rancheros is my favorite. They serve homemade bread and jam that is to die for. At dinner, I always have the filet. It's is reasonably priced and delicious. The restaurant is small and intimate and the service good. It's a great "go to" place.
(4)Anna K.
We were pleasantly surprised at this restaurant. It kind of looks like it might be a cheesy tourist place but it's not. The food is very solid and the ambiance is quite charming. There was live piano music the night we went. Service was really great. I highly recommend it.
(4)Hannah S.
LOVE LOVE !! I just recently started working in La Jolla and was introduced to this place. I have only been for dinner (now i'm thinking I need to stop in for breakfast) but I have nothing bad to say at all. We love to go grab a drink and dinner at the bar. All of the staff has been so friendly and helpful and the owner is there a lot to ensure great presentation and service. We loved it so much we hosted a staff party there a few weeks ago. Again, they went above and beyond and everyone enjoyed their time. My favorite is the tube pasta with shrimp (forget the name) it's a little bit spicy and delicious. Also, you MUST get the bruschetta to start!
(5)Kattie C.
I used to LOVE coming here to eat. The food is always really good. But when you go to a sit-down restaurant (like Bernini's), especially one that's supposed to be nice (like Bernini's), you should expect some sort of decent service. Now, remember, I used to go here regularly. I'd say about once a month or once every two months. And for awhile, it was great. I'd take friends, and they'd always be impressed. The brunch/ lunch menu is a GREAT deal, and their breakfast foods are amazing. BUT THEN, on a fateful [yes, I'm making an allusion to a previous review] Saturday afternoon, I had possibly one of the WORST dining experiences I've ever had-- ESPECIALLY when I think about how much I used to love the place. I don't know if they've changed management but a couple times prior to the referenced Saturday, I had experienced a decline in the decency of service. Waiters were occasionally aloof; we weren't given bread; our waters were ignored-- it happens. I'm pretty forgiving (having been a waitress myself). Plus, I'm generally an easy going person. No food/ service snob here. BUT THEN-- our host seated us without a word of welcome (which is REALLY unlike the guy who normally mans the front and is super sweet). Our waitress asked us how our food was and LEFT WHILE WE WERE ANSWERING. Kid you not-- girl just turned and left mid-sentence. Our waters were ignored. No bread. Our waitress ignored us pretty much the rest of the time except to clear our plates [which we had to wait AWHILE for] and brought us the check. She didn't smile, made NO effort at even being polite, and it was very, "Wham, bam, thank you, ma'am." I get that people have bad days, but your JOB is to provide a service. Learn to be professional or don't do the job. I mean... even if you were going to be rude or callous or cold, you could at least have done your job [filling waters, checking up, asking about dessert, prompt, courteous blah blah blah]. I'm a mellow person, but this was ridiculous. I'm not going back because the experience was THAT disheartening, especially when I think about how awesome it was the first time I went. The general decline and THAT spectacular show is enough to cross this place off the list for me.
(2)Gurkan S.
My good friend lives near here and we finally stopped in and the food was amazing! Atmosphere, wine, attentive but not bothersome service were all great! But in additional to all that, the prices were really reasonable! Really enjoyed the calamaries and salmon livornese was mouth wateringly good. There were several other menu items and specials i want to try so I will definitely be back and soon!
(5)Alex M.
I went to Bernini's with some friends for brunch the other day and we were pleasantly surprised. First off, the Lemon Ricotta Pancakes were amazing... and second the service was just as good. Thanks Polina! In addition, it was a nice surprise to find out that all of the art work in the restaurant was done by the owner. Wow! It is truly a beautiful place for Sunday brunch.
(5)emil e.
I have been going to this place for over ten years and deserve a good review. The location is good if you live in La jolla, the food is good ,the service is ok, the owners are the nicest people and they are so good to thier customer, i love the feel of the family business. I eat here about once a week and have never been disapointed.
(5)Foodie S.
My overall favorite breakfast place. The lemon Ricotta pancakes are to die for! Also like many of the other reviews have mentioned, the Owner is always there walking around and talking to the guest to make sure that everything is perfect. I have a hard time going to any other place and not regretting going there! Enjoy..
(5)Jeanette D.
The food is very good, and the owner and manager make you feel very welcome. I prefer this place for brunch over the places with long wait lines in La Jolla, such as the Cottage, which is in my opinion, not as good. While this is a great casual spot for lunch, it's spruced up at night with table linens, candles, and occasional live music for a great date spot. The menu at night is dramatically different than the daytime, and it will feel like another restaurant altogether. The wait staff is a bit hit and miss in terms of service so that's the only occasional downside but that seems to be more a factor with the day staff than the night staff.
(4)Aimless B.
Good food, good wine, good service. I will go back!
(5)Sonya B C.
Ate here 9/14/10 and enjoyed the food very much. I would come back. I ordered the Stuffed chicken which was very good, served with a yummy squash and steamed/sauteed vegetables. I was so full, I ordered desert to go - the Tiramisu, and true to the waiter's comment, it was delicious! Including the iced tea, it came to $26.00 - What a deal! I was here fairly early - 5:30 to 6:00 ish so it wasn't crowded at all. The busboy was very attentive, and the waiter was friendly. I give the busboy high marks, he offered to give me a tea to go! There were not very many people in the restaurant so I would have been really disappointed if the service had been bad, but service was great, food was good and I was a happy camper!
(4)Gonzales M.
My dear friends, if you want to eat realy great food and enyoj the politeness of the staff go to this small but very nice and cosy bistro restaurant! The prices are fair, we had with my wife 2 starters, each 2 main dishes, 1 desert and each some wine.. for aprx, fair 80bucks ony! I will come deffinetely again here !!! Great job guys- continue like this. Cheers Serchy
(4)Leni T.
Never had anything but breakfast but here is what I like Rarely a wait for a table Helpful servers Outside tables Don't mind special orders Good omelets Fresh squeezed OJ
(4)Kerri C.
Came here while visiting from New York and the service was terrible and inattentive. We saw the Trip Advisor award that they present along side their menu, which I'm still confused as to how they achieved that. First of all, the food was bland. Secondly, my boyfriend and I waited forty minutes, that's right forty minutes, for our food to arrive. To top it off our waiter never apologized to us for the wait and every time he would pass us we would be completely ignored. I ordered the Cobb salad which consisted mainly of lettuce and grilled chicken. Lastly, the restaurant was EMPTY there is absolutely no excuses for this poor service. Needless to say I would never come to this restaurant again and I suggest if your looking for an enjoyable dinning experience to look somewhere downtown in La Jolla. All the restaurants by the Cove were delicious and had great customer service.
(1)evil d.
Berninis is that kind of place that makes you keep going back all the Time, Family Owned you see Hamdi (the owner) and his wife taking care of you, always with a prompt smile and good conversation. The pizzas are the real deal, and so is the food. We had an excellent steak and the wine selection is good too. I like to seat outside, I go here almost every time I'm in La Jolla.
(5)Daniel C.
I have tried several dishes on the menu and loved every one of them ,great atmosphere and great service.
(5)Anita H.
Love this place! We went here last year when we were in town, and decided to come back again for breakfast with the kids today. Service was very friendly and accommodating to kids, which is key for the rare occasion we dare to go sit in a restaurant to eat as opposed to taking it to go. My girls had the chocolate chip pancakes, which were in the shape of Mickey Mouse and stuffed with chocolate chips. They loved them. They brought them crayons and the kids' menus are pages to color on, which helped keep them occupied while I shoveled down my food. I had egg whites, salad for my side (although I had the potatoes last year and they are delish), with a lemon ricotta pancake on the side. Next year, I may splurge and just get the lemon ricotta pancake entrée, because that was amazing. Such a cute patio, great food, great service, kid-friendly. You can't go wrong.
(5)M P.
DELIGHTFUL!!! That's how I would describe our experience at Bernini's Bistro! The food was Delicious and the waitress we had named "Elchim" was a sweetheart, remembered our order perfectly and made us feel very welcomed. We can't wait to come back soon! And as an extra bonus they allow dogs on their patio! How cool is that for a high quality restaurant?! Thank you!
(5)Scott H.
We ate brunch at Bernini's on a Saturday. I'm very surprised to be giving them 1 star, but it was a bad experience all around. To begin, we walked up and there was nowhere to check in. So, we asked a server that was behind the bar. She told me they did away with the hostess stand, but there was no wait. She asked if we wanted inside or outside, and we said inside. She said she had to deliver something and they would clean off a table for us. We waited about 5 minutes, she returned, and lead us outside. I reminded her that we wanted inside, so they then cleared the table. We were immediately brought water, but didn't see a server for our brunch order for nearly 10 minutes. My wife ordered the filet omelet and I had the chilaquiles with carne asada. I ordered the eggs scrambled with cheddar cheese. When the food came (about 12 minutes), my wife's was as ordered. Mine however, was not. The eggs had no cheese and there was no carne asada. I pointed these issues out to our server, and he took the plate, apologized, and said they would rectify the situation. As I was waiting, he returned and again apologized. He was very nice. He said that the carne asada was a new menu addition, which doesn't really explain why they forget it, but like I said, he was nice about it. So, after about 6 minutes, another person brings my food back. It was the same plate of food, but it was scalding hot. They had just put cheese on the already scrambled eggs, piled some carne asada on top of the chilaquiles, and put the whole thing under the salamander until the cheese was totally melted. The cheese did indeed melt. But, the entirety of the plate got ridiculously hot, including: ketchup, pico de gallo, sour cream, and guacamole. Additionally, the eggs were beyond nuked. They were rubbery and had no life in them at all. Some of the tips of the chilaquiles were burnt. I ate what I could, as I was hungry and sick of waiting. But, the food was entirely nuked and basically destroyed. The wife's omelet was decent. The potatoes were the most basic hash browns with no seasoning, so we had to add salt, pepper and hot sauce to get any flavor. The omelet was also overdone in my opinion, maybe they just really REALLY cook eggs at Bernini's. I was really looking forward to eating here, and we may give it a shot for dinner. It's highly rated and a lot of people seem to have great experiences here. But, from the moment we walked in until we left we had major issues during our meal.
(1)Tam B.
Loved it everything was delicious!! We got the Bernini Benedict, breakfast burrito and lemon ricotta pancakes. Oh my god!! So amazing. And the owner was super nice gave us free tiramisu!!!
(5)J R F.
Ate lunch here for the first time yesterday. Charming place with a varied menu that has several gluten free options. The staff provided excellent service and the kitchen did a nice split for us on steak and eggs. The option of a salad with a breakfast dish was a pleasant surprise. We will be back when in LA Jolla again to try some of their other dishes!
(5)Jennifer C.
A bit disappointed after the reviews. If you are looking for red sauce and little variation this is it. Highlight for meal was the tiramisu- worth it for dessert.
(3)Teal G.
Great lunch! Delicious salads. This was recommended to us by locals, and we both really enjoyed our salads. Exactly what We were looking for. Good quality/ fresh chicken. Makes all the difference in salads. We will be back!
(5)veronica v.
I love this place. I pretty much have breakfast there 3 or 4 times a month. Sometimes lunch and sometimes dinner. I have tried many things in the menu. For breakfast I love the eggs diiavola, chilaquiles with carne asada on weekends. i I Love the the veggie sandwich, the burgers, the salad. The servers are incredible and they are always trying there best. Will keep going and recommending such place
(4)Bob W.
Absolutely delicious! We had the Mediterranean vegetables (variety of roasted vegetables, roasted just right and plenty for two people) and a thin crust pizza (my wife is picky about the thin crust and this was fantastic) with multiple cheeses and artichokes. I had a glass of wine and it was a good sized glass. The servers were very pleasant and came around just the right amount - ask for Linda (funny and told us about castles in the area she liked).
(5)Ryan S.
Breakfast service and food = A+ I've been here many times for breakfast and everything I've tried has been excellent: pancakes, omelette's, and house specialties. I would have to say that the house special Bernini's Benedict is my favorite. It features poached eggs on English muffins with crumbled bacon, tomato and it's topped with an avocado Hollandaise. The location is great and it's easy to find parking, even on Saturday and Sunday mornings. If you're in the La Jolla area, give it a try!
(4)Anna D.
I have eaten here several times and have received wonderful service from the staff. I usually come here during the day and order the Lo-Carb breakfast. It consists of eggs, bacon and your choice of salad or cup of fresh fruit. The restaurant is clean, airy and bright. Been here for dinner too and you get to listen to live music while you enjoy a scrumptious meal. If you are ever in La Jolla, stop by Bernini's for food that is fresh and healthy.
(5)Richard W.
We eat here at least once a month and have for years. During that time we have NEVER had a poor experience. The food is well crafted, beautifully served, and reasonably priced. The ambiance is very Frenchy, and over the years had been improved with remodeling and redecorating. There is indoor and outdoor seating. One of the mysteries of La Jolla is why Bernini's Bistro never has a line, while one block away The Cottage has an hour wait. Is the food better? Not in my opinion. Whose prices are more reasonable? Bernini's. The customer mix is different too, as Bernini's has a higher mix of locals. My guess is that the locals know and tourists don't. So, my recommendation is to act like a local. My favorites include the Salmon Wrap, Spinach Salad with an add-on chicken breast, and everything on the breakfast menu. Breakfast is served until 5 PM.
(4)Kyla V.
Been going here for years! This is a small family owned restaurant. I love their brunches on the weekend and I love their intimate dinners at night. The owners take great pride in their staff and the service each person gets. This is the place the locals go in La Jolla. If you are looking for the hidden gem and aren't sure where to go. This is the place! I highly recommend their tiramisu and their calamari. You wont regret it! Happy Dining!
(5)Kevin P.
Another place that puts far more attention on their decor and ambience than on their food. How they have 4 stars, I have no idea! The food was completely bland and tasteless. I got the traditional cheese pizza: First of all there is absolutely NOTHING 'traditional' about it. It looked like someone made their first pizza with a bag of mozzarella they purchased at the Von's across the street moments ago. Second, it had no taste whatsoever. Reminded me of a "Little's Ceasar's hot and ready" Yes that bad. My wife got the chicken parmigiana which I took a bite of. Equally tasteless. "European style bistro".. keyword: style. The cuisine is basically average American only good to those who have no palate.
(1)Kerry F.
The salmon cakes are awesome! We love the pizzas and all of the pastas are huge portions. Definitely recommend sitting outside on the patio; inside can get crowded. Very friendly and attentive staff.
(4)Brad W.
Must eat here. Really. Favorite place in Southern California. If I lived here, I'd be here every day.
(5)Wesley D.
I was at this location last night with a bunch of friends after the Societe beer stop over. Great Italian dishes and a warm cosy atmosphere. This place reminds me "Cheers" where everybody knows your name...as it seems like a lot of regulars at the bar especially. Great design and wall art by the owner "Hamsi"...very nice guy by the way and very attentive staff. I love the seafood here. Scallops are the best and an excellent beer on tap selection.
(5)Linda K.
I had a large party of 15 here and the service we received was impeccable! I ordered a tomato basil pizza which was as good as any pizza but was still fresh out of the oven and yummy. I really liked the sesame seeds on the crust, but I wasn't blown away. Everyone else seemed to enjoy their meals and the entire group was very happy! A few people ordered off the Restaurant Week menu and the food they got looked very delicious although I didn't try any. Someone in our party had a birthday and the restaurant gave a free tiramisu. The tiramisu is so GOOD! Light, creamy and absolutely delicious! I will definitely go back for the dessert. The reason I gave a four star is bc of the bathroom. It's kinda funky with the painting of an ocean wave on the floor, but it was so stuffy once inside!! Oh my word... But overall great experience, very thoughtful waitresses and happy eaters make this a great option for dinner!
(4)Mark G.
Went here on date night because it was close to the comedy shop & wanted to eat first. What a treat! Calamari was a delightful start & the entrees ( salmon & rib eye ) were prepared perfectly. The service was exceptional as well. Apparently one of the staff members (Cecilia) overheard that it was my birthday & brought out a complimentary tiramisu. Didn't ask for anything however it was a nice touch! Very friendly staff & exceptional food. Will be back.
(5)Jim B.
I liked Berninis, I like the overall taste of the food and the inviting atmosphere. The waiter was a little to lackluster for my tastes. He moved slow and didn't take my company seriously. I think the place is good overall and the portions are very large. I would go back but I am not in a hurry either.
(3)Jennifer N.
My parents were down visiting for the day from LA and this place was recommended to me by a friend who works down the street. Other than the fact that I forgot to ask for dressing on the side w/my salad, everything else was REALLY good. We started with the mozz caprese, how often does this also come w/avocado?! YUM. I had the blackened chicken salad and even with the larger amount of dressing than i would have liked, it was still pretty light and not too lemon-y. I stole a bite of my parent's food- the meatball sandwich and the philly! The fries were phenomenal also. The service was overall comfortable- not too slow, not too pushy (even though it took them a while to fill my first water glass, after that it was great). I mentioned we needed to be out by a certain time, and it was accomplished!
(5)Brandy C.
Appetizer: Mediterranean Platter Entree: Blackened Mahi Mahi My friend and I were driving in downtown La Jolla, and saw this restaurant, We decided to give it a try without checking yelp reviews! (We were too hungry at that time.) They had live band and the atmosphere was great! We saw by the window and breeze come in! Love it! The food we ordered were very delicious! Especially the mahi mahi we ordered, I wish I had that everyday! If you are hungry, go to this restaurant! You will enjoy your dinner with the people you love.
(4)Leo P.
I am new to the San Diego area and a friend of mine invited me out to dinner.. He asked what I felt like eating and as usual I said 'whatever'.. Knowing that I love a good pasta dish, he took me to Bernini's.. I have to say, hands down the BEST lasagna I've ever had.. SERIOUSLY! I come to find out that they use organic ingredients and that even the pasta is homemade! The service was amazing, the server was super polite and attentive.. I will absolutely be going back with my family when they are in town visiting me.. I highly recommend Bernini's for their amazing service and phenomenal food! Thanks for an amazing meal guys! See you soon ;)
(5)Harper K.
Here now for brunch. To say the service is terrible is an understatement. Understand if they are busy, but, frankly, there is no wait, so how busy can they be? Got seated immediately, but waited 15 minutes and had to ask twice for highchair, despite obviously trying to restrain an active 2 year old. No waiter yet. After highchair finally arrived, water finally came 10 mins later. 10 min later, waitress comes to table TO TAKE DRINK ORDER. When we told her we were ready to order, she told us that they were "taking orders in order" because the kitchen was backed up. Evidently it wasn't our turn and she was reluctant to take order, even when I pointed out that they had clearly already taken orders from tables that were seated after us. Asked for msnager and was told there was no manager. Weird, right? Order is in, but am wondering how long it will be until the food actually arrives-- it's been 25 mins so far--long enough for me type this on a phone-- and nothing yet. Am hoping the food will be so phenomenal that the wait will be worth it... will check back in after we eat and let you know, but so far ZERO stars just based on experience so far.
(1)Brooke A.
If i could give them a 10 star rating I would! I absolutely love this place. I have been there many times and have tried almost everything on the menu and I literally was happy with each meal. The Salmon is great. My Boyfriend gets the salmon cakes every time without a doubt. The service is great each time. I highly recommend this place.
(5)Arthur R.
The food here is great. We love the omelets along with fresh OJ and really good coffee. Have never had a bad meal here. Mostly locals as it's a little off the tourist area by 1 block. People who work here are very professional.
(5)Georgina A.
I was so disheartened by my last experience and it was such a shock I am writing this in hope Hamdi will realize something is terribly off. I have been coming here for 10 years and was just raving about how consistent and delicious it always is and then I decided to take a friend to dinner there for her for first time and I was embarrassed. To start off with the service was appalling. We were sat outside and the waiter (Amit) took our drink and appetizer order brought our wine then dissapeared for 15-20 minutes. I had get up and go search for him and tell him I wanted to place the rest of my order at which point he decided to say " oh yeah we can't do the appetizer you wanted sorry". Really!? Ok I decided to shake it off and ordered the mussels - a new item on the menu - but he failed to tell me that there are 2 mussle dishes and never asked for clarification. Another 15-20 minutes later some baked mussles arrived- not a dish I would order when I asked "what is this?" he cringed and said "the baked mussles you didn't tell me which ones so I brought these" REALLY!!?? It never had a waiter act so brazen. I was visibly upset. He quickly offered to bring the other mussles too -ok this was good and the mussles with fries where quite good so that helped. Then finally over an hour after arriving we got our entrees. I ordered the "24 hour braised" short ribs- needless to say the 24 hour tag was no more than a sales tactic anything braised that long should have been tender like butter- the meat was tasty but a bit tough, the sauce was sparse and generally just ok. The pollo piccata was average and the braised beef pizza was interesting but very light on toppings. All in all a less than average meal and a far cry from the comfortable reliable and pleasant experience I had come to expect. Everything from the new busy menu with childish drawings to the lack of attention and brazen disregard for our dining experience from the waitstaff just left such a bad bad taste that I can't imagine going back anytime soon. This place has always been a local mainstay but it's feeling like that's lost- I do hope I'm wrong.
(2)Lainey S.
If I could give this place negative stars- I would. Normally, I go into details on my reviews, but in this case, once particular thing happened that never should have and for that reason alone- I'm keeping this short and simple. Ordered the greek salad with salmon. Half way into it- I discover a COCKROACH. I immediately ran to the bathroom and threw up. I was soo utterly disgusted. My boyfriend took the salad back. The waitress came to apologize once I returned to the table. She immediately said nobody would have to pay for their dinner. (It was a group of 5 of us). She offered to bring me something else but I had lost my appetite (it's 12 hours later and I still don't have it back). Everyone else finised their food and she comes back with the bill and said she could only discount 50%. ARE YOU FREAKING KIDDING ME?!!?!?! 50% discount AFTER I FOUND A COCKROACH IN YOUR FOOD AND AFTER YOU TOLD ME WE WOULDN'T HAVE TO PAY FOR ANYTHING. ABSOLUTELY RIDICULOUS. I don't care if you're eating at a whole in the wall or a place like Bernini's where you're paying $30 for a steak & $16 for a salad- having cockroaches in your food is NEVER ACCEPTABLE. I will NEVER be returning here or recommending it to anyone.
(1)Kaylee G.
I almost tried everything in their menu and I think all of them are pretty delicious. We went to Bernini's with my boyfriend last night and we both wanted to try something new. I ordered the Sesame Seared Ahi Tuna, and he ordered the Seafood Risotto Special. I want to talk about mine first. My Ahi Tuna was heavenly. I have been craving since I had that tasty dish. The teriyaki sauce, the risotto (with peas in it), and the asparagus tempura were yummy yummy yummy. My boyfriend's Seafood Risotto looked so good. The presentation for both dishes were very nice. Service is always friendly and great. We asked the waitress which wine would go good with our dishes, and she recommended us to get the Bennet Family Chardonay which was a great recommendation. I love this place and never give up going there. By the way, they have a great patio, makes me feel like I'm in Europe:)
(5)Marc R.
Very sympatic restaurant with friendly staff. The housemade soup and the burger I ordered were very delicious. In this restaurant you can order meals from different kitchens like Italian (Pizza and pasta), Mexican (Quesadillas,...) and American (Burger and Sandwiches). They as well have several local draft beers for the beer likers ;)
(4)Sandra C.
The chicken picatta was four stars--breast meat with a tasty sauce although the butternut squash mash tasted like sweet potatoes. The spinach salad was just average as was the bread that came with meal, but great olive oil/garlic/tomato dip. Live music was a nice touch on a Friday night and we had no wait.
(3)Lamba A.
what kind of italian restaurant runs out of meatballs and spaghetti?!?! will never come back again...
(1)Katerina J.
Great place for your casual brunch on a warm Sunday afternoon. They serve delicious lemon-ricotta pancakes, salmon cake Eggs Benedict, various omelets and tasty potatoes. Outside patio is very spacious and dog-friendly. Service is attentive and friendly. Interior design is old school yet very attractive. Nice place in the heart of La Jolla.
(4)Kathy S.
The outdoor seating is really nice. Mostly in shade, but if it's cool, I think they can remove some of the shades. This time I had the salmon salad and they added goat cheese for me. I ordered the salmon rare, and it was delicious! Bernini's is always a perfect option for great food.
(4)Dawei Z.
40 mind waiting time, but the food is good! They forgot to give us the bread, but offered a free desert late.
(4)Tavis S.
My only wish...that this restaurant was based in the SF Bay Area. Advice: If you haven't been here, read no further. Just go! Staff/Service: 5 Stars...Incredibly attentive, genuine, friendly Food: 5 Stars...generous portions, incredible flavors, extensive menu Ambiance: 5 Stars...clean, the perfect blend between fine and casual dining Thanks to the Yelp reviews we came here for dinner with a large group. We had kids with us so I asked if we could we be seated in the semi-private dining area (wine room) so we wouldn't disturb other patrons. One of the kids is highly allergic to nuts and eggs and the staff was extremely accommodating and checked with the kitchen to ensure what was safe to eat. Come to find out...virtually everything was safe! The owner came by as well, and at the time I knew he was with the restaurant but didn't know who he was until coming back onto Yelp and seeing the video. He's extremely nice and I have to say I only wish there were more like him. You can tell that the staff there enjoy their jobs and it's probably due to who they work for. He comes across extremely genuine. I'd write more but it's getting late. This is definitely going to be a place to come back to the next time I'm in the area. It's definitely one I'm going to recommend to friends and family that live in the area as well. Thank you Bernini's for an incredible family dinner. It's not often that I can get out to a nice restaurant with the kids, feel relaxed, welcome, and have a great meal. You all deserve all the praise and high marks you get on Yelp.
(5)Kitty K.
Been going here since I was a kid. Great place for coffee, breakfast, brunch and lunch.
(5)Manuela I.
I've been at Bernini's twice. Service is good; Food is fabulous!!! Plus they have a really nice patio outside. Try the lemon ricotta pancake or the Berry crepes.
(5)Terri G.
My family has been having brunch here for years! Great way to start the morning with great food, a nice staff, and outdoor seating. It can get busy on Sunday am's, so get there a bit early.
(5)Odette M.
This place was amazing!! Great atmosphere! The owner is very friendly. The food was delicious! AMAZING service!! Best tiramisu! A must stop when in La Jolla!!
(5)Haley B.
Went here for breakfast on a nice day and it was delicious!!! Everyone in my family loved what they ordered, from the lemon ricotta pancakes to the chorizo and eggs, it was all delicious and I can't wait to taste my way through the menu, I will be back again!
(4)Jeff S.
This place is definitely 5 stars... minus the service. The food: 1. Southwester Scramble - OMG SO GOOD! The scramble had chunks of meat and avocado and tasted amazing. Plus they give you toast with pomegranate jam which was amazing balls. 2. Bernini's Bennedict - Super awesome also. The bennedict just melted in your mouth with the eggs. Was super great. Sauce was awesome. The side of potatoes was equally well done. Bottom line: food here is really good The drinks: 1. Bloody Mary - it was pretty good, nothing to write home about but it was better than average 2. Pomegranate Mimosa - Good really good, I like it. The service: Really sucked. I think our waiter was having too much fun flirting with a group of chicks behind us cuz it took forever to get our food (when other tables that sat after us in a different section got theres first), took forever to get our bill (I had to ask some other server to get us the bill) and took forever to pay our bill (I ended up just walking it up). Minus that the place is pretty great.
(4)Dana A.
We ordered from Bernini's Bistro today for a special lunch. Sam was very accommodating. Our food was ready for pick up right on time.........Our lunch was wonderful. We enjoyed each menu item. Thanks Sam!!!!
(4)Virginia K.
My husband and I had a three hour window without our teenagers, on a Friday night! As we drove through La Jolla, looking at some of the restaurants we have always eaten at, we spied Bernini's Bistro. We parked and went into a charming, cozy and welcoming restaurant. Our hostess found us the perfect booth in the wine cellar area. Our server, Tracy, was attentive and helpful with good recommendations. We split the arugula salad - excellent, the lasagna - very good, and the creme brulée - terrific with a touch of lemon! In fact, we even had leftovers! The server's assistant was helpful and professional as well. The background music was perfect and the atmosphere relaxing and charming. We would return in a heartbeat! A great experience and a great value for the money!
(5)Alex L.
I'm not sure why, but every time I walked passed Bernini's and looked inside I thought it was some kind of pub. Maybe it's the fact that the entrance opens to a cozy-looking bar with a lot of wood accents. Or maybe it's because my friend straight up told me it was a pub. In any case, let me just correct myself and my friend by saying that it isn't. My group of three decided to give Bernini's a shot for a late Sunday brunch as we've walked past the place probably a dozen times in the past. The server was really helpful and gave us her recommendations which left me with an order of huevos rancheros sitting in front of my hungry face. Let me just say that when you're starving and still trying to wake up at 1pm on a sunny afternoon, this just hit the spot. I got so many coffee refills that I felt like the coffee pot was put on just to take care of me. Good food and service at very reasonable prices means I'll be back soon.
(4)Chad R.
Nice Place, Nice Service and Nice Food. Great way to start a lazy Sunday!
(4)Alexandra T.
Excellent customer service, and the pollo piccata is to DIE for. As in I wanted to drink the sauce off of my plate good. Keep up the good work, and thank you for a great night!
(5)Sarah F.
I have been coming here for over 8 years and they have consistently good food and service. It's really easy to find healthy choices on the menu and there's also plenty for those of us who want to indulge. :) Speaking of indulging, the tiramisu is heavenly. It's a must try if you still have room after your meal!
(5)Julie E.
Great Food! Fresh as it gets! Nice little patio is perfect for visiting while having a bite to eat. Service was friendly and professional. Inside was nice and clean with some cool paintings. Will do back no doubt!!
(5)Trupti K.
This is my favorite brunch place!!! I go here almost every Sunday! The servers are very helpful and quick. The fresh bread and the olive oil dip they serve as soon as you are seated is delish!! The shrimp pasta - with spicy lobster sauce is divine and their lemon ricotta pancakes will send you to heaven! My husband loves the salmon sandwich and the fried egg sandwich the most. I think we have tried almost every dish on the menu and so far no complaints!
(5)Raul M.
Sam recommend Eggs Diavola instead of the eggs benedict and it was amazing ! Nice atmosphere friendly staff ! I was thoroughly impressed .
(5)Jonny B.
I went here last Friday night for a meal with my wife and a couple of family friends. We had a reservation and when we got there our table had a reserved sign on it - which I thought was a nice touch. Our appetisers came out within 5 minutes of ordering which caught us a little off guard, we barely had time to order drinks. While I was finishing off my appetiser, our waitress came over and attempted to hurry me up - she stated our main meals were almost ready! Bear in mind this was only 10 minutes after being seated. I asked if we could have a little longer between courses. She left and another staff member came over, possibly the manager, who told us our mains would be cold if they didn't bring them out now. Our food was good and the service was good. The only problem was it felt like they wanted to serve us, clear the table and get rid of us. I didn't go here just for the food, it was a Friday night. We ordered a bottle of wine between two of our guests, that should have given the staff some sort of indication we weren't going to dine and dash? This review would have been 5 star if it wasn't for the obvious problem. Attempting to serve a 3 course meal, a round of drinks, a bottle of wine and clear the table in under 30 minutes is pointless. It made the experience very unenjoyable. I doubt I would give it another shot, feeling welcomed by the staff is a big part of the experience. Our money felt welcome, I wish i could say the same.
(3)J.E. P.
This place was just okay. We walked in around 5:30pm and were immediately sat down. Out waitress did not mention any specials to us like how she did with other patrons that sat near us. We had better service from the bus boy that helped us out when our waitress was chatting away behind the bar. One would assume that better service would happen with the restaurant being pretty empty, but I guess not. The food was decent but nothing to rave about. Usually I try to give a place a second chance, but that's not happening here based on this experience.
(2)Lauren H.
My boyfriend and I come to berninis almost everytime we decide to eat out...if that doesn't tell you how much we love it there please read further... Absolutely delicious food, great portions, cozy and friendly atmosphere, and excellent service. I personally love the vegtable linguini (garlic cream sauce...yum yum yum) and the neopalitin pizza...my boyfriend swears by their burgers (the one with the bacon and grilled onions)...unreal. We usually get two dishes and split them between us...if we have room we ALWAYS get the Tiramisu - I"M OBSESSED...all the portions are huge so I'm almost always left with leftovers for lunch the next day (gotta love that) Possibly the nicest thing about Berninis (aside from the amazing food) is the atmosphere...you can tell people love this place as the servers know majority of the customers by name - half the time I dont even have to tell the waitress my order - thats how good it is - people keep coming back! Berninis is comfortable and cozy, never really overly crowded, live music on weekend nights. Also you can't beat their HALF OFF ANY DRINK during happy hour - who does that in la jolla!? LOVE IT!
(5)Alex D.
A great, old school Italian place in the heart of La Jolla, Bernini's is an excellent choice for breakfast or lunch. Stop by on a quiet weekend morning, treat yourself to one of their delicious omelettes with a side of rosemary potatoes, and I promise you will leave a happier person than you walked in. The service is excellent, the quality of the food predictably high, and the environment decidedly relaxed. Best of all, a meal here won't break the bank since a complete breakfast runs just about $12. To sweeten the deal, mimosas are only a couple of bucks. Overall, Bernini's is an excellent choice when you are in the mood for cuisine from the land of pizza, pasta and Giorgio Armani.
(4)Yvonne N.
Bernini's saved my night!! Well, almost. After a horrible dining experience next door, we were walking to our car and spotted the menu outside of Bernini's and decided to give their desserts a try! La Jolla Brewhouse had run out of creme brulee so we walked into Bernini's (with our leftovers in hand) and had a friendly conversation with the owner/employee about how we should have dined at Bernini's instead. They happily seated us and our (quite handsome) waiter read us our dessert options. Once we were ready, he took our order and here's how it went: Him: "So what can I get for you guys tonight?" Me: "We'll have the Tiramisu and Creme Brulee, please!" Him: "Oh no, I'm so sorry..I forgot to mention that we just ran out of creme brulee!" Jenna and Me: *STARES AT EACH OTHER IN HORROR* "OH NO!!!!" (at the same exact time)................and then we opted for the Budino instead. -Tiramisu: heaven. Perfect in every way: texture, taste, price. -Budino: a chocolate lover's dream! We let Jenna N. take the first and she paused for the longest time and said "Oh my god". I honestly COULD NOT interpret whether it was a good or bad OMG so I kept asking "How is it?!" .......... "Soooo....?!?!?" and she finally replies, "It's. So. Good." Hahaha..what a relief. It resembles chocolate pudding but much better. Pictures are provided if you're curious. =) The ambiance at Bernini's is really romantic, both Jenna and I are anxiously waiting to come back with our boyfriends! Dim lighting, candles at each table, wine cellars fully stocked, and the owner looked legit Italian, haha. They have a "Yelp loves us" sticker that they were proudly showing off, too! Definitely a place worth trying out.
(4)Mari A.
Came here for a Saturday brunch and the restaurant was filled. I was still easily able to grab a table without having to wait unlike most good brunches in SD. Pet friendly and great service. That's a double bonus right there. I was able to sit outside on a beautiful Saturday morning with my pup by my side. While waiting for my friend, I started off with a Bloody Mary. A must have for myself for every weekend brunch. It was delicious! Loved it! Now I was struggling with ordering the Breakfast Crepe vs the Lox Omelette. I was leaning towards the lox omelette until the waiter made the suggestion of the breakfast crepe though he emphasized both were delicious. The breakfast crepe was okay. Had all the good stuff inside: bacon, mushroom, tomato, mozerella, and egg wrapped in a crepe. I love love savory crepes. I wasn't a huge fan of the SWEET crepe with the savory though. Portions were great and for 10$! 4 decent sized breakfast crepes. It was good but didn't love it. I would definitely come back though. It was affordable, had great service, loved the vibe, and love that it's pet friendly. Next time, I'll try the Lox Omelette. =) o0o0o and can't forget that Bloody Mary!
(3)Fred N.
Ate here right before an 8pm Comedy Show, the dinner menu was out, pretty pricy but the Cheeseburger were $11:95 so we gave it a try, the Cheeseburger were very good and the plate was full of Fries. Great place to go eat, There are tables outside as well. They also have a Big Screen and that's one of the Key factors we went inside, they were showing a football game, Great place and good people, friendly atmosphere. I would go back here to try their steaks next time.
(5)Steve M.
We had a group of 9, they did great handling that size of a group. Food was excellent! However, I ordered a gluten free dairy free version of a chicken entree and it cam with both the gluten and dairy on it. Would have ruined my week if I didn't double check with the server. That was the only screw up and they should be more careful when someone says they have certain food allergies.
(4)Lana R.
I regret not trying it before when I was going to college in that area. It is good simple Italian food. Located centrally in La Jolla Village across the street from Vons. Has outside patio that is dog-friendly.
(4)Robert S.
Not good. Went with my wife and two kids. We all agreed that the food was below average. Particularly for the price. Never going back.
(2)David Q.
Amazing portions and great drinks!
(4)Bryn Y.
Love coming here for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Top choices: eggs diavola w/ salad, chicken salad sandwich, beet salad, and this one chicken I can't remember the name of but it has cranberries and is amazing!! I especially love how dog friendly they are, definitely worth trying out!
(5)Mr. N.
Pros: - Great ambience - Music - Waiter's assistant was very attentive to refilling coffee Cons: - Don't order the filet mignon and eggs for brunch. The meal came out with the steak over cooked (ordered medium and was plated an almost well-done portion). After spending 10 minutes trying to obtain the attention of the waiter assigned to my table, I finally notified a waiter's assistant. Upon informing the water's assistant of my minor issue, he promptly obtained the waiter assigned to my area. Once the waiter came over, I asked for the steak to be cooked medium rare/medium. The waiter promptly removed my plate and apologized for the inconvenience. As I waited for a new order, I overheard another waiter apologizing to a customer for the lack luster pancakes. At this point, I was beginning to question the quality of the staff/chef on this shift. Eventually another steak came out, unfortunately this time the plate was missing the toast that initially arrived with the first order (toast arrived five minutes later). The steak itself was better prepared than before but arrived slightly more than medium and very flavorless (some sea salt/ground pepper can go a long way). Another critique is that the portion size of the filet prevents one from properly appreciating the quality of a filet cut. It is for these reasons that I recommend that the restaurant either increase the portion size (and as a result the price) or remove the item from the menu entirely. The assigned waiter (Omar) only checked in to see how things were doing at about halfway through my meal (fail). After finishing my meal and twiddling my thumbs for at least ten minutes, I decided to get up, approach my waiter, and ask for the check. My observation is that the waiter (Omar) and chef must belong to the B team and not the A team because from all of the positive reviews via Yelp, I was expecting a better experience. My initial plan was to also order the Lemon Ricotta Pancakes due to the Yelp reviews, but given my sub-par experience, I decided that my $$ could be better spent elsewhere. - If you eat here, you need to look the part. Apparently wearing athletic attire for Sunday brunch doesn't warrant the customer service you might expect at any decent establishment. Each one of the staff certainly did give me the up-and-down look for not having the typical La Jolla posh Sunday best/boat shoes/sweater wrapped around my neck look or college kid tourist/Justin Beiber-skinny jeans-I can't run anywhere outfit going. I supposed dressing functional isn't considered fashionable. Two stars.
(2)Cele W.
Hubby and I had 40 minutes or so to spare before the show at the Comedy Store. We told our waitress about our time crunch and she was super accommodating. For appetizer we had the Caprese salad. Now this is not a complex dish at all, but I liked the portion and the presentation with avocado. Plus it was yummy! I ordered the Pappardelle Shrimp Diavola- delicious! I loved the pasta which was cooked al dente, just how I like it! My husband ordered the good ole spaghetti and meatballs and ate the whole generous portion. Service was stellar. It's not often that we get a great meal and great service, so this was very nice. Thanks Bernini's! We'll be back and next time, we'll stay longer and get dessert. ;)
(5)Isabelle L.
I can't comment too much since I came here solo on business and with a take-out order at that. When I'm traveling on business, I love the comfort of getting take-out, holing up in my hotel room and catching up on Netflix or movies. I also have a go-to meal that I am always in search of and that is seafood pasta. For some reason, there's always a hankering for mussels and/or clams with linguini - and so I came here thanks to a Yelp search for "seafood pasta." Though I didn't do the whole sit-down thing, I can tell you this. I walked in, and immediately the bar was welcoming, friendly and inviting. I placed my order, sat down at the bar to wait - was offered water and happy smiles. The wait wasn't very long and the food itself was very tasty. Not too oily, portion was sufficient (not too much at all for to-go) and seafood was a healthy size - I hate when mussels are too small and shriveled. It is a bit on the pricier side for the meal but delicious, quick and satiates the palette.
(4)Ron H.
Bernini's Bistro- Great for a breakfast, lunch, or dinner. My favorite and usual choice is breakfast FOR lunch. Breakfast is served until 4 and my favorite is the Designer Omelet with rose mary potatoes for my side choice. I cannot say enough about the warm owner who always says hello and greets me and my many friends that I have brought over the past 4 years. After a great weekend night out, this is the best place to enjoy a bloody mary or mimosa the morning/afternoon after. I will sometimes go for dinner, the pollo picata is my favorite, and reasonable for LJ prices. The Live music on the night my girlfriend and I went last was excellent, and was on a Saturday night. I believe they dont have live music Monday-Weds. OVERALL, my favorite when I cannot decide where to eat because they have something for everyone for breakfast/lunch. Best in the summer and sitting on the patio!
(5)Giggly C.
Beautiful place. Walked by and tried it. crepes were so so, but the brekfast burrito were excellent. Dying to try for dinner. wan tto try for pasta.
(4)Richard A.
Great outdoor seating area. B-fast is always good and service is above great. Owner is almost always and greets you. Although she will introduce herself as though she has never seen you before even if you have been there two days in a row. It's all good tho not there to make frds with the owners. Just a good place to eat and relax on the weekends.
(5)Scott G.
I love Bernini's for breakfast on a weekend. I've been twice; the first time everything was perfect but unfortunately the service wasn't great this time. Eh, anyone can have an off day. The food is great, the prices are very reasonable and atmosphere is nice. I had the "Diavola" or something like that. It was fantastic! I'd definitely try this one out.
(4)Mark F.
This is a great little place!!! The food, service, and atmosphere is great. I have only been here for breakfast and I have always left happy. It is worth checking out
(4)Lauren C.
I love Berninis! It's consistently amazing every time. The staff is very friendly too :)
(5)Judith G.
My first time to Bernini's Bistro. I found out about the place from Yelp and read the reviews. My niece had the Linguine Vongole and I had the Salmone Griglia (Salmon with butternut squash risotto. Both of us agreed that the food was fantastic. The true test of any restaurant is how good the leftovers were the next day. The leftovers I took home were just as good as when it first arrived on table in front of me. Can't wait to come back and try the Lemon ricotta pancakes for breakfast.
(5)Julio G.
I only had breakfast once there, but it was not good.
(2)Mary M.
I've been to Bernini's many times for breakfast and it was always great. Good food, great ambiance and not too pricey. My son came in to town for a visit and I took him and my other son out for dinner this week. What happened to this place? The waitress was sweet enough but glaringly inexperienced and nervous. We waited forever for her to come back after the menus and our water was with lime and we'd all asked for no lime. I let it go. We ordered and my son received his salad. I knew he didn't want to complain but he asked me to look at it. He was right. The lettuce was brown and there was dirt in it. I brought it to the server's attention and she graciously took it away. Strike two. Then my filet came and it was so tough I couldn't eat it. I said nothing. I know. I know. But my son's new york strip was overly well-done when he'd asked for medium rare and I swear, it was like a chunk of rubber. He sent it back. The next ny strip was bleeding red so he asked them to stick it under the broiler again, which they did and the third time was the charm. During our entire dinner, however, the piano player's music was, well, to lighten things up I asked if our cat, Ripley, was entertaing us. It was awful, loud and inappropriate in tone. I HAD to ask them to calm it down a bit, but they didn't. My other son went over and offered the guy $20 if he'd just stop for 20 minutes, stating I had a headache (lie) but he wouldn't do it! We will laugh about this dinner for a long, long time, so that's ok. But, I don't think I'll go back for a while. The tiramisu was to die for.
(2)Jennifer C.
Great food, great wine, great price, great atmosphere, especially great service! I'll come back to try the dinner!
(5)Robert C.
I love Bernini's Bistro. This was my first bus-boy job like 5 years ago and the food was phenomenal. I used to eat here every day instead of eating at home. The staff was super fun to work with and we used to always be laughing with customers! I went here a couple days ago and remodeled. I go in here whenever I want to take a girl to a nice dinner in La Jolla, without spending the money you would spend at George's, sit by the fire lanterns outside if the weather is nice and the stars are shining!
(5)james k.
This place is awesome and not badly priced.
(5)Jason P.
We went for dinner here with four kids and six adults. They did pretty good getting the kids food out early. The pizza was good with an interesting sesame crust. For the adults stuff, they had bread and a cool pita cucumber thing. The salads are good sized and good. The entrees were good, although many of them were a bit over saucy. Generally it was good although not spectacular. Not sure I'd go there again, but its an OK option.
(3)Anh V.
thumbs up for serving uber late brunch. if you are here over the weekend - park in the complex next to the 24 hour fitness - freebie parking in la jolla! plenty of patio dining which was perfect on a sunny day. service was friendly - i could see down the server's top whenever she bent over so it was hard not to stare. might be better for a club top. i had the bernini benedict which had avocado hollandaise and toasted bacon - deelish! the roasted potatoes were ok. my friend had the veggie scramble with hash browns. the downside was that the food took a bit of time to come out. the upside is that you can linger as long as you like and won't feel rushed like the cottage when there is a line full of hungry people staring at your food. afterwards, a walk down to the cove is a great way to work off the meal.
(3)Riley K.
Had dinner there before going to the comedy store. Food was mediocre at best. Service was ok at first and food took forever to come out. I had the spagetti marinara and my hub the gnocci. Spaghetti marinara recipe: basically boil noodles and open jar. The gnocci was horrible, and for once I couldn't be happier about the tiny portion. I give it 2 stars cuz i thought they had a covenient location and there was plenty of street parking on a Wednesday night. Overall I thought this place was a major disappointment. I'll never go back, eating von's deli from my car would have been so much better!
(2)Sophie B.
Big portions, reasonable prices and friendly service.
(5)erika c.
Perhaps the problem is consistency. The first time we visited for breakfast, we were welcomed by the owner and it felt very much like a locals joint. Service was great, though I don't remember much about the food. I'm pretty sure I ordered the Bernini's Benedict. When we went most recently, however, we were greeted by a gogo-girl in black leggings and a cotton shirt that barely covered her ass. She led us through the crowded dining room to a table that wasn't ready, and directed us to back up and return to the entrance. When we were ushered back to our table, I had the misfortune of placing my hand in something slimy that had not been wiped from the seat. Strike one. Our busser came by with glasses of ice water with lime. I asked for a glass with no lime. He brought water with no ice. Then our waiter took the order but forgot part of it and had to return to ask us again. My plate was delivered to the wrong table, where the diner cut into it before discovering the error. As a result, our food took an absurd amount of time. Strike two. I ordered the eggs Benedict with lox. The lox was cold and a bit clammy in texture and the hollandaise was bland, but the English muffins were nicely grilled so they were slightly crunchy. The hash browns were perfect. Overall, I think I might try them once more, but I'm not ordering the eggs Benedict again. And what is up with the staff???
(3)Mae S.
Though startled by the tiki torches out front, which I didn't expect on a place that says it's Italian, I liked the atmosphere. But I'm in California now, so I guess everything comes with a little bit of fusion. We walked in on Sunday night and had the experience I say is my favorite: to walk into an obviously popular place and be seated at the LAST available table. The arugula salad with chicken was all the food I wanted to eat, though not even listed as a main course. We also tried another salad and one pasta dish, all quite good.
(4)shannon f.
Spaghetti bolognese and dessert! Don't miss! Pizza is greasy though. Nice staff and ambiance.
(5)sitara s.
Best bloody Mary in San Diego!! Went here for brunch yesterday and it was great. Had the southwest scramble which was delicious. The only thing I didn't like was the hash browns. They were really hard and chewy. The best dish on the menu was the lemon ricotta pancakes. They were divine!!! So soft and flavorful.
(4)David O.
That's it?!?! Not one review of Bernini in nearly a year! Come on San Diego... y'all need to do some more Yelping! Ok, so about Bernini. I used to go there all the time back when I was studying at UCSD. Or rather, let me rephrase, I came to Bernini's to hang out, drink coffee, smoke, and read poetry *while* I should have been studying at UCSD. ;) In any case, they've changed the formula a little bit, with much more of a restaurant focus now. Still, I had breakfast here with a friend of mine not too long ago and it was a yummy breakfast! Do yourself a favor and check out Bernini's!
(4)Sarah K.
This is one of my favorite brunch spots. However, the dinner menu is delicious as well.
(4)Christine D.
Like someone else, I'd give this place 3.5 stars. If there was a bit more depth to the lunch menu and there wasn't confusion as to where we were being seated at lunch, I'd give it 4 stars. Hubby and I came here for a lunch date today. The seating arrangement snafu wasn't that big of a deal, and they did take care of it very promptly, but it was just inconvenient moving back and forth. Bernini's ambiance is really nice. I enjoy the whole coziness of the entire restaurant. It's quietly intimate, but still casual enough as well. I want to sit outside and eat al fresco when it's warmer, even though they do have good heating in the patio. Darn my tropical DNA. Looking at the bar and wine cellar, it's more than adequately stocked for any lush. Ray ordered the steak sandwich and I got the spaghetti basil pomodoro. The portions for lunch were filling, but for the price you pay, you would get a lot more in a generic Olive Garden. It was still really good. The fries that Ray got with the sandwich were generic, but the sandwich was pretty good. He's not a fan of ciabatta or focaccia bread and would have preferred the sandwich on a softer type of bread, but I think the crunch went well with the steak. My pasta dish was tasty. I love a good pomodoro sauce but I wish there was a bit more pasta since I still had a lot of sauce leftover after I ate the pasta. Other people around us had salads that I have got to come back and try. Service was unobtrusively efficient and cheery. I would definitely come back again. But if I really want to get my carb-induced coma, I'd go to Olive Garden.
(3)Chad J.
This place was great. Parking was easy and the service was excellent. Best bloody mary I've had yet in San DIego and everything was amazingly priced. I'd definitely visit again.
(5)Diana L.
Consistently excellent food. Everything I've had here has been top notch. Seafood and pasta dishes are particularly good. Try the calamari appetizer. The marinara sauce is the only restaurant sauce that come close to my Italian family's secret recipe. (And no, contrary to what a previous reviewer claims, it ain't from a jar). This is the place to go for a romantic dinner or an elegant meal with family.
(5)Chris R.
I have been by Bernini's many many times and each time I'd say to myself that I need to check it out. The other night, the lady and I headed over here for a quick bite. We both ordered the pizza, because we heard it was good. The pizza was pretty decent. Thin, light crust, quality sauce and seemingly fresh ingredients. What really stood out and made this place a four star was the live musician they had playing guitar and singing. We went in the middle of the week, so I'm not sure if it is a recurring thing or a one off, but he played some great covers. The music wasn't too loud, we could hear ourselves talk and he played an awesome version of Ben Harper's "Steal My Kisses."
(4)Mary K.
Decent place and easy parking there. We were looking for another go-to place in LJ. You can't call yourself Italian and serve fried pita with cucumber yogurt sauce--you need to serve bread. The shrimp pappardelle was nice but only 4 small shrimp?!?! The fried calamari app was ok--heavy crust but a lovely marinara. And you do NOT put cheese on fried calamari if you are Italian. Good service but the inside smells like old cigars. We're sticking with Piatti and Karl Strauss as our go-to LJ places but Bernini's is probably fine for an outdoor lunch.
(3)Niraj P.
I have to give this place 5 stars because its very underrated for breakfast. I came here in a Sat morning, mostly because I didn't want to wait in the long lines at some of the popular breakfast places in La Jolla and HIllcrest. I was pleasantly surprised that the breakfast menu is pretty affordable and includes some great options. The outdoor seating is a plus, the free focaccia with olive oil is a plus, and the fact that there usually is no line in the morning is a big plus. The food here is great, considering it is a place that is not well known for breakfast. There are some tasty/unique menu items and the portions are decent (its no Hash House, but then again, you don't have to wait 45 mins for food). I highly recommend the eggs benedict dish with corn cakes.
(5)Suzie M.
Very good food, friendly staff, clean, welcoming, menu has many good alternatives! Love the place! Perfect and perfect!
(5)JENIFER B.
Excellent food! Especially dinner & breakfast. A casual and popular hangout for breakfast & lunch, becomes an elegant but casual restaurant at night. Service good & friendly. Really nice owners & staff. Definitely one of my favorites!
(5)Josephine T.
Its great! Food is yummy and at night there is a live singer, which really adds a calming atmosphere to the place. It can get kind of dark at night. The seating is a bit crowded, but other than that, its impressive. Btw, I love their tiramisu
(4)Jessica Y.
A hit or miss place. Menu with tasty options. Service is lacking.
(3)Roxi M.
My family and I enjoyed this place very much. It's a small, cozy restaurant frequented by locals. They serve breakfast until 4pm (woohoo) and sandwiches, pastas, etc. The service here is very attentive; basically all of the employees were all-around pleasant. I ordered the chicken sandwich, which I wasn't completely in love with, but it was just fine and I had a great time so it didn't bother me anyway.
(3)Allan H.
We joined some friends here for dinner. I had the shrimp d'avalo which should be spicy. It wasn't. They left on the tails - very bad idea. Also the shrimp was underdone. All in all the dish was very bad. My husband had the lasagna which was also very disappointing. No depth of flavor to the sauce and WAY too much oregano. The service was good but the food was very poorly done.
(1)Steve N.
Very uninspired. It's pretend Italian. Didn't even have Italian sausage. Several kinds of pizza with hamburger no less.
(2)Eric R.
LOVED Bernini's Bistro! Was visiting La Jolla, and the place my wife and I planed to go to was closed, so we had to improvise. Found Bernini's and gave it a spontaneous random chance on a Saturday night. Great atmosphere, there was a live guitar player and singer. The service was fun and loose and attentive. The food was excellent. Spaghetti marinara was definitely not out of a can (as some other reviewer said). We had a very good caprese salad, and my grilled salmon with risotto was huge, and perfectly cooked. We had a nice cappuccino and gelato for desert, and enjoyed everything. Great food with great service and the price was very reasonable for casual fine dinning.
(4)Angie Pants E.
I've been here a few times and the food is average. One time for lunch though I sat at the bar and watched the owners pick apart the wait staff and the cooks, who very obviously do all of the work, and make comments that were a huge turn off. I actually asked one of the waiters who the couple was because they seemed to know everyone and I thought they were angry regulars. Bad form guys.
(2)Ben A.
This. Place is awesome! I would highly recommend the Southwest Scramble with hashbrowns and English Muffin. The entire staff are friendly,courtious, and attentive. We come here every Sunday because of Brianna (our favorite server) and the great food that reasonably priced.
(5)Aluna Y.
Initially we went to Cottage, but a huge line outside turned us away to try something else - it just doesnt seem reasonable to stay in line for 40 min to get some breakfast. So, Bernini's. Food is good, pricing is reasonable for La Jolla. If you are conservative about food than Eggs Diavolo should be your choice - everything is well-prepared. Staff is friendly and helpful. The place seems to be crowded on weekends, but you always would be able to find an open seat.
(3)Amy A.
Best place for eats in San Diego! Staff always welcomes customers with warm greeting and a smile! Breanna, Chico, and the rest of the staff provide excellent service and deliver great tasting food! This one of our favorite special places to eat and has become a weekly visit for us!
(5)Kram D.
Today was our second time eating brunch here on a Sunday morning. We picked Bernini's because they took call ahead seating. I had their Eggs Bernini (Benedict). Which was tasty. Orange juice was fresh squeezed. My fiancée had the Berry Crepe. Also very tasty. The only reason I don't give this place a 5 stars was because of one of the servers. He brought us olive oil and vinegar with bread while we were waiting to order breakfast. It was very unappetizing, a weird smell while we were thinking fresh berries , sweet syrup, and rich hollandaise sauce. Oh and parking is very easy across the street in the Vons parking lot.
(4)S Y.
Yummy breakfast, love sitting outside eating on hungover Sundays!
(4)Raffi N.
This is my favorite place in la jolla. The food is wonderful and just as important the atmosphere is like home. Relaxed, casual and everyone is your friend. I will come here every friday night to meet familiar faces, sing a few songs with the band and enjoy great wine and food.
(5)Crys P.
This place is awesome and its good for special occasions. Pretty much everything on their menu is amazing! Its not too expensive, especially since its in La Jolla. I love their pasta and the romantic atmosphere!! Totally recommend!
(5)Monica G.
Wow. This place is soooo good and so nice. We went here for my roomie's birthday last night and as we circled La Jolla we were pleasantly surprised to find this little European bistro. We had a larger party so we sat outside but the maitre d' was very accommodating and turned on a glorious heater outside so we wouldn't be cold. Our server was fantastic...and had a great head of hair. The food was incredible and pretty reasonably priced considering we were in La Jolla pretending like we have money. We ordered a couple bottles of wine (the Riesling was delicious) and some bruschetta to start with which was the best bruschetta I've ever had (sorry Grandma). The dinners were all beautifully presented and tasted amazing . They brought roomie a tiramisu dessert and sang Happy Birthday to her and it was great. Overall, this place was a great find and I can't wait to go back.
(5)C R.
Awesome for breakfast! We tried to go to the cottage just up the street and were given a 60 min wait time! So we strolled up the street to this great breakfast find! Try the lemon ricotta pancakes!
(5)Kyle G.
Great date spot! This place has great quality food for a fraction of the price as the other bistros in La Jolla. If I want to take a girl to get some good food with great atmosphere without breaking the bank then this is one of my top choices.
(4)Ann R.
Super cute Italian bistro. Very good food. Even better service. Tried one of the pizzas and a salad, but every single dish that went by looked really, really good. Looking forward to returning.
(4)Karen F.
I came here for dinner with some friends last weekend after walking around La Jolla Cove. Waiter this time was less patient, but our host, who I'm assuming is the manager/owner, was the cutest little old man ever. Loved him. Anyway, half star off for the impatient waiter, and another half star off for the live music that was WAY too loud for that small of a space. That girl sounded like she was screaming. It made me uncomfortable.
(4)Kayla L.
I went here with my friend Johnny about a month ago and I wasn't satisfied. The waiter had my friend and I choose a spot to sit outside then he completely forgot about us for 35 mins. When he did return he even admitted to forgetting we were out there. We then placed our orders and I will admit they are speedy at making their food. My friend was not too happy with his pasta plate. I just ordered a bagel. Once we were done eating we waited another 45 mins for the waiter to return to give us our check, but he never did. My friend had to go inside to pay for the okay food we ate. I conclude that this waiter did not like us because we are teenagers. I personally will never go here again because of the service.
(1)Rachel B.
Honestly, its been a very long time since a restaurant has impressed me this much! The atmosphere is delightful, perfect for almost any occasion. I recently visited with a girlfriend on a friday night and there was live music which was classy & didn't make it impossible to hold a conversation as many other places do. The patio is a great option almost all year round. Our waitress was very sweet & provided wonderful service. The prices are very reasonable for any area, especially coastal SD. I'm pretty sure my friend order the most expensive item on the menu, the filet mignon for $24.95. I ordered a spinach & ricotta pizza ($9.95), six pieces of deliciousness! The wine selection is pretty fantastic for a little bistro . But I have to say, my favorite part is that the owner was there & took the time to go around to every table to say hello & make sure everything was ok. To me, that makes all the difference in the world. Overall, fantastic experience. As a matter of fact, I have plans for dinner there tonight!
(5)Anny M.
Not only is the food good but the owner is awesome! Talk about feeling like you are part of the family! Maybe I'm friendly but (Humdee spelled phonetically) is the owner and he sat and gave us great table talk for most of the night! The Bloody Mary's were tasty and the food was sumptuous. Great place for casual (friends) or dress up date.
(4)mmmm m.
I've been here a couple times and I always seem to order something that doesn't look as good as the person at the other table. I'm usually a pretty good orderer but for some reason I order wrong here. I ordered the Low Carb breakfast and it had scrambled eggs and bacon and a house salad. I did have to send the bacon back because it was undercooked and it returned undercooked. In the restraunts behalf I like my bacon on the burnt side. The house dressing is delicious and the service is great. The atmosphere is fantastic and I would return. I think I'll order off the lunch menu because I go there around noon and think it's breakfast time so I see all this yummy stuff around me and I always have plain egss with a side of salsa :)
(3)John S.
This is another La Jolla place that used to be pretty good, but somehow "lost it." My wife and I used to dine here a couple of times per month for nice italian/italian seafood. Until... the dreaded seabass incident. My wife ordered the sea bass, usually one of her/our favorites. The "fish" that came out was some sort of smelly, dark brown fish, not the usually light and flaky, utterly scrumptious sea bass. My wife did not mention it to me, until later in the evening. She did take the fish home, though, since she could not eat it for dinner. I examined it, and pronounced it disgusting. We tried eating there one more time, and mentioned the experience to the manager when he came over to inquire about our current meal. He offered no appology, no excuse; just walked off. We really couldn't enjoy what was a reasonably good meal after that, so the place is now "off our list." YMMV
(2)Ashley H.
I ate here awhile back and the service was so/so which is the only reason I gave them 4 stars. Other than that, pricing was good, food was even better, and the ambiance was great. This would be a great date place!
(4)Raquel C.
Will go down as the place that I first experienced racism. I am half white and half mexican. My dad has told me about how back when he was younger things were difficult for him but I honestly thought he was insane if he said our service sucked because he was mexican... until I came here. We went to this place after my sister was done shooting a commercial to celebrate the long hard day of work. The server, who looked hispanic but sounded like kelsey grammar, took one look at my dad, he kinda looks like george lopez but has no accent since were from denver, and decided that this table wasn't going to yield much. He was very condescending and he actually smirked when he ordered soup. My sister and I both ordered meals and drinks but that made no difference. He came to the table a total of one time after that and we had to ask for a manager three times in two different languages. After getting up and asking people if they were the manager we we eventually found him and explained we had already paid the tab and gave a twenty percent tip but had horrid service. the manager gave us a free appetizer for the next time that we never come here. The food was quite good and unique but I will ALWAYS remember it as the only time I actually felt racially profiled and that is what I will tell people when they mention san diego or la jolla. But for those white people out there- go right on in, this place is delicious and im sure you will feel comfortable there.
(1)Jeff L.
Bernini's Bistro has absolutely some of the best steak and lamb in all of San Diego, but at half the price of some of the big "franchised" restaurant's hanging out with the owner Hamdi is truly a fun if not hilarious experience. His charisma, charm and humor truly combine to make this a one of a kind eating experience!
(5)Sean T.
I have never had anything I did not like at Bernini's. great place for breakfast or lunch. They have a patio section that allows for some pretty good people watching in La Jolla. you can not really go wrong with anything here.
(3)Olive A.
came in for brunch today and i'll definitely be back. the service was of quality and my order of Bernini Omlette (mushroom, onion, avocado & sausage) was yum! i also got a taste of my husband's order of chicken wrap, which was delish! outdoor dining is a plus!
(4)Colin W.
Bernini's was great. it's the last real neighborhood/ 'locals' place in La Jolla, and yet it caters well to out-of-towners. I Loved it because not only is it a great spot for breakfast, but it has a much different more elegant and upscale feel for dinner. In the La Jolla breakfast scene, everyone talks about the Cottage, Harry's and some other overrated place, but I say f- that . Bernini's is the best breakfast in town! And it's sooooo inexpensive. The dinner menu is wonderful, and has a Mediterranean/ Italian fusion thing going on. The service was great because it's obvious the employees were hired for their attitude and work ethic rather than their over used experience and unnecessary wine knowledge. It's clear the owner, who is always there and very friendly by the way, know's how to judge character as well as he tells stories. Bernini's is my go to date spot, as well as my Sunday brunch of choice. Get there early however because I'm not the only one who loves this place. I was hesitant in writing this review because as much as I love this restaurant, I didn't want the secret to get out and make it even harder for me to get a table...but Bernini's has been so good to me that it more than deserves my humble review.
(5)erica s.
This is the place I go when I do my good deed for the month and take my grandmother out to lunch. She is an old La Jolla sophisticate and thinks Bernini's is fancy and European just like her. Bottom line; it is so overrated. The food isn't great (the salmon salad being the best I've ever had considering grandma and I venture here every other month). The service is atrocious and the only reason my grandmother wants to keep going back is the creepy owner/manager/what ever he is in the suit comes out and compliments her accent. The wine selection is fine but whenever I order a glass of chardonnay the waiter acts as if I've just asked for him to go fetch me his first born. Anyways, this is a good place to sit outside and people watch (in La Jolla there's always some old rich loons walking around, or homeless people, go figure), listen to tales of the old country and get an afternoon buzz.
(2)tali b.
friendly and yammi. priced well. recomanded
(5)janet g.
this is my very favorite restaurant.the food is very good and it is very comfortable,attractively decorated and they never ever rush you!! and i am a native la jollan who has tried many restaurants in town! enjoy!!
(5)Kaylene G.
Breakfast is great here. The lemon ricotta pancakes are unusual but very tasty and I like the variety of other healthy options they offer. The intimate setting is perfect for a lazy weekend breakfast/brunch. It's pretty quiet and you can spread out the paper and take your time over your meal. Service has always been great every time I've visited. I've been for dinner and found the food was only so-so, especially considering the high price! But this IS La Jolla, folks. Go for breakfast, maybe lunch. Try somewhere else for dinner.
(4)Mark S.
Great Ambience and great service. It's a great place to just sit at the bar and have a glass of wine.
(4)Kathleen M.
This was one of our absolute favs in high school. There were tables and trunks in every room and once we put slips of paper in each one directing the viewer to another table/trunk as though it was a treasure hunt. Years later we still found a slip of paper that said, "No, the other trunk." Yeah, um... it was hilarious at the time...
(5)adrian z.
went there with my roommate for dinner. waiter brought stale pita chips and salsa for starters. I had the worst steak of my life which literally tasted like burnt coal or gasoline or something like that. may friend said his chicken was cold inside, probably microwaved. a couple sitting next table complained about their food too. I don't get all the good reviews, maybe their chef was on vacation or something but that ws probably my worst dining experience in San Diego.
(1)John F.
It doesn't seem like it has been the same since it burned a while back.
(2)Christina L.
We were originally planning to eat somewhere else in La Jolla, but when we saw the cool torches and outside atmosphere at Bernini's, we decided that we should try it. We sat outside, and the weather was perfect. We were absolutely starving when we sat down, and Bernini's provides you with baked pita and a type of dipping sauce that was just okay. Freshly baked bread would probably have fared better. Next we tried the spinach salad with cranberries and walnuts-- I thought it was delicious. The menu was fairly eclectic, but with strong italian and greek influences. Our main courses were the gnocchi with a bruschetta type sauce and stuffed chicken. The gnocchi was very good; however, the chicken was very bland--stuffed with ricotta, spinach, and covered with a cream sauce-- it definitely needed some contrast because all of those flavors are pretty plain. To sum it up, I guess I would say that the food at this place is hit or miss, but it has a lovely atmosphere.
(3)Kathy T.
Bernini's is that kind of place where you want to try so many dishes, it's difficult to choose b/c there are so many delectable options. I chose a grilled salmon sandwich, which was perfectly cooked, very tender and juicy. The sandwich was presented on ciabatta bread and was dressed with roasted red peppers, arugula, dill, and lemon pesto aioli. The sandwich came with a choice of either French fries or the house salad. I chose the salad, which came with its own very delicious and somewhat tangy house dressing, and was peppered with fresh, crunchy walnuts. I loved every morsel! The restaurant has a very nice, romantic vibe, the waiters, waitresses and staff are all so friendly and chill, and the restaurant itself is decorated beautifully and tastefully. There is outside seating, which reminds me of being in Italy. The seating is lighted up at dusk, and if there is chilly weather, there are also heaters provided. This restaurant also has a new chef, so when looking at the reviews, don't pay attention to the old reviews, and please note the new chef has been here for only a few months. I highly recommend this lovely restaurant and can see myself returning again for some of the new dishes they have recently introduced! No pictures as we ate our scrumptious food too quickly. It was THAT good!
(5)Jessica T.
I love this place! We were in PB today and realized we were extremely hungry but nothing sounded good to us so we headed off to La Jolla where you can always find the best of the best. That's when we decided to find a place to park and pulled out our phones and do a nearby search. We found several places but what kept popping up in my head was .... Bernini's Bistro! Someone I am close to has already eaten here. I suggested it to my mom because both of us have driven by dozens of times and have always wondered what the food tasted like. I ordered a plate of Spaghetti and Meatballs. What I love most about this dish was the beef meatballs. They sure did taste like good quality beef meatballs and and the sauce was really good too. HUUUUUUGE MEATBALLS! I also loved the type of pasta noodles they used which were fettuccine noodles and that's always been our family favorite when my mom makes her famous Spaghetti and meatballs. They were well priced for the quantity you get. We were very satisfied customers today and that's what always keeps us coming back! I am nice and full and my belly is thanking me. We will definitely be back!
(4)Mike M.
Had a great breakfast today! I love the decor inside and out. The staff is super friendly, the food was delicious, and it had a good atmosphere the whole time. The presentation of the food was pretty neat as well. My plate was a wooden cutting board with a spot made to hold the little cast iron skillet they used for the filet mignon and egg sramble. Big mound of hash browns and a cheese biscuit also sitting on the wood plate. My girlfriend's waffle was super tasty as well. It was covered in banana, kiwi, strawberry, white chocolate, milk chocolate, and fresh made whipped cream. I am definitely coming back to this place to check out their lunch and dinner services. I can't wait to taste that amazing food!
(5)Maria P.
A hidden gem for brunch in La Jolla! Great espresso drinks, Bloody Marys and more beverages to accompany great food. I highly recommend the scrambles served in cast iron skillets, frittata style. Berninis is also a favorite spot for a great Italian meal. Perfect for date nights!
(4)Jackie C.
LOVE this spot. A little hidden gem if I do say so myself. We had an amazing dinner on Friday and had to come back to see what their brunch was about on Sunday! Great service and cool vibe (even if you are right across the street from Von's lol) Hands down the best latte I've had in CA. Gorgonzola pasta. Don't ask questions. Just get it. I'm not even a gorg fan but LOVED this. Honestly everything on their menu is fab Now for brunch. Wow. I will definitely be making this a reg stop. Diavlo benny- WOOOOOW. I'm a huge fans of Benedict's and this one is the most unique and best I've seriously ever had.
(5)Alberto C.
Amazing place and excellent service. The new executive Chef Mario Medina has become a great asset to this place! He came with his new creations to better the fair. My favorite is the zucchini bisque. Truly addictive. Congratulations to the entire team.
(5)Diane L.
A really lovely place for lunch. After being seated on the patio, service was quick, and orders were taken. My mom ordered spaghetti bolognese which they didn't have available. The chef personally came out and offered to make my mom a special dish, same price. He suggested some options, and we were sold when these 3 words were in the same sentence. filet. mignon. pasta. uhhhhh come again?! he then asked us if we liked bleu cheese, when we told him we didn't he told us Parmesan would go well. I had the signature burger, medium rare, it was top notch! but as you may have already guessed, the filet mignon pasta stole the show. amazing. drool. outside ambience was perfect, weather was on point. girl talk in full force. our mom/daughter lunch date couldn't have gone any more perfect! thanks guys, and compliments to the chef :)
(4)Cynthia G.
I give this place 5 stars hands down! The decor was amazing and light music in the background set the mood for an amazing brunch. Great artsy paintings on the wall....my fave was the bob Marley painting ;) Our waiter Sam was AMAZING!! Very personable and inviting!! He made me a delicious Bloody Mary to die for! Me and my friend ordered two of their scrambles. The cheddar biscuits alone get 5 stars! Definitely will be coming back!! Hopefully Sam will be there!
(5)David L.
This restaurant seems very nice except the service is very uncoordinated and slow. Two different servers taking care of us causing some initial confusion between them. All we wanted was a hamburger and a buffalo burger cooked medium-rare which took 30 minutes to arrive. (We suspected that the one of the two servers had forgotten to put the order in.) When they were served, we cut into the buffalo burger and discovered that they served it to us raw! We sent that back and ordered another hamburger. That was made just right, thankfully. Not too sure if this was an off night or if this was characteristic of the uncoordinated service they offer.
(3)Jeannine C.
Nice place during traffic time to eat and pass the time, but I wasn't satisfied with my food. I ordered the 16oz Ribeye steak medium rare and received it definitely well done because there was absolutely no pink and it was tough for my liking. The asparagus was also grilled or charbroiled quite tough. Most parts of the asparagus were burnt. They had the best scalloped potatoes though, smothered with cheese. My waiter was very attentive and nice. Prices are reasonable, I was just dissatisfied with my steak.
(3)Callista D.
I paid $12 for a salad that had no protein and was very oily. My husband ordered the buffalo burger expecting a hamburger with buffalo sauce...but it was actual buffalo meat...
(1)Robert Z.
Three Stars is a Fair Rating for this average La Jolla Bistro Pub. The parking is easier than most restaurants in the area. The Decour is very nice and very clean. The staff is very friendly and helpful. The bartenders are nice and friendly. There is plenty of inside seating and a very nice patio out front with a fair amount of covered seating also. And now about the food. First off don't believe everything you read here on yelp about this place. The chef and the menu has changed very recently and a lot of the posts on here don't apply any longer. We came here for a little Italian pasta dish but sadly for lunch there is very little to choose from in the Italian way. They do serve breakfast till 5 PM every day. That is a plus for a lot of us that like breakfast a little later in the day. My wife decided to have the grilled vegetable salad. Sadly as you can see by the picture the vegetables were not grilled at all but only steamed. The salad was also very much underdressed. That's what I meant by don't believe everything you read. I decided to try the fillet mignon scramble which turned out to be quite tasty. The meat was tender the vegetables were cooked correctly and the way it was served was a very nice presentation. See photo. This place needs to redo their website with the new corrections of what really is available here. They say they serve Italian fair but when you come here for lunch and can only get plain spaghetti or lasagna that's truly not an Italian place to satisfy an Italian's appetite. The photos on yelp of the great Italian dishes of the past are what We came here hoping to get. Sadly we were disappointed and I probably will not return. We hope this post will save some people from the same disappointment we received. In all fairness the patio was a very nice place to sit and enjoy a standard breakfast. But for breakfast quality you would be better trying The Cottage write down the street. Thanks for listening.
(3)Gustavo P.
With new executive Chef Mario at the helm this well known La Jolla bistro has revived itself. Classic favorites like the hand tossed stone oven pizzas are a must! Mario, with his innovative fusion cuisine keep the menu fresh worth coming back often.
(5)Jaci S.
Loved this place! Just went this morning for brunch, and I was shocked that there wasn't any wait at all! Good for us, but surprising considering how delicious the food is and how great the service was. I think it might get overlooked for breakfast, which is a shame because it's better than many more popular spots that have 1+ hour wait on Sunday morning. Didn't try the mimosa or Bloody Mary, but the steak omelet I had was excellent and everyone else really enjoyed theirs as well. Cute restaurant, decent prices, and great food and service. Earned these 5 stars for sure!
(5)Jan P.
Returned to Bernini's this past weekend. Steaks are as wonderful as I remember -- and having eaten at Donovan's down the street a week earlier and paid an arm and a leg -- I can tell you that Bernini's is tremendous value. (I think it's because Bernini's is a family-run restaurant without layers and layers of management. Thus price points are much more reasonable for food that is exceptionally high quality.) I'm actually posting this review to rave about the tiramisu, which our party of 6 agreed was the best we've had in ages. It kind of tastes like cheesecake on the top layer. Delish! And perfect with an espresso, which Bernini's also does well.
(5)Juliana P.
A few friends and I came here this past Friday and despite the lovely service, we were incredibly disappointed to see some of the menu changes that have taken place recently. I still gave the place 3 stars, because I can't say that it colored the meal entirely, but it did detract from the experience. Specifically, we were big fans of the greek salad with steak. I have NO idea why they have it on their lunch menu, but eliminated it from the dinner menu. Additionally, it seems the chef is not willing to make accommodations to serve this during dinner time. I feel like it would be wise for the kitchen to take stock in what their loyal patrons enjoy most, and make sure to keep it on the menu. I can't imagine the new Kale salad is more popular, just trendy probably. The tapenade that goes with the bread was really delicious. We had a really enthusiastic server, and even the manager checked in with us several times after we inquired about the old menu. We ended up ordering a few flat breads, salmon, and then gnocci. Each option was delicious and priced appropriately, so I can't complain. It's unfortunate when you have a favorite dish in mind, only to not have it available when you come hungry and ready. I can't say we'd venture back any time soon without our favorites on the menu.
(3)valerie m.
Love it here and love the owner. What a nice guy. I have had breakfast and dinners here and never have I been disappointed. My friend had the cheese ravioli with butternut squash and it was amazing. I had the salmon with rice and potato with a relish on top. The fish was cooked perfectly and the best combo of flavors. I enjoy sitting outside on the patio which is dog friendly. They do have heaters if it gets cold. They have a full bar and know how to mix a drink. Their prices are reasonable and the food is of fresh quality. Friendly staff and comfortable atmosphere. The bar feels very homey. Inside there is lots of tables and it's very roomy. The Bloody Marys on the weekend are fantastic. They also make wonderful egg dishes. A true favorite in La Jolla. Across from Vons. Parking can be a problem but you can always try to park at Vons and run across the street. My friend lives in the Village so we usually just walk over which is the best.
(4)Annika K.
When I came here I was at first impressed. Our waitress from Turkey was very sweet and talkative, putting up with all of our requests. My cheese pizza was good and I was surprised by the size, for restaurants usually have such tiny meals.
(5)Michelle L.
This is such a cute restaurant! Loved the decor, especially the little plants on each table and the canopy of the patio. I got the carne asada tostadas, and I liked everything in this dish except the actual carne asada, which had a weird taste. However, everything else we ordered was great, especially the lemon ricotta pancakes which were absolutely perfect! This is a nice place to stop by when visiting La Jolla Cove.
(4)Jodi W.
Eh.....I like Bernini's each time I come....the atmosphere is good, the menu is good, but it is always a tad of a let down after I eat. The price is a little high. I do like breakfast is served all day til 4. I also like the creative meals. My son liked the hamburger, but it had a giant roll....It is definitely good and worth a try, but I go and it usually takes 9 mo til I will give it another go. Plus is outside patio.
(3)Sally M.
I've now dined at Bernini's multiple times and the food and service have been great every time. They have a nice dog-friendly patio so my husband and I always bring our dog with us. The last time we were at Bernini's was for breakfast. Walking in and getting a table was a breeze and we had our choice of tables. Our server, Sam(?), brought out water for our dog right away (we didn't even have to ask). He was very friendly and very thoughtful. He asked if I liked my hash browns crispy and said that he'd note that down; I didn't even think of that because I usually get the rosemary potatoes. It didn't take long at all for our drinks and food to be served and Sam checked on us often. When a table that was more in the shade opened up, we asked if we could move and Sam didn't have a problem with us doing that at all. The food is always great. This recent visit, I had the lox benedict and it was just what I wanted. It had the right amount of hollandaise and the lox was perfect. My potatoes were perfectly crispy. My husband ordered the stuffed french toast (it's a newer menu item) and it was a lot of french toast! He enjoyed it all as well. I would definitely recommend Bernini's; less crowded than other spots nearby, dog-friendly, less expensive menu, and quality food and service. Street parking only, but I never have a problem finding a spot nearby.
(5)Nicole Q.
We had a late breakfast here one day and it was very good. The OJ was definitely fresh. The eggs were cooked perfectly. The server was super attentive and friendly. He was also very informative about the paintings, which spent a good portion of the meal arguing over. It was Marlon Brando, it wasn't Marlon Brando... heh. Good times. Overall, would definitely return. If for nothing else, to sit inside this time and look at the other art- perhaps find a new piece to argue over. Hehe.
(4)Cay B.
I use to love it here....then they changed their menu. Gone are the rosemary potatoes and they're now serving on wooden boards , little skillets and funky square plates that slide your silverware onto your lap. On my most recent visit, we never even got coffee refill even though we asked for some.
(2)M D.
I love this place!! The location is perfect, right in the most beautiful part of San Diego. The food is superb and the service is great. That is until me and my husband met Cecilia. She went above and beyond to make sure we had the best service. If I owned a business, I would be after her!! We will be coming here regularly!
(5)Ken L.
We've been here several times with our 87 year-old aunt. The menu is comprehensive (salads particularly good) and the pasta is made in house. The service is excellent! We'll be back!
(4)Tia S.
This is a cute little place. Nice patio area and nice breeze insude. I'm not usually a fan of sourdough but their complimentary starter sourdough was fresh and delicious. The whole meal was awesome. Fries were fresh and crunch. My husband got the tri tip dip and raved about it. My steak sandwich was amazing. It comes out as a whole steak that you cut and put into the sandwich. The break was fresh, crunch, and slightly buttery. I loved it!!! What a great lunch spit.
(5)David J.
This place is great. The food was amazing. I am eating here again on the next trip. Tha family loved it.
(5)Jaime G.
Great place for lunch! We had the Cobb Salad and the meatball sandwich. Both were very good and the price was very comparable. Great service and loved the management. They constantly came around to see if everyone was doing well and if anyone needed anything. Would go back next time we are in town!
(5)Mike R.
Good food. Nice staff. It's a good little restaurant for a quick drink. Stick with the pizza though.
(3)Elliott P.
Came here because the line was too long at the Cottage! YUM The eggs diavola.! My meal here has changed my outlook on polenta forever. Service was quick and the waiter was polite. The place was only a third full or so on a Thursday morning (could be why our food came out so soon) Will return for brunch many more times before I graduate
(5)Jacob R.
We love going to Bernini's whenever we have a chance. From the moment you walk in you are warmly welcomed. The owners, a husband and wife team, Hamdi and Reyhan, make you feel right at home. Amit and Elchim are the BEST! Ask to sit in their section. I am writing this under my husband's login. We had just finished sharing the Salmon Nicoise salad and Salmon sandwich, when he said "You can never go wrong with what you order because everything is good."
(5)K T.
Came here right when they opened so it wasn't crowded. We live in la Jolla but have never heard of this place before. I simply searched for breakfast places near us and came up with this restaurant. SERVICE - There is a guy that comes and fills your coffee and water often. Our waitress took our order, checked if we liked our food and brought our check. Standard. FOOD - Carne Asada Chilaquiles (only available on weekends) - it seems like all my reviews have been of Chilaquiles lately but this one was so good! Loved the presentation too. Two eggs on the left corner, pile of Chilaquiles with guacamole on the right, and a strip of carne Asada. I don't know what they put in their Chilaquiles but man was it delicious! Filet Mignon Omelette - my boyfriend got his eggs scrambled so they scrambled it in this skillet thing that was topped with meat, onions, and peppers. Great flavor! The hash browns were nicely browned. The cheese scone was alright because I imagined it to have more flavor. Our friends got the breakfast burrito and two different waffle dishes. They all enjoyed their food. Definitely a little gem in La Jolla!
(5)Cameron V.
Bernini's Bar and Restaurant has a good variety of breakfast, lunch, and dinner options. Our server Sam killed it and knew the menu well. The food is made with love and they have a good beer and wine selection. Plus it's close to the beach. Total date spot. Go here!!
(4)Hashani S.
Brunch review: One of my good friends found this great place and I couldn't have been more happier with the food! It took a little while to bring out even though the place wasn't packed but the food was worth the wait. The outdoor seating was refreshing and provided a very welcoming atmosphere. I loved the brick building look. The eggs diavlo was delicious! Perfect for our hungover selves looking for a more than satisfying bite to eat. We also split an order of lemon ricotta pancakes! A sweet side to our savory meals. I also ordered a pomegranate mimosa which was delicious. I'm pretty sure we went into food coma afterwards. We are definitely going to e back for brunch and the half off drinks deal during happy hour. Cheers!
(5)Elina O.
Our food was beautiful and the waiters were very polite. I got the linguini with clams and oysters and my husband had the spaghetti and meatballs. His was better.. The meatballs were large and moist. He always makes smarter decisions, haha. My pasta was kind of flavorless.. No sauce, just some oil on it, and my clams and oysters were supper gritty. I kept getting sand/broken shell pieces in my mouth that I had to remove discreetly. I've never had such a bad clam/oyster experience. The bread we were served with an oil/pepper paste was very good though, and the place was very nice. I would come back and try something else besides their seafood.
(4)Rina K.
i read the reviews on yelp thinking that this place would be amazing and delicious but i have to say that i was rather disappointed. i came for a dinner with friends, and the only thing i would come back for is the free bread that they give out before your dinner comes... THAT was amazing and delicious for sure. on top of the standard olive oil and vinegar they have an olive tapenade that you can also add to crusty baguettes and fluffy focaccia breads. YUM. we were at dinner for about 3 or 4 hours, which i guess can be standard when you have a bigger party but we were only a group of 7 and the food seriously just took so sososososossoo long to come out. i think 2 out of those 3 or 4 hours was spent on waiting for our food. i may or may not be exaggerating. when the food came out it wasn't even that great. wut. i ordered a seafood salad which was a huge portion of literally, arugula and a couple shrimp and huge slabs of squid which were not cut and difficult to eat. my BF ordered pasta with meatballs and said it wasn't good. that's a rather simple dish so that was disappointing. all in all, i'd really like to come back for the brunch menu because that seems promising but at the same time i don't want to bring my hopes up for nothing again. TL;DR: AMAZING BREAD but hangry + long wait + mediocre food = wut.
(3)Michelle L.
If you like good Italian food this is the place to go. With a decent size menu and affordable prices. The pizza and cheese platter are my favorites. They also have a good selection of wine. It is never to busy so you get seated right away, which is a plus when you are starving. Oh and my favorite part about this place is that they are dog friendly out on the patio. They also have a very interesting decor inside. You must try this hot spot.
(5)Clare G.
I really like this place... breakfast and dinner are both awesome. The food is plentiful and fresh, nice ambiance, healthy glass of wine. The staff are all super friendly, the bus boys are handsome and nice. They have a nice back room area which is great for a large group. The tiramisu is home made and delightful! I have never tasted anything quite like it.
(5)Jessica F.
I want to start off by saying I love the location and Ambiance of Bernini's. The bread and olive oil is outstanding, and the first few times I enjoyed it. However, the other night we went to dinner, and were disappointed that the menu changed. OK, I understand that it was an extensive menu so quality over quantity is fine. That being said, the recipe of the chicken parmesan (a staple Italian favorite!) changed. When we asked our waitress, she had no idea. The sous chef was kind of enough to come out and ask how we enjoyed the food, and that's when it was confirmed the menu changed. We happened to notice the older couple next to us actually pushed their plate away for the same reason - the change in the marinara sauce was simply awful. When they asked if she wanted them to wrap it for her - she forcefully declined. It tasted like it was paste from a can. For the price, the food simply was no longer up to par. So unfortunate. I must also say, that I found our waitress a tad unprofessional. "That table is reserved!", when we went to sit down at another table since we had already realized the one with the sign on it (which, as you guessed, said RESERVED) was not where we were headed. She interrupted us as the customer, and was not properly trained with table etiquette. If you are looking for a similar vibe, try The French Gourmet on Turquoise. French, yes, but more authentic. Our next stop for Italian will be Café Milano.
(2)Tom F.
Amazing food. Wonderful service. Great ambiance! We've been coming here for years and we'll keep coming back
(5)